《Soul Land 5: The Rebirth of Tang San》


 Prologue

    <h4>Prologue</h4>


    A tiny spark of light was floating in the vast emptiness of space.


    The spark was unnoticeable, existing between reality and nothingness.


    Yet within this spark resided a consciousness��a divine consciousness.


    Only this divine consciousness could roam the universe without facing the threat of destruction. It was searching for something as it moved in a singr direction.


    Silently, he felt it all��a guiding and pulling force that appeared and disappeared.


    Since the passing of his wife, his divine consciousness had faded. The only means for him to return to the real world was to be reborn.


    In this world, there was no cure for the regret of things that might have been. Even though he was a God King and could reverse time for a short period, he could not change everything that had happened.


    He had no choice but to find her, even if it meant abandoning the tens of thousands of years of cultivation and relinquishing his God King rank.


    There was nothing more important than her. Without her, what was the point of being the king of the universe? Without her, it all would be meaningless.


    With a clear mind, he chose to die alongside her, preserving a fragment of his divine consciousness solely for his quest to find his wife. He firmly believed he would discover the world where his wife had reincarnated.


    Memories of their past together unfolded in his mind, from when they first met to the final seconds as she departed.


    Even after tens of thousands of years, all his memories with her remained as vivid as if they had happened yesterday.


    <i>Please wait for me, Xiao Wu!</i>


    <i>I aming for you.</i>


    <i>Even if you''ve lost your memory of our time together after you reincarnated, I must and I will keep seeking you out.</i>


    <i>Your Tang San was reborn for you.</i>

 Chapter 1: Is It The End? Am I Going To Be Eaten?

    <h4>Chapter 1: Is It The End? Am I Going To Be Eaten?</h4>


    "<i>Waaaaah, waaaaaah, waaaaah!</i>" Weak cries echoed in the narrow, drafty room.


    A woman was clutching her baby tightly in her embrace. Using a torn cotton nket, she did her best to protect the baby from the cold wind seeping through the cracks of the door and the windows.


    The flickering oilmp barely illuminated the gloomy room as if it could be extinguished at any moment.


    "<i>Waaaaah, waaaaah, waaaah!</i>" cried Tang San, doing his best to speak. All he aplished was to let out the most basic sound, a baby''s wail.


    He has been in this world for a few days.


    A few days, indeed.


    Even though he had only been born three days earlier, he already felt an impending premonition of misfortune


    As a former God King, he had given up everything he had on the quest to find his reincarnated wife. Just before his divine consciousness fizzled out, he sensed the slightest tug guiding him. And there he was, entering into this world.


    No matter how strong he used to be, right now, his reincarnated form was a newborn baby. The memory of his past life held the greatest value for him. No matter how powerful he recalled being in his past life, it couldn''t change the reality of him being in the body of a weak and vulnerable baby.


    Having been born for just three days, he survived solely on the meager breast milk of his birth mother in this world. Even thenguages of this new world eluded him, and he knew he would need more time to adapt. He could sense that his reincarnation into this new world would be fraught with more difficulties than he couldprehend.


    At the very least, in his past life, he was born into the family of a cksmith. His father was a cksmith who had secret powers. Tang San had also possessed the innate talent that made him one of the strongest in his world. By contrast, his biggest worry right now was to survive.


    Following his extensive journey through the universe, his divine consciousness struggled to maintain the sheer weight of his memories. There was little besides the fragments he clung to from his former life. From his present infant form, he sensed his weakness and vulnerability, feeling utterly feeble and pathetic.


    In this new world, his birth mother suffered from malnutrition, which unfortunately led to Tang San''s reincarnation being undernourished as well. Even his cries came out weak.


    In his previous life, he was a father, and he could tell the difference between the cries of a healthy baby and an unhealthy one. The baby Tang San was running the risk of not being able to draw his next breath, much less let out the hearty cries of a healthy newborn.


    While he hadn''t held high hopes of being reincarnated into a wealthy family, he also hadn''t been prepared for the desperate situation he was born into. The great God King was reincarnated and yet so close to death.


    <i>Is this the end?</i> he wondered. <i>Is this a story that will end even before the first chapter is finished?</i>


    He hade to understand his surroundings in the three short days he had spent in this new world. His dread could be directly linked to his knowledge of his predicament.


    While Tang San was reincarnated as a human, just as he had in the world he had left behind, he realized that humans belonged to a different caste in the new world. Simply put, humans were enved in thisnd. Yes, indeed, the ugly truth was that humans were relegated as ves to the higher beings of this world. This was why the humans here lived such a miserable existence.


    Three days. It had been three days, and Tang San had not even met his father in this new world. All he knew was that his birth mother was his solepanion. The poor mother and son mainly relied on the food offerings from other human beings who visited. These kind souls who were the source of their sustenance were also dressed shabbily.


    Judging from the numb expressions of these passers-by, they seemed ustomed to being treated poorly��day in, day out.


    While Tang San retained his memories from his past life and possessed a stronger divine soul due to his divine consciousness, he still faced challenges in this new world. He had yet to learn thenguage of this world. The primary reason was that humans in this world did notmunicate often. And when they did, they only spoke in monosybic words.


    <i>Is my short existence finallying to an end?</i> Tang San thought, smiling wryly. Unable to control himself, he let out two soft sobs.


    <i>Xiao Wu, if you can hear me in this world, please bless me, your husband. Please bless me with the ability to stay alive. If not, it will be impossible for us to reunite as a family.</i>


    The weakness in his body caused him to drift off into a deep sleep. While in this muddled and confused state, a whole month passed by.


    While he stayed alive, barely, with the meager portion of milk from his mother, he could tell that he wasn''t doing well. He was aware of his own physical status and he could sense his weak heart doing its best to keep him alive. It had been almost a month, yet he barely weighed five pounds. Compared to his past life, he was nowhere close to the growth a one-month-old baby should have reached.


    <i>Bang!</i> The fragile door squeaked on its hinges as it opened with force. The door mming was the loudest sound that Tang San had heard since the start of his time in this new world. Trying his best to open his eyes, he looked over towards the source of themotion.


    The individual that had just entered the room was substantial in physique. Tang San stared, his thoughts drifting away.


    Well, whatever this creature was, it was not human. While Tang San had seen plenty of strange beasts in his past life, the one standing before him was unfamiliar. The creature was more than two meters tall and had the body of a human male but with the head of a wolf. It had protruding fangs and emitted a strange odor. Its ripped physique had almost torn the doorframe upon entering the room.


    "It''s been a month. Hand it over," the wolf demon snarled at Tang San''s mother. Hearing this, she cradled Tang San tightly in her embrace, tears falling from her fearful eyes.


    <i>A month?</i> Tang San could finally grasp some simple words of thenguage spoken in this world. Emotions he couldn''t yetprehend washed over him. This wolf demon seemed to want to take him away, but why? As fresh meat for consumption?

 Chapter 2: Human Cattle

    <h4>Chapter 2: Human Cattle</h4>


    "Now!! Give it over!" the wolf demon snarled impatiently. Tang San''s mother shook with unconcealed fear, tears overflowing. The wolf demon could not care less, stepping forward and snatching Tang San single-handedly.


    "Child! My child!" While the woman wailed and cried uncontrobly, she made no attempts at retrieving her child. She took the only nket in the room and tried to cover Tang San with it. Tang San felt a painful squeeze in his heart. This was the first time he had felt heartache in this new world.


    Suddenly, Tang San''s mother realized her baby had turned to face her, not crying despite the circumstances. His eyes glimmered with a newfound light, captivating her enough to pause her actions.


    "Get lost!" snarled the wolf demon, pushing her roughly.


    As she tumbled onto the hay-covered ground, Tang San was yanked out of the small hay hut, sped firmly in the creature''s mighty paw. Out in the open, Tang San was assailed by the biting winds. The wolf demon, perhaps aiming to keep his prey from sumbing to the cold, draped the shabby nket over Tang San.


    At that moment, darkness enveloped everything, momentarily shielding Tang San from the biting cold wind. Despite the struggle to breathe, Tang San endured for the time being.


    He fought to steady himself, silently imploring, <i>Don''t leave this world, Mother. Please, stay alive. As long as I survive, I''ll find you and make sure you live well. Wait for my return.</i>


    Afterposing himself, Tang San decided the wolf demon hadn''t abducted him for a meal. His reasoning was simple: firstly,pared to the meager bits of flesh on his body, his mother held far greater value as a meal; secondly, the wolf demon''s covering him with a nket indicated a concern for preventing him from freezing to death. If he were merely food, his survival wouldn''t matter. However, the grim possibility of them preferring to devour him alive still lingered, impossible to dismiss entirely.


    However calm he was, what could a one-month-old baby possibly do but adapt to the circumstances? He could only take each day as it came.


    Faintly, the wind whistle was the only audible sound from the outside world. This ce was known as the Daemon Continent, something Tang San had discovered after barely grasping some of thenguage.


    As he had expected, humans in this realm were regarded as not only ves but also the lowliest of ves. Their fragile bodies rendered them useless.


    Of course, there was also the possibility of them bing their master''s dinner. It was only expected to treat the lowliest ves as food.


    As for any other details, Tang San remained ignorant. Communication between his mother and the other humans was infrequent. A month had slipped by without a glimpse of his father, signaling a dreadful conclusion.


    <i>How dreadful! Unbearably dreadful! Even if I start from scratch, give me a chance to begin again,</i> Tang San mourned silently. He had previously contemted the challenges of rebirth, but the reality surpassed his expectations in its sheer difficulty.


    Atst, the wolf demon appeared to stop, and Tang San faintly heard him say a few words. He couldn''t decipher the world''snguage because he was hindered by both the nket and his scantprehension of the world''snguage. Soon after, he sensed himself being passed to another being.


    As the nket was lifted, Tang San instinctively curled his body defensively. Contrary to the anticipated chill of the wind, he was met with warmth. However, along came an unpleasant odor that apanied the newfound warmth.


    That said, this was the first moment since his birth that he experienced warmth surrounding him from every direction. With his eyes open, he meticulously observed his surroundings.


    "Another child that looks like one of those baby monkeys," a muffled voice whimpered.


    Just then, Tang San came face to face with the creature holding him. <i>Is that a....pig head?!</i>


    Upon further contemtion, he decided this was, indeed, a being with the head of a pig. The pig creature looked closer at Tang San and then carried him inside.


    A crying cacophony began, and Tang San realized he was not the only baby in this ce.


    He was ced in a soft, cushiony haystack. Well, it could be called a haystack...or it could be called a nest. All around him, the sounds of crying got louder.


    A shadow cast over him, and his mouth was forced open. Once his lips were apart, arge, soft object that smelled sweet and raw was stuffed into his mouth. Tang San''s eyes opened widely when warm milk gushed directly into his throat. Nope, it wasn''t because he was moved by being appropriately fed; his surprise came at almost choking to death. If his birth mother''s milk were to be described as a trickling stream, this feeding would be likened to the impossibly wide Yangtze River[1]!


    To save himself from drowning in the iing milk flood, Tang San subconsciously tried to tighten his toothless gums to regte the flow of the milk. Once he did this, he could swallow the milk, albeit with difficulty. Breathing hard with his nose, he did his best to get his weak, small body to adjust to the feeding.


    Finally, he could breathe normally again. He didn''t care about anything else and did his best to drink the milk. <i>Nutrients! Much-needed nutrients!</i> Was this a ray of hope shining upon him? He didn''t care if it was human milk or pig milk; as long as it kept him fed, he was satisfied.


    His satisfaction didn''tst as the dark shadow moved away from him. Even though he was fed to a point where he felt bloated, he wanted to have more. After all, this was the first time he had felt like he had a good meal since he had arrived in this world. As his hunger was sated, his energy levels improved, and Tang San started observing the world around him.


    The structure he was in looked like a house with hay on the floor. Tang San was weakly moving his head around since he was not yet strong enough to turn himself over on his stomach. He could only peek at the things around him.


    Right next to him were three or four children who looked about the same age as him. All of them looked just like him, skinny and weak. Everyoney on a kind of soft hay. The room was warm, a respite from the usual cold weather. The pig nurse who had just fed him also fed the others simultaneously. Tang San thought, <i>Is this what it''s like to be raised like cattle?</i> <i>Are we ves being raised uniformly?</i>


    Tang San did his best tofort himself. At least he wouldn''t be eaten; that was good enough. After being fed earlier, he felt like the odds of his survival had increased.


    The days went by.


    The pig nurse came by thrice every day to feed them. Initially, Tang San was not used to the abundant milk he was fed. However, he quickly got ustomed to the feedings and did his best to drink more to get the nutrients for his growing body. With a healthier physique, he could grow and eventually have the chance to cultivate. Through cultivation, he could gain strength and seize control of his own fate.


    No matter what kind of world he had ended up in, staying alive and surviving was paramount.


    As the days flew by, Tang San hit his hundredth day. His chubby cheeks and fairplexion stood out among the other kids. It seemed several pig nurses were around, and there were many kids. After a hundred days of eating well and growing, he was already able to turn over by himself. And so, he was able to see more things. Listening to the pig nurses chatting, he began to grasp theirnguage and learn more about the world around him.


    The Fairy Continent was vast innd mass, sorge that the pig nurses could not describe it. Tang San was reborn in a small town in the northeast belonging to an upper-ss member of the Wolf Demon n.


    Thend known as the Daemon Continent gained its name from its predominant residents,prising two distinct races: the demons and nymphs. Collectively, they were often referred to as daemons.[2]


    1. , The most massive river in China. ?


    2. The word tranted here as "daemon" consists of two characters: �� (from ����, monster/demon) and �� (from ����, also nymphs/supernatural beings). ?

 Chapter 3: Wind Wolf Town

    <h4>Chapter 3: Wind Wolf Town</h4>


    Wind Wolf Town was where they resided. The pig nurses'' conversations hinted that the dominant forces in this world appeared to be the demons and nymphs, powerful and influential races.


    In this world, humans were considered the lowest ss of ves. These children, including Tang San, were raised together and received ve education before eventually bing property owned by upper-ss wolves. In essence, Tang San was now the possession of the Wind Wolf Lord in Wind Wolf Town and was among the least valuable of ves.


    In this world, a considerable number of humans existed, and their sole advantagey in their ability to reproduce. The reproductive capabilities of the demons and nymphs were rtively limited, creating the foundation for human survival.


    The humans in this world were too weak. In the eyes of the demons and the nymphs, humans were unfit to be put to work on any physicallyborious tasks. Compared to other species of ves, humans were considered more intelligent and could work on more refined tasks. Furthermore, demons and nymphs believed humans had more delicate flesh and would be tastier.


    ves...or food.


    It felt like things couldn''t possibly worsen!


    Tang San found sce only in silence. With circumstances already at their lowest, he would indeed feel happier if anything changed for the better in the future.


    Now, his only concerny with his wife and her potential reincarnation. Would her circumstances be as dire as his own?


    It must be noted that the pig nurse''s milk was far more nourishing than Tang San''s biological mother''s; at least, he could satiate his hunger with it.


    At six months, Tang San felt he had finally reached the state of a typical human child from his former world.


    His rtively plump stature, in contrast to the frailty of other children, was evident. At six months, he could even be considered a bit chubby. His plumpness garnered him more favor from the pig nurses. In this world, it seemed that strength was beauty.


    But upon reaching six months, the milk supply ceased. Instead, they were given a porridge-like substance poured into small pots. They had to rely on their hands to eat, and their intake depended on their skill in grabbing and snatching.


    Many of the children struggled to sit up properly, often requiring the patient assistance of the pig nurses who fed them with spoons.


    Tang San earned even greater favor from the pig nurses throughout this period. He had be adept at grabbing and eating from the pot all by himself.


    Consequently, he naturally consumed more, sometimes earning a reward of an asional drink of milk.


    He wasn''t sure what he was eating, but as long as it filled his stomach, it was satisfactory.


    Once done eating, Tang San reclined on the hay bed, and an unexpected urge tough bubbled up within him. It reminded him of a phrase a friend used to say in his past: "There''s a golden phoenix even in a grass nest!"


    He could consider himself as growing up in a grass nest now. He pondered how his friends would react if they knew about it.


    Contemting these thoughts, Tang San shut his eyes, drawing hay over himself for warmth. Concentrating, he focused his mind prowess on guiding blood cirction.


    He''d been reborn before, in the Douluo Continent. This time around, the circumstances were far harsher; however, there was a chance to survive now. He was determined to push for strength to secure his survival.


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique, his foundational practice from his past life, seemed the most fitting option. It prioritized bnce and harmony, making it the perfect starting point.


    In his prior rebirth, he had already mastered the first stage of the Mysterious Heaven Technique by the age of six. This early masteryid the groundwork for his subsequent aplishments as a God King.


    He possessed a deeperprehension of the Mysterious Heaven Technique in this life than his previous rebirth. However, a significant hurdley in his current weak physique, hindering itsplete practice.


    Trapped within a mere six-month-old body, he couldn''t expect remarkable progress. His meridians hadn''t fully developed, rendering him unable to fully activate the Mysterious Heaven Technique despite practicing it. His only recourse was to utilize the technique and his spiritual power to quietly attune to the spiritual energy in the atmosphere, absorbing a modest amount to nourish his body.


    He had begun his initial attempts a few days prior when he was in a rtively decent state. While not precisely strong, he wasn''t as feeble as those teetering on the brink of death.


    Much to his surprise, when Tang San initially endeavored to perceive the world using his divine consciousness, he found an incredibly abundant spiritual energy.


    Even within this seemingly ordinary territory of the demons, Wind Wolf Town, the spiritual energy surpassed that of the Douluo Continent from his previous life. He couldn''t even be sure if theter-evolved Douluo boasted such richness in spiritual energy.


    Initially worried and hesitant to explore, Tang San had feared he might encounter a world devoid of spiritual or elemental energy. However, the abundance of spiritual energy eased his concerns.


    It''s often said that even the cleverest housewife can''t cook without rice. Humans were ves, their future uncertain and precarious. If their cultivation also progressed at a pathetically slow pace, wouldn''t they be in danger of being crushed at any moment by the might of demons and nymphs?


    It served as the first piece of good news he had received. With such plentiful spiritual energy, cultivating would likely be more manageable once he began practicing.


    Each day, he silently absorbed a small measure of spiritual energy, working to internally enhance his body, even though these changes weren''t evident on the surface. He seemed slightly more energetic than the average child while remaining apparently feeble.


    As the days went by, the children gradually began to speak. However, by that point, about a quarter of them had passed away silently.


    There were no medical treatments avable in this ce��just food. No one guided or taught them anything; they had to navigate and learn independently.


    At only a year old, still finding their footing, they were shifted to another spot under the watchful eye of a strict pig demon. It was a wooden house with floors covered in hay, providing little warmth. Two hundred kids were packed into a 200-square-meter area, yet there was only enough food for 150.


    From the discussions among the pig and wolf demons, Tang San understood that the stronger children, who couldpete for food, would develop stronger bodies and endure as ves for extended periods. Those with weaker constitutions were deemed a waste of food.


    From the sorrow he felt for the plight of humans in this world, a seed of rebellion took root in his heart. Yet, at just one year old, he could do nothing about it.


    As Tang San fortified himself by taking in more spiritual energy, his body grew significantly more substantial than others his age. Yet, he only consumed what he needed, leaving the surplus for others. He could only bear witness as the weakest children were taken away. He was helpless to intervene.


    As the world grew quiet each night, he''d quietly absorb spiritual energy, pondering deeply in the stillness.


    A year had passed since he had arrived in this world, and witnessing humans living in conditions worse than pigs and dogs left him deeply troubled and anxious. A thought tormented him: his wife, reborn alongside him but with no recollection of her past life, might be enduring simr or even worse circumstances.


    Whenever he dwelled on this, a fierce anger surged within him. <i>Why are humans in this world so weak? Xiao Wu, where are you?</i>


    He longed to grow up swiftly and be stronger to search for his Xiao Wu.


    <i>She must still be alive! She must be living well!</i>

 Chapter 4: Growth

    <h4>Chapter 4: Growth</h4>


    In the blink of an eye, three years slipped by, and during that time, they scarcely glimpsed the outside world. Their only view was through the asional cracks in the wooden hut.


    The sky was beginning to brighten.


    Among the few children left, most struggled to speak and stumbled over their words daily.


    There was no education��nothing at all. They were simply kept alive like livestock.


    The door was thrust open immediately, and a colossal wolf demon entered.


    "Come out! Get them all out,"manded the wolf demon to the pig demon, who usually kicked the children around with impunity.


    The pig demon let out an immediate scream. Upon hearing the scream, the children trembled uncontrobly. As they shuffled through the door, nearly all the children huddled and curled up together. For them, the outside world seemed even more terrifying.


    Outside stood severalrge carts pulled by humans. Inside these carts were cages. The human ves dragging the carts had vacant eyes, paying no heed to the presence of the children. It appeared they had long grown ustomed to this scene.


    After throwing the children into the cages, the wolf demon herded the human-powered carts forward.


    Evidently, they were relocating again, moving to another ce for survival.


    The path was evenlyid with pebbles that creaked under the rolling wheels.


    For Tang San, this was the first glimpse of the outside world since arriving in this realm three years ago.


    The sky stayed clear, and the air carried a slight chill. Today''s weather seemed more favorable, not as bitterly cold. While most of the children shivered, Tang San appeared unaffected by the temperature.


    Along both sides of the roady remarkable forests. What made them astonishing was the towering vegetation that stretched as far as the eye could see. Compared to the nts from his previous life��s memories, these shared simrities but were significantlyrger. Some of the robust trees reached almost a hundred meters in height, forcing him to crane his neck upward to behold them fully.


    Now and then, a colossal creature soared through the air, resembling a bird, yet its form remained somewhat indiscernible.


    The atmosphere teemed with spiritual energy and vitality. In three years, Tang San had be certain that this world was incredibly conducive to cultivation��a realm pulsating with high life energy.


    No doubt, the formidable demons and nymphs flourished and evolved thanks to this environment.


    Within three years, Tang San had effectively cultivated the first order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    In his previous world, the Douluo Continent, advancing beyond the first order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique demanded unique methods. Yet, here, it seemed unnecessary. As he guided the energy through his meridians, the internal energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique naturally breached the first order��s barrier. What amazed him more was that he was merely three years old.


    Back in his previous world, he had achieved this breakthrough at the age of six. Though the revtions differed, they were still intricately linked to the spiritual energy of this world.


    Despite his progress, Tang San was still weak and needed to be wary of attracting attention from the powerful demons. He sensed that even the most ordinary wolf demon possessed cultivation akin to at least the second order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, if not higher. Considering the gap in physical prowess, any attempt at resistance seemed like a sure path to self-destruction.


    In this world, humans remained unaware and ignorant. Tang San believed that if he genuinely aimed to change this state of human very, eradicating this ignorance was perhaps the most critical aspect to address.


    After what seemed like over an hour of traveling, at least in Tang San''s perception of time, they reached a ce that resembled a vige.


    Simple wooden huts were scattered around, housing ragged humans��primarily men, with few women in sight. The vige appeared to harbor thousands of residents.


    The cart came to a halt, and the doors swung open. A few human women approached, bowing deeply to the wolf demon.


    "These little brats are now your responsibility. Take them away," the chief wolf demon coldlymanded.


    Tang San was taken aback. Were they being sent back to live with the humans?


    These children were held captive for three years andcked any understanding of what was going on around them. Confronted with this unfamiliar world, they only harbored fear.


    They were forcibly brought into the vige. Tang San''s heart sank when he realized that even the human ves in this vige showed littlepassion toward these children. Their gazes were vacant, and they mechanically ushered the children into the vige.


    In the ensuing days, they were introduced to education.


    Yes, these children were granted the opportunity to learn. What did they learn? Initially, they were taught to recognize objects, familiarize themselves with the tools used by the ves, and acquire basguage skills.


    The food they received was even poorerpared to what they had in captivity. It was apparent that food was in short supply in this ce. Women and children received a meager portion, and only the stronger men could get a bit more to eat.


    Within the vige, their freedom of movement was unrestricted. Tang San noticed that men often went out for work��or rather, for ving away. Death was an everyday reality in the vige. He discovered he came from a different vige through conversations among the vigers. In these human settlements, children born within a vige weren''t allowed to be raised there; they were exchanged and adopted elsewhere.


    Tang San refrained from acting impulsively or saying anything remarkable. He silently lived in the vige, dedicating himself to cultivation.


    Another three years slipped by, and he reached the age of six.


    Children were typically expected to assist in the vige at six years old by weaving mats or carrying lighter objects.


    These children had been living together since their arrival, and even at the age of six, the situation remained unchanged. One-third of the children had passed away in thest three years. There were many causes for that; mostly, however, they died of hunger or because theycked medical care.


    A figure slipped away soundlessly as night descended upon the unassuming human vige.


    Like many human children, Tang San had a slightly stooped posture, yet his movements were swift. As he ventured into the forest, his back suddenly straightened, and his usually dim eyes instantly brightened.


    He took a deep breath.


    The nights in Wind Wolf Town were bitterly cold, marked by a stark temperature drop from day to night. Nevertheless, the crisp air was infused with abundant spiritual energy, revitalizing his being.


    Tang San''s hands formed a hugging gesture before him, and a faint white light began circting around his body. With a light tap of his toes on the ground, he started moving, this time in a more agile manner.


    Drawing from his experiences in his past life, he was naturally adept at the Mysterious Heaven Technique. However, this new body required training and practice to synchronize with his thoughts.


    Since the age of five, he often sneaked out at night. The wilderness offered denser spiritual energy, allowing him to practice more effectively.


    His agile steps mirrored the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, one of his most potent abilities from his previous life. It was the first skill he prioritized practicing in this dangerous world, recognizing that nothing was more important than safeguarding his life.


    A faint jade hue slowly surfaced on his hands, signifying another supreme skill: the Mysterious Jade Hands. This technique rendered his palms impervious to all poisons and immune to des and spears.


    After an hour of cultivation, his body emitted a faint heat, and the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique circted smoothly within him.


    However, he felt somewhat helpless as the martial soul he had awakened on the Douluo Continent in his previous life appeared to be absent in this world. Of course, this was to be expected. He was reborn, carrying only his memories and not his prior abilities.


    He had finally reached the third order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. At the age of six, he had cultivated up to the third order. He hadn��t even dared to dream of this in his previous life.


    Unfortunately, his current strength was far from what he had attained at the same order in his previous life. On the Douluo Continent, he had awakened a martial soul that granted him tremendous power. Additionally, he had possessed the exceedingly rare twin martial souls.


    While the Mysterious Heaven Technique provided internal power, the martial soul was the wellspring of his explosive strength. He distinctly recalled that upon breaking through to the third order in the Douluo Continent, he had merged with a powerful soul ring and acquired a formidable soul bone,ying the groundwork for his future aplishments.


    He could only rely on the Mysterious Heaven Technique and the techniques documented in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record he carried from his previous world. While solely dedicating himself to cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique would lead to continuous strength gains, he still felt it wasn��t enough.

 Chapter 5: The Ability to Transform

    <h4>Chapter 5: The Ability to Transform</h4>


    As Tang San stretched his body, thoughts spun through his mind. After an exhausting work day, the vigers would go to bed early and sleep deeply. At the moment, it was still quite some time before dawn.


    Tang San resolved to venture deeper into the forest. The spiritual energy there seemed noticeably denserpared to the vige. He pondered whether the forest''s depths concealed precious treasures or valuable resources.


    Upon realizing that martial soul awakening was impossible in this world and he could only cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique, Tang San''s n became straightforward. He resolved to diligently cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique to higher orders, amass strength, and then explore how to wield this power effectively. With the profound techniques inscribed in the Tang Sect''s Mysterious Heaven Record, self-defense wouldn''t pose a challenge once he reached an adequate order.


    Through his cultivation, Tang San gradually understood why humans were inherently weak and relegated to very.


    This world was known as the Fn, and itprised a single vast continent, the Daemon Continent, where he presently dwelled. The demons and nymphs possessed formidable innate abilities. In thisnd teeming with spiritual energy, they simply needed to continuously absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth after birth to augment their inherent abilities, rendering them immensely powerful. No other race could rival their might.


    Conversely, humanscked inherentbat abilities and cultivation techniques. Unless they were resourceful, they were essentially powerless and fated to serve as ves under the mighty demons and nymphs.


    The light in the forest was dim due to the thick vegetation. A celestial body akin to the Moon existed in this world, emitting an unusual faint blue glow. It was a rather peculiar sight.


    Tang San''s eyes flickered with a faint purple light, an effect of cultivating another supreme technique from the Mysterious Heaven Scroll called the Purple Demon Eyes. Mastering this technique required him to practice facing the rising sun every day.


    He had to tten himself against the gap between the floor and door for thest two years, barely managing to practice. In the past two years, he had discovered more opportunities for cultivation.


    The aid of the Purple Demon Eyes enabled him to perceive the things around him in the forest distinctly. The further he delved, the more acutely he sensed the strangeness within.


    In his former world, there existed beings known as spirit beasts. Initially oppressed by humans, they persistently fought until they achieved a peaceful coexistence.


    However, demons and nymphs reigned supreme on this Daemon Continent while humans struggled to survive. It appeared that everything was reversed.


    As Tang San proceeded, he suddenly heard some movement and instinctively sought cover behind arge tree, holding his breath.


    <i>Thump!</i> Not far ahead, a figure tumbled to the ground and rolled twice before stopping.


    The individual''s breathing was rapid and erratic, and they gasped for air inrge gulps. They struggled to rise but seemed tock the strength, and they fell back down again.


    Tang San remained motionless, using his Purple Demon Eye to observe the situation cautiously. To his surprise, the fallen individual turned out to be a human male. A mask concealed his face, and their appearance remained hidden, but the figure undoubtedly belonged to a human.


    From the earlier leap, it was apparent that he was no ordinary individual.


    <i>A human with special abilities?</i> Tang San''s eyes sparked with curiosity. His understanding of this world remained limited because he was confined to the small town of Wind Wolf. The sudden encounter with such a capable human was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise. However, the person emitted a strong scent of blood, and it was clear that they were injured.


    At that moment, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the forest. Someone was approaching them at an astonishing speed.


    Tang San, who had been readying to venture out, swiftly concealed himself again.


    "This way!" echoed a resounding howl, trailed by a robust figure leaping from the air.


    His eyes gleamed with a green light in the darkness��a wolf demon.


    He dashed wildly on all fours, incredibly swift. When he reared up, his figure surpassed two meters in height, and his robust muscles pulsated with explosive power.


    A third-order wolf demon!


    Throughout these years, Tang San had garnered insight into the hierarchical structure prevailing on the Daemon Continent. Regardless of race, status and power were appraised ording to a ranked scale.


    The lowest order was the first, and ordinary humans were fundamentally unable to reach even the first order, which relegated them to ves.


    Wolf demons, like the one here, were born in the first order, and upon maturation, they would at least attain the second order. The formidable ones would ascend to the third order. This was specific to the most prevalent bloodline of wolf demons; higher-order bloodlines were rumored to be even more potent. Regarding the highest order within the Daemon Continent, Tang San remained unaware.


    Wind Wolf Town, though being at a remote location, had a fifth-order leader.


    Tang San estimated that the energy output from the Mysterious Heaven Technique at a specific order was likely on par with that of a demon or nymph in a simr order.


    So, as he was at the third order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, Tang San''s cultivation level was nearlyparable to that of a third-order wolf demon.


    The third-order wolf demon appeared out of nowhere and leaped straight at the human.


    Noticing the threat, the human swiftly rolled sideways and dodged the wolf demon''s lunge. At that moment, he made a strange movement. His body seemed to stretch suddenly, and his hands sprouted sharp ws. A faint yellow glow surrounded him, making his figure stand out in the dark. Tang San noticed a coat of brown-yellow fur with ck-brown markings emerging from his skin.


    As this change urred, the human��s speed surged. His ws were aimed directly at the wolf demon''s chest and abdomen.


    The wolf demon swiftly redirected its front paws to block the human''s ws, producing a sharp ng as they shed.


    The human''s strength was notablycking, and he was instantly pushed back. He was clearly stunned for a moment, and blood started dripping down from his lower abdomen.


    Suddenly, several rays of green light appeared from the distance, aimed directly at the human.


    Wind des!


    The third-order wolf demon unleashed a furious roar and shot a Wind de toward the human.


    The transformed human appeared to unleash his full potential at this crucial moment. He leaped with astonishing speed, almost like lightning, darting through the gaps between the Wind des. As the faint yellow radiance on his body intensified, his speed increased sharply, and he instantly appeared in front of the third-order wolf demon.


    His ws swiped out, catching the wolf demon off guard. Although the wolf demon hastily tried to block with his ws, his movements were just a fraction too slow.


    In life-threatening moments, creatures of any kind often unleash immense power, and this transformed human was no exception.


    His ws reached the wolf demon''s throat before he could react, shing across it. But in an instant, the wolf demon''s ws struck the transformed human''s shoulder, sending him flying.


    The third-order wolf demon emitted strange hissing sounds, clutching his throat with his ws. But despite his efforts, a critical blood vessel had been severed, causing a gush of fresh blood. His green eyes rolled back, and it seemed that he had taken a fatal blow.


    In an instant, another formidable wolf demon leaped forward. He was thepanion who had unleashed the Wind des from a distance.


    ��Fuck! Leopard sh!��


    The first wolf demon sprawled on the ground. No matter how hard he tried to stop the bleeding in his throat, his efforts proved futile. The final strike of the transformed human had severed his throat, sealing his fate.


    "Die!" With an equally muscr physique, the second third-order wolf demon lunged fiercely at the human! Its ws emitted a sinister glow alongside a subtle fluctuation of the wind element��a fusion of Wind de and an explosive assault.


    In that critical moment, from the shadows, an unassuming figure stealthily darted out from the side. The third-order wolf demon, entirely focused on the transformed human, remained unaware of the new arrival.

 Chapter 6: The First Battle

    <h4>Chapter 6: The First Battle</h4>


    With astonishing speed, the tiny figure darted from a blind spot, their palm as white as jade aimed directly at the soaring wolf demon''s eyes.


    Tang San''s mastery of time, position, and distance was remarkable.


    Tang San was acutely aware of the vast difference in natural talent and physical strength between himself and the wolf demon, even though he possessed the profound skills of the Tang Sect and was at the third order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. A direct confrontation might not favor him, especially considering his youth and limited reserves of vital energy. Were it not for the transformed human''s intervention that eliminated one wolf demon, Tang San wouldn''t have dared to act against two third-order adversaries. His survival took precedence above all else.


    Oncemitted to action, he understood the importance of a decisive blow.


    Distracted by rage, the wolf demon only became aware when Tang San��s palm reached his eyes. He abruptly jerked his head, and his wolf maw lunged toward Tang San.


    At that crucial moment, Tang San grabbed the wolf with the other hand, capitalizing on his diminutive stature to alter his trajectory by tugging on the wolf''s fur. Nearly somersaulting, he swiftly maneuvered around the chest of the third-rank wolf demon, seamlessly appearing on the opposite side of the wolf.


    With his index and middle fingers arranged in a sword-like gesture, the formidable power of the Mysterious Jade Hand surged through him. The two fingers gleamed with a pristine-white jade hue, thrusting like lightning bolts toward the wolf demon''s eyes as it pivoted back.


    <i>Spurt! </i>The slender fingers prated the warm flesh instantly. Tang San knew he was vastly inferior in raw physical strength to this third-order wolf demon. However, it ended once he struck an opponent of simr cultivation in a vital spot.


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique''s power, channeled through the Mysterious Jade Hand, surged forcefully into the wolf demon''s brain. The creature''s remaining eye burst open instantly, and his brain became a pulpy mess. The roaring ceased abruptly, and the once strong body of the beast copsed to the ground.


    Tang San''s muscles tensed as he executed a deft maneuver, his foot finding leverage against the creature''s body. In a fluid motion, he propelled himself away, his body arching gracefully through the air beforending nimbly in a more distant spot.


    This strike''s remarkable oue owed itself to his extensivebat experience from his previous life. His current form, small and slender, blended perfectly with the darkness, serving as an ideal camouge. Additionally, the third-order wolf demon was consumed by extreme rage and found his perception significantly dulled.


    In a head-on confrontation, Tang San''s Mysterious Jade Hand might not even be able to break through the wolf demon''s thick skin. However, the eyes were the most fragile area. The wolf demon could not have survived being pierced through the eyes and injected with the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Tang San''s feet touched down firmly on the ground, and he noticed that the third-order wolf demon had ceased to move. It was only then that he allowed himself a sigh of relief. Rather than rushing to check on the human, he quickly dropped to the ground, pressing an ear against the earth. Hey still, listening intently for any signs of nearby pursuers.


    Given his current strength, Tang San knew a head-on battle with a third-order wolf demon would be a formidable challenge. His skills were sharp, but his young bodycked the necessary resilience. A single blow from the wolf demon could prove fatal. In executing that seemingly simple attack moments ago, he had exerted himself to the fullest, elevating his spiritual will to its utmost limit.


    No other movements stirred in the surroundings, indicating that the chase for the transforming human had involved only the two third-rank wolf demons. This realization allowed Tang San to breathe another sigh of relief. He would have had no choice but to flee if there had been more.


    He approached the human cautiously, every step measured and deliberate.


    As he drew closer to the person, he froze when he noticed that the once thick fur had vanished without a trace. The sight caused his heartbeat to rise.


    Given his childhood experiences and the unfamiliarity of the transformed human before him, the safest option was to stay still and wait until the wolf demons had departed. Yet, he had chosen to intervene. Part of his decision was driven by the fact that the hunted individual was human. The other important reason was the transformation that had urred earlier.


    In the Douluo Continent, where Tang San originated, Soul Masters wielded unique powers by absorbing beast martial souls. These individuals could enhance their strength by cultivating these martial souls, an integral aspect of their mystical abilities.


    If this world had abilities akin to those in the Douluo Continent, it would significantly boost his strength and facilitate his integration into this new environment.


    Tang San bent down, intending to turn the person over. Just then, the figure on the ground unexpectedly rolled over, and a w swung at him. In that instant, as they both maneuvered in close quarters, the dim light briefly illuminated their faces, allowing them a fleeting nce at one another.


    The other person''s w halted mid-swing, not following through with the attack. In response, Tang San instantly sprang up, swiftly moving out of the person''s reach.


    "You''re a human?" The young man��s voice came out hoarse. He seemed to be in his twenties, his features pale yet strikingly handsome. Blood trickled from his mouth and nose, hinting at his weakened state.


    As he spoke, his hand fell limply to his side. Tang San could now clearly see arge, gruesome wound across the person''s chest and abdomen. Intestines spilled out from the gash, with a significant amount of blood.


    Tang San nodded in acknowledgment and quickly closed the distance between them. The young many on the ground, seemingly drained of all strength, his face ashen. He gasped for air, and his pupils were beginning to dte��a sign of his dire condition.


    Without hesitation, Tang San sprang into action. He recognized that the person''s immediate crisis was the excessive blood loss and the severe damage to his internal organs. Given the limitations of his current abilities, saving him was beyond his reach. The best he could do was to prolong the person''s life temporarily.


    Tang San acted swiftly, first tying together the broken intestines that were spilling out and carefully cing them back into the abdomen. Next, he tore a piece of cloth from the person''s clothing and pressed it firmly against the wound to stem the bleeding. Lastly, he ced his other hand on the person''s chest, channeling the power of his Mysterious Heaven Technique. Tang San wanted to protect and stabilize the man''s vital energy, providing a crucial lifeline in this dire situation.


    As Tang San''s efforts took effect, the person''s difficult breathing began to ease, and a flicker of light returned to his eyes. In a tone tinged with disbelief, he murmured, "You... you''re just a child... you..."


    Tang San uttered solemnly, "Your injuries are beyond healing. Tell me yourst wishes, and I��ll do my best. Before that, though, I need you to answer a question."


    The young man was briefly taken aback by the calmness in Tang San��s voice, which radiated a wisdom far beyond his years. However, he quickly nodded, unwavering in his determination. "Very well," he said. "Ask away. If I can help you, I��ll also ask for your help in return."


    Without a doubt, the encounter marked a significant departure from Tang San''s previous experiences in this unfamiliar world. This individual disyed exceptional rationality and rity of thought. He had not been born into the life of servitude that many others suffered.


    Tang San wasted no time asking his most pressing question: "How did you gain the ability to transform just now, and how can I acquire it as well?"


    The young man paused momentarily, surprised by the inquiry. "You don''t know about the Demonic God Transformation? And yet, you managed to kill that wolf demon?"


    "Demonic God Transformation? I don��t know what that is. I did this using my innate abilities," Tang San replied. Nevertheless, he held those three words, "Demonic God Transformation," firmly in his thoughts, determined to unravel their meaning.


    The young man''s eyes instantly lit up with curiosity. "Did you spontaneously awaken the Demonic God Transformation? Tell me, what''s your unique ability?"


    Tang San furrowed his brow and replied, "Right now, I��m asking questions here."


    After a few deep breaths, the young man exined, "The Demonic God Transformation is a formidable power that appears when humans, and either demons or nymphs, be connected by blood, and it��s passed down that bloodline."


    Tang San''s heart sank as he sought rification. "Are you suggesting it involves mixed bloodlines?"


    The young man wore a bitter smile as he continued, "Indeed, this is the only way we can get <i>some</i> power. And usually, those with mixed bloodlines don��t acknowledge their human side. Most who possess the Demonic God Transformation choose to be subordinates of the demons and nymphs. After all, bing the serfs of demons grants them a status far higher than that of ordinary humans. But some of us don��t identify as demons or nymphs. We only seek to give humans the ability to stand independently, free from envement. So, we rebelled.


    ��My mission was to assassinate the Wind Wolf Lord, but I made an error in judgment and was severely injured. That''s how I ended up like this."

 Chapter 7: Ingesting and Absorbing

    <h4>Chapter 7: Ingesting and Absorbing</h4>


    Tang San delved deeper, asking, "Does this mean that your Demonic God Transformation was also inherited through a mixed-blood lineage?"


    The young man clenched his teeth as he revealed, "Yes, my mother was vited by a leopard demon, and I was the result of that union."


    Tang San continued to press on, his curiosity burning brightly. "So, is it urate to say that the sole route to obtaining the Demonic God Transformation is through this mixed-blood lineage?"


    "Deprivation is another method. It''s where you give up your own Demonic God Transformation power to make an inheritance and immediately pass it on to someone else. If they''repatible, they might get the power. If not, it could kill them," the young man replied.


    Tang San''s eyes shone with curiosity. "How frequently can someone receive such an inheritance, and what conditions determinepatibility?"


    "Usually, individuals without any Demonic God Transformation power are the most likely to bepatible, although it also depends on whether their physical constitution can handle it. As for those already possessing Demonic God Transformation power,patibility relies on whether the two types of power coexist and progress harmoniously," the young man exined.


    Tang San thought about it and asked, "Can someone take the Demonic God Transformation power directly from demons and nymphs? Can they use their bloodline power to strengthen their Demonic God Transformation?"


    The young man hesitated before replying, "Uh...hmm, I don''t know. Is it actually possible? But wouldn''t the bloodline be chaotic if one devoured the power of demons or nymph bloodlines? Wouldn''t that lead to death? It��s most likely not possible."


    "Perhaps it''s worth trying, even with the potential dangers involved," Tang San mused.


    As Tang San continued his conversation with the young man, he delved deeper into the mysteries of the power system in this enchanting world, especially how humans harnessed it. The Demonic God Transformation was about tapping into the incredible bloodline powers of demons and nymphs. Yet, because of the inherent frailty of human bloodlines, those with mixed blood could never hope to attain the same towering might as their pure-blooded counterparts. Nevertheless, those gifted with the Demonic God Transformation still wielded formidable strength beyond the reach of ordinary humans. It dawned on Tang San that mastering the art of Demonic God Transformation was vital if he desired swift growth in his abilities.


    "Do you have anyst wishes?" Tang San asked the young man.


    "I am Zhu Jiaxin.". The young man revealed his identity with a bitter smile.


    "My mother suffered and died at the hands of that leopard demon. In this world, I have no remaining kin. Even though you��re a child, you possess the strength to contend with a third-order wolf demon. I believe your Demonic God Transformation must be powerful. If you want to assist our human race, consider joining our organization. I''m on the verge of dying, and since you have an interest in the Demonic God Transformation, I can transfer my power to you. Whether you absorb it or not is entirely your decision, but if you sense ipatibility, please don��t force it,�� Zhu Jiaxin exined.


    "Your organization? What''s it called? And where is it located?" Tang San asked with curiosity.


    "Our organization has a presence in all major cities inhabited by demons and nymphs. I can''t provide you with specific people to contact, but when you grow older and decide to seek us out, you''ll surely be able to find us. Our organization is called Redemption Society. We exist to save humanity," Zhu Jiaxin exined.


    As Zhu Jiaxin spoke, a flush of red colored his cheeks. He began to shiver uncontrobly, and a faint yellow light emanated from deep within him, casting a glow on his previously clouded eyes. Now, his eyes shone with a newfound rity.


    "Child, you don��t have to tell me who you are," Zhu Jiaxin began, his voice brimming with determination. "I''ve always clung to the belief that one day, we will overthrow the demons and nymphs who have enved us, and humanity will reim its rightful ce as the true masters of this world. We exist for redemption, so we must work tirelessly and grow stronger. Please, do not bury my body, and do not risk exposing yourself. Instead, grow and be even more formidable. Long live humanity!"


    As he uttered his final words, Zhu Jiaxin''s voice faded. However, the yellow light that enveloped him grew more intense, eventually converging into a radiant yellow sphere that hovered before him.


    The radiance from the yellow sphere cast a soft glow upon Tang San''s youthful face, while Zhu Jiaxin''s eyes were filled with a profound longing and a radiant devotion. As the light sphere finally took shape, he slumped in ce as his strength was wholly drained.


    The luminous sphere remained suspended in the air, its presence ethereal and elusive. Tang San sensed an extraordinary power within it. Still, this power appeared to be dwindling, teetering on the edge of fading away. It was a responsibility entrusted to him by Zhu Jiaxin in thest moments of the young man''s life.


    Tang San extended his hand without hesitation and enveloped the luminous sphere with his palm, activating his Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Considering what Zhu Jiaxin had said earlier about those without the Demonic God Transformation potentially having an edge, Tang San, having activated the Mysterious Heaven Technique, was brimming with newfound confidence. Moreover, though significant, Zhu Jiaxin''s Demonic God Transformation power was at about the third order. This meant that even if it wasn��tpatible with Tang San, it was unlikely to cause much harm.


    Furthermore, Tang San had found himself in this unfamiliar world with a mission��to locate his beloved and ultimately transcend this realm and return to his original world. To aplish this, he <i>had </i>to grow stronger. Now, harnessing the power of this world appeared to be the most convenient path to bing stronger.


    The yellow light sphere exuded a gentle warmth. As Tang San grasped it with his hand, he immediately sensed the energy coursing into his body.


    Rather than absorbing the energy directly, Tang San exercised control, skillfully channeling it into his right arm. Utilizing the precision of his Mysterious Heaven Technique, he sealed off his meridians, preventing the energy from spreading further within his body.


    In silence, Tang San watched with rapt attention as the yellow light brought about transformations before his eyes.


    To his amazement, as Tang San used the Mysterious Heaven Technique to connect with the inherited power of the Demonic God Transformation, the inherited power revealed an unexpected adaptability. It willingly fused with his energy, blending seamlessly. At first, it disyed a hint of restlessness, even a touch of wildness. Still, upon contact with the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, it swiftly yielded, bing more pliable and obedient.


    <i>This is......</i>


    Tang San maintained his focus, silently using his Mysterious Heaven Technique as he watched the absorption of the yellow energy. A pleasant warmth enveloped his entire being, and he couldn''t help but notice a marked improvement in his Mysterious Heaven Technique. Usually, it would��ve taken him several months of hard work to achieve the same result.


    Furthermore, the yellow energy seemed to trigger subtle changes in his physique. His meridians, bones, and muscles underwent a strengthening process. This inheritance of the Demonic God Transformation acted as a tonic, enriching and revitalizing his body.


    The energy of the Demonic God Transformation seemed readily absorbable through his Mysterious Heaven Technique. The ease of absorption contrasted with Zhu Jiaxin''s earlier description of blood inheritance as carrying a fatal risk due to ipatibility. During the absorption process, Tang San felt no sense of danger, let alone a threat to his life. It appeared that his Mysterious Heaven Technique allowed him to assimte the Demonic God Transformation''s inheritance withoutplications.


    The situation was bing increasingly fascinating. As Tang San pondered theplete assimtion of this inheritance, he couldn''t help but wonder if he could acquire the Leopard sh skill.


    With that in mind, Tang San swiftly implemented his n. He approached the lifeless body of a third-order wolf demon and ced his hand on it.


    Utilizing his Mysterious Heaven Technique, Tang San channeled his energy into the wolf demon''s lifeless form.


    The wolf demon''s body still held some lingering warmth. As Tang San directed his energy into it, he sensed a faint residual energy. He felt a maic pull when he connected with the unknown energy. The Mysterious Heaven Technique allowed him to absorb that energy and seamlessly merge it into his own.


    Even though the energy was minimal, Tang San was sure it existed. Could this be the bloodline power of the wolf demon?

 Chapter 8: Skills

    <h4>Chapter 8: Skills</h4>


    As he retracted his energy from the wolf demon��s body, Tang San immediately sensed a hint of green within his energy. In contrast to the yellow Demonic God Transformation energy he had inherited previously, this touch of green was much fainter, likely owing to the dissipation caused by the death of the third-rank wolf demon.


    However, this green energy undeniably existed. Like the yellow energy, it was very obedient and seamlessly integrated into the energy of his Mysterious Heaven Technique. However, it was only a subtle enhancement. Simultaneously, it didn''t sh with the yellow energy but let itself be controlled by his Mysterious Heaven Technique. It appeared that his body was subtly and gradually absorbing it.


    Things were getting interesting.


    Tang San quickly approached the corpse of the other wolf demon and repeated the same procedure. This one had been deceased for a simr amount of time, and the absorbed bloodline power was nearly identical.


    After finishing these tasks, he didn''t waste any time. He erased his footprints and promptly left, returning to the vige.


    He chose not to bury the bodies, as Zhu Jiaxin had advised. Zhu Jiaxin had warned him that leaving too many traces could result in being discovered. Tang San held Zhu Jiaxin''s words in deep memory.


    The Redemption Society was a group dedicated to the survival of humanity. This may be the first good news he had encountered since arriving. It signified that not all humans were apathetic ves; there was still a force actively working toward the future of humanity.


    Regrettably, these individuals also carried the bloodlines of demons and nymphs.


    Tang San returned quietly to the vige, sharing a wooden house with a dozen other children. Very few of these children could speak fluently, and Tang San typically behaved like them. Once he entered the wooden house, Tang San closed his eyes and curled up in a corner.


    For him, tonight had proven to be quite rewarding. The most crucial aspect was gaining a deeper understanding of this world and discovering the existence of a human resistance organization. Another significant achievement was acquiring knowledge about Demonic God Transformation and further understanding the uniqueness of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    At this moment, his meridians were warm and appeared nourished by the power he had absorbed earlier. He could distinctly sense that his strength seemed to be on the rise. This improvement had nothing to do with his internal energy; it was a physical enhancement.


    With barely any food, nutrition was hard to find in this ce. Tang San''s only recourse was to draw in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth through the Mysterious Heaven Technique to sustain his body. However, this time, it was different. The power of the Demonic God Transformation and the bloodline energy of the two wolf demons nourished his meridians, bones, and organs, resulting in aprehensive enhancement. The presence of the Mysterious Heaven Technique allowed them to coexist without conflict, making them easier to absorb.


    Could it be that the Mysterious Heaven Technique had transformed into a devouring divine technique upon arriving in this world? A technique capable of absorbing the bloodline power of demons and nymphs?


    He wondered whether it would have the same effect when they were alive. If it could, that would be genuinely terrifying.


    Of course, there were also hidden risks.


    <i>Will it be harmful if I absorb too many bloodline types? What if mixing all these random types of energy will cause problems with my cultivation?</i>


    To know how these developments would unfold, he needed to monitor the changes in his body following this absorption.


    As a human possessing the ability of Demonic God Transformation, he could liberate himself from servitude to the demons and nymphs. He could enter a major city and seek out the Redemption Society.


    Tang San quietly formted some ns in his mind. Once he located the Redemption Society, joining them would undoubtedly facilitate his search for Xiao Wu in her reincarnated form. This organization wasn''t small, and it was safe to assume it was present in every major city.


    Wind Wolf Town remained unchanged despite the deaths of those few individuals��at least nothing changed in their ve vige.


    Tang San dedicated seven days to digesting the absorbed Demonic God Transformation energy and the bloodline power of the two wolf demons.


    After digestion, his most significant sensation was that he had grown stronger. His body had undeniably be stronger. With his experience in cultivation, he naturally understood that the strength of one''s physique was closely tied to the limits of their cultivation. Without a sturdy and resilient physique, it would be impossible to withstand more potent energy.


    Following this enhancement, he was confident he could confront a third-order wolf demon head-on.


    However, this wasn''t his biggest achievement. An even more significant gain was that he retained the abilities of Demonic God Transformation and the wolf demons.


    Night fell.


    Tang San entered the forest in silence once more.


    With narrowed eyes, he suddenly activated the Mysterious Heaven Technique, and his bloodlines began to surge. He lightly tapped the ground with his toes. In an instant, a yellow light burst forth, dramatically increasing his speed, and he resembled a bolt of lightning as he shot forward ten meters.


    Using the Mysterious Heaven Technique had depleted a substantial portion of his energy and the rapid burst of speed had taken a toll on his physique. His entire body felt somewhat sore as he stood firmly on the ground.


    However, Tang San didn''t hesitate. He raised both hands, and a faint green light materialized at the center of his palms. With a swing of his hands, he released two wind des, each roughly three inches in size. These green wind des soared five meters before vanishing into the air.


    Yes, he had gained these abilities by absorbing those energies.


    The newly-discovered devouring ability of the Mysterious Heaven Technique allowed him to acquire the Leopard sh and Wind de from Zhu Jiaxin''s Demonic God Transformation and the wolf demons�� bloodline, respectively. Tang San hadn''t foreseen this development.


    After absorbing the two bloodline powers, he sensed that these abilities had integrated into his memory. Whenever he wished to use them, they emerged effortlessly. Strangely, his body remained unchanged, unlike the transformation into a beast that urred with the Demonic God Transformation. Instead, it consumed the energy of his Mysterious Heaven Technique. The energy, once colored in yellow and green, had returned to its original state.


    The absorption of the bloodline powers seemed to have given him two new skills. Tang San could now use them at will. However, regardless of how much he practiced, these two skills wouldn''t progress.


    When he first used these abilities, he noticed they were significantly weaker than when Zhu Jiaxin and the wolf demon had used them. Also, it seemed that these skills were fixed and would not improve.


    While they did have some value, skills that couldn''t be enhanced in terms of power wouldn''t substantially impact his growth.


    The silver lining was that the abilities he had absorbed didn''t sh. Instead, they appeared to undergo a conversion thanks to the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Overall, this was undoubtedly a good thing. Tang San had some guesses and ideas about the whole process.


    There was no denying that he was distinct from the humans in this world, and the Mysterious Heaven Technique was equally exceptional. As he continuously explored the interaction between the Mysterious Heaven Technique and the power system of this world, more experiments would undoubtedly yield more insights.


    Learning these two skills was ultimately advantageous. Zhu Jiaxin and the wolf demons weren''t particrly formidable. Hence, the absorbed abilities naturally had limited effects. However, what if his Mysterious Heaven Technique gained greater strength in the future and the absorbed Demonic God Transformation power became more potent? The skills that he could earn then would also be more powerful. At the very least, they provide an easier path to enhance his strength. Furthermore, this devouring method would elerate his cultivation.


    The spiritual energy of heaven and earth in this world was truly abundant. Tang San believed that, at his current pace of advancement, by the time he reached the age of twenty, he could reach the ninth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. This corresponded to the ninth order in this world''s power hierarchy. Naturally, this possibility hinged on the condition that his cultivation proceeded without significant setbacks. His greatest advantagey in the Mysterious Heaven Technique''s exceptionalpatibility with the spiritual energy of this world.


    Days passed, each one blending into the next. He toiled during the day and devoted himself to cultivation at night. Tang San settled back into his routine, leading an uneventful and routine life.


    Two more years went by, and Tang San weed his eighth year.


    Possibly owing to the absorption of the bloodline power, he had experienced a growth spurt beyond that of regr children. At the age of eight, he had already surpassed the height of most ten-year-olds despite remaining rather slender. His noticeable stature drew attention, resulting in him being assigned morebor.

 Chapter 9: Bottleneck

    <h4>Chapter 9: Bottleneck</h4>


    Tang San''s recent mood was rather gloomy. The reason was straightforward: it had been two years, and he had yet to make a breakthrough to the fourth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Initially, he believed that by the age of seven, he would be capable of reaching the fourth order. However, when he reached the third order��s pinnacle, he realized he had encountered a bottleneck. This barrier didn''t appear to result from his limitations but rather from a restraining force inherent to Fn.


    Advancing from the third to the fourth order was a formidable challenge.


    Tang San had diligently cultivated and amassed power but could not ovee this suppression. Two years had passed, and at eight, he had only reached the third order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Furthermore, the collected energy didn''t appear to assist him in breaking through.


    Leopard sh and Wind de had be second nature to him. Yet, their power hadn''t grown alongside the advancement of his Mysterious Heaven Technique. It seemed as if these two skills had indeed reached a teau. With this, it seemed that all of his abilities were at a bottleneck.


    This predicament was caused by a significant issue: theck of a path to higher advancement. Without such a path, he could only continue to grow at the pace he was currently at. What could he aplish with the power at the pinnacle of the third order? He would remain an insignificant presence in this world.


    Tang San was aware that he needed to embark on some daring endeavors.


    Today, his task was to transport trees. In the vige, he assisted the adults in carrying the trees the grown men had cut down to a wooden cart that would bring them to the town.


    Seven children were aiding the four adults in transporting the load of wood on the cart. The adults pulled the cart with ropes at the front while the children pushed from behind. The road was covered in gravel but rtively even. The cart wasn''t moving quickly, and the adults at the front were already putting forth their full strength, progressing step by step.


    Tang San had visited Wind Wolf Town a few times in the past. The town''s residents were exclusively members of the Wind Wolf n, a subgroup of the wolf demons. The Wind Wolf Lord resided in the most prominent house in the town''s center.


    Wind Wolf Town was the residence of over a thousand Wind Wolf n members, surrounded by seven human ve viges that served and supported them.


    Wind Wolves were predatory, and humans, including the asional human ves, would be their food. Of course, other animals also served as their sources of nutrition.


    Compared to other demons, Wind Wolves didn''t exhibit an extreme interest in consuming humans, making the likelihood of humans being eaten rtively low in this area. It wasn''t due to the Wind Wolves''passion; instead, they recognized that the real value of humansy in their capacity forbor.


    As Tang San pushed the cart, he observed the town''s surroundings, and at the same time, spected on why he had reached a bottleneck. A potential reason was a conflict between the cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and this world��s fundamental rules. Given his present abilities, it seemed impossible to escape the constraints imposed by these rules.


    The unseen presence of the Lord of the ne frequently shaped these rules. Being a former God King, Tang San was well-acquainted with this aspect.


    Having lived here for eight years, although he had never ventured beyond Wind Wolf Town, one thing was clear. The spiritual energy in this world was exceedingly abundant, reflecting the overall strength of the ne. The higher beings in such a potent ne would undoubtedly possess formidable power, potentially surpassing the divine order in his original world. Therefore, the Lord of this ne��in other words, the avatar of the itself��was likely to be extremely powerful.


    From his prior interactions with Zhu Jiaxin and the absorption of wind attribute energy from the wolf demons, he had a vague sense that the Mysterious Heaven Technique might possess the ability to absorb the powers of this world. Perhaps the reason he was experiencing suppression was also rted to this capability.


    Breaking through would be exceedingly challenging by relying solely on the Mysterious Heaven Technique. He needed to explore an alternative approach. Drawing from his perspective as a former God King, the most direct method appeared to be gaining recognition from the Lord of the ne and its governing rules.


    The Lord of the ne usually manifested as an intangible entity, and all the rules within the ne were put in ce to safeguard themself and uphold equilibrium. Consequently, the best approach for Tang San to continue his advancement was to strengthen himself within the rules of this world. He had to conceal the existence of his Mysterious Heaven Technique, thereby reducing the rules'' awareness and suppression. This would allow him to make a breakthrough and continue his cultivation.


    He was observing Wind Wolf Town with this strategy in mind. The most effective means to improve his capabilities in this ne were undoubtedly enhancing his Wind Wolf abilities or refining the Leopard sh ability.


    Finding another individual who had Leopard sh would be almost impossible. However, Wind Wolf n members were most prevalent in Wind Wolf Town. His strategy was to locate a suitable Wind Wolf around the third rank and attempt to use the Mysterious Heaven Technique to extract the bloodline power from the Wind Wolf, enhancing his existing Wind de ability.


    If this method proved sessful, he would monitor the Wind Wolf in order to confirm whether the Wind Wolf could still regenerate its bloodline power even after having its bloodline power extracted. If it could recover, then the chances of him being discovered would decrease significantly. With the continuous enhancement of the Wind de, his Wind Wolf bloodline would grow stronger, enabling him to ovee the bottleneck of his cultivation.


    Tang San had devised this n after meticulous consideration. Given his abilities��the Leopard sh, Wind de, and the peak of the third order in the Mysterious Heaven Technique��he was confident that he could ambush a Wind Wolf.


    As they walked, the wooden cart unexpectedly stopped, prompting the children behind to pause their movements instinctively. One of the youngest children even tumbled to the ground due to the sudden stop. Tang San promptly controlled his strength, refraining from exerting any unusual force, and pretended to react just like the other children. The adult at the front also stopped and appeared to be gazing in a specific direction.


    Tang San could discern from the side that their expressions held a tinge of envy.


    A thing worth noting was that these humans, raised as ves from a young age, were typically emotionally numb and rarely showed any visible mood changes, so this was a rather unusual urrence.


    Tang San followed their line of sight and observed several individuals posting notices not far away. They were humans, just like himself; but in contrast to the ves, the attire of these individuals appeared rtively clean and well-kept.


    Tang San narrowed his eyes and activated his Purple Demon Eyes, which enabled him to see clearly. He read the notice, which stated that a bloodline assessment would ur in three days, and any ves who had some measure of wind wolf bloodline were invited to participate in the testing. If the test were sessful, they could reside in Wind Wolf Town and cultivate as vassals of the Wind Wolf n.


    <i>Bloodline assessment?</i>


    Tang understood instantly.


    Although he often came to Wind Wolf Town forbor, this was the first time he had seen such notices. Undoubtedly, the individuals who were posting notices were also vassals of the Wind Wolf n, possessing the coveted Wind Wolf bloodline and enjoying a higher status than ordinary ves. It was apparent that they had moved beyond the life of very, at the very least.


    Curiosity began to stir in Tang San''s mind. If this was indeed the situation, his strategy could be altered. Being disguised as a ve did offer certain advantages, but it also came with a major problem: his interactions with this world were severely limited.


    Given his limited exposure, the possibility of exploring more and essing the true resources of this world appeared grim. With that in mind, the bloodline screening event in Wind Wolf Town meant a good chance for change.


    From a human standpoint, it was clear even for a ve with the slightest shred of self-esteem that this assessment was a tremendous insult.


    Who exactly were the humans likely to possess wind wolf blood? They were humans of mixed ancestry. That would mean that these individuals were born from the unions between the creatures of the Wind Wolf n and humans. However, in this world, humans were utterly unqualified to bepanions of the demons. Rather than partners, they were nothing more than objects used by the demons to release their carnal desires.

 Chapter 10: The Awakening Ritual

    <h4>Chapter 10: The Awakening Ritual</h4>


    Tang San spent time thinking deeply about the Redemption Society. He understood that its formation as a secret resistance movement showed that some humans held solid moral convictions and knew the world''s true nature well.


    The vast number of human ves, far outnumbering the Wind Wolf n, showed the abundance of humans in this world.


    <i>In three days, huh.</i>


    The day after the notices were posted, the viges began responding to the published messages. Each vige had appointed wolf demons to oversee the ves.


    In the early morning, these wolf demons gathered everyone in the vige, young and old alike. The older humans seemed numb and quiet, while the younger ones, around twenty years of age, still had a hint of hope in their eyes. They were the most likely candidates to awaken the wind wolf bloodline.


    Amid the crowd, Tang San felt a deep sadness. The humans in front of him were hoping to awaken a bloodline that could have only been born from their mothers being vited by demons. How could he not feel that it was tragic?


    He didn''t resent the rule of the demons and nymphs in and of itself, as it was the natural order of this world. But the sight of his fellow humans living as numb ves and giving up every trace of humanity just to survive filled him with sorrow.


    These feelings had grown over the past eight years, fueling his resolve to find his wife and empower humans to live in this world with strength and dignity.


    "Pay close attention. I''m about to awaken your bloodlines. Any ves who awaken the bloodline of our Wind Wolf n can take the test in two days. Those with strong enough bloodline power will be granted the status of vassals and the opportunity to study in the town. Exceptional vassals might even achieve the same status as our n members. This is your chance to rise to the ranks. Therefore, during the awakening process, be mindful of your bloodline. Don''t suppress any changes; allow your transformations to manifest. Is that clear to everyone?" said the wolf demon.


    The human ves bowed simultaneously, disying a mixture of fear and reverence.


    The wolf demon nodded in satisfaction, his fangs protruding as his eyes emitted an increasingly bright green light. With a fierce glint in his eyes, he suddenly raised his head and let out a piercing howl.


    "Awooo...."


    With this howl, numerous other howls appeared to reverberate in the distance.


    Tang San stood a bit farther away, yet his senses were sharp enough to distinctly perceive the wolf demon''s bloodline surging and unleashing a searing wave of bloodline energy as it roared. This energy surged outward, causing the humans nearby to shiver slightly.


    "Awooo��" Following the conclusion of the initial howl, the wolf demon began to howl once more, filling the air with a dense presence of blood energy.


    Out of nowhere, a young man positioned to the left of Tang San suddenly convulsed, as if he was enduring intense pain. He emitted a strange cry and violently toppled forward, resting on all fours with his face pressed against the ground. Strands of greenish-gray hair protruded from his skin, but the man wasn��t even aware; he appeared to be in great distress and he was writhing in agony.


    Was this the awakening of the wind wolf bloodline?


    Tang San took his time. He refrained from revealing himself, and instead just quietly observed the unfolding scene.


    Apart from the young man, on the opposite side, further away, there was also a teenage girl clutching her head with her hands, crouching down in ce. It appeared that some changes were also urring within her body, though they were fainter.


    Among the remaining individuals, most disyed little more than quivering and trembling. When they cast sidelong nces at the two undergoing transformations, there was even a hint of envy in their eyes.


    "Awooo...." came another howl.


    As the third howl neared its conclusion, Tang San realized he couldn''t dy further. He abruptly crouched down, gripping his head and feigned pain. This unexpected move startled the children surrounding him.


    After the three howls, the wolf demon''s gaze moved across the group. Tang San and the others, who had undergone significant changes, drew the most attention. The wolf demon approached them and escorted them away individually.


    The young man whose skin had grown wolf hair writhed on the ground, undergoing noticeable transformations. He drooled and appeared to be unconscious.


    The girl''s changes were less dramatic, with only a bit of hair appearing on her neck. Tang San, on the other hand, showed no changes whatsoever.


    The wolf demon didn''t pay any heed to the young man and the girl. Instead, he kicked Tang San hard, sending him rolling a few times.


    "Kid, I hope you are not just pretending to possess our noble bloodline. You better pray that your bloodline is genuine. Otherwise, you''ll end up as the sacrificial offering. Take them away," the wolf demon scoffed.


    Several second-order wolf demons came forward, ced the three on a cart, and pulled them away.


    Tang San had expected more ves to awaken the wind wolf bloodline. However, when they gathered, there were only thirteen people of varying ages. Four individuals disyed clear signs of undergoing a wolf transformation, indicating a more concentrated wind wolf bloodline.


    Tang San''s body remained unchanged, with no signs of transformation, but he was the only one among them. The others all exhibited varying degrees of transformation.


    They were assembled in preparation for the bloodline test that would be conducted two dayster.


    What caught Tang San off guard was that they actually had meat for dinner that night, marking the first time he had eaten meat since his arrival. Nevertheless, he had no appetite.


    Before dinner, three out of the four individuals who had undergone the most significant transformations died.


    Tang San went to examine their bodies, and the reasons behind their deaths were identical. The fragile ve physique couldn''t endure the Demonic God Transformation that took ce during the awakening of the wind wolf bloodline, causing organ failure or ruptured blood vessels, ultimately resulting in their demise.


    The wolf demons came during the night and removed the three bodies. The remaining humans silently ate their meals, not even saying a word to each other.


    The food for dinner was just barely edible; the meat was chewy and fibrous, and its origin remained a mystery. Someone had simply boiled the meal, and itcked any discernible vor.


    After dinner, Tang San looked for a quiet corner and sat by himself. With two more days remaining until the bloodline test, he wasn''t concerned about testing positive for the Wind Wolf bloodline. He had his methods and wouldn''t havee here if he didn''t.


    While he closed his eyes to rest and silently readied himself to cultivate his Mysterious Heaven Technique, he suddenly felt a presence and instinctively opened his eyes.


    He immediately noticed that someone was now standing beside him. It was a girl who appeared slightly older than him. Tang San recognized her��she was from the same vige. Despite looking slightly older, she had a petite frame. Her face was smeared with dirt, but she still looked pretty cute.


    "You...," the girl spoke, finally opening her mouth. Her voice was slightly hoarse.


    "Hmm?" Tang San replied. Communication among human ves was pretty umon, particrly among the children. Interaction was moremon among adults. These children had not received an education since their early years, leaving them ignorant.


    "Can you really do it?" the girl inquired in a hushed tone. Tang San looked at her in astonishment, and the girl continued in a whispered voice, "If you can''t, you''ll... you''ll die."


    <i>She''s concerned about me?</i> Warmth enveloped Tang San''s heart, a first since arriving in this world.

 Chapter 11: Intent to Kill

    <h4>Chapter 11: Intent to Kill</h4>


    The girl gestured toward a corner of the nearby wooden house, where a heap of hay was stacked against the damaged walls.


    "If it doesn''t work, you should run. If you��re just pretending and they catch you, you��re dead," the girl whispered, her voice no longer as hoarse as earlier.


    "Thank you, I can handle it," Tang San responded softly.


    The girl raised her eyes. Her slight frame quivered briefly when she met hisposed gaze; then, she promptly lowered her head and uttered, "Oh."


    She shifted around, seemingly ready to leave.


    "I''m Tang San, what''s your name?" Tang San inquired in a subdued tone. Besides Zhu Jiaxin, she was the first human he hadmunicated with, and they were both ves.


    The girl looked at him again, showing no surprise at his numerical name. After hesitating momentarily, she whispered, "My name is Ling Muxue."


    Hearing her name, Tang San was taken aback. It didn''t sound like a ve''s name at all!


    "My mother was, was..." Ling Muxue stammered, "My mother and I are from the same vige. She taught me..."[1]


    Despite her limited ability to express herself, Tang San grasped the essence of her words. It was clear that her mother had caught the attention of a wolf demon. Despite her status as a ve, she had enjoyed some privileges. At the very least, she could reside with her child and impart some knowledge. As a result, this girl''s thinking was evidently more sophisticated and she was more knowledgeable than other children her age. She even had a reasonably pleasant name.[2]


    "Alright." Tang San kept his response brief, simply offering a nod in acknowledgment.


    "Can you really do it?" Ling Muxue inquired, gazing at him again, her eyes filled with evident concern.


    "Yes," Tang San nodded once more.


    "Okay."


    At that moment, other human ves had already noticed them and were now staring in their direction. Ling Muxue didn''t dare to say anything further and simply nodded at Tang San once more before shrinking away and moving to the other side.


    Perhaps due to the brief interaction with Ling Muxue, Tang San''s mood lifted slightly. In this unfamiliarnd, experiencing a sense of warmth was akin to discovering a still-burning ember in a cold hearth. After all, it had been eight long years.


    Two days flew by quickly. During this time, the ten survivors had the best food they''d ever had. Their mood was much better than when they had arrived. The older kids among them were particrly excited. They knew this was their big chance!


    Among the ten, Ling Muxue was the lone girl, and she went unnoticed by the others. Everyone''s attention was fixated on the awakening of their bloodlines.


    If they passed the bloodline assessment, it meant they would no longer remain ves but would instead be vassals of the Wind Wolf n. For the ves, it was akin to a miraculous transformation. The status of ves in this world was unbelievably low, to the extent that they were regarded no differently from livestock and sometimes even worse.


    Finally, the door to the wooden house swung open, eliciting eager anticipation from most of the upants. Severalrge wolf demons entered and yelled at the humans, instructing Tang San and the others to apany them.


    As they stepped out of the wooden house, the sunlight appeared a bit too dazzling, but it brought a weed warmth. Ling Muxue trailed closely behind Tang San, and he sensed her concerned gaze again.


    "Don''t worry," Tang San quietly reassured her.


    Ling Muxue hesitated for a moment, then looked into his eyes. Tang San nodded in response.


    Over the past two days, they had lived in a wooden house within the town. Today, they were escorted to the central area of Wind Wolf Town, a square spanning around a thousand square meters. Numerous members of the Wind Wolf n had already gathered around the square.


    At the center of the square stood an altar. What immediately caught Tang San''s attention was that at the base of this altar made of stones bound with mortar, he could faintly see that mixed in the mortar were also skulls.


    <i>The skulls of humans!</i>


    Tang San clenched his fists subconsciously.


    <i>Even in death, this is how they will be treated...</i>


    He felt a me igniting in his heart. As the former God King, his mental fortitude exceeded that of ordinary beings. However, at this very moment, he yearned to destroy the demons and nymphs, everyst one of them!


    Tang San''s eyes grew cold as a lingering intent to kill festered within his heart.


    Ling Muxue appeared to sense something and shivered, instinctively taking two steps back to put some distance between them. Her actions surprised Tang San, but at that moment, he felt as if he had regained something, a trace of his former self.


    He still retained vivid memories of his past life, particrly his youth, when he had walked a path akin to the road to hell.


    Regaining control over his emotions, he partially closed his eyes, concealing that spark of determination in his heart.


    <i>Alright, demons! Very well!</i>


    Tang San and the other nine individuals were led to a corner of Wind Wolf Town Square. Beneath a massive tree, an elderly wolf demon stood on a grand-looking chair, presiding over the gathering. Her eyes were emerald green, and she clutched a staff in her right hand.


    Standing by her side was a middle-aged human who seemed to be in his forties. He had a lean face and sported a rathervish attire. A faint green light flickered in his eyes, and he gave a slight bow, disying a respectful demeanor.


    The wolf demon who had escorted Tang San and the others had approached the elderly wolf demon and offered a bow.


    "Esteemed High Priest, this year, all the awakened bloodline ves have been gathered here," the wolf demon proimed.


    The High Priest nodded before gesturing toward the human beside her.


    The man first paid his respects to her and then advanced to stand before Tang San and the others.


    Tang San silently assessed the High Priest''s aura, an aura of truly great strength. He couldn''t even discern her actual cultivation level with his current power. Of course, this was without tapping into his divine consciousness. However, he refrained from using it lightly, as what remained was exceedingly scarce and couldn''t be quickly replenished in his current situation. He would only readily use his divine consciousness in a life-or-death position. He knew his divine consciousness could only be truly harnessed when he grew more formidable.


    As the man was about to speak, the nearby wolf demons abruptly parted ways and bowed simultaneously. A colossal wolf demon, standing over three meters tall, approached.


    This wolf demon clearly possessed immense power, with bulging muscles that radiated strength. His eyes were deep green; they were not as intense as the High Priest''s, but they emanated potent energy fluctuations.


    He advanced toward the High Priest and slightly bowed, cing his right hand over his chest.


    "High Priest," greeted the powerful wolf demon.


    A faint smile graced the High Priest''s aged countenance. "Ah, Wind Wolf Lord, you have arrived. Following the bloodline testing of these ves, we shallmence the ancestral sacrifice. Are you prepared, my lord?"


    She remained seated in her initial spot, signifying that she, the High Priest, was in fact the most prominent authority figure in Wind Wolf Town. Her authority surpasses that of the Wind Wolf Lord.


    "Everything is arranged, High Priest. The offerings are prepared. We would kindly request the High Priest to officiate," the Wind Wolf Lord said with great respect.


    "Good. After assessing the bloodlines of these ves, we will begin immediately," the High Priest said calmly.


    "Let us start," the Wind Wolf Lord instructed the middle-aged human man, who had already positioned himself in front of Tang San and the others.


    "Yes, my Lord," the man acknowledged with a respectful bow before directing his attention toward Tang San and the other nine individuals.


    "Pay close attention," the man began. "During the bloodline assessment, if you experience any reactions, don''t hesitate to disy them. There''s no need to restrain yourself or be fearful. Do your best, do you understand?"


    Tang San nced up at the hunched man in front of him, catching a fleeting glimpse of sorrow in the man''s eyes.


    1. This might sound like a DUH moment, but remember that children are separated at birth as a rule. ?


    2. Ling (��) is a normal Chinese surname, while Muxue (��ѩ) means ��bathed/cleansed in snow�� and it��s a pleasant-sounding female name. ?

 Chapter 12: The Bloodline Assessment

    <h4>Chapter 12: The Bloodline Assessment</h4>


    In the next instant, the middle-aged man gradually extended his arms, gazing up at the sky, and shouted, "Mighty wind! Bestow your blessings upon your people, allow them to grasp the true essence of the wind!"


    As the man fervently chanted, his body expanded, and greenish-gray fur sprouted from his skin. His upper body garments instantly tore apart, unveiling powerful muscles, while a radiant green light emanated from him.


    <i>Fourth order? Or maybe the fifth order?</i>


    That was Tang San''s initial impression. This middle-aged man was the human with the highest cultivation he had encountered so far in this world. The atmosphere around them grew more and more saturated with wind elemental energy, and this dense wind energy enveloped all of the ten candidates.


    "Seems like Wang Yanfeng''s control over the wind element has improved significantly!" said the Wind Wolf Lord, turning to the High Priest.


    The High Priest responded calmly, "Naturally, as a ve, he can only rise to the fourth order, at best. However, humans do have some talent in terms of control. He has simply be more skilled. As for you, my Lord, instead of spending so much time with those she-wolves, you should concentrate on training and enhancing your strength. Otherwise, you''ll be ridiculed again at our n''s grand ceremony in a few years."


    The Wind Wolf Lord''s expression stiffened.


    "I understand," he replied icily.


    As Wang Yanfeng��s wind energy enveloped them, Tang San and the other nine individuals were encased in a subtle green glow.


    Tang San squinted his eyes and silently connected with the wind element. He sensed that it affected his Wind de, which he duplicated using his inner energy. He carefully activated the power of his Wind Wolf bloodline, merging it with his own, resulting in a shift in his aura.


    Suddenly, he noticed that the dense wind element surrounding him was being absorbed after his bloodline had transformed. The energy of the Wind de appeared to be umting.


    Being astute and experienced, he swiftly grasped a crucial insight. In the past, he had struggled to enhance his Wind de and Leopard sh due to the constraints of his bloodline and the absence ofpatible and concentrated elemental support. Amidst this potent wind element, the Wind de showed a distinct response. This implied that, given the appropriate conditions, he could enhance his Wind de.


    "Roarrr����". At that moment, among the ten individuals, the young man who had exhibited the most pronounced beastly transformation earlier had his attire ripped, with fur sprouting from his body. He visibly expanded in physical size, and a faint green light flickered in his eyes.


    Wang Yanfeng''s eyes sparkled, and he gestured with a wave of his hand, conjuring a whirlwind that promptly enveloped the young man''s body and moved him to the side. This signified that he had sessfully passed the evaluation.


    Tang San refrained from revealing himself too quickly. He recognized that such a dense wind element didn''t ur naturally, and he was aware that, given his present cultivation level, he couldn''t create it himself. With that in mind, he took the chance to absorb as much as he could. He felt that it might prove advantageous in breaking through his limitations.


    To his astonishment, the second individual to show a reaction was the girl standing beside him.


    Ling Muxue eximed softly as her body underwent a slight expansion. Her transformation was less dramatic than the young man''s; she only developed fur on her neck. However, the green light in her eyes grew notably brighter. A faint green aura enveloped her body, and she even levitated slightly.


    Wang Yanfeng waved his hand once more, employing the wind element to guide Ling Muxue toward him and gently lowering her to the side. He remarked, "Although the bloodline isn''t particrly potent, itspatibility with the wind element is excellent."


    Next, two boys, approximately fifteen or sixteen years old, also had intense reactions.


    Wang Yanfeng appeared noticeably anxious, and the concentration of the wind element he was harnessing intensified. Nheless, Tang San could discern sweat forming on Wang Yanfeng''s forehead. Maintaining such a high concentration of the wind element exacted a substantial toll on his energy.


    It was clear that Wang Yanfeng was squeezing out hisst drops of energy in hope that a few more people would sessfully pass the bloodline assessment.


    "That should be enough. If it''s not, then so be it. Let us not dy the grand ceremony," the Wind Wolf Lord dered coldly.


    Wang Yanfeng implored, "My lord, grant me one more minute. I believe there might be others."


    Tang San realized he couldn''t dy any further. He closed his eyes and slowly raised his hand in front of him.


    When he reopened his eyes, a green light shone within, and the dense wind element surrounding him briefly condensed. Then, a wind de approximately three inches in length formed within his palm. Though the wind de wasn''trge, it moved very nimbly.


    The following moment, Tang San appeared to lose control of the wind de, and it shot into the air with a sonic boom.


    "Wind de? This..." Wang Yanfeng was taken aback, but then swiftly gestured with his hand, pulling Tang San out of the assessment area.


    "Hmm?" The High Priest was primly seated on her chair, overseeing the ceremony, but she furrowed her brow at the sight and nced in Tang San''s direction.


    At that moment, Wang Yanfeng ceased his control over the wind element. He panted heavily, evidently having reached his limit.


    "The physical change isn''t major, but he clearly had a strong connection to the wind element. I believe that he awakened the bloodline ability of our Wind Wolf n, the Wind de," Wang Yanfeng exined. He was catching his breath and speaking directly to the High Priest. "The limited physical change might be due to age, somewhat like what I went through in the past."


    "Hmm..." The High Priest responded with nothing but indifference. She briefly nced at Tang San, then turned her attention elsewhere. To her, a child like him held little significance.


    Ten individuals participated in the assessment, with five exhibiting a reaction and therefore passing. The remaining five appeared suddenly disoriented and bewildered.


    The Wind Wolf Lord gestured with his hand, prompting several robust wolf demons to swiftly advance. They seized the five who hadn''t passed the assessment and forcibly escorted them to the side.


    At this juncture, the High Priest rose from her seat and proceeded step by step toward the altar.


    "Let the sacrificial ceremonymence," she announced solemnly.


    "Yes!" responded the Wind Wolf Lord. He bowed respectfully to the High Priest, trailing behind her as they made their way to the altar.


    Wang Yanfeng did not apany them but remained alongside the five who had sessfully passed the assessment. His breathing had somewhat steadied, and he lowered his head, fixing his gaze on Tang San.


    Tang San''s expression appeared somewhat vacant and bewildered. With his wealth of experience in disguise spanning three lifetimes, his fa?ade was wless.


    The High Priest ascended the tform while the Wind Wolf Lord positioned himself beside her. He raised his head toward the sky and let out a prolonged howl.


    As he howled, all the wolf demons in attendance joined in, lifting their voices toward the heavens. In an instant, the entire Wind Wolf Town echoed with wolf howls, creating the illusion that a horde of beasts was mounting an assault.


    The howling gradually tapered off as the High Priest lifted her staff. In contrast with her elderly appearance, her emerald-green eyes gleamed with fierce intensity.


    "Today is the day we pay homage to our ancestors. Among the sacred ns, our Wolf n is deemed a formidable n. The mighty Wolf Ancestor gave us our bloodline, enabling us to procreate and prosper. Let us bring forth the most exquisite blood offerings to honor the Wolf Ancestor and fortify the legacy of our Wind Wolf lineage," she uttered.


    While speaking, she abruptly turned her head and fixed her gaze upon the five human ves who had fallen short in the assessment and were now standing against the altar.


    "You have traces of our n''s bloodline, yet you cannot awaken our n''s power," she dered with disdain. "Your impure blood presumes to obscure the essence of our Wind Wolf lineage. Only bloodshed can purify this disgrace. Kill them!"


    The wolf demons appeared ready for thismand. The moment the High Priest issued the order, the wolf demons killed the ves, and the sacrifice waspleted.


    This event unfolded so abruptly that it even took Tang San by surprise, and as he processed what he was watching, he immediately felt his blood rushing to his head. His muscles tensed up, and his fists clenched involuntarily.


    The next moment, his vision dimmed, and a figure materialized noiselessly before him.


    The person obstructing his line of sight was none other than Wang Yanfeng.

 Chapter 13: Unbearable Cruelty

    <h4>Chapter 13: Unbearable Cruelty</h4>


    Tang San pressed his lips together, feeling an overwhelming urge to rush forward. However, Wang Yanfeng��s obstruction gave him pause, giving Tang San time to cool his head.


    While the Wolf Wind Lord was most likely at the fifth order, the High Priest could very well be at the sixth. If he started a fight the way he was now, the only possible conclusion would be getting himself killed without aplishing anything. Yet he couldn��t help but feel that he had to do something. Though the humans here were practically soulless beings, they were still of the same human race��humans like <i>him</i>!


    When the wolf demons were killing humans, it was almost like they were ughtering livestock. In fact, in the eyes of these demons, humans were of no higher status than animals.


    The High Priest''s voice sounded again.


    "Present the offerings!"


    Tang San shifted his stance slightly, moving away from Wang Yanfeng''s obstruction and taking a good look at what was going on. Wang Yanfeng seemed to have sensed his movements as he turned his head toward Tang San, furrowing his brow slightly.


    At that moment, the other people who had experienced an awakening finally processed what was going on and started trembling in fear. This time, Tang San appeared scared as well. When Wang Yanfeng saw his expression, he heaved a sigh of relief.


    Then, he extended his right hand and pushed Tang San back again, positioning him behind his back.


    Tang San wasn��t sure of Wang Yanfeng''s exact role within the Wind Wolf n. However, based on his earlier observations during the awakening ritual, he could tell that Wang Yanfeng still retained a sense of humanity.


    Before he was pushed back to the ce behind Wang Yanfeng, Tang San saw naked human women being carried onto the altar��one by one, for a total of ten. There was no doubt in his mind that these were also among the offerings that the High Priest had mentioned.


    Tang San trembled violently, and he didn''t have to fake it. Despite witnessing the numerous human deaths in Wind Wolf Town, he had never seen such brutal and merciless killings before this.


    Even in his previous life, such intense rage had been rare. As a former God King, he had always maintained tight control over his emotions. However, right at this very moment, how could he possibly stay calm?


    "Oh, great ancestors! Today, your descendants offer you the most delectable blood sacrifice. Please bless your descendants and let the Wind Wolf lineage thrive and prosper. Commence the blood offering!"


    Upon the shrill, piercing cry of the High Priest, the ten human women who were brought to the altar had their throats slit. They died instantly, and rivers of blood drench the altar underneath. The haunting howls of the wolf demons reverberated through the Wind Wolf Town once more.


    For the wolf demons, the grand sacrificial ceremony was a moment of exhrated frenzy.


    <i>They just...died. Ten humans...just died. </i>


    Tang San closed his eyes, overwhelmed by pain.


    Right this moment, there was no doubt in his heart. He wanted to transform this world and everything within it. He yearned to liberate humans from being treated as mere livestock, awaken their potential, and topple the dominion of demons and nymphs.


    In any world, thew of survival prevailed. He knew that he had to empower humans to bring about change, and there was no other way.


    The sacrificial ceremony continued,sting a full half-hour beforeing to a close.


    Tang San''s head was bowed throughout the ceremony, and it was clear that he was trembling. He avoided looking toward the altar and stood silently behind Wang Yanfeng. However, his determination was unwavering. While his first goal was to look for his wife on this Fn, he had just taken on another profound, heavy responsibility within this Daemon Continent.


    As the ceremony came to an end, the wolf demons scattered.


    "Follow me."


    Wang Yanfeng turned around and motioned toward Tang San, Ling Muxue, and the other three humans who were proven to possess the wind wolf bloodline.


    The five of them cautiously followed Wang Yanfeng to a house on the western side of Wind Wolf Town.


    This house vastly differed from the one they had previously upied in the vige. The building had two stories and was made of wood and stone. It had a front yard enclosed by a fence made of wooden stakes, covering an area of about a hundred square meters.


    Wang Yanfeng opened the courtyard door, leading them into the yard. A door on the second floor swung open, and a beautiful woman stepped out.


    "Is it finally over?" the woman whispered when she saw Wang Yanfeng''s return.


    "It is done," Wang Yanfeng replied, sighing softly.


    Hearing this, the woman lowered her head, eyes welling up with tears.


    "Were there children this time round?"


    "Yes...five of them didn''t pass," Wang Yanfeng said somberly.


    The woman knew what it meant for someone to fail this test. She lowered her head, and Wang Yanfeng pulled her into a gentle embrace.


    "Come in now."


    The woman��s voice was hoarse, low, and quiet.


    Wang Yanfeng and the woman weed Tang San and the others into the house. It was warm, with a crackling firece. The decor was straightforward, but the room they were in had all the necessary furniture. The ground floor had rooms on both sides and a staircase leading to the upper floor.


    Sensing the warmth inside the house, Tang San and the other four were somewhat moved. Everything else aside, it was still a significant improvement from their previous situation.


    The woman moved to the side and poured some hot water, offering a cup to each of them.[1] As Tang San held the cup in his hand, he suddenly felt like he was given a new lease on life, while Ling Muxue couldn''t hold back her flowing tears.


    Wang Yanfeng sighed and spoke, "You''re both fortunate and unfortunate. Being chosen means you''ve been granted a new chance at life. My dear children, starting today, I will be your teacher. I hope that you will do your best to learn everything I teach you. You can only survive by studying hard and acquiring the skills you need to defend yourselves. In three years, there will be another evaluation. You must defeat the wolf demons of your age to be official vassals. Otherwise...well, you''ve witnessed what happened to those youngsters today."


    He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "I''m not sure if you can fullyprehend what I''m saying, but I''ll put all my efforts into teaching you. Starting today, you''ll live here with me. You will have your own house only after you pass the assessment and be vassals."


    He turned to the woman beside him and introduced her. "This is my wife, Qiu Jing. We''ve both gone through what you experienced today. We survived by bing vassals. In the next three years, you''ll have to work diligently to qualify as vassals so that you don��t have to be ves anymore.


    "Now, go rest. My wife will take you to your rooms. Two boys will share one room, and the girl will have her own. Tomorrow, your study program will begin.


    "Always wear this badge and keep it on you. When you go out, remember to take it with you. This badge will distinguish you from ves."


    With that, Wang Yanfeng handed out a wooden badge to each of them. The badges were adorned with intricate patterns and embedded with a bone-like material resembling a wolf''s fang.


    Their rooms were on the ground floor, and Qiu Jing led them there right away.


    Tang San was assigned to share a room with a boy who was just over ten years old. A shared bathroom was on the ground floor, and Qiu Jing instructed them to clean themselves properly. After washing up, they each received a set of coarse linen clothes. Although the cloth was rough, it was thick and it kept them warm.


    After cleaning up, the children assembled on the first floor for dinner. The meal consisted of some root vegetables, boiled and seasoned with salt, and cooked meat. Considering their situation, it was actually quite a substantial meal. Even though it was not seasoned with anything but salt, the meat soup was still vorful, and it somewhat lifted everyone''s mood.


    Tang San couldn''t help but notice that Ling Muxue''s eyes were red and swollen, and she did not eat as much as everyone else.


    Wang Yanfeng asked for their names, and to his surprise, among the five, besides Tang San and Ling Muxue, the other three didn''t even have actual names. They only had simple code names.


    1. Chinese people tend to drink warm/hot water as opposed to ice water, as traditional Chinese medicine states that hot water is beneficial to the body. ?

 Chapter 14: The Sacrificial Offerings: Our Mothers

    <h4>Chapter 14: The Sacrificial Offerings: Our Mothers</h4>


    The first youth with his bloodline awakened and sessfully transformed was named Daqiang. Tang San shared a room with Woodie, and Daqiang''s roommate was Floofy.


    Wang Yanfeng assigned them straightforward names akin to Tang San''s. The youths were given new names: Wang Da, Wang Er, and Wang San[1]. Wang Yanfeng also exined that once they became genuine vassals, they could choose new names. Official names were only granted to those who achieved vassal status. Wearing the vassal''s name badge would distinguish them from ves, preventing them from being killed by ident.


    After dinner, Wang Yanfeng instructed them to go back to their assigned rooms. He would start their education the following day.


    As he returned to his room, the day''s ordeal, the warmth of this ce, and the changes that had urred quickly lulled Wang Er into a deep sleep.


    Seeing that Wang Er was sound asleep, Tang San discreetly slipped out of his bed. The hallway was shrouded in darkness. He tiptoed through the corridor and reached the door of another room on the opposite side of the ground floor. Ling Muxue upied this room, with the two spaces for the boys on either side of the hallway.


    The door swung open, revealing Ling Muxue''s face. Upon seeing Tang San, her already swollen eyes became damp once more. He swiftly entered and closed the door.


    "What''s the matter?" Tang San whispered.


    He genuinely cared about this girl who had offered him a rare source of warmth in this nightmarish world for humans. In response to his query, Ling Muxue broke into tears.


    "Mom, Mom..."


    Tang San was taken aback, and all he could do was offer his shoulder to support her. A sudden sense of foreboding gripped him, and he felt his throat constricting.


    "What happened to your mother?" he asked urgently, but Ling Muxue could only sob, unable to speak.


    Tang San furrowed his brows, guiding her to sit on the edge of the bed. He gently ced his right hand on her back, using his Mysterious Heaven Technique to slowly pacify her emotions.


    As Tang San directed the energy of his Mysterious Heaven Technique into Ling Muxue''s body, he instantly detected a faint green energy within her. It appeared as if this green energy wanted to connect with him. Tang San promptly withdrew, concerned about identally extracting the Wind Wolf bloodline power from Ling Muxue''s body. What if Ling Muxue couldn��t restore her bloodline energy? Tang San would be putting her in danger.


    Nevertheless, even with just that infusion of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, Ling Muxue felt aforting warmth, and her emotions slightly steadied. She gazed at Tang San with tear-filled eyes.


    "I saw my mother on that altar," Ling Muxue confessed in a trembling voice..


    Tang San felt his mind go nk immediately.


    <i>Altar? Mother?</i>


    <i>No...</i>


    <i>Could it be that those ten women were the mothers of the ten who inherited the Wind Wolf bloodline? If Ling Muxue''s mother was there, then my birth mother must have been there as well!</i>


    Even though it was just a fleeting encounter, one that left nosting memories in his mind, she was the one who had brought him into this world.


    His birth mother had been sacrificed because he had chosen to pretend to be one of the awakened with the Wind Wolf bloodline.


    Tang San was trembling as he thought about that harrowing possibility.


    He had never anticipated the cruelty of the wolf demons. The other three boys hadn''t noticed and were likely in the same situation as him��separated from their mothers at a young age and unable to recognize them. Only Ling Muxue, who had lived with her mother since birth, could remember her mother even when she was ovee by fear. Intense fear had prevented her from screaming aloud, which had ultimately saved her life. However, after her emotions had settled, she couldn''t contain her sorrow.


    "This world can be unbelievably cruel," Tang San murmured.


    At that moment, the door swung open abruptly, and Wang Yanfeng and Qiu Jing stepped into the room. Qiu Jing''s eyes also welled up with tears.


    Tang San sprang to his feet, and in that heart-pounding moment, it was as though his very blood had reached a boiling point. His emotions surged beyond his control. He longed to unleash everyst bit of his divine consciousness, toy waste to everything in this ce.


    But then, Qiu Jing hurried forward, approaching them with quick steps. She embraced Ling Muxue, soothing her with gentle words.


    Wang Yanfeng closed his eyes in pain. "Every one of us, every surviving vassal, has faced scenes like this. It''s the way of the demons. In their eyes, human women who give birth to those with their bloodline are seen as sphemous to their ancestors. The human birth mothers can only be offered as sacrificial offerings. Did you see those human skulls beneath the altar? Those are the victims they''ve killed for this exact reason."


    "When I met both of you, I sensed that you were different from the others. You''re both intelligent. Especially <i>you</i>. When the other children who failed the assessment were killed, I felt that you were not afraid...you were ready to kill. I believe your Wind Wolf Transformation awakened long ago. But you should know one thing: survival is the key here. Impulsiveness leads to death, not just for you but for all of us. ording to the rules of the demons, if a vassal shows betrayal, all vassals are executed, even children. The safest path for me is to capture you and hand you over for questioning about your awakening. Both of you. Do you understand?"


    Tang San''s anger gradually turned into icy resolve. He looked at Wang Yanfeng. His gaze was calm, but chilling. "So...are you nning to hand us over?"


    Wang Yanfeng suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine, startled by the unsettling intensity of Tang San''s stare. Despite being just a child, he appeared far from weak in Wang Yanfeng''s eyes.


    He couldn''t help but smile bitterly. "If I were to hand you over, would I have stood in your way earlier during the ceremony? Child, don''t try anything, don''t go anywhere. You will not see your mother''s body again; they''ve already dealt with it. If you have the heart, live well and strive to be stronger."


    The icy coldness in Tang San''s eyes gradually faded, and his clenched fists slowly rxed.


    If he were to unleash even a fraction of his divine consciousness, he had an eighty percent chance of obliterating everything here. However, his chances of achieving godhood under this world''s suppression would be exceedingly slim. The rules on this were overwhelmingly powerful.


    In this world, on this vast continent of demons and nymphs, were these human tragedies limited to just Wind Wolf Town? No, they urred in every corner of this world. Even if he were to wipe out Wind Wolf Town entirely, it wouldn''t solve the fundamental problem for humanity.


    What Wang Yanfeng had said was correct. Only by bing stronger, by bing <i>truly</i> powerful, could everything be resolved.


    At that moment, a warm hand sped Tang San''s.


    Tang San turned to look and saw the tear-filled, misty eyes of Qiu Jing.


    "Child, we have no other choice. Please do what you can to live well; that would be the bestfort you can bring your mother. I had a child too, but he failed his awakening assessment. I would have dly epted it if he had seeded, even if it meant my death." As she spoke, Qiu Jing pulled Tang San into her embrace, holding both him and Ling Muxue, tears streaming down her face.


    Qiu Jing''s embrace was warm; it warmed Tang San''s heart that was filled with killing intent.


    Ling Muxue cried herself to sleep in that warm embrace, while Wang Yanfeng escorted Tang San back to his room.


    "Get a good night''s sleep," Wang Yanfeng said as he gently patted Tang San��s head.


    1. This is amon historical way of naming the boys in household: Da (big) or Yi (one) is the eldest, Er (two) is the second, San (three) is the third, etc. The MC��s name, Tang San, also means ��third son of the Tang house,�� and the author��s pen name is also somewhere along those lines. ?

 Chapter 15: Teachings

    <h4>Chapter 15: Teachings</h4>


    Tang San raised his head to look at Wang Yanfeng. The man��s eyes were filled with pain, and he seemed to age decades in that brief moment.


    Wang Yanfeng and Qiu Jing had a child, and that child had failed in the awakening assessment, just like the five children today.


    That was why he was so desperate today, doing his best and hoping that more children could survive.


    "Teacher... Thank you." Tang San bowed deeply to Wang Yanfeng.


    Despite Tang San''s past life as a God King, and though Wang Yanfeng was just a humble existence in this Wind Wolf Town, what Wang Yanfeng had done was significant. His efforts to preserve thest spark of humanity had earned Tang San''s approval, even though they had only known each other for one day.


    Thanks to his divine consciousness, Tang San could feel the sorrow and genuine emotion in the hearts of Wang Yanfeng and Qiu Jing. He also felt for the first time that in this world, he finally had a home.


    His night was sleepless, and he couldn��t cultivate either��the image of the altar kept appearing in his mind. He didn''t go outside that night either. While the seed of hatred was deeply rooted in his heart, the warmth brought to him by Wang Yanfeng and his wife was also something he cherished dearly. At this point, he couldn''t act rashly. He had to be sure and think of an escape route for the people in this house before he could act.


    In the morning, Qiu Jing was up early and prepared breakfast.


    After a night''s rest, Wang Da, Wang Er, and Wang San seemed to be in better spirits, and they were able to fully enjoy the rich breakfast they were offered. By contrast, Tang San appeared listless. Ling Muxue''s eyes were swollen, and her expression was dull as she stared at nothing.


    Wang Yanfeng, in the meantime, seemed to have returned to his usual self. After eating, he asked the five people to stand before him.


    "Starting from today, I will teach you the things you have to know. Every morning, there will be lessons about this continent, including culture, history, and so on. The following morning, I will test your knowledge of the content you learned. Those who fail the assessment will be punished. In the afternoon, I will teach you the Wind Wolf Transformation. You <i>must</i> improve, and you must do it fast. Only then you will have a chance to survive when the second testes in three years. Do you understand?"


    Wang Yangfeng��s tone was resolute and left no room for argument orint.


    "Uh-huh." Wang Da, Wang Er, and Wang San all nodded repeatedly. They felt as if they hade to an unprecedented paradise, not having to work and being able to eat their fill, which satisfied them. Although they could be considered unenlightened, humans are naturally intelligent, so they roughly understood that their fate had changed. They also understood Wang Yanfeng''s words about the second assessment. Failure to pass meant death.


    Wang Yanfeng brought out a ckboard and started writing characters, the script of this world, teaching the five students word by word.


    Among the five, the only one who had any understanding of these characters and had a bit more background knowledge was Ling Muxue. Tang San could naturally speak, but he couldn''t write. After all, he had been a ve since birth.


    They only learned ten characters and ten basic words on the first day. Then came the lecture about the Daemon Continent.


    "The Daemon Continent is split into tworge areas: the area controlled by the demons and the area controlled by the nymphs. The demons call themselves the Holy Tribe, and their area is known as the Empyrean Dominion. The nymphs are also known as the Spirit Tribe, and their area is called the Solstice Empire. Regarding the exact names of countries, there are even different names among the tribes. So, in future lectures, I will use Holy Tribe and Spirit Tribe to refer to them.


    "The origin of the Daemon Continent is unknown. ording to the histories recorded by both tribes, it is said that the Ancestral Demons and Ancestral Nymphs were born first, ages ago. They created the demons and the nymphs that are now known as the Holy Tribe and the Spirit Tribe. Both tribes inherently possessed great power, and they had the potential to acquire more power by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. As they evolved, powerful demons and nymphs appeared��those collectively known today as Celestial Demons and Nymphs.


    ��The Holy Tribe and the Spirit Tribe have a certain interdependence, so although conflicts exist, they can maintain a bnce overall. The strength of the two sides is also almost equal, and they haveplete hegemony over their own territories. Hence the division in governance.


    "The Holy Tribe mainly controls the northeastern part of the Daemon Continent, while the Spirit Tribe is in the rtively warmer southwest. Each tribe has manyrge cities governed by powerful Great Demons and Great Nymphs of the two tribes. The point where the borders of the two tribes meet is the center of the Daemon Continent. At the very center lies the Sanctum Spiritus City, thergest city on the Daemon Continent, inhabited by the most powerful demons and nymphs. It is said that the city is vast beyond imagination.��


    Listening to Wang Yanfeng''s lecture, even the grieving Ling Muxue was somewhat entranced. After all, her mother was just a ve with limited knowledge. What Wang Yanfeng taught was like a story to them, and it was also the first time the vast outside world wasid before their eyes.


    "There are seven major cities under the rule of the Holy Tribe and seven main cities governed by the Spirit Tribe. Including the Sanctum Spiritus City, the two tribes have fifteen major cities.[1] Only the most powerful Great Demons and Great Nymphs have the right to rule these main cities. The weaker demons and nymphs gather as tribes and form viges and towns around the main cities. Viges and towns also vary in size, and our Wind Wolf Town is actually the smallest kind. The Wind Wolf n itself is not strong in the first ce, and the wolf demons here are just a small offshoot of the Wind Wolf n, so they are practically the weakest of the weak."


    "What about us humans? Do humans exist everywhere?" Tang San asked.


    Wang Yanfeng looked at him and then slowly nodded, "Yes, humans are spread throughout the Daemon Continent. In terms of numbers, we actually surpass the demons and nymphsbined. Among the ve races, we have thergest poption.


    "We humans have no innate abilities and we are physically weak. That puts us at a huge disadvantagepared to the demons and nymphs born with innate abilities. Some powerful demons and nymphs are even born with the power of the fifth or sixth order. They can break through the ninth order and develop even greater strength upon adulthood.


    "In contrast, while we are weak, we reproduce much more quickly. We are alsoparatively intelligent, morepetent when ites to followingplexmands, and more creative. And there is also..." He paused, his expression slightly twisted. "...Good flesh quality."


    "Hence, we are considered good ves, and for some demons, we are even... livestock. They will breed us extensively. In their eyes, we are lowly beings. Strangely, when those powerful demons and nymphs cultivate to a certain extent or are naturally strong, they can transform into human form. This ability is something that I have only heard of, though. Even though I��ve been to somerge cities, I have yet to see anything like that.


    "ording to what I have heard, the humans are treated better under the rule of the nymphs because nymphs are herbivorous. Also, nymphs seem to be less brutal in nature. Thanks to that, humans are much better integrated in the nymph society, and naturally, the human vassals of the nymphs have a higher status than us. It is said that there are also some with substantial abilities.


    "That''s all for today. If I continue, you won''t be able to remember everything. After you return to the house, copy the words I taught you today ten times and memorize them well. There will be an assessment tomorrow, and those who fail will be punished. Now, go."


    The morning ss ended. Judging from Wang Yanfeng''s lecture, while his knowledge was by no means all-epassing, he was definitely considered well-educated among humans. His teachings about the Daemon Continent benefited Tang San.


    In order to find his wife, he first needed to understand this world.


    1. The original here says that there are eight major cities under the Holy Tribe, for a total of sixteen. ording to theter chapters, they have seven cities each. ?

 Chapter 16: Cultivating the Demonic God Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 16: Cultivating the Demonic God Transformation</h4>


    Upon returning home, Tang San first copied the characters ten times as Wang Yanfeng had instructed. After digesting what he had learned that day, he noticed that it was already time for lunch.


    After lunch, Wang Yanfeng gave the five of them an hour''s rest before starting the afternoon lesson, which was about the Wind Wolf Transformation.


    Tang San wasparatively more interested in this subject. To regain his former strength, he needed to start by understanding the power system of this world. He could then gradually recover his former abilities. At the same time, he could integrate the unique characteristics of this world and the Mysterious Heaven Technique to strengthen himself. Only with true power could he aplish all that he sought to do.


    "You were chosen because there is a certain amount of Wind Wolf blood flowing through your veins. When your Wind Wolf bloodline is awakened, your body will change, granting you certain abilities. This is what we call the Wind Wolf Transformation. If awakened, humans with bloodlines from any demon n will have such abilities, collectively known as the Demonic God Transformation. Cultivation means improving the power of your bloodline and strengthening your abilities.


    ��If you want to survive the assessment, then within three years, you must at the very least attain third-order strength by cultivating the Wind Wolf Transformation. Let me tell you this once again. This. Is. About. Survival. It��s not a game, and I am not joking. You cultivate, or you die. Just like the five who didn''t pass the assessment that day."


    Except for Tang San, the other four couldn''t help but look fearful. All beings fear death, and they were no exception.


    "To excel in the demonic god transformation, one must understand how demon ns naturally cultivate. Regardless of the specific lineage, all demons possess a unique form of energy within their blood when they are born. This energy has multiple uses; it nurtures their bodies, aids their growth, and bestows them with abilities. Even if they don''t actively cultivate, their bodies naturally absorb spiritual energy from the world, and their bloodlines naturally improve as time passes. More powerful demon and nymph ns have specific cultivation methods to enhance their bloodlines, making their cultivation easier and faster. Hence, they can reach higher orders of cultivation.


    "Our cultivation method is quite simr to theirs; it allows us to absorb spiritual energy from the world and circte it through our body. Here, I have the cultivation method for the first four stages of the Wind Wolf Transformation. I will begin teaching you now. The core principle is awakening the energy within your bloodline, allowing it to generate more of this energy when stimted and enabling you to control it. I will now teach you how to guide your Wind Wolf bloodline for cultivation."


    Then, Wang Yanfeng started his instruction.


    Tang San listened attentively, and he found Wang Yanfeng''s exnations very straightforward. Of course, they were at a level that the Wang siblings could understand. As for Tang San and Ling Muxue''sprehension abilities, Wang Yangfeng was much less concerned.


    The primary method of cultivating the Wind Wolf Transformation involved stimting the bloodline. By controlling the energy in the bloodline, the cultivator could boost their physical abilities as well as their blood itself, allowing it to absorb more and more spiritual energy from the world during the period of bloodline agitation.


    ording to Wang Yanfeng, ces with denser spiritual energy from the heavens and earth were more conducive to enhancing bloodlines. However, it was also important not to cultivate in ces with exceedingly thick spiritual energy because the body could end up unable to withstand the energy absorption. After all, the human body was quite fragilepared to the physiques of demons and nymphs. With that in mind, cultivating in Wind Wolf Town was enough for them right now.


    The method of stimting the bloodline was simple, and Tang San understood it right away. It involved guiding the Wind Wolf''s power within one''s body to stimte specific acupoints. It was a very straightforward cultivation method, andpared to the Mysterious Heaven Technique, it was by far lessplex.


    However, no matter how straightforward this cultivation method was, Tang San couldn''t learn it. The reason was simple: he didn''t actually have one single drop of Wind Wolf blood. His Wind de ability was obtained through the absorption using the energy from the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    It was as if he had retained the energy of those wind des within him. When he used them, the Mysterious Heaven Technique could transform his own energy into a simr type of energy, based on the imprint left by the Wind de bloodline ability. Still, the intensity remained the same as when he had absorbed the ability. In other words, the cultivation method of the Wind Wolf Transformation held no meaning for him. All it served to do was deepen his understanding of the world''s cultivation methods and the Demonic God Transformation.


    Under Wang Yanfeng''s guidance, the Wang siblings quickly got the hang of stimting their bloodlines with the help of his bloodline power.


    Ling Muxue, in particr, grasped the cultivation method extremely quickly. Wang Yanfeng only needed to guide her once and she could cultivate on her own.


    However, when it came to Tang San, things were different. Even before Wang Yanfeng could guide him, he was already surrounded by a shimmering green light as he activated the Wind de.


    "You''ve learned it?" Wang Yanfeng was somewhat surprised as he felt the more substantial presence of wind elements around Tang Sanpared to the others. Strangely, though, there was no sign of any Wind Wolf transformation in his body.


    "Well, yeah, you exined it very clearly. I gave it a try, and it seemed to work," Tang San said earnestly.


    Wang Yanfeng looked at him with some suspicion. He had taught more than just this group of people, and he had naturally seen his share of gifted people. However, someone like Tang San, who could master the basics of the Wind Wolf Transformation cultivation without guidance, was a first for him. His innate talent was exceptional.


    When he had first seen Tang San, he had sensed that this child was somewhat different, but he hadn��t been able to tell exactly what set him apart. Nevertheless, this was undoubtedly a positive sign. Even Wang Yangfeng himself, in his youth, hadn��t shown the same ability as Tang San.


    In truth, Tang San most wanted to ask whether there was a bottleneck at the third cultivation order. However, he didn''t want to raise this question now as it might arouse suspicion from Wang Yanfeng. He nned to conduct his own experiments first. After all, his cultivation method and the Demonic God Transformation were different.


    "Very well, then continue your cultivation just like this. Try to enhance the power within your bloodline. A month from now, I will assess your cultivation progress and evaluate the strength of your abilities," Wang Yanfeng said.


    "Teacher, may I ask a question?" Tang San spoke up.


    "You may," Wang Yanfeng nodded.


    Tang San asked, "Teacher, what''s the highest order among the demons and nymphs on the Daemon Continent?"


    Wang Yanfeng was taken aback. He clearly hadn''t expected Tang San to ask such a question. He looked at the slender, bright-eyed, and handsome child before him and replied, "ording to legends, it''s the twelfth order. I cannot even begin to imagine how powerful that is. As for whether the legendary Ancestral Demons exist, and whether there are ranks beyond the twelfth, I couldn��t tell you."


    Hearing his answer, Tang San couldn��t help but shiver. He immediately made up his mind about the future.


    In his original world, known as the Douluo Continent, the highest level an ordinary person could reach was the equivalent of the ninth order, and beyond that were the god ranks. Assuming that this world''s tenth, eleventh, and twelfth order were equivalent to the Third ss, Second ss, and First ss, respectively...it meant that the demon and nymph ns on the Daemon Continent were able, by default, to reach the level of First ss God. If that was indeed the case, the energy on the Fn had to be one of the highest among all celestial bodies he had ever encountered.


    If the so-called Ancestral Demons were on a higher level than the first-ss gods, that naturally meant they touched upon the level of God King from his original realm. However, Tang San had yet to sense the existence of a divine realm here.


    <i>Suppose there is no divine realm at all, yet there are beings that reached the level of God Kings relying solely on this. That implies the energy level of this puts it on par with the divine realm I was in, and maybe even surpasses it...</i>


    <i>Incredible. I have indeede to an extraordinary ce... Setting things right in a ce with such high-level cultivation is going to be quite the task...</i>


    With this thought, a trace of bitter smile appeared at the corner of Tang San''s mouth.


    There was no other way. He would have to take it one step at a time and see how things unfolded.

 Chapter 17: More Absorption!

    <h4>Chapter 17: More Absorption!</h4>


    After Wang Yanfeng had guided Tang San and the other four in their Wind Wolf Transformation cultivation, he instructed them to return to their rooms to continue cultivating, which they did until dinner.


    As they were about to eat, Wang Yanfeng suddenly spoke to Wang Da, Wang Er, and Wang San. "I''ve been thinking, perhaps it''s time to give each of you a name so that you can have your own proper identity. Would you like that?"


    "I am willing." Wang Da nodded with a simple grin.


    Wang Er blinked and said, "Sure, why not."


    Wang San, the tallest among them, even taller than Tang San, was incredibly thin, resembling a bamboo pole. He asked, "Would that be okay?"


    "Yes!" said Wang Da, rebuking Wang San with a stern look.


    "Uh-huh," Wang San replied. He seemed somewhat afraid of Wang Da, and he could only nod in agreement.


    "Then it''s settled. I''vee up with names for each of you. Wang Da, from now on, you''ll be called Wang Chao. Wang Er, your name will be Wang Zhong, and as for Wang San, you''ll be Wang Xiaolei," Wang Yanfeng said.


    Wang Chao eximed with joy, "That''s great! Thank you, teacher. I finally have my name."


    Wang Zhong blinked but didn''t say much. He was also rtively thin, butpared to Wang Da and Wang San, he appeared to be more reserved, though not timid. During the sacrificing ritual, it was only in Wang Zhong''s gaze that Tang San had detected a sense of resentment rather than pure fear.


    Wang Xiaolei furrowed his brow and said, "I have three characters in my name. Would it be difficult to write?"


    "Why are you protesting so much? It''s settled. Thanks, teacher," Wang Chao said, giving him a stern look. He was the oldest among them, so it felt natural for everyone that he was taking on the elder brother role.


    Among the five children, Tang San was the youngest. Wang Chao was already seventeen years old, Wang Zhong was fourteen, Wang Xiaolei was twelve, Ling Muxue was ten, and Tang San himself was only eight years old.


    "Tang San, let the teacher give you a name, too," Wang Chao kindly suggested.


    Tang San shook his head and said, "No need, I''m fine with just being called Tang San."


    "Alright, let''s go ahead and eat," Wang Yanfeng said.


    After dinner, they all returned to their rooms to continue their cultivation. The Wang siblings still required Wang Yanfeng''s guidance to enter the state of bloodline stimtion cultivation. Tang San, on the other hand, didn''t need any assistance. What surprised Wang Yanfeng, however, was that after he guided her once, Ling Muxue was also able to initiate bloodline cultivation on her own.


    As the night grew darker, Tang San, sitting cross-legged on his bed, slowly opened his eyes.


    On the bed opposite from his, Wang Zhong was still cultivating diligently, and his aura was very stable. Tang San could sense the pulsations of his bloodline and faint fluctuations of wind elemental energy around his body.


    Tang San��s gaze grew sharp.


    Life had finally changed, at least for the better; he no longer had to worry about bing food for the demons. Now, the most important thing was to improve his strength. He had given himself three years, just three years. Three years from now would be the moment to leave this ce...and it would also be the moment to exact revenge.


    He looked out the window in the direction of the Wind Wolf Town square, and he subconsciously clenched his fist. His birth mother had died at the hands of the Wind Wolf n. It didn��t matter that he had only seen her for a few moments��what mattered was that the woman who had given him life was now dead. The killing of his mother ensured that there was no room for reconciliation between him and the demons.


    Quietly pushing open the window, Tang San slipped out in a sh. He carefully closed the window behind him.


    Even though Wang Yanfeng''s cultivation level was higher than his in a way, Tang San was confident that he wouldn''t be discovered, thanks to the Tang Sect''s ultimate techniques that he knew from his previous life.


    Tang San slowly stepped away, getting farther and farther from his residence. He didn''t head toward the square because he feared not being able to control his emotions if he went there and saw the skeletons beneath the altar.


    He followed along the dark corners of the walls, carefully concealing his figure. He had been to Wind Wolf Town a number of times before, so while he couldn''t im to be familiar with every ce, he had a good grasp of most of the terrain.


    Soon, he arrived near arge stone house. From a distance, he could see that the house was brightly lit and hear the moring from inside.


    Tang San wasn��t sure what kind of alcohol existed in this world, or what substance they used instead, but going by his past life��s standard, this was probably a tavern. This ce was the favorite gathering spot for the wolf demons of Wind Wolf Town.


    It was veryte at night, but the ce was still busy. Thete-night bustle meant that Tang San had chosen the right spot for what he was about to do.


    He crouched in a dark corner, silently watching the tavern''s entrance, waiting patiently.


    Perhaps because it was already quitete, Tang San didn''t have to wait too long. Several tall figures staggered out of the tavern.


    Their voices were loud but slurred, indicating that they had too much to drink.


    As these wolf demons walked, they wereughing and cursing at something. Tang San watched them until they headed into the town. At a crossroads, the wolf demons split up and went their separate ways.


    Tang San locked onto one of the wolf demons with a medium build and quickly followed. He moved stealthily, and the wolf demon was too drunk to notice.


    The strength of the Wind Wolf n members could generally be assessed based on their physique. Smaller individuals were typically second-order Wind Wolves, while therger ones were third-order. Only powerful individuals had the potential to reach a higher rank, and in Wind Wolf Town, such formidable Wind Wolves were rare. There was only one like the Wind Wolf Lord, who stood over three meters tall.


    Tang San''s target was a third-order Wind Wolf, the kind of average burly wolf demonmonly found in Wind Wolf Town.


    As he followed closely, Tang San silently approached from behind. With a subtle movement of his right hand, he used the gentle Mysterious Heaven Techniquebined with the Tang Sect''s unique Control Crane Capture Dragon method. The Wind Wolf stumbled in its steps, nearly falling forward.


    However, even in its drunken state, the third-order Wind Wolf was agile. It instinctively attempted to push itself up with its hands.


    Tang San seized this momentary opportunity. He closed in swiftly and targeted the Wind Wolf''s lower back with a light toe tap.


    For animals like dogs and wolves, their lower back was one of the most vulnerable spots.[1] While the Wind Wolf was not just a normal animal but a demon, it still shared simrities in anatomy with its wild counterpart.


    As Tang San kicked the wolf demon''s lower back, it immediately went limp and fell to the side. Although it attempted to curse, Tang San had already grabbed it by its throat with his Mysterious Jade Hands, blocking its blood flow and causing it to faint.


    This series of actions happened incredibly quickly, taking only two or three seconds from start to finish. The third-order Wind Wolf was now lying unconscious on the ground.


    Tang San observed the situation for a moment, and seeing no disturbances, he dragged the Wind Wolf to a dark corner and ced his right hand on its chest.


    After several years of cultivation, Tang San was familiar with the wind element within the Wind Wolf bloodline. As he infused his Mysterious Heaven Technique energy into the Wind Wolf''s body, he immediately sensed the presence of wind elements within its bloodline.


    What pleasantly surprised Tang San was that the bloodline power of the living Wind Wolf was much richer than that of the two Wind Wolves that had died by his hand two years before. Once the energy from the Mysterious Heaven Technique connected, it didn''t hesitate to devour and pull this bloodline energy into itself, merging it with the Wind de energy that he had initially absorbed.


    The two converging forces immediately showed signs of merging. Although there was some dispersion of energy during the fusion process, Tang San felt that his Wind de aura had be more substantial, not because the technique itself had be more powerful, but because the energy imprint that produced the wind des had be more substantial.


    This meant that when he used the Mysterious Heaven Technique to transform his energy into wind des, he could produce even stronger ones.


    What surprised Tang San the most was that he had been stuck at the third bottleneck of the Mysterious Heaven Technique for a long time, but now that he had absorbed and integrated this energy, that bottleneck was actually showing signs of loosening up. It looked as if he was about to break through to the fourth order.


    He carefully observed the Wind Wolf, remembering its distinctive features. Instead of killing it, Tang San quickly left the scene and returned to his house.


    It wasn��t that he didn''t want to kill the Wind Wolf. The problem was that if a random drunkard passed out on the road, no one would bat an eye, but if a third-order Wind Wolf was found <i>dead</i>, that would inevitably cause a seriousmotion. It wasn''t the right time for that.


    1. There��s a saying in Chinese about wolves: head like copper, tail like iron, lower back like tofu. ?

 Chapter 18: Experimentation and Conclusions

    <h4>Chapter 18: Experimentation and Conclusions</h4>


    Tang San returned to his lodging stealthily, and saw that Wang Zhong was still quietly cultivating on his bed. Tang San could sense that he was deeply immersed in his Wind Wolf Transformation cultivation.


    Tang San also sat on his own bed, quickly activating the Mysterious Heaven Technique to process the portion of the Wind Wolf bloodline power he had just absorbed.


    Today''s experiment was crucial for him, as it would determine whether he could continue to break through bottlenecks and find a way to higher realms. If it was sessful, it would greatly benefit his future cultivation.


    The experiment had two parts. One was whether, after absorbing the Wind Wolf''s bloodline power, he could break through his bottleneck. The other was whether the third-order Wind Wolf whose bloodline power he had absorbed could recover its power or if it would permanently lose it.


    These aspects were crucial and would significantly impact his future cultivation path.


    He had long since reached the peak of the third order, and the sensation of the bottleneck had be quite clear after absorbing the bloodline power of the third-order Wind Wolf earlier. However, he found the sensation fading when he tried to activate the Mysterious Heaven Technique again. The previously loosening bottleneck of the Mysterious Heaven Technique seemed to be tightened again by some invisible force, preventing him from breaking through.


    The obstacle made Tang San frown. If things didn''t go as he had imagined, it would be a significant setback for him. Being stuck at his current level of cultivation meant that the future would be really, really bleak. He needed to find another way out. He remained patient, silently circting the energy from the Mysterious Heaven Technique to gradually absorb and assimte the bloodline power he had taken.


    His energy grew denser, and although it didn''t allow him to break through to a new level, there was more energy within him and it also seemed more substantial. At the same time, Tang San noticed that the bloodline imprint belonging to the Wind Wolf had also grown stronger. In simple terms, he would be able to condense stronger wind des now. Before, when he activated this imprint using the Mysterious Heaven Technique, there would be some traces of Wind Wolf energy in his aura. Now, this change was even more visible.


    Initially, right after absorbing Zhu Jiaxin''s Leopard sh and the bloodline power of the Wind Wolf, the leopard bloodline imprint had been more potent than the wolf one, resulting in better effects. It could be effectively used within a ten-meter radius, and its performance was excellent. On the other hand, while the wind des had some decent power, they were nothing really exceptional.


    Today, after absorbing the bloodline power of that third-order Wind Wolf, the Wind de bloodline imprint strengthened. When he used the Mysterious Heaven Technique to activate the bloodline imprint, the Wind Wolf''s aura became more substantial, and the wind des became significantly more powerful. In fact, it seemed that they could reach a power level simr to when a third-order Wind Wolf used them.


    Tang San silently absorbed the energy and felt the changes within himself. Finally, he formed his first conclusion.


    By this point, he was reasonably confident that the Mysterious Heaven Technique could empower him by absorbing the bloodline power of demons. During this absorption process, the energy would be a part of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, elerating his cultivation speed. Simultaneously, the characteristics within the bloodline would also form bloodline imprints, allowing him to transform and utilize the abilities represented by those bloodline imprints through the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    This rather unique transformation was most likely exclusive to his Mysterious Heaven Technique. In other words, by producing these bloodline imprints, he was the only one able to use abilities belonging to different demon races.


    <i>Looks like a great direction to work in.</i>


    Also, his earlier spection seemed to be on the right track. If he wanted to escape the constraints of this ne and break through the bottleneck, devouring the bloodline power of demons seemed to be the only way forward. He had sensed the bottleneck loosening back then, and it appeared that the main issue preventing his breakthrough was that the energy he had devoured was simply not enough.


    His target had been a third-order Wind Wolf, whose bloodline energy intensity was not even as high as his Mysterious Heaven Technique at the third order. In that case, there was one clear path to continue to break through and avoid the suppression of this dimension��devouring the bloodline power of a fourth-order Wind Wolf.


    If he absorbed the bloodline power of a higher-order demon, his aura would temporarily rise to the level of that demon. When the world��s suppression loosened at that moment, he could likely break through the bottleneck and reach the fourth order. Moreover, he strongly suspected that from the third order onward, all his future breakthroughs would have to be done this way to avoid the world��s suppression.


    In any case, he now had a direction and a goal in his cultivation. The next step, naturally, was to find a fourth-order Wind Wolf and attempt to absorb and assimte its bloodline power.


    A fourth-order Wind Wolf wasn''t actually amon sight in Wind Wolf Town, but there was actually one right here, in Tang San��s house! Wang Yanfeng himself had the bloodline of a fourth-order Wind Wolf. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to live in such a house with his vassal status. He was definitely the strongest among the vassals in Wind Wolf Town.


    The next step of the experiment was to observe whether the third-order wolf demon whose bloodline power he had previously devoured could regain its bloodline strength. Tang San could begin preparations to find a fourth-order wolf demon if the third-order one could recover without raising suspicion. However, if the wolf demon could not regain its strength, Tang San would be forced toy low for a while. Members of the n mysteriously losing bloodline power would undoubtedly raise suspicions among the Wind Wolf n. One such incident might be chalked off as an odd but unimportant urrence, but if another wolf demon experienced the same issue, and it was a fourth-order one to boot, it would be clear that something was amiss.


    Armed with renewed determination, Tang San diligently cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Even though he couldn''t shatter the barrier like that, his extensive experience in cultivation had taught him the importance of building a solid foundation. When the time for a breakthrough arrived, it would flow smoothly. Strengthening his foundation now would make his future cultivation journey all the more effortless.


    In the following days, Tang San and the other five students continued their daily routine of learning and training with Wang Yanfeng. Mornings were dedicated to acquiring knowledge, while afternoons were reserved for practicing the Wind Wolf Transformation and its variations.


    The five of them now led fulfilling lives, worlds apart from their previous routine as ves. Despite Ling Muxue''s often somber mood, she disyed exceptional dedication during their training and learning sessions.


    After days upon days of learning, everyone''s innate talents began to emerge. Among the Wang siblings, surprisingly, Wang Chao had the least impressive talent. At the same time, Wang Zhong and Wang Xiaolei showed better potential. The three of them were slightly behind Ling Muxue regarding talent.


    Ling Muxue, after a few days of guidance and practice in Wind Wolf Transformation, had progressed to the point where she could partially transform into a Wind Wolf. Although she couldn''t yet manifest wind des, her improvement was so rapid that even Wang Yanfeng had to praise her for it.


    As for Tang San, he was different from the rest. Wang Yanfeng was quite surprised when he noticed that Tang San''s wind des had grownrger. However, Tang San didn''t undergo a Wind Wolf transformation at all; forget about partially transforming, he couldn''t even produce a single wolf hair. Naturally, this piqued Wang Yanfeng''s curiosity, but nothing much could be done about it. Nheless, he did impart some additional techniques for controlling wind des to Tang San.


    During these past few days, Tang San''s experiment waspleted. Every night, he would quietly sneak out to find the wolf demon whose bloodline power he had devoured. He didn''t find it on the first day or the second day. However, on the third day, he spotted the wolf demon from a distance.


    The wolf demon appeared noticeably weaker than before Tang San attacked it. However, upon closer examination, Tang San discovered that its bloodline power had partially recovered and gradually improved. The fact that it hadn''t appeared in the past two days showed that it was probably resting at home to regenerate its bloodline power.


    In other words, the bloodline power Tang San devoured could be recovered through rest, but it required some time. To the wolf demon, it probably felt like some kind of sudden illness that went away after a few days of rest.

 Chapter 19: Combat Training

    <h4>Chapter 19: Combat Training</h4>


    To be cautious, Tang San observed it for several more days, and by the fifth day, the wolf demon''s bloodline power had mainly returned to its original state.


    This gave Tang San a n. What he needed to do next was to find a fourth-order wolf demon to attempt his breakthrough.


    But this also left him in a bit of a pinch.


    A fourth-order wolf demon was entirely different from a third-order one. Just one order higher, and the strength difference was significant. Typically, third-order wolf demons stood about 1.9 meters tall and were incredibly robust. However, fourth-order wolf demons surpassed third-order ones by a full head and were beyond just brawny. A single fourth-order wolf demon could handle four or five third-order ones without any issue.


    Between the third to the fourth order was a significant threshold. Tang San had his trusty and well-practiced Tang Sect techniques, in addition to new abilities like Leopard sh and Wind de, and he had confidence in facing a fourth-order wolf demon. However, he had serious doubts that he could defeat one without making any noise. Once there was anymotion, he might very well be exposed.


    Therefore, his current options were to confront a fourth-order wolf demon in the wilderness or to fight his teacher.


    Tang San didn''t rush things and continued his daily routine of learning and training. Under Wang Yanfeng''s guidance, he gained a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the Daemon Continent, which was equally important to him.


    Half a month had passed in the blink of an eye, and everyone''s bloodlines had improved to varying degrees. They were all able to release wind des by now. However, the other four were stillgging behind Tang San.


    "Starting today, we''ll add another ss: practicalbat. Only through real battles can you further enhance yourbat skills," Wang Yanfeng announced in the afternoon, making it clear that today''s lesson was going to be different.


    "Follow me to the courtyard," he said, leading the five of them outside.


    After half a month of learning, all five could enter the bloodline stimtion state by themselves and cultivate Wind Wolf Transformation independently. However, today''s practicalbat ss was a first for them.


    The courtyard was a little small, but it provided enough space for their activities, and the wooden fence ensured that they were shielded from prying eyes.


    Wang Yanfeng stood at the center of the courtyard and said, "You''ll take turns. Attack me. Wang Chao, you go first. Use the Wind Wolf Transformation."


    "Alright," Wang Chao agreed and positioned himself three meters away from Wang Yanfeng.


    "Let''s start." Wang Yanfeng chose to directly face them because he was concerned about their control over their powers, and he didn''t want them to harm each other inadvertently.


    Wang Chao took a deep breath, and suddenly, his energy surged. He let out a wolf''s howl, and his body expanded slightly, stretching his clothes. His hair stood on end, his teeth protruded, and his eyes emitted a faint bluish-green light. He was a very normal person, but right now, he had a rather ferocious aura.


    He was usually fairlynky, skinnier than other young men of the same age, but thanks to the Wind Wolf Transformation, he now looked as if he had been lifting weights starting from the cradle.


    Wang Yanfeng nodded at him. "Attack me."


    Wang Chao let out a low growl. The Wind Wolf Transformation not only strengthened his physical abilities but also instilled in him a ferocity reminiscent of a true wind wolf.


    Wang Chao lunged directly at Wang Yanfeng.


    This pouncecked any technique, but the speed and strength were leagues above an ordinary human''s.


    Wang Yanfeng did not use Wind Wolf Transformation but simply took a step sideways to avoid Wang Chao''s pounce.


    "You��re way too slow. You should be using your wolf ws as attack weapons. Target the opponent''s vitals."


    Wang Chao��s attack missed the target, but he quickly turned around and lunged again, extending his right wolf w toward Wang Yanfeng''s chest, aiming for his heart.


    Wang Yanfeng took another step to the side, avoiding his attack once again.


    Tang San watched from the sidelines, and he noticed that Wang Yanfeng''s judgment was truly exact. It seemed that every time he took just one casual step to effortlessly evade Wang Chao''s attacks. In reality, it resulted from his urate anticipation of the teen��s movements. As he agilely dodged, he guided Wang Chao on how to execute his attacks.


    Tang San could tell that his teacher possessed a wealth ofbat experience. Throughout the training, his teacher''s gaze remained calm, and he always pinpointed Wang Chao''s issues urately.


    Less than five minutes had passed, but Wang Chao was already crouched on the ground, panting heavily. His Wind Wolf Transformation had also ended. With his current bloodline strength, he could only sustain the transformation for about five minutes.


    "He made some mistakes and encountered issues you should all pay attention to. Also, remember that until your bloodline strength reaches the second order, you should not use wind des casually. Using abilities like the Wind de that release energy externally will consume your bloodline strength faster. Unless you are certain it''s a killing blow, refrain from using it. Otherwise, it will shorten the duration of your Wind Wolf Transformation and make you more vulnerable."


    While saying this, Wang Yanfeng waved to Wang Zhong. "You saw the mistakes he made just now. Be cautious. Come on."


    Wang Zhong didn''t say anything, either. He nodded and stimted his bloodline, activating his Wind Wolf Transformation. His transformed shape was slightly smaller than Wang Chao''s, but his eyes were sharper. He crouched slightly, and in the next instant, he pounced toward Wang Yanfeng.


    Wang Yanfeng''s footsteps made a slight movement as if he was about to evade, but at that exact moment, Wang Zhong''s pouncing figure suddenly paused. His right foot touched the ground for a moment, changing his direction, which was the same as Wang Yanfeng''s apparent evasion route.


    In turn, Wang Yanfeng''s feet only made a slight movement forward and then immediately off to the side, causing Wang Zhong to miss his target. It looked as if he had intentionallyunched himself in the wrong direction.


    Among the five, only Tang San could see that Wang Yanfeng''s earlier movement had been a feint, and it had sessfully deceived Wang Zhong.


    "Not bad. You didn''t exhaust your strength and adapted by changing direction. However, pay attention to your opponent''s movements. Keep going," Wang Yanfeng praised Wang Zhong.


    Wang Zhong, after missing his attack, twisted his body and pounced at Wang Yanfeng again. Comparatively, he was more agile than Wang Chao. After several unsessful attacks, Wang Zhong proactively created distance to catch his breath. He managed to hold on for about five minutes as well, despite his lower proficiency in the Wind Wolf Transformationpared to Wang Chao. In terms ofbat talent, he surpassed his elder brother.


    Next, Wang Xiaolei only held on for three minutes in his Wind Wolf Transformation. He was younger and less adept at fightingpared to Wang Chao and Wang Zhong. However, Wang Yanfeng had previously praised him for having better results in the Wind Wolf Transformation bloodline training. He had a lot to learn, but his potential was quite a bit better.


    The fourth one to go was Ling Muxue.


    "Teacher, can I attack in any way?" Ling Muxue looked at Wang Yanfeng and asked softly.


    "Of course, you can attack in any way you want. You won''t be able to hurt me. Let me see how our little Muxue''sbat abilities are." Wang Yanfeng was quite pleased with his only female disciple. Ling Muxue''s dedication to her cultivation was no less than the boys��. Her learning and training results were impressive because she had started her cultivation early.


    Ling Muxue also took a deep breath. Her hair gradually turned bluish-gray, wolf fur emerged at the nape of her neck, and a green light shimmered in her eyes. With a swift movement, she charged toward Wang Yanfeng.


    Her speed was noticeably greater than that of the Wang siblings, and although her attack stillcked some finesse, it appeared graceful.


    Wang Yanfeng immediately noticed that she had put her full strength into the charge. Her speed was good, but she had not avoided the mistakes made by the Wang siblings. He furrowed his brow slightly and took a step to evade.


    Ling Muxue''s charge naturally missed its target, but the instant she missed, she suddenly twisted in mid-air.


    Because she didn��t change the direction of her attack, this sudden twist should have caused her to lose control and fall shoulder-first on the ground. However, she actually managed to do a full flip instead. A wind de shot out from her hand in an instant, flying straight towards Wang Yanfeng''s shoulder.

 Chapter 20: Tang San VS Wang Yanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 20: Tang San VS Wang Yanfeng</h4>


    Since Wang Yanfeng had only taken one step to evade when Ling Muxue flipped andunched her attack, the distance between them was very close. There was no time for him to escape again.


    Wang Chao and Wang Xiaolei both eximed in surprise at the scene. Then, they saw a sh of green light on Wang Yanfeng, and the wind de that was heading toward his shoulder disappeared into thin air.


    At the same time, a ray of green light shot out from under his feet, catching the falling Ling Muxue just in time, lifting her back up and stabilizing her stance.


    Ling Muxue''s Wind Wolf transformation had already dissipated, and she was panting heavily. The things that had just transpired left her somewhat bewildered, unsure of how to process the fight. However, she could clearly tell that there was a look of approval in Wang Yanfeng''s eyes.


    "Not bad, not bad at all. You know there''s a power difference between us, so you concentrated all your strength on that wind de attack, catching me off guard. That''s using your brain in battle. Well done."


    Wang Yanfeng could see Ling Muxue''s little scheme.


    "Teacher, you''re amazing. Just now, you..."


    Ling Muxue''s eyes were filled with astonishment.


    Wang Yanfeng replied, "That was an application of the Wind de. I''ll teach it to you when you reach the third order. It can only be used when your bloodline is powerful enough."


    Both Ling Muxue and the Wang siblings couldn''t help but look at Wang Yanfeng with deep admiration. Even Tang San was inwardly impressed by what he had just witnessed.


    Among the powerful humans he had encountered, Zhu Jiaxin was the first, and now, it was Wang Yanfeng. He could now be sure that Wang Yanfeng''s strength was definitely above Zhu Jiaxin''s. Zhu Jiaxin had probably been around the fourth order in terms of cultivation. Even when heavily injured, he could kill a third-order wolf demon. However, even though Wang Yanfeng was also at the fourth order, his control over the wind element was simply exquisite.


    Yes, it wasn''t just a simple wind de but an actual direct application of the wind element. Tang San hadn''t seen anything like this from any wolf demons.


    Just this level of control made Tang San have a newfound respect for Wang Yanfeng. It required solid mental power and a deep understanding of the wind element.


    "Tang San, it''s your turn," Wang Yanfeng said.


    Tang San took a few steps forward and seemed lost in thought for a moment before nodding at Wang Yanfeng.


    Wang Yanfeng smiled slightly. "Let''s begin."


    Tang San��s eyes narrowed, and a gleam of green light shot out from his eyes. When Wang Yanfeng saw this, he couldn''t help but be surprised. For the Wind Wolf n, the stronger the bloodline, the greater the affinity with the wind element, the more of the wind element they could control, and the more their aura manifested, especially in the form of the green light in their pupils. After only half a month of cultivation, Wang Yanfeng was surprised to find that Tang San''s eyes had strengthenedpared to when he first arrived.


    Tang San had already made his move without waiting for him to overthink. He lifted his right hand, and a wind de about three inches long shot out. Unlike Ling Muxue��s, this wind de didn''t produce any howling sound as it flew, appearing rather unremarkable as it headed toward Wang Yanfeng.


    Wang Yanfeng had anticipated that Tang San wouldn''t actively charge at him, considering that Tang San couldn''t use the Wind Wolf transformation to enhance his physical strength. Under these circumstances, it would be unwise to charge forward. However, what surprised him was that Tang San''s wind de didn''t produce the usual whistle or howl as it passed through the air, which was different from the standard wind de.


    Wang Yanfeng remained still, and as the wind de was about to approach him, he prepared to move and dodge. With hisbat experience, he would save energy when facing any opponent.


    However, the moment his foot shifted, the wind de suddenly disappeared.


    Yes, it vanished, and all his vision registered was a momentary blur before the wind de disappeared into thin air.


    <i>Huh? Why did it disperse? Does he not have enough energy to sustain the wind de?</i>


    <i>Impossible! The distance is only six meters. Even when Tang San just awakened, he could��ve hit me with that wind de. How could it suddenly disappear like that?</i>


    At that moment, he suddenly sensed a sharp movement right in front of his eyes, and instinctively, a green light burst forth. The green light trembled, and ripples spread from his forehead.


    Wang Yanfeng instinctively took a step back, but he was truly startled.


    <i>Hit! </i>


    Yes, Tang San''s wind de had struck him. He couldn''t even track its trajectory, let alone evade it. This silent and invisible wind de had just shed across his forehead. This attack would��ve definitely drawn blood if he didn��t have his own wind wolf energy protecting him.


    <i>How is this possible?</i> Wang Yanfeng''s expression changed as he looked at Tang San.


    "Again!" he shouted at Tang San.


    Tang San raised his left hand, and another wind de shot out. It appeared to be the same wind de as before, still soundless.


    The two were very close to each other. As Tang San released his wind de, in that same instant, a wind de shot out from Wang Yanfeng''s hand incredibly fast, heading straight for Tang San''s wind de. It was noticeablyrger and aimed to extinguish Tang San''s wind de directly.


    However, a strange scene unfolded. Tang San''s wind de in mid-air drew a graceful arc, almost at thest moment, evading Wang Yanfeng''s wind de and letting it strike the ground. Then, in Wang Yanfeng''s sight, that wind de disappeared once again.


    With no hesitation, Wang Yangfeng immediately summoned a green-lit whirlwind around himself. In the blink of an eye, the green light shed once more, and Tang San��s wind de reappeared behind Wang Yangfeng back, then dissipated when it made contact with the whirlwind.


    Wang Yanfeng''s face was now filled with nothing but astonishment. He was even doubting himself. He had always assumed that when it came to fine control of the wind element, there might be no one in the entire Wind Wolf Town who couldpare to him. Not even the Wind Wolf Lord could match his skills in this regard. The only exception was the enigmatic High Priest, who possessed much greater bloodline power.


    However, he had never imagined that right before his eyes, a young boy, only eight years old, would disy such exquisite mastery of the wind de. It could have been considered a coincidence if it had happened only once. But twice in a row? Both instances were executed silently and with such precision that the wind de vanished right before his eyes. It was nothing short of a miracle.


    Little did he know that in the world where Tang San had lived his first life, he had survived until the age of twenty-eight in a martial arts sect known as Tang Sect. The Tang Sect excelled in hidden weapons and poison. Tang San himself had an almost fanatical love for hidden weapons, which led him to secretly learn the sect''s innermost arts, including the six supreme skills from the inner sect: Mysterious Heaven Technique, Mysterious Jade Hands, Controlling Crane Catching Dragon, Purple Demon Eyes, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation. These six supreme skills made Tang San a formidable master of hidden weapons andbat.


    Tang San learned these six supreme skills in his first life and significantly elevated them. After the truth came to light, he chose to leave everything behind and ended his life by jumping off a cliff to prove his honor. This decision led to his first transmigration experience. Through this transmigration, he found himself in the Douluo Continent. He ultimately reached godhood there, drawing upon the foundation of the Tang Sect''s supreme skills and the unique power of that world known as the martial soul. Tang San achieved godhood and became a legendary God King in that world.


    Among these six supreme Tang Sect skills, the first five could be considered as foundational in order to be able to use the ultimate skillset, Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation.


    Tang Sect''s hidden weapons could be divided into two main categories. One relied on intricate craftsmanship and mechanical design to be effective. The other depended on techniques and the practitioner''s profound inner power in order to be deployed.


    In his previous life on the Douluo Continent, Tang San''s father was a cksmith and a secret master of the hammer. Tang San learned the art of cksmithing from him. With a fresh start in that world, he created many astonishing mechanical hidden weapons.


    Armed with his divine consciousness and memories from his previous life, Tang San possessed far more experience than his time on this continent suggested. Moreover, since he had no opportunity to forge weapons here, he focused on cultivating his hidden weapon techniques.

 Chapter 21: Telling The Truth. Well, Not Really.

    <h4>Chapter 21: Telling The Truth. Well, Not Really.</h4>


    When he first gained the ability to use the Wind de, their power was quite limited.


    However, with the techniques of the Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation set, his years of insights, and the improvement in his spiritual power through the Purple Demon Eyes cultivation, he had already mastered the art of manipting them. And consuming the Wind Wolf bloodline of a third-order wolf further enhanced the power of his wind des.


    In his encounter with Wang Yanfeng, he had already exercised considerable restraint. Otherwise, he could havepressed the wind de further, unleashing an even more powerful attack. Wang Yanfeng would have found it much more difficult to defend against in that case.


    Wang Yanfeng looked at him in astonishment, but Tang San remained calm, with a hint of confusion in his expression.


    Without immediately inquiring further, Wang Yanfeng simply said, ��Alright, today��s practicalbat lesson ends here. After you go back, make sure to reflect on the issues you encountered in today��s battle. We will have a practicalbat ss every three days from now on. I hope to see some improvement from all of you next time. This is crucial for your sess in the assessment when you face real Wind Wolves three years from now.��


    As everyone returned to their rooms, Wang Yanfeng stopped Tang San and led him upstairs. The second floor had two rooms, and Tang San had been upstairs before. These two rooms belonged to Wang Yanfeng and Qiu Jing, respectively. There was also a guest room that he had never entered. What surprised him this time was that Wang Yanfeng opened the door to the guest room and gestured for him toe in.


    "Come inside with me," Wang Yanfeng said.


    Tang San followed Wang Yanfeng��s instructions and entered the room, trailing behind him. As soon as he stepped inside, his eyebrows raised slightly in surprise.


    It was an empty-looking room, indeed, devoid of any furniture or decorations.


    However, as soon as he entered, Tang San could clearly sense that the concentration of wind element in this room was significantly higher than outside. While he couldn��t easily manipte his divine consciousness, the presence of that strand of divine consciousness had elerated his mental growth ratepared to an ordinary person, making his perception much more acute.


    Soon, Tang San discovered that the source of this rich wind element was actually a couple of interesting-looking rocks ced in the room��s four corners. It was these minerals that attracted the wind element.


    Closing the door, Wang Yanfeng��s expression became serious. ��Tell me, how did youe to control the Wind de?�� he asked.


    Tang San blinked and looked at him, "Teacher..."


    Wang Yanfeng maintained a stern expression, looking at Tang San. ��You must exin this clearly, as it concerns your life. I need a reasonable exnation. Otherwise, you won��t be able to stay here any longer. What��s going on with you? I sensed something was amiss right when you awakened. Normally, when a human awakens the Wind Wolf bloodline, they first undergo a physical transformation that makes them resemble a Wind Wolf and experience a physical strengthening, and only then can they gradually gather the wind element energy within their bloodline, allowing this power to grow step by step and eventually gaining control over the Wind de innate ability.


    ��But there has been no sign of the Wind Wolf transformation on you until now, yet you can use the Wind de, and it seems like its power is increasing rapidly. Today, you showed a level of control that I simply can��t believe is innate. The Wind de is said toe from the bloodline��s power, so where does your controle from? I find it hard to believe you were somehow just born with this ability and nobody taught you anything until now. So how did you gain your enlightenment? You need to exin that as well,�� Wang Yanfeng pressed with a severe tone.


    Tang San fell silent, lowering his head slightly as if thinking how to exin everything Wang Yanfeng had asked. Wang Yanfeng waited patiently, in silence.


    After a while, Tang San finally spoke slowly. ��Teacher, I was awakened a long time ago. It wasn��t during the ceremony.��


    ��<i>Hmm</i>, I see. When was it?�� Wang Yanfeng seemed to have anticipated this response.


    ��At the age of six, I awakened by chance,�� Tang San began. ��That time, I was starving at night, so I went out looking for food. Unknowingly, I wandered to the edge of the vige into the woods. There, I encountered someone. He grabbed me suddenly, and I was terrified. I tried to scream, but he covered my mouth. Out of fear, I awakened the power within my bloodline.��


    Pausing momentarily, he continued, ��That person seemed to sense my awakening. He told me not to scream and then let me go. He checked my body, and after that, he asked if I wanted to learn from him. I didn��t understand anything, not even what learning meant then. Then he exined some things to me and gave me some food. He told me toe to him every night; when I did, he always had food for me. I was always hungry, so I went every day. He kept his promise and started teaching me, and gradually, I learned about these things. He also taught me how to control the Wind de.��


    ��What did he look like? Do you know his name?�� Wang Yanfeng pressed for more details.


    Tang San, however, shook his head in bewilderment. ��He never said that. He told me he would tell me when I grew up. But three months ago, he disappeared and he still hasn��t shown up since. And after that, it was the awakening ceremony.��


    ��So, he taught you how to control the Wind de. But did he ever exin why you couldn��t undergo the Wind Wolf transformation?�� Wang Yanfeng continued his line of questioning.


    Tang San exined, ��He said that transformation wasn��t necessarily good because it would limit you to one kind of Demon God Transformation. He believed it was better to extract the essence and taught me a special cultivation method. After that, I couldn��t transform anymore. He told me that this technique was unique, not meant to be shared and that if someone learned it without awakening their bloodline, they would die.��


    ��A technique? One that belongs solely to us humans?�� Wang Yanfeng��s eyes lit up with interest.


    Tang San replied, ��I don��t know. I only remember that thest time I saw him, before leaving, he told me that no matter what I encountered in the future, I should always work for the redemption of humanity. He said that one day, humans wouldn��t be ves anymore.��


    Upon hearing these words, Wang Yanfeng suddenly trembled all over. His face disyed a profound shock, and he clenched his fists tightly as if he had been deeply affected and couldn��t regain hisposure for a long time.


    ��Redemption, redemption...�� he muttered softly, lips pressed together. Tang San could feel the intense emotion in him at this moment.


    After a long while, Wang Yanfeng��s expression finally rxed. He took a deep breath, stabilized his emotions, and spoke solemnly, ��Tang San, remember this: what I told you today, don��t mention it to anyone, including Muxue and the others. Keep it buried deep in your heart. If anyone asks you where you learned your wind de technique in the future, you can tell them you learned it from me. Understand?��


    Tang San looked at him and blinked again. ��Teacher, do you want to learn? I can teach you. That person said anyone can learn as long as they are human.��


    Wang Yanfeng��s heart stirred. Today, he was genuinely amazed by Tang San��s control of the wind des on two asions. He believed his own control over the wind element was already incredibly refined, and further improvement seemed challenging. However, the soundless and intermittent wind des that Tang San had disyed today opened a new door for him.


    ��Well...�� He hesitated momentarily. <i>Can I learn something from my student?</i>


    ��Teacher, I think you might not be able to win against me inbat,�� Tang San suddenly said.


    ��Hmm?�� Wang Yanfeng was taken aback. He looked at Tang San and saw the earnestness mixed with childlike innocence in his eyes.


    ��I can��t win?��


    Tang San nodded and said, ��That person told me not to reveal mybat strength in front of others easily. I wanted to kill the wolf demons during the sacrificial ceremony that day. But I could sense that I probably couldn��t defeat the two strongest ones. However, I should be able to handle the ordinary wolf demons.��


    ��What about me?�� Wang Yanfeng asked.


    ��Your energy level is higher than mine, but when ites to my Shadowless Wind de, I believe you wouldn��t be able to match it,�� Tang San replied.

 Chapter 22: No Offense, Teacher, But You Cant Win.

    <h4>Chapter 22: No Offense, Teacher, But You Can''t Win.</h4>


    Wang Yanfeng thought for a moment and said, "Alright, let''s have a spar right here and now. If you win, I''ll learn how to use the Wind de from you. If you lose, I''ll teach you to cultivate the wind element to enhance yourself. How about that?"


    "Alright." Tang San nodded immediately.


    Everything he did today was carefully calcted. There were several primary objectives. Demonstrating his Shadowless Wind de to Wang Yanfeng was to make him aware of his abilities, which would make him special in Wang Yanfeng''s eyes. Gaining attention from his teacher would ultimately grant him more freedom in the future.


    Another reason was that he genuinely wanted to impart some of his abilities to Wang Yanfeng, and by extension, to the other four as well. He wants to help them strengthen their abilities as quickly as possible so that they could pass the assessment and avoid any further tragedies.


    There was also a more profound significance in mentioning the word "redemption": he wanted to gauge Wang Yanfeng''s reaction. Based on Wang Yanfeng''s actions to protect them, he suspected that Wang Yanfeng was aware of the Redemption Society, and that he could even be a member. If that was the case, it would be the best scenario, as it would be advantageous for his future efforts to join the society and seek his reincarnated wife through their assistance.


    Thest point was obviously for his cultivation. When he mentioned that Wang Yanfeng''s strength wasn''t on par with his own, it was to create an opportunity for himself to absorb a portion of Wang Yanfeng''s Wind Wolf bloodline power and break through to the fourth level of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Over the past few days, he had carefully considered various methods. He observed the fourth-order Wind Wolves in the town. Launching a sneak attack on a fourth-order Wind Wolf was very risky, as it was challenging to carry it out without making amotion and exposing himself. After all, with his appearance, it was clear from a mile away that he was a human child.


    In addition, Tang San��s experiment had confirmed that devouring the target��s energy wouldn''t harm them fundamentally, and achieving the breakthrough by using Wang Yanfeng��s energy was indeed the safest option.


    He also considered the worst case scenario, of course. What if Wang Yanfeng was in fact a loyalckey of the Wind Wolf n? The probability of this happening was extremely low. Even though Wang Yanfeng dared not resist the Wind Wolf n, based on his attitude and care toward the students, his character seemed trustworthy. To take it a step further, if he were indeed betrayed, it wasn��t like he had no solution. He had been suppressing his anger all this time, but if pushed to the limit, he could activate his divine consciousness and simply tten Wind Wolf Town.


    After weighing his options for several days, he ultimately concluded that the potential gains from revealing himself outweighed the risks he would face. That was why he had made this choice.


    Then, Wang Yanfeng walked over to a corner and carefully interacted with the rocks that were radiating wind element energy. The next moment, Tang San was astonished to feel a gentle, invisible energy diffusing in the air. It was the wind element. Rich elemental energy enveloped the entire room, as if the room had an inbuilt wind-element array.


    <i>Does something like this exist here? </i>Tang San''s inner shock was profound. Wang Yanfeng��s assets were bewildering. <i>So these things exist in this world as well...</i>


    "It''s safe here; we don''t need to worry about making too much noise. Come on, show me what you learned from that person." Wang Yanfeng opened up the distance between himself and Tang San, providing more space for the child to use the wind des.


    The sparring now was different from the practicebat they had. Wang Yanfeng didn''t underestimate the eight-year-old child in front of him. His eyes gleamed with determination as his body instantly expanded.


    <i>Wind Wolf Transformation!</i>


    When humans used the Wind Wolf Transformation, their bodies improved drastically. Of course, these improvements would never be at the level of a Wind Wolf of the same order. Nevertheless, after activating the Wind Wolf Transformation, Wang Yanfeng''s height exceeded two meters in an instance. The wind element around his body became noticeably turbulent, and a green glow surrounded his wolf ws. Even though there was some distance between them, Tang San could still keenly sense the overwhelming pressure emanating from him.


    Without a doubt, Wang Yanfeng was the strongest opponent he had encountered since arriving in this world.


    Tang San''s gaze also became intense as he stared at Wang Yanfeng. He crouched slightly with one foot in front of the other. His irises had a faint green glow, and the light also radiated from the corners of his eyes.


    In the next instant, Tang San moved. He raised both hands simultaneously, unleashing two Shadowless Wind des, noticeably more prominent than the ones used during their previous spar in the courtyard. Soundlessly, one on the left and one on the right, they carved two arcs in space as they headed straight toward Wang Yanfeng.


    At the same time, Wang Yanfeng alsounched his attack. He didn''t bother with the wind des. Tang San''s wind des had already astonished him, and he knew it would be difficult to evade such attacks. What he relied on to overpower Tang San was simply his much greater strength.


    He was curious to know if Tang San''s im of being able to defeat him was arrogance or genuine confidence backed by strength. He wanted to find out for himself.


    Ignoring the two wind des, he charged straight at Tang San, closing the distance to prevent Tang San from releasing more wind des. This was the best strategy. He refrained from using wind des himself, as he was still concerned about Tang San being unable to withstand them and getting injured.


    As for the two wind des that Tang San had unleashed earlier, they flew through the air while Tang San himself retreated backward.


    <i>Thud! Thud</i>!


    The two wind des struck Wang Yanfeng''s knees.


    Even though Wang Yanfeng was using wind element energy to protect himself, and his physical strength had significantly increased due to his transformation, he was still tripped by these two wind des. His charging momentum became somewhat uncontroble.


    His heart was filled with astonishment. Not even a second-order Wind Wolf Transformation could produce wind des like these!


    Seizing the opportunity while Wang Yanfeng was momentarily out of control, Tang San made a swift move, sidestepping to the side and creating distance. Once again, he released two Shadowless Wind des from his hands.


    Wang Yanfeng took a step forward, and using his wolf ws, he managed to prevent himself from falling. However, the two wind des had already reached him again, hitting his knees in the exact same spot. This sudden impact caused his movements to seize just as he was about to leap up.


    Following this, there were two more wind des. These two wind des were slightly smaller in size, but as they shot towards him, Wang Yanfeng could sense the threat. They seemed to be more potent than the previous wind des. <i>Did hepress the energy?</i>


    Wang Yanfeng instinctively crouched down and pped his wolf ws together, creating a whirlwind in front of him as a defensive measure. He didn''t dare to confront the wind des directly again.


    But at this moment, a strange scene unfolded. Above the whirlwind in front of Wang Yanfeng, the two wind des disappeared with a sh of green light.


    Right away, Wang Yanfeng felt a sharp sense of danger right in front of his eyes. He instinctively raised his arm to protect his face, and an instantter, he felt something stabbing them deeply. It was clear that Tang San''s attack had been aimed at his eyes this time.


    Tang San''s wind des were more potent than he had imagined; forget about the second order, they clearly reached the third order! Such a level of cultivation was something Wang Yanfeng had never anticipated. At just eight years old, Tang San had already achieved third-order strength! Even though hecked the physical augmentation from Wind Wolf''s transformation, his control over wind des was well on par with a regr third-order wolf demon!


    Wang Yangfeng was astounded. However, astonishment was all he felt.


    <i>I��m sorry, kid. I am not at the third order! </i>


    With a resounding growl, Wang Yanfeng''s aura surged, bathing him in a vivid green radiance that crackled with the essence of the wind. The air around him hummed with the power of elemental force. His wolf-like fur shimmered with an enchanting greenish hue as if the room''s magic had magnified his presence. Now a deep shade of jade, his eyes conveyed his unwavering determination.


    Wang Yanfeng nted his feet firmly into the floor and surged forward at a ridiculous speed. His arms shielded his vulnerable eyes as he charged straight toward Tang San.


    Two more wind des struck him, but this time, they were effortlessly dissipated by the protective wind element surrounding him. Wang Yanfeng had unleashed his full power, his every skill brought to bear in a simple yet determined pursuit: close the distance and end the battle.

 Chapter 23: Mysterious Heaven Technique - Fourth Order

    <h4>Chapter 23: Mysterious Heaven Technique - Fourth Order</h4>


    In his mind, no matter how masterful Tang San''s control over the wind des was, it wouldn''t matter as long as the kid couldn''t break through his defense. Tang San, who could not even transform, would undeniably be defeated in a melee.


    The room was not veryrge, and in the next instant, Wang Yanfeng would be standing right in front of Tang San.


    However, Tang San''s lips curled up at that moment, revealing a faint smile. Actually, what he wanted was exactly this: for Wang Yanfeng toe close!


    In terms of absolute speed, he was no match for Wang Yanfeng, who was at the fourth order. However, when it came to closebat, Tang San was confident in his abilities. No matter how qualified he was, Wang Yanfeng''sbat experience couldn''tpare to his. After all, he was a former God King who had seen countless battles in his past life!


    Tang San��s toes lightly tapped the ground, and the next instant, his figure flickered like a ghost, miraculously escaping Wang Yanfeng''s frontal lunge.


    Tang San immediately maneuvered to Wang Yanfeng''s side, crouching down and making use of his small stature to easily dodge Wang Yanfeng''s muscr arm. Then, his right hand shot out like lightning. With fingers that shone like white jade, he smacked Wang Yanfeng''s armpit in a split second.


    Wang Yanfeng''s body was wrapped in green light, and coupled with his robust physique, he rightfully considered his defenses nearly imprable.


    Still, with this strike, Tang San pinpointed a weak spot. Combined with the power amplification granted by his Mysterious Jade Hand, this weak spot allowed him to easily puncture through Wang Yanfeng''s protective wind-element energy and hit him square.


    The armpit area was a vulnerable spot, no matter how strong the one��s physique was, and while it was normally easy to defend, it was also a real problem when it was hit.


    Wang Yanfeng felt an intense pain in his armpit, as if he was stabbed by a needle, and then half of his body went numb.


    As he was reeling in shock, Tang San''s right hand shot out again, hitting him once more in the armpit, and this time with a powerful punch.


    Wang Yanfeng''s legs went limp and he slumped to the floor. Tang San leaned in, pressing his shoulder against Wang Yanfeng to prevent him from regaining his bnce, and flipped him face-down onto the floor.


    Wang Yanfeng felt a profound weakness in the right half of his body, and he realized that he was unable to exert any power. His heart was filled with shock. He couldn��t even figure out how he had been defeated. Everything had happened so fast. Of course, part of it was because he feared hurting Tang San, so he had refrained from using his strongest skill, the wind des, for a full-scale attack. However, even with that taken into ount, the fact of the matter was that Tang San had just knocked Wang Yanfeng down in hand-to-handbat, leaving him in disbelief.


    Tang San retreated quickly, but his palm was surrounded by a green light. During the three shes just now, he had silently absorbed some of the fourth-order Wind Wolf bloodline power from Wang Yanfeng using the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Actually, the drain of bloodline power was one of the reasons why Wang Yanfeng felt weak.


    Even though the absorbed energy was not much, it was still fourth-order energy. Almost immediately, Tang San felt a change in the energy in his body, as if it was boiling. His guess was correct��it seemed he needed a bloodline power of the same attribute but of a higher level to help him break through!


    Feeling this change, Tang San retreated to a distance and sat on the ground, panting heavily as if he had exhausted all his strength.


    In fact, with the deep, rich energy and recovery ability granted by his Mysterious Heaven Technique, he could easily use the wind des more than a dozen times without any problems. In fact, he could do that while also using the Leopard sh.


    In terms of actual strength, if they were to go all out, Tang San probably had a sixty percent chance of defeating Wang Yanfeng anyway. The man had been holding back, yes, but so had Tang San. Even though there was a gap in their cultivation levels, Tang San had much more experience and better martial arts skills. In his previous life, it had been rtively easy for him to defeat higher-level opponents.


    But in this life, he was yet to fully understand the world he was in, so it was difficult for him to get an advantage. Otherwise, he would have be stronger even faster.


    The pain gradually faded away, and Wang Yanfeng sat up and looked at Tang San with aplex expression in his eyes. He had never imagined that he would lose to an eight-year-old kid one day. But a loss was a loss, and he wouldn''t make excuses.


    "Teacher, I feel a bit tired. Can I go back and rest for a while?" Tang San looked at Wang Yanfeng with a pitiful expression.


    Wang Yanfeng''s mouth twitched. "Go ahead. Remember what I told you today? Don''t tell anyone else. Otherwise, there will be dire consequences."


    "Okay, teacher," Tang San hurriedly agreed. Then he stood up and left the room.


    He wanted to embrace the feeling of a breakthrough and quickly advance his Mysterious Heaven Technique to the fourth order. Of course he was excited��when his cultivation reached the following order, everything would be different.


    Back in his room, Wang Zhong was already practicing. Tang San was still in a good mood when he climbed into bed. Judging from Wang Yanfeng''s reaction, his judgment was correct. His teacher naturally had his doubts about the whole situation, but he would still protect his student. Considering that, Tang San also didn''t mind teaching Wang Yanfeng some of his hidden weapon techniques.


    What''s more, there was an unexpected surprise today: the Wind Elemental Array in Wang Yanfeng''s room on the second floor. This was definitely something that could be used for cultivation. At present, his control over the wind element was based on the imprints granted by the Wind Wolf bloodline, which required continuous absorption to improve. It seemed impossible to control the wind element directly, even if he had enough spiritual energy since he couldn''t ess it by himself. This was a limitation imposed by the rules of this dimension.


    To break this rule, ording to Wang Yanfeng''s exnation of the hierarchy in the Fn world, he would probably have to reach at least the ninth order before he could have an opportunity.


    Cross-legged, he sat down and activated the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Under the swirling green light, the boiling energy quickly broke through the previously blocked bottleneck.


    Unlikest time, his attempt was sessful!


    The aura emanating from Tang San became noticeably denser, and his absorption of the natural elemental energy also went up a notch. He had finally reached the fourth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Having sessfully broken through the fourth order, Tang San immediately felt that the entire world changed��no, actually, it was his perception of the world that had changed.


    It was a strange feeling; in his perception, this world was calling out to him, and he could sense a rich and powerful spiritual energy belonging to this world. Everything seemed to be beckoning to him. Furthermore, the imprint of his Wind Wolf bloodline had deepened noticeably. Even though he hadn''t consumed much, the power of a fourth-order bloodline still strengthened him.


    Most important, however, it was the improvement of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Through the years of cultivation and the experience gained from this sessful breakthrough, Tang San was graduallying to understand the rtionship between his Mysterious Heaven Technique and the Demonic God Transformation. Or rather, the rtionship between his Mysterious Heaven Technique and the demonic bloodlines.


    To be even more powerful, he needed to acquire more skills. Therefore, he nned to find stronger demons with abilities that suited him, consume them, and imbue himself with their bloodline abilities. That way, he could gain their bloodline powers and improve his own. It was undoubtedly the best choice.


    Wind Wolf Town was not the ce for him to stay indefinitely. He needed to go to the major cities of the Tianyu Empire to encounter demons with more potent bloodlines. However, he needed to have the power to consume them. Three years, that was how long it would take him to establish himself here. ording to Wang Yanfeng, once he had the status of a vassal, he could freely travel around the continent...with the consent of his master, of course.


    In three years, he would head to the major cities. That was the goal Tang San had set for himself. In the meantime, umtion was the most crucial thing for him for the next three years. Gathering more strength, mastering the skills he remembered from his past life, and enhancing his powers.

 Chapter 24: Advice

    <h4>Chapter 24: Advice</h4>


    Maybe it was because Tang San only extracted a small amount of bloodline energy from Wang Yanfeng, but when he saw his teacher the next day, thetter seemed to have returned to normal. However, there was a noticeable change in Wang Yanfeng''s gaze when he looked at Tang San.


    How could he not see that this eight-year-old child possessed the power of the third order? But this also made Wang Yanfeng feel somewhat relieved. He was relieved that Tang San��s willingness to fight him did not stem from some kind of childish stubbornness, but from an innatebat instinct.


    In fact, his talent was so shocking that he could hold his own against Wang Yanfeng as long as thetter did not go all out. Not only did the kid have a deep understanding of the Wind de ability, but he also showed remarkable skills in closebat.


    In the morning, Wang Yanfeng continued the cultural lessons and taught the students even more. Tang San continued to listen attentively and diligently learned to read and write.


    After the lessons were over, Wang Yanfeng called Tang San upstairs again.


    Wang Yanfeng said, "Tang San, there''s something I need to talk to you about. I mentioned it yesterday, but I think I may not have been clear enough."


    Tang San nodded and replied, "Please go ahead, Teacher."


    Wang Yanfeng continued, "During our first lesson, I exined the concept of collective punishment to you. You remember that, right?"


    Tang San nodded again.


    Wang Yanfeng said, "I want to talk to you about collective punishment, but it��s not because I''m afraid of death. I''ve lived for several decades, which is considered old among humans, andpared to most people, I can think of myself as pretty lucky. At least I could spend my life with my wife, and we''ve had a good life together. However, there are twenty-seven vassals in our Wind Wolf Town. Every surviving vassal has a strength of at least the third order or higher. Counting the five of you, we have a total of thirty-two people. And if a single one of us is found to be suspicious, it could lead to collective punishment for all of us."


    He paused for a moment and drew a deep breath before continuing.


    "The word ''redemption'' that you mentioned yesterday should not be discussed with anyone. You should also hide your strength as much as possible. You are young and impulsive, and you must control that. Keeping a low profile is not only for your own sake, but also for the sake of all the people in our Wind Wolf Town. Do you understand what I mean?"


    "I understand." Tang San nodded earnestly.


    Wang Yanfeng lightly sighed and said, "I sure hope you understand. Well, anyway, you defeated me yesterday, and I will keep my word. Starting tonight, you''lle to this room to practice. Inside this room, there''s an array made of Wind Spirit Stones. Although it''s pretty rudimentary, it represents years of effort on my part. Come here every other day to practice, and it will help you improve your understanding of the wind element. It will also improve the effects of your Wind Wolf Transformation. The fact that you have such abilities at only eight years old means that your potential is incredible. Listen to your teacher, work as hard as you possibly can, and the future will hold great opportunities for you."


    "Yes," Tang San replied respectfully.


    Wang Yanfeng hesitated for a moment before saying, "Do you have anything to say or ask?"


    Tang San replied, "Teacher, do you want me to show you the techniques for controlling the wind de?"


    Wang Yanfeng''s mouth twitched, obviously not expecting him to ask this. Still, he only hesitated for a moment before he nodded. "Sure! With things as they are, it��s quite difficult for me to break through to the fifth level. The Wind Wolf n won''t provide me with the appropriate techniques. Besides, our bloodline''s power is ultimately limited, and even the strongest Wind Wolf bloodline in this city doesn''t have many descendants. Learning some techniques can also enhance it a bit. So yeah, I will ept your offer."


    Tang San asked, "Teacher, is there a way to improve one''s bloodline?"


    Wang Yanfeng replied, "There should be some methods, but I''m not sure. I''ve heard that demons and nymphs can improve their bloodlines within their lineages by passing on the essence of a high-order member''s bloodline to a lower-order one before death. As for us humans, it''s not even worth thinking about. How could the demons and nymphs pass on their high-order bloodline power to us?"


    Tang San asked, "What if we forcefully strip it away? Is that possible?"


    Wang Yanfeng felt his heart skip a beat. "Who told you about this? Was it the person who used to teach you?"


    Tang San nodded. He had a spection that some people here also had the ability to strip demons and nymphs of their bloodlines, but now he had to pin it on someone in such a way that he wouldn��t be discovered, and that someone had to be Zhu Jiaxin.


    Wang Yanfeng said, "Maybe it''s possible, but it is not something I can do. For the Redemption Society, maybe..." He suddenly paused and then smacked himself in the face. "I can��t believe I said those two damn words. Remember, don''t bring it up, especially when you are outside. Do. Not. Mention it. To anyone."


    "Teacher, be gentle with your face; it must be painful," Tang San joked, his mouth twitching.


    Wang Yanfeng replied exasperatedly, "All right, you little rascal. Are you going to teach me now? I want to learn your method of making the wind des invisible."


    Tang San nodded and said, "Teacher, controlling a wind de isn''t that difficult. First, you must make the wind de utilize its greatest advantage: speed. The wind element itself is the best boost for speed. So, you see that the Shadowless Wind de is built upon a speed foundation. Today, let me teach you some basic techniques. The first one is called the Flicking Dart, which can maximize the speed of the wind de. Once you''ve mastered the Flicking Dart, I''ll teach you the Spiraling Hand technique. Only after learning these two techniques can you start attempting the Shadowless Wind de."


    Wang Yanfeng heard him exin with such confidence that he couldn''t help but feel a bit overwhelmed.


    <i>How did he learn so many techniques?</i>


    The silence of the previous night not only meant Tang San''s breakthrough to the fourth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique but also Wang Yanfeng''s protection and approval. This, in turn, further reinforced Tang San''s respect for his Teacher.


    Then, he began to teach Wang Yanfeng the basic techniques of the Tang Sect''s Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation.


    Wang Yanfeng had excellent control skills, actually better than most Wolf Demons. As a result, he learned quickly. The time between the end of morning sses and lunch became the time when Wang Yanfeng would learn from Tang San.


    However, in the eyes of the Wang brothers and Ling Muxue, it seemed like Wang Yanfeng was giving special lessons to Tang San in private.


    The four of them had no issues with this. Ling Muxue felt the closest to Tang San since they had been together during the most challenging times. As for the Wang brothers, being much older, they subconsciously believed that the eight-year-old Tang San needed more guidance from the teacher, or else he might not pass the assessment three yearster.


    And when Tang San cultivated inside the wind-element array for the first time, his understanding of this world deepened.


    As night fell, the room was bathed in a soft green glow, and the wind spirit stones in the corner emitted gentle ripples of the wind element.


    Although only the wind element was in a higher concentration, it still made the spiritual energy in the room several times denser than in the outside world. This wealth of energy was very beneficial for Tang San''s cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    But he wasn''t in a hurry to cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Instead, he tried to get a feel of the wind element here.


    In his previous life, with his immense divine power and divine consciousness, controlling any element was an effortless task. Everything had changed in this life, starting from scratch, and he had to relearn and reexperience everything.


    The wind element here was incredibly light, with a gentle and refreshing scent. When Tang San attempted tomunicate with it using his spiritual power, the wind element naturally rippled and gave off a sense of rejection. It was not drawn to him.

 Chapter 25: A Years Change

    <h4>Chapter 25: A Year''s Change</h4>


    However, when Tang San cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Technique, the energy naturally influenced those wisps of wind element energy once inhaled. Then, they were transformed into the essence of heaven and earth and facilitated the cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique without any problems.


    But Tang San desired something else. He wanted to be more powerful, and this power couldn��t be solely derived from the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    At that moment, he used the Mysterious Heaven Technique to activate the Wind de imprint within his body, allowing a portion of his Mysterious Heaven Technique to transform into the energy that generated the Wind des.


    Within this imprint, Tang San immediately felt something different. As he transformed, the surrounding wind element began to stir. The Wind de imprint within Tang San''s body acted as a focal point, drawing in the wind element energy into his body.


    Tang San attempted to absorb this energy into his body through this focal point, but he found that there seemed to be a barrier within his body preventing it. However, he could manage to manipte some of the wind element energy in the surrounding air, albeit with some difficulty.


    As he formed a wind de in his palm, the wind de''s ability to absorb the wind element energy in the air became more apparent, and the wind de itself became visibly more powerful.


    <i>Now, that''s something!</i>


    At that moment, Tang San began to understand something crucial. In this mystical world, elements weren''t readily controlled. They followed specific rules, and they were drawn to those with bloodlines sharing simr elemental traits. It was as if elements had theirnguage, onlyprehensible by those with matching bloodlines.


    In other words, the wolf demons of the Wind Wolf n could absorb the wind element from the air to strengthen their bloodline. Even vassals could absorb these elements if they had the Wind Wolf bloodline. Bloodlines seem to act as a filter for natural forces.


    Thus, the reason he couldn''t absorb it was that he had pure human blood, without any trace of the Wind Wolf n''s bloodline. The Mysterious Heaven Technique could transform these elemental powers but couldn''t directly absorb them from the air. Instead, it could draw the wind wolf bloodline energy from Wind Wolf n members to strengthen his Wind de.


    The inability to absorb spiritual energy was why humans were so weak. After all, ordinary humans, who did not have demon blood, simply could not cultivate. In this world, there were no methods suitable for their cultivation. Thus, humans had naturally be ves. The only reason they hadn''t beenpletely wiped out was their strong reproductive ability.


    Having understood this, his perception of this world deepened even further.


    Practicing within this wind element array was most beneficial for speeding up his progress in the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Still, it didn''t have much impact on his connection to the wind element itself.


    Of course, Tang San wasn''t worried about this aspect. In this town, everything wascking but Wind Wolves. Now that his Mysterious Heaven Technique had reached the fourth stage, his overall strength had improved significantly. Obtaining more bloodline power from some Wind Wolves would naturally be more manageable now.


    Tang San made his ns for the cultivation that was to follow.


    He would cultivate in the wind element array on the house''s second floor every night. And on the following day''s evening, he would creep out of the house and look for lone members of the Wind Wolf n.


    He didn''t pick the fourth-order Wind Wolves, who were stronger but rarer. Instead, he targeted the third-order Wind Wolves.


    From every third-order Wind Wolf he found, he would only absorb a third of its bloodline power. This power could be quickly recuperated in a couple of days, leaving the target slightly weaker and none the wiser.


    Absorbing less power meant Tang San would digest that more quickly. Almost every time, this absorbed power could be integrated in two days. The absorption was beneficial for cultivating the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and improving his mastery of the Wind de.


    The days were passing uneventfully.


    The Wang brothers and Ling Muxue had good innate talent, and under the careful training of Wang Yanfeng, they made quick progress. A year passed, and the four of them had reached the cultivation level of a second-order Wind Wolf. ording to their bloodline triggers and awakening, it seemed that they would have no trouble getting to the third order after three years.


    Once all of them could use the Wind de, Wang Yanfeng started teaching them the hidden weapon techniques that he had learned from Tang San.


    As Tang San anticipated, his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique had slowed down due to the suppression of the dimension. It had been one year, and he had yet to reach the fifth order. However, he did get stronger as he practiced other things he had learned in his past life.


    Under the careful guardianship of Wang Yanfeng, the five of them were well taken care of and started showing significant changes.


    First and foremost, there was the matter of their physical condition. When they had first arrived, they had all been pale and emaciated, extremely frail and feeble. However, after a year of eating properly and training well, they had all grown significantly healthier.


    Wang Chao had already reached adulthood, and he had a muscr physique, standing at over 1.8m tall, which was considered quite tall among humans.


    Wang Zhong still appeared thin, but there was a sense of inner strength in him. His small eyes were always narrowed, with a hint of coldness. He spoke the least among them but was the most dedicated in his training.


    Among the three Wang brothers, Wang Xiaolei was the most lively, but he had something else on his mind. He often revolved around Ling Muxue, which annoyed her.


    Despite being quite a bit younger, Wang Xiaolei had reached a considerable height, standing at over 1.7 meters, slightly taller than Wang Zhong. It was likely that he would grow even taller in adulthood, surpassing Wang Chao.


    The most significant transformation was seen in Ling Muxue. Through her dedication to training and proper nutrition, the girl who had once appeared small and delicate had now be vibrant and full of life. At eleven, she had just started to enter adolescence, and her height was around 1.5 meters.


    As for Tang San, his changes were the least noticeable. He still appeared somewhat slender and hadn''t experienced significant growth in height, making him the most unremarkable-looking among the group of five.


    "Tang San,e here for a moment." After finishing the morning cultural ss, Wang Yanfeng once again called Tang San upstairs. The other four had already be ustomed to this routine.


    Tang San followed Wang Yanfeng upstairs and entered a room. Wang Yanfeng pointed to the wall. When Tang San''s gaze fell on what was hanging on the wall, his eyes brightened. It was a map, a rough-looking map.


    Wang Yanfeng said, "This is what you''ve been wanting all along. I found it for you. It wasn''t easy, I tell you. By the way, there''s an opportunitying up. The Wind Wolf Lord has asked me to visit Jialing City, and I can take an attendant with me. How about youe with me?"


    "Entering the city?" Tang San''s eyes instantly lit up, and his usually calm gaze was filled with excitement.


    Over the past year, he had learned the writtennguage of the Daemon Continent under Wang Yanfeng''s guidance. Wang Yanfeng had told him many legends about the demons and nymphs, as well as different races. For him, studying culture was far more critical than the afternoon practice.


    However, it had been nine years since arriving in this world, yet he had never left the Wind Wolf Town.

 Chapter 26: The City

    <h4>Chapter 26: The City</h4>


    "Yes, haven''t you always wanted to go into the city to see what it''s like? This is a perfect opportunity for me to bring you along," Wang Yanfeng said with a smile.


    For Tang San, he had a rather strange mix of emotions. Over the past year, he had taught Tang San a lot but also learned a great deal from Tang San. Initially, he had thought that Tang San mainly had some superficial knowledge of that mysterious person. However, when he started learning to control the wind des from Tang San, he realized that Tang San had opened a new door for him.


    Although Wang Yanfeng��s cultivation still stagnated at the fourth order, he was confident thatpared to himself a year ago, he was now in apletely different league.


    This change was all thanks to Tang San. So, despite his young age, Wang Yanfeng had never underestimated him. At the same time, he also noticed that the power of Tang San��s Wind de had been steadily increasing. Wang Yanfeng couldn''t be sure of Tang San''s true strength now, but he could sense that this kid was making rapid progress.


    For that reason, duringbat training, only the other four would spar with each other. Tang San was exempted from participating in these exercises by Wang Yanfeng, who cited his young age as the reason.


    Tang San had been able to defeat him even a year back, so what was the point of furtherbat training? Moreover, Wang Yanfeng had to be very careful to conceal Tang San''s true strength.


    Being able to go to the city was undoubtedly good news to Tang San. He was immensely curious about the world and wanted to learn as much as possible. If it weren''t for hisck of strength andck of a legitimate identity, he would have liked to leave this ce a long time ago.


    From Wang Yanfeng''s teachings, he knew that the world was vast, incredibly so. It was even more extensive than the Douluo Continent of his previous life. Finding a single person in such a boundless world was like searching for a needle in a haystack. It was difficult, far too difficult. Moreover, humans were simply insignificant in this world. He couldn''t be sure what Xiao Wu''s situation would be like after her reincarnation.


    The reason he couldn''t bear to part with that fragment of divine consciousness unless there was a true life-or-death situation was also that it allowed him to faintly sense whether his wife was still alive.


    This was the only thing he could be sure of now. Yes, his wife was still alive, somewhere in a corner of this vast world. If he could get his cultivation back to the God level, he could use his divine consciousness to search for her more efficiently. But he couldn''t wait!


    Even though the spiritual energy in this world was highly abundant, there were still many limitations in this dimension for him. In such circumstances, he didn��t know how much suppression and hardship he would have to endure to cultivate to the God level. In addition, he also couldn��t know what would happen to his wife while he struggled to reach that level.


    Whether she was safe and whether she would fall in love with someone else and be their partner were the things Tang San worried about the most. Naturally, the stronger he became, the more impatient he was to leave this ce.


    As he pondered, his gaze shifted toward the map before him. This map was quite crude, and it only had minimal marking and some general notations.


    The map had a line stretching from the northwest to the southeast, serving as a divider. One side of the line wasbeled ��Empyrean Dominion,�� while the other was marked as the ��Solstice Empire.�� The diagonal line was the territorial demarcation between the demons and nymphs. As for thend size, the two empires were almost equal, though it seemed that the Solstice Empire, ruled by the nymphs, was ever-so-slightly bigger.


    In the middle of the map, near the line dividing the kingdoms of the demons and nymphs, was thebel for a city.


    <i>Sanctum Spiritus City!</i>


    Sanctum Spiritus City was the core city for all demons and nymphs and was ruled by both races. Legends im that it was the first city established on the continent.


    Then, Tang San found thebel for yet another city.


    <i>Kali City!</i>


    Kali City was the city that was the closest to Wind Wolf Town. The city was one of the seven cities of the Empyrean Dominion. While it wasparatively remote, it was a key location for the demon races.


    The continent had fifteen cities, seven each for the demons and nymphs. As for the Sanctum Spiritus City, both sides imed that it belonged to them. As a result, each side often imed that they had eight cities.


    As for Wind Wolf Town, it wasn''t evenbeled on the map. The map only showed the fifteen cities within the two empires.


    Tang San''s heartbeat quickened as he swept his gaze across the map, doing his best to memorize notable locations and cities from the map. His beloved wife had to be somewhere on this map.


    <i> Xiao Wu, where are you?</i>


    Seeing the visible changes in Tang San''s expression, Wang Yanfeng wasn''t surprised. He had felt the same when he first entered the big city. He had been much more excited than Tang San.


    "Kali City is not like Wind Wolf Town. In such arge city, there are demons of almost every level. There are even nymph ns. We are nothing more than vassals, the lowest level of existence in the city. A big city like this doesn''t even allow ves to enter. I will help you get a temporary vassal identity token that you must bring along. If you don''t, you risk getting killed anytime."


    "Teacher, is the city dangerous?" Tang San had already returned to his senses at this point.


    Wang Yanfeng shook his head and said, "Normally, no one would pay attention to us lesser beings, so naturally we can''t speak of any danger. But we still need to be as careful as possible. When the timees, follow me and do exactly what I tell you to do. Remember, don''t talk or look around too much. Be discreet and cautious."


    "Okay." Tang San nodded.


    He was also very interested in the other cities of this world. In this Wind Wolf City, it seemed safe, but there was no chance for him to search for his wife. At the same time, he needed to go to the outside world to look and find a way to enhance himself. He could tell it would be even more difficult for his Mysterious Heaven Technique to break through from the fourth to the fifth order.


    Two dayster, Wang Yanfengpleted the formalities. Only then did he take Tang San and leave Wind Wolf Town together.


    Because Wang Yanfeng was at the fourth order, in the entire Wind Wolf Town, he was the most powerful of the human vassals. When ordinary wolf demons saw him, although they didn''t have a favorable expression, they didn''t speak ill of him either.


    Walking out of Wind Wolf Town, Tang San experienced a strange sensation. It felt peculiar, like fish leaping in the vast ocean and birds soaring in the boundless sky. He took a deep breath, and he finally felt that the air was refreshing.


    Wang Yanfeng led him to a small path. Following this path would lead them onto the main road to Kali City, and the city waited for them at the end of that road.


    The path wasn''t wide, only three or four meters. It wasn''t perfectly t, but it wasn''t too rocky either. It was paved with gravel, and it was clear that human ves had done the work.


    The task assigned by the Wind Wolf Lord to Wang Yanfeng this time was to travel to Kali City and deliver a tribute list to the Wind Wolf Overlord.


    The wolf demon n was arge n even from the perspective of the entire demon race. It wasn''t strong enough to have a principal city of its own, but because of the n''srge numbers and decent individual strength, the wolf demon n was still in the top twenty amongst all demon ns. Although it was just barely in the rankings, there were hundreds upon hundreds of different types of demons. To be able to enter the top twenty was already a substantial achievement.


    On the other hand, the Wind Wolf n was considered weaker among the lineage of wolf demons. But even so, it was still a lineage belonging to one of the great ns. The Wind Wolf Overlord was also a powerful existence that had ess to the core of the wolf demon n.


    As a minor lord of the Wind Wolf n, it was necessary to make offerings to the n Overlord every year. Of course, to show their submission to the n Overlord, the delivery of the tributes was certainly not something that Wang Yanfeng was qualified to do. At the end of the year, they would be personally escorted by the Wind Wolf Lord and the Wind Wolf High Priest to Kali City.


    Wang Yanfeng was simply sent to deliver the tribute list to Wind Wolf Overlord for approval. If the Overlord was unsatisfied, it would mean trouble for the Wind Wolf Lord. If the n Overlord was satisfied, it was good news.

 Chapter 27: Elephant Demon

    <h4>Chapter 27: Elephant Demon</h4>


    It was about three hundred kilometers from Wind Wolf Town to Kali City. Rushing day and night, with Tang San and Wang Yanfeng''s speed, they could arrive in about three days.


    Following the gravel road, the teacher and student didn''t dare to dy and traveled quickly. The Wind Wolf Lord had ordered them to deliver the message and be back within ten days.


    If there was a dy, Wang Yanfeng would be punished. Moreover, if they were faster, they would naturally be able to stay in Kali City for a little longer.


    While traveling, Wang Yanfeng asked Tang San, "Let me quiz you, what is used for trading among the big cities?"


    Tang San quickly answered, "In viges and towns, most transactions are just bartering. And in the big cities or the entire continent, it''s all done with coins made from rare minerals or nts. On the Empyrean Dominion''s side, it��s mainly mineral coins. On the Solstice Empire''s side, it��s mainly nt-based coins. The biggest advantage of these coins is that they contain energy, which can be directly absorbed and used to strengthen bloodlines, so they cannot be counterfeited. In other words, the coins themselves are valuable."


    Wang Yanfeng nodded with satisfaction.


    "Not bad, you are remembering quite clearly. What about the mary system on the Empyrean Dominion''s side?"


    Tang San said, "There are five main currencies in the Empyrean Dominion. The highest level is the Amethystine coin. It''s crafted from a special purple-gold metal. It is said to contain a considerable amount of energy. Even Great Demons and Great Nymphs could use it for cultivation. The Amethystine coins are rare and generally not circted on the market. Their value is more on a symbolic level."


    "One Amethystine coin is approximately equal to one hundred Empyreans coins. The Empyrean coin was named after the Empyrean Dominion, and its material is made of six rare minerals spliced together. These rare minerals possess the six elemental attributes of Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Light, and Darkness. Being able to splice them together is a challenging craft in itself, and the energy contained within them is tremendous. It is very effective in stimting the strength of a bloodline."


    "One Empyrean is, in turn, equal to ten naturae coins. Naturae coins are categorized into six types, the same six attributes thatprise the Empyrean coins. The quality is slightly lower than the same variety of minerals used in the Empyrean coins. This is also the most mainstream higher currency circting in the market. It has extreme purchasing power."


    "Below the six elemental coins are the aetherhorn coins. They are made from a kind of ore known as Aetherhorn. One naturae coin is approximately equal to one hundred aetherhorn coins."


    "As for the lowest form of currency, they are collectively named demonshard coins. Their value is measured in terms of energy strength. Minerals that contain about one percent or more of the bloodline power of a first-order demon can be used as demonshard coins. There are many kinds of demonshard coins because of the different demon races that produce them. The exchange rates between demonshard coins and aetherhorn coins differ, requiring moreplicated calctions. Most of the time, big cities still use aetherhorn coins for transactions."


    Wang Yanfeng nodded again, very satisfied with his pupil. "Your memory is very good. Wind Wolf Town''s biggest source of ie is a wind spirit mine next to the town. The fist-sized wind spirit stones from this mine are approximately equivalent to one-fifth of the value of an aetherhorn coin. It isn''t considered a precious mineral, but it still has its worth. The mined stones are handed to the Wind Wolf n annually. The strong-bodied ves are all sent to be miners."


    Tang San had naturally seen wind spirit stone, a greenish-gray ore. The wind elemental formation in Wang Yanfeng''s room relied on this kind of ore.


    While the ore had its impurities, it was rare because it contained only one element: Wind.


    Wang Yanfeng lightly sighed and said, "A fist-sized wind spirit stone weighs about one kilogram. Our tribute list promises five thousand kilograms of wind spirit stones this time. That''s more than two-thirds of the city''s production. It is the same situation every year."


    "Is the Wind Wolf n very powerful?"


    "To us, they are. The Overlord of the Wind Wolf n is a strong contender for the top ten of the Wolf Demon n, and while he''s not at the very top, he is still highly skilled. It is said that he is already at the tenth order or higher. A strong leader in the demon n often determines the n''s survival.


    "Survival of the fittest," Tang San said inly.


    "You''re right; it''s a world where the weak are preyed upon."


    The path from Wind Wolf Town to the main road was rather deserted, and they encountered no demons. A dayter, the path finally converged with the main road.


    The main road leading to Kali City was much broader. It was fifty meters wide and was the smoothest path Tang San had seen. It was still paved with gravel, but it was surprisingly t, with jungle and hills on both sides.


    Now that they were on the main road, they could see a lot of different races present.


    There weren''t many ves, but the various demon races were genuinely eye-opening for Tang San.


    He had mainly seen wolf demons in Wind Wolf Town. Pig demons were present also but were considered to be a subordinate race. Demon races who were not good atbat were generally under the rule of another race.


    Now, within just half a day, Tang San saw more than ten types of demons on the busy road.


    Among these demons, there was one that left a deep impression on him.


    It was a massively built creature It moved on all fours with powerful limbs, but could also stand upright, revealing a somewhat humanoid body shape. When it was upright, it towered over everyone around, at over eight meters. Its nose, over five meters long, swung as it moved, and its massive head was covered in thick horn-likeyers.


    Its eyes were a pale purple, exuding an aura of immense power.


    Wang Yanfeng waited for the monstrous creature to pass before he dared to exin to Tang San.


    That was an elephant demon, a strong one at that.


    The Elephant Demon n was not as intricately divided as the Wolf Demon n, possessing only one main lineage. Their numbers were also much lowerpared to the Wolf Demons. However, unlike the Wolf Demons, the Elephant Demons ranked within the top ten super ns.


    A newborn Elephant Demon already possessed strength of the third order. Adult Elephant Demons were even more formidable, boasting seventh-order or higher strengths. The massive and powerful creature they had just encountered was merely an ordinary adult Elephant Demon.


    Assessing the strength of an elephant demon involved more than just looking at their size; the color of their eyes was also important. Ordinary Elephant Demons had pale purple eyes, while those of the eighth order had deep purple eyes. When the elephant demons reached the ninth order, their eyes turned red. It was said that the eyes of Elephant Demons of the tenth order and above were golden, and they were known as the Golden War Elephants. They were famous for their formidablebat abilities.


    Although only at the seventh order, this particr Elephant Demon exuded an intense vitality that Tang San could sense as it passed. Coupled with its burly physique, one could imagine how incredible this Elephant Demon''sbat ability was.


    Seeing such a mighty demon race, Tang San increasingly understood why demons and nymphs held a dominant position in this world. Their innate strength made them virtually unbeatable.


    To him, the so-called demon race was essentially a bunch of demonic beasts that had awakened their spiritual intelligence, which was something he had seen in his previous life as well. On the Daemon Continent, there were also demonic beasts that hadn''t awakened their spiritual intelligence. These beasts were enved and controlled by the demon race.


    There was sometimes a subordinate rtionship between a species of demonic beasts and a closely rted demon race. Basically, the demonic beasts were vassals to their more intelligent counterparts. Also, these vassal demonic beasts actually held a higher status than human vassals. After all, demonic beasts were more valuable in the eyes of the demon race.


    Under Wang Yanfeng''s lead, the two traveled along the very edge of the main road. Human vassals were not allowed to walk in the center of the road, or they could be easily trampled to death by whatever demon happened to gallop by, and nobody would even bat an eye.


    They hastened their journey as much as they could, and after a day and a half of braving the elements, the two finally arrived at their destination.

 Chapter 28: Aunty Gui

    <h4>Chapter 28: Aunty Gui</h4>


    From a distance, Tang San could see a colossal city wall, towering at a staggering height of a hundred meters. Indeed, it was no exaggeration to say that the city wall looked like an insurmountable cliff.


    It wasn��t just a metaphor either��the wall was built between tworge mountains, and the sheer cliffs perfectly framed it.


    Thanks to the teachings of Wang Yanfeng, Tang San was already aware that Kali City was a basin city surrounded by mountains that provided the best natural defense for the city. Only on the north and south sides were sections of the wall, with city gates through which one could enter.


    The city gates stood wide open, allowing free entry and exit. There were no city guards in sight, either


    Wang Yanfeng didn''t immediately lead Tang San into the city. Instead, he held him back, waiting nearby. They waited until there was a lull in the flow of demons entering and exiting the city gates, then quickly entered.


    As soon as Tang San stepped through the city gates, he felt like he had entered another world.


    They were located in the northeastern part of the Daemon Continent, so Wind Wolf Town was naturally cold for most of the year. However, inside Kali City, it felt more like a pleasant end of spring. The air was warmer, more humid, and richer in spiritual energy than the outside, and it immediately made Tang San feel refreshed.


    The city''s streets were paved with solid and even stone bs, and on either side of the roads stood tall buildings made of wood and stone.


    As he walked through the city, Tang San saw more and more demon races. Compared to the world outside, the diversity was incredible. He mentally matched each of them to the types Wang Yanfeng had taught him about. Despite his intense dislike for the demon races, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe.


    "Don''t look," Wang Yanfeng whispered, stepping in front of Tang San to block his view. "What did I tell you?"


    "Yes," Tang San responded, lowering his head.


    His observations weren''t just casual nces. At that moment, his heart was filled with shock. The demon races were even mightier than his original world''s soul beasts at their most powerful.


    Although just one of the main cities of the demon race, Kali City was filled with plenty of demon ns, and each of their members emanated a powerful aura. Every n had its unique characteristics. Even the moremon demon races seemed to possess formidable strength. Indeed, humans without any unique talents were vastly inferior to them.


    Tang San couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. It was exceedingly difficult for humans to contend with the demon race in this world. To change this situation would require starting from the very foundation. Only if humans also possessed the ability to cultivate and strengthen themselves could change be possible. Even so, it would be challenging, as the demons and nymphs held too much control over the continent. Humans would likely be suppressed immediately if any such abilities were discovered, and they would simply be killed or sent back into very.


    Moreover, was the Demonic God Transformation the way out for humanity? Certainly not! The origin of the Demonic God Transformation was rooted in the oppression of humans by the demon race, leading to the mixing of human bloodlines with that of demons. In reality, such mixed blood was far inferior to the pure bloodlines of the stronger demon races.


    For the salvation of humanity, it wasn''t enough to give them innate talent; it was also essential to create space for their development.


    A fledgling idea began to take shape in Tang San''s mind.


    "We''ll find a ce to stay first. We can probably stay here for about three days. After weplete the task, I''ll show you around," Wang Yanfeng''s voice brought Tang San back from his thoughts.


    "Okay, teacher," Tang San agreed obediently, bowing his head.


    As they moved along the edge of the city, Wang Yanfeng, who seemed quite familiar with Kali City, quickly found a ce to stay. Surprisingly, it was a modest little inn run by a human vassal like themselves.


    The innkeeper, a woman about Wang Yanfeng''s age, was pleasantly surprised to see them. She greeted Wang Yanfeng with a warm hug.


    "Why are you here?" she asked.


    Wang Yanfeng returned the hug with equal enthusiasm, his eyes filled with joy. "I''m here on a mission. We''ll be staying for a few days. Tang San,e here." He introduced Tang San to the innkeeper. "This is my new disciple, Tang San. Tang San, this is my sister, Gui Gui. You can call her Aunt Gui."


    Tang San internally sighed in relief, realizing she was Wang Yanfeng''s sister.


    "Hello, Aunt Gui," he greeted, noting the unusual name.[1]


    Gui Gui looked at Tang San with a hint of surprise. "Awakened at such a young age? It''s been a while since I''ve seen a child awaken so early. But can he pass the..."


    She paused, her face showing a hint of pity.


    Wang Yanfeng coughed lightly, interrupting her. "Let''s get settled in first." He was not worried about Tang San passing any test; if Tang San couldn''t pass, then who could? Of course, he couldn''t tell Gui Gui that this child had even taught <i>him</i> to control wind des.


    It was just a small inn, and it had about twenty rooms, each about ten square meters, with two beds. The price was quite affordable. It was nothing luxurious, but the rooms were clean and quiet.


    Wang Yanfeng told Tang San to rest in the room before leaving with Gui Gui, most likely for a chat.


    The room had a window, but the inn''s secluded location meant the view was limited to a nearby high wall.


    Tang San noticed other guests at the inn, primarily human vassals. The size of the beds suggested that the inn was designed for humans. The inn most likely served as a designated ce of rest for human vassals in Kali City.


    The inn didn��t even have a signpost outside, and it had a small yard in front where some vegetables were growing. All in all, it gave off a feeling of tranquility, and it seemed a rather secluded ce, a pleasant break from the bustling city life.


    <i>Perhaps this is a haven for humans in Kali City.</i>


    About an hourter, as dusk fell, Wang Yanfeng returned and called Tang San for dinner.


    The meal was hearty, with plenty of meat, but the taste was average at best. Since arriving in this world, Tang San had not enjoyed a truly vorful meal. Even the wolf demons of Wind Wolf Town ate simrly, just inrger quantities.


    The culinary standards of this world seemed far inferior to those of his original world.


    During the meal, Gui Gui joined them and asked Wang Yanfeng, "Are you taking him with you tomorrow?"


    Wang Yanfeng turned to Tang San. "Tomorrow, I must submit the list to the Wind Wolf ancestral home. Do you want toe along? There''s no danger, but we still need to be careful. Any wolf demon there is stronger than the Wind Wolf Lord back home."


    "I''lle with you," Tang San replied without hesitation.


    His cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and Wind de had improved, and he hoped to learn more from the wolf demons. Absorbing the essence of a higher-order wolf demon, if his body could withstand it, would greatly benefit his cultivation and allow him to break through faster.


    "Alright." Wang Yanfeng nodded in approval.


    Gui Gui gave Wang Yanfeng a curious look. To her, Tang San was just a nine-year-old boy, but Wang Yanfeng''s attitude toward him was more that of an equal. This behavior struck her as odd.


    Turning to Tang San, Gui Gui asked, "Little San, what level have you reached in your Wind Wolf Transformation?"


    Tang San looked at Wang Yanfeng for guidance on how to reply.


    1. Her name is ��, which means ��ghost�� and other such. ?

 Chapter 29: Mei Gongzis Milk Tea Shop

    <h4>Chapter 29: Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop</h4>


    Wang Yanfeng coughed before responding, "He''s doing quite well. I think he has a good chance of passing the uing assessments."


    "Oh? Such a promising youngster?" Gui Gui''s eyes sparkled with interest. "No wonder you''ve brought him along. However, be cautious. The demons are not known for their kindness. Make sure he doesn''t cause any trouble."


    "Don''t worry, Tang San is quite dependable," Wang Yanfeng replied with a reassuring smile. To him, Tang San was more than a mere child; his mature demeanor and insightful observations often made him appear the eldest in their group.


    Gui Gui, intrigued, inquired further, "You seem quite confident in him. Do you have ns to show him around the city after your task?"


    "Yes, I brought him here to broaden his horizons," Wang Yanfeng nodded.


    "That''s a good idea. Kali City has been pretty quiettely, and there haven��t been any major conflicts. Your timing is perfect," Gui Gui noted.


    Curious, Tang San asked, "Aunt Gui, are there often conflicts within the city?"


    "Indeed," Gui Gui exined, "the demon ns have a lot of hatred toward each other and they��re verypetitive, especially those of simr strength. They fight for higher rankings all the time, because that��s what dictates how many resources they get and how good. For instance, our Wind Wolf n often shes with the sh Leopard n, our arch-enemies. Unfortunately, we usually find ourselves at a disadvantage. So I advise you not to recklessly reveal your Wind Wolf Transformation. If you do that and happen to meet an enemy n, it��ll be dangerous. The Wind Wolf n won''t mourn the loss of a vassal, so concealing our demonic forms is crucial for survival. Do you understand?"


    <i>sh Leopard n? Leopard sh?</i>


    "sh Leopard n? Are they based in Kali City as well?" Tang San inquired, his interest piqued.


    "Yes, their ancestral home is also here. As one of the seven main cities, Kali City houses the ancestral homes of seven prominent ns. These homes are basically the core of each n. The Wind Wolf and sh Leopard ns have their main residences here, even if they are just side branches of the main ns. The central area of Sanctum Spiritus City, on the other hand, hosts the main ancestral homes of the top ten ns. Only those in the top ten ns have the privilege to live in Sanctum Spiritus City''s core."


    Tang San absorbed Gui Gui''s words, realizing she held a wealth of knowledge about Kali City that likely surpassed Wang Yanfeng��s.


    "Have you ever visited Sanctum Spiritus City, Aunt Gui?" asked Tang San, his curiosity now truly piqued.


    "No, I''ve only heard stories," Gui Gui replied, shaking her head. "They say it''s an immense city, almost endless. It''s a realm of the elite, and every single inhabitant is a powerful demon or nymph. We wouldn��t survive there. Even a casual flick of a finger from a high-ranking demon could exterminate us."


    After dinner, Wang Yanfeng and Tang San retired early, seeking rest.


    Seated cross-legged on his bed and cultivating, Tang San noticed the faster absorption of elemental energy in Kali City. The spiritual energy was denser here, though he had observed that it varied across different city areas. The energy density around the inn wasparatively weaker, but it was still far better than outside.


    After breakfast, they left the inn the following day to visit the Wind Wolf n''s ancestral home.


    Situated in a central part of Kali City, the journey to the ancestral home took over two hours on foot, as running through the streets wasn''t an option. Tang San could see the n''s estate from a distance, marked by a giant blue wolf head emblem atop the tall gate of the courtyard wall.


    The wolf head emblem, with a diameter of over three meters, was prominently disyed at the top of the gate of the Wind Wolf n''s ancestral home. It emitted a faint blue-gray glow, significantly enriching the wind element in the surrounding air. The emblem seemed to create a subtle flow of air, which radiated outward and repelled any presence approaching the gate.


    Tang San wondered about the stone''s weight as they approached. <i>That''s a whole piece of wind spirit stone! It must be heavy!</i>


    The ancestral home was enclosed by an imposing wall extending a hundred meters on either side. The ten-meter-high wall concealed the interior, shielding it from outside view.


    Approaching the walls, they felt an invisible pressure, making breathing difficult.


    Wang Yanfeng led the way, with Tang San following. They walked along the walls. At the gate, they were stopped by four imposing wolf demons.


    The four demons guarding the door were all over two meters tall. After Wang Yanfeng revealed his Wind Wolf Transformation and his physique changed along with the green glow that shone from his eyes, identifying himself as a vassal, the guards rxed a little.


    "What are you doing here?" one of the wind wolves asked coldly.


    "We are from Wind Wolf Town, here to present the tribute list to the Overlord. Please inform them of our arrival." Wang Yanfeng was quick to exin.


    The guard''s demeanor softened upon hearing their purpose.


    "Follow me," he said, leading the way inside.


    Wang Yanfeng hurried along.


    As Tang San prepared to follow, a wolf demon''s hand blocked his way. "The kid stays outside. What''s a little brat doing here? Looking for trouble? You will wait outside!"


    Tang San paused and looked at Wang Yanfeng, who seemed surprised. It was most likely because of Tang San''s young age.


    "Just wait for me outside, Tang San. Over there," Wang Yanfeng instructed.


    An open space was outside the gate of the ancestral home, and a gigantic ancient tree was in the middle of the clearing. A quick eye measurement told Tang San that it would take more than ten humans to surround the tree. The colossal tree branches provided an area of shade.


    This area was the core district of Kali City; Wang Yanfeng had told Tang San previously almost all the ancestral homes of stronger demon races were here.


    Wang Yanfeng signaled Tang San to wait at the ancient tree. He didn''t want Tang San to be staying near the wolf demons. Complications would arise if Tang San were questioned.


    Tang San obediently agreed and walked to the tree.


    The wolf demons didn''t seem to care. The one who was leading Wang Yanfeng had already brought him into the ancestral home.


    Tang San walked to the tree, slightly disappointed at being excluded from the ancestral home. He had hoped to observe the high energy levels and familiarize himself with the n''syout. This knowledge would help him when he needed to steal the bloodline energy of the wind wolves. He didn''t expect to be shut out.


    Walking to the shade of the ancient tree, Tang San was refreshed by the air.


    In the core district of Kali City, not even demons were seen to be walking about. There were other big homes farther off. Tang San walked to the other side of the tree to avoid the wind wolves'' attention.


    Sitting under the tree, Tang San noticed a small shop across the road.


    <i>Why is there a shop here?</i>


    It seemed to be a two-part structure: a storefront and living quarters.


    The shop''s sign said ��Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop.��


    Banana��s Comments: writing this gave me a craving for milk tea.

 Chapter 30: Im Not Xiao Wu, Im Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 30: I''m Not Xiao Wu, I''m Mei Gongzi</h4>


    <i>Selling milk tea, huh? What''s milk tea?</i>


    In Tang San''s previous world, there was nothing like this, and in this world, he had never seen it either. It appeared to be some kind of beverage.


    Although not many demons frequented this area, the milk tea shop seemed to be doing well. Demons would stop by, one after another, and buy a cup each. The cups looked quiterge.


    Tang San focused his vision, a sh of purple light in his eyes as he activated his Purple Demon Eye, looking towards the milk tea shop. His expression turned to one of surprise when he saw the interior of the shop clearly.


    Running the shop were two women, human women.


    One appeared slightly older, about thirty years old, and strikingly beautiful, with ck hair and eyes and a gentle smile gracing her face. Her entire being radiated a weing warmth.


    She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman Tang San had encountered in this world.


    The younger girl beside her seemed to be around sixteen or seventeen, also quite pretty, bustling about assisting her.


    <i>Human vassals? Managing a shop in the heart of Kali City? </i>And the demons buying milk tea showed no disdain towards them, simply buying and leaving. They seemed to be using the lowest denomination of demon currency, demonshard coins, which meant that the tea was not expensive. Some even bought several cups in one go.


    Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop...was this older woman Mei Gongzi then? It was an interesting name, and it seemed she lived up to it.[1]


    Tang San patted his pockets, recalling the demonshard coins Wang Yanfeng had given him. They were made from Wind Spirit Stones, and would allow him to get himself a little treat at least.


    A sudden urge overtook him to try this milk tea. The human owners of this ce made him feel an innate sense of closeness.


    Ever since arriving in Kali City, there had been a constant tension in his heart. Now, seeing this shop, he wondered, what did this ��milk tea�� thing taste like?


    Tang San looked around and saw no demons nearby, and as Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop was just finishing serving a few demon customers, the shop was finally empty.


    Taking a deep breath, Tang San took out a demonshard coin and made haste toward the shop. This was his first time preparing to use this world''s currency for a transaction.


    As he approached the shop, a faint milk fragrance wafted out, tickling his nose and making him swallow involuntarily.


    Now, only a few meters away from Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop, he could see the woman and the young girl busier than ever. And at that moment, another person emerged from the back, smiling and speaking to the woman.


    Tang San''s steps halted abruptly, his body frozen in ce.


    In that instant, he felt as if every single one of his nerves exploded with sensations. His eyes went wide, and his body turned rigid beyond his control. The world outside faded in his view; his eyes and heart focused only on the new arrival, who was now smiling gracefully.


    She looked about twelve or thirteen, petite and well-proportioned, with neat ck hair cascading down her back. Her delicate features adorned a fair face, inheriting all the woman''s beauty but with an added liveliness and a quirky charm. Her long eyshes framed a pair of big, beautiful ck eyes.


    <i>Is that you?</i>


    <i>Is that you?</i>


    <i>Is that you?</i>


    Tang San stood petrified, his heart filled with a strange ache. At this moment, everything else seemed insignificant. In his eyes, there was only this girl.


    Despite her appearance beingpletely different from before, and her temperament also seemingly rather different, the memories etched deep in his divine consciousness recognized this girl.


    Tang San could never have imagined encountering her so quickly. At this moment, his resistance to this hostile world melted away, reced only by gratitude.


    His heart trembled.


    <i>Yes, it��s her, it��s definitely her!</i>


    Memories of his past life flooded his mind. This was a destiny that spanned not a lifetime but <i>lifetimes</i>. A destiny that was his sole pursuit.


    As he was standing a few meters from Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop, the three people inside naturally noticed him.


    The woman looked surprised at the stunned Tang San, and the young girl by her side also noticed. The girl frowned slightly, but the woman whispered something and then pointed at Tang San.


    The ck-haired girl nodded and then disappeared from Tang San''s view.


    Tang San''s rigid foot instinctively stepped forward, his mouth opening as he whispered, "Don''t go."


    As the figure vanished from sight, his heart filled with a profound emptiness.


    "Hey, here''s your drink!" A pleasant voice sounded beside him.


    Startled, Tang San slowly turned his head, his stiff body beginning to tremble slightly.


    The familiar yet unfamiliar figure, the one who haunted his dreams, was right before him.


    She was offering him a cup that emitted a faint aroma of milk and tea. The ck-haired girl looked at Tang San''s dazed expression and frowned again.


    She shoved the milk tea into Tang San''s hands and said irritably, "Stop staring, just go."


    They were <i>so</i> <i>close</i>.


    Tang San''s voice trembled. "Xiao... Xiao Wu?"


    The ck-haired girl paused, then looked toward the milk tea shop. The woman beckoned to her. "Xiao Mei,e back."


    "Okay, Mom," the girl replied, turning to walk back.


    Holding the cup of milk tea in his trembling hand, Tang San instinctively stepped forward.


    The ck-haired girl turned back to him and said, "You''ve got the wrong person. I''m not Xiao Wu. Everyone calls me Mei Gongzi!"


    Holding the warm cup of milk tea, Tang San opened his mouth but found himself speechless, unable to utter a word.


    Having been in this world for nine years, he had witnessed the hardships of humans here, lost his mother in this world, faced constant threats from demons, and found warmth in Wang Yanfeng''s home. Even with the long years of his past life, these things had touched his heart deeply.


    But never had Tang San been as moved as he was now. After nine whole years and countless moments of longing and worry, he had finally found Xiao Wu. His emotions overwhelmed him, and his tears started flowing as Mei Gongzi returned to the shop.


    In his mind spun memories of their past life together, images of her charming smile...


    Two different faces, in his mind, slowly merged into one.


    1. ��-Mei means ��beautiful,�� while ����-Gongzi is actually not a name at all and means ��son of a nobleman.�� ?

 Chapter 31: Nothing Could Be Better Than This

    <h4>Chapter 31: Nothing Could Be Better Than This</h4>


    The sunlight seemed even brighter, and the air felt fresher. At this moment, this world so unfriendly to humans appeared wondrous to Tang San.


    He had finally found his wife after reincarnation. It was much easier than he had anticipated, no long journeys or traversing continents. He had found her already. What could be more beautiful than this?


    <i>Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu, Mei Gongzi, Mei Gongzi!</i>


    Mei Gongzi had returned to the shop, and her mother was saying something to her. Mei Gongzi looked toward Tang San just in time to see his tear-streaked face.


    A look of confusion flickered in Mei Gongzi''s beautiful eyes. At the same time, her mother smiled kindly at Tang San, gesturing with a cup-raising motion for him to drink the milk tea.


    Gradually, Tang San''s emotions settled. His divine consciousness itself seemed to tremble!


    His hands trembled as well, but he carefully brought the cup to his lips without spilling a drop.


    The cup was made of some kind of rough material that felt like tree bark. A delicate mix of milk and tea, with a sweet undertone, warmed him through and through, filling his heart that felt empty no more.


    At this moment, his heart was no longer hollow or wandering. He had found his fated bond! What could be more beautiful than this?


    He even felt gratitude towards the wolf demons for the first time. Their refusal to let him into the Wind Wolf''s ancestral home had actually led to this chance encounter with Mei Gongzi. It couldn��t have been this easy even if someone intentionally arranged things for him.


    After another sip of milk tea, wiping his tears away, Tang San turned and sat down under the colossal tree.


    This cup of Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea was the most delicious drink he had ever tasted.


    His tears had ceased, and a gentle smile now graced his face.


    He had found her, and nothing could be better.


    He observed the milk tea shop from afar, watching Mei Gongzi and her mother working inside.


    Back in that world ruled by humans, she had been a demonic beast. Now, in this demonic beast world, she was a human.


    Immersed in cultivation, Tang San rarely had time to ponder deeply in these nine years. He knew he needed strength to find his wife''s reincarnation. But now, his mind awakened afresh. He needed to find a way to stay close to her, protect her, and make her fall in love with him again. Nothing was more urgent than this.


    <i>Whether you are Xiao Wu or Mei Gongzi, you are destined to be my wife.</i>


    Suddenly, he heard a surprised voice from behind him. "Tang San, where did you get that drink?"


    Startled from his thoughts, Tang San stood up to see Wang Yanfeng approaching, his expression suggesting that the task had gone smoothly.


    Tang San pointed to Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop in the distance. "Teacher, have you seen this shop? The milk tea is delicious."


    Wang Yanfeng paused, then shook his head. "I rarelye to this central district of Kali City. When I do, it''s only to quickly handle affairs at the ancestral home and leave. We should go. The demons living here are not kind."


    "Okay," Tang San nodded, but remembering something, he said, "Teacher, wait for me a second."


    With that, he hurried toward Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop.


    When he entered the shop, Mei Gongzi was inside, sorting coins. Her mother had just seen off a demon customer.


    "What''s up, young man? Did you like the milk tea?" Mei Gongzi''s mother''s beauty was even more apparent up close, and so was the gentle and warm look in her eyes.


    Tang San took out his one Wind Spirit demonshard, cing it on the table, "Auntie, the milk tea was delicious, thank you. This is for the tea."


    "It''s on the house; there is no need for payment," Mei Gongzi''s mother said softly. "You should leave quickly; the demons that pass here aren''t the nicest."


    "Auntie, I insist on paying. Thank you. Also, my name is Tang San." As he said his name, his gaze shifted toward Mei Gongzi


    Mei Gongzi, however, had her back to him and showed no reaction.


    Tang San took onest deep look at her, and then he heard Wang Yanfeng calling him from the distance.


    Despite his reluctance and longing, he had no choice but to leave quickly.


    Mei Gongzi''s mother watched the boy with some surprise. She could clearly see Tang San''s gaze toward Mei Gongzi, and she could tell that hidden in it was something she��d never seen before. Her daughter was, of course, beautiful, so it made sense for her to attract the attention of boys. However, the boy looked at her not just with admiration and infatuation, but with a deep, emotional intensity, even with tear stains at the corner of his eyes.


    <i>What was it that made him so moved?</i>


    Back with Wang Yanfeng, Tang San finished thest of his milk tea. Still holding the empty cup, he clutched it gently, reluctant to let go, cherishing it as it had a trace of her presence.


    On the way back to the inn, Tang San followed behind Wang Yanfeng, his head bowed, walking in the standard manner of a vassal.


    Wang Yanfeng naturally sensed his emotional shift. After they returned to the inn, he asked with concern, "Are you alright?"


    "I''m fine, teacher. I''m actually really, really fine." Tang San smiled genuinely, a smile from the heart.


    Wang Yanfeng saw the smile on his face and said, "It seems that cup of milk tea really touched you! Yes, in this world, despite all the problems we face and everything that works against us, there is still beauty. In your life, even if we face malice every day, our hearts should only cherish the beauty of life. Only then can we truly see the light."


    No doubt, his words were heartfelt, and Tang San deeply agreed.


    "Now that the task is done, we can stay in the city for two more days. Shall I show you around?" Wang Yanfeng smiled. His task had been sessfullypleted, and he could report back smoothly to the Wind Wolf Lord.


    Tang San asked, "Teacher, are there lively ces in Kali City? I''d like to see them."


    Wang Yanfeng replied, "There''s nothing wrong with going to lively ces, but remember to be cautious and stay close to me."


    "Of course," Tang San agreed readily.


    Wang Yanfeng added, "It''s been a while since I''ve been here. Let me ask Gui Gui."


    When he told Gui Gui about taking Tang San somewhere fun, she said, "There are certainly lively ces, many of them. Not far from here, there''s something worth seeing tonight. It''s the annual Kali City Collision Competition. Many demons from Kali City participate, and there are also someing from neighboring ces."


    "What''s the Collision Competition?" Wang Yanfeng asked curiously.

 Chapter 32: Collision Contest

    <h4>Chapter 32: Collision Contest</h4>


    Gui Gui exined, "The so-called Collision Contest is where contestants start thirty meters apart and charge toward each other simultaneously. Whoever is pushed back further by the collision loses. Demons are grouped based on their orders, usually from the third to the sixth. It''s a celebration for the younger generation, basically. The limit is set to the sixth order because collisions between stronger beings of higher orders might cause unnecessary injuries or deaths. Also, those above the sixth order usually lose interest in games like this."


    "This does sound interesting. But surely those of stronger-built species have an advantage, no?" Wang Yanfeng remarked with a smile.


    Gui Gui replied, "I''ve watched it once, and there''s definitely some skill involved. You know what, let''s go after dinner. It should start right around then."


    Tang San and Wang Yanfeng had spent over four hours on the round trip to the Wind Wolf ancestral home today. In addition to the time spent there, it was already afternoon when they returned.


    Tang San was keen on watching the Collision Contest, especially since it involved demons from the third to the sixth order, which aligned well with his target range for bloodline devouring.


    After meeting Mei Gongzi, Tang San''s mind became more active, feeling an even stronger urge to be powerful.


    Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop was located in the core district of Kali City, where powerful demons of the eighth and ninth order were likely to be found. Now that he had finally found her, nothing was more important than ensuring her safety. To protect her, he needed to be stronger; his current fourth-order strength was clearly insufficient.


    Over the years, Tang San had mostly figured out the rtionship between his Mysterious Heaven Technique cultivation and the bloodline energy of the demons in this world. The Mysterious Heaven Technique allowed Tang San to devour and transform external energies into his strength, leaving bloodline imprints within his body. Through these imprints, he could reverse-transform and release simr abilities.


    The stronger the imprint, the more powerful skills Tang San could unleash. Basically, the demonic bloodline imprints in his body acted like blueprints for various skills, and the more detailed the blueprint, the better. He needed to enhance his Mysterious Heaven Technique and elevate the levels of these imprints to wield greater power.


    ording to Tang San''s research and experience, he would likely need to continue with this cultivation method until the ninth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    The best way for him to rapidly enhance his abilities was to acquire more skills. In this world, humans inheriting demonic god transformation bloodlines could only have one ability. However, through the Mysterious Heaven Technique''s devouring, he wasn''t subject to this limitation and he could possess multiple abilities. The more abilities he had, and the better hebined them, the stronger he would be.


    In the city''s bustling areas, it would be easier for him to stealthily absorb some lower-order abilities, enhancing his strength and speeding up his cultivation. He needed more bloodline abilities to strengthen himself. At the same time, absorbing bloodline energy could be used to cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique, allowing him to reach the following order.


    Today was perhaps the most proactive day for Tang San''s cultivation since he had arrived in this world. The fourth order wasn''t enough, nor was the fifth; he needed to reach the ninth order as soon as possible to be able to make use of his divine consciousness properly and rebuild his spiritual power to reach the God level. Awakening abilities from his past life that were unknown in this world was essential to truly protect Mei Gongzi.


    After resting for a while and having dinner, Gui Gui put on some fancier clothes and led Wang Yanfeng and Tang San out.


    Dressing up was necessary in this world where appearances mattered. As human vassals in a big city, they were not often antagonized as long as they didn''t provoke others. After all, demons also needed vassals to serve them. Humans were known as the smartest among all vassal races; though not strong, they were adept atplex tasks.


    The Collision Contest wasn''t of a very high level, involving only demons of orders up to six, mostly young ones. The rewards were modest.


    The first-ce prize for the sixth order was five naturae coins. Although naturae coins had immense purchasing power from the perspective of a viger like Tang San, they weren''t considered all that much for most wealthy demons.


    The rewards decreased for lower orders: four coins for the fifth, three for the fourth, and only one for the third-order champions.


    Second and third ces received aetherhorn coins as rewards.


    The highest order in the currency system was the amethystine florins, followed by empyreans, but neither was included in the rewards, indicating that this contest was more about fun than substantial prizes.


    The contest was held in a town square surrounded by shops selling different items.


    Before meeting Mei Gongzi, Tang San might have been more interested in these shops to learn about the demon races. His priorities had changed, however, and he now focused more on the Collision Contest.


    The square was filled with thousands of demons. The central area, about fifty meters in diameter, was cordoned off by the Kali Guards, with members from various races.


    Bing a guard required at least fourth-order strength. In the demon races, military units were organized by each city separately, and each of the seven cities had their own guards. Naturally, guards with stronger cultivations were given better roles. The fourth order was just the entry level for the Kali Guards, reflecting the overall strength of this continent''s demons and nymph races.


    Among the crowd were many wearing the attire of vassals, most of them being human. Some were apanying demons, obviously serving as followers.


    The contest hadn''t started yet, and it was getting dark, but giant poles around the square, topped with luminous ores, lit up the area.


    The atmosphere was mixed due to the presence of many different demonic races, but the spiritual energy was rich.


    Tang San, following Gui Gui and Wang Yanfeng, found a spot at the edge of the venue, upied mainly by vassal races.


    On one side of the area was a tform where the currency prize awaited.


    It was the first time Tang San had seen naturae coins. The elemental naturae coins emitted a distinct glow, overshadowing the aetherhorn coins nearby. The aetherhorn coins, a dark silver, looked ancient and restrained, giving Tang San a strange feeling.


    "The Collision Contest is about to begin!" a booming voice announced.

 Chapter 33: Im Joining The Contest!

    <h4>Chapter 33: I''m Joining The Contest!</h4>


    Suddenly, around the contest arena, the demons erupted in deafening cheers. Tang San felt like he had stepped into a throng of beasts.


    A colossal giant strode into the inner ring, standing at a towering four meters in height, exuding a wild aura that only emphasized his immense strength. His entire body seemed to be covered in ck fur, and he was naked save for a pair of leather shorts.


    On his chest, white fur formed arge V-shaped pattern.


    Tang San could tell that this was a bear demon, but he didn��t really know what kind and he couldn��t tell just based on appearance.


    "This is the Berserk Bear n, one of the most powerful inbat among bear demons. Actually, they��re second only to the royal bear n. They are naturally endowed with massive strength, and they naturally reach the sixth order as they mature," Gui Gui muttered softly.


    <i>The Berserk Bear n. </i>Tang Sanmitted this to memory. <i>Adult sixth-order demons. These demon ns are indeed formidable!</i>


    The Berserk Bear demon stood at the very center of the arena. He let out a roar toward the sky, and the powerful sound wave drowned out all the surrounding cheers.


    "At least a seventh-order demon," Wang Yanfeng whispered.


    This was clearly an elite member of the Berserk Bear n.


    "The Collision Contest, same old rules. The point of impact is this circle under my feet. The circle''s edge is the starting point for measuring after the collision. Whoever is closer to the edge is the victor," the Berserk Bear n''s strongman dered in a deep voice.


    Only then did Tang San notice a circle with a diameter of about three meters beneath his feet. This meant both parties would elerate towards each other, and collide within the circle. Whoever was sent flying farther after the collision would be the loser.


    This also meant that whoever was faster and entered deeper into the circle would have a slight advantage.


    In other words, this was not only a contest of strength but also of speed.


    "Third-order people can now sign up. Whoever wins ten consecutive matches or has no more challengers will be today''s victor," the Berserk Bear announced with a wave of his hand, starting the Collision Contest.


    Tang San asked Wang Yanfeng, "Teacher, in the Collision Contest, can we use techniques during the collision? Can we use innate abilities to attack the opponent?"


    "Of course. The demons value martial prowess above all. The Collision Contest may be the simplest form ofpetition, but as long as you have the skills, any ability can be used, and any means can be employed for victory. The rule of the demons has always been to only look at the victory, not how you achieved it."


    Tang San nodded in approval, pondered momentarily, and asked, "Teacher, can I sign up?"


    "Hmm?" Wang Yanfeng was taken aback, and Gui Gui instantly turned to look at Tang San.


    "You... want to sign up?" Gui Gui''s pitch rose slightly.


    "I want to try. There''s money to be won," Tang San said, pointing to the winner''s rewards on a table in the distance.


    Wang Yanfeng looked at Gui Gui, who frowned slightly and said, "Vassals can also participate. But generally speaking, it''s hard topare with the demons. Moreover, they don��t have any scruples even toward each other, so you can imagine what they��re like when they fight vassals. If you get killed, nobody will bat an eye. Do you really want to try?"


    Tang San nodded. "I want to give it a go. Teacher, I am fairly confident. Even if I don''t win, I shouldn''t lose <i>too</i> badly."


    Wang Yanfeng had a good understanding of his abilities, so he shook his head. "I know you��re good, but in terms of sheer strength, you..."


    Tang San replied without hesitation, "I��ll use skill to ovee strength. Since you say that the Collision Contest only cares about the oue, not the process, then I think I have a chance to win."


    He would have never considered joining the Collision Contest if not for his encounter with Mei Gongzi today. Before he had the means to protect himself, it was best to keep a low profile.


    However, after seeing Mei Gongzi today, his heart was filled with a fighting will. Time waited for no one. He could no longer afford to cultivate in a leisurely manner. Even if it meant taking risks, he had to be stronger faster. Only then could he have a chance to get close to Mei Gongzi and protect her.


    Gui Gui whispered, "Isn''t that too risky? Whether you win or lose, it''s really not a wise thing to do."


    Tang San pulled out a piece of cloth from under his shirt. He folded the fabric into a triangle, covered his face, and tied it behind his head. His face was mostly concealed.


    "Teacher, Aunt Gui, I will return alone after thepetition. You don''t have to worry about me. This way, I won''t be exposed," Tang San said.


    Wang Yanfeng thought for a moment and said, "Go ahead, but be careful. Are you nning to enter the battles of the third or fourth order? If it''s the third order, you can hide your strength better and you probably won''t be discovered."


    Tang San replied, "I will be going for the fourth order. The rewards are better there. Teacher, I''m off."


    With these words, he crouched down and disappeared into the crowd behind him.


    "Are you really letting him participate?" Gui Gui asked incredulously, looking at Wang Yanfeng. "And what about the fourth order? Does he really have the strength of a fourth-order demon?"


    Wang Yanfeng nodded and said, "Tang San honestly defiesmon sense. He might be only nine, but he is much more mature than my other students. Even though he has only studied with me for a year, he always gives me the impression that whatever he does, he does with certainty. He must have his own n."


    Over the past year, he had been teaching Tang San and the other four all manners of knowledge, so it wasn��t like Tang San knew everything. However, it was thanks to what Tang San had taught him that his own strength had significantly improved, and he was now on the verge of breaking through to the fifth order.


    <i>All this in just one year!</i>


    He could never have imagined something like that. Thus, his feelings for Tang San and the other four children naturally differed.


    He was also aware of Tang San''s advancement to the fourth order. Nine years old at the fourth order! Except for the demon races naturally born at higher levels, he couldn��t think of any race that had such an advancement speed. Obviously, he had never seen a nine-year-old Wind Wolf reach the fourth order either. Tang San, a human child with the Wind Wolf Transformation, actually surpassed the Wind Wolf n��s own younglings.


    For a vassal race, such a situation was by andrge impossible, which showed just how extraordinary Tang San''s talent was.


    Even Wang Yanfeng himself did not fully understand the extent of his disciple''s strength. Recently, Tang San had hardly participated in practicalbat sses. Today, with Tang San actively requesting to join the Collision Contest, which did not necessarily pose a great danger to him, Wang Yanfeng wanted to see just how far Tang San could go.


    Tang San weaved through the crowd, having just figured out the reward rules of the big contest. No matter the level of thepetition, a single victory would earn an aetherhorn coin. This didn��t mean much for a rich demon n, but to a vassal like him, this reward was simply astronomical.


    Thus, when he reached the registration area, he noticed several humans and members of other vassal races signing up. They were all aiming to win a battle and secure an aetherhorn coin.


    Only the final champion could obtain the naturae coin in each level of thepetition. The higher the order, the greater the reward in naturae coins. In addition, the winners could actually choose naturae coins that matched their elemental attributes.


    However, the main reason for Tang San''s participation in the contest wasn''t actually the aetherhorn coins and not even the naturae coins. More importantly, he wanted to seize the opportunity to absorb the bloodline powers of other demon races, transforming them into bloodline imprints. This would enhance his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and also grant him a number of other abilities.


    Different skills had different uses, and the innate abilities of other demon races had their own power. The more abilities he had, the stronger his control would naturally be.


    For instance, the Wind de brought by his Wind Wolf bloodline was around the fourth order in power right now. At the same time, the Leopard sh of the sh Leopard race was only at the third order, barely reaching the fourth order. After all, Zhu Jiaxin had been seriously injured when he had encountered Tang San, and his bloodline power had been weakened.


    These bloodline imprints could evolve by devouring more of the same type of ability, which Tang San was perfectly sure of after experimenting on the Wind Wolves.


    Therefore, his primary purpose in participating was to devour the bloodline powers of his opponents and hopefully leave this arena much stronger than he had entered it.

 Chapter 34: The Contest Begins!

    <h4>Chapter 34: The Contest Begins!</h4>


    The third-orderpetition had already begun as Tang San queued up to register. Being short in stature and surrounded by taller folks, he couldn''t see what was happening inside. However, he could hear the cheers and the heavy sounds of collision.


    The tournament was fast-paced, with participants elerating, shing, and colliding to determine the victor. The winners could then choose whether to proceed to the next round.


    Despite the numerous vassals and demons registering, the process was surprisingly quick. When Tang San''s turn came, he couldn''t help but be speechless.


    The registration method was almost too simple. There were number tes on the table, indicating the order. Contestants just needed to pick up a number te to enter thepetition. No further registration was required.


    After all, this was just a recreational contest among the demons, limited to those below the sixth order, so naturally, there weren''t many rules in ce. There wasn''t even a staff member present at the ce for collecting number tes��anyone could just take one.


    The only hard rule was that once you had a number te, you had to go directly to the queue on the other side. In other words, once you took a number te, you had to enter the ring. There was no backing out.


    The Kali Guards responsible for maintaining order couldn''t help but chuckle when they saw Tang San, a small-statured human child, also picking up a number te. Yet, no one stopped him.


    Tang San didn��t have to ask to know what they were thinking��the Kali Guards were waiting to see him get battered and broken in the collision.


    The demons were all extremely tall, and as they surrounded him, his view was blocked all around. These demons didn''t even notice the human vassal, who was less than 1.3 meters tall; their gaze simply didn''t reach that low.


    Peeking through the crowd, Tang San looked toward the Collision Contest arena.


    The third-orderpetition was still in full swing.


    The ground was already stained with the blood of an unknown race. A collision had just ended, involving a demon, less than two meters tall, clearly from the Berserk Bear n. It seemed that it was a young one. Its opponent was a lizard-like creature.


    As the two collided, the lizard suddenly dipped down, swiftly turning around, and its tail swept toward the feet of the Berserk Bear.


    However, the Berserk Bear leaped up when it entered the collision zone, fiercely kicking the lizard with its hind legs and sending it flying out of the ring. It crashed near the spectators and was only stopped by the barrier of the Kali Guards.


    From the sound of the crash, it was obvious that the lizard had suffered a good number of fractures. At the same time, the surrounding demons, especially those from the Berserk Bear n, cheered loudly.


    The victor is king��that was the only thing demon ns believed in.


    This seemingly small bear demon was truly formidable, not just in strength but also in skill. In the following rounds, whether it was a direct confrontation or tactical use of skills, it won by andslide.


    Tang San noticed that the young Berserk Bear''s innate ability seemed akin to an explosion of fury. Whenever it exerted its full strength, its body would swell, its fur bristle, and its power visibly increase. Its brown eyes would also turn red.


    When they collided head-on, a porcupine-like demon was sent flying by a shoulder charge. Although the porcupine''s tusks left two wounds on the bear, it was clear that the spiky demon was outmatched in strength.


    The young Berserk Bear, though only at the third order, hadbat power that was no less than that of the fourth order. This disparity between cultivation order andbat power showcased the diversity of talents among different demon species.


    This contest was Tang San''s first encounter with many types of demons. He carefully observed the abilities of each demon, memorizing their characteristics and analyzing whether these abilities could be helpful to him.


    He now had a good understanding of how the Mysterious Heaven Technique processed the bloodlines of the demons in this world. But one thing he had been unable to determine was how many bloodlines he could umte. In other words, how many demon bloodline imprints could his Mysterious Heaven Technique preserve? Was there a limit? And if there was, would that limit increase with his cultivation?


    Currently, he has only two transformations: Wind Wolf and sh Leopard. The abilities they brought him were Wind de and Leopard sh.


    Both abilities were extremely useful, one for speed enhancement and the other for ranged attack. Provided they could be continuously improved, they would be useful for a long time. He indeed believed there had to be a limit to the number of abilities he could absorb. However, he was uncertain of the exact number. He had a vague hypothesis but needed experimentation to prove his guess was correct.


    The final victor of the third order was this young Berserk Bear. After defeating ten opponents, it roared continuously in the center of the arena. Ultimately, it chose a fire naturae coin, an earth naturae coin, and ten aetherhorn coins as its reward.


    The Berserk Bear hosting the collision contest lifted the young bear high overhead and stood in the center of the arena, roaring.


    "This is my son, my son! Do you see? My son, the first of the third order! Roar!"


    The cheers and roars seemed to make the earth tremble. The vassal races dared not make a sound in the face of such a spectacle, even trembling in fear.


    Almost all the vassal races participating in the contest were in the third-order matches. Tang San saw at least seven severely injured contestants, with two of them in such critical condition that their survival was uncertain.


    After the third-order contest ended, it was time for the fourth-order showdown.


    A robust porcupine demon slowly entered the arena. Its body was covered in iron-ck fur, and its head was huge. As it stood about two meters tall, its broad back disyed its astonishing strength. Two thick tusks protruded from its lips, and it roared ferociously.


    The Porcupine n possessed two rare innate abilities. Indeed, not all demon races had just one natural ability.


    Wang Yanfeng had told him that having multiple abilities didn''t necessarily mean greater strength. However, the top-order demons and nymphs typically possessed numerous abilities.


    The porcupine''s innate abilities were a speed charge and back spikes.


    The porcupine demons had spikes on their back that could beunched outward.The stronger the porcupine, the more spikes they had on their back. As for the charge, that was pretty self-exnatory.


    This fourth-order porcupine had eight spikes on its back. As it took its position on one side of the arena, the eight spikes slowly rose, angling forward, and its back tensed as if it was ready tounch them at any moment.


    Tang San had no interest in the porcupine n''s innate abilities. He had no desire to be a porcupine, whether it involved charging or back spikes.


    The fourth-order porcupine''s opponent was a sh Leopard, and this was Tang San''s first time seeing a member of the sh Leopard n in today''s collision contest. There had been no sh Leopards in the third-order contest.


    sh Leopards excelled in speed, not head-on collisions, which was why they hadn''t appeared in the earlier matches.


    The fourth-order sh Leopard that appeared stood at about the same height as the porcupine, but it was far more slender. It was not particrly imposing, but its narrowed eyes shimmered with a sinister light, and its fangs protruded downward. Its rather lean body was brimming with well-toned muscles, disying a robust vitality.


    "Begin!" With the roar of the Berserk Bear hosting thepetition, both sides simultaneouslyunched their attacks from opposite ends.


    The sh Leopard''s speed was ridiculous. It charged at its opponent like lightning, almost instantly reaching the collision zone.


    Launching a frenzied charge in turn, the porcupine unleashed all eight spikes from its back without reservation.


    When the porcupine demonunched its back spikes, Tang San couldn''t help but look at it with newfound respect.


    The spikes shot by the porcupine were not aimed at the leopard demon but in other directions. Yet, these eight spikes blocked all possible escape routes for the sh Leopard.

 Chapter 35: Tang San Enters The Battle!

    <h4>Chapter 35: Tang San Enters The Battle!</h4>


    The porcupine was confident in its frontal charge''s power to crush the sh Leopard. However, it feared the sh Leopard''s speed. If the sh Leopard managed to dodge its head-on charge, the porcupine, at full speed, would undoubtedly rush too far, losing the match.


    If the porcupine and the Berserk Bear represented the power factions in the collision tournament, then the sh Leopard represented the speed faction.


    When power met speed, the natural strategy was first to limit the opponent''s speed.


    ording to the rules, a collision had to ur within three seconds of entering the inner circle, after which the winner would be determined. The porcupine''s charge was not at full speed because its thick skin andrge body mass were enough to win a frontal collision, even at a reduced speed. The only concern was the opponent''s evasion, but the porcupine had already taken measures by deploying its spikes.


    The fourth-order sh Leopard didn''t panic facing the eight spikes; its forward charge remained incredibly fast. It sprinted straight ahead as ifpletely unaware of the spikes. It had no reason for concern, either��as long as it didn''t dodge sideways, the spikes wouldn''t hit it.


    Bothpetitors quickly approached the collision circle.


    Tang San''s eyes shimmered with a purple hue, and the world in his sight slowed down.


    The porcupine''s tusks were raised, and the sh Leopard, charging straight ahead, glowed with a yellow light. It had just activated its Leopard sh ability.


    Their figures crossed each other in an instant.


    With a loud bang, the porcupine charged out of the collision circle while the sh Leopard leaped straight up, somersaulted in mid-air, andnded firmly in the circle��s center.


    Without a doubt, the fourth-order sh Leopard had won the match.


    Most demons couldn''t see what happened in the collision because the sh Leopard''s speed was too great. When it won, a chorus of surprised voices erupted.


    But Tang San had seen everything clearly. Just as they were about to collide, the sh Leopard had leapt up in the nick of time, almost grazing the porcupine''s tusks. Then, it had fiercely kicked the porcupine''s back with its hind legs.


    Although the porcupine hadn��t charged at the leopard full speed, it had activated its charging ability. It had expected to be able to hit the sh Leopard head-on by blocking its evasion path with the back spikes. Yet, the sh Leopard had still flown over its head, and the force of the leopard��s hind legs,bined with the porcupine��s momentum, inevitably pushed thetter out of the collision circle.


    With that kick, the sh Leopard had transformed its forward momentum into upward force,nding in the circle''s center thanks to its incredible body control. The oue was clear.


    The porcupine had ultimately lost to speed and technique. Tang San thought that if he were to advise the porcupine, he certainly wouldn''t have let it release its back spikes so early. Instead, it should have released them at the moment of collision.


    The sh Leopard, though swift, would have faced great danger at close range against the sudden spray of back spikes, especially when it could not predict their direction. Being pierced once could be fatal.


    In other words, the porcupine had yet to fully realize the advantages of its two innate abilities. Meanwhile, the sh Leopard excelled in speed, and it had skillful tactics and a calm resolve. It was clear why it had the upper hand.


    The following battles confirmed Tang San''s assessment of the sh Leopard.


    Consecutive victories ensued, with three fourth-order opponents sessively defeated by their speed and skills.


    "It''s my turn. I will kill you!!" A brawny Rhino Demon with a singr horn on its nose roared at the arena''s edge, in the waiting area forpetitors. Its forte was its formidable defense as well as its charging ability, just like the porcupine��s.


    Against the astonishingly swift Leopard Demon, it nned to stay within the collision ring and not leave. No technique would work against it. It was confident that it would defeat its opponent.


    However, just as it was about to enter, a voice suddenly stopped it from nearby. "Wait, it''s not your turn yet."


    The three-meter-tall fourth-order Rhino Demon paused and looked down. Only then did it see a slender figure in front of itself, one it had utterly failed to notice.


    This slender figure''s face was covered with a cloth, concealing its features. But from the stature and size, it was clear this was a human. This <i>minuscule</i> thing was going topete?


    "Stop causing trouble, get out of the way," the Rhino Demon said, waving itsrge hand to shoo the figure away. But the slender figure had already dashed into thepetition field, holding up a number te.


    Fourth-order, Contestant Six!


    Indeed, this was Tang San''s number. He had registered at the earliest opportunity, so among the fourth-orderpetitors, his registration number was six.


    The Leopard Demon had won four times, so it was finally Tang San''s turn. The Rhino Demon had been behind Tang San all this while, and its prominent figure had been focused on the arena, so it had simply not noticed Tang San''s presence.


    When Tang San entered the field, a wave of astonished murmurs arose. For the demons, the appearance of a human vassal in the collision tournament was not out of the ordinary, but such a tiny figure in the fourth-orderpetition was not something they��d seen before!


    How did this seemingly frail human muster the courage to enter the arena? And with his face covered at that?


    Covering the face wasn''t unusual. Vassals, unlike ves, didn''t constantly face the risk of being killed, but offending a powerful demon could still lead to death. Still, how did he get the courage toe to this arena?


    The fourth-order sh Leopard, victorious in four consecutive matches, had a fierce glint in its eyes and was licking its sharp fangs.


    Seeing Tang San''s appearance, the sh Leopard was excited. Having defeated four opponents in a row had taken its toll. Regarding talent, the sh Leopard n wasn''t top-order, and it knew that it was challenging to sustain four rounds. But each additional victory increased its chances of ultimately winning the championship. After all, not every level ofpetition saw ten consecutive wins. The higher the order, the lower the likelihood, as everyone''s strength was considerable and the potential for exhaustion or injury during collisions was significant.


    The arrival of this little human seemed to it not only a way to conserve its strength but also a chance to im another victory��a most favorable situation. The rhino it had spotted as the opponent for the next match was a formidable demon, and its abilities were a natural counter to the leopard��s.


    The seventh-order Berserk Bear nced at the sh Leopard, then at Tang San, its eyes glittering with a savage light. "Tear him apart. Begin!"


    "<i>ROARRR!</i> Tear him apart!"


    "Tear him apart!"


    After a moment of surprise, the surrounding demons erupted into ear-splitting roars. In their eyes, a mere vassal daring to enter a fourth-order arena was an insult.


    The sh Leopard moved, relying not on its abilities but on its sheer speed as it charged straight toward Tang San.


    Though it was a collision contest, using its ws to shred its opponent at the moment of impact seemed a trivially easy task.


    Tang San also moved, a green light flowing from his exposed eyes. His body showed little change, but the wind element condensing in the air created a faint green glow around him.


    <i>Wind? Green light? Is that the Wind Wolf transformation?</i>


    The fourth-order sh Leopard''s eyes had shown disdain in the beginning, but now, they showed fury. The Wind Wolves and the sh Leopards had always been mortal enemies! Even if the opponent was just a vassal, he was a vassal of the Wind Wolf n, so there was only one way to deal with him.


    Among the watching demons, there were also naturally members of the Wind Wolf n. Seeing that the vassal was one of their own, their first reaction was shame. This was sure to be a loss to the leopard demons��a disgrace to the Wind Wolf n!

 Chapter 36: Level Up, Leopard Flash!

    <h4>Chapter 36: Level Up, Leopard sh!</h4>


    Tang San didn''t seem as fast as the sh Leopard, so when the sh Leopard charged into the collision zone, he was still five meters away. The sh Leopard swept through the zone without using its signature sh, its sharp ws reaching out as it stretched its sleek body. It also opened its mouth wide, thinking of biting the human��s head off.


    In its mind, it had already envisioned the fate of this little human��his arms and chest would be torn by its ws, and his throat pierced by its fangs.


    <i>Wait, where is he?</i>


    Just as the fourth-order sh Leopard thought it was about to taste the scalding, delicious human blood, it suddenly realized the human was gone. Yes, Tang San had vanished from its sight.


    <i>Slide and kneel! </i>Tang San used an unusual move. As he charged forward, he leaned back, bent his knees, and slid forward close to the ground.


    The sh Leopard''s slender figure simply flew over his head. At that moment, Tang San��s eyes turned icy and he suddenly extended both hands up. A closer look would reveal that his skin was now jade-colored, while sharp ws that were actually wind des had formed between his fingers.


    As he passed underneath the sh Leopard, the demon��s underbelly was naturally exposed. With two sharp sounds, Tang San''s hands instantly prated the sh Leopard''s abdomen.


    The sh Leopard was never known for its defense, especially its abdomen, which was its weakest point.


    As Tang San''s hands dug into its abdomen, his legs flew upward, wrapping around the leopard''s waist. His slender body continued to slide forward, driven by the momentum of the sh Leopard''s charge.


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique��s power was activated, and in a single moment, it devoured all the bloodline power within the sh Leopard.


    His own sh Leopard imprint suddenly brightened, and a massive amount of bloodline power surged into his body as the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique drew it in. The sh Leopard imprint evolved in an instant from third-order to fourth-order! This breakthrough made Tang San feel as if his body had be lighter. His cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique had also noticeably increased.


    The moment its abdomen was pierced, the fourth-order sh Leopard let out a painful wail, but in the next instant, its voice abruptly ceased.


    Its bloodline power was fiercely devoured and gone in an instant. The next moment, the wind des exploded inside its abdomen.


    The moment Tang San made his move, he didn��t have the slightest intention to let it live. Besides the Wind Wolves, the sh Leopards were the most suitable race for him to devour. But devouring too much would surely alert others, so he couldn''t take the risk. Only by silencing it could he consume the bloodline power thoroughly.


    When the watching demons saw the sh Leopard pounce and Tang San disappear, their first thought was that Tang San was pinned beneath it, probably crushed to death, and they shouted excitedly.


    However, the sh Leopard''s piercing roar brought them back to reality.


    The scream abruptly stopped, as if the demon��s throat had been seized, and a momentter, blood mixed with entrails spurted out from the fourth-order sh Leopard.


    Tang San flipped over the demon and came out from underneath.


    He shook his hands, flicking off the blood.


    Silence covered the arena, as if invisible hands had gripped the throats of everyone watching.


    Tang San stepped into the collision zone. But the fourth-order sh Leopardy motionless in a pool of blood.


    This was a scenario none of the demons had ever imagined.


    A human, just a little human vassal, had actually killed a fourth-order sh Leopard? How could this be? Even though the sh Leopard had fought four consecutive battles and hadn''t even used its sh skill, how could it die like that?


    But the reality was right before their eyes. The blood on the slender human''s palms and the blood and ebbing life force still flowing from the sh Leopard''s mouth told them all this was real.


    Bright lights shone down on that slender figure, who, for some unknown reason, seemed to emit a chilling aura. This caused an involuntary shiver among the demons watching.


    "Awooo!" A sudden wolf howl echoed through the arena.


    A massive wolf demon, towering over two and a half meters, stepped forward, howling at Tang San.


    "Well done, <i>haha!</i> Worthy of the bloodline of my Wind Wolf n!" eximed the fifth-order Wind Wolf, its eyes zing with fervor.


    Had Tang San''s opponent been from another race, even though he had used the Wind Wolf transformation, the Wind Wolf n wouldn''t have been so excited. But he had killed a sh Leopard, their most hated enemy! So, at this moment, the Wind Wolf n even overlooked the fact that he was just a vassal. The shame became exhration; nothing excited them more than the death of a sh Leopard.


    "<i>ROAR!!</i>" A massive sh Leopard suddenly sprang up, charging straight at Tang San in the collision circle.


    This sh Leopard was speedy, and its figure disappeared in mid-air with a sh of yellow light as it activated its sh ability. It appeared almost instantaneously in front of Tang San. Its speed was iparably greater than the fourth-order sh Leopard��s.


    The fifth-order Wind Wolf who had just praised Tang San was startled, but it realized that it was toote to intervene.


    Suddenly, a gigantic hand appeared out of nowhere and fiercely struck the lightning-fast figure. With a loud bang, the sh Leopard lunging at Tang San was smacked away, crashing violently into a group of demons.


    A seven-order Berserk Bear, towering over four meters, stood beside Tang San, its eyes gleaming fiercely as its enormous paw slowly came down. "A defeat is a defeat. Rules are rules. If you want revenge, wait until after the contest."


    Tang San silently withdrew his right foot that had already stepped forward. He had been ready tounch his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, even preparing to use the sh if need be. The one who had suddenly ambushed him was a fifth-order sh Leopard. Facing such a swift opponent, he wasn''t entirely confident that he could get away without using his full abilities.


    However, the intervention of the seventh-order Berserk Bear resolved the crisis for him.


    Wang Yanfeng and Gui Gui, watching from a distance, had their hearts in their throats.


    Gui Gui turned to Wang Yanfeng, gripping his arm so tightly that her nails dug into his skin. "Brother, is this the disciple you trained? Since when could you train such monsters?"


    A fourth-order sh Leopard, fourth-order! To participate in the Collision Contest was one thing, but to kill a fourth-order sh Leopard in one encounter? Was this something a human vassal could do?


    Wang Yanfeng''s gaze was vacant as he murmured, "What...is going on? Who <i>is</i> this kid?"


    Meanwhile, the human standing at the center of the arena looked up at the colossal seventh-order Berserk Bear and asked, "Will the match continue?"


    His voice carried a hint of youthful naivety. Clearly, he was not an adult.


    The seventh-order Berserk Bear lowered its head, and atop its shoulder, the young Berserk Bear, recent champion of the third-order Collision Contest, also gazed at him curiously.


    "Carry on!"

 Chapter 37: Ironhide Shield

    <h4>Chapter 37: Ironhide Shield</h4>


    Tang San took a deep breath, feeling the surging energy within him and activating the Mysterious Heaven Technique as his next opponent entered the arena.


    The rhino demon! Yes, it was precisely the one who had just missed seeing Tang San, thinking it was its turn topete.


    The arena, now quieted under the suppression of the seventh-order Berserk Bear, watched as the sh Leopard, previously flung away, rose and stared intently at Tang San.


    In today''s collisionpetition, the fourth-order sh Leopard that just died was the first casualty among the demons. As for the deaths of vassals in the earlierpetitions, they couldn��t care less.


    A vassal of the Wind Wolf n had just killed a fourth-order sh Leopard. The defeat was an absolute disgrace for the sh Leopard n. A lower-order sh Leopard had already left to ry the message.


    At this moment, Tang San had no time to concern himself with what the sh Leopard n thought. Still, Wang Yanfeng and Gui Gui were beginning to understand the purpose of his masked appearance.


    The rhino demon let out a deep roar. It dropped down on all fours, and its right hind leg scraped at the ground as the aura around it grew increasingly dense.


    A dark yellow light radiated from it. This was the rhino demon''s forte, the Ironhide Shield. In terms of defense, the rhino n was undoubtedly among the top in the demon ns.


    Races capable of a head-on collision with a rhino demon were few. Due to his ridiculous mass and defense, this fourth-order rhino demon was a favorite among the fourth-orderpetitors today.


    "<i>Roar!</i>"


    The rhino demon suddenly roared to the sky and its hooves smashed the ground as it charged fiercely toward Tang San. Its horn was radiating a blinding light.


    Tang San also charged forward. His speed appeared no different from when he charged at the sh Leopard, and his body was still enveloped in a green light, exhibiting the unique aura of the Wind Wolves.


    As they rapidly closed in, Tang San suddenly raised his hand, and two green wind des shot toward the rhino demon.


    The wind des drew two beautiful arcs in the air. The rhino demon only saw the green light flicker in his opponent��s hand, and then the wind des seemed to fly off course to either side. But just as it wondered what was going on, a bright green light exploded in its eyes.


    Tang San had judged his opponent��s speed and position perfectly, and the trajectory of the wind des set them to hit the rhino��s eyes perfectly.


    At this moment, both were about to enter the collision circle. The rhino demon snorted coldly and its limbs abruptly turned. It slid directly toward the collision circle, and at the same time, it swiftly closed its eyes.


    It didn''t believe that Tang San''s wind des could prate its Ironhide Shield. Even though its eyelids were in fact one of the most vulnerable parts of its body, even that skin was still not something just anyone could prate.


    But the rhino demon didn''t know that Tang San was waiting precisely for this moment��the moment it closed its eyes.


    The two wind des struck its eyelids, and while the defense of the Ironhide Shield did indeed withstand the attack, the rhino demon couldn''t help but feel a piercing pain. It roared out in anger again.


    What it couldn��t see was that Tang San had already leaped into the air.


    The spectators noticed that he now held a wind de, and it was apparent to anyone with good eyesight that the wind element was rapidly converging toward that wind de. Before their eyes, the greenish-blue wind de quickly turned dark green.


    The rhino demon squinted in pain. It tilted its head back and shook it, but it needed time to regain its vision.


    It could only rely on memory to move inside the collision circle.


    Tang San''s slender figure descended from the air, lightlynding on the raised head of the rhino demon and thrusting the dark-green wind de toward its eye.


    Simultaneously, his other hand struck the top of the rhino demon''s head.


    <i>Thud! </i>


    At a closer look, it was visible that this dark-green wind de was about to puncture the rhino��s demon eyelid.


    Its Ironhide Shield��s defense was formidablepared to any other fourth-order demon��s, but it was still nothing more than a fourth-order demon itself. The shield barely covered its whole body, merging with its tough hide. Not only was it stretched thin, but it also wasn''t capable of releasing external energy.


    On the other hand, Tang San''s wind de was made of incrediblypressed wind elemental energy; its entire power was focused in a single point, and it targeted the rhino��s most vulnerable spot.


    The wind de shattered almost immediately, dissipating into specks of green light.


    But the rhino demon let out an almost insane scream of pain.


    Its upper body reared up, and it no longer cared about the collision contest.


    The next moment, it darted out wildly on all fours, swinging its head frantically, wanting to use its most potent attack to smash the opponent into a pulp.


    Of course, by this time, Tang San had already lightly sprung up from its head,nding steadily in the center of the collision zone.


    No one noticed that the palm he had ced on the rhino demon''s head had shed with a yellow light.


    Energy from the Mysterious Heaven Technique surged within him, allowing him to quickly recover from the expenditure of using the wind de.


    He was secretly quite surprised; he had not held back with that wind de strike at all. Although it wasn''t his most potent ability, he considered its prative power quite formidable. Yet, he had been unable to fully pierce through. The fourth-order rhino demon��s eyes were injured, one of them severely so, but it was probably not permanent.


    The fact that he had been unable to stab it in the eye showed how strong the Ironhide Shield��s defense was.


    In the meantime, the seventh-order Berserk Bear''s huge paw fiercely reached out, grabbing the horn of the rhino demon that was madly charging toward the crowd.


    With a roar, it suddenly lifted the robust rhino demon over its head with a single hand. Then, it mmed the rhino hard onto the ground, knocking it unconscious.


    "Worthless! Take it away! Can''t you even defeat a vassal?" the seventh-order Berserk Bear said disdainfully, with a hint of anger.


    Two consecutive victories!


    Using skillful tactics, Tang San had defeated a fourth-order sh Leopard and a fourth-order rhino demon. However, the more powerful demons could tell it wasn''t just about skills. His timing andposure were vital in oveing his opponents.


    Gui Gui was now truly at a loss for words. If, during the first battle, she had been deeply concerned about Tang San''s safety, now she just wanted to ask Wang Yanfeng, <i>Where did you find this little demon? </i>


    <i>The Wind Wolf n''s Wind de? Is it just a simple Wind de? And fourth order, no less! </i>


    She knew Tang San''s actual age. A nine-year-old at the fourth order...what an extraordinary talent! At least in the human world, she had never heard of such a being.


    Wang Yanfeng''s eyes sparkled with admiration. He had always known that Tang San was strong. A year ago, when Tang San was only at the third order, Wang Yanfeng suffered a defeat at his hands.


    But even he hadn''t expected Tang San to be <i>this</i> powerful. It was an utterly unforeseen strength.


    "Come on!" With a ferocious roar, Tang San''s third opponent entered the arena.


    Compared to the previous rhino demon, this opponent was much smaller in stature. It had a slender figure, standing at only 1.5 meters tall, but it had wings on its back. The wingspan was actually greater than the demon��s height, at around two meters. Its elongated eyes gleamed with a sharp light.


    If Tang San remembered correctly, this wasn''t the contestant lined up behind him earlier. In other words, someone had been moved up in the queue.


    Moved up in the queue...to counter him?


    This contestant was probably a member of a falcon demon n.


    Undoubtedly, through these two battles, the demons had realized that his agility and martial skills were superior. Clumsier demons were at a disadvantage against him, so they brought forth this falcon demon with flying abilities, great speed, and skills to counter him.


    Being consecutively defeated by a vassal humiliated the demons participating in the Collision Contest.


    Tang San didn''t need to think much to understand what these demons were up to.


    <i>A falcon demon, huh? Well well.</i>

 Chapter 38: White-Crested Falcon Demon

    <h4>Chapter 38: White-Crested Falcon Demon</h4>


    It was a White-Crested Falcon Demon, a species rare among demon ns, known for its fast flight speed and great endurance in the air. Itsbat power wasn''t overwhelming, but its flying and scouting abilities were excellent. Its keen vision could catch the slightest changes from ten miles away, making it the best scout among the demons.


    The White-Crested Falcon Demon was signaled to enter by higher-order demons, specifically to counter Tang San''s agility.


    Actual members of the Wind Wolf n wouldn''t fear the White-Crested Falcon Demon; they had extremely tough physiques and a very potent Wind de. However, Tang San was just a human; in the eyes of the demons, his slender physique made him fast, but he had to be significantly weaker in defense. Deploying the White-Crested Falcon Demon, which excelled in speed and observation skills, against him couldn''t be more appropriate.


    In other words, the demons mainly attributed the death of the previous sh Leopard to its carelessness.


    "Begin!"


    At themand of the seventh-order Berserk Bear, the White-Crested Falcon Demon pped its wings vigorously, soaring into the sky in the blink of an eye. Its eyes shimmered with a swirling white light as it activated its bloodline ability��the Falcon Eye, focusing intently on Tang San.


    The whole world beneath its gaze slowed down, and every detail of that slow worldy bare.


    Under the Falcon Eye of the White-Crested Falcon Demon, even the most subtle of Tang San��s muscle movements could be captured, down to the frequency of his trembling eyshes.


    Under its watchful eye, Tang San stood still, not charging forward but simply letting his arms hang naturally at his sides, his fingertips flickering with a green light.


    The White-Crested Falcon Demon had already soared a hundred meters high. The next moment, it dove down rapidly. Its wings suddenly folded, and only the tips protruded slightly outward; by adjusting the angle of these tips, it could control the direction and speed of its dive.


    This maneuverability in flight was its forte. It was always searching for Tang San''s weaknesses, and the moment it identified one, its Falcon Eye would lock onto it, ensuring a decisive strike.


    In its eyes, Tang San was already a dead man.


    At that moment, Tang San finally moved, his toes pushing hard against the ground as he swiftly charged towards the collision zone. Simultaneously, he lifted his head to look at the White-Crested Falcon Demon in the air.


    Their eyes met, and he saw the white light in the eyes of the White-Crested Falcon Demon.


    At the same time, the demon saw a hint of purple in Tang San''s eyes.


    That faint shade of purple, fleeting as it was, caused the White-Crested Falcon Demon to experience a momentary nkness, as if something had struck its soul, plunging it into a brief state of confusion.


    Almost immediately after entering the collision zone, Tang San sprang up, swinging his arms. He flung two wind des from his hands, aiming straight at the White-Crested Falcon Demon in the sky.


    The momentary daze of the White-Crested Falcon Demon was just that, momentary, but the imprint of those purple eyes remained etched in its mind.


    As it regained a bit of rity, the sharp wind des, apanied by a silent green glow, were already upon it.


    True to its reputation as the demon n best at dodging, the White-Crested Falcon Demon swiftly twisted in midair, narrowly avoiding the two approaching wind des. Its talons sprang out and its wings red wide to control its descent.


    It was only then that it noticed the other two wind desing at it.


    That momentary daze had cost it the tactical advantage. Startled, it stretched its talons to grab the wind des, thinking of ascending again afterward.


    But since Tang San had already unleashed his Purple Extreme Demon Eye, he wouldn''t grant it such an opportunity again.


    The two wind des that had missed their target in the air quietly circled back, approaching from behind, while the two des about to be caught by the talons exploded.


    The two wind des split into four, elerating instantly and shing across the slender body of the White-Crested Falcon Demon.


    Although its feathers helped block the attack, everyone participating was at the fourth order, and among its peers, the White-Crested Falcon was by far not famous for its defense. The sharpness of the wind des was not that easily resisted, and blood burst out instantly.


    The two des that had circled back also ruthlessly shed the White-Crested Falcon Demon''s back, eliciting a scream as it plummeted toward the ground.


    Tang San, leaping into the air, reached out with both hands; one grasped the slender neck of the White-Crested Falcon Demon, and the other its chest. Twirling in mid-air, he flung the demon away.


    With a thud, the White-Crested Falcon Demon hit the ground, blood flowing from a number of deep cuts. It had been knocked unconscious by the fall.


    Tang San took a deep breath,nding steadily in the collision zone.


    Three consecutive victories!


    <i>What��s going to happen in the third round if the first victory was luck and the second was finding a weakness?</i>


    The way the demons on-site looked at this human vassal began to change. Since when could a human vassal possess suchbat experience and capabilities?


    The White-Crested Falcon Demon had been explicitly chosen to counter him, yet it had failed miserably, unable to dodge the wind des.


    All the demons saw was the White-Crested Falcon Demon''s mistake, but they didn''t understand the reason behind it.


    The seventh-order Berserk Bear frowned as it watched Tang San quietly walk to the side of the arena, preparing for the next match. Even so, it didn��t even bat an eye as it called out to the stands.


    "Next."


    Rules are rules, and although the demon ns lived by thew of the jungle, the survival of the fittest, and the supremacy of strength, they also had their hierarchy and rules, especially in the central city.


    Thus, even though Tang San was just a vassal, in this Collision Tournament, the demon ns who wanted to deal with him could only do so ording to the rules. They could not gang up on him, and they could not send higher-order members to bully him.


    <i>Just a mere transformation into an ordinary Wind Wolf, yet he possesses suchbat skills and luck?</i>


    Tang San''s fourth opponent had already entered the arena��the one he had been supposed to face in the previous match. After the White-Crested Falcon Demon''s defeat, the order of opponents continued as scheduled.


    This opponent was a deer demon. It hadrge, forked antlers atop its head and a muscr build. Unlike most demons, its gazecked ferocity, instead emanating peace and calm.


    As it watched Tang San, a faint glimmer twinkled deep within its eyes. Its coat was quite peculiar: a pale blue dotted with tufts of white.


    Tang San''s mind stirred.


    <i>Is this... the Aetherhorn Deer Demon?</i>


    Tang San recalled what Wang Yanfeng had detailed about this type of deer demon. They were truly unique; blue fur was extremely rare among demonkind as a whole, and even more so among deer demons.


    Deer demons were numerous, a mid-level race among demons. The Aetherhorn Deer Demons weren''t royalty of their kind, and neither were they particrly strong. However, their innate abilities were quite extraordinary.


    Their innate ability was known as the Discerning Heart''s Gaze. Just like the name suggested, it was an incredible perception ability.


    The Discerning Heart''s Gaze could see many things invisible to other races. They could even sense fortune, misfortune, and the presence of treasures, which meant that this ability was much less connected to eyesight than it was to an extremely high spiritual power.


    The Aetherhorn metal, used to create aetherhorn coins, had been discovered by the Aetherhorn Deer Demon n. The most significant benefit of these coins was that carrying them helped maintain mental focus and enhanced cultivation. After the Aetherhorn Deer Demons discovered this metal, it had beenter minted into coins named after them.


    Thus, even though Aetherhorn Deer Demons were few in number, their status among demonkind actually surpassed deer demons'' royal lineage. They were also not particrly strong inbat, yet they were warmly weed into any demon n. Many prominent demon families included members of the Aetherhorn Deer Demon lineage.

 Chapter 39: Leaving Without A Trace

    <h4>Chapter 39: Leaving Without A Trace</h4>


    Tang San had never expected that he would stumble upon an Aetherhorn Deer Demon in this Collision Contest.


    The eyes of the Aetherhorn Deer Demon glowed with a faint blue halo, and when its gaze fixed on Tang San, he felt as if he was being seen through.


    But in the next moment, a hint of confusion shed in the eyes of the Deer Demon.


    It used its Discerning Heart''s Gaze on Tang San, partly to find his ws and partly to sense his uniqueness.


    It could sense Tang San''s robust vitality, far beyond what his slender frame suggested. At the same time, it felt unease, as if something about this young man was particrly disconcerting. This made the usually calm Aetherhorn Deer Demon somewhat restless.


    "Begin!" roared the seventh-order Berserk Bear.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon wasn��t actually here because it was adept atbat by any standard. Its participation in the contest was merely for fun. Actually, the reason these demons often encountered danger was precisely this unstoppable curiosity, which was why most sought the protection of stronger races to live more safely.


    This time, Tang San made the first move, and he swiftly charged toward the Aetherhorn Deer Demon.


    The Deer Demon lowered its head slightly and charged straight at Tang San. At that moment, it sensed that the human vassal bore no ill intention. The collision would be safe.


    The distance between them rapidly closed. The Aetherhorn Deer Demon''s charge was straightforward and powerful. Still, itsbat strength was not on the same level as the previous three contestants. It was just there to make up the numbers and enjoy itself.


    So, after the previous three battles, no one believed that the Aetherhorn Deer Demon could win against this somewhat magical human vassal of the Wind Wolf n.


    As they quickly approached each other, Tang San suddenly leaped up just before the collision. He positioned himself right in front of the Deer Demon, which felt like something had caught hold of its antlers.


    In the next instant, Tang San was above it, one hand pressing on its head.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon suddenly felt an intense fear and almost instinctively shook its head hard. Surprisingly, that instinctive motion actually flung Tang San far away.


    The deer also stumbled and nearly fell, its heart filled with fear. It barely managed to steady itself, and it felt incredibly bewildered.


    Tang San somersaulted backward in the air andnded some distance away, then staggered back a few steps before finally steadying himself.


    Meanwhile, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon had reached the center of the collision area, looking more and more dazed.


    It straightened up and pointed to its nose with its forelimb, blinking in confusion. "I won?"


    The seventh-order berserk bear was also astonished. The expected winner had been flung away, and the underdog had won? Since when were Aetherhorn Deer Demons this powerful?


    <i>Did he fling that human away just like that? Or is it that the human exhausted himself too much to continue?</i>


    As the demons spectating the match gaped in astonishment at the Aetherhorn Deer Demon, Tang San swiftly made his way to the prize table, grabbed three aetherhorn coins, and quickly disappeared into the crowd.


    The demons who noticed him darting through the crowd tried to catch him, curious to see the face behind his mask. However, they soon realized that this slim human slipped through the crowd like a fish, vanishing in just a few moments.


    His Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track proved to be a particrly useful tool in this densely crowded space.


    <i>Win three matches and lose to the Aetherhorn Deer Demon. I��ll take that. Time to be off!</i>


    Seeing Tang San''s sudden loss and quick departure, Wang Yanfeng and Gui Gui breathed a sigh of relief. Not daring to watch any longer, they quickly retreated, blending into the crowd and hastening away.


    Naturally, the rest of the demons were still engaged in the Collision Contest. Aside from the sh Leopard n''s rage and the Wind Wolf n''s excitement, however, the other demons didn''t show much reaction.


    Tang San elerated as soon as he left the crowd. His memory was excellent, so he could easily recall the way he hade. He didn''t seek out Gui Gui or Wang Yanfeng but instead navigated through streets and alleys, sticking to the darker corners, and headed straight back to the small inn.


    Less than a minute after his departure, several sh Leopards emitting yellow light streaked past where he had been. Their noses twitched as they sniffed around, trying to catch his scent and track him down.


    Of course, their efforts were in vain. Tang San simply needed to do one thing to conceal his scent: change his Wind Wolf bloodline imprint, which had been used to cast the Wind de, into a sh Leopard bloodline imprint. With his bloodline altered, how could they possibly identify his scent?


    Continuing the contest could undoubtedly bring more victories. For fourth-order demons, winning against Tang San in a contest focused on skill and strength was no easy feat. However, Tang San''s performance today was rtively restrained. Otherwise, if he had given it his all, neither the White-Crested Falcon nor the Rhino demon would have survived.


    During his third match, he had noticed some sh Leopards leaving the arena, obviously intending to stir up trouble. His main goal had been achieved, so why linger any longer? Using his loss to the Aetherhorn Deer Demon as cover, he had quickly escaped.


    As he swiftly departed, on the watch for any danger that might arise from behind, a slight smirk formed at the corner of Tang San''s mouth.


    <i>Done. Today''s objective has been aplished.</i>


    At the inn, Tang San quickly returned to his room, removed his mask, and looked out the window.


    Before long, Wang Yanfeng and Gui Gui also returned.


    They almost immediately came to Tang San''s room. As soon as they entered, before Gui Gui could say anything, Tang San handed her an aetherhorn coin, "Aunt Gui, this is for you."


    Gui Gui was startled. Her small inn usually amodated human vassals, each poorer than thest, often not paying. It was rare to receive even a demonshard coin in good condition, let alone an exquisitely crafted aetherhorn coin. As she received it, the words of reproach that had reached her lips were immediately swallowed back.


    Then, Tang San offered a coin to his teacher as well.


    Wang Yanfeng took the aetherhorn coin, but his mouth was twitching slightly. "You were quite bold to kill that sh Leopard."


    Tang San''s face showed a trace of fear. "I didn''t intend to kill it. I just raised my hand... and things happened. Teacher, there won''t be any trouble, will there?"


    Seeing the fear on his face, Wang Yanfeng''s expression rxed slightly. A nine-year-old killing a demon was certainly strange, but a nine-year-old remaining perfectly calm after killing a living being would��ve been downright frightening.


    "Fortunately, you ran fast. By the time we left, there were already quite a few leopard demons around," Wang Yanfeng said, still somewhat shaken.


    Tang San asked, "Will this bring trouble to other human vassals?"


    Wang Yanfeng shook his head. "No, that won''t happen. Different vassals belong to different ns. They naturally have their ns to protect them. When we left the arena, the sh Leopard and Wind Wolves were already butting heads. After all, the conflict is between those two races to begin with, it has nothing to do with us."


    "That''s good." Tang San sighed in relief.

 Chapter 40: The Changes in the Bloodline Imprints

    <h4>Chapter 40: The Changes in the Bloodline Imprints</h4>


    Wang Yanfeng gazed deeply at him, then said to Gui Gui, who was beside him, "You go rest first and keep an eye on the gate tonight. It should be fine, but still, be careful."


    "Alright, I''ll go check the front. You guys should rest early, too. I think you should leave tomorrow. Even though Tang San wore a mask today, his physique is still quite noticeable," Gui Gui whispered.


    Wang Yanfeng nodded. "I know."


    After Guigui left, Wang Yanfeng''s gaze returned to Tang San, and he asked solemnly, "Why did you join the Collision Competition today? This isn''t like you. Although you''re the youngest of the bunch, you''ve always been the mostposed. Why did you be so impulsive today? Do you realize how dangerous this was?"


    Tang San lowered his head, looking like a child who knew he had done something wrong.


    "Speak up!" Wang Yanfeng was beside himself with anger. Watching Tang Sanpete today, he had been truly on edge. Especially when he saw Tang San kill the sh Leopard and then that fifth-order sh Leopard pounced at him. Wang Yanfeng had really thought it was over. But who knew Tang San would win three consecutive matches? The rhino demon with strong defensive powers, as well as the swift and perceptive White-Crested Falcon, had both fallen at his hands.


    Wang Yanfeng questioned himself. Even if he had participated in the contest, he might not have done better than Tang San.


    Tang San murmured, "Teacher, that milk tea was just.... I wanted to earn some money...."


    "Milk tea?" Wang Yanfeng paused for a moment, looking at the boy with his head bowed before him. Suddenly, he felt tightness in his chest.


    <i>Milk tea. Just for that one cup of milk tea.</i>


    An indescribable sadness welled up in his heart. Only then did he realize that the one in front of him, whom he had unconsciouslye to consider his peer in the past year, was still just a nine-year-old child. Not only that, but he was a ve, nothing more than a number among livestock. Born a ve, raised a ve, never having experienced the warmth of a family.


    That cup of milk tea might have brought him a taste he had never experienced. <i>Our human children are willing to risk their lives just to earn money for a cup of milk tea.</i>


    "Yes, the milk tea was sweet and fragrant," Tang San said, still with his head lowered.


    Wang Yanfeng took a deep breath, stepped forward suddenly, and pulled Tang San into his embrace, holding him tightly.


    Tang San bowed his head, and in his mind, he saw the face and smile of Mei Gongzi today. The cup of milk tea was still beside his bed, and he cherished it simply because she had touched it.


    "Never do something so foolish again. If you want milk tea, just tell me, and I''ll take you to buy some..." Wang Yanfeng choked out; his tone was no longer harsh but filled with warmth.


    Tang San''s heart trembled for a moment, and in an instant, the image of his father from his previous life appeared in his mind.


    Compared to this life, hisst life was happier. At least in his childhood, he had his father''spany. In his previous life, his father had been one of the strongest of his era, and he had been a strong pir of support for him, especially in times of danger.


    From Wang Yanfeng, he felt the same care that his father in his previous life had shown him.


    "I''m sorry, Teacher. I won''t be impulsive again. I''ve worried you," Tang San sincerely admitted his mistake.


    Indeed, had he not been so deeply moved by his encounter with Mei Gongzi, he would never have rashly joined thepetition. But the moment he saw her, he simply couldn''t control the impulse in his heart.


    Today was the happiest day since he hade to this world, having found the reincarnated form of his lover from his past life. And at this moment, he also felt the fatherly love that Wang Yanfeng brought.


    He had anticipated a scolding from both Wang Yanfeng and Gui Gui upon his return. But unexpectedly, all he received was warmth.


    Wang Yanfeng patted his head. "Forget everything that happened today. You are very talented and you will surely seed in the future. Rest early. I''ll check on your Auntie Gui. If nothing happens tonight, everything should be fine."


    "Okay," Tang San replied.


    Wang Yanfeng gently patted his shoulder before getting up to leave. After he left, Tang San noticed that the aetherhorn coin he had given his teacher was on the corner of his bed.


    <i>The teacher is indeed a good person!</i> Tang San''s heart felt warm.


    After putting out the light, Tang San sat cross-legged on the bed, calming his mind first.


    Then, he gradually entered a meditative state, feeling the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique coursing through him.


    Today''s battles had yielded incredible gains for him.


    He had nned to fight a few battles and withdraw at the right time, and he had executed that n perfectly.


    In the first battle against the sh Leopard, he had killed his opponent. He had then quickly devoured its fourth-order bloodline power to enhance his Leopard sh ability.


    The role of the Leopard sh was significant for Tang San; the instant eleration was exactly what he needed in order to gain more adaptability and variability inbat.


    The power of the fourth order was far more different from the third than the third was from the second. Just like the control, power, and versatility of his wind des had reached apletely new level when he had enhanced the bloodline imprint up to the fourth order, his eleration and agility had instantly exploded once the Leopard sh skill was elevated to the fourth order.


    In the following three battles, he had also absorbed some bloodline power from the rhino demon, falcon demon, and Aetherhorn Deer Demon, forming bloodline imprints within himself.


    Since he had only absorbed a small amount, the bloodline imprints formed were roughly equivalent to the third order.


    Why devour three more? Actually, that was his exact target number when he entered thepetition. A key reason was, of course, to increase the number of his skills, but more importantly, Tang San wanted to test how many imprints he could absorb through the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    He spected that he was able to absorb one imprint and gain a demonic god transformation skill for every order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. But this was nothing more than a guess, and it had to be verified through practice.


    Since he already had the Wind de and Leopard sh, devouring three more bloodlines would result in five total imprints. If he could imprint all three within his Mysterious Heaven Technique, it would mean that his previous judgment was wrong, in which case he could just keep absorbing skills. If only two could be imprinted, that would confirm his spection, which meant that he could improve his understanding of the cultivation system in this dimension. Either way, the result held great importance for his future cultivation.


    Yet, the oue waspletely unexpected.


    At this moment, the power of the three bloodlines he devoured had not been transformed into imprints. Instead, the energy had split into three differently colored orbs of light, silently floating within him.


    Tang San could vaguely sense that he could imprint all three skills and turn them into his own. But he also felt his existing skills, Wind de and Leopard sh, were being affected, and they were bing more active.


    <i>What does this mean?</i>


    Tang San couldn''t help but wonder why the introduction of three new abilities made his two existing skills feel somewhat detached.


    This was the first time he had encountered such a situation since he began cultivating.


    The feeling of detachment from the two original imprints didn''t make him nervous; on the contrary, he felt excited at this moment.


    To him, neither the Wind de nor the Leopard sh were powerful abilities; they were decent, but they had very limited room for improvement.


    Thus, the most worrisome possibility in this situation was that only the skills that had already been imprinted could continue to improve. It would also mean that the total number of skills Tang San could learn was limited. Until his cultivation broke through to the god level, the Wind de and Leopard sh would be the only skills that could continue to grow with him.

 Chapter 41: Fusing New Bloodline Imprints

    <h4>Chapter 41: Fusing New Bloodline Imprints</h4>


    This was undoubtedly the worst-case scenario, but it wasn��t like Tang San had any choice in the matter. When he first arrived in this world, understanding its system was paramount. The fact that he was able to absorb the Wind de and Leopard sh had actually opened the door to this world for him, leading to his current situation. Thus, Tang San was prepared; if his skills were limited in number, he''d have to tolerate the continual presence of Wind de and Leopard sh, finding ways to enhance and better adapt them for himself.


    At this very moment, as the three new imprints were absorbed, for some unknown reason, the two deeply ingrained skills in his bloodline suddenly felt distant, as if they could detach from his bloodline at any moment.


    This discovery filled Tang San with joy, suggesting that the energy from the Mysterious Heaven Technique,bined with various powers of this world, could undergo more transformations. Although unclear about the nature of these changes, they undoubtedly opened up more possibilities.


    Rather than hastily activating thetest three imprints, he silently sensed their differences and rtionship with his body.


    The imprints of the Wind de and Leopard sh were undoubtedlyrger and brighter among the five. The Leopard sh was newly upgraded and it still couldn''tpare to the Wind de, but it had clearly improved significantly.


    The other three abilities hadn''t reached the fourth order. Amid the battle, Tang San had been unable to absorb too much of the bloodline power of his opponents, lest his devouring ability be exposed.


    Thus, the Ironhide Shield of the rhino demon, Falcon Eye of the White-Crested Falcon demon, and Discerning Heart''s Gaze of the Aetherhorn Deer Demon were all around the third order.


    The two fourth-order imprints appeared more vivid because they had already merged with Tang San''s bloodline. The other three were still ��outside the system�� in a sense, though they were kept under control by the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    After observing silently, Tang San could feel that all five imprints were rtively stable. Even the three that hadn''t merged into his bloodline were contained within a specific range, showing no signs of leaving his body or dissipating. This was quite interesting.


    As the Mysterious Heaven Technique''s energy circted, the energy in his dantian turned into a vortex, with the two skills already imprinted in his body rotating with it as if they were a part of it. The three new skill imprints floated above the vortex, drawn by it but not integrated. [1]


    It wasn''t that they could not merge, but that Tang San was not controlling his energy to draw them in.


    The observation was not in vain, as Tang San gradually sensed something marvelous. Although these three new skill imprints weren''t merged into his body, their existence was nourished by the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. In other words, floating outside the vortex in his dantian, they could silently absorb some of its energy to sustain themselves.


    With a thought, Tang San used his mental power to sever the connection between himself and the Ironhide Shield imprint.


    Instantly, the Ironhide Shield imprint trembled slightly and began to fade at a visible rate.


    Tang San immediately redirected energy into it, and the imprint became clear again.


    He quickly concluded that these demonic god transformation bloodline imprints provided skills and required the nourishment of energy from the Mysterious Heaven Technique. The utilization of the imprints was, in fact, a form of conversion for this energy.


    These skill imprints would disappear if he severed their connection to the Mysterious Heaven Technique. As long as he maintained the energy nourishment, they would persist.


    Could he then switch between merged and unmerged skills at will?


    Thinking this, Tang San began experimenting, using his mental power to guide the Leopard sh imprint to detach from his bloodline.


    As he moved the Leopard sh, Tang San immediately felt his energy be restless, and the stable vortex within began to churn. His mental power was incredibly steady, so he didn''t rush to extract the imprint; instead, he carefully and gradually pulled it out while observing the changes.


    Quickly, he noticed something. The Leopard sh imprint was being slowly pulled out, and during the process, the imprint''s glow diminished, and the recently enhanced power seemed to decrease.


    Tang San didn''t stop. Understanding the rtionship between the Mysterious Heaven Technique and these skill imprints was far more important than preserving the power of the Leopard sh. He could always devour the bloodline of another sh Leopard, but without rity on bloodline integration with his Mysterious Heaven Technique, he couldn''t further advance himself.


    Finally, Leopard sh was separated.


    The moment itpletely detached, its power dropped from the recently attained fourth order to the third. Still, the Leopard sh imprint and the other three new ones now floated silently, rotating above the Mysterious Heaven Technique vortex.


    <i>Oho, it��s possible! </i>They could be separated, and other skills could be swapped. Tang San was ted. This meant he wouldn''t hinder his growth by wrongly merging a particr skill.


    However, his previous idea of switching skills at any time was dashed. If each separation decreased the skill imprint''s power, such separations needed caution. His current third or fourth-order imprints didn''t matter much, but advancing a level at higher orders would not be easy, and losing that progress due to separation would be painful.


    The Wind de couldn''t be separated, as it was tied to his Wind Wolf Transformation and the identity he had gained thanks to it. That was why the Leopard sh was the subject of the experiment.


    Observing the four skills floating above the energy vortex in his dantian, Tang San continued experimenting. The next step would be integrating all these four imprints into his body.


    First was the return of the Leopard sh. Perhaps because it had already been merged before, the Leopard sh''s reintegration into the Mysterious Heaven Technique was smooth, and it almost instantly returned to the vortex. However, it remained at the third order; the previously dissipated imprint level had not been restored.


    Next came the Ironhide Shield. The integration of the Ironhide Shield imprint was significantly slower than the Leopard sh. In addition, during the merger, Tang San discovered his bloodline was affected as he merged with the technique. The power of his bloodline became more robust, and it appeared his physical strength was also enhancing.


    <i>Does this mean that the imprints not only offer me the skills themselves but also some characteristics of the original bloodlines they belong to?</i>


    He hadn''t felt this distinctly when merging with the Wind de and Leopard sh imprints. Perhaps it was because the bloodline of this rhino demon was of a higher order?


    Next was the falcon demon��s Falcon Eye imprint. As the Falcon Eye integrated, Tang San distinctly felt a refreshing coolness in his eyes, simr to the benefits he reaped when merging with the rhino demon''s Ironhide Shield.


    <i>If that''s the case, then it means the more potent the original bloodline of the skill I merge with, the greater the benefit to my overall abilities after merging! That''s excellent!</i>


    1. In the future chapters, the raws say that the Mysterious Heaven Technique circtes, the Mysterious Heaven Technique bes chaotic etc. These instances have been reced with ��Mysterious Heaven Technique��s energy,�� ��energy vortex,�� ��dantian,�� or other contextually appropriate terms. ?

 Chapter 42: Devouring & Merging

    <h4>Chapter 42: Devouring & Merging</h4>


    <i>If integrating bloodline imprints strengthens my body directly, could I end up having the power of a bear, the speed of a leopard, the stamina of a horse, and more? If I can enhance my physical abilities like this, that��s amazing!</i>


    While contemting, Tang San began integrating the final bloodline imprint. This was the most important part of the process, as it was the fifth, and the number of bloodline imprints would surpass his cultivation order. Sess meant he hadn''t reached his limit in the number of abilities he could infuse, which was obviously a good thing.


    Of course, even if he failed, it wasn��t that bad. His previous experiment had shown that he could remove and rece the bloodline imprints, so he could always swap less useful abilities for better ones.


    With noticeable improvements to his body from the Ironhide Shield and the Falcon Eye, Tang San began to hope his judgment was wrong, as he really wished to integrate the Aetherhorn Deer��s Discerning Heart''s Gaze. This ability enhanced perception, a rare ability and even more precious than those directly boostingbat power.


    Sadly, as expected of a man with his experience, his guess had been right on the mark.


    The energy vortex swelled noticeably as he tried integrating the Discerning Heart''s Gaze into it. The four internal imprints shimmered, and as the light representing Discerning Heart''s Gaze began to merge, a strong repulsion force was generated, threatening to push it out.


    Indeed, it seemed that things were as he had guessed. Each cultivation order would allow him to integrate only one additional ability, not an infinite number.


    Tang San wasn''t too disappointed. Certainty was most important to him, which was why he had tried to absorb three other abilities. With his judgment confirmed, he could choose his future cultivation and enhancement path.


    <i>It''s okay if it doesn''t work. Slow and steady wins the race.</i>


    Nourishing the Discerning Heart''s Gaze imprint did, however, use up some of the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s power, slowing his progress. He would have to decideter which to keep and which to rece.


    As he was about to give up on integrating the Discerning Heart''s Gaze, Tang San suddenly felt a tremor among the four imprints within his energy vortex. Immediately after, a strong attraction force emanated from one of the imprints.


    The Discerning Heart''s Gaze imprint, which had been moving away, suddenly paused, then was swiftly drawn in by the imprint emitting an attraction force and slowly began to merge into it.


    <i>What is going on... </i>


    Tang San instantly tensed up, not with anxiety but with nervous excitement.


    He didn''t interfere with the change, and he just brought his mind to its most focused state, silently observing the interaction between the two imprints.


    The imprint that generated the suction was the newly settled White-Crested Falcon''s Falcon Eye ability. It looked as if it intended to pull back the Discerning Heart''s Gaze and absorb it.


    However, this absorption was clearly difficult. The Discerning Heart''s Gaze struggled intensely as if it didn''t want to be devoured by the Falcon Eye. But the Falcon Eye''s resolve to devour it was tenacious, and Tang San immediately felt a significant drain on the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    <i>This Falcon Eye ability is interesting; it''s absorbing my Mysterious Heaven Technique power to devour the Discerning Heart''s Gaze.</i> It seemed that, hierarchically, the Aetherhorn Deer��s bloodline ranked above the White-Crested Falcon��s, so thetter''s imprint needed the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique to assist.


    <i>The crucial question is, can they merge?</i>


    No merging had urred with the more powerful Wind de, nor did Leopard sh and Ironhide Shield show any change, only the Falcon Eye.


    Falcon Eye versus Heart''s Gaze��could it be that bloodline imprints could devour each other if they had something inmon? Was this a mutation or a hybridization?


    Tang San couldn''t help but have some peculiar thoughts, but he didn''t attempt to interfere with this merging and devouring. He simply observed silently, allowing the Falcon Eye to absorb as much Mysterious Heaven Technique power as it needed.


    Tang San silently activated his Mysterious Heaven Technique, restoring his expended energy.


    Notably, the Falcon Eye''s consumption was quite substantial. With Tang San''s fourth-order Mysterious Heaven Technique, a third of his power was depleted instantly. But he also noticed that a third of the Discerning Heart''s Gaze imprint had been pulled into the Falcon Eye imprint.


    The Falcon Eye imprint itself had be noticeably brighter. Its order didn''t seem to increase, but it was definitely brighter.


    The original color of the Discerning Heart''s Gaze was a greenish-blue, while the Falcon Eye was a white bloodline imprint. Now that they were fusing, the Falcon Eye imprint was turning light green, deepening in color. It was actually somewhat simr to the Wind de imprint but even brighter.


    <i>Interesting, this is truly interesting.</i>


    As the devouring sped up with the strengthening of the Falcon Eye imprint, when Tang San''s Mysterious Heaven Technique power was nearly two-thirds depleted, the Discerning Heart''s Gaze imprint finally vanishedpletely, merging thoroughly with the Falcon Eye, transforming into a emerald-green imprint. On its surface, a faint white flow appeared.


    This was clearly not just a simple devouring; the Falcon Eye had not only enhanced itself but also clearly inherited some of the Discerning Heart''s Gaze''s functions. Otherwise, the imprint''s color would have remained white instead of undergoing such a change.


    While Tang San silently restored his energy, he pondered over the evening''s immense gains.


    He had learned enormously! The most crucial part was understanding the upper limit of his ability imprints and their potential for evolving by devouring other imprints. In particr, thetter made him quite excited.


    Tang San found this world entirely new and unfamiliar. Yet, once he grasped some of its threads, he could slowly sense its true essence and use the abilities provided by the dimension itself to get stronger. For that reason, rather than recovering his former abilities and progressing in his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, it seemed far more of a priority to rify the effects the Mysterious Heaven Technique had on bloodline imprints and how he could make use of them.


    With this discovery, the direction for future enhancement became clear. To his joy, the already imprinted abilities were not immutable; they could be stripped away, sacrificing the order of the bloodline imprint, and they could also merge with other simr abilities.


    He was the sole practitioner of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, which made him unique. In his current weak state, he wasn''t actively targeted by the powers of this ne. Whether that would change in the future was a consideration for when he reached the god level.


    For now, Tang San''s strength had greatly increased��instead of two abilities, now he had four, with one being a fusion of two bloodline imprints.


    The night passed without incident. The small inn safely weed dawn.


    No sh Leopard or Wind Wolf demons came, which meant that everything that had happened the day before had stayed there. As for what had happened after the Collision Contest, the three upants of the inn could not care less.


    Early in the morning, just as dawn broke, Tang San awoke from his meditation. It was his daily cultivation routine.


    Pushing open the window, he gazed intently at the pale light of dawn on the horizon. The auspicious purple qi brought by the sunrise each morning was the perfect opportunity for him to cultivate his Purple Demon Eyes.


    A faint purple hue emerged in his eyes, and suddenly, Tang San''s pupils constricted. To his surprise, his vision seemed magnified, as if the horizon had been drawn closer.


    At that moment, a hint of purple emerged on the distant horizon, signifying the arrival of the auspicious purple qi.

 Chapter 43: Discerning Eye

    <h4>Chapter 43: Discerning Eye</h4>


    Tang San felt a heat in his eyes as his magnified vision seemed to connect with the purple qi instantly. An unusual amount of purple qi flowed into his eyes, making them feel almost scorchingly hot. He quickly closed his eyes, focusing all his mental power to control therge amount of purple qi being drawn in.


    It was a peculiar change, and it made his entire being feel warm.


    While experiencing the transformation of his Purple Demon Eyes, he was pondering about what had happened. This was clearly the result of merging the Falcon Eye and the Discerning Heart''s Gaze. The integration of these two bloodline imprints seemed to have significantly enhanced his eyesight.


    <i>What if I use this ability to cultivate my Purple Demon Eyes? No... that wouldn''t do. </i>Regr cultivation had already brought in several times the usual amount of purple qi in an instant. This allowed him to make rapid progress in his cultivation, which was obviously a good thing. However, deliberately using the skill to draw in purple qi could bring in an excessive amount, risking his eyesight.


    Having lived three lifetimes, Tang San was not rash. After some thought, he made his decision.


    The benefits of absorbing bloodline imprints were more significant than he had imagined! Not only would they provide him with specific abilities, but they could also strengthen his body and enhance his own natural abilitiesprehensively. Right now, he could feel his strength increasing. This was due to the Ironhide Shield of the rhino demon.


    This world, which had seemed to despise him until now, was finally revealing some of its magical aspects to him.


    After absorbing the purple qi, Tang San felt a slight improvement in his Purple Demon Eyes, equivalent to about five or six days of regr cultivation.


    The sun had already risen, and the sunlight, which would have been harsh to most people, seemed gentle to Tang San. The auspicious purple qi passed, and thus ended that one moment he had each day for cultivating his eyesight.


    Since he couldn''t use his newly acquired ability to cultivate his Purple Demon Eyes, what would it be like to use them normally?


    Thinking this, Tang San concentrated, closed his eyes, and activated the emerald-green bloodline imprint.


    With the touch of the green light, Tang San felt a portion of his energy, almost one-tenth, being consumed instantly. In the next instant, every single bit of the world in his perception became clearer.


    The chirping of insects and birds sounded as if they were right beside him. Though his eyes were closed, everything around him seemed to be three-dimensional. There seemed to be something in the space around him resonating with his perception. Subconsciously, he sensed the two aetherhorn coins on the table. The subtle aura changes from the coins seemed to merge with his perception.


    Just then, Tang San slowly opened his eyes. Instantly, two palm-length beams of purple light shot out from the depths of his eyes. And in that instant, when the purple light shone, Tang San felt a revolutionary change in his vision.


    He saw a world of colors.


    The sky was still the same blue sky as before. However, within this sky floated innumerable motes of light of different colors.


    Those green dots were the power of the wind element. Red was fire, blue was water, orange was light, and white? That seemed to be the pure spiritual power of heaven and earth.[1]


    Under his gaze, the world seemed to unravel, everything breaking down into its most fundamental elements.


    With a thought, the wind came!


    The wind element energy in his sight swiftly converged towards him. Almost instinctively, Tang San extended his hand, and the wind element naturally gathered in his palm, forming a slowly swirling vortex.


    He could see the elements now, and not only using his eyes��he could actually sense all of them.


    Combining the powers of Discerning Heart''s Gaze and Falcon Eye, this Discerning Eye was genuinely extraordinary! It enhanced his Purple Demon Eyes, unleashing greater power when fused.


    In that instant, Tang San realized that among the four abilities he possessed, the most important one wasn''t the Wind de that he used for long-range attacks, the Leopard sh for speed, or the Ironhide Shield for defense. Without a single doubt, it was the Discerning Eye, the newbination between the Falcon Eye and the Discerning Heart''s Gaze.[2]


    The Discerning Eyested for thirty seconds. When its effect faded, Tang San felt a stinging in his eyes, and tears involuntarily started flowing.


    Such a marvelous ability! The Discerning Eye was a power he needed to enhance further. Its utility was immense even now, and in the future, as he advanced further, its impact would undoubtedly be even more significant.


    Just then, someone knocked on the door. As Tang San turned, he saw Wang Yanfeng pushing the door open.


    Wang Yanfeng, seeing him, couldn''t help but be startled. "Why are you crying?"


    "Uh... nothing. I was just dazzled by the sunlight." Tang San quickly wiped away his tears.


    Wang Yanfeng scrutinized him, feeling as if Tang San had undergone some change as if something about him was different��especially his gaze, which, despite the tear streaks on his cheeks, seemed somehow deeper.


    "We need to get ready to leave. Your Aunt Gui just went out to gather information. After yesterday''s Collision Competition, the sh Leopard n and the Wind Wolf n broke into a fight. It was only quelled when arge number of Kali guards arrived. Both ns are searching for that little Wind Wolf vassal. We must leave Kali City as soon as possible. Even though you were masked, your stature is too conspicuous."


    Tang San nodded. His actions yesterday had really been somewhat impulsive. Although they had brought him great benefits, they could also bring significant trouble. Leaving quickly was the best choice.


    But at that moment, something crossed his mind, and he instinctively looked out the window in a particr direction.


    He wanted to see her onest time before leaving, but now it seemed impossible.


    <i>Wait for me, Mei Gongzi. I will return as soon as possible.</i>


    ***


    Kali City Central district.


    Mei Gongzi had just finished adding ingredients to dozens of cups of milk tea, ready to brew it. Suddenly, her steps paused, her elegant brow furrowing slightly.


    "What''s wrong, Xiao Mei?" Su Qin looked at her daughter with concern in her eyes.


    Mei Gongzi gently shook her head. "Nothing, Mom, just suddenly felt a bit of palpitation for some reason."


    Su Qin approached her and gently stroked her long hair, "If you''re not feeling well, rest. I can handle things."


    "I''m fine, really fine." Mei Gongzi quickly shook her head, giving her mother a sweet smile before returning to her bustling tasks.


    The shop was constantly bustling with demonsing to buy milk tea, and it was selling hundreds of cups daily. After covering costs, the profits were quite substantial.


    In the evening, a girl working in the shop took over Mei Gongzi''s tasks. ��Sister Mei, you go rest. Leave the rest to me."


    Mei Gongzi turned and gave her a sweet smile. "Xiao Xue, thanks for the help."


    Xiao Xue winked at her and subtly motioned with her chin towards the back.


    Mei Gongzi seemed to catch on to something, and she nodded slightly. As she turned around, her entire presence underwent a curious transformation...


    1. Originally, this part also said ��green was the force of life.�� This is likely an error on the author��s part and has been removed for reasons that pertain to theter chapters. ?


    2. In a number of ces throughout the novel, the raws have ��Discerning Heart''s Gaze�� where it should be ��Discerning Eye.�� This has been corrected appropriately. ?

 Chapter 44: Going Home

    <h4>Chapter 44: Going Home</h4>


    Tang San and Wang Yanfeng''s departure from the city was smooth, with Gui Gui driving a cargo carriage to escort them out.


    Gui Gui allowed them to get off the carriage only when they were far away from the gates of Kali City.


    Her gaze towards Tang San heldplex feelings. This child''s talent far surpassed an ordinary vassal''s. But was this truly a good thing for Wang Yanfeng? For that matter, was it a good thing for any of the vassals?


    ��Tang San,�� Gui Gui called out.


    ��Aunt Gui?��


    Gui Gui sighed softly and said, ��You are the most talented and outstanding human I have ever seen. But you must know that the demons and nymphs dominate this world. Their strength is just immense, far beyond what we can contend with. Those humans who manage to be vassals and survive have already faced countless dangers. Only by staying alive can there be a chance. Although we cannot see the future now, if you want to do something for humanity in the future, then you must preserve your valuable life. Understood?��


    Tang San nodded. ��I understand.��


    Gui Gui looked deeply into his eyes and said, ��I hope you truly understand. Brother, this is also for you. You must protect him well and keep a close eye on him. We cannot allow what happened yesterday to happen again. Luck may not always be on our side.��


    Wang Yanfeng silently nodded but said nothing.


    ��Don''te back to Kali City for a while. Wait until you''ve grown up a bit, at least taller, before returning,�� Gui Gui said to Tang San.


    Tang San nced in the direction of Kali City.


    <i>Do I really need to stay away?</i> There were ties there that were too important, too significant for him to stay away for long.


    After bidding farewell to Gui Gui, Wang Yanfeng and Tang San set off on their journey.


    On the road, Wang Yanfeng didn''t say much, nor did he impart advice to Tang San as Gui Gui had done earlier.


    Not until they turned from the main road onto the path leading back to Wind Wolf Town.


    ��Tang San.��


    ��Teacher.�� Tang San turned his head to look at Wang Yanfeng, who had suddenly spoken.


    Wang Yanfeng said, ��I always thought you were still young, that you needed time to grow and mature, both your heart and mind. But this time, I''ve realized you''re not so young anymore. You are moreposed than I had imagined. So...why did you act so recklessly this time?��


    "Teacher, I want to grow faster, to be stronger. I hope that we humans don��t have to live like this for much longer."


    Wang Yanfeng nodded, saying, "That''s what many enlightened humans wish for. But Gui Gui is right; we are still too weak in this world. The strength of the demons and nymphs is beyond your imagination."


    Tang San shook his head. "No, you''re wrong. I can imagine their strength. But does a strong opponent mean we just back down? If we do nothing, humans will forever remain ves. In terms of wisdom, we surpass the demons and nymphs. So why should they enve our people? Why should we be their <i>food</i>?"


    "Because the heavens do not favor us. We have wisdom, but weck natural talent."


    Tang San argued, "No. It''s not that weck talent, but that we haven''t found a way to align our talents with thews of this world."


    Wang Yanfeng was startled; he hadn''t expected Tang San to say something like that. He had heard simr words once before.


    "Tang San, you..."


    Tang San spoke earnestly, "Teacher, I don''t believe that I alone can change all of humanity. What can truly change humanity is finding a way that aligns us with this world and makes us gradually stronger. It might not be achievable in one generation, but as long as we try, there must be a way."


    When he first arrived in this world, even as a former God King, he had felt fear and helplessness. But as he understood this world more, he began to feel its distinctiveness. Just as he said, the humans of this world hadn''t yet found a way to align with it.


    Like in his previous life on the Douluo Continent. When he was born, the soul beasts of that world were still very powerful, and humans struggled to match them. But humans found a way to awaken their own martial souls, bing stronger and evolving into soul masters. Eventually, they began to encroach on the living space of the soul beasts, bing the masters of the Douluo Continent.


    <i>So, isn''t this Daemon Continent in front of us like an early Douluo Continent?</i> Perhaps in a thousand or ten thousand years, humans will also have found a way to be strong, defeating the demons and nymphs.


    The same task was much more challenging on the Fn. After all, the demons and nymphs on this Daemon Continent were on a much higher level than the soul beasts of the Douluo Continent. But it was not hopeless.


    Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, his reincarnation is meant to bring hope to its humans.


    Wang Yanfeng suddenly smiled. "I meant to persuade you, but now I feel like you''re persuading me. I also hope to see you find a way that better aligns with this world. But before that, you must remain as inconspicuous as possible. And don''t mention our conversation today to anyone else."


    "Understood." Tang San nodded.


    Back in Wind Wolf Town, everything was as usual. Tang San went home first, while Wang Yanfeng went to report to the Wind Wolf Lord.


    Upon entering the courtyard, Tang San��s hair was sted by the howling wind. Raising his hand to shield his face, he saw the three Wang brothers sparring.


    The three seemed to be in a melee, not using wind des but relying on the enhanced physique of their Wind Wolf Transformation. They were running around the courtyard, seeking opportunities to pounce on their opponents and start a grappling match.


    Ling Muxue watched from the side with great interest, and green light was dancing in her hands as she practiced controlling the wind element.


    Seeing Tang San enter, her eyes lit up, and she quickly ran over. "Tang San, you''re back!"


    Tang San smiled slightly and nodded at her. "They sure are enthusiastic!"


    "They sure are! Before Teacher took you away, he told us to do more practical training. The more we fight, the more we can stimte our abilities and get used to them," Ling Muxue said with a smile.


    "Mm." Tang San nodded in agreement.


    Then he suddenly pped his hands, drawing the attention of the three Wang brothers. They immediately stopped chasing each other and looked in his direction.


    Tang San gently shook his head, "Your progress is too slow."


    At these words, Wang Chao, Wang Zhong, and Wang Xiaolei all paused, surprised.


    Tang San, the youngest of their group, was usually considered too young by Wang Yanfeng to participate in practical training. He was quiet and rarely conversed with the others, focusing solely on his silent cultivation.


    They had only seen Tang San use the Wind de during their first practical training session. At that time, the three Wang brothers had zero knowledge of


    After a year under Wang Yanfeng''s guidance, they now had some understanding of the outside world.


    Wang Xiaolei snorted, "How is our progress slow? Have you seen my agility?"


    As he spoke, still in his Wind Wolf Transformation state, he suddenly pounced toward Tang San, his right hand moving like a swift wolf w.


    Ling Muxue was startled and raised her hand to release a wind de, but Tang San stopped her with his hand.


    In the next instant, he dashed forward.


    Now it was Wang Xiaolei''s turn to be surprised. He had only intended to scare Tang San and hadn''t nned to actually strike him. Seeing Tang San suddenly charge at his w, he hurriedly tried to pull back.


    Then he saw a blur before his eyes as Tang San dodged his wolf w and closed in on him.


    Wang Xiaolei was tall and thin, and although he was younger, he had almost reached Wang Chao��s height. Tang San raised his right hand, hooked his arm around Wang Xiaolei''s neck, and spun around, dragging him over. Wang Xiaolei felt the force of his forward pounce suddenly redirected, and he was flung sideways.


    With a thud, hended on the ground.

 Chapter 45: Time Waits For No Man

    <h4>Chapter 45: Time Waits For No Man</h4>


    In his Wind Wolf Transformation state, Wang Xiaolei had impressive physical abilities. Even though he had been mmed hard onto his back, he quickly bounced up and angrily used, "That''s cheating. You ambushed me."


    Tang San simply shrugged. "If this was a real fight, I would��ve cut your throat."


    Wang Chao and Wang Zhong exchanged nces. Wang Chao couldn''t help but ask, "Tang San, what''s gotten into you today?"


    Tang San looked at them and said, "Nothing. I just think that you should grow faster. All three of youe at me together. I''ll spar with you."


    Wang Chao eximed in shock, "Are you crazy? You��"


    Before he could finish, Tang San''s hands were already swirling with green light, and two wind des shot toward him and Wang Zhong.


    Although Wang Zhong had been silent, his attention was entirely focused. Seeing the wind des, he immediately reacted, his explosive power making his body spring up as he swiftly dodged the wind des and charged straight at Tang San.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    The wind de he had dodged exploded, and under the impact of the st, Wang Zhong''s forward charge was abruptly thrown off course.


    On the other side, the second wind de also exploded. Wang Chao had intended to counter Tang San''s attack with his own wind de, but his attack missed, and the shockwave of the explosion forced him to step back.


    "Get him!" Wang Xiaolei growled, already charging at Tang San again.


    Tang San turned his head toward him, shifted his stance, and faced Wang Xiaolei head-on.


    ***


    When Wang Yanfeng returned home afterpleting his tasks, he was immediately met with the sight of the three Wang brothers lying on the ground, gasping for air.


    Wang Xiaolei''s eyes were even rolling back slightly.


    Tang San was talking to Ling Muxue, who seemed deep in thought.


    "What happened here? Get up," Wang Yanfeng frowned and chided.


    "Teacher... you''re back." Wang Xiaolei suddenly sat up, and his voice was tinged with a whining tone. "Tang San, Tang San beat us. Teacher, are you biased? Why is he so strong? It hurt!"


    Wang Yanfeng was taken aback and turned to look at Tang San.


    Tang San said, "They need to speed up their growth. Otherwise, I''m worried they won''t be capable vassals."


    Wang Yanfeng was speechless, having just told him on the way back to keep a low profile.


    Tang San had his ns. Naturally, if he hadn''t encountered Mei Gongzi, he would have kept a low profile and methodically improved himself. Staying as hidden as possible was the best approach.


    But for him, nothing was more important than getting to Mei Gongzi''s side as quickly as possible. Thus, he also had to consider how to go to Kali City, which in turn meant that he had to figure out how to leave this ce. Not just by himself, but with all the vassals here.


    Without a doubt, Kali City was much safer, and what Wang Yanfeng had brought him was not just knowledge.


    However, relocating everyone to Kali City required a lot of work. Strength was the foundation, but the right opportunity and a valid reason were also needed. Now, filled with determination, he had to start preparing, and the best way to start was by helping the three Wang brothers and Ling Muxue improve faster.


    The three Wang brothers now looked at Tang San as if he was a monster. They could never have imagined that the youngest had such formidablebat strength.


    Wang Yanfeng nced at Tang San, then at the other three, thought for a moment, and said, "In that case, starting tomorrow, Tang San will also join the practical training sessions."


    "Ah?" the three Wang brothers eximed in unison.


    "Tang San,e with me," Wang Yanfeng called Tang San and led him to the second floor.


    There, he looked him in the eyes. "What''s going on?"


    This trip to Kali City had made him see Tang San in a new light, not just because of hisbat abilities but also because of his meticulous thinking. The entire process, from participating to leaving, had been wlessly executed on the day of the Collision Contest. It had seemed perilous, but from disguising to feigning defeat and retreating, he hadn''t given the sh Leopard n any chance to pursue. These were not the actions of a mere child.


    <i>Mature far beyond his years, indeed.</i>


    "I want to help them grow quickly," Tang San stated inly.


    Wang Yanfeng frowned slightly. "What are you nning to do?"


    Tang San replied, "Naturally, I want to help them all sessfully obtain their vassal certifications. Teacher, could you help me find some information about Wind Wolf Town? The poption, their ages, their strengths, and so on. The more detailed, the better. I want to help everyone analyze their opponents."


    Wang Yanfeng was surprised. "Analyze opponents?"


    "Mm." Tang San nodded earnestly.


    "Is it just about analyzing opponents?" Wang Yanfeng felt it wasn''t that simple.


    Tang San said, "Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated. The vassal qualification exam in two years is a matter of life and death. Every bit of extra effort can mean a world of difference."


    "Alright, I''ll try to find it for you. Be careful to keep your strength a secret. Try to go out less frequently, understand?" Wang Yanfeng cautioned.


    "Mm, don''t worry."


    Tang San went back to his room to rest, and after sitting in thought for a while, Wang Yanfeng finally stood up and left.


    In Wind Wolf Town, Wang Yanfeng''s primary job was to manage the human vassals and work for the Wind Wolf Lord. So, he generally had little to do, but he couldmunicate directly with the Wind Wolf Lord.


    His position was actually somewhat awkward. As a vassal leader and a fourth-order cultivator, he was stronger than most werewolves. However, given the low status of vassals, even ordinary werewolves would be haughty and arrogant towards him.


    Tang San returned to his room, where he saw that Wang Zhong had alreadye back. Seeing Tang San return, Wang Zhong immediately jumped off the bed and looked at him with burning eyes.


    "Why are you so strong?"


    Tang San replied, "Talent and hard work."


    Wang Zhong was about to say something more, but then he heard Tang San say, "Do you want to learn the footwork I used in our fight today?"


    Wang Zhong was momentarily stunned, and he instantly recalled Tang San''s ghost-like figure. Despite their best efforts, they couldn��t even touch him, and they could only endure the blows that he rained upon them.


    "Absolutely!" eximed Wang Zhong without hesitation.


    "Alright, I''ll teach you."


    From that day on, during the practicalbat ss, Wang Yanfeng had Tang San join in, and after Tang San''s inclusion, Wang Yanfeng himself stepped back.


    Tang San''s guidance differed for the Wang brothers and Ling Muxue. With Wang Zhong''s slender frame and resilient nature, Tang San taught him the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Wang Chao, the strongest, learned Controlling Crane Catching Dragon. Finally, Wang Xiaolei was taught the Mysterious Jade Hands technique.


    Under regr cultivation, these three ultimate skills brought from his past life required the support of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. However, Tang San couldn''t have them cultivate that right now.


    He had actually secretly guided Ling Muxue to try it. Unfortunately, her cultivation had been immediately affected by the power of her Wind Wolf bloodline, making it impossible to cultivate and even risking bloodline chaos.


    This was likely rted to the nature of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. In any case, he didn''t know if humans without the awakened Wind Wolf Transformation could cultivate it, but he couldn''t test it now.


    Therefore, he had to adapt the three ultimate skills into a simplified form ording to the characteristics of their Wind Wolf Transformation, and allow it to utilize the power of the bloodline rather than the energy cultivated using the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Ling Muxue also learned the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Among the four, she had the best talent and progressed the fastest, but her physical strength was not on par with the Wang brothers.


    At the same time, their Wind Wolf bloodline power could only go so far. After all, the wolf demons that had given them their bloodline hadn��t been very strong, which meant that the bloodline they inherited had natural limitations.


    Despite this, under Tang San''s guidance, all four made rapid and substantial progress in their abilities.

 Chapter 46: Wilderness Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 46: Wilderness Cultivation</h4>


    Chapter 46: Wilderness Cultivation


    As night fell, Tang San silently slipped through the window, ascending to the rooftop of the two-story building.


    As he sat down cross-legged on the rooftop, his eyes shimmered with a faint light. It was a soft golden halo��not the Purple Demon Eyes, but the Discerning Eye.


    Instantly, the world before him transformed, bing fantastical and strange, as elements of various attributes and colors became vividly clear in his vision.


    Recently, as he cultivated the Discerning Eye, he felt his spiritual power and Purple Demon Eyes strengthen with his mastery of the technique.


    <i>If only I could see all the way to Kali City!</i> he thought wistfully.


    The image of Mei Gongzi surfaced in his mind, and Tang San''s heart warmed instantly.


    His spiritual power fluctuated silently, guiding the green specks of elemental energy to envelop the building beneath him.


    Under the guidance of the Discerning Eye, he could feel the power to manipte these elements.


    Immediately, the wind elemental energy within the building below became noticeably denser. With the help of the Discerning Eye, Tang San was actually enhancing the wind element and speeding up everyone��s cultivation!


    A cluster of green light slowly gathered in the palm of his outstretched right hand, emitting a soft, green glow. It was the wind elemental energy, slowly condensing.


    This external wind element resonated with the power of the Wind Wolf bloodline imprinted within him. Tang San''s mind was filled with information about the wind element''s transformations and characteristics.


    "To truly elevate humanity, humans must possess their own power. The power of the Demonic God Transformation is, after all, borrowed from the demons, not truly human. Only by finding a way for humans to cultivate on their own can they truly stand their ground in this world," he mused.


    As Tang San''s own strength grew, so did his understanding of the power system of this world.


    The spiritual energy of this world was incredibly abundant. In fact, it was the most dense Tang San had ever seen. Fn was still a normal, not on the level of the divine realms. However, the concentration of spiritual energy on this was almost on par with the celestial spirit energy of the divine realms. Particrly inrge cities��the spiritual energy in Kali City was much denser than in Wind Wolf Town, likely due to the fact that the cities were using some method to condense it.


    However, this world''s spiritual energy was not without its issues. For one, it was domineering. The force of this ne was extremely aggressive, restraining all outside powers. Tang San encountered a bottleneck in his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique precisely due to the suppression of this ne.


    Yet, the spiritual energy of this ne was verypatible with the daemons. That was why various daemon ns possessed spiritual intelligence and naturally strong talents and abilities.


    This meant that the ruler of this ne favored both the demons and the nymphs whom Tang San had yet to encounter. In contrast, humans and some other vassal races received no suchpassion, which rendered them unable to cultivate by themselves.


    This led to the necessity of aligning oneself with the demons or nymphs to cultivate in this world. Hence, the emergence of the Demonic God Transformation.


    To break free from the ne''s suppression, Tang San would need to return to the peak state of his previous life. But given the current circumstances, even breaking through to the god level in the future was a massive issue. Upon reaching that breakthrough, he would have nowhere to hide in this ne and would surely be discovered by the ne''s ruler. Forget about advancing to higher levels; he would be lucky if he wasn��t hunted down by every being on the.


    In other words, this ne was a double-edged sword for him. His cultivation speed was far higher than in his past life due to the rich spiritual energy. However, breaking through bottlenecks and regaining his god king strength was an extreme challenge.


    Feeling the wind element within the building beneath him gradually overflow, Tang San silently descended, not returning to his room but stealthily slipping out of Wind Wolf Town.


    Entering the forest, Tang San took a deep breath and sped up instantly. He was enveloped in green light and the wind element energy boosted his speed, allowing him to move swiftly through the forest like a streak of green light.


    Thanks to the Discerning Eye, he was able to agilely dodge therge trees, maintaining high speed without slowing down.


    He ran wildly for half an hour before stopping, leaving a mark on the trunk of a nearbyrge tree. Only then did he return.


    He was testing his speed.


    It was a three-day journey from Wind Wolf Town to Kali City. How long would it take if he sprinted at full speed?


    He couldn''t easily leave Wind Wolf Town, as he didn''t even have the status of a vassal just yet. However, he continuously trained his speed, aiming to reach Wind Wolf Town faster in the future, even if just for a glimpse of her.


    The ability Tang San most desired to absorb from the demon races was actually flight. With it, a three-day journey could be covered in half a day. If he left in the evening, he could arrive in Kali City by midnight. Unfortunately, during the Collision Competition, he had been unable to absorb a flying ability.


    The innate ability of the White-Crested Falcon was in fact the Falcon Eye, and flying was merely part of its natural physical capabilities. If Tang San could acquire the White-Crested Falcon demon''s Demonic God Transformation, he could fly using that transformation. However, he cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Technique, and he didn��t even have the Wind Wolf bloodline, much less the bloodline of a White-Crested Falcon demon, so naturally, it was impossible.


    On his way back, Tang San pondered over this issue.


    He had the abilities of more than one race now, but he didn''t possess the ability of Demonic God Transformation, and it would be a risk if he truly reached arge city in the future. What would he do if the demon races demanded him to transform while checking for vassals?


    Initially, he hadn��t been particrly interested in Demonic God Transformation. As a human, what good woulde from transforming into a demon?


    But the thought of flying, and the possibility of going to Kali City to see Mei Gongzi, made him view Demonic God Transformation differently.


    Returning to Wind Wolf Town and his residence, Tang San sat cross-legged on his bed to cultivate.


    His continuous absorption and sustained cultivation had recently brought the Mysterious Heaven Technique to the pinnacle of the fourth order. And, as he expected, he encountered another bottleneck. Without a doubt, this time, he had to devour higher-level Wind Wolf bloodline power to advance to the fifth order.


    And when he reached the fifth order, he should be able to defend himself well enough around these parts.


    When he concentrated inward on the Mysterious Heaven Technique, four skill imprints shone faintly within his energy vortex. The green glow representing the Wind Wolf Transformation was the strongest, followed by the Discerning Eye. Both were at the fourth order. The Leopard sh and the Ironhide Shield imprints, on the other hand, had been demoted to the third order after being stripped once, and they glowed dimmer.


    These ability imprints endowed him with the innate abilities of different demons. It was essentially the Mysterious Heaven Technique infusing them with energy, allowing the imprints to unleash corresponding abilities. So...was it possible to use the same mechanism and mimic a Demonic God Transformation? Even a partial one would be excellent!


    Tang San had been pondering this issue recently and tried various things, like momentarily merging the imprints with his bloodline.


    However, upon merging, he encountered a problem: as soon as they integrated with his bloodline, the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s energy would quickly retract the abilities or, rather, expel them from his bloodline. The abilities seemed to exist only separately and couldn''t truly merge with his bloodline.


    A hint of weariness surfaced in his mental world, and with a thought, Tang San realized that the Discerning Eye had remained half-open due to his contemtion on the way back.


    This half-open state was a mysterious condition where he didn''t observe the external world but instead enhanced his own perception of himself. This was a benefit of the original Discerning Heart''s Gaze. It made Tang San''s mind clearer and his thoughts more lucid, and it was particrly useful when pondering. By not projecting the Discerning Eye outward, the energy consumption was much lower, which allowed him to sustain it for longer.


    Just as he was about to deactivate the Discerning Eye, suddenly, Tang San sensed somemotion upstairs.

 Chapter 47: Tiger-faced Man

    <h4>Chapter 47: Tiger-faced Man</h4>


    Wang Yanfeng and his wife, Qiu Jing, live upstairs. After living together for so long, Tang San would normally not pay attention to the sounds of daily life, but just now, for a moment, he sensed that there were more than two people upstairs.


    He instantly became alert, nced at Wang Zhong, who was meditating in the bed next to him, oblivious to everything, and stood up again to open the window.


    With his Discerning Eye fully activated, the world before him again became colorful. Tang San immediately sensed that the wind element in the air was much denser than usual, a clear sign that someone was maniptingrge amounts of it. Judging by the agitation of the wind element, it was not for cultivation but for battle.


    Tang San went through the window and climbed up the wall without hesitation.


    In just a few moments, he was outside the second-floor window.


    The window was open, and three people were silently confronting each other.


    Wang Yanfeng had already activated his Wind Wolf transformation, and so had Qiu Jing beside him. To Tang San''s surprise, the usually gentle and caring teacher''s wife had undergone a less noticeable Wind Wolf transformation and stood slightly behind Wang Yanfeng. She was also at the fourth order!


    Facing the couple was a man wearing a mask.


    This man was tall, dressed in ck, and wore a somewhat peculiar mask on his face, adorned with a pattern resembling a tiger but with blue stripes.


    "Brother Wang, rx," said the man with the tiger mask, making a calming gesture with his hands. But the aura he exuded, even without using his Demonic God Transformation, was clearly more powerful than Wang Yanfeng and his wife''s, indicating he was at least a fifth-order powerhouse.


    <i>A fifth-order human?</i>


    Tang San held his breath and focused, trying to conceal his aura. His ability to hide was still strong, even without using his bloodline imprint.


    "Who are you?" asked Wang Yanfeng, on guard.


    The man in the tiger mask chuckled. "I exist to save humanity, born for the rise of mankind."


    Wang Yanfeng''s pupils visibly shrank, and he blurted out, ��Redemption Society?"


    Although Tang San outside the window had already guessed it, his heart still jolted when he heard these words from Wang Yanfeng''s mouth.


    <i>Has the Redemption Society finallye searching?</i>


    When Wang Yanfeng had first started teaching them, Tang San had wondered whether Wang Yanfeng had any connection to the Redemption Society. After all, there couldn''t be all that many humans who have reached the fourth order or above. However, from what he could tell, it seemed that Wang Yanfeng knew about the Redemption Society but had not joined it.


    Hearing him utter the word "redemption," the man in the tiger mask gently inclined his head. "Indeed, it''s us. Actually, Gui Gui is the one who told me where you live."


    Hearing the name "Gui Gui," Wang Yanfeng visibly flinched, but his tense muscles did not rx. Instead, he became even more vignt.


    The man in the tiger mask spoke sinctly, "She is one of us. You must have guessed by now, no? Without our help, how could it be that easy to establish a foothold in Kali City?"


    Hearing these words, Wang Yanfeng took a deep breath, slowly retracting the ws on his palms.


    "What do you want from me?" Wang Yanfeng asked in a low voice. Beside him, Qiu Jing also looked puzzled.


    The man in the tiger mask lowered his voice. "We humans are struggling to survive on the Daemon Continent. Most of our people can''t even achieve enlightenment and they live and die as ves. What are your thoughts on this, brother Wang?"


    Wang Yanfeng gave a bitter smile. "What can I think? The demon and nymph ns are so powerful, can we possibly overthrow them?"


    The man in the tiger mask fell silent momentarily.


    "Do you know how the Redemption Society was originally formed?"


    Wang Yanfeng was taken aback, unsure why the other party suddenly changed the subject and shook his head in confusion.


    The masked man''s voice sounded even lower, "Because those of us who can undergo the Demonic God Transformation...we all have no mothers. The desire for revenge for our mothers brought us together. The wish of the Redemption Society at that time was that one day, our children could have mothers."


    As soon as these words were spoken, both Wang Yanfeng and Qiu Jing, as well as Tang San, outside the window, felt their hearts quiver. Qiu Jing''s eyes reddened.


    <i>Indeed, among those humans who can undergo the Demonic God Transformation and be vassals to the demon and nymph ns, almost all have no mothers. Only if both parents are vassals is it possible for their children to have a mother. But the first generation of humans who can undergo transformation... how could they have such an opportunity?</i>


    Their mothers were all vited by demons and nymphs, which led to their births. And their mothers would be brutally killed at the time of their awakening to the Demonic God Transformation.


    The man with the tiger mask continued, "I was lost when I first awakened. After gaining enlightenment, I wished that I could have given up the awakening to have my mother stay alive. Even if it meant living a muddled existence, at least I could be with her. And it was this thought that filled my heart with even more pain and hatred. Her image has already blurred; I can''t even clearly remember her face. I can''t even find her remains.��


    "Every one of us in Redemption Society is an avenger. Yes, you are right. The demon and nymph ns are so powerful. What can we do with our meager strength? Can we overthrow their rule? It seemspletely unrealistic now. But if we can''t overthrow them, does that mean we shouldn��t resist? Do we just let them ughter and kill our loved ones and our people?"


    "Do you know that among some of therger demon ns, our women who secretly achieved enlightenment offer themselves to the demons? To conceive children who can inherit the Demonic God Transformation ability? Even though they know that once their child awakens to the Demonic God Transformation, they will die, they do so without hesitation. There was a mother who told us to take her child to join the Redemption Society after her death, not for revenge, but to give humanity a bit more hope."


    Wang Yanfeng listened silently to his story, then deactivated his Wind Wolf Transformation and said calmly, "Why tell me all this? I''ve seen far worse than what you''ve described."


    "So?" the man with the tiger mask said, "After seeing so much, have you be numb?"


    Wang Yanfeng replied indifferently, "What else can I do?"


    The man with the tiger mask spoke solemnly, "Join us. Save more humans with us."


    "Save more humans?" Wang Yanfeng scoffed in self-derision. "You know the situation with the Demonic God Transformation. What level can we achieve through training in it? Also, as bloodlines are passed down among humans, the strength of the Demonic God Transformation will diminish. What you can do is just assassinate some people, at most. What else is there to do?"


    The man with the tiger mask said gravely, "When I first joined the Redemption Society, I thought the same way. I was just seeking revenge, and I felt that was enough for me. Butter, I realized the Redemption Society is not just that. We are creating our own world. I cannot tell you all the details, but what I can tell you is that the Society''s goal has never been assassination or bing a group of killers. It''s about enabling humans to live better lives. Yes, our current abilities are limited, as is the number of people we can help. But we believe that as long as we keep trying, we will see the dawn."


    Wang Yanfeng shivered slightly, truly moved by the words about creating a world for humans.


    "Do you know the consequences of being discovered as a member of the Redemption Society?" Wang Yanfeng asked, frowning.

 Chapter 48: Tang San鈥檚 Conditions

    <h4>Chapter 48: Tang San��s Conditions</h4>


    The man with the tiger mask nodded, saying, "Of course I know. But in the past few decades, have you ever heard of any Redemption Society member being captured and implicating others?"


    Wang Yanfeng was taken aback; his knowledge about the Redemption Society was limited.


    "Gui Gui is one of ours. Over many years, the Redemption Society has developed its own strict rules. Every society member, from their identity to their tasks, has a careful arrangement to ensure their safety. Yes, we have an assassination team, but that''s not all. We also have a well-organized intelligence task force. The bloodline and beliefs of humans bring us together. There are those who, after awakening to the Demonic God Transformation, choose to side with the enemy. But the vast majority still choose to be human, because we are fundamentally still humans, and demons or nymphs can never truly ept us."


    Wang Yanfeng took a deep breath and asked, "If I join you, what do you need me to do?"


    The man with the tiger mask replied, "I''m here for two main reasons. The first is to hope that you will join. You won''t need to do much. Just continue to manage our human vassals here, expand their numbers as much as possible, educate them to gain enlightenment, and instill some of our ideas in them. This shouldn''t be difficult for you, considering that it��s your job in the first ce."


    Wang Yanfeng slightly rxed and nodded.


    "And the second reason?"


    The man with the tiger mask said, "Gui Gui mentioned that you have taught a very outstanding disciple. This child, despite his young age, already possesses fourth-order strength. The Society has decided to focus on cultivating him, and I am here to take him with me.��


    Wang Yanfeng''s heart tightened. "Are you talking about Tang San?"


    He couldn''t help but silently me his sister, Gui Gui, for not revealing anything to him before.


    "He''s still young, and he doesn''t even have the status of a vassal yet..." Wang Yanfeng said.


    The man with the tiger mask waved his hand, saying, "You needn''t worry about that. The Society will handle it. Moreover, whether the Society can fully groom him depends on whether his talents are sufficient. Therefore, I need to test him first."


    Wang Yanfeng asked gravely, "What if I don''t agree to join you?"


    The man with the tiger mask replied, "That''s okay too. Given your sibling rtionship with Gui Gui, betraying us offers you no benefit. I believe you will still keep our secret. As for the child, if I confirm that he has enough potential, I will still bring him with me."


    "How will you test me?" Just then, a young voice rang out. In the next instant, a figure deftlynded in the room, closing the window behind him��it was Tang San.


    Seeing Tang San enter through the window, the man with the tiger mask instinctively raised his hand but stopped when he heard Tang San''s words, a hint of surprise shing in his eyes. Before Tang San entered, he hadn''t detected his presence. This child, who appeared to be only eight or nine years old, was this good at concealing himself? And the fact that he could detect his arrival meant his perception was also very sharp.


    "Tang San,e here," Wang Yanfeng immediately beckoned to him.


    Tang San walked over to Wang Yanfeng and Qiu Jing. The man with the tiger mask didn''t stop him but watched him keenly, sizing him up from head to toe.


    "The test is simple: a real battle. If you canst one minute against me, you pass," said the man with the tiger mask.


    For some reason, when he looked into Tang San''s eyes, clear yet restrained, he felt something unusual. He had a premonition that this child would bring him some very interesting surprises.


    Tang San said, "I can join you, but I have conditions."


    "Oh?" The man with the tiger mask looked at him with interest. Tang San''s tone didn''t sound like that of a child. "What conditions? You haven''t passed my test yet, but you seem very confident."


    Tang San didn''t respond to his skepticism. He simply stated, "I want my training with you to be in Kali City, and I want a safe identity in the public eye."


    Listening to the conversation between the man with the tiger mask and Wang Yanfeng had deepened his understanding of the Redemption Society. This human organization was undoubtedly not strong enough on its own, and while their goal sounded noble, achieving it seemed extremely challenging. However, this organization would allow him to leave this ce sooner. Otherwise, he would have to wait at least another year to attain his vassal status before leaving.


    Being able to go to Kali City earlier meant he could be by her side sooner. For Tang San, nothing was more important than this.


    The man with the tiger mask said, "Your identity issue will naturally be solved. But why do you insist on going to Kali City?"


    Tang San momentarily fell silent, seeming timid, then said, "Because Aunt Gui is there."


    The tiger-faced man asked, "Then why are you willing to join us?"


    Tang San suddenly looked up, and without hesitation, he said, "For revenge! My mother..." He paused, pursing his lips as a gleam of hatred flickered in his eyes.


    This wasn''t all an act. He was only nine years old and he naturally had to disy traits characteristic of a child his age to avoid suspicion. However, his desire for revenge and hatred were in fact genuine.


    The tiger-faced man looked at him and sighed softly, "Child, I support your quest for revenge. But remember, do not let hatred blind you. Our Redemption Society has much grander goals."


    Tang San nodded silently, "I understand, but this is my reason for joining the Redemption Society. If you agree to my terms, I will join you."


    The tiger-faced man nodded, "Alright, we''ll set aside your conditions for now. You must first pass my test. Once you''ve passed, then we can discuss your terms."


    Tang San naturally understood that he was being assessed for his potential.


    When he first entered Kali City and met Gui Gui, he instantly suspected that she might have hidden intentions. And what he foundter only served to reinforce these suspicions.


    During his time in Kali City, he had seen many vassals, but none of them actually owned the businesses they were working for. There were only two exceptions: one was Mei Gongzi and her mother at Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop, and the other was Gui Gui with her inn.


    In his view, Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop posed the greatest concern. It was located in the very heart of Kali City. The fact that a shop could operate there without any demon disturbances proved without a doubt the uniqueness of this establishment.


    As for Gui Gui, although her status was not extraordinary, the fact that she owned a small inn within Kali City that was frequented by human vassals clearly raised questions.


    At that time, Tang San had already considered that Gui Gui might be connected to the Redemption Society or backed by unseen forces. Since Gui Gui was the sister of Wang Yanfeng, the likelihood of her having a major power behind her was slim, hence the stronger suspicion towards her hidden intentions


    Therefore, when Tang San participated in the Collision Contest, he also wanted to test Gui Gui''s intentions, which was why he wanted to show her his capabilities.


    Now that a member of the Redemption Society sought him out, he was less surprised and more pleased. This was precisely what he had hoped to see.


    Resolving his own identity issues and managing an early visit to Kali City would not be easy if he relied solely on Wang Yanfeng and himself. It was not an easy feat and it could easily lead to future troubles.


    On the other hand, while the Redemption Society was not very powerful, their continuous existence as the only human revolutionary organization suggested that they had some things to rely on.


    And it was precisely these resources that Tang San needed the most right now.


    Thus, his participation in the Collision Contest was not a momentary impulse but a well-thought-out move, and it had achieved multiple objectives in a single go.

 Chapter 49: Hundred Birds Homing Strike

    <h4>Chapter 49: Hundred Birds Homing Strike</h4>


    The tiger-masked man had appeared sooner than Tang San had anticipated, so his goal was actually achieved faster. At the same time, Tang San grew increasingly aware that the Redemption Society was probably not a massive power by any standards. A powerful and secretive group would not have been so fast to approach him; covert observation would have been better. But this also bode well for him, in a way. Given theirck of human resources and his considerable abilities despite his young age, how could they not value him?


    A faint smile appeared on his face. He nodded and asked, "May I begin now?"


    The tiger-masked man narrowed his eyes and turned to look at Wang Yanfeng and his wife.


    Wang Yanfeng, holding his wife''s hand, slowly backed away, clearing the modest space in the room.


    Just as the masked man was about to speak, a sudden sense of danger arose. With a sh of green light, a wind de was already before him.


    The wind de wasn��t anything massive, but it was incredibly solid, so much so that the ordinarily pale green wind de had turned into a pleasing yet sharp emerald color.


    The masked man raised his hand at lightning speed, reaching for the wind de. And in that very instant, something shocking happened.


    The wind de suddenly halted in a split second, a mere few inches from his hand. It stopped so abruptly that it seemed to defy thews of motion.


    The masked man''s outstretched hand, now covered in patterned fur and visibly erged, grabbed at nothing. The next moment, the emerald wind de elerated again, reaching the masked man almost instantly.


    At this distance, the masked man had no way to avoid it.


    ��Grrr!!!�� A deep growl erupted from the man��s throat. The low growl, apanied by a st of air, forcefully shattered the wind de in front of him. But the mask on the masked man''s face also cracked apart with that roar.


    This initial exchange resulted in the man suffering a small loss.


    Watching from the side, Wang Yanfeng had seen clearly that Tang San had not released just one wind de but two. The first de hovered in the air, rotating at a high speed. Tang San had practiced this technique with Wang Yanfeng, but thetter admitted he couldn''t manipte it as effortlessly as Tang San, who could make the wind de pause and hover precisely where he wanted.


    Then the second wind de flew out, colliding with the hovering one, simultaneously triggering both and creating a burst of numerous smaller wind des in a wide-range attack. Had it not been for the tiger-masked man''s roar that blew away some of the wind des, he would have suffered even more.


    With the mask shattered, the face revealed was that of a middle-aged man with a resolute appearance, visibly taken aback. The next instant, he saw two more wind des flying from Tang San''s hands, tracing two beautiful arcs straight toward him.


    The man''s eyes narrowed, and a deep blue halo emanated from his body.


    Instantly, the temperature in the entire room seemed to drop by several degrees. The deep blue fur on his hands became denser, and his arms grew thicker. However, in this transformation, only his hands and arms seemed to change, while the rest of his body remained unaltered.


    The wind des were silent, and as they approached him, they seemingly veered off course, whizzing past both sides. However, the vignce of the tiger man never waned. He didn''t need to see to sense that the two des were turning behind him and flying toward his back.


    The hovering wind des from before and the ones shifting trajectory that the child had just used now were an eye-opening experience.


    When Gui Gui reported about Tang San, he was somewhat skeptical. A mere nine-year-old child defeating several fourth-order demons in session? It seemed pure fantasy. But now, he was starting to believe. This level of skill alone was enough to astound him. If this was all Wang Yanfeng''s teaching, then Wang Yanfeng was indeed extraordinary!


    Of course, Tang San himself was more important. Considering his age, it was clear that his potential was immense.


    As he was lost in thought, Tang San''s hands continued to unleash a stream of silent wind des. These green des appeared as elusive as an antelope''s horns, yet somehow, the tiger man felt that they all posed a threat to him.


    Contrary to his expectation, the first two wind des did not strike his back as anticipated but actually missed, passing just over a foot behind him. A moment before, an ice shield had already formed behind him, but it now served no defensive purpose.


    Tang San consecutivelyunched twelve wind des, filling the room with swirling green light. Yet, none of these green lights damaged anything in the room; they all revolved around the tiger man.


    His eyes instantly turned deep blue, and mist swirled around his tiger paws. With the tip of his toe on the ground, a powerful aura burst forth, rapidly dropping the room''s temperature even further. An armor-likeyer of ice formed on his body.


    Disregarding the wind des, he lunged straight at Tang San.


    This lunge was swift��a tiger''s pounce!


    And as soon as hemenced his action, those wind des flying in the air seemed to be triggered, converging toward the masked man like rivers flowing into the sea.


    The wind des were still silent, but this silence posed the most significant threat.


    The tiger man, heedless of the danger, only fortified the ice armor on his body further.


    Just as he was about to reach Tang San, Tang San moved. The tiger man only saw a blur before Tang San vanished from sight as if he had been merely an illusion all along.


    As Tang San instantly dodged the tiger man��s charge, the wind des arrived. Wang Yanfeng and Qiu Jing, watching from the side, had their mouths agape in shock.


    They could hardly believe their eyes. The twelve wind des flying haphazardly in the air had now converged into a neat row, systematically shing toward the same spot on the masked man''s back.


    The Hundred Birds Homing Strike!


    With Tang San''s mental power, he couldn''t control an actual hundred wind des yet, but managing just twelve was very much doable.


    The Hundred Birds Homing Strike technique was like a hundred birds flying, converging as they entered the forest.


    Against a robust defense, focus the attack on a single point!


    Never mind that Tang San''s wind des were made of far morepressed energy than normal; even ordinary ones would have been unbearable if twelve consecutive strikes struck the same spot.


    With a bang, the first Wind de exploded. As the man with the tiger face was about to turn around, the second Wind de had already arrived.


    Two consecutive Wind des exploded, causing him to stagger. And they were immediately followed by the third and fourth!


    With each sh of green light, some of the ice armor on the masked man''s back shattered into mist and gusts of wind. He wanted to turn around but found himself unable to do so.


    At this moment, his heart was filled with terror, and he was utterly helpless.


    More importantly, as the fifth Wind de struck, hisyer of ice armor was close to shattering.


    He strenuously gathered the power of his bloodline to reinforce the ice armor, yet he couldn��t help but uncontrobly stagger forward step by step under the relentless assault.


    Tang San silently observed.


    By the time the ninth Wind de fell, the masked man had already crashed into the wall, and his ice armor was entirely shattered. Thest three Wind des did not fall but silently dissipated into the air.


    The wooden house was filled with swirling motes of wind and ice elemental energy for a moment as if a fierce blizzard had just swept through.


    The masked man, pinned against the wall, was momentarily overwhelmed. He felt a sharp pain in his back and a turbulent surge of energy in his chest.


    He suddenly turned around, however, his body continuing to transform. To be more precise, when the seventh Wind de struck his back, he hadpleted his Demon God Transformation. His body now towered at a height of 2.5 meters, and it was covered in tiger fur with dark blue patterns.

 Chapter 50: Was This What I Taught Him?

    <h4>Chapter 50: Was This What I Taught Him?</h4>


    As the tiger man turned around, his vertical pupils instantly fixed on Tang San.


    Tang San stood precisely where he had been at the start.


    Fifth order against fourth order, yet the man had been unable to resist and had been defeated by the opponent''s series of wind des.


    More importantly, the tiger man remembered exactly how many wind des had struck his back. <i>He hit me with nine...but what if there were all twelve of them?</i>


    Forget about twelve wind des, he couldn��t have taken even a tenth one. The ninth had already pierced through his defenses, and with his ice armor shattered, even his thick hide wouldn��t have offered him much protection.


    Setting aside how this incredible technical level was achieved, the sheer power of each Wind de was not something an ordinary fourth-order Wind Wolf could produce.


    At this moment, he deeply understood that Gui Gui hadn��t been exaggerating. No...if anything, she had severely underreported the abilities of this child.


    Tang San didn''t continue to attack. His hands naturally hung at his sides as he calmly looked at the tiger man. "Is that enough?"


    The tiger man took a deep breath and slowly nodded. Of course, he had many more methods at his disposal, and if he fought desperately, he was confident he could defeat Tang San. But that would exceed the purpose of the test.


    Of course, this belief was his own; whether Tang San thought the same was another matter.


    "Who taught you such a way to control wind des?" the tiger man asked solemnly.


    Tang San turned his head to look at Wang Yanfeng.


    Wang Yanfeng''s heart twitched. <i>I taught you? Exactly WHAT did I teach you?!</i>


    But at this moment, he roughly understood Tang San''s intention and nodded, saying, "This child has exceptionalprehension. I gave him some pointers, and he was able to gain insights and develop his own ideas from what I taught him. I believe that, right now, his control over wind des is in fact even better than my own."


    The tiger man nodded silently, his regard for Wang Yanfeng rising a notch. To be able to mentor such an outstanding disciple as a teacher.... Although Wang Yanfeng was not a very powerful cultivator, his teaching ability wasmendable.


    "Alright, kid. Your two conditions shouldn''t be a problem. I''ll take you to Kali City. I need to report on your situation and make arrangements for you."


    After saying this, the tiger man nodded to Wang Yanfeng, then suddenly sped up, dashed to the window, pushed it open, and leaped out into the darkness.


    His arrival was abrupt, and his departure even more so. Wang Yanfeng had thought that the man would have more to say after Tang San agreed to join and passed the assessment, but unexpectedly, he had just left abruptly.


    Wang Yanfeng gave Tang San an inquiring look. He had mixed feelings about this boy. Not to mention anything else, the Hundred Birds Homing Strike technique he used to control the wind des was astonishing. <i>Could wind des be used like that?</i>


    How could he know that Tang San actually used wind des because they were a convenient way to disguise his identity, thanks to the Wind Wolf Transformation? Not to mention, with his current situation, using wind des as his hidden weapons allowed him to maximize the effect of his myriad secret weapon techniques. The Hundred Birds Homing Strike was just the most basic of them.


    Even Tang San himself found it strange. In his previous life in the Douluo Continent, he had relied more on mechanical-type hidden weapons during his initial rise. Sophisticated and powerful mechanical hidden weapons had allowed him to stand his ground before his strength was sufficient.


    In this world of the Daemon Continent, however, the richness of the spiritual energy and the uniqueness of the Demonic God Transformation enabled him to put into practice more of the Tang Sect''s hidden weapon techniques. He was genuinely exhibiting the power of the Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation art.


    ***


    The tiger man left Wind Wolf Town and had just entered the forest when he stopped, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Only then did he catch his breath.


    Why had he been in such a hurry to leave? Because if he hadn''t, he would have vomited blood right there and then.<i> </i>That would have been too embarrassing! A fifth-order, beaten to the point of spitting blood by a fourth-order? And the opponent''s bloodline was the meager Wind Wolf demon? He would be ashamed even to mention it when he got back home.


    But even at this moment, his heart was still filled with astonishment. He could hardly believe that a nine-year-old child could use wind des like this, whether it was their power or the control he exerted over them. It was incredible. This was not just a matter of a good bloodline; the child had a rare gift. The Wind Wolf Transformation seemed tailor-made for him.


    A n had to be made quickly to have him join the Society for training. Perhaps, soon, the organization would have another high-order powerhouse. For the Redemption Society, high-order cultivators were both essential and rare.


    The tiger man continued on his way.


    ***


    Inside the wooden house, Wang Yanfeng asked Qiu Jing to take her rest, then took Tang San to the quiet room where they usually practiced.


    "Do you truly want to join the Redemption Society? For revenge?"


    After a moment of silence, Tang San said, "Teacher, I want to see the outside world. I also want to be strong. I also seek revenge, yes, and the man from the Redemption Society said we need to give humanity hope. I think he''s right."


    Wang Yanfeng sighed. ��Actually, Gui Gui has been trying for a long time to get me to join the Redemption Society. I knew she was a member. I never agreed because I didn''t want to disrupt the peace we had finally achieved. I understand all he said earlier about the greater good, I always understood it, but I''m a coward. I never had the courage to act. I just want to live a good life with my wife.��


    Tang San lowered his head. "I''m sorry, teacher, I''ve caused you trouble."


    Wang Yanfeng smiled and shook his head, "Don''t me yourself, what''s meant toe wille. You are mature, far more so than your brothers here. I believe your choice won''t be wrong. You and your talent should join the Redemption Society. In my heart, I also look forward to humanity''s rise. I will just stay here and do my part while you spread your wings and soar. I hope I can see a glimmer of hope for humanity in my lifetime, even if it''s just a tiny spark."


    "You will, you certainly will," Tang San nodded firmly.


    The conversation between the teacher and the disciple ended there.


    Returning to his room, Tang San fell into deep thought.


    Things were almost exactly as he had anticipated, and everything fit nicely within his n. The Redemption Society hade, and he had passed their assessment. As for how they would take him to Kali City, Tang San wasn''t too worried. If they couldn''t even manage this small matter, then there was no need for the Redemption Society to exist.


    What he needed to do next was to wait.


    Subconsciously, the image of that somewhat youthful yet stunning face reappeared in his mind, and his gaze softened instantly.


    In his n, there had been two scenarios.


    The first, the standard scenario, was considering that his judgment was wrong and the Redemption Society wouldn��t approach him. In that case, he would proceed methodically with his cultivation and improvement.


    He would then devise a n to travel to Kali City once he officially became a vassal.


    The biggest issue with this n was that he could abandon everything here and even destroy the entire Wind Wolf Town if it came to that. But what about the humans here? What about the vassals? Would they be implicated? This was a troubling thought.


    The second scenario was the Redemption Societying for him. That would be the ideal situation.


    With the power of the Redemption Society, it would not be challenging to assist Tang San in entering Kali City, and they would handle any subsequent issues easily.


    Indeed...this was his biggest problem at this point. He could somehow manage by himself even though hecked knowledge of the world, but unfortunately, he alsocked the influence to ensure the safety of others.


    Things were developing in a direction better than he had imagined. Now, it all depended on how the Redemption Society nned to redeem this little ve who had not yet been freed from servitude.

 Chapter 51: Eating, Cultivating & Thinking About Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 51: Eating, Cultivating & Thinking About Mei Gongzi</h4>


    For the next half-month, Tang San spent his days eating normally, cultivating, and thinking about Mei Gongzi.


    Of course, he also spent time practicing actualbat with the Wang brothers and Ling Muxue.


    Under his rigorous training, hispanions improved rapidly, even faster than when Wang Yanfeng taught them.


    After all, Tang San was the youngest. To the Wang brothers, being beaten daily by the youngest member was quite embarrassing, especially in front of Ling Muxue.


    Being well-fed allowed their development to normalize. Wang Chao, being older, coped better with the tasks, while Wang Zhong and Wang Xiaolei were often distracted by Ling Muxue. It was bad for Wang Zhong, and even worse for Wang Xiaolei, due to their simr ages.


    In the meantime, Ling Muxue was bing closer to Tang San. With this dynamic, during practical lessons, the Wang brothers naturally tried even harder to defeat Tang San.


    Another evening fell.


    After Wang Zhong entered meditation, Tang San was about to go out for cultivation when he suddenly heard a noise. He immediately went through the window and climbed to the second floor.


    Wang Yanfeng was already waiting there, and the visitor was the same tiger man from the other day.


    He had put on a new mask. Without saying anything, Wang Yanfeng led both of them straight to the quiet room and shut the door behind them.


    The tiger man looked straight at Tang San, "The higher-ups have approved your request. The preliminary n has also been finalized."


    Wang Yanfeng asked nervously, "What are you nning to do? Although Tang San is still technically just a random human child, he is almost a vassal. As his handler, I would be responsible if he suddenly disappears. Also, with the growth of the Redemption Society in recent years, the demon ns are now stricter than ever in their control over human vassals."


    The tiger man reassured him, "Brother Wang, don''t worry, it won''t implicate you. We n to start some chaos and use it as a distraction. In such a situation, the disappearance or even death of a small ve wouldn''t attract much attention. We''ll use this opportunity to take Tang San away."


    "How will you create this distraction?" asked Wang Yanfeng.


    "Remember the fourth-order sh Leopard that Tang San killed in the Collision Contest? Well, as you know, the sh Leopard n and the Wind Wolf n are mortal enemies. Since then, there have been several shes between them in Kali City, and they only stopped when the city lord intervened. We''ll find a way to guide the sh Leopard n to attack this ce. Using this opportunity, we''ll take Tang San away. As long as you protect yourselves, there should be no problem."


    Hearing this n, Tang San''s eyes lit up; it indeed sounded like a good n.


    An attack by the sh Leopard n on the Wind Wolf n''s viges was nothing unusual for such sworn enemies. Minor conflicts had been frequent over the years. However, the nearest vige of the sh Leopard n was hundreds of miles away, so disputes in this particr ce weren''t frequent.


    A sh Leopard attack on the Wind Wolves naturally had nothing to do with the human vassals. No matter what happened afterward, the me could not be ced on Wang Yanfeng and the human vassals. The Redemption Society had some tricks up its sleeve.


    Wang Yanfeng, having thought of this as well, said, "The scale of the conflict shouldn''t be too big. Otherwise, I''m afraid it might harm our people."


    "We will keep it under control. One of our elders will personally oversee this operation. If anything goes off track, the elder will intervene directly," the tiger man said gravely.


    Wang Yanfeng nodded and then turned to Tang San.


    Tang San nodded, saying, "I have no further questions."


    "Good," the tiger man said. "I''ll share the detailed n now. Brother Wang, aside from you and Tang San, don''t tell anyone about this. Including your wife. It''s important for your safetyter. I hope you understand what I mean."


    "Yes, I understand," replied Wang Yanfeng.


    The tiger man then took out a roll of leather and unwrapped it to reveal a map. It was a map of Wind Wolf Town and its surrounding terrain.


    He looked at Tang San and asked, ��Can you read this map?"


    Tang San looked down, then pointed somewhere close to the center and asked, "Is this our town?"


    "Correct. Over here is Wind Wolf Town, and here is the road leading to Kali City. Over here is the residence of the fifth-order Lord of Wind Wolf Town, and over there lives the sixth-order High Priest. Once the sh Leopards attack, they will surely take action. All attention will be drawn there."


    "Our initial n is to guide the sh Leopards to attack from this direction. The area near the residence of the High Priest will be the main conflict zone. Brother Wang, on that day, be sure to gather all vassals and stay indoors to avoid idental injury. Once the battle starts, an rm will sound. Tang San, when you hear the rm, start counting in your head. Start from one and count at this speed: one, two, three, four, five...all the way to three hundred. Then, leave the house and run toward the back of the town. To coordinate with your departure, we will assist the sh Leopards in invading Wind Wolf Town to create chaos. Brother Wang, remember not to act rashly at that time. Protect the other vassals well. If a sh Leopard approaches, feel free to engage. If you encounter vassals of the sh Leopards, however, please don''t kill them. Some are also members of our society."


    "Tang San, make sure to memorize the locations on the map clearly; we will meet at this spot. I will be waiting for you there. Then we will leave here and head toward Kali City. Brother Wang, after the fight, you should just go and tell everyone that a sh Leopard abducted Tang San. You can even go andin to the Wind Wolf Lord. With that, our n will beplete."


    The tiger man then repeated the entire n three times, emphasizing every location and every time point with Tang San and Wang Yanfeng. He made them repeat it to ensure they had memorized it correctly.


    "The n is as follows. We are scheduled to proceed in three days. I will return in two days to confirm the final time with you. Tang San, remember not to bring anything with you when the timees. Just slip away quietly. The timing must be precise because we need to put some distance between you and the sh Leopards, or we��ll be in deep trouble. If you��rete and you stumble upon the sh Leopards, it��ll be really difficult to get away from them and all this nning would be for nothing. Do you understand what I mean?"


    Tang San nodded, "I understand."


    The tiger man said with satisfaction, "Good, that''s all for today. I''lle back in two days."


    After the man left, Wang Yanfeng looked at Tang San with aplicated gaze, "I didn''t expect it toe so soon."


    Tang San remained silent. In his view, the Redemption Organization had taken half a month to prepare to take away a small ve like himself. Considering the magnitude of their objective, they had taken quite a long time. Fortunately, the arrangements were meticulous.


    Seeing him silent, Wang Yanfeng stepped forward, put his arm around Tang San''s shoulder, and hugged him tightly, "Go, you should go there. With your talent, you can and should do more for humanity. If you find danger you can��t deal with, find a way toe back. Even without a legitimate identity, I am your teacher and I can protect you here. This will always be your home."


    "Teacher, I wille back," Tang San said earnestly.


    Wang Yanfeng smiled slightly and said, ��If the ce is as good as you expect, take the others with youter."


    "Okay!" Tang San knew exactly what Wang Yanfeng wanted.


    Wang Yanfeng took a deep breath. "Perhaps, I should do something as well. Let this be the beginning. As long as they can sessfully take you away, I will formally agree to join Redemption and be their informant here."


    "Teacher..." Tang San felt a warmth in his heart. In his mind, Wang Yanfeng had never been a coward; he was just doing what he could to protect his people, which was far more admirable than those who recklessly rushed out to their deaths.

 Chapter 52: Zheng Mengqi

    <h4>Chapter 52: Zheng Mengqi</h4>


    Without Wang Yanfeng''s protection, it would have been impossible for so many human vassals to live in Wind Wolf Town.


    Two dayster, the man with the tiger mask returned. He confirmed the final time for the action, keeping to the original n.


    After sending off the man again, Tang San returned to his room. He knew the first significant move he would make since his arrival in this world was about toe.


    Quietly sitting cross-legged on the bed, Tang San slightly squinted his eyes, which flickered with contemtion. The n described by the tiger man surfaced in his mind,


    <i>Three hundred breaths... I should be able to do a lot during that time.</i>


    In the forest, agile figures swiftly moved through, each with a slender and robust build, leaping freely among the trees. The thick branches served only as leverage points, offering no hindrance to their progress.


    They were all covered in fur with yellow-brown spots, and they could cover tens of meters with each leap.


    Quickly, they crossed the forest and entered the main road. Nearly a hundred figures rapidly converged.


    Leading them was a figure that stood upright, over three meters tall, with a slender physique exuding strength and bright yellow light flickering in its eyes. Its wed hands slowly retracted as it stood, revealing itself as a mighty sh Leopard.


    Behind him, numerous figures gathered, clearly centered around him.


    The leading sh Leopard pointed ahead.


    "Is it this direction?"


    A figure much smaller in stature quickly approached him and nodded slightly. "Lord Shan Ling, it is this way. It��s called Wind Wolf Town."


    A sh of ferocity gleamed in Shan Ling''s eyes, with a hint of red flickering in his yellow pupils. "Wind Wolf! Damn it! Follow me."


    With those words, he suddenly waved his hand and leaped ahead. The other sh Leopards, each with a fierce look in their eyes, quickly followed by his side.


    The sh Leopard who had spoken to Shan Ling earlier slightly retracted its fur, revealing a human-like face. But soon, it transformed into its sh Leopard form, blending into the group of sh Leopards.


    Although the sh Leopard n wasn''t particrly powerful among the demons, the sight of hundreds of sh Leopards moving together on the main road still held a formidable and ferocious momentum. Even the demons of stronger ns would give way to them when encountered alone. Something was unusual about the aura of these sh Leopards.


    sh Leopards were incredibly fast, excelling in short sprints and anything that required explosive power. Their running pace was much faster than average demons, even when they were not at full speed. The lineage of sh Leopard Demons had always been known as the kings of speed.


    When they stopped again, it was sunset. Shan Ling slowed down and halted under arge tree.


    He raised his right front paw, and the sh Leopards behind him paused, gathering around him.


    "Rest here and wait for the night. This time, we must seed. Failure is not an option!" Shan Ling''s voice was filled with a chilling tone.


    The numerous sh Leopards dispersed, each finding a ce to rest. The continuous sprint had drained much of their bloodline power; resting now would allow them to recover to their best condition.


    "Zheng Mengqi,e here!" Shan Ling called out sharply.


    A sh Leopard quickly approached. Its fur quietly disappeared and its body became thinner, and it soon transformed into a human. It was, in fact, a human vassal.


    He respectfully bowed before the sh Leopard, "Shan Ling, my lord.��


    "Show me the map," Shan Ling waved his hand.


    Zheng Mengqi quickly took out a leather map and spread it before Shan Ling. Pointing at the images on it, he then nced at the slowly setting sun.


    "Sir, look, we should be here right now. We are less than ten kilometers away from Wind Wolf Town. It will take about ten minutes to get there from here. Once the team has rested, we can go anytime."


    Shan Ling looked at the map and said, "Are you sure it''s here? You know the consequences if you lead us the wrong way!"


    Zheng Mengqi replied with an earnest and fearful expression, "I''m sure, my lord. I saw theming this way and entering the town. Do you think we should negotiate first? To see if they are the ones who abducted our nsmen?"


    A fierce light flickered in Shan Ling''s eyes, "Negotiate? What''s there to negotiate? Do you think those cunning Wind Wolves will tell me the truth? Once we go there, we''ll search. I don''t believe a small town can do anything about it. Once I find evidence, I''ll destroy their town."


    A domineering aura emanated from Shan Ling, and a faint golden sheen shed in his yellow eyes.


    Zheng Mengqi quickly lowered his head, respectfully saying, "Yes, my lord. I will follow your instructions."


    Satisfied, Shan Ling nodded and said, "You go and rest, too. If we seed this time, you will be credited for it."


    "Yes, my lord," replied Zheng Mengqi. He found a corner nearby, sat down against arge tree, and adjusted himself. His right hand silently pressed against the tree and his fingers moved subtly, leaving several marks on the tree.


    The sky gradually darkened, and night fell.


    Shan Ling let out a deep roar. The resting sh Leopards quickly rose and gathered around him.


    "Zheng Mengqi, you lead the way," Shan Lingmanded coldly.


    ��Yes, my lord!" Zheng Mengqi swiftlypleted his sh Leopard Transformation. Although he was still somewhat different from an actual sh Leopard, it wasn''t easy to tell the difference in the dim light of the night unless one looked closely.


    Holding the map, he confirmed the direction and quickly moved ahead.


    The sh Leopard n was not particrly inclined to use their brains. Although all demons had intelligence, the levels of wisdom varied. Some demons were exceptionally clever, but most demons pursued strength over intelligence.


    For instance, reading a map was troublesome for the sh Leopards. In these aspects, the performance of human vassals was satisfactory to them. The intelligence of humans was why most ns had some human vassals to handle intellectuallyplex tasks.


    Zheng Mengqi naturally wouldn''t mistake the direction. Ten kilometers was short for sh Leopards, even at a slow jog. Soon, they saw the small town in the distance, with smoke rising from the houses. Unbeknownst to them, Zheng Mengqi had cleverly led them to avoid the vige inhabited by human ves to prevent the sh Leopards from venting their anger on them. For demons, ves and livestock were no different; capturing each other''s ves was amon practice, especially between hostile factions.


    A fierce light flickered in Shan Ling''s eyes when it looked at the nearby town. It raised its paw and patted Zheng Mengqi''s shoulder, clearly satisfied with his guidance.


    "Sir, it should be here," Zheng Mengqi said respectfully.


    Shan Ling nodded and raised his right front paw, and the sh Leopards behind him immediately spread to both sides and stopped there.


    Shan Ling slowly closed his eyes, and at that moment, the yellow spots on his body began to emit a faint yellow halo. It was almost as if the spots wereing to life, gently pulsating with the flow of the halo.


    It was a bizarre feeling. Including Zheng Mengqi, all the sh Leopards present felt something stirring within their bloodlines, making them noticeably agitated and heated.

 Chapter 53: Kill!

    <h4>Chapter 53: Kill!</h4>


    In Wind Wolf Town.


    After dinner, Tang San was called upstairs by Wang Yanfeng. Today was the day of their appointed meeting with the tiger mask man.


    Just then, Tang San felt a sudden stir in his heart; the imprint of the sh Leopard within him burned intensely, making his blood feel like he was boiling. He quickly used the Mysterious Heaven Technique to suppress the restlessness of the imprint. Although he did not know what was happening, he could guess that the sh Leopards had arrived.


    Somewhere outside the town, the yellow glow on Shan Ling''s body gradually receded, and when he reopened his eyes, they were filled with a fierce, crimson light.


    "Right here. I can sense the presence of my n. They are still so weak, but they are here. Damn it, right here! Charge with me, search the entire town, and show no mercy to anyone obstructing us!" Shan Ling roared and, in a sh, charged toward Wind Wolf Town.


    The sh Leopards behind him also let out deep roars, following in his wake, charging towards Wind Wolf Town with lightning speed.


    The defenses of Wind Wolf Town had always beenx. After all, the surrounding area was a vast forest, and the nearest sh Leopard n was hundreds of miles away, so there was usually no need for a guard.


    However, when Shan Ling''s roar sounded, the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town, who was about to have dinner at her residence, sensed something, and her murky gaze suddenly became focused and intense.


    She abruptly raised her hand, unleashing a fierce wind that blew away the human vassals serving her. At the same time, her slender staff flew out from a room andnded directly in her grasp.


    The staff rose high, and a beam of green light shot into the sky, apanied by an ancient wolf howl emanating from its mouth.


    Surrounded by the swirling green light, the high priest ascended slowly.


    Shan Ling had already charged to the front of Wind Wolf Town, which had no walls or barriers. He charged straight in at breakneck speed, guided by the bloodline scent he had sensed moments ago.


    He immediately encountered a third-order Wind Wolf.


    The Wind Wolf, seeing a figure pouncing towards it, instinctively opened its maw to roar in anger. But before it could get a clear look at the assant, sudden pain in its throat silenced it, and its muscr body slowly copsed.


    At that moment, Shan Ling saw the green light shooting into the sky. He shouted and leaped into the air, his body radiating intense yellow light, and the fur on his body burst into the same yellow halo that had appeared before.


    The sh Leopards that had followed him into Wind Wolf Town instantly felt their bloodlines boil, and their aura significantly strengthened.


    This was a characteristic of the various demon ns. When a strong leader led their kind into battle, their bloodline enhanced those of their lineage, enabling them to exhibit greaterbat power.


    Shan Ling immediately spotted the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town rising into the air in the distance. He leaped across the town''s rooftops, heading straight for the High Priest. Capturing the leader first was amonsensical tactic even for hard-headed beings like demons. This old Wind Wolf who was sending out warnings from the center of the town and had the strongest aura around, had to be the town''s core.


    As she rose slowly, the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town saw the figure leaping toward her like a shooting arrow in the distance. Despite her age, her eyesight was excellent, and she immediately recognized her opponent as a sh Leopard. When she realized the identity of her opponent, her heart sank.


    sh Leopards and Wind Wolves had always been deathly enemies. But as per the rules of the demon ns, although they asionally shed, they would not easily invade each other''s territories. The ancestralws forbade this.


    Yet, the opponent hade, and with such disregard at that! Moreover, his aura was incredibly potent, which surprised the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town.


    "Why are you invading our town!" the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town shouted.


    However, Shan Ling had no intention of conversing. He charged straight at the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town with an angry roar.


    His figure almost disappeared the moment it pounced. At that moment, the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town felt a chill run down her spine, a clear premonition of a life-or-death crisis.


    Without hesitation, she waved her staff, which emitted a deep green light as it created a massive aura around its body.


    The bright yellow figure appeared almost instantly before her, ws reaching for her.


    But the green light also burst outward, carrying a solid spinning force, forcibly pushing Shan Ling''s body to the side.


    The High Priest''s somewhat withered body began to erge at this moment, and she cried out, "Ancestors, grant me your blessing!"


    For a time, the green light surrounding her could not be any brighter, to the point that the emerald light began to turn an inky green.


    Even the sky itself was illuminated by the green light at this moment. Vaguely, a giant wolf head silhouette could be seen flickering in the air.


    Shan Ling missed his target,nding on the roof of a house. Watching the High Priest''s aura surge with its cry, a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes.


    ��Ancestral Reversion? A priestess? There''s actually a priestess in this small town! No wonder they dared to strike against us." Not only was he not frightened by the surge in the High Priest''s aura, but he grew even angrier.


    At that moment, a long wolf howl sounded.


    A formidable figure instantly rushed out and arrived beside the High Priest. He was none other than the Lord of the Wind Wolves.


    Affected by the recent call of the High Priest, his body had grown to nearly four meters tall. Every single one of his muscles bulged, emanating a fierce aura.


    Heid prostrate in front of the High Priest. His body was reverting further to its ancestral form. The High Priest floated up,nding on the back of the Wind Wolf Lord. It was as if the two merged into one, and their aura skyrocketed, quickly surpassing the sixth order.


    Meanwhile, the sh Leopards had also invaded the town, doing more than just searching. Upon encountering the Wind Wolves, they immediately engaged in battle. In no time, both sides were locked inbat.


    There were many Wind Wolf n members in the town, but not many powerful ones. Most were elderly, women, and children. In contrast, the hundred or so sh Leopards who hade were all in their prime. In the ensuing battle, the Wind Wolves were caught off guard and were quickly overpowered, the fight leaving numerous bodies strewn on the ground.


    The eyes of the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town, now purely dark green, shed fiercely as she red at Shan Ling. "Why? Why would you attack my n? Do you not know that the Ancestral Court forbids invading another n''s territory?"


    "Invade? Your n captured our younglings, and you dare to question me?" Shan Ling''s eyes glowed fiercely and his aura kept rising continuously, a clear sign of his fully stimted bloodline.


    "Captured your younglings?" The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town was visibly stunned and looked down at the Wind Wolf Lord beneath her.


    Capturing the young of another n was a grave taboo among demon ns. However, there had been such issues between the Wind Wolf and sh Leopard ns in the past. In fact, their earliest dispute was because of this.


    Wolf meat didn��t taste good, and no one coveted it. The Leopard sh n was pretty much the same. However, for some reason, the demons of the leopard ns were born with a kind of unique spiritual essence. Consuming a young leopard demon from any of the lineages intensely nourished the bloodline of all demon races. It could even enhance one''s bloodline spirit, promoting the evolution of the bloodline.


    Therefore, the poaching of younglings from the leopard demon lineage had long since been a practice. The poaching was something the leopard demons deeply despised, of course. While fully protecting their younglings, they retaliatedprehensively against any race daring to poach them. This had led to several great wars, causing the leopard demon lineages to be remarkably united.


    Eventually, the Ancestral Court of the demon races had officially dered a strict prohibition on poaching Leopard demon younglings. Any vition permitted the Leopard Demon n to hunt down the offenders, and the Ancestral Court always held the offending n ountable.


    Therefore, kidnapping the leopard demon younglings was an absolute taboo!

 Chapter 54: Seventh-Order Flash Leopard

    <h4>Chapter 54: Seventh-Order sh Leopard</h4>


    <i>No wonder they dared to defy the Ancestral Court''s rules and attack Wind Wolf Town. Could someone have actually hunted the younglings of the sh Leopard n?</i>


    Regarding this, the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town was indeed somewhat suspicious. The first suspect was right beneath her eyes.


    The High Priest knew very well that the Town Lord was striving to break through from the fifth to the sixth order. However, due to insufficient bloodline strength, it repeatedly failed. This failure caused extreme anger. Only by reaching the sixth order could there be a chance to be conscripted into Kali City. The Lord of Wind Wolf Town had long been disgusted with this remote town.


    And indeed, hunting and consuming the younglings of the leopard demon ns was a feasible shortcut. It was possible that someone like him would have taken such a risk.


    Even with the Ancestral Court''s prohibition, the poaching of leopard demon younglings hadn''t wholly ceased.


    The Lord of Wind Wolf Town, somewhat agitated and uneasy, let out a low growl. "High Priest, I did not do it."


    The High Priest asked Shan Ling, "Do you have any evidence?"


    Shan Ling growled lowly. "I have already sensed the presence of my n''s bloodline. Do you need more evidence? My bloodline has reached ancestral strength, and its perception of our kin is something you should understand, right?"


    The heart of the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town sank, knowing that the other party''s words were likely valid. Had Shan Ling not sensed the presence of a sh Leopard youngling in Wind Wolf Town, he would not have acted rashly. This was a matter that could affect both ns significantly.


    Just then, the Lord of Wind Wolf Town suddenly roared again and a powerful burst of Wind Wolf bloodline aura erupted, visibly invigorating the Wind Wolves in the town fighting Shan Ling��s sh Leopards and enhancing their bloodline aura.


    The Lord of Wind Wolf Town opened its mouth and a Wind de shot toward Shan Ling. This Wind de swelled rapidly in the wind as the wind element in the air swiftly converged upon it. It expanded almost instantly to a width of about a meter, apanied by a piercing howl.


    When the Lord of Wind Wolf Town unleashed this Wind de, Shan Ling and the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town understood the truth at the same time. Although the Lord of Wind Wolf Town did not admit to capturing the sh Leopard youngling, he was definitely the perpetrator!


    In fact, at this moment, the Lord of Wind Wolf Town was filled with trepidation, fully aware of the trouble of capturing a youngling from the leopard demon n. Yet, the desire for power and the improvement of his bloodline made it impossible to pass up the opportunity when it presented itself.


    Just two days ago, while out in the forest, he encountered a family of sh Leopards ying. There were some young sh Leopards, clearly newborns. The sh Leopard couple was not strong, only at the third order. Ovee by greed, after a moment of hesitation, he killed the sh Leopard couple and kidnapped the cubs.


    He had thought that he had done this without anyone knowing, not even his closest kin, his wife. But unexpectedly, in just two days, the sh Leopard n''s army hade bearing down, searching for their cubs.


    "Stop!" the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town roared.


    As Shan Ling''s eyes shed yellow, and he was about to dodge, the Wind de in front of him burst forth with a mighty wind elemental fluctuation. Like a vortex, the wind element energy created a binding effect, making him feel as if the attack was inevitable.


    "<i>Pft</i>. Do you think a mere fifth-order can do anything to me?" Shan Ling scoffed disdainfully, slightly shook its upper body, and split into three. The three figures suddenly flickered, breaking the energy bonds. Simultaneously heading in three directions, the three Shan Lings lunged toward the Lord of Wind Wolf Town and the High Priest.


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town roared, "Are you insane?"


    She raised the staff in her hand. A bright green light emanated from her, and a fierce wind blew, forcefully repelling the three figures of Shan Ling.


    The Lord of Wind Wolf Town growled, "Kill him, High Priest. I will leave the town if we kill him and the invading sh Leopards. Without these methods, I can never advance to the sixth order with how few resources thisnd produces. I had no choice."


    "Fool!" Shan Ling roared angrily, "You have no way to advance, so you harm the younglings of my n? Do you really think some mere Ancestral Reversion can stop me?"


    As it spoke, the yellow-brown leopard spots on his skin began to change, with a faint golden hue slowly emerging. Shan Ling''s body became increasingly slender and powerful, and the light in his eyes turned a pale gold.


    "Seventh order!" the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town eximed almost instinctively.


    When Shan Ling had appeared, she had already sensed the strength of his aura. Now, she was even more certain.


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town was at the sixth order herself, but she was a priestess. Unlike ordinary Wind Wolves, she could enhance herself by drawing on the aura of ancestral god-level Wind Wolves. However, even so, she wasn''t at the seventh order. She was only able to temporarily reach the strength of a wolf demon at the seventh order.


    The gap between the sixth and seventh orders is like a chasm, a significant level difference. Even as a priest, defeating a true seventh-order powerhouse was almost impossible. The only chance would��ve been if the Lord of Wind Wolf Town also reached the sixth order; in that case, she could have used a secret method to temporarily elevate him to the seventh order as well, so they could fight together and gain a slim chance.


    Without speaking further, driven by intense hatred, Shan Ling lunged at the High Priest and the Lord of Wind Wolf Town.


    The three powerhouses engaged in a fierce battle in the air.


    Strong green lights and calls to the ancestors continuously blessed the High Priest and the Lord of Wind Wolf Town. Near them, from the altar of Wind Wolf Town, faint green lights rose and twined, bestowing them with strands of power.


    After all, this was Wind Wolf Town, which could be considered their home ground.


    However, the power disyed by Shan Ling was truly formidable. Shan Ling knew the opponents would have an advantage fighting on their home ground, but being a true seventh-order, he was confident in facing them and winning.


    For a time, from a distance, one could only see Shan Ling transformed into a golden shadow continuouslyunching assaults on the central green light, repeatedlypressing it. However, breaking through the defense of the two from Wind Wolf Town in a short time was difficult.


    In the meantime, in a small two-story wooden house in the distance, the upants had just noticed that a battle had begun.


    The three Wang brothers and Ling Muxue had already been gathered together by Qiu Jing, who wouldn''t let them go outside.


    Wang Yanfeng and Tang San were on the second floor.


    Opening the window, they could see the battle in the distance. The direction of Shan Ling''s charge and the ce of the battle were exactly as the tiger mask man had told them.


    ording to the agreement, Tang San would leave after three hundred breaths.


    "Tang San." Wang Yanfeng looked at him.


    Tang San respectfully bowed to Wang Yanfeng, his heart filled with respect for the teacher who first gave him a sense of family warmth after he arrived in this world.


    "Teacher, I have to go now. Please take good care of yourself and your wife. When I can, I wille back to see you," Tang San said softly.


    "Are you leaving now? Wasn��t the n to wait for three hundred breaths?" Wang Yanfeng said in surprise.


    Tang San said, "Don''t worry, it should be fine. The sh Leopards havee inrge numbers. Haven''t you noticed many Wind Wolves have already gone to the front lines? There aren''t many Wind Wolves in the rear now, and no one will notice me. Soon, as the person from Redemption Society said, the sh Leopards should be able to break into the town. By that time, it would be much more of a problem for me to leave. I''d better go now and act ording to the situation. Aren''t you confident in my abilities?"


    Wang Yanfeng hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Be very careful. Once you''re in Kali City, find Guigui when you can. She will send news to me."


    "Alright. Teacher, I''m leaving now." Tang San stepped forward, hugged Wang Yanfeng, then turned and went out the window. Skillfully, he flipped in the air. Supported by the wind element, he smoothly floated down to the courtyard outside.


    He turned back to wave at Wang Yanfeng at the window, then quickly disappeared into the darkness without a trace.

 Chapter 55: The Opportunity for Slaughter

    <h4>Chapter 55: The Opportunity for ughter</h4>


    Watching Tang San''s departing figure, Wang Yanfeng suddenly felt a sense of loss. Having spent a year together, he had truly taught Tang San a lot, but simrly, he also learned something from Tang San. After the initial period, he had stopped seeing Tang San as a child, and now he saw the child as an equal.


    More than that, he felt that Tang San had an extraordinary temperament. He was very assertive, yet calm at the same time. Perhaps, as he grew, he could truly bring some hope to humanity.


    Subconsciously clenching his fist, Wang Yanfeng closed the window; he, too, had preparations to make. Later, when the sh Leopards charged into the town, he needed to respond ordingly to clear any suspicion regarding Tang San''s departure.


    Upon leaving the wooden house, Tang San kept counting silently in his mind.


    He didn''t leave Wind Wolf Town immediately. In fact, after learning about the tiger man''s entire n that day, he had made his own ns.


    Leaving directly was undoubtedly the safest choice, but this was also an excellent opportunity for him.


    Last time, because he had tried different methods of using and cultivating the bloodline imprints of various demon races, the sh Leopard imprint had fallen from the fourth to the third order. At the same time, his Wind Wolf imprint had not reached the peak of the fourth order yet. For him, this great battle between the Leopard sh and the Wind Wolves was also an opportunity to strengthen his imprints.


    The stronger the imprint, the higher the level of abilities that he could use.


    Previously, the Rhino Demon, Aetherhorn Deer Demon, and White-Crested Falcon Demon had been a lucky find. But now, the sh Leopards and Wind Wolves were right in front of him. And amid such a great battle, who would notice him?


    Tang San was already very familiar with theyout of Wind Wolf Town. He concealed himself in the shadows, rapidly approaching the area where the frontline battle urred.


    Of course, he wouldn''t approach the center, where a seventh-order demon faced off against a sixth-order and a fifth-order one. Moreover, the Wind Wolf Town altar was present below. With his current strength, he could not make much difference in the battle there. Therefore, he approached the edge of the battlefield.


    As he got closer, he could feel the Wind Wolf and sh Leopard imprints within him heating up continuously. This was a sign that the bloodlines were being stimted. He could also sense that the battle between the two sides was intensifying.


    Climbing up a building, Tang San crawled on the roof, looking toward the distance.


    Not far from him, seven or eight sh Leopards were attacking four Wind Wolves. Both sides were of the third and fourth order in cultivation.


    Among the demon ns, the overall strength of the Wind Wolves and sh Leopards was almost equal. Hence, they were sworn enemies, yet neither could gain an advantage.


    At this moment, however, it was clear that the Leopard shes were gaining the upper hand. Among them, two possessed the strength of the fourth order. Along with the others, their breakneck speed allowed them to assault the four Wind Wolves continuously.


    Among the four Wind Wolves, only one was at the fourth order, while the rest were at the third.


    In terms of speed, although the Wind Wolves were not slow, they were at a marked disadvantagepared to the sh Leopards. However, the Wind Wolves had more robust defense and power and could unleash wind des. Therefore, even though the sh Leopards prevailed, they had to be cautious to avoid being hit by the wind des. Their attacks were careful, and they constantly whittled down the Wind Wolves by injuring them more and more, but killing them would require time.


    Tang San observed their battle, then nced at other skirmishes in the distance. This battle group was rtively isted. The leading Wind Wolf kept shouting fierce howls, obviously calling for reinforcements. But at this time, the entire Wind Wolf Town was already embroiled in a significant battle, so how would there be any Wind Wolves avable to support this front?


    <i>This is a good ce.</i>


    Tang San��s eyes narrowed, and in the next instant, he made his move.


    He crouched on the rooftop, rather than descending directly. He swung his hands, and the Wind Wolf bloodline imprinted within him was activated. Two wind des shot out straight from the rooftop. Simultaneously, his Discerning Eye was also activated, capturing the movements of the sh Leopards.


    Two emerald-colored wind des soared down into the fray. The sh Leopards naturally sensed them, and they all dodged.


    But how could the sh Leopards withstand the wind des that Tang San shot?


    The two wind des drew two beautiful arcs in the air, seemingly shooting into space, yet coincidentally, two swift yellow figures collided with them.


    With two slicing sounds, the two third-order sh Leopards were almost instantly sliced in half.


    This sudden change startled both parties engaged in the battle.


    The four Wind Wolves were naturally overjoyed, as they knew that not only had reinforcements arrived, but they were also strong. Typically, given their incredible speed, unless the Wind Wolves unleashed arge-scale, dense rain of wind des, it was almost impossible to hit the sh Leopards with wind des.


    The fact that the two sh Leopards were not only hit but instantly killed implied that whoever hadunched the two wind des was very strong.


    A fourth-order sh Leopard roared and leaped up, pouncing toward the direction of the rooftop. Although it didn''t know how the opponent had done it, it had to deal with the Wind Wolf on the rooftop.


    When the fourth-order sh Leopard rushed to the rooftop, it saw a yellow light that it immediately identified as the light that came with the Leopard sh skill. The simrity in bloodline aura made it subconsciously assume, at first nce, that it was one of its own.


    Thus, its first thought was that apanion had arrived and had dealt with the Wind Wolf on the roof.


    And at that moment, the other party had already reached in front of it. A palm, quick as lightning, reached out and struck directly at its throat.


    The pupils of the fourth-order sh Leopard instantly contracted. The next moment, after being struck by the heavy blow, it saw a pair of eyes filled with purple hues and was immediately stupefied.


    The bloodline power within its body surged out wildly.


    Tang San pressed it down against the rooftop, activated the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s power, and unreservedly absorbed the energy from the sh Leopard''s body.


    This was a fourth-order sh Leopard, but as it was tricked by Tang San��s disguise as a sh Leopard, it hadn��t even been able to unleash its fullbat strength. Furthermore, Tang San had grown significantly stronger after his journey to Kali City. In an ambush against an unsuspecting opponent, how could the sh Leopard stand a chance against him?


    The energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique rapidly became more potent during the continuous devouring, and the sh Leopard imprint within his body grew increasingly warm and luminous. Once the bloodline power of this fourth-order sh Leopard waspletely devoured, the sh Leopard imprint also ascended back to the fourth order. This was the bloodline power of a fourth-order sh Leopard in peak shape. It was absolutely a tremendous boost!


    The moment he fully devoured this sh Leopard, the count in Tang San''s mind had reached fifty.


    In other words, it had been fifty breaths since the beginning of the battle ahead. He nced distantly at the three great powers fighting fiercely in the center of Wind Wolf Town, aware that time was of the essence.


    At this moment, below, due to the sharp decrease in the sh Leopards�� strength and the desperate efforts of several Wind Wolves, the situation had changed. It would have been a crushing victory for the former, but now, the two parties had temporarily fallen into a stalemate.


    Tang San, on the eaves, took a deep breath, rapidly circting his energy. The recently devoured fourth-order sh Leopard had made his energy incredibly potent. des of wind flew out, heading straight downward. With the activation of Discerning Eye, he precisely controlled the wind des, covering the entire area.


    The sh Leopards fighting below immediately sensed danger. What did it mean that wind des fell from the rooftop? It meant that the fourth-order sh Leopard, which had gone up to kill the opponent, couldn''t handle the enemy. Even worse, it might have already fallen to a Wind Wolf!


    Those wind des fell out of nowhere, illuminating the ground with an emerald hue.


    The sh Leopards dodged frantically, trying to evade the wind des. But this time, Tang San showed no mercy. Eighteen wind des flew out simultaneously, even more than he had used against the tiger man that day.

 Chapter 56: The Secret Hunt

    <h4>Chapter 56: The Secret Hunt</h4>


    Even the tiger-faced Man, with his fifth-order cultivation, could only withstand nine des. The sh Leopards, skilled in speed but not defense, found their speed useless under Tang San''s Discerning Eye. Using Leopard sh, normally their greatest asset, ced them at a deadly disadvantage.


    As if they had eyes, the eighteen emerald-colored wind des moved in such a way that they were exactly in the path of the leopards�� charge. The wind des contained so much energy that they were almost tangible, and they were far beyond the sh Leopards'' defense capabilities.


    Tang San''s current cultivation had reached the peak of the fourth level of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, and in addition to the four bloodline imprints he could make use of, it made him simply unparalleled by ordinary fourth-order demons. His all-out effort with the eighteen wind des made the area around the building he was on into a storm of des.


    This was the first time he was exerting his full strength. The eighteen wind des were his current limit. He could use more if he didn''t care about controlling them properly, but in cases like these, the precision of his control was far more important than the sheer number of attacks.


    The second fourth-order sh Leopard was almost instantly in cleanly. They could barely dodge a few times using their sense of crisis, but the eighteen wind des were like the scythes of eighteen grim reapers. They continuously circled around the targets, and sometimes they even collided to instantly change direction.


    This was one of the ingenious techniques among the Tang Sect''s Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation, ranking even above the Hundred Birds Homing Strike. Mimicking the peculiar flight pattern of bats, it was called Batwing Rebound. It was not only precise, but also unpredictable.


    Under Tang San''s control with the Discerning Eye, the Batwing Rebound technique was elevated to a higher level. Each wind de,posed of wind elemental energy, could absorb more of the wind element while flying under the guidance of the Discerning Eye, which amplified its power.


    As a result, the eighteen wind des grewrger and more powerful in the air. Even Tang San could not conceal their noise anymore; the piercing sound they made as they cut through the air was like a deathly incantation.


    The remaining leopard demons, having no ce to hide under the convergence of the wind des, were finally cut down where they stood.


    Witnessing this, the few remaining Wind Wolves were stunned. Were these wind des? Their n''s innate ability? Could wind des be used in such a manner? Could they be this powerful? This was a scenario they had never even imagined!


    But the reality before their eyes left them no choice but to believe. The feeling of having narrowly escaped death made them wildly ecstatic.


    However, just as they began to feel excited, they noticed the wind des circling in the air, first scattering, then aggressively converging from all directions, sweeping toward them.


    "Ow..." The terrified howls of the wolves were abruptly cut off. They were already heavily injured, so how could they possibly withstand such powerful wind des?


    Tang San was counting silently in his mind.


    Sixty breaths had passed.


    Having annihted the Wind Wolves and sh Leopards below, he swiftly descended. First, he found the fourth-order beings among the Wind Wolves and sh Leopards and quickly devoured their remaining bloodline power.


    The effect was somewhat less than he had anticipated. Perhaps because the bodies were not intact, a significant amount of the bloodline power had been lost.


    The third-order sh Leopards and Wind Wolves had little value left to devour. But in the pursuit of speed, he had no other choice.


    In addition, as far as the demon ns were concerned, ever since they killed his biological mother in this world, he had lost all mercy. In his eyes, demons deserved to be killed!


    Tang San quickly left after devouring the bloodline power of the demons there. The battlefield here was quite secluded and not easily discovered. The bloodline power of the three fourth-order demons was still a substantial replenishment for him. The imprints of the Wind de and Leopard sh had be much more solid than before, showing significant progress. The Wind Wolf imprint, in particr, had be extremely bright. It seemed to have reached a bottleneck after thest bout of energy devouring, and it was unable to progress further.


    Tang San was not surprised by this. The imprint was closely rted to his own Mysterious Heaven Technique cultivation level. It was normal that the bloodline imprint could not advance as long as the Mysterious Heaven Technique was stuck at the fourth order.


    Eighty breaths had passed.


    Tang San raised his head, his gaze again turning toward the ongoing battle in the center of Wind Wolf Town.


    At this moment, the powerful seventh-order sh Leopard, Shan Ling, was fully exhibiting its advantage in speed.


    Despite the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town releasing area-of-effect wind element attacks, she still couldn''t touch the sh Leopard, whose speed was simply incredible. It could even retreat a hundred meters when the High Priest released a barrage of wind des, then swiftly counterattack using Leopard sh when the wind des dispersed.


    The Wind Wolf Lord, with blood-red eyes, was disying far greaterbat power than normal under the bloodline power amplification from the High Priest. For the first time in his life, he was experiencing the power of the sixth order. His increasingly imposing figure withstood most of Shan Ling''s attacks, but he was also heavily wounded.


    Even though the High Priest forcibly enhanced their strength using the n''s secret methods, the gap between a true seventh-order demon and a sixth-order one was in the end insurmountable.


    Shan Lingpletely dominated them in the fight. Moreover, the duration of the secret method was limited! It couldn''t be used endlessly, and once the effect of the secret method dissipated, not only would the High Priest and the Town Lord''s strength plummet, but they would also suffer bacsh from the secret method. Nothing was obtained without a price, and that principle naturally held true for the n''s secret methods.


    Meanwhile, the sh Leopard nunched a full-scale attack on Wind Wolf Town. The young and strong of Wind Wolf Town could no longer hold their ground. Even women and children had joined the battle.


    This situation highlighted the strength of the demon ns. Even their young children possessed a certain degree ofbat ability. Unfortunately, they were facing the elite of the sh Leopard n. Although none apart from Shan Ling were above the fifth order, sweeping through Wind Wolf Town was still easy for them.


    Tang San had killed a number of sh Leopards, somewhat alleviating the assault from one direction, but more sh Leopards had already invaded Wind Wolf Town. If this continued, the entire Wind Wolf Town might be annihted.


    "Stop!" A sharp scream suddenly resounded.


    At the same time, the emerald-green light around the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town suddenly intensified, turning into a massive tornado that swept Shan Ling away.


    The wind des carried by the tornado also inflicted multiple cuts on Shan Ling, causing the seventh-order powerhouse to falter.


    As she red angrily at Shan Ling, the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town��s staff exploded with a boom. Immediately, an extremely dense bloodline aura condensed into a dark green orb in her palm.


    "Order your people to stop. Otherwise, we''ll all die together. You should know what this is." the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town lifted the dark green orb.


    Shan Ling''s expression changed. He had intended to pounce on them again, but this time, he had no choice but to listen.


    Of course, he knew very well what that thing was.


    In any demon or nymph n, the priests held a revered status because they could summon the power of the ancestors, continuously strengthening and stabilizing the bloodline of their people, preventing the bloodline power from weakening as it was passed down from generation to generation.


    As they oversaw this process, the priests often gathered some of this bloodline power from each of the descendants. In addition, they had the ability tomunicate directly with the ancestral bloodlines. When these powers converged, they formed the core of a n.


    The inky-green orb held by the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town could be considered the heart of the Wind Wolf. It contained a strand of the bloodline aura of all the people of Wind Wolf Town, along with the blood and energy continuously offered in sacrifices. These powers, refined over many years by the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town and blended with the aura of the Wind Wolf ancestors, were the very core of the entire Wind Wolf Town and a part of the bloodline heritage of the Wind Wolf lineage.

 Chapter 57: The Heart of Wind Wolves

    <h4>Chapter 57: The Heart of Wind Wolves</h4>


    ��If you continue to force my hand, I will detonate the Heart of the Wind Wolf. You��ll probably survive, but everyone you brought here will die. It will be a never-ending war between the sh Leopards and the Wind Wolf lineage,�� dered the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town sternly.


    A flicker of fear passed through Shan Ling��s eyes. The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town was right. If the Heart of the Wind Wolf exploded, it would mean certain death for all Wind Wolves and sh Leopards present, and even he would be gravely injured. The st would be tremendously powerful. In addition, once the Heart of the Wind Wolf exploded, it would undoubtedly rm the higher-ups of the Wind Wolf lineage.


    Finally, the worst problem was that each n''s Hearts of the Bloodline were vital to their heritage. Once it''s destroyed, it significantly weakened the bloodline heritage of that n, a grievance second only to n extermination! If that happened, regardless of the reason, the Ancestral Court could not prevent the ensuing revenge. It would lead to a grand battle between the Wind Wolves and sh Leopards, a fight to the death.


    Shan Ling had not anticipated the presence of a Heart of the Wind Wolf in this small Wind Wolf Town.


    He was, of course, enraged, and how could he not be? The Wind Wolves had broken the rules of the Ancestral Court and hunted down sh Leopard younglings, so he had both the reason and the moral high ground to simply erase the Wind Wolf Town from the face of the continent.


    But he hadn''t expected the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town to give him such a resolute ultimatum, having brought out the Heart of the Wind Wolf. Once activated, even if it wasn��t detonated, containing it again woulde at a significant cost. For the High Priest herself, stabilizing the Heart of the Wind Wolf would require sacrificing her bloodline power.


    A fierce light flickered in Shan Ling''s eyes as it bellowed, ��Hold off, everyone!��


    The attacking sh Leopards halted their assault at hismand.


    Meanwhile, Tang San, who was farther away, had just disengaged from a fourth-order sh Leopard and vanished again into the shadows.


    <i>What was that? </i>Tang San was curious about the Heart of the Wind Wolf in the High Priest''s hand.


    He felt a strong vibration when the Heart of the Wind Wolf was revealed. It was most definitely a threat to his life. Then, he felt his Wind Wolf imprint be scorchingly hot almost instantly. Through his Discerning Eye, he could sense his bloodline imprint''s yearning for the Heart of the Wind Wolf, as if it wanted to merge with it.


    The Heart of the Wind Wolf was not part of the knowledge Wang Yanfeng had imparted to him, so he didn��t know exactly what it was. However, the fact that it could intimidate a seventh-order powerhouse showed its immense significance to the Wind Wolf lineage.


    As the battle in the town gradually ceased, Tang San found it challenging to continue taking advantage of the chaos. He only had the opportunity when both sides were engaged in battle. Even so, he had devoured the bloodline power of seven or eight Wind Wolves and sh Leopards in this brief period.


    One hundred and sixty breaths had passed. It was time for him to leave.


    At the same time, Tang San was secretly astonished at the Redemption Society.


    The tiger man had told him to leave after three hundred breaths. Yet this time, the strength of the sh Leopard n''s warriors was clearly more than enough to level Wind Wolf Town. The town would have likely been doomed if it hadn��t been for the High Priest��s desperate measures.


    With that in mind, it appeared that the tiger man had determined from the beginning that the sh Leopards�� attack would not be able to eradicate Wind Wolf Town. Because if Wind Wolf Town were destroyed, then Wang Yanfeng and his group, as vassals of the Wind Wolves, would also be killed without a doubt.


    The Redemption Society seemed to understand both parties'' situations when making their ns. They probably expected that the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town could produce this glowing orb.


    At this moment, Shan Ling coldly said, ��You bring out the Heart of the Wind Wolf and think it will stop us from rescuing our nsmen? Do you think the grudge of hunting our younglings can be so easily settled? You should know the consequences of your actions. When this esctes to the Ancestral Court, the Wind Wolf lineage will be severely punished.��


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town took a deep breath, knowing that this matter would not be quickly resolved. The faultpletelyy with the greed of the Wind Wolf Town Lord.


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town said solemnly, ��For this matter, we are at fault. I admit that. But you have also killed many of our people. I can hand over the surviving younglings of your n to you as long as you are willing to retreat.��


    Shan Ling was furious. ��And you think that will do? The chief culprit gets away? Do you know what you are doing? If you insist on this, even if it means all my people die in battle here today, I will destroy everything and seek justice at the Ancestral Court. Do you think we��re afraid of you? We were enemies anyway, and now that you killed our children, you better be sure that we��ll take this all the way to the end!��


    A determined light flickered in the eyes of the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town. She ascended from where the Lord of Wind Wolf Town was and floated to the side, steadying herself by using wind elemental energy.


    ��Fine, I will give you some justice. Feng Xiong, leave. As the High Priest, I dere that you are stripped of your position as the town lord from this moment. From now on, you are no longer the leader of Wind Wolf Town. And your actions henceforth have nothing to do with our Wind Wolf lineage.��


    The Lord of Wind Wolf Town was taken aback.


    ��High Priest, you...�� His eyes surged with blood.


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town roared, ��Do you want to see everything in Wind Wolf Town destroyed because of your stupidity? Piss off now!��


    Realizing something, Feng Xiong clenched his teeth and swiftly darted away toward the distance.


    Shan Ling moved almost instantly, using the Leopard sh, intending to intercept Feng Xiong.


    But at that moment, a wall of wind suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path.


    Shan Ling''s gaze turned icy as he looked at the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town and coldly asked, ��What is the meaning of this?��


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town spoke calmly, "I can sense that some of your young ones are still alive. Shouldn��t you go rescue them first?"


    Shan Ling''s eyes narrowed slightly. Meanwhile, thanks to the lingering effects of the High Priest''s bloodline enhancement, Lord Feng Xiong of Wind Wolf Town had already run several hundred meters away.


    "You, very well!" A fierce light shone in Shan Ling''s eyes, but he truly feared the Heart of the Wind Wolf in the hands of the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town. Even he, as a seventh-order demon, would be severely injured if it exploded. More importantly, no matter what he said, he couldn''t bear the responsibility of inciting a full-scale war between the two ns.


    "Out of respect for the Heart of the Wind Wolf, I''ll give him a hundred breaths. Within that time, I won''t pursue him. After a hundred breaths, if you obstruct my path again, it will be a fight to the death. Everyone, withdraw from Wind Wolf Town!"


    As Shan Ling spoke, he swiftly waved his right forelimb, and the sh Leopards in the town swiftly receded like water.


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town''s gaze remained unchanged, silently holding the Heart of the Wind Wolf in her hand, quietly observing everything.


    Shan Ling looked at the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town, his eyes still narrowed, "Although your cultivation isn��t powerful, to be able to summon the Heart of the Wind Wolf, your bloodline must be pure. You''re not a simple Wind Wolf. Why are you here?"


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town replied indifferently, "If I still had my cultivation from the past, do you think you could be so arrogant in front of me?"


    Shan Ling paused, looking at the aged face before him, seemingly realizing something. However, he didn''t speak further. He just silently counted the hundred breaths in his mind.

 Chapter 58: Devouring Feng Xiong

    <h4>Chapter 58: Devouring Feng Xiong</h4>


    As he darted out of Wind Wolf Town at full speed, Feng Xiong��s heart was filled with rage and unwillingness.


    <i>''How was I discovered? How could this have happened?''</i>


    He understood that the High Priest had exiled him in order to save his life. If he had continued to fight with that seventh-order sh Leopard, he would have undoubtedly died. And worst of all was that the opponent had caught him red-handed.


    His only option now was to flee. No matter how fast the sh Leopard was, he couldn''t be more familiar with the area than Feng Xiong. Moreover, with the blessing of the wind element, he could sprint for a long distance, possibly even faster than the sh Leopard. The wind element could also conceal his bloodline aura.


    However, he could feel the bloodline power, previously stimted to the sixth order, gradually waning. The pain from his wounds was persistent, and although he hadn''t lost much blood, he was still affected. But he couldn''t stop under any circumstances; he had to escape from here quickly. Only then could he stay alive.


    With all his might, he elerated and dashed into the forest. Feng Xiong''s n was simple: head to the Wind Spirit Stone mine, where there was a tunnel. It had been excavated precisely as a contingency n, and the construction was overseen by the High Priest herself.


    Within that tunnel, there were many forks, like abyrinth. Feng Xiong would be safe if he could reach the Wind Spirit Stone mine and enter the tunnel. The wind element of the Wind Spirit Stones could also better hide his presence.


    Just as Feng Xiong was confident of his direction and preparing to head to the Wind Spirit Stone mine, a sudden indescribable feeling struck him. He instantly stopped.


    A streak of green light shed in front of it like lightning. Had Feng Xiong not slowed down just then, the light would have sliced right across his throat.


    "Who''s there?" Feng Xiong roared.


    <i>Wind de, that was a wind de! Could it be that someone from the Wind Wolf n is ambushing me?</i>


    From behind arge tree, a figure slowly emerged. The small, slender figure surprised Feng Xiong.


    It was a human.


    <i>A human? And such a young one?</i>


    Feng Xiong didn''t even recognize the child, but he assumed that he was a vassal of the n from somewhere.


    Yes, the one blocking its path was none other than Tang San!


    Tang San mumbled to himself, ��Yep, fifty breaths should be enough. Twenty breaths to kill him and a bit of time left for devouring. Time is tight, but it should be sufficient.��


    While speaking, his hands were already in motion. Under Feng Xiong''s shocked gaze, streaks of emerald-green wind des were rapidly unleashed, each over a foot wide. A total of eighteen wind des flew into the air unrestrained.


    Unlike the usually quiet des that Tang San used, these ones produced a shrill whistling sound. The wind element in the air seemed to respond to the call of the wind des, rapidly converging into them.


    In the eyes of the young man, Feng Xiong saw a glimmer of golden-purple light.


    He let out an angry wolf howl and suddenly elerated. At this moment, his cultivation had not only fallen back from the sixth to the fifth order, but it even felt weaker than usual due to the bloodline stimtion he had gone through.


    Of course, Feng Xiong wasn''t afraid of the human boy before him, but even a small obstruction could prove to be fatal when his pursuer was a seventh-order sh Leopard.


    Thus, Feng Xiong��s instinctive response was to seek a quick and decisive battle.


    A burst of green light shot out from behind Feng Xiong, and for a moment, every strand of his fur seemed to turn emerald green. With a fierce gleam in its eyes, the former Lord of Wind Wolf Town charged directly at Tang San, ignoring the eighteen wind des that seemed to scatter aimlessly in the air.


    As the Lord of Wind Wolf Town, born with the innate talent of wind de, he had a strong resistance to the wind element.


    Feng Xiong wasn''t apprehensive about the attack of these wind des. Even if they could harm him, the damage wouldn��t be anything major.


    Its sole thought now was to quickly kill this human boy and then escape as fast as possible. At this moment, it didn''t even have the time to ponder how a human boy could unleash so many wind des without even undergoing the Wind Wolf Transformation.


    Watching Feng Xiong charge directly at him, there was a hint of disdain on Tang San��s face while his eyes filled with loathing.


    His mother in this world had died at the hands of this fucker and the High Priest. Tang San admitted he couldn''t handle the sixth-order High Priest. Still, he was confident dealing with a seriously injured fifth-order Wind Wolf whose bloodline power was rapidly weakening.


    He could clearly sense Feng Xiong��s bloodline aura changes through his Discerning Eye. He had followed the wolf demon all this way and chosen to make his move here because he had the confidence to pull through.


    Facing Feng Xiong''s direct charge, Tang San didn''t evade. Instead, he met the attack head-on. His body shed with a yellow light, and in an instant, he crossed a distance of twenty meters, appearing right in front of Feng Xiong before thetter had even moved five meters.


    <i>Leopard sh!</i>


    This was the first time Tang San was using the Leopard sh in actualbat after enhancing it to the fourth order.


    Feng Xiong''s eyes were filled with disbelief. It couldn''t understand how a human could use both the Wind de and the Leopard sh.


    And then a fist erged in its vision.


    With a loud thud, Tang San��s punchnded savagely on Feng Xiong��s eye.


    The momentum of the lunge came to an abrupt halt, but a pair of wolf ws still reached out to Tang San. At the same time, wind energy burst forth from Feng Xiong''s body, attempting to push Tang San away.


    The light in Tang San''s eyes red, and as Feng Xiong released wind energy, a sh of purple light sparkled in Tang San''s eyes.


    Feng Xiong felt a sharp pain in his brain, and the wind energy he had just released instantly dispersed.


    Under normal circumstances, with its bloodline talent, even if Tang San used his abilities with the Discerning Eye, it would have been impossible for him to wrest control of the wind element from Feng Xiong. After all, the bloodline talents of the demon race granted significant control over the elements, not to mention the gap in cultivation levels.


    However, when Feng Xiong��s brain was impacted, it could no longer control the wind. Under Tang San''s influence, the energy swiftly dispersed.


    In that moment of daze, the eighteen wind des had already returned, whistling through the air.


    Hundred Birds Homing Strike!


    All these wind des relentlessly struck Feng Xiong in the back of the neck, one less than a tenth of a second after the other!


    The surface of Feng Xiong''s fur kept flickering with a green light as it tried to resist the invasion of the wind elemental energy. But the relentless attacks were too much to withstand.


    Meanwhile, Tang San''s hands firmly grasped the wolf demon��s front paws.


    Just as Feng Xiong regained consciousness, he felt a sharp pain in his neck. He struggled to protect himself but found his front paws immobilized, as if cast in bronze and iron, unable to break free.


    In terms of physical strength, even if Tang San reached the fifth order, without any unique enhancement, it would be difficult for him topete with a demon of the same order. After all, the demons had formidable physical strength to begin with, and their bloodline abilities only improved that strength.


    However, he didn''t need to control Feng Xiong for too long. With the Mysterious Jade Handsbined with the Ironhide Shield of the Rhino n, he had no problem holding onto the wolf demon��s limbs for a short time. Moreover, the Mysterious Heaven Technique was already activated from the first moment, and Tang San��s energy forcefully devoured the bloodline energy of Feng Xiong.


    When the first surge of Feng Xiong''s bloodline energy entered Tang San''s body, he instantly felt a difference.


    The bloodline energy of Feng Xiong was much purer than any Wind Wolf bloodline he had devoured before, and the energy was incredibly refined. So refined, in fact, that just as he began to devour it, the Wind Wolf bloodline imprint inside him instantly burst out with a dazzling emerald-green light, casting a faint green halo over Tang San.


    <i>Thud! Thud!</i>


    A series of dull cutting sounds echoed as wind de after wind de struck Feng Xiong.

 Chapter 59: The Bloodline of the Wind Wolf King

    <h4>Chapter 59: The Bloodline of the Wind Wolf King</h4>


    Feng Xiong��s ws dug deeply into the ground as the sessive wind des struck him in the exact same spot. His coat of fur was finally cut open, and he was struggling desperately. On the second strike, he almost threw Tang San off. However, the powerful blows on the nape of his neck were too much to bear.


    When the tenth wind de struck, the muscles at the back of his head were severed, causing his majestic stature to crumble.


    When the fifteenth wind de fell, his spine waspletely severed.


    Tang San''s eyes shimmered as he dispelled thest three wind des. At this moment, Feng Xiong was on the brink of death, hanging on to hisst breath. He couldn''t let the wolf��s head be severed, as that would affect the devouring of his bloodline.


    From start to finish, the battle hadsted only ten breaths. It looked simple, but Tang San had exhausted all his strength.


    He had used all four of his bloodline imprint abilities, along with the unique techniques of the Tang Sect.


    The fight was incredibly short, and this was due to Feng Xiong''s response.


    Tang San could have stayed hidden in the shadows while releasing the wind des, but he chose to appear in front of Feng Xiong purposely. Shock and surprise yed a key role in this fight.


    He was just a nine-year-old human child, a seemingly insignificant creature. Humans were not usually regarded highly by any demon, and one so young would be all the more underestimated. His small stature waspletely disproportionatepared to Feng Xiong��s massive height, which naturally led Feng Xiong to underestimate him.


    When Feng Xiong had been expelled, Tang San had been nearby, observing the wolf demon��s condition through the Discerning Eye. Naturally, he chose the most opportune moment to strike.


    Feng Xiong''s first instinct had been to bolt away, but he had never imagined that such an insignificant-looking opponent would be so formidable.


    Tang San unleashed his full might without reservation, leveraging his peak fourth-order strength, the battle experience of a once-God King, psychological tactics, and the devouring ability of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. The fact that he could swiftly subdue someone like Feng Xiong, injured and weakened though he was, was only due to these multiple factors.


    With the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s power fully activated, he devoured the bloodline power within Feng Xiong and thest bit of the wolf demon��s life force.


    The light in Feng Xiong''s eyes gradually dimmed, and his body shriveled. In contrast, Tang San felt a flood-like surge of bloodline power rushing into his body.


    Suddenly, his aura surged dramatically, and a series of crackling sounds emanated from his bones.


    <i>Breakthrough!</i>


    Indeed, by devouring Feng Xiong''s bloodline power, he had broken through the peak of the fourth order and entered the fifth order!


    Not only had the Mysterious Heaven Technique broken through to the next order, but the Wind de bloodline imprint within him was also transforming, changing from its original light green to a darker shade, and its glow was intensifying more and more.


    <i>The bloodline of this Feng Xiong is not the same as that of ordinary Wind Wolves!</i> Tang San made this judgment instantly.


    Could it be because it is a Lord?


    Although it was his first time devouring the bloodline power of a fifth-order Wind Wolf, based on his experience of consuming third and fourth-order Wind Wolves, the fifth-order should be much stronger, but not to such a tremendous degree.


    Simply put, the bloodline power of ordinary Wind Wolves contained impurities, and the energy vortex of the Mysterious Heaven Technique would transform and filter the bloodline during the devouring process. In contrast, Feng Xiong''s bloodline power was almost directly devoured by the Wind de imprint without filtering. In other words, his bloodline power was extremely pure.


    Compared to a normal Wind Wolf, it was like the difference between pure water and sewage. And in addition to its purity, the bloodline power was also abundant.


    Feng Xiong��s bloodline power exceeded even the total of all the Wind Wolf bloodline imprints Tang San had devoured before. Initially, he had thought that to break through the fifth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, devouring a single fifth-order demon might not be enough, but this time, he had seeded in one fell swoop. This showed that Feng Xiong''s bloodline was extraordinary.


    Regardless of why this was the case, the important thing was that he had seeded.


    That day, when he formted a n with the tiger man and secured three hundred breaths of time, Tang San had his own scheme in mind.


    He came out early to fish in troubled waters, seizing this opportunity to enhance his own strength.


    He hadn��t actually coveted the bloodline power of the Lord of Wind Wolf Town from the get-go. He wasn''tpletely sure he could take down a fifth-order Feng Xiong��there was a difference of an entire order, and he didn''t have the abilities from his previous life, making it very difficult to defeat the physically strong wolf demon. In addition, the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town was also there, so he couldn��t approach Feng Xiong even if he wanted to.


    Therefore, he just wanted to take advantage of the chaos to absorb some of the bloodline power of a bunch of Wind Wolves and sh Leopards.


    And indeed, that was what he had been doing all along.


    When Feng Xiong was exiled, however, and its aura fell drastically due to that forced bloodline activation, Tang San immediately sensed an opportunity.


    Such opportunities were extremely rare.


    Sooner orter, he would have to face the peril of challenging a fifth-order demon while being only at the peak of the fourth order. After all, only by devouring a fifth-order bloodline could he break through to the fifthyer of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. So what better opportunity than this present moment? He had the time, so he went with the flow.


    And this flow carried him all the way to sess.


    He couldn''t afford to digest and absorb the energy he had devoured from Feng Xiong right now. Fortunately, when the Mysterious Heaven Technique broke through to the fifth order, it automatically absorbed a lot of energy. Even so, the excessive energy radiated from his body, enveloping him in green light, and the fifth-order Wind de imprint inside him clearly advanced a great deal within the fifth order.


    Once he extracted all the energy he could get from Feng Xiong, Tang San felt inside Feng Xiong''s clothing and quickly found a small bag, likely containing coins. He didn''t have time to check, so he just swiftly put the bag into his own bosom.


    Using his energy vortex, he suppressed the Wind de imprint. At the same time, he activated the sh Leopard imprint, turning into a rapidly flickering yellow light.


    The yellow light rapidly circled around Feng Xiong''s corpse for several rounds, consuming some of the power of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Then, Tang San determined a direction and activated Leopard sh, darting away in the most energy-expensive manner he could imagine.


    Less than ten breaths after he left, two figures descended from the sky.


    A yellow light flickered, much like Tang San��s own, and a sh Leopardnded beside Feng Xiong''s corpse.


    Seeing the body, the powerful seventh-order sh Leopard��s eyes widened in surprise.


    Following closely, the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town arrived at the scene, supported by a whirlwind.


    Upon seeing Feng Xiong''s corpse sprawled on the ground, the High Priest let out a piercing cry of grief and immediately rushed over, the Wind Wolf Heart in her hand fluctuating wildly.


    "Who, who killed him?! Who?!��


    The howl from the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town was so piercing that it could be heard clearly even ten miles away.


    Shan Ling said without hesitation, ��It wasn''t me!��.


    Upon seeing Feng Xiong''s death, its first reaction was relief, then confusion. Although this Wind Wolf Town Lord hadn''t broken through the sixth order, he was still at the peak of the fifth order. How could he die here in such a short time?


    Earlier, he had been confronting the High Priest in Wind Wolf Town, but before the established hundred breaths had ended, the High Priest''s expression changed dramatically, and she had quickly fled in this direction.


    Although Shang Ling didn''t know what had happened, he had naturally followed suit. Relying on his perception of Feng Xiong''s aura, he had arrived ahead of the High Priest, only to find Feng Xiong''s corpse.


    When the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town looked up again, her eyes were filled with hatred. She roared almost crazily, ��sh Leopard, it was your n''s doing. Do you realize what you''ve done? Do you know that Feng Xiong carries the bloodline of the Wind Wolf King?!��


    While also shocked, Shan Ling replied, ��I already said I didn''t do it! I don''t know who freaking did it!"


    <i>The bloodline of the Wind Wolf King?! Why the hell is the Wind Wolf King''s descendant a minor lord here?!</i>

 Chapter 60: Mei Gongzi, I Am Coming For You

    <h4>Chapter 60: Mei Gongzi, I Am Coming For You</h4>


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town breathed heavily. Despite being old, she forcibly stabilized her emotions and suddenly swallowed the Wind Wolf Heart she held.


    Instantly, her entire body began to tremble violently. Her aura, which had been around the seventh order, rapidly fell to the sixth order, then further down to the fifth order before gradually settling. She also appeared increasingly aged.


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town continuously emitted low roars and cries of grief, but Feng Xiong''s already shriveled corpse showed no sign of life whatsoever.


    Shan Ling stood nearby, his eyes flickering with light, feeling that he should leave this ce as soon as possible. The High Priest of this town and the deceased lord seemed to be much more significant characters than he had thought!


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town slowly stood up, her gaze burning into Shan Ling. Then, she took a deep breath, and the gaze in her eyes, which had dimmed, deepened for some reason. It seemed as if she wanted to etch the appearance of this seventh-order sh Leopard into its memory.


    A whirlwind emanated from the High Priest��s hands, lifting the body of Feng Xiong, the deceased Lord of Wind Wolf Town. With the corpse in tow, she slowly flew toward Wind Wolf Town.


    Shan Ling took a couple of steps but ultimately stopped. After a moment of thought, he turned the opposite way and swiftly left.


    His purpose foring here had been achieved: he had rescued the surviving sh Leopard younglings, the main culprit was dead, and quite a few Wind Wolves had been killed.


    The only unclear aspect for Shan Ling was regarding the High Priest of Wind Wolf Town and the deceased Wind Wolf Lord, who definitely had something special about them. He wasn��t worried, however. No matter how special these two were, the sh Leopards had the high moral ground and the legal justification. With that in mind, he decided to return and report to his n first.


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town, holding the body of the Wind Wolf Lord, slowly flew back to the town, all the way to the altar, where she gently ced Feng Xiong''s body in the center.


    She started muttering something, and as she chanted, the redness in her eyes grew deeper and more intense.


    The altar began to tremble slowly, with green light patterns gradually emerging on its surface. Atop the altar, Feng Xiong''s body also emitted an emerald-green light intermixed with patches of faint gold.


    "Great Wind Wolf King, your offspring has been in. With the blood of your descendant as a sacrifice, I beseech you, give justice to us, mother and child!"


    The High Priest of Wind Wolf Town let out a piercing roar to the sky, and a bright green light with a blood-red tinge shot up into the sky, instantly turning into a huge green and red light column.


    The entire Wind Wolf Town trembled violently when this green and red light column appeared.


    Inside the wooden house, Wang Yanfeng, who had been on high alert after the sh Leopard invasion, was shocked to see the light column shooting into the sky. Gazing in the direction of the altar, he was momentarily dazed.


    Whether it was him, Qiu Jing, the three Wang brothers, or Ling Muxue, at this moment, they all felt their bloodlines simmering, and even their emotions were affected.


    <i>What exactly is this?</i>


    ***


    <i>Five kilometers west of Wind Wolf Town.</i>


    Tang Sannded gracefully on the ground. As he looked around, a figure emerged from behind arge tree��the tiger man from the Redemption Society.


    The tiger man gestured to Tang San, who quickly followed.


    "Let''s go!"


    Without saying much, the tiger man led Tang San away toward the distance.


    At that moment, the tiger man sensed something, and he abruptly stopped and turned around.


    Tang San felt the Wind Wolf imprint within him throbbing.


    When he turned back, he saw a huge green light column rising into the sky from the direction of Wind Wolf Town, intermingled with strands of blood-red as if it was contaminated.


    "Such intense resentment... What is this..." The tiger man��s eyes widened. "Let''s go, we should leave quickly. It seems that something unexpected happened in Wind Wolf Town."


    Saying this, he grabbed Tang San''s arm and quickly darted away.


    ***


    <i>Kali City. The Wind Wolf Ancestral House.</i>


    In a room adorned with various rare furs, an elderly Wind Wolfy reclining in a lounge chair.


    Suddenly, his body trembled violently, and he sat up straight.


    This elderly Wind Wolf stood about two meters tall, with a robust and imposing figure in spite of his advanced age. Strikingly, he actually looked almost entirely human, except for his pale green skin and emerald-green hair. Each strand of hair emitted a faint green glow, and his deep green eyes were as profound as bottomless pools.


    A deep roar echoed from his mouth. "Who dares to touch my offspring?!"


    In the next instant, the entire Wind Wolf Ancestral House trembled.


    ***


    <i>On the side of Kali City Center Square. The Mei Gongzi Milk Tea Shop.</i>


    Mei Gongzi, her mother, and a female employee were all busy. They had a clear division ofbor: Mei Gongzi''s mother made the milk tea, Mei Gongzi handled the cash, and the female employee served the milk tea to the customers.


    Every evening was their busiest time. Kali Square also became more lively around this time. Of course, only members of the powerful ns of Kali City would be active in this area.


    "Ah��" The female employee suddenly eximed in surprise.


    Mei Gongzi didn''t react much, but her mother, Su Qin, instinctively turned her head to look and was also startled.


    A sturdy Wind Wolf who had just bought milk tea suddenly shone with a bright green light.


    This green light also attracted Mei Gongzi''s attention.


    Before they could ask what was going on, the Wind Wolf suddenly turned around and sprinted away, not even bothering to take the milk tea it had already paid for.


    At Kali Square, the few Wind Wolves present suddenly illuminated the night like green-litmps; all of them, without exception, elerated and quickly headed in the direction of the Wind Wolf Ancestral Home.


    ***


    Two dayster, two figures, onerge and one small appeared not far from the gates of Kali City.


    Both walked toward the city gate with their heads lowered.


    The smaller human quietly lifted his head to look at the tall city tower ahead, and the corner of his mouth curled up into a smile.


    <i>Kali City, here Ie. Mei Gongzi, I''ming!</i>

 Chapter 61: Entering Kali City Again

    <h4>Chapter 61: Entering Kali City Again</h4>


    <i>Outside Kali City.</i>


    The tiger man stopped and quietly removed his mask, revealing the middle-aged face that Tang San had seen before.


    From a distance, they could already see the tall walls of Kali City and the towering mountains on either side.


    When he first came here, Tang San noticed the temperature and energy level difference between inside and outside the city walls. As one of the main cities of the demon race, the prosperity of this city left a deep impression on him. Of course, it was a prosperity that humans could not really partake in.


    The tiger man handed a token over and said, ��Tang San, take this. "


    Tang San took the token and saw it was green, carved from wind spirit stone, and of higher quality than any he had seen. One side was carved with a wolf''s head, while the other had engraved a few words in the characters of the demonnguage.


    It likely recorded his name and affiliation. Naturally, it was the Wind Wolf n, but it was no longer the n branch living in the small Wind Wolf Town. Instead, it was the Wind Wolf Ancestral House in Kali City.


    Without a doubt, this was an official vassal token. With this token, Tang San now had a formal status in the world of the demon race, which protected him from being arbitrarily in by demons.


    "Remember, from now on, you are a human vassal of the Wind Wolf Ancestral House. Your parents also serve the Wind Wolf King as vassals in the Ancestral House, so you received a vassal''s status at a young age. If you''re questioned, just say that. This vassal identity token is genuine and can withstand scrutiny. Don''t panic if you encounter any patrols.


    "You don''t need to go to the Wind Wolf Ancestral House. This is just an identity token prepared to match your Demonic God Transformation," the tiger man exined.


    "Senior, how should I address you?" Tang San asked.


    Hearing Tang San address him as ��senior,�� the tiger man was visibly startled, evidently unustomed to this address.


    "Senior? I guess you can call me that, yeah. My name is Zhang Tianxiao, and I am affiliated with the Redemption Society of Kali City," the tiger man said with a smile.


    "Does this mean I am now a part of the Redemption Society?" Tang San asked.


    Zhang Tianxiao shook his head and replied, "The organization still needs to conduct a series of assessments on you. Of course, the most important is your training. The organization chose you at such a young age because of your talent. In your uing studies and cultivation, you must give it your all. It''s pointless to speak of grand principles now. Don''t you want to avenge your mother? For that, you need greater strength. And to protect yourself, you also need strength."


    "Understood," Tang San nodded.


    Zhang Tianxiao led Tang San into Kali City. The city gate was no different from thest time he was there. They walked along the edge of the road, actively avoiding the demons strolling along.


    Inside Kali City, the temperature was much warmer than outside, and it felt cozy andfortable. The city was still bustling with activity, filled with various types of demons as far as the eye could see.


    Different demon races'' status could be discerned by the part of the streets that they walked on. Those daring to walk in the center of the roads were usually from stronger demon races. Of course, they also actively made way if they encountered even stronger races. There was a clear hierarchy among the demon races, and it seemed that it was well-respected.


    "Senior, where are we going now?" Tang San asked quietly.


    Zhang Tianxiao nced at him and said, "To the academy."


    "Academy?"


    Tang San was momentarily stunned. This word held significant meaning for him!


    In his previous life in the Douluo Continent, the academy he joined in his youthter became the top academy on the continent due to the excellence of their batch of disciples. He still clearly remembered the slogan of that academy: <i>Shrek only epts monsters.</i>


    Aftering to the Daemon Continent, he had never imagined that there would also be academies in this world.


    Surprised by this, Tang San inquired, ��An academy for demons? I thought the demon races all followed a family inheritance."


    Zhang Tianziao exined, ��Back when you lived in that remote town, your understanding of this world was limited. Of course, demon races have their academies, and there are clear rankings. But not all demons are eligible to enter these academies. The academies of the demon races are open only to the nobles of various demon ns. It��s not only a matter of ss, either, the cost is also exceptionally high. But the academy I''m taking you to is not one of the demon academies, it��s our own. Redemption Academy!"


    Tang San was startled. "Redemption Academy? The Redemption Society has its own academy?"


    This was truly beyond his expectations. He had seen clearly over the years what status humans held.


    <i>Could Redemption Society, resistance organizations, and even human vassals affiliated with demon ns have their own academy? </i>Zhang Tianxiao had mentioned that not everyone, even among the demons, could study in an academy.


    Zhang Tianxiao smiled mysteriously and said, "You''ll see when we arrive. Redemption Society has existed for many years; we always have our ways. Otherwise, wouldn''t we have perished long ago? To survive in front of such powerful demon ns, we naturally have some means."


    Kali City was vast. Although he had been here once, Tang San was unfamiliar with the terrain. However, Zhang Tianxiao was very familiar with it. He walked briskly, leading Tang San through streets and alleys within the city.


    After walking for an hour and a half, ording to Tang San''s sense of direction, they were now somewhere in the eastern district of Kali City, fairly close to the city center.


    Zhang Tianxiao slowed his pace.


    Tang San observed his surroundings. He noticed that the street they were walking on was very wide. To the right, or east side of the street,y the foothills of rolling mountains. These mountains formed natural walls to the sides of Kali City. The foothills extended downward into the city, and the edge of these foothills was precisely where they were now.


    On the hillside, structures were built on various heights. Around these structures, trees of many different kinds stood tall, enveloping the buildings within.


    Zhang Tianxiao exined as they walked, "The most prosperous and prestigious area of Kali City is the city center, where only the ancestral homes of the major families are built. Apart from the city center, the eastern side is the most affluent area. It''s generally inhabited by nobles who are independent of the ns. For instance, if you are of the noble ss from the Wind Wolf n, you can buy and build your own house without depending on the n. The demon nobles in this area are also the wealthiest.��.


    Tang San memorized his words carefully, knowing this information was crucial for understanding how things worked in Kali City. After all, he knew he would probably live here for a long time. He was only nine years old, so it would be hard for him to leave on his own, not to mention that he was aware that Mei Gongzi was in this city, so he didn��t want to leave anyway. Learning more about his surroundings and getting a deeper understanding of the demon ns was very important.


    The two continued forward, and in the distance, Tang San saw a dense forest. It wasn''t until they approached the forest that Tang San noticed a wide avenue extending into its center.


    As they entered the forest area along the avenue, he immediately felt the air around them be fresher, and the elemental energy more abundant andfortable.

 Chapter 62: Kali Academy

    <h4>Chapter 62: Kali Academy</h4>


    The concentration of elemental energy within Kali City was already richer than in the outside world, and here, it was even more concentrated than in other areas of the city that he had visited. Cultivating in such a ce would yield twice the result with half the effort. Indeed, it was a great ce!


    After walking for about ten minutes, Tang San could feel the terrain undting upward. Far away, a tall wall appeared before them. These towering courtyard walls, built from the trunks of giant trees, were about fifteen meters high,pletely obscuring the view inside from the outside.


    In front were tworge gates, thergest Tang San had seen in this world aside from the city gates of Kali City.


    The gates were even taller than the adjacent walls. A colossal que hung at the top, bearing several engraved characters.


    Tang San read out the words. ��Kali Academy!��


    Zhang Tianxiao nodded and said, "Correct, this is Kali Academy. It''s the highest-level academy in all of Kali City. A higher education institution exists in every main city of the demon and nymph ns. Only those with exceptional talent or nobility are qualified to study here. The higher academy has many entry requirements, including age, cultivation level, background, and bloodline. Only those who meet these criteria are eligible to enroll."


    "Is this our Redemption Society Academy?�� Tang San asked, puzzled.


    Zhang Tianxiao''s mouth twitched slightly. "Ha, I wish it was. If we had such an academy, would humans still be vassals? Come with me."


    Saying this, he pulled Tang San along, not continuing toward Kali Academy but instead taking a modest path into the mountains.


    Walking through the forest, they followed the outer walls of Kali Academy. After a long walk along the wall and continuing uphill, they seemed to have circled to the back side of the academy. In the distance, a cluster of houses came into Tang San''s view.


    Due to the tall walls, Tang San couldn''t see the interior of Kali Academy. But the wooden houses before him felt familiar; they were simr to the buildings in Wind Wolf Town.


    These wooden houses were just outside the thick walls of Kali Academy. As Tang San followed Zhang Tianxiao closer, he immediately noticed that the area was predominantly inhabited by humans.


    Some people saw Zhang Tianxiao returning and greeted him with a smile.


    "Old Zhang, you''re back. How about a drink tonight?"


    "Not now, just got back, a bit tired," Zhang Tianxiao replied cheerfully.


    "Tired? Did you get up to some mischief? Hahaha!"


    The atmosphere here was surprisingly rxed. Walking into this area, which was like a small town, Tang San saw that it was popted entirely by humans.


    He suddenly felt like he was in a different world.


    The number of humans living here was not small, there were at least a few thousand. To his surprise, all these thousands of people didn''t have the numbness typical of ves. Most of them appeared calm andposed, just like the humans he��d known in his previous lives.


    <i>Thousands of people! Are they all vassals? Are there this many vassals in Kali City?</i>


    The atmosphere here waspletely different from anywhere else. At least here, humans walked with their backs straight.


    "This ce. Is it..." Tang San was just about to say something when his voice was silenced by a hand ced on his mouth.


    "The name I told you, it''s enough that only you know it. Don''t speak it out loud, understand?" Zhang Tianxiao said softly.


    "Mhm," Tang San nodded.


    As they walked, Zhang Tianxiao led him into the town. ��Are you curious about why there are so many people here and they''re not ves?"


    Tang San nodded.


    Zhang Tianxiao said, "This town exists because of Kali Academy. For both the demon and nymph ns, nurturing their offspring is paramount. Higher education institutions hold a high status among these two ns. Almost every higher academy is headed by the city''s lord. The highest level of educational institutions is in the Sanctum Spiritus City, overseen directly by the ancestral court. Therefore, the level of Kali Academy is even above the city lord''s mansion. Regardless of race, any demon n member who can pass the entrance examination to study is an elite. Our town exists to serve Kali Academy. Do you understand?"


    Tang San suddenly realized why the town was dependent on Kali Academy. Indeed, such arge academy would require vast resources and services. Although humanscked innate abilities, only gaining some strength through Demonic God Transformation, their clever minds and skilled hands made them well-suited to serve as vassals for the academy.


    He also understood why the so-called Redemption Academy could exist here. Namely, the Redemption Society could maintain its presence here with the prestigious academy as a cover. It was clearly one of their most important strongholds.


    Zhang Tianxiao led Tang San to a wooden house deep within the town and pushed open the courtyard door.


    He brought Tang San into the wooden house, instructed him to rest for a while, and then left.


    After Zhang Tianxiao left, Tang San observed his surroundings. The wooden house was simply furnished but had all the necessary living supplies.


    The elemental energy here was vibrant. Although he didn��t know how itpared to the inside of Kali Academy, it was undoubtedly much more potent than in Wind Wolf Town and even richer than in other parts of Kali City.


    <i>How far was this ce from Mei Gongzi''s tea shop in the city center? </i>Once he settled down, he nned to find out.


    Tang San sat down in silence, thinking to himself.


    Thousands of human vassals lived here. This ce was the first sanctuary for humans he had seen. At least, it was a sanctuarypared to the ces he had seen before.


    Not long after, Zhang Tianxiao returned. Apanying him was a tall, imposing man.


    This man appeared to be in histe thirties or forties, and he stood over two meters tall. His body clearly brimmed with muscles, and his bare arms were as thick as a normal person��s legs. His face was resolute, but his eyes were surprisingly calm.


    "Is he the one?" the tall man asked Zhang Tianxiao.


    Zhang Tianxiao, obviously respectful, replied, "Yes, I''ve tested him. If you''re not convinced, feel free to test him yourself."


    The middle-aged man nodded silently and said to Tang San, "Follow me."


    Tang San didn''t say much. Now that he was here, he had decided to go with the flow. He stood up and followed behind the middle-aged man and Zhang Tianxiao.


    The middle-aged man''s status in the town seemed to be high, as people greeted him actively along the way.


    <i>Mayor!</i>


    That was how people addressed him. This middle-aged man was the town''s mayor.


    Tang San thought that a human mayor, not someone sent by the demon ns, was somewhat unusual. But he didn''t ask further, simply following behind the middle-aged man.


    They arrived at a wooden house towards the back of the town, and the mayor and Zhang Tianxiao led Tang San inside.


    The wooden house had only minimal decoration, but everything in it exuded strong vitality.


    The mayor looked calmly at Tang San and said, "Introduce yourself, including what you''re good at."


    Tang San answered briefly, ��My name is Tang San; I am from Wind Wolf Town, nine years old. I have the Wind Wolf Transformation ability and I specialize in the Wind de ability."


    Hearing Tang San''s confident voice, the mayor''s eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked Zhang Tianxiao. "You said he''s at the fourth order?"


    Zhang Tianxiao nodded, "Yes. I''ve sparred with him. I could hardly withstand his wind des. The way he controls them is the most exquisite I''ve ever seen. I also asked Wang Yanfeng, and he said that Tang San might have encountered our society��s members a few years back and received some guidance. In any case, regardless of how he did it, to cultivate to the fourth order at such a young age, his talent is indeed remarkable."

 Chapter 63: Exposed

    <h4>Chapter 63: Exposed</h4>


    The mayor furrowed his brow in thought and said, "Alright. Leave him to me. You go and rest; you''ve worked hard. This situation is more troublesome than we anticipated. There''s significant activity at the Wind Wolf Ancestral House. Go and help Zheng Mengqi sort the trouble out."


    "Yes," Zhang Tianxiao respectfully bowed to the mayor and then turned to leave the wooden house.


    Once he left, only Tang San and the mayor remained in the wooden house.


    The mayor looked calmly at him, and Tang San returned the gaze with equal calmness.


    "Do you want to die or live?" the mayor asked suddenly.


    Tang San was startled, and the next moment, he felt a chill run down his spine. A tangible, powerful aura brimming with killing intent suddenly burst forth from the mayor sitting on the chair. This terrifying aura made the air around them turn icy cold, and even the light within the wooden house seemed to dim momentarily, as if they had been transported into a realm of shadows.


    Tang San instinctively took a half step back, rapidly circting the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique within. Although he didn''t know why the mayor was suddenly showing killing intent toward him, self-preservation was undoubtedly the most important thing right now.


    In the next instant, the mayor moved. He grasped at the air with his right hand, and simultaneously, a deep roar suddenly resounded beside Tang San''s ears.


    The roar was so sudden that Tang San felt his brain reel into dizziness.


    At that exact moment, Tang San''s Discerning Eye reacted instinctively, a faint golden hue appearing in his eyes. It helped him regain some rity. His energy cirction elerated, and he suddenly unleashed the Ironhide Shield.


    Facing a life-or-death situation, he dared not hold back. Relying on all his senses to guide him, he moved his hands before him, each drawing a semicircle.


    The gentle force of the Mysterious Heaven Technique redirected the sharp aura to the side. Meanwhile, Tang San''s body moved like lightning, employing the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and he dashed straight for the window.


    He chose the window over the door because it was closer.


    "Ah!" the mayor eximed softly.


    In the next instant, Tang San felt the air around him be scorching hot. Under his Discerning Eye, he was horrified to see that the air inside the wooden house was utterly filled with fire elemental energy, discing all other elements. An overwhelmingly powerful aura engulfed him, the intense heat instantly causing his clothes to dry until they seemed like they would catch on fire at any moment.


    His Mysterious Heaven Technique protected his body, ovepping with the Ironhide Shield, creating ayer of white light that acted like armor, resisting the scorching energy. At the same time, Tang San''s figure shed and he almost instantly reached the window.


    "You can''t escape," a deep voice sounded in his ears. In the next moment, the surrounding fire elements suddenly vanished, along with the intense heat. But in their ce came an overwhelming force of attraction, pulling his body backward through the air.


    At that moment, Tang San gave up resistance, his face showing a sense of resignation.


    There was no way to resist; it was aplete, overpowering difference in level. Even with his myriad skills, he could do nothing in face of such a disparity.


    The mayor had already stood up; in front of his chair, within the palm of his right hand, was a cluster of dark red light. The immense suction force emanating from this red glow pulled at Tang San, making it impossible for him to break free.


    "Fourth order? No, indeed, this is the early stage of the fifth order, right? To think that your cultivation would be this high..." the mayor said in surprise, looking at the child before him. Tang San was shocked to see the mayor��s cultivation level, but thetter was even more astonished.


    A nine-year-old human child being at the fourth order was already remarkable. As for being at the fifth order at that age, that was simply ridiculous.


    The mayor retracted his right hand, and Tang San stood before him. He looked somewhat pale, with a hint of fear in his eyes.


    Of course, this fear was feigned. Tang San had some guesses as to what was going on, and the only feeling in his heart right now was frustration.


    He shouldn''t have responded as he had just now. He had revealed too much.


    At this moment, his mind raced, contemting how to handle the situation.


    "You are not simple," the mayor said. He stared intently at Tang San, but deep in his eyes, there was also a hint of shock.


    Indeed, Tang San''s guess was correct. The mayor''s sudden attack was more of a probe. With his cultivation level, the mayor had sensed Tang San''s power the moment he hadid eyes on him. Though Tang San had been trying to suppress it, the massive difference in their levels and fluctuations in his energy and blood were impossible to conceal. At the very least, he could not conceal them with his current abilities.


    Thus, the mayor had released his killing intent and made a probing move. However, this test proved significant, as the potential and abilities Tang San disyed in the face of a life-and-death crisis truly surprised the mayor.


    Tang San simply lowered his head and remained silent.


    He inwardly sighed, acknowledging that since his rebirth, he had indeed been influenced by the inherent weaknesses of his body, impairing his judgment. If it were before, how could he have failed to realize that the other party was merely testing him?


    His Ironhide Shield and Leopard sh abilities had been exposed, and it was possible that his Discerning Eye had been revealed as well. These abilities, all appearing in one person,pletely contradicted the principles of the Demonic God Transformation!


    The mayor''s initially calm eyes now held unmistakeable curiosity, clearly stemming from what he had witnessed.


    "Speak up. What''s going on?" the mayor asked. "Howe you possess the abilities of several ns?"


    Tang San remained silent, head still lowered.


    The mayor sat back down and looked straight at Tang San��s face.


    "I only tested you because I sensed that your cultivation had reached the fifth order; there was no other intention. Demons can��t pretend they��re humans even if they want to. Also, we''ve investigated your background, and it''s clean. However, your abilities arepletely beyond the scope of our investigation."


    Tang San slowly raised his head, looking at the mayor, already formting a n.


    The worst-case scenario would be the mayor coveting his Mysterious Heaven Technique and trying to interrogate him using torture. In this case, Tang San��sst resort would be to trigger his divine consciousness, unleashing all his power. It might not destroy everything around, but escaping wouldn''t be an issue. He could even kill the mayor, even though thetter had a much higher level.


    But doing so would make it exceedingly difficult for him to establish himself in Kali City; this was the absolute worst case scenario.


    At any rate, his abilities had been revealed, so the first order of business was to produce a reasonable exnation.


    "Mayor, I didn''t mean to hide it. It''s just that my abilities are different from the normal Demonic God Transformation. I was afraid..."


    Tang San spoke hesitantly, knowing he had to act in this situation.


    "Does Wang Yanfeng know about this?" the mayor asked gravely.


    Tang San quickly said, "You''re the first to know."


    The mayor seemed to rx slightly. "Alright, tell me. How did you get these abilities?"


    Tang San began, "When I was young, I was ying in the forest one day and came across a severely injured human. Demons of the Wind Wolf n were pursuing him. I saw them fighting and was so scared that I hid behind a tree. Then I saw him kill several Wind Wolves that were chasing him, but he was also gravely injured."


    The mayor nodded, aware of Tang San''s encounter with a master in his childhood. He had heard this from Zhang Tianxiao''s report, which originated from Wang Yanfeng.

 Chapter 64: The Mayor鈥檚 Reaction

    <h4>Chapter 64: The Mayor��s Reaction</h4>


    Tang San continued, "I gathered my courage and went out to help him. Seeing that I was human, he told me he wouldn''t make it and handed me a book. He instructed me to join the Redemption Society in the future and to destroy the book after memorizing it."


    "A book?" the mayor asked, surprised. "What book?"


    Tang San exined, "The book was called <i>Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record</i>. It contained a cultivation method and a number of auxiliary arts. At that time, I hadn''t yet awakened the Demonic God Transformation. Later, I did as he said. I memorized the book''s contents, and then I burned it. Fearing I would forget, I recited it daily and gradually learned some unique abilities called the Mysterious Heaven Technique. At first, I didn''t know what it was for. Until one time, I identally touched a Wind Wolf and felt that the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s power was absorbing something from it. From that moment, I gained the Wind de ability."


    Listening to this, the mayor couldn''t help but grip the armrests of his chair tightly. However, he did not interrupt Tang San.


    Tang San kept a close eye on his interlocutor��s facial expression; in the mayor''s eyes, he did not see greed but rather nervousness and contemtion.


    "I continued to cultivate, and my Mysterious Heaven Technique improved. It seems to have nine levels, and each corresponds to an order of the demon ns. By touching and absorbing some abilities of the Wind Wolves, I learned to control the Wind de. But I can��t actually perform the true Wind Wolf Transformation. I passed the initial test for bing a Wind Wolf n vassal and I became Teacher Wang��s student, and I��ve been learning under his guidance until now. But in reality, I don��t really have a Wind Wolf Transformation at all; the fact that I can use the Wind de is only due to the Mysterious Heaven Technique."


    "And what method do you use to control the wind des? Did you also learn that from the book?" the mayor asked.


    Tang San nodded, "Yes."


    "Do you remember the name of the person who gave you the book?" the mayor inquired.


    "He seemed to be called Zhu Jiaxin," Tang San replied.


    "Zhu Jiaxin?" Hearing this name, the mayor''s eyes noticeably flickered��he clearly recognized the name.


    "Did Zhu Jiaxin tell you where the book came from when he gave it to you?"


    Tang San shook his head. Of course, there was no way to verify his im, since Zhu Jiaxin was dead.


    "Thenter, you absorbed the abilities of other demon n species during the Collision Contest?" the mayor asked.


    Tang San nodded. He was not surprised. It made sense that the other party had investigated his past experiences thoroughly, and his use of Leopard sh, Ironhide Shield, and Discerning Eye just now corresponded with the abilities of the demons he encountered in the Collision Contest.


    The mayor took a deep breath. "Your abilities are extraordinary!"


    Tang San probed, "I can tell you the method of cultivation. Would you like to learn it?"


    "No!" the mayor instantly blurted out. The fire element in the surrounding air became denser again, but it wasn''t directed at Tang San this time. Instead, itpletely sealed off the room.


    The mayor stood up, his brows tightly furrowed. Tang San could feel that his interlocutor was in a state of really high tension.


    He paced back and forth in the room, his uneven steps revealing his anxiety.


    After a long while, he returned to face Tang San, his expression somewhat pained.


    "The abilities you learned from that book are exceptional. But they might not necessarily be a good thing for the Redemption Society, at least not now. The Mysterious Heaven Technique has only nine levels, right?"


    Tang San nodded. Of course, he wouldn''t mention that he could continue cultivating this technique up to the level of God King. The original Mysterious Heaven Method indeed only had nine levels, but during his past life, he had improved it based on his own experiences.


    Now that his unique abilities had been discovered, he chose to tell a half-truth, half-false version. After all, in the eyes of the mayor, he was still a child and he was bound to be underestimated. The mayor wouldn��t expect a cornered child to lie to his face so easily.


    The mayor looked at him with aplex gaze. "Tang San, remember my words. From now on, don''t tell anyone what you''ve just told me. Apart from me, no one else in the Redemption Society must know. I won''t report this to the organization either."


    Tang San was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a reaction from the mayor. He had thought that the mayor''s first request would be for the Mysterious Heaven Technique, and he actually wasn''t opposed to this idea. If more people could be stronger by cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique and humanity as a whole would be empowered, it would naturally be good.


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique had be rather widespread in his previous world thanks to him. It was just a primary cultivation method, and it was by far not enough in and of itself to determine the strength of an individual.


    "Mayor, I am willing to write down the Mysterious Heaven Technique and offer it to the organization. It would be of great help to the Redemption Society," Tang San said.


    The mayor looked at him with a somewhat surprised expression, but then shook his head without hesitation, saying, "No, you shouldn''t. Later, you can exin the method of cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique to me. I would like to reference it. But apart from me, you must not tell anyone about this."


    Tang San was confused. "Why not?"


    The mayor replied with a bitter smile, "I can tell you''re much more mature than other children your age. I don''t want you to reveal the existence of the Mysterious Heaven Technique due to several issues. First, its limit is only nine levels, and as far as I know, no one besides you has ever cultivated it. We don''t know how powerful it can make you. It''s likelyparable to the ninth order of the demon and nymph ns, but if it��s only that strong...then it can''t make humans all that much stronger. The strength of true great demons and celestial nymphs is beyond your imagination.


    "Secondly, although the Mysterious Heaven Technique can''t be cultivated to higher levels, its special ability to learn various powers from the demon and nymph ns is just too frightening. It allows humans to acquire abilities through cultivation without needing bloodline inheritance for Demonic God Transformation. This wouldpletely overturn the entire learning system of humans and make it easier for us to acquire abilities."


    "Isn''t that a good thing?" Tang San asked, puzzled.


    The mayor''s face grew even more bitter. "A good thing? It''s a terrible thing that could bring disaster to humanity. The demon and nymph ns are well aware that our intelligence is much greater than theirs. Think about it for a second: what would they do if they found out that we could learn all their abilities through absorption? They might resort to exterminating us to eliminate possible threats. Do you think that''s a good thing?"


    The mayor��s exnation brought a lot of rity to Tang San. After all, he wasn''t entirely familiar with this world yet, and the mayor''s concerns certainly made sense. If the demon and nymph ns discovered that humans could absorb and learn their abilities through the Mysterious Heaven Technique, their reaction could be, in fact, catastrophic. And Tang San hadn��t even mentioned yet that the Mysterious Heaven Technique could allow the user to absorb the bloodline power of demons and nymphs and drain them to death.


    The mayor took a deep breath and continued, "Therefore, apart from you and me, no one else can know of the existence of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. We will protect you, and you should continue your cultivation. However, you must not reveal this ability again, unless it��s the only thing that can save you from death. Otherwise, it will surely bring disaster to humanity. Do you understand? The struggle for the survival of humans in front of the demon and nymph ns is already too difficult. We��ve started to see a glimmer of hope, and your Mysterious Heaven Technique could also be considered one of those things that we put our hope in, but for now, it must not be discovered."


    Of course, Tang San had no intention of holding back if the situation actually required all his power, but he nodded in agreement.

 Chapter 65: Acknowledging A Formal Master

    <h4>Chapter 65: Acknowledging A Formal Master</h4>


    The mayor''s eyes shone. "Of course, if you face a strong enemy in the future and you��d die otherwise, you should use it. I hope to see you cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique to its highest level soon so we can evaluate the effects of its highest level. Once we make sure of that, we can decide how to spread this cultivation technique around. The reason I asked you to tell me was that I wanted to reference it and to have a backup record just in case, but I say this again: no one else can know for now. You haven''t taught the Mysterious Heaven Technique to anyone else, have you?"


    Tang San shook his head. "I only taught Teacher Wang the method of controlling Wind de."


    In reality, he had experimented with Ling Muxue to see if she could learn the Mysterious Heaven Technique, but she didn''t know it was the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Since she already had a Demonic God Transformation, the attempt was a failure.


    He did not mention it to avoid causing further trouble for Ling Muxue and the others.


    The mayor''s reaction was unexpected for Tang San, but it was eptable. Although his current spiritual power wasn''t very high, the bit of divine consciousness hidden within his spiritual power was sufficient to discern whether a person''s words were sincere.


    "Good. Remember, you must never mention anything you''ve told me today to anyone else, including those within our organization. I will record a confidential file on your entire situation. As long as I''m alive, no one will be able to ess it, not even those of higher rank in our organization. If I die, my sessor will get this file and contact you. The fewer people know, the safer you are."


    He paused momentarily, and a glint seemed to sh in his eyes. "If this technique can be taken to a higher level and we are able to do that within a reasonable time frame...then perhaps humanity will have its opportunity."


    "Uh-huh." Tang San repeatedly nodded, unsure what else to say.


    When the mayor discovered his secret, Tang San was prepared to silence him. His most powerful trump card was the bit of divine consciousness he had brought from his previous life. Once unleashed, he believed it could solve most problems. However, using it meant depleting that divine consciousness, and recovering it before reaching the god level would be impossible.


    Unexpectedly for Tang San, the mayor''s reaction was even better than the best scenario he had anticipated. Not only would the mayor keep the secret himself, but he also instructed Tang San to do the same. This raised Tang San''s estimation of the Redemption Society even higher.


    "Be my disciple," the mayor suddenly suggested.


    Tang San was momentarily stunned. "Be your disciple?"


    The mayor looked at him, his gaze returning to its usual calmness. "What else?"


    "Al...right?" What else could Tang San say, after all? When under someone��s roof, he had to follow their rules. With that in mind, he immediately knelt and paid his respects.


    "Master."


    The mayor nodded in satisfaction, and a hint of a smile appeared on his calm face. "Xiao San[1], if one day it can be proven that the technique you are cultivating is suitable for all of humanity, I hope you will agree to contribute to it. To contribute significantly to the rise of our human race!"


    ��Yes.�� Tang San inwardly scoffed. <i>You already know everything; what more do you want me to contribute?</i>


    "My name is Zhang Haoxuan. My Demonic God Transformation is the ze Tiger King. The ze Tiger ranks second among the tiger-type demons, only behind the Golden Bloodline of the Tiger Emperor. I am at the ninth order."


    Ninth order? Tang San''s heart jolted. He had just encountered this most powerful being sinceing to this world! Although he had felt utterly overwhelmed during their brief face-off, now hearing Zhang Haoxuan state it, he understood the extent of his cultivation. Compared to his previous life, this was akin to being at the peak below a god-level soul master,parable to a titled Douluo. And from what Zhang Haoxuan implied, his Demonic God Transformation''s bloodline power was also remarkable.


    "The Mayor said, ''From now on, you are a part of the Redemption Society. Based on your cultivation level, you could have directly be an Orange-ss member. But to conceal your strength, let''s start from the initial Red ss.''"


    Without waiting for Tang San to ask, the mayor continued, ''In our Redemption Society, every member is ranked. Different sses grant different levels of authority. There are seven sses in total, corresponding to the colors of the rainbow��Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. Red is the lowest, and Violet is the highest. As a neer, you naturally start at the Red ss. With umted merit, you can be promoted. To encourage everyone to improve their cultivation and speed up training, ording to the rules of our organization, a fifth-order existence, regardless of their umted merits, can be promoted to Orange as long as they are an official member. That''s why I said you could have the Orange ss.''"


    "Once you reach the seventh order of cultivation, you can naturally be promoted to the Yellow ss. The ninth order corresponds to the Green ss. This is the limit up to which you can be promoted solely based on cultivation. For the top three sses, besides having high cultivation, you must also make significant contributions to the organization to be eligible."


    "Seven colors of the rainbow. Interesting!" Tang San murmured to himself. "Master, what ss are you?"


    Zhang Haoxuan said, ��I am Green-ss. Those Green-ss and above are considered the upper echelons of the organization. Here in Kali City, I am one of the leaders, and I am responsible for handling daily affairs."


    Tang San asked, ��So, are you the highest-ranked Redemption member here?"


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head and replied, ��No, there are two others here whose ss is higher than mine, but their situation is quite special, and they don''t directly manage the organization''s affairs here. In Kali City, I am basically the one in charge.��


    "Understood," Tang San said. This exnation told him a lot about the Redemption Society.


    Zhang Haoxuan exined, ��To conceal our identities and avoid detection by the demon race, our organization has a special secret method to verify identities. I will imprint this secret method on the back of your hand. When you are in front of a higher-ss Redemption member, they can use the secret method to detect your mark. Simrly, you can also disy your mark to others to verify your identity, which can be helpful in times of need."


    "Master, are all the people in this town members of our organization?" Tang San asked, voicing his most pressing question.


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head and said, ��Of course not. How could we possibly have so many members? Too many people would lead to chaos, and exposure would be catastrophic. Only about one in a hundred are members of the organization. You''ll gradually learn who they are. Of course, you must also conceal your identity. This is why I epted you as my disciple, because I need to give you a legitimate identity. You don''t need to worry about anything else; just focus on your cultivation.


    ��I''ll give you a brief overview of the town. As I��m sure you were told, our small town relies on Kali Academy for its existence; hence, it''s also known as Academy Town. It''s specifically designed to serve Kali Academy, and most people in the town work in the academy in one position or another. As vassals, we receive quite good treatment in the academy. Also, the demons here are of higher caliber and don''t harm vassals without reason. Working in the academy is also a form of experience, and it can benefit us in many ways. You''ll learn more about thister. When the time is right, I''ll let you enter the academy for training.��


    1. ��Xiao�� means ��little�� and is a familiar form of address for an inferior, e.g. one��s child, a younger friend or colleague etc. ?

 Chapter 66: Red-Level

    <h4>Chapter 66: Red-Level</h4>


    "So that''s how it is," Tang San nodded.


    <i>Considering the thousands here, does one percent mean that only a few dozen truly belong to the Redemption Society? That''s not many. But a tighter organization is better. My newly sworn teacher probably won''t tell me the more specific details for now, given that I''ve just joined the organization.</i>


    "Teacher, I heard from Senior Zhang Tianxiao before that we have our own school that��s called Redemption Academy?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and said, "Yes, the most important task we have is cultivating reserve talents for the organization. Since we''re adjacent to Kali Academy, we can also utilize some of the resources from Kali Academy. So, within the organization, from now on, you''re a part of Redemption Academy. You can study together with others."


    "Alright," Tang San nodded. He naturally felt an affinity towards the term "academy."


    Zhang Haoxuan continued, "First, I''ll brand a mark on you to establish your identity as a member of the Redemption Society. Then, I''ll bring you to report to our Redemption Academy. Remember this clearly: you must not reveal anything about the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Also, don''t use the imprints of other demon race abilities in front of others. You have only one ability and that is the Wind de."


    "Yes."


    The brand resembled a tattoo in both appearance and method of imprinting. Namely, Zhang Haoxuan used a fine needle dipped in a special liquid to etch a mark on the back of Tang San''s right hand. The mark was somewhat like a snowke but with more pronounced curves. Oncepleted, it turned red. The red snowke was truly beautiful, but there was a tragic undertone to it.


    Once the mark was tattooed and the liquid fully absorbed, it simply vanished from the skin''s surface. Zhang Haoxuan also showed Tang San how to reveal the mark��he had to stimte the bloodline power within, circting it in a special rhythm under the skin to make it appear. It was quite peculiar.


    After doing all this, Zhang Haoxuan nodded in satisfaction.


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you to the academy."


    Following him out of the wooden hut, Tang San subconsciously nced at the spot where the mark was imprinted on his hand. From this moment, he had truly be a member of the Redemption Society. He wondered how this day would be recorded in the history of the Daemon Continent. If he could regain his former glory in the future, then today might be a day worthmemorating.


    Zhang Haoxuan led Tang San toward the back of Academy Town. They walked almost to the mid-mountain area before stopping in front of a cluster of wooden houses.


    The wood used in constructing these houses was close to the color of mountain rocks, making them not easily noticeable from the town. Uponing closer, however, one could see that there were quite a few wooden houses here. They were built on a small teau and they were forming a circle.


    Just as they approached the wooden houses, a figure appeared before them��a young boy, appearing to be around thirteen or fourteen years old. He smiled at Zhang Haoxuan and said, "Mayor, you''ve arrived."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded to him. "I''ve brought a neer."


    The boy looked at Tang San, his face immediately showing surprise. "Such a young neer! Didn��t you tell us that newbies must be at least twelve and pass a test beforeing here?"


    "Why so many questions? Lead the way," Zhang Haoxuan said somewhat irritably.


    Clearly intimidated, the boy turned around and led the way.


    Passing the foremost wooden house, they arrived at a spacious yard behind it, surrounded by other wooden houses resembling arge courtyard.


    "The mayor is here!" the boy shouted. Immediately, more than a dozen people popped out from the wooden houses. Indeed, ��popped out�� was the term that came to mind seeing the energetic teenagers jump out of the houses like mongooses.


    Following them, a few adults came out.


    Tang San stood beside Zhang Haoxuan, observing coolly. He noticed that there were more young males than females here. Their bloodline auras were different but all noticeably strong. It was not that they were personally powerful, but their bloodlines were undeniably powerful.


    It seemed that the requirements for talent to enter the Redemption Academy were quite high.


    Naturally, these youngsters were also curiously sizing him up. After all, Tang San was clearly quite a bit younger than them.


    Zhang Haoxuan pped his hands, drawing everyone''s attention, "This is my newly epted disciple, Tang San. Starting today, he will also be studying in the academy. Old Guan, please make the arrangements."


    A middle-aged man of average build and schrly appearance approached him with surprise on his face. "Your new disciple? You''ve taken on a disciple?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "This child is quite special and has great potential. I''ll discuss it with youter. Please arrange everything for now."


    "Alright," Guan nodded without furtherment.


    Zhang Haoxuan turned to Tang San and said, "This is Guan Longjiang, the dean in charge of the academy. He will arrange your amodation and studies. I wille to see you regrly. I have other matters to attend to now. Don''t forget my instructions today."


    "Yes, Teacher," Tang San nodded.


    Zhang Haoxuan pulled Guan Longjiang aside to speak privately, then prepared to leave. Seeing this, Tang San quickly stepped forward and called out to Zhang Haoxuan.


    "Teacher, hold on a second!"


    "What is it? You''ll have to adapt to the new environment slowly." Zhang Haoxuan thought Tang San was apprehensive about the unfamiliar setting.


    However, Tang San shook his head. "I''m sure I can adapt. I wanted to ask if I can go out to the city sometimes to buy some necessities."


    Guan Longjiang nced at him, somewhat surprised.


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "Try not to go out, but if you must, you must ask Dean Guan for leave and only go out with his approval. And you must return on the same day."


    "Okay, Teacher."


    Being able to go out was enough. How else would he meet Mei Gongzi? After all, the most important reason Tang San had returned to Kali City was to meet Mei Gongzi!


    With that, Zhang Haoxuan left.


    "Come, Tang San, let''s meet everyone.�� Guan Longjiang led Tang San back to the courtyard''s center as he spoke. "Including you, we now have sixteen students in our academy, and including me and the mayor, there are five teachers. Let me introduce the other three teachers to you."


    He first pointed to a beautiful woman who appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. "This is Teacher Mu Yunyu. She is mainly responsible for your daily life and physical training."


    Mu Yunyu was tall, around 1.7 meters, and she was wearing a blue dress. Her gaze was soft like water, and herrge eyes brimmed with gentleness and tenderness. However, Tang San noticed that when Guan Longjiang introduced her, the other students around clearly showed a hint of dread. He had a hint that Teacher Mu''s personality was not terribly consistent with her outward appearance.


    "Hello, Teacher Mu," Tang San immediately greeted Mu Yunyu with a bow.


    Mu Yunyu smiled slightly, and her voice was coquettish as she greeted him, "Hello, little Tang San. Wee to the academy. I see that you��re a little frail, I think you��d do well to up your physical training a little. No worries, we��ll take care of that."


    "Thank you, Teacher." Tang San nodded immediately. However, her coquettish voice gave him goosebumps.


    Guan Longjiang frowned slightly, coughed, and pointed to another middle-aged man. "Teacher Mu Enqing, the elder brother of Mu Yunyu. He is responsible for practicalbat courses."


    Mu Enqing looked nothing like Mu Yunyu; his tall stature and rough facial features conveyed a sense of manly boldness. It was hard to imagine that he and the delicate and beautiful Mu Yunyu were actually siblings.

 Chapter 67: Du Bai

    <h4>Chapter 67: Du Bai</h4>


    Thest teacher introduced was an elderly man, whom Guan Longjiang chose to introducest, indicating a higher status. "Teacher Si Ru is responsible for teaching things about the Demonic God Transformation. I''m in charge of social practice. The mayor oversees the entire academy."


    Tang San greeted each of the teachers in turn. Among them, the one who left the deepest impression on him was the unassuming elderly man.


    Si Ru appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, slightly hunched, not very tall, with graying hair and an ordinary face, always wearing a gentle smile. He seemed amiable and approachable. When Guan Longjiang introduced him, almost all the students smiled, clearly having a very good impression of this teacher.


    However, this was not what made him special. What made him stand out to Tang San was the fact that among these teachers, only this one stirred Tang San''s divine consciousness. Tang San understood very well what it meant for his divine consciousness to be affected.


    If truly unleashed, this remnant of his divine consciousness could allow him to burst forth with immense power in an instant. Tang San himself did not know how strong it could be, as he had obviously never given up his cultivation as a God King in order to be reborn. But the stirring of his divine consciousness indicated something very clear to him. Even if he used that trace of divine consciousness, he might be unable to contend with this individual.


    Yes, that was what he felt. Even when facing the mayor, who possessed ninth-order cultivation, he did not have this feeling. This meant that Si Ru was probably even stronger than the mayor.


    <i>A god-level master? Could he be a powerhouse who has already reached the god level?</i>


    Tang San was shocked, but his expression did not betray his inner bewilderment.


    Guan Longjiang smiled and said, "Tang San, why don''t you introduce yourself to everyone?"


    Tang San replied, "I am Tang San. My Demonic God Transformation is the Wind Wolf Transformation, and my ability is the Wind de. I am at the fourth order."


    Several exmations arose among the students when he mentioned being at the fourth order. After all, he looked younger than all the other students present, so how was it that his cultivation was so high? After all, the Wind Wolf Transformation was not considered a powerful Demonic God Transformation!


    Guan Longjiang, obviously aware of his situation, nodded and said, "I won''t introduce all of you right now; you can talk to each otherter. Tang San, since you''re new today, take a day to rest, and you''ll officially join the sses tomorrow."


    "Du Bai," Guan Longjiang called out, and immediately, a slim teenager ran over. "Here!"


    Guan Longjiang said to the quirky-looking teenager and said, "You take Tang San and help him settle down. Give him a brief introduction to the academy. Let him stay in the third room in the east."


    "He gets his own room? The third east room is still unupied," the teenager known as Du Bai said, clearly envious.


    "Less talking," Guan Longjiang scolded.


    Du Bai stuck out his tongue, "Alright, leave it to me. Tang San, let''s go. I''ll take you to the dormitory."


    "Thank you," Tang San replied, following Du Bai to one side of the courtyard. He could feel the curious gazes of students and even teachers on him. He also sensed that the students here possessed extraordinary abilities. More importantly, the atmosphere here was much more vibrant than in Wind Wolf Town, giving him a sense of the human world from his past life.


    At least his initial impression of the Redemption Society was positive, even though he still didn''t know what the organization exactly did.


    Du Bai led Tang San towards the east side, chatting familiarly, "Tang San, Teacher Guan is nice to you. We all share rooms, but you get your own. Having your own room is great; your own private space. Ah, I wish I could have my own room too."


    Tang San just smiled without saying much. Having his own room was probably arranged by Zhang Haoxuann to conceal his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Being alone was better; it made things easier, no matter what he was doing.


    However, now that he was here, sneaking out alone would be difficult, at least for now. The teachers here were not like Teacher Wang Yanfeng; concealing his presence from their perception to sneak out was nearly an impossible task. Unless he obtained another high-order bloodline imprint that granted him hiding abilities, he would have to ask for permission before going out.


    The room was spacious; it actually wasn��t just a bedroom, but also included a living room of about twenty square meters, as well as a private bathroom. Altogether, it was around sixty or seventy square meters and felt very spacious, even though it was fully furnished.


    For Tang San, who had started his life in this world as a ve, this was certainly a luxury.


    "I''ll take you to buy some more living essentialster, and then you can move in," Du Bai said with a grin.


    Tang San replied, "Thank you for your trouble."


    Du Baiughed. "Heh, no need to be so polite. We''re all going to be one big family from now on. By the way, do you know what my Demonic God Transformation is?"


    Tang San, taken aback, shook his head.


    "Look into my eyes," Du Bai suddenly said.


    Out of sheer reflex, Tang San turned to look at him. When their eyes met, he suddenly noticed a bright white halo in Du Bai''s eyes, with faint rings of light radiating outward from the center.


    The moment their eyes locked, Tang San felt a slight dizziness. But within the core of his spiritual power was a strand of divine consciousness. Almost instantly, a burst of purple light radiated from his eyes. The Purple Demon Eyes had reacted spontaneously.


    When that sh of purple light appeared, Du Bai seemed as if he had been struck by lightning. He screamed, stumbled back two steps, and fell to the ground.


    All of this happened so fast that even Tang San was unprepared. Du Bai''s scream was so loud that it startled him.


    The door was flung open almost immediately, and a figure rushed in like the wind.


    "What happened?" a sharp voice called out. Tang San felt a sudden chill, as if the air around him had frozen.


    <i>An ice attribute Demonic God Transformation?</i> This was the first thought that crossed his mind.


    At this moment, Du Bai was rolling on the ground with his hands on his eyes.


    The one who had rushed in was none other than Mu Yunyu. She saw Du Bai rolling on the ground and Tang San standing there somewhat dazedly. Without further questioning, she squatted down and pulled Du Bai in front of her with one hand. A cool energy flowed slowly from her other hand into Du Bai��s face, causing Du Bai to shiver but noticeably calming him down.


    At this point, other teachers and students also rushed over.


    Tang San said bewilderedly, "I don''t know what happened. He asked if I knew what his Demonic God Transformation was, and I said no. Then he told me to look into his eyes. I felt dizzy, and he ended up like this."


    Guan Longjiang''s mouth twitched. "Psychic bacsh?"


    By now, Du Bai seemed to be more or less stabilized, though he was still twitching slightly and mumbling incoherently.


    Guan Longjiang said to Mu Yunyu, "Take him to rest. What an idiot, always trying to pry into others�� business just because he has that ability. This should be a lesson for him. Serves him right."


    He then turned to Tang San and said, "Du Bai''s Demonic God Transformationes from a very special heritage from a demon n called the Celestial Foxes. The Celestial Fox n is not very good atbat, but in spite of that, they are the royal family of the fox demons. They possess the Celestial Fox Vision ability, which is said to be capable of peering into the very secrets of heaven and earth.


    "The Celestial Fox Demon King holds a very high status in the ancestral court of the Daemon Continent and is regarded as one of the two great prophets. Of course, Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision is not yet fully trained. He can use it to peer into others'' abilities, but his own heart is not stable and strong enough. He must be weaker in spiritual power than you, so when he tried to probe you, he suffered a bacsh. There should be no big problem."

 Chapter 68: Celestial Fox Vision

    <h4>Chapter 68: Celestial Fox Vision</h4>


    Celestial Fox Vision? Tang San''s heart stirred. This ability sounded magnificent! And was the Celestial Fox Demon King one of the two great seers of the ancestral court? That would mean standing at the very pinnacle of the Daemon Continent! To think that one of his new colleagues possessed such a Demonic God Transformation inheritance...


    <i>If I could acquire this bloodline imprint, could the Celestial Fox Vision and the Discerning Eye possibly merge? If I could improve the Discerning Eye some more....</i>


    The advantages brought by the Discerning Eye were clear: enhanced mental strength, improved vision, the ability to glimpse the secrets of the elements, and even a certain degree of fortune and misfortune avoidance. The only issue is that it was practically impossible to enhance the level of the Discerning Eye by absorbing bloodline energy, as it is a fusion of two abilities: Discerning Heart''s Gaze and Falcon Eye.


    Tang San had initially nned to continue devouring the bloodline powers of the White-Headed Falcon Demon and the Aetherhorn Deer to see if he could further improve the Discerning Eye. However, hearing about the Celestial Fox Vision, he couldn''t help feeling intrigued. What if he continued to merge other vision-rted Demonic God Transformation abilities with the Discerning Eye? Could he do that? And if he could, would it induce a further qualitative change in the Discerning Eye?


    <i>The Celestial Fox Vision is likely one of this ne��s most potent bloodline powers. It''s a great choice!</i>


    "Teacher Guan, what order is Du Bai?" Tang San asked curiously.


    Guan Longjiang said, "Third order. All Celestial Fox demons are at the first order at birth, and very fragile at that. The inheritance of the Celestial Fox bloodline is extremely rare, and always greatly valued. In fact, Du Bai is the only known human with the Celestial Fox Transformation inheritance. This must be kept secret and never mentioned outside."


    Tang San quickly nodded, "He won''t be in trouble, will he?"


    Guan Longjiang said, "No, he''ll be fine. The spiritual power of the Celestial Fox Transformation is very stable, which gives birth to��" He stopped himself, then continued, "You rest first. When he''s better, I''ll have hime and apologize to you."


    "No need, no need. I should apologize for injuring him," said Tang San, somewhat awkwardly.


    He could feel the surprised looks of the other students. He was not the first one to be probed by Du Bai. But to have made Du Bai suffer a loss, he was definitely a rarity, if not even the first one.


    When the teachers and students of the Redemption Society had all left, Tang San let loose a sigh of relief. The incident with Du Bai significantly raised his assessment of the Redemption Society.


    The Celestial Fox Transformation must be among the highest-tier bloodlines in the demon race. Even if Du Bai''s bloodline wasn''t pure enough topare with an actual Celestial Fox demon, Guan Longjiang had mentioned that he was the only human to inherit the Celestial Fox Transformation, highlighting his importance.


    To be able toe to the Redemption Society and to be specially cultivated by the organization, there probably wasn''t a single ordinary person among them! The other students were also definitely talented. In terms of bloodline, his Wind Wolf Transformation was probably the weakest among all.


    With Du Bai mentally injured, the first problem Tang San faced was that there was now no one to take him shopping for daily necessities.


    Just as he prepared to make do and meditate on the wooden bed that night, someone knocked at the door again.


    "Pleasee in," Tang San stood up and left the bedroom.


    The door opened, and a petite figure walked in.


    This girl looked slightly older than Tang San, probably about the same age as Mei Gongzi. She had a high ponytail, fair and delicate skin, and beautiful blue eyes. When she smiled, two small dimples appeared on her cheeks.


    "Hello," Tang San greeted her first.


    "Hello, I''m Cheng Zicheng. I''vee to take you shopping for daily necessities," Cheng Zicheng said with a smile.


    "Thank you for your trouble," Tang San said with a smile. The teachers are thoughtful!


    "It''s no trouble at all. Consider it a thank you," Cheng Zicheng giggled.


    "Thank you?" Tang San was puzzled.


    Cheng Zicheng nodded. "Yes! That Du Bai is so annoying. He''s always prying with his Celestial Fox Vision, always peeping at us girls. I want to poke those precious eyes of his out, <i>hmph</i>!"


    Tang San clearly felt a murderous aura from her, and he couldn''t help but think to himself that one should never cause offense to a woman. No matter their age, they were all the same when they were down for revenge.


    Cheng Zicheng smiled. "Now it''s good though. He''s at a disadvantage with you. The teacher said he can''t use his Celestial Fox Vision for at least half a month. Serves him right!"


    Tang San gave a wry smile. "I didn''t do it on purpose. His injuries aren''t serious, are they?"


    ��It��ll be fine. The Celestial Fox n is known as the children of fortune; they''re lucky and not so easily harmed. We''re all surprised that you could injure him. Normally, we also want to mess with him, but there are always some strange situations, and this guy slips away. And whoever wants to deal with him ends up having bad luck. So annoying! You should be careful, too; now that you''ve injured him, you must watch out for your luck. Though, now that I think of it, the fact that you could hurt him means that your luck must be good too."


    <i>Is that a thing? Children of fortune?</i>


    Du Bai''s luck didn��t work on him, which Tang San could understand. After all, he was the reincarnation of a God King, and luck was really not much of a factor to him. His arrival here was already defying the heavens. Due to being reborn in this world with his full memories, his real opponent was the master of this ne. Not to mention Du Bai''s luck, even the luck of the Celestial Fox demon king probably couldn''t affect him.


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you," Cheng Zicheng waved to him and left.


    Tang San followed Cheng Zicheng out of Redemption Academy, retracing the path Zhang Haoxuan had previously led him on and heading toward the academy''s small town.


    "Where are we going to buy things?" Tang San asked.


    Cheng Zicheng replied, "We have everything here in our town when ites to general daily stuff, but we have to go to the city if it''s something more special or expensive. But you don''t need to go to the city, do you?"


    In his heart, Tang San thought, <i>Hell yes I want to go to the city! Even to the city center. I want to drink milk tea. Well, since I just arrived here, it''s better to familiarize myself with the surroundings first, not in a hurry to go to the city.</i>


    "Mm-hmm," he nodded in agreement.


    Cheng Zicheng said, "Teacher Guan asked me to introduce you to our Academy Town. Our town has close to two thousand households and five or six thousand people. Among our human vassal groups, it''s prettyrge. The people here are all vassals of the major ns of Kali City. The reason they gather here is mainly to serve Kali Academy. You know about this, right?"


    Tang San replied, "The mayor told me about this before."


    "The town mainly provides various daily necessities for Kali Academy. Sometimes, we also assist the demon students of Kali Academy in their cultivation. That''s why we have a special Academy Sparring Team."


    "Academy Sparring Team? What''s that?" Tang San asked in surprise.


    Cheng Zicheng exined, "As the name suggests, it''s a team we put together for sparring with those demons. We actually earn some money from sparring, which is good for the town. We also do many other services for the academy, and we are paid for everything. The whole Academy Town exists because of Kali Academy."


    "Isn''t sparring dangerous?" Tang San asked.


    Cheng Zicheng responded, "There are always minor idents, but that��s about it. The students of Kali Academy don��t really hate us, even though we��re human vassals, and the fact that we spar with them also helps them get stronger.��


    Tang San nodded. "It sounds like you have a pretty good impression of Kali Academy?��


    "You''ll find out for yourself in the future."

 Chapter 69: The Three Teams

    <h4>Chapter 69: The Three Teams</h4>


    "Anyway, back to the topic. Our town is divided into several major parts. The sparring team is mainlyposed of strong and able-bodied people. Then, there''s the procurement team responsible for providing Kali Academy with daily necessities. They go around the city and purchase items to supply to the Academy, and they pay us a fee for the delivery.


    ��Next is the herb collection team. Behind our town there��s the Kali Mountain Range. It��s a pretty big ce, and because the climate is cold, there are a lot of natural treasures that like this kind of weather. The mountains are full of demons and all sorts of other dangers, so the herb gatherers have it the toughest, but they also get the most money. Whatever herbs they gather, they can sell to Kali Academy for a very high price. So, the people in our Academy Town are in principle split into the sparring, herb collection, and procurement teams. In the future, you can choose to join one of these groups."


    "Choose? Why?" Tang San asked.


    Cheng Zicheng replied, "The rule in our town is that no one canze around. Everyone must live by theirbor. That applies to us, even though we��re still young. The Academy doesn��t really give us much. The expenses for food, drink, lodging, and travel must be earned bypleting tasks. We do get some resources for cultivation, but if you want more, you must get them yourself. The teachers say this is also a form of training for us. So, in the future, you can join one of these three teams to earn some money for your living expenses and to cover the cultivation costs. Teacher Guan often says that bing strong doesn��t mean only cultivation. There are a lot of things to do if you want to get really strong, and the first thing you need is to be able to survive."


    The concept was nothing new, and Tang San quite agreed with this statement. The Daemon Continent differed in many aspects from the Douluo Continent, where he used to be, but on the Douluo Continent, entering an academy also required money, and the resources students received within the academy also depended onpleting tasks. The two ces certainly had simrities, even if they operated on different methods. The Redemption Academy seems to be on the right track.


    "I can lend you the money for buying daily necessities today. You can pay me backter when you have it. But it seems you don''t need to work for now. You''re not yet twelve, right? Before you turn twelve, the Academy will provide your cultivation resources. But you''ll owe the expenses, which you can repay once you can work."


    Tang San shook his head. "No need to worry about that. I have some money."


    He did have some money, demonshard coins made from Wind Spirit Stones. He had earned three aetherhorn coins in thest Collision Contest, which he had lent to Wang Yanfeng and had been returned to himter. He had also obtained a small bag from the Wind Wolf Town Lord. He hadn''t checked how much was in it yet, but considering it was from the town''s lord, it was unlikely to be little. So, Tang San wasn''t short on money now.


    Cheng Zicheng looked at him in surprise. ��Well, that''s great then.��


    While talking, they entered the small town. There was a street dedicated to various shops, mostly selling daily necessities. Tang San noticed there were also ces selling spiritual herbs. The store selling these herbs was thergest on the street and located near Mayor Zhang Haoxuan''s residence, close to the town''s center.


    This Academy Town, with a poption of almost six thousand, was bustling. And now that he had time to look around, Tang San noticed that there were not only humans in the town but also demons.


    These demons wore uniforms, all in a peacock green color, tailored to fit different body shapes. They looked quite beautiful. Even without Cheng Zicheng''s exnation, he knew these must be the demon students from Kali Academy.


    Among these students, Tang San saw many demons he had never encountered before.


    <i>Hehe, others see demons, but all I see is bloodline imprints.</i>


    Having now broken through to the fifth order meant he could possess another bloodline imprint and a new ability. He understood the rtionship between the Mysterious Heaven Technique and demon bloodline power much better now. Therefore, the choice of his fifth ability had to be made carefully. He needed to find the one most suited to himself.


    Devouring several bloodline imprints was not a concern. First, he could rece his current imprinted abilities if he integrated a better one. Second, if the attributes werepatible, imprints could merge. However, advancing a hybrid imprint would definitely be more troublesome than elevating a single imprint.


    In addition, merging seemed like a double-edged sword; a good merge could enhance his original abilities, but he had a hunch that a bad one could have adverse effects. Tang San wasn''t too worried about this, however. With his God King perspective and past life''s cultivation experience, he could urately judge which bloodlines were suitable for merging.


    The more significant issue was that elevating a merged imprint could be moreplex. Enhancing an imprint by devouring just one type of bloodline pre-merger would be challenging. He had to devour multiple types while maintaining bnce or consider merging other simr types of bloodline imprints. This would require Tang San to continue exploring on his own.


    Fortunately, the nature of the Mysterious Heaven Technique allowed him to strip away any useless imprints, so even if the merging effect was not ideal, there was still room for error. Tang San was not in a hurry about this. As his power grew more substantial, the future would naturally offer plenty of opportunities to choose from different demon bloodlines.


    Under Cheng Zicheng''s expert guidance, Tang San used demonshard coins made from Wind Spirit Stones to purchase daily necessities. The prices were not high. Although demonshard coins were the lowest currency, they still had some purchasing power. After buying the necessities, the two returned to the Redemption Academy.


    ��Thanks for today,�� Tang San said, handing Cheng Zicheng a demonshard coin.


    Cheng Zicheng''s expression changed. ��What are you doing?��


    Tang San earnestly replied, ��I can''t just waste your time for nothing!��


    Cheng Zicheng huffed. ��I am your senior, after all. Do you think I am like Du Bai?�� Saying this, she turned and walked away, clearly a little angry.


    Tang San couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration. All along the way, Cheng Zicheng had been lecturing him about equivalent exchange and self-reliance. That was why he had made his gesture, not expecting it to upset her.


    <i>Indeed, the saying goes, a woman''s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea��truly inscrutable!</i>


    It was already evening. Cheng Zicheng had mentioned before that meals at the academy weremunal, with teachers and students dining together in a specific cafeteria.


    However, it wasn''t time yet; he still had to wait a little longer.


    Tang San arranged the daily necessities he had bought, instantly adding a touch of liveliness to the room.


    Looking around his room, Tang San couldn''t help but feel a sense of strangeness. He didn''t know how long he would live here, but it seemed like a safe dwelling.


    Whether it was the Redemption Academy or Kali Academy, he still needed time to understand them. More importantly, he had to continue striving to enhance his strength. There was nothing more crucial than power.


    He sat down on a chair, silently feeling the changes in his body. After killing the Wind Wolf Town Lord that day, he had been constantly on the move with Zhang Tianxiao. Tang San hadn''t had a chance to properly absorb the Wind Wolf Lord''s bloodline energy as he was afraid it would expose his cultivation level.


    The Wind Wolf Lord''s bloodline energy was very dense and pure. Being a peak fifth-order being, theplete bloodline devouring had propelled Tang San directly to the fifth level of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, at the same time allowing him to achieve fifth-order cultivation in this world.

 Chapter 70: The Flesh of Demonic Beasts

    <h4>Chapter 70: The Flesh of Demonic Beasts</h4>


    Advancing to the fifth order was a huge move. Tang San had not yet fully assimted the bloodline power of the Wind Wolf Lord. It would take at least a week to digest this pure energy fully. Once that was done, his Mysterious Heaven Technique could start moving forward once more.


    Killing and devouring powerful demons was undoubtedly a shortcut to enhance his cultivation. However, his current strength was still too low, and the risk of exposure was high. If the Wind Wolf Town Lord hadn''t been seriously injured that day and the circumstances hadn��t aligned just right, Tang San might not have been able to defeat it at all, let alone do it in secret.


    That battle made Tang San realize his understanding of the demons was insufficient. He hoped that after entering the Redemption Academy, he could learn more knowledge here.


    His Wind de imprint had also unsurprisingly advanced to the fifth order, enhancing his perception of the wind element. Previously, facing Mayor Zhang Haoxuan, the gap in cultivation was too significant for him to disy his abilities, but hisbat power had increased significantly since facing the Wind Wolf Town Lord.


    The higher his cultivation, the better he could operate and use the abilities from his previous life''s memories, many of which could also work just as well in this world.


    "Eating time! Eating time!" Just then, a familiar voice came from outside, followed by a knock on the door.


    After his introspection, Tang San opened the door to find Du Bai standing there.


    Their eyes met, and Du Bai, looking somewhat embarrassed, coughed and said, "Didn''t expect you to have such strong spiritual power, hehe, Tang San. We are brothers from now on."


    Tang San, unable to keep up with his erratic thought process, said helplessly, ��Are your eyes okay? Cheng Zicheng said you needed some time to recover.��


    Du Bai, however, was quite nonchnt. ��No worries, no worries. The first time I looked at our teacher, it was worse than this. I thought I was going blind. My screaming earlier was a bit exaggerated, just to get more attention from the teacher. Let''s go. It''s time to eat. They say there''s something special today to wee you. The mayor is also here.��


    His eyes were dim, evidently from the impact of their earlier eye contact.


    They left the room, with Du Bai leading the way to the cafeteria. While walking, he lowered his voice and asked, "Tang San, what ability have you been cultivating in your eyes? What was that purple color? It doesn''t seem like a Wind Wolf Transformation ability, right? It''s super cool!"


    Tang San replied, ��It''s one of my innate abilities, I think it must be a mutation of my Wind Wolf Transformation.��


    "Oh, no wonder. Impressive, impressive. When I reach the fourth order, I''ll try looking you in the eyes again." Du Bai didn''t doubt him; everyone''s abilities were diverse and unique in the Redemption Academy. An ordinary Demonic God Transformation wouldn''t be enough to qualify an applicant to be here.


    The cafeteria was on the west side of the courtyard in a spacious wooden building. As they entered, a rich aroma immediately wafted toward them.


    Having been in this world for nine years, Tang San had long since given up hope on its cuisine. Regardless of the ingredients, the cooking methods were basic: boiled or grilled, seasoned with simple salt. That was the extent of the culinary experience.


    The taste wasn''t horrible, but it was far from amazing. It was passable when the ingredients were fresh, but most of the time, the vor could be described as nd as chewing wax.


    However, when he entered the cafeteria today, his senses were refreshed. The rich aroma of food was tantalizing. Various dishes wereid out on the long table. Although the cooking methods didn''t seem much improved, the smell was quite pleasing.


    Some ingredients were unfamiliar to Tang San, and at the center was a massive tter over a meter in diameter, disying the well-cooked carcass of an unknown animal. This tter could be described as a colossal presence among the dishes, both in terms of sheer size and in terms of the aroma it emanated.


    What a massive chunk of meat! The most decadent fragrance Tang San had felt in years was emanating from this very tter.


    Du Bai licked his lips and chuckled, "What a treat! This is a low-level demonic beast called the Sky Rat. It''s a flying rodent with rich, fatty meat that you can only find in our Kali Mountain Range. They��re very hard to catch because they fly very fast and they��re agile, so one of these can sell for thirty to fifty demonshard coins. It''d be great to have it once or twice a month. The meat of demon beasts has the effect of strengthening bloodlines. Even in Kali City, only the nobles can afford it."


    Demonic beast meat? Tang San had never tried it before. But when he heard that it was a rat, his appetite was somewhat quenched.


    At this moment, the teachers and students of the Redemption Society had all arrived in the cafeteria. As the neer, Tang San was naturally seated at the end of the table.


    Seeing the cooked Sky Rat, the student''s eyes lit up. They were visibly eager for the demonic beast''s meat.


    The mayor, Zhang Haoxuan, seated at the head of the table, waited until everyone was present, then said, "Today, we wee Tang San to our big family. From today on, he''s one of us. I have officially taken him as my disciple. From now on, you all should treat each other like family. Practice together, progress together."


    <i>A disciple?</i>


    Hearing Zhang Haoxuan had taken Tang San as his personal disciple, the students and teachers couldn''t help but show their surprise. Si Ru, who always had a smiling face, showed a clear look of astonishment in his eyes; he was particrly perplexed by Zhang Haoxuan��s decision.


    He turned to look at Zhang Haoxuan, who stood up and ignored his gaze. The mayor walked over to the boiled Sky Rat, tore off a leg, and then went to Tang San and put it on his te.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched, thinking to himself, <i>Teacher, oh teacher, can I just not eat this?</i>


    But he couldn''t just refuse Zhang Haoxuan''s gesture in front of so many people! He could only steel himself and say, "Thank you, Teacher."


    "Everyone, let��s eat," said Zhang Haoxuan, and the students, with no hint of restraint, sprang into action almost instantly.


    As the dinner started, Tang San understood why Zhang Haoxuan had taken the initiative to give him a leg of the Sky Rat.


    Three seconds, really just three seconds, and the enormous tter was empty.


    Their movements were so fast that Tang San felt dizzy, and the boiled Sky Rat simply vanished.


    The teachers didn''t even touch it, simply eating the other dishes. The Sky Rat was entirely left for the students.


    The teachers were ustomed to this. Du Bai''s voice reached Tang San''s ears, "Hurry up and eat. The quick get the most, the slow get none."


    Tang San quickly understood and didn''t dare to dy, eating rapidly. He wasn''t picky about food. He gritted his teeth, ate the rat leg first, and then moved on to the other dishes.


    Since the other students were busy dealing with the Sky Rat they had grabbed, no onepeted with him for the other foods.


    The meat of the Sky Rat was chewy, without any off-putting smell, and had a unique fragrance, which, if Tang San braved through the psychological factor, was actually pretty eptable. As he ate it, he felt warmth spread throughout his body. Du Bai was right about the nourishing effects of demon beast meat on the bloodlines.


    No one spoke during the dinner; it was silent from beginning to end. Only clean, empty tes remained on the table when thest bit of food was gone.


    Tang San also ate quite a bit. This was without a doubt the best meal he had since arriving in this world. Although the taste was still not quite there, the ingredients were good; both the meat and the vegetables were fresh and high-quality.

 Chapter 71: Counting The Loot

    <h4>Chapter 71: Counting The Loot</h4>


    After the teachers finished eating, they left one after another, followed by the students. There was little interaction; everyone headed back to their own quarters.


    Du Bai also left immediately after eating, telling Tang San he was returning to cultivate.


    The sky hadpletely darkened when Tang San stepped out of the cafeteria. The yard was quiet, and many lights were lit in the houses surrounding the yard, creating a peaceful yet lively atmosphere.


    He took a long breath and then walked back to his ce, East Three.


    The moment he reached the door, he sensed a presence inside. When he opened it, he found Zhang Haoxuan sitting in the living room, looking at him.


    "Teacher." Tang San hurriedly approached to pay his respects.


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled faintly and said, "Sit down and we''ll talk."


    Tang San sat down on a chair opposite him.


    "Are you adapting well?"


    Tang San nodded. "I''m just starting to adapt. It''s nice here."


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "Do you know how long it took us to make this ce what it is now?"


    Tang San was momentarily taken aback and then shook his head.


    "Over three hundred years."


    "Over three hundred years?!"


    Zhang Haoxuan sighed softly and said, "The umtion of vassals, the demon race''s recognition and gradual dependence on our abilities, the establishment and growth of the academy town, step by step, leading to the formation of the Redemption Academy. It has taken us over three hundred years. To be precise, the birth of the Redemption Society also dates back over three hundred years. This ce can be considered one of the rare sanctuaries for humanity. If the entire continent could have such ces, our people would no longer suffer. How wonderful that would be."


    "Hmm." Tang San nodded silently.


    "Starting tomorrow, you will formally begin your studies at the academy. I came to remind you that here, the first thing you need to gain is the recognition of your teachers and ssmates. This recognition is not about how well you handle social interactions but about strength. In our Redemption Academy, strength is the foundation of everything. I''ve observed that you have a stable temperament, so I''m not worried about that. But strength is the foundation on which you''ll stand. You may reveal your fifth order cultivation when necessary, but as I already told you, you must keep the Mysterious Heaven Technique a secret."


    "Yes," Tang San responded.


    Zhang Haoxuan stood up. "It''s been a long journey, and you will be starting sses tomorrow, so rest early tonight." As he spoke, he walked out, and Tang San stood to see him off.


    When Zhang Haoxuan reached the door, he suddenly paused, turned to Tang San, patted his head, and said, "There''s one more rule in our Redemption Academy. You can only acknowledge one true teacher. Understand?"


    After saying this, he patted Tang San''s shoulder again, and with a sh of light, his tall figure vanished into thin air.


    <i>Acknowledge only one teacher?</i> Tang San pondered, wondering what Zhang Haoxuan was hinting at.


    He closed the door, then proceeded to wash himself and went to bed.


    Instead of starting to meditate and cultivate immediately, however, he took out a small pouch from his bosom. The pouch was made from a type of leather he couldn''t identify; it was brownish-yellow, palm-sized, and unremarkable in appearance.


    He had acquired this pouch after killing Feng Xiong, the Wind Wolf Town Lord. He had then met up immediately with Zhang Tianxiao, and the two of them had traveled together to Kali City. Being with Zhang Tianxiao the entire journey, he naturally hadn''t had time to examine it. Now that he was settled here, he took out the pouch to see his gains.


    This pouch was his only possession at the time of Feng Xiong''s death. Given that Feng Xiong was fleeing in panic, it had to be more than a little valuable. No matter how small Wind Wolf Town was, Feng Xiong had been its lord for many years. More importantly, when Tang San devoured his bloodline power, he noticed it was markedly different from that of ordinary Wind Wolves; it was much more potent. Devouring it provided more energy than all the wolf demons he had consumed beforebined. This naturally astonished Tang San.


    Previously, Tang San hadn''t had time to think deeply about it, but now, reflecting on it, the Wind Wolf Town Lord Feng Xiong seemed to have some kind of extraordinary origin. Of course, the likelihood of finding something valuable among his personal belongings was fairly high.


    The yellow pouch felt light as a feather, but it had a matte texture when touched. When Tang San activated his Discerning Eye, his heart gave a jolt.


    As he carefully inspected the pouch with the Discerning Eye, he immediately noticed a subtle spatial fluctuation, as if something was hidden inside.


    He knew all too well what spatial fluctuations meant. <i>Could this be a spatial treasure used for storage, much like the mythical concept of Mount Meru fitting inside a mustard seed?</i>[1]<i> If that��s the case, then I truly stumbled upon a treasure!</i>


    Items with spatial attributes were extremely precious even in his previous life. Of course, after he became a God-level entity, it wasn''t important anymore, as he could create spaces himself. However, this was the first time he had encountered such an item in the Daemon Continent. Moreover, if this pouch was indeed a spatial treasure, it could contain much more than its size would suggest.


    While pondering, Tang San tried to open the small pouch, simultaneously extending his spiritual power into it to explore its contents.


    When Tang San''s spiritual power touched the originally brownish-yellow pouch, it emitted a faint blue light. He could vaguely sense a force of resistance within that blocked his probe into the pouch. This barrier did not give off any massive power fluctuations, but it was incredibly resilient, easily keeping his spiritual power at bay.


    Tang San didn''t let this discourage him, and neither did he try to force it. Instead, he activated his Wind Wolf bloodline imprint and a faint green light also emanated from his body.


    As expected, when he activated the Wind Wolf imprint, the barrier hesitated momentarily and then quietly dissipated.


    The most potent force within Tang San''s Wind Wolf imprint was now the bloodline power of Feng Xiong. After all, Feng Xiong''s bloodline was much more concentrated than all the Wind Wolves he had devoured previously. This also proved that this unassuming little pouch was an item that had already recognized an owner. And to be able to recognize a master meant it possessed some level of spiritual intelligence.


    As his spiritual power probed inside, the next moment, Tang San''s face was filled with joy.


    Inside the pouch, there was a misty green space. Moreover, the internal space was not small, stretching about three meters in diameter. This was quite remarkable for a spatial treasure.


    The primary issue with such spatial treasures used for storage was maintaining a stable space. Therger the stable volume, the more difficult it is to maintain. The leather exterior of the pouch was likely made from the hide of a spatial-type demon beast, though Tang San was unsure of the specific processes involved. However, the fact that it had such arge and stable internal space made it a rare treasure.


    Inside the pouch was something quite simple: nothing but currency.


    What caught Tang San''s attention most was the most conspicuous items in the pouch, which emitted a misty blue glow and a rich fluctuation of wind element.


    Although Tang San saw this type of currency for the first time, he could discern from the strong wind element fluctuations that these were the third-ranking coins in the demon race currency system��naturae coins. Specifically, these were wind naturae coins, which made sense considering the previous owner belonged to the Wind Wolf lineage.


    Within this small pouch, there were hundreds of wind naturae coins. This was an incredible fortune! In addition, there were numerous wind spirit stones. These stones were exceptionally clear and transparent, clearly different from the wind spirit stones Tang San had seen before. He was unsure of their exact value, but he had no doubt that they were very valuable.


    1. This is amon phrase in cultivation novels, and it originates in the Vimkirti Sutra, a Buddhist scripture. Mount Sumeru (or Meru) is said to be millions of kilometers tall, while a mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds. The scripture says that Mount Sumeru can hide a mustard seed, while a mustard seed can contain Mount Meru. It signifies that even something seemingly insignificant can contain infinite possibilities. ?

 Chapter 72: Hooray, I鈥檓 Rich!

    <h4>Chapter 72: Hooray, I��m Rich!</h4>


    Tang San stirred the contents with his spiritual energy, uncovering a pleasant surprise. Three coins shimmering with six-color radiance were hidden among the pile of wind naturae coins. Simr in size to the naturae coins, these were crafted by piecing together six different materials. Each of these materials hadpletely different properties, and yet they werebined in such a way as toplement each other, resulting in a stable energy fluctuation.


    This had to be the empyrean coin, a level higher than the naturae coins! To put it into perspective, one empyrean coin was equivalent to a hundred naturae coins. Tang San gaped at this discovery.


    All demon currency had intrinsic value, in that they could be used for cultivation. This was where their valuey, not in some kind of economic agreement between the races. Every high-level coin was, in other words, a treasure in and of itself.


    After inspecting the pouch''s contents, Tang San''s first thought was that he was now rich!


    The benefits of defeating the Wind Wolf Lord were far greater than he had imagined. The rich Wind Wolf bloodline and what was likely the majority of Wind Wolf Town''s wealth umted over the years were now in his possession. However, what mattered most wasn''t the wealth or the bloodline energy, but the spatial storage pouch he was holding.


    This little pouch was incredibly convenient! With twenty-seven cubic meters of space, it could store numerous items, and it would make a lot of things far easier for Tang San in the future. Compared to the wealth it contained, he actually valued this spatial storage pouch even more.


    Tang San tightened the pouch''s opening, causing the spatial fluctuations to dissipate and the pouch to look like a normal pouch once more. He let out a long sigh of relief.


    Originally possessing three aetherhorn coins, he felt he was somewhat wealthy. But now, he considered himself akin to a small tycoon.


    In a ce like Kali City, as long as one had money, there was no shortage of cultivation resources. With this capital, he needed to consider how to quickly convert these resources into his own strength. Enhancing his power was the most important thing.


    At least so far, his impression of the Redemption Society was quite good. It was probably the best tform for humans to exist on the Daemon Continent.


    Moreover, most importantly, it was very close to Mei Gongzi! Once he settled down, he could see her.


    The mere thought of Mei Gongzi warmed Tang San''s heart instantly, brightening his eyes.


    He calmed his mind and sat cross-legged, silently entering the Mysterious Heaven Technique cultivation state, continuing to digest and absorb the bloodline power of the Wind Wolf Lord.


    His Wind Wolf bloodline imprint absorbed the Wind Wolf Lord''s bloodline power effortlessly. Tang San could clearly feel that upon entering the fifth order, the Wind Wolf bloodline imprint was beginning to change.


    This difference was not merely due to the change in order; a significant part was likely due to the pure and profound bloodline power of the Wind Wolf Lord.


    His Wind Wolf bloodline imprint had now be lush and crystal clear, and as he looked at it, he felt as if the imprint contained a giant wolf howling at the moon.


    With the enhancement of the Wind Wolf bloodline imprint, Tang San''s perception and control over the wind element greatly strengthened when he activated it. His Mysterious Heaven Technique was also improving at an astonishing rate as he absorbed this bloodline power.


    Theoretically, the bloodline of the Wind Wolf Lord had to be much more powerful than that of an ordinary Wind Wolf. Wang Yanfeng had told him that among the demon races, the stronger the demon, the purer its bloodline and the closer it was to the level of its ancestors. Therefore, in demon races, the strongest were invariably the royal families, as their bloodline was passed down directly from their mighty ancestors. Naturally, they ced great importance on the purity of their bloodline.


    By contrast, even if humans inherited the Demonic God Transformation, they actually could not cultivate it to the same level as demons with the same bloodline due to the presence of human blood. However, the offspring of humans with a Demonic God Transformation and more powerful demonsmonly had a more powerful Demonic God Transformation.


    The bloodline of the Wind Wolf Lord had to be extraordinary among the Wind Wolf n. Tang San wondered why such a powerful being ruled over such a backwoods ce as Wind Wolf Town.


    He could feel that the strength of the Wind Wolf''s bloodline was incredibly close to the sixth order. In addition, when the Wind Wolf Lord died, Tang San could feel a strange energy within it suddenly disappear, vanishing along with its life.


    Due to the urgency, he hadn''t had the chance to think deeply about it at the time. Now, these changes seemed likely rted to the pure bloodline that Feng Xiong had.


    He hoped the death of the Wind Wolf Lord wouldn''t cause trouble for Teacher Wang and the others. <i>There shouldn''t be too big of a problem, though, right? After all, the Wind Wolf n will probably me the sh Leopard n for this incident. Weren''t the sh Leopards attacking on arge scale at that time?</i>


    If the Wind Wolf Lord''s identity was indeed as extraordinary as Tang San assumed, this incident could end up provoking a dispute between the two ns.


    <i>Heh, there��s nothing wrong with that. Let them fight among themselves.</i>


    As his thoughts became clearer, Tang San gradually entered a meditative state. Faint blue light swirled around him, the bloodline power of the Wind Wolf Lord transforming bit by bit into his own strength.


    The night passed without incident.


    As the distant sky began to brighten in the early morning, Tang San woke from his meditation.


    He opened the window, waiting for the purple energy of dawn while taking out the spatial storage pouch. Technically, this pouch was still bound to the Wind Wolf Lord. Although he could use it now due to the presence of the Wind Wolf Lord''s bloodline aura, whether he could continue using it afterpletely absorbing it was another matter. Therefore, he had to erase the mark of the Wind Wolf Lord on it.


    This required a strong mental force, and in the morning, when he cultivated the Purple Demon Eyes, his mental strength was at its peak.


    On the eastern horizon, a pale white appeared, and Tang San''s eyes turned purple. His solid mental power, apanied by the aura of his Wind Wolf Transformation, silently prated the spatial storage pouch.


    Soon, Tang San found the spiritual imprint inside. His experience with the spatial element in his previous life meant he didn''t take long to understand it.


    A sh of green light and the original imprint was undone. Tang San then imprinted energy from the Mysterious Heaven Technique onto it, resealing it and leaving a strand of his mental power within. This way, he could retrieve anything he wanted from the pouch with just a thought.


    As the sun rose, a smile appeared on Tang San''s face. <i>What a wonderful start to the day!</i>


    He secured the spatial storage pouch close to his body, stretched, and, after freshening up, left his room.


    Although Kali City was located in the north, the temperature inside the city and in its surroundings was actually much higher than elsewhere. As the city was located in the space between two mountains, the climate was milder and, from what Tang San heard, it felt like spring year round. It was a veryfortable ce to live.


    Looking down halfway up the mountain, he could clearly see the smoke rising from the stoves of the academy town. The Kali Academy in the distance had a somewhat hazy appearance.


    That wasn''t fog but rather seemed like some kind of concealing formation. This sense of mystery made Tang San want to investigate.


    Cheng Zicheng had mentioned yesterday that he could join the sparring teams to earn an ie. These teams could enter Kali Academy. Perhaps he could try that in the future.


    "You''re up!" A familiar voice rang out, and as Tang San turned, he saw Du Bai approaching him.


    Compared to yesterday, Du Bai''s eyes looked a bit red today, perhaps from a night of healing cultivation.


    "Good morning, senior brother Du," Tang San greeted him with a smile.


    Hearing Tang San call him ��senior brother Bai,�� Du Bai''s eyes lit up. Before Tang San''s arrival, he was the youngest here, only eleven years old. He was used to calling others ��senior brother�� and ��senior Sister�� all the time. He hadn''t expected to have a junior brother himself this time.

 Chapter 73: Senior Brothers & Senior Sisters

    <h4>Chapter 73: Senior Brothers & Senior Sisters</h4>


    "We''re all family here; just call me senior brother,''" Du Bai said with a grin.


    "Alright, senior brother," Tang San responded amicably.


    "Let''s go, time for breakfast." Du Bai led Tang San into the cafeteria. The breakfast was plentiful; though itcked delicacies like demonic beast meat, there was an ample supply of meat, eggs, and staple foods. The meals were much better than what he had in Wind Wolf Town.


    Apart from them, some other students were already having breakfast. Du Bai introduced Tang San to them, helping him get acquainted. With Tang San''s memory, he had already remembered the names of these dozen senior brothers and sisters, with Du Bai and Cheng Zicheng being the most familiar.


    "I''ll take you to sster. This morning, we have physical training with Teacher Yu. You better be mentally prepared. Teacher Yu is��" Du Bai was interrupted by a voiceing from the cafeteria entrance.


    "Wow, Du Bai! Talking behind Teacher Yu''s back, you''re done for. Hehe."


    Tang San looked toward the source of the voice and saw that it was Cheng Zicheng speaking, her face full of smiles.


    "Ah? I didn''t say anything! You must have heard wrong. I was just saying Teacher Yu is the most beautiful woman in our academy town," Du Bai quickly corrected himself.


    Cheng Zicheng looked at Du Bai, sat beside them, and said to Tang San, "Don''t listen to his nonsense. Although Teacher Yu is strict in teaching, it''s all for our own good. However, you''ll need to eat more for the physical training ss this morning, or else you might be unable to keep up. I''ll go get some food."


    With that, she stood up to get some food.


    "What about the afternoon?" Tang San inquired.


    "In the afternoon, we have a practicalbat ss with Teacher Mu," Du Bai replied.


    Tang San vaguely understood that when Du Bai referred to Teacher Yu, he meant Mu Yunyu, and Teacher Mu was Mu Enqing. He noted these names.


    "Is it like this every day?" Tang San asked.


    "Most of the time, yes. Sometimes, Teacher Guan gives us lectures. Those days are generally for rest, without physical training. Then there''s Teacher Si Ru, who has a ss once a week, or rather, a session to help us enhance our cultivation. You''ll understand when you attend. The mayor checks on us about once a month. Those who do well get praised, those who don��t get scolded. The one who improves the most each time gets a reward, but I''ve never received it," Du Bai exined, a bit disheartened by the end.


    By this point, Cheng Zicheng had returned with breakfast. "You''re doing alright. At least you''ve never been punished. The teachers are lenient with you. They all say your Demonic God Transformation is difficult to cultivate and moves on slowly, so even if you''rest, you won''t be punished. Hmph, it''s unfair."


    Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation seemed indeed difficult to improve. Tang San could discern the cultivation levels of some students from the bloodline aura emanating from their bodies. For instance, Du Bai was at the third order, and Cheng Zicheng around the fourth. Both were young, around eleven or twelve years old. The strength of the other senior brothers and sisters varied, but some were at a level even Tang San couldn''t precisely determine, definitely above the sixth order.


    As she ate, Cheng Zicheng turned to Tang San and said, "You should be careful in this afternoon''s practicalbat ss. Since you''re new here, Teacher Mu will definitely want you to showcase your abilities. Maybe I''ll end up being your opponent."


    "Thank you for the heads-up, senior sister," Tang San responded earnestly.


    With a hand on Tang San''s shoulder, Du Bai said to Cheng Zicheng, "Little Orange, if you''re going to spar with our junior brother today, be careful not to hurt him."


    Cheng Zicheng raised an eyebrow. "Since when can you call me Little Orange? Maybe I��ll let you call me that when you can get through a round with me and still look like a human being."


    Du Bai''s mouth twitched slightly. He couldn''t beat anyone here when it came tobat strength.


    "It''s like you dare to hit me," he said. "Aren''t you afraid of bad luck?"


    His rebuttal didn''t anger Cheng Zicheng, and she instead looked curiously at Tang San, "Tang San, did anything happen to you after that bacsh you caused him yesterday? No changes?"


    "Ah? Should there be any change?" Tang San asked curiously.


    Du Bai also looked at him with curiosity. "I am a child of fortune. If my Celestial Fox Vision is cultivated to a high enough level, it can even see the future. Anyone who is my enemy or hurts me will be hit by bad luck. Haven''t you felt it?"


    Tang San silently shook his head, thinking, <i>I am a God King with Divine Consciousness. It would be strange if your little bit of fortune bacsh could affect me.</i>


    Du Bai scratched his head, "It didn''t work? That''s strange! I need to break through, and I need to work harder. Teacher Guan said that my Celestial Fox Vision will have some practical abilities once I reach the fourth order. Hmph, I''ll be powerful then."


    Cheng Zicheng rolled her eyes and continued eating her breakfast.


    After breakfast, they assembled in the courtyard.


    Including Tang San, there were sixteen students at the Redemption Society. Tang San, simr in stature to Du Bai, was among the shortest in the academy. The two of them stood at the edge of the group.


    Mu Yunyu, whom they hadn''t seen in the cafeteria, slowly approached and stood before everyone.


    Tang San noticed that with her arrival, all the students instinctively straightened up.


    Mu Yunyu smiled and said, ��Today, we continue with physical training. We have a new member joining us today, Tang San. You''re nine years old, right?"


    "Yes, Teacher Yu," Tang San immediately responded.


    "Your training intensity will be the same as Du Bai''s. The goal is Tianpeng. Get your weighted gear, and let''s set off," Mu Yunyu stated calmly.


    Upon hearing the word ��Tianpeng,�� the faces of all the students turned sour, but no one dared toin. They immediately headed toward a building on the side.


    Entering the room, Tang San understood what ��weighted gear�� meant.


    On the walls hung items resembling leather vests, each with dozens of pockets.


    Each person chose a vest ording to their size and then walked over to a table nearby, inserting the metal bars from the table into the pockets of their vests.


    When Du Bai helped Tang San select a fitted vest, they approached the metal bars. Du Bai whispered to Tang San, "Each bar weighs ten kilograms. You and I have the same standard, so that''s four bars."


    Tang San noticed that a senior disciple had at least twenty metal bars inserted in his vest! <i>Wouldn''t that mean carrying a weight of two hundred kilograms? That''s terrifying.</i>


    "Where is Tianpeng?" Tang San picked up four metal bars, inserting them in the front and back of his vest to maintain bnce.


    With forty kilograms on him, he felt his body slightly heavy, but with his current cultivation level, it was certainly not a big deal.


    Du Bai smiled wryly. "Tianpeng is in the mountains, about a hundred kilometers from here. It��s a really difficult trek, there are peaks, cliffs, valleys, and all that. Also, no special powers allowed. Our bloodline abilities will be sealed and we can only go there using our normal human bodies. We cannot use the Demonic God Transformation."


    "Wow, that harsh?" Tang San was immediately startled. After all, the physical strength of humans couldn''tpare with that of the demons. It was not an easy task for mere children to carry so much weight while climbing mountains with the power of the Demonic God Transformation sealed.


    "That''s how harsh it is. Teacher Yu will follow the entire way. The worst part is thest three to return won''t get any food. Let''s go quickly! Everyone is in a fairpetition. Since we��re younger and smaller, we get less weight to carry, but that��s all."


    The two left the room to find Mu Yunyu waiting outside. She approached them and put her hands on them, and Tang San immediately felt a strange force entering his body.


    The next moment, the energy in his dantian seemed to have solidified. A cool sensation lingered in his chest and abdomen, yet he could not mobilize any energy.

 Chapter 74: Physical Training

    <h4>Chapter 74: Physical Training</h4>


    His mind stirred slightly, and he immediately felt that it was possible to mobilize his energy and break through the seal forcibly with his current cultivation level. However, without a doubt, if he did so, Mu Yunyu would sense it immediately.


    This made him recall his training in his past life when he also did simr physical endurance trials with hispanions.


    Without the aid of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, he could only rely on his physical strength.


    Tang San was small and slender, skinny even. This was actually due to him deliberately controlling his physical development using the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Even though he was eating fairly well and training a lot, he had to avoid standing out too much, especially in Wind Wolf Town.


    However, after arriving at the Redemption Society, his safety was assured, so he no longer nned to suppress his physical development. Especially with Mei Gongzi in Kali City! He knew his wife wouldn''t have any memories of their past life. In this life, if he wanted to win her heart again, he would have to pursue her anew. This was not an easy task, especially since Mei Gongzi was so beautiful and he was so ordinary. He needed to develop well first, at least to look more attractive.


    Du Bai beckoned Tang San over and stepped out along with the other senior brothers and sisters, following the path behind the Redemption Society and entering the mountain forest.


    The back mountain wasn''t too steep, but progressing with the added weight was still not something normal children could do. With that said, although Tang San had suppressed his physical growth, his actual strength was in fact quite high. Naturally, having once been a God King, he understood the importance of physical strength. The higher one��s cultivation, the stronger a body was required to sustain it. The body was the vessel of energy; the bigger and tougher it was, the more it could hold.


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique was particrly good at tempering the body, so although he was rather slender, his strengthpletely belied his size.


    The senior brothers and sisters walking ahead carried heavier weights but still looked agile and moved quickly along the back mountain.


    This back mountain was about a thousand meters high, and the climb from the Redemption Society was nearly seven hundred meters. Fortunately, the terrain was rtively gentle and not too difficult to climb.


    Thest three to return would go without food, and they had to return before noon. That was the requirement for the physical training ss.


    "Besides this outdoor training, what else do you do in the physical training ss?" Tang San asked Du Bai, who was beside him.


    Du Bai nodded but did not speak.


    "What other methods are there?" Tang San was still curious.


    Du Bai smiled wryly. "Don''t talk. Conserve your strength. You''ll find it tough in a bit."


    Tang San also smiled slightly. "Okay, let''s go."


    When they had climbed over the first mountain, Du Bai''s forehead was already slightly sweaty. However, he was surprised to see that Tang San showed no signs of strain, even though thetter was smaller than him and was participating in the physical training for the first time.


    At this point, the differences in physical endurance among everyone were not yet apparent, and the weight they carried varied based on their own weight. Thus, everyone was essentially moving forward together.


    Descending the mountain was no easier than climbing up due to their additional weight. The downhill path was rather steep, and it required careful control of their posture and strength. A single misstep could lead to a fall.


    Although Tang San did not see the figure of Mu Yunyu, he could faintly sense that the teacher was nearby, following them.


    Moreover, it was likely that the teacher''s focus was on him, the neer.


    The path became rtively t after descending the first mountain and along the mountain hollow. The thorns and grass on the road were trampled t, indicating it was a frequently traveled route.


    Those at the front began to speed up, and thanks to the burden of their weights, panting sounds soon emerged from within the group.


    Tang San and Du Bai were still at the back of the team, with Du Bai clenching his teeth and maintaining a steady pace to minimize his physical exhaustion.


    Tang San followed beside him. The forty-kilogram weight was not too much of a challenge for him right now.


    As they began to ascend the second mountain, the differences started to be evident. Some senior brothers and sisters at the front began to elerate, while the sweat on Du Bai''s forehead just kept umting.


    However, Tang San did not speed up, merely following beside him silently.


    Whenever Du Bai nced at him, he noticed that although Tang San was moving at the same pace, he seemed noticeably less fatigued, and he��d hardly sweat at all.


    By the time they reached the peak of the second mountain, Du Bai''s breathing had be noticeably unsteady.


    "If you can, go ahead without me," Du Bai said.


    Tang San shook his head. "I''m just barely keeping up with you. How are you doing?"


    Du Bai smiled wryly. "Every physical training ss is an excruciating ordeal for me! Thankfully, I don''t need to participate in the practicalbat sses. I''ll rest once we return in the afternoon. But if you keep following me like this, you might miss dinner."


    "That won''t happen. Let''s push through together. Give me some of your weight."


    Du Bai immediately said, "No need, I can manage alone. Although Teacher Yu''s requirements are high, they are for our good, and we all know it. No matter how tough it gets, we can''t cut corners."


    Tang San looked at him in surprise, gaining a newfound respect for his junior brother.


    At the first meeting, Du Bai seemed somewhat entric, but to Tang San''s surprise, he showed considerable perseverance in training and learning.


    "Then let''s both keep going," Tang San encouraged him.


    As they continued on their way, Du Bai''s physical exertion was evident, while Tang San still ��managed to keep up.�� The figures of those ahead gradually disappeared, leaving them at the back.


    A hundred kilometers of mountainous terrain and tnd were entirely different concepts, especially with their special abilities sealed.


    Du Bai''s stamina had declined severely by the time they reached the fourth mountain.


    "Go on without me," Du Bai said somewhat helplessly. "Honestly, I usually don''t get back until the evening. If you''re physically able, I''ll tell you the way."


    Tang San pondered momentarily and said, "Let me carry you along."


    Du Bai still shook his head. "No, I must rely on my own strength."


    It was at this moment that a pleasant voice sounded. "He��s right, you don''t need to bother about him. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of your physical training."


    Tang San and Du Bai saw a blur before their eyes, and the next instant, Mu Yunyu had already appeared before them without a sound. She flicked her wrist, and two shadows flew toward Tang San.


    Tang San instinctively reached out to catch them, realizing they were two weights.


    "Here��s two more weights for you. Go ahead on your own. Here''s a map." She tossed a rolled-up map to him.


    Tang San silently put the weights in the pockets of his own vest, then looked at Du Bai, who waved at him.


    "See you at the academy then." Tang San bowed to Mu Yunyu, got up again, and quickly climbed the mountain.


    Watching his noticeably faster and agile figure, Du Bai opened his mouth and couldn''t help saying, "Everyone seems to be about the same size. How does he have so much stamina?"


    Mu Yunyu said irritably, "Because he has a stronger foundation. Get up quickly unless you want to be whipped."


    As she spoke, she somehow produced a whip and swung it in the air with a cracking sound.


    "No, Teacher Yu, I''m going!" Du Bai struggled to his feet and continued forwardboriously.


    No longer following Du Bai, Tang San elerated his pace. The sixty kilograms of weight on him were not too burdensome, especially since he had been conserving his energy while moving slowly with Du Bai. Now, he rapidly moved forward with long strides.


    As his physical energy was consumed, his body began to heat up, and his breathing grew heavier. The cirction of blood in his body, the stimtion to his physique, and the mental strain that came together with the depletion of his stamina brought him a strange sense of pleasure, like a thorough and satisfying venting.


    His speed increased even more. asionally, he nced at the map, then at the sky, to determine his location; then, he continued to move forward rapidly.


    However, as it turned out, his time with Du Bai had put him not just at the back of the pack, but quite far behind it as well. It wasn��t until he neared the destination that he finally saw Cheng Zicheng.

 Chapter 75: She Flew Away?

    <h4>Chapter 75: She Flew Away?</h4>


    Tianpeng was the summit of a great mountain nearly two thousand meters high, and it was their destination for this ��hiking trip.��


    The reason it was named Tianpeng became clear to Tang San upon his arrival. Arge tree with a canopy nearly a hundred meters in diameter covered most of the peak.[1]


    Seeing Tang San climbing the mountain, Cheng Zicheng couldn''t help but be surprised, and sheughed. ��Pretty good endurance! I thought I''d see you again on the way back."


    Mu Enqing was also there with her. Seeing Tang San approach, he nodded at him. Without a word, he patted Tang San on the shoulder.


    Immediately, the power left inside him by Mu Yunyu vanished, and Tang San could feel that the Mysterious Heaven Technique was no longer suppressed.


    Tang San had wondered how people could return before noon with the weights <i>and</i> their abilities sealed. Now, it seemed that the restriction would be lifted upon reaching Tianpeng.


    "Let''s go. Hurry back and see if we can still get food," Cheng Zicheng said, pulling Tang San and showing him the way down the mountain.


    As she leaped down from the mountaintop, an extraordinary scene unfolded. Ayer of orange-yellow light shone around Cheng Zicheng. In the next instant, she spread her arms, and beautiful orange feathers sprouted from them. Her hair also turned orange, and it was decorated with three feathers


    pping her arms, which had now transformed into wings, she nced back at Tang San and smiled sweetly. "I''ll go ahead~"


    With these words, she glided down the mountain, quickly bing a tiny dot in the distance.


    <i>Fly? Did she fly away? Isn''t that cheating? </i>Tang San opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.


    What kind of Demonic God Transformation was that? Orange feathers and the ability to fly? Tang San had never seen such a demon. But from the change in aura after her transformation, Tang San could feel it was a powerful Demonic God Transformation. Moreover, the ability to fly was extremely rare.


    <i>Senior sister, I''ll choose you if my fifth bloodline imprint doesn''t work out. </i>Flight was actually one of the abilities Tang San desired the most.


    Tang San took a deep breath.


    A swirling green light surrounded him, and he also suddenly leaped from the mountaintop. His eyes sparkled with Discerning Eye as the abundant wind element of the mountain converged around him. Feeling lighter, Tang San rapidly descended the mountain. Under the enhancement of the wind element, his speed was akin to a swift breeze. Although not as fast as Cheng Zicheng''s actual flight, it was still considerably quick.


    As he watched Tang San leave, Mu Enqing''s eyes showed a hint of surprise.


    Upon reaching this point by sheer physical effort, any student would be exhausted. Unsealing them at this moment to regain control of their power helped them appreciate the preciousness of the Demonic God Transformation and better understand their bloodline power on the way back. This was a crucial reason for the grueling program they were enduring.


    With that said, when he spotted Tang San running toward them, Mu Enqing felt that although the child was somewhat tired, it wasn''t severe, especially considering he was only nine years old! And now, when he left, it was clear that his body didn''t undergo any changes due to activating the Demonic God Transformation, and yet his control over the wind element was powerful, seemingly surpassing the fourth order.


    Initially, when the teachers learned that Tang San''s ability was the Wind Wolf Transformation, they weren''t too impressed with him. If not for the fact that Tang San was only nine, they might not have allowed a child with such an average Demonic God Transformation to join the Redemption Academy.


    Although Redemption Academy was small, with only a dozen students, it held a very high status within the Redemption Society. It existed specifically to train elite upper-echelon talent for the society. Across the entire Daemon Continent, there were only nine Redemption Academies, all managed by the core members of the Redemption Society.


    At this moment, when Mu Enqing saw Tang San using the Wind Wolf Transformation, controlling the wind element to enhance his speed, his perception changed somewhat.


    Based on his information, Tang San''s control over Wind de was exceptionally skillful. His spiritual energy had to be far above the ordinary, which was also evident from his ability to cause Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision to backfire.


    Celestial Fox Vision made Du Bai''s spiritual energy much more substantial than that of others at the same order, and for Tang San to cause it to backfire, his spiritual energy had to be at least double Du Bai''s. This was indeed intriguing.


    The aspect that made the teachers most interested in Tang San was the fact that the mayor had taken him as a disciple. They were pretty familiar with the mayor and his quirks.


    <i>For lunch! </i>Tang San sprinted all the way.


    He now had a deeper understanding of the physical training ss. The journey there was a physical fitness test, while the return was more about one''s special abilities. This wasn''t exactly fair, but it was an interesting form of training.


    Now, his bloodline power felt intensely hot, and the soreness in his muscles was very noticeable. Once the Mysterious Heaven Technique was unsealed, its perpetual cycling nature within the body facilitated a rapid recovery from the previous exertion, benefiting his physical training significantly. Especially since he had just broken through to the fifth order, his body needed to adapt to the fifth level of the Mysterious Heaven Technique as well. Today''s physical training elerated this process and even the speed at which he absorbed the remaining bloodline energy he had from the Wind Wolf Town Lord.


    While they all moved along the same path all the way to Tianpeng, the return was bound to be different. Cheng Zicheng, who could fly, would certainly take a different route from Tang San, who ran on the ground like a wolf. Thus, Tang San didn''t encounter anyone else on his way back. Well, that was also because...everyone except Du Bai had already arrived by the time he returned to the academy.


    Soaked with sweat and breathing heavily, Tang San pulled the weighted blocks from his vest, feeling helpless, realizing he might not get to eat today.


    He might have had a chance if he hadn''t stayed behind with Du Bai earlier. But this made it clear that none of his fellow disciples at the academy could be taken lightly. On his way back, leveraging his fifth-order cultivation and the speed boost from the wind element, he was pretty fast, nearly reaching eighty percent of his peak speed. Yet, he still couldn''tpensate for the distance he''d fallen behind, much less surpass the others.


    The other students at Redemption Academy were also somewhat surprised to see Tang San return so quickly. After all, he was only nine years old!


    Mu Yunyu hadn''t returned, and just as Tang San was about to silently return to his room to wash up and endure hunger, Guan Longjiang approached him.


    "It''s your first training day, so you won''t be punished today. Go wash up, and then join everyone for a meal."


    1. The name of the peak is written as ����, with the first character meaning ��heaven�� and the second referring to luxuriant vegetation. ?

 Chapter 76: Golden Roc Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 76: Golden Roc Transformation</h4>


    "Okay, thank you, teacher." Tang San didn''t hesitate or stubbornly refuse. He really didn��t feel the need to show off his manly principles or whatever. He simply agreed amicably and then ran back to wash up.


    Just then, theposed Si Ru strolled over to Guan Longjiang. "Hey, what do you think of this kid?"


    Guan Longjiang replied, "Not bad. He��s young but quite steady, and he��s not arrogant. His physical strength is good, too. Did you see? He just removed six blocks from his pockets. For his age, having this kind of physical ability shows a rock-solid foundation. His aura is pretty impressive. Probably at the peak of the fourth order."


    Si Ru shook his head. "No, he''s at the fifth order now."


    "Fifth order? Nine years old and fifth order?" Guan Longjiang eximed in surprise, stretching out his right hand with all five fingers spread as if he wasn��t sure he was counting things right.


    Si Ru smirked. "Otherwise, why do you think Zhang Haoxuan was so eager to take a disciple? This little Tang San is at the fifth order, but if you ask me, that��s not all there is to him. There are definitely other secrets about him we don''t know yet. Seriously, you know what Zhang Haoxuan is like, right? He wouldn''t bother if there wasn��t something in it for him."


    Guan Longjiang blinked a few times. "You mean that sly guy pulled a fast one on us?"


    "Of course. I just couldn''t be bothered to call him out on it. After all, the kid''s Demonic God Transformation is just the Wind Wolf Transformation. Even if his Wind Wolf Transformation is unique, the base bloodline is still kinda mediocre. Let''s hope he can go far."


    Guan Longjiang, deep in thought, said, "If the fundamental bloodline is weaker, even if he reaches a higher order in the future, he might still be weaker than his peers."


    Si Ru shook his head. "This is just a preliminary assessment. We need to see what level of ability he can demonstrate. In this afternoon''sbat ss, let Enqing thoroughly test him."


    "Okay. We''ll see then." Guan Longjiang nodded in agreement.


    Returning to his room, Tang San freshened up and changed into clean clothes, feeling immediately more rxed.


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique nourished the body and had significant health benefits. Having cultivated it for three lifetimes, Tang San was intimately familiar with it. In a short while, most of his fatigue faded, and his vitality surged. The only side effect was hunger...


    The dining hall was ready with lunch��boiled meat. It was exactly that: meat cooked in hot water with some salt added. It was simple and in, but it did the job. For students who expended great physical energy, the nutrition in meat was what they needed most.


    Large pots of steaming boiled meat were ced on the tables. As Guan Longjiang announced the meal''s start, everyone began to eat earnestly and without reservation.


    Eating was a matter of speed, no doubt about it. The quick got their fill, and the slow missed out.


    Tang San did the same, quickly joining in the scramble for meat. He ate heartily,plemented by sips of the meat broth. Soon, he felt warm all over. By the time he started to feel full, the meat was gone, and even the bones looked as if a convocation of scavenger eagles had a go at them.


    Tang San hadn''t eaten his fill, but seeing the empty pots, he felt helpless.


    With nothing left to eat, the students dispersed. Tang San, however, called out to Cheng Zicheng.


    "What''s up? Didn''t get enough to eat? You could consider going to town to buy some food for yourself. The teachers don''t manage these things. You must find ways to nourish yourself, especially when you''re punished and don''t get meals. It��ll be wise to prepare more food," Cheng Zicheng said with a smile.


    "Right, I''ll go buy someter." Tang San agreed with the suggestion. At his current stage of strength training, how could he not need more food? The better the nutrition, the better it was for his body''s tempering, especially since he was now ready to let his body grow.


    "Sister, I wanted to ask, when does the academy usually allow us to go into town?" Tang San asked.


    Cheng Zicheng replied, "After sses each day. It''s generally alright, but the requirement is that you must go at least in pairs. You can''t go into town alone to avoid danger. And you must be low-key. If you cause any kind of trouble, you''ll be severely punished."


    "Understood." Tang San nodded.


    Cheng Zicheng said, "Don''t overthink it, though. Usually, after a day''s training, we��re all so wrecked that nobody has the energy to go out, much less cause trouble."


    Changing the subject with a smile, Tang San said, "You know, it was really awesome to see you fly earlier. What kind of Demonic God Transformation was that? Can you tell me?"


    Cheng Zicheng giggled, "My Demonic God Transformation is the Golden Roc Transformation. It''s the bloodline inheritance of the Golden-Winged Great Roc."


    Tang San''s eyes lit up. "Wow, that sounds pretty powerful!"


    Cheng Zicheng shrugged helplessly. "It is, but my bloodline isn''t pure enough, so my cultivation isn''t very fast. The teacher said that if I break through to the seventh order, they''ll try to let me undergo ancestral regression to enhance my bloodline strength. Only then will I have a greater chance of continuous improvement?��


    "What is ancestral regression?" Tang San asked, surprised.


    Cheng Zicheng exined, "I don''t know the specifics. I''ve only heard from the teacher that it''s a ritual requiring many precious materials. It isn''t easy. Ancestral regression wasn''t invented by us but by demon and nymph races to purify bloodlines. It''s also useful for us."


    Tang San nodded silently, then asked, "Sister, in this afternoon''s practicalbat ss, are we going to spar?"


    Cheng Zicheng looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "Why? Do you want to spar with me? Do you think I''m young and weak? Let me tell you, I''m pretty strong. Be careful, or I might beat you."


    Tang San smiled. "I just want to experience your Golden Roc Transformation. It sounds really impressive."


    Cheng Zicheng giggled, "Then I won''t go easy on you. Alright, I''m going to rest; I''m dead tired. I''ll take a nap first."


    Watching her leave, Tang San thought, <i>Seriously, it''s not because you''re weak that I want to spar with you! It''s because I''m interested in your bloodline power. Even absorbing a bit would be good. The ability to fly is just too important.</i>


    Indeed, after hearing about Cheng Zicheng''s Demonic God Transformation, Tang San had already decided that his fifth Demonic God Transformation imprint would be the Golden Roc Transformation.


    In the two days since arriving at Redemption Academy, Tang San''s first impression was that he hade to a ce filled with treasures. Natural resources aside, his fellow disciples, both male and female, were walking treasure troves!


    Each of them possessed extraordinary and rare Demonic God Transformation bloodlines. This meant that he could learn these powerful abilities from them! Whether he could enhance them further was a problem for the future; right now, the priority was to get a hold of them. Moreover, as his seniors'' cultivation improved, their bloodline powers would also be strengthened. By constantly absorbing a little bit of their bloodline power, the bloodline imprints he acquired would naturally enhance, too. This was much easier and safer than hunting demons.


    Abilities like Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision and Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc Transformation were both extremely rare and beneficial to him. He still needed to observe what abilities the other senior disciples possessed. They could all be potential targets for the future. As long as he absorbed just a bit of their bloodline power, they would recover quickly, and if he was careful, they might not even notice.


    Tang San possessed four imprints: the Wind Wolf Transformation, the sh Leopard Transformation, the Rhino Transformation, and the Discerning Eye, a fusion of the White-Headed Falcon bloodline and the Aetherhorn Deer bloodline. Unfortunately, most of these abilities were not particrly powerful, since they weren''t from the mightiest races of demons, so he had to find better ones to rece them.


    In this world, for Tang San to be stronger, apart from pushing his Mysterious Heaven Technique further, he needed the abilities provided by these bloodline imprints. This was a limitation imposed by this world. Only by breaking through to the God level in the future would he have the possibility of contending with thews of this ne and thus reiming some of his abilities from his previous life.

 Chapter 77: Sparring

    <h4>Chapter 77: Sparring</h4>


    The morning''s physical training ss was exhausting, so Tang San rested a little first. Then, he started meditating, entering the state remarkably quickly. The energy in his body surged, merging with the energy of the Mysterious Heavens Technique, and he could clearly feel some improvements in himself.


    It wasn''t until the bell inside the academy rang that he awoke from his meditation. Outside, he could hear noise��clearly, his colleagues were already heading for the afternoon sses.


    After stretching his body, Tang San sprang up and left the room. His fellow students were all gathered there in the courtyard, presumably having rested for a while themselves.


    Guan Longjiang and Mu Enqing were present, while Mu Yunyu and Si Ru were absent.


    Mu Enqing said, ��Today��s practicalbat ss will be held within the academy. Tang San, step forward.��


    Tang San took a step forward, emerging from the group.


    Mu Enqing continued, ��As you are new to the academy, both the teachers and your colleagues must be familiar with your abilities. You may choose one person as your opponent for a realbat match. You can go all out in the match. Teacher Guan and I will ensure your safety.��


    ��Yes, Teacher.�� Tang San nodded, turning toward the other students.


    The students of Redemption Academy were somewhat curious about this neer, especially as he was the youngest among them. They were particrly intrigued by his sessfulpletion of the morning''s physical training, even more so after learning that Mu Yunyu had increased his weight load during the session.


    Naturally, Redemption Academy ced great emphasis on potential when selecting its students, but Mu Yunyu''s physical training ss was not easy to handle. Everyone struggled with it when they first arrived. Thus, Tang San''s physical capabilities, coupled with his young age, had already drawn extra attention from everyone.


    Tang San''s gaze swept over his senior fellow students. One of them waved his hands repeatedly at him, indicating he did not wish to engage in actualbat with Tang San.


    Du Bai had just gotten back, and his face was still somewhat pale. The physical training ss had indeed been torturous for him.


    Tang San had already decided on his target. "I choose senior sister Cheng Zicheng."


    "Okay. Cheng Zicheng''s Demon God Transformation is of the flying type," Mu Enqing reminded him, "so be mentally prepared."


    Cheng Zicheng, pouting her red lips, stepped forward. "He knows. I ran into him in today''s physical training ss. Hey, are you sure you want to challenge me? I told you I won''t go easy on you."


    Thetter statement was naturally addressed to Tang San, who smiled and said, "Please enlighten me, senior sister."


    The others stepped back, leaving the center of the courtyard to them. Mu Enqing and Guan Longjiang positioned themselves closer to the center, ready to intervene quickly if any danger arose during the fight.


    The two stood twenty meters apart, facing each other. Cheng Zicheng''s eyes sparkled with confidence, and she seemed eager to begin.


    Tang San, however, appeared very calm, merely gazing at her serenely.


    "Begin!"


    With Mu Enqing''smand, Tang San''s first real battle since arriving at the Redemption Academymenced.


    Cheng Zicheng''s body shimmered in an orange-yellow glow, her arms spreading at her sides and swiftly transforming into wings, her lengthy hair turning orange, interspersed with feather-like strands.


    Most Demonic Gods Transformations Tang San had witnessed resulted in an ugly, beastly appearance. However, Cheng Zicheng''s transformation made her even more radiant and beautiful. Even her demeanor seemed more fairy-like.


    While she activated her Demonic God Transformation, Tang San also took action.


    Facing Cheng Zicheng, who possessed the Golden Roc Transformation, his biggest challenge would naturally be her ability to fly. A green light shed around Tang San as he activated the Wind Wolf imprint. The wind element began to gather around him visibly, lightening his body instantly. He elerated suddenly, covering twenty meters before anyone even had time to be surprised.


    Cheng Zicheng didn''t fly immediately after activating the Golden Roc transformation. Instead, her arms, transformed into wings, suddenly closed inward, sweeping toward Tang San like two scythes, their sharp edges seemingly tearing the air apart.


    Tang San lunged forward, as if he was throwing himself under the scythes. At that moment, his hands swung forward at the same time, releasing two green-colored wind des that shot like lightning, striking the Golden Roc''s wings in the nick of time.


    With two crisp ngs, Cheng Zicheng noticeably faltered; the wings slicing through the air were abruptly stopped and she was jolted back a step by the impact of the wind des.


    Simultaneously, Tang San''s fingers quivered, and a series of wind des shot out rapidly from his palms, as if he was spraying them.


    Eighteen wind des burst forth like flowers scattering from the hands of a celestial maiden, illuminating the battlefield in a green hue. The intense concentration of wind element even caused a distinct howling sound throughout the courtyard.


    The eighteen wind des were actually not aimed at Cheng Zicheng; rather, they shot upward, intertwining in the air to form arge. This instantly discouraged Cheng Zicheng, who was in fact preparing to take flight after being pushed back earlier.


    When the eighteen wind des flew out, tracing arcs in the air, Guan Longjiang''s and Mu Enqing''s eyes lit up instantly. They exchanged nces, unable to hide their surprise in their expressions.


    Although they had heard from Zhang Tianxiao about Tang San''s exquisite control over wind des, seeing was believing. Witnessing him instantly release so many wind des, each solid and entirely under his control, was simply amazing. How could a nine-year-old child achieve this? This level of control seemed on par with or even beyond that of an eighth or ninth-order member of the Wind Wolf n. It was clear that there was some kind of unique technique behind this astonishing control.


    In contrast to their amazement, Cheng Zicheng was feeling a mix of shock and anger. She had certain expectations and judgments about Tang San and she knew he was skilled in using wind des. However, she had never anticipated being suppressed after just their first exchange.


    The two wind desunched by Tang San had been extremely forceful; upon impact, her tough Golden Roc wings felt numb from the shock. And just as she was about to take off, she found that the eighteen wind des in the air posed such a threat that she couldn''t risk flying.


    The feeling of losing control over the battle before it even began was unbearably frustrating.


    But Cheng Zicheng was still a member of the Redemption Academy, and therefore not someone to be easily defeated. Realizing that taking flight might make her a target for the wind des, she reacted almost instantly. Instead of retreating, she advanced, her wings pping fiercely to create a gust of wind. This wind served as her shield against the aerial wind des, and simultaneously, she elerated hard. Almost like teleporting, she lunged directly toward Tang San.


    In a sh of orange-yellow light, she was already face to face with Tang San. At this moment, Tang San, had just unleashed eighteen wind des, and he obviously couldn''t release another.


    Cheng Zicheng finally showed a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. <i>You want to block my flight, huh? Then I''ll go straight for the jugr and beat you in closebat.</i>


    But her smile stiffened on her lips in the next instant.


    Tang San had disappeared.


    Just as Cheng Zicheng thought she was about to collide with him, suddenly everything blurred before her eyes, and Tang San vanished into thin air. Then came the sensation of numerous sharp edgesing from all directions. Not only that, but her wings closed; she was immobilized.


    To the others, it looked like Tang San shifted a bit before the collision and somehow appeared behind Cheng Zicheng. Then, he grabbed her shoulders, holding her in ce. The eighteen wind des he had set in the air were now homed in on Cheng Zicheng like swallows returning to their nest.

 Chapter 78: You鈥檝e Gone Easy On Me

    <h4>Chapter 78: You��ve Gone Easy On Me</h4>


    The changes happened so swiftly that everyone''s gasps of surprise were still in their throats when Cheng Zicheng was already facing a sea of dark green.


    Cheng Zicheng tried to break free from Tang San''s grasp, only to find her body suddenly weakened, unable to escape. Then, in an instant, the wind des arrived. The vast green light filling her vision sparked sudden panic in her heart.


    <i>How can this be... </i>was the only thought she could muster.


    But in the next moment, those streaks of green light suddenly halted before her, pausing a meter away. At this time, Guan Longjiang and Mu Enqing had already arrived on either side of them. But before they could act, the wind des had already stopped and dissipated into gentle breezes.


    Tang San released his grip on Cheng Zicheng''s shoulders and stepped back a little.


    Cheng Zicheng swayed slightly as she abruptly turned around.


    What she saw was Tang San''s faint smile.


    "Senior sister, thank you for the match."


    Cheng Zicheng''s eyes reddened instantly. She had lost, just like that, without even being able to put up a proper fight. She had been defeated by Tang San, who had just joined the academy and was much younger than her. The shame and grievance in her heart almost exploded instantly.


    "You, you..." She wanted to say something but didn''t know what to say. She had simply lost!


    Mu Enqing patted Cheng Zicheng on the shoulder, "Victory and defeat aremon in battle. When you lose, you must find the reason. This is also the purpose of our practicalbat lessons."


    Guan Longjiang turned to Tang San, "You''ve reached the fifth order?"


    Tang San had no intention of concealing his cultivation level. In the Redemption Society or the academy, the stronger one��s ability, the higher the ess to privileges and resources. Moreover, his newly acknowledged teacher also knew he was at the fifth order, so secrecy was unnecessary.


    "I just broke through," Tang San confirmed.


    <i>At nine years old, being at the fourth order would��ve been astonishing enough, and now he''s at the fifth order?</i>


    For a moment, the students present looked at Tang San with some amazement. There were sixteen students apart from Tang San, but the one with the highest cultivation was at the sixth order and had barely passed its threshold. Most were at the fourth order, simr to Cheng Zicheng, with only three people at the fifth.


    How could they not be shocked that this child, only nine years old, had already attained the fifth order of cultivation?


    Cheng Zicheng was also stunned. <i>The fifth order? Yes! The strength of his wind de attack didn''t seem like something a fourth-order can do. So he��s reached the fifth order already?</i>


    Guan Longjiangughed, "No wonder, no wonder the mayor took you as a disciple. Indeed impressive. Take a rest, andter, we''ll have another realbat session."


    Tang San was in a good mood. When he had grabbed Cheng Zicheng''s shoulder, he had subtly absorbed some of her bloodline power. A new Demonic God Transformation bloodline imprint had appeared within him. Since he had only absorbed a small amount of bloodline power, the imprint it formed was only at the third order. But this was enough! He could now retain his fifth imprint.


    Of course, he couldn''t yet try what effect the Golden Roc Transformation would have on him, but it should allow him to fly. This was different from the vision of the white falcon demon. The Golden-Winged Roc''s greatest strength was flight, and it soared up to ny thousand miles daily. Among flying demons, it was definitely one of the greatest.


    "Okay." Tang San didn''t need to rest, but he refrained from saying anything; there was no need to look arrogant. He agreed, apologetically nodded to Cheng Zicheng, and returned to Du Bai''s side.


    Cheng Zicheng, puffing with anger, followed him and stood beside him, whispering, "Are you really at the fifth order? How can you cultivate so fast?"


    Tang San spread his arms in helplessness. "I don��t know what to tell you. I just cultivate normally!"


    Du Bai, however, grabbed him and shook him. "The fifth order, you''ve already reached the fifth order! I''m jealous, I''m envious, when will I ever reach the fifth order?!"


    As the absolute bottom dweller in cultivation in the academy, Du Bai thought that with Tang San''s arrival, he might not be at the bottom anymore. But now, he realized the gap between him and Tang San was enormous, and it wasn��t in the direction he had expected it to be.


    While Du Bai held his arm, Tang San silently activated his Mysterious Heaven Technique, drawing a trace of bloodline power from Du Bai. Given Du Bai''s weaker cultivation and the fact that he was both slightly injured and very tired, he drew only an imperceptible amount of bloodline power, unnoticed by Du Bai.


    In Tang San''s body, this power formed a bloodline imprint that seemed to be somewhere around the first order.


    The Golden Roc Transformation was meant to be a true ability of his own. At the same time, he hoped that the Celestial Fox Vision could merge with his Discerning Eye, fostering thetter''s evolution.


    As his cultivation progressed, the benefits of the Discerning Eye became more apparent. Firstly, it significantly enhanced Tang San''s vision, which meant that it synergized excellently with the Purple Demon Eyes. Secondly, the fact that he could directly observe elemental energy meant that he could use his spiritual power more efficiently, bringing marked changes in his control over elements. That''s why he could better utilize the Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation techniques.


    Moreover, the Discerning Eye could, to some extent, observe an opponent''s weaknesses. This made it extremely useful inbat.


    The effect of Celestial Fox Vision was wholly different, however; as far as Tang San knew, it was among the most overpowered abilities within the demon race, but it was not used forbat. From the information he had gotten, Du Bai was likely the only human with Celestial Fox Vision, and his ability was one of the greatest secrets of the Redemption Society. If the Celestial Fox n discovered his existence, they would immediately take him away. Tang San didn��t know much about what exactly this ability did, but given how high it was regarded, he knew that it was well worth exploring.


    Mu Enqing said, "Next up, Gu Li, Zhang Zebin,e forward."


    Two boys, around the ages of thirteen or fourteen, stepped out. Each bowed to the teachers and took their positions.


    The next match was about to begin, and Du Bai released his grip on Tang San, though the envy in his eyes was still apparent.


    Tang San quietly asked him, "What''s the usual process for a practicalbat ss?"


    Du Bai replied, "Normally, everyone must do at least one sparring session. The opponent in each ss differs. After all thebat sessions, the teachers will give us feedback, they��ll point out our strengths and weaknesses in the battle, and guide us so we can improve and enhance our skills."


    "Stop with your ��we.'' You''re not doing anything," Cheng Zicheng said irritably.


    Du Bai''s mouth twitched. "Don''t kick a man when he''s down, okay? You''ll lose friends that way."


    Cheng Zicheng snorted. " As if I care. I don''t make friends with third-order weaklings."


    Tang San looked from Du Bai to Cheng Zicheng and couldn''t help but chuckle. Clearly, Cheng Zicheng was venting her frustration from the recent defeat!


    ��What are you looking at? Once I reach the fifth order, I''ll definitely be able to beat you.�� Cheng Zicheng red at Tang San, clearly still disgruntled about the recent battle.


    ��Hmm, keep it up, senior sister. I��m rooting for you,�� Tang San responded.


    Two young men in the arena had already taken their stances.


    ��Begin!��


    With Mu Enqing��smand, the second round of realbat began. The young Gu Li was visibly thinner and not much taller than Tang San. At this moment, his body began to transform.


    His ordinary-looking skin turned into a thick, keratinous scale armor; his head began to deform, and a long tail sprouted from his tailbone.


    The transformation was indeed massive.


    Generally, the Demonic God Transformation caused changes in a human��s body, but these changes were limited. The greater the change, the closer the bloodline was to that of a demon.


    After the transformation, Gu Li��s body had changed so drastically that it was hard to even recognize him as human.

 Chapter 79: Crimson Dragon Transformation & Chrono Crocodile Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 79: Crimson Dragon Transformation & Chrono Crocodile Transformation</h4>


    As he transformed, his body shimmered with a flowing, iridescent light. Although it appeared grotesque, it also exuded a unique, extraordinary charm.


    <i>What Demonic God Transformation is this?</i> Tang San wondered, unable to recognize it. Among the demons described to him by Wang Yanfeng, none matched this creature. It resembled a crocodile, but since when did crocodiles shimmer with such radiance?


    Meanwhile, Gu Li''s opponent, Zhang Zebin, transformed too. His body stretched taller, and a powerful aura burst forth. Diamond-shaped scales emerged on his skin, and sharp horns grew on his head. In a short time, his elongated frame became robust, transforming the youngster into a muscr man over two meters tall, with horns and a body covered in scales, exuding a mighty aura.


    Gu Li was around the fourth order, while Zhang Zebin''s aura suggested a fifth-order cultivation.


    <i>Actualbat between the fourth and fifth order? What are the teachers thinking?</i>


    As Tang San pondered, the battle between the two had already begun.


    Zhang Zebin roared and leaped forward. Mid-air, his figure seemed to expand even more. His pitch-ck scales suddenly turned a crimson red; opening his mouth wide, he spewed a stream of red mes toward his opponent.


    Gu Li''s own scales glowed even brighter in an instant. He propelled himself off the ground and charged directly into the mes.


    In the next moment, Gu Li''s light flickered abruptly, and the mes Zhang Zebin had spewed out strangely froze in mid-air. Zhang Zebin, continuing his charge, collided with the suspended mes.


    <i>What ability is this? </i>Tang San was profoundly shaken. <i>This... seems like a power to freeze space or maybe time!</i>


    Having once been a God King, he had a deep understanding of how powerful control over time and space could be. Abilities affecting time and space were the most profound and mysterious abilities in any given world.


    On the battlefield, Zhang Zebin visibly shuddered, having rushed into his own mes. However, the scales on his body seemed to provide considerable resistance against fire. At that moment, Gu Lipleted a pirouette, his long tail whipping ferociously towards him.


    Zhang Zebin stepped forward, twisting his body to dodge. Instead of counterattacking, he crossed his arms before him, crouching down and curling up, assuming a defensive posture.


    In the next instant, he visibly froze, and then he was struck directly by Gu Li''s tail.


    With a loud bang, the strike flung Zhang Zebin five or six meters away. He rolled on the ground and sprang up the next instant, however, lunging at Gu Li again. As he struck, his right fist was already enveloped in a dense, fiery glow.


    Gu Li retreated, the halo of light around him dimming noticeably. He asionally stopped or impeded Zhang Zebin''s movements with strikes of his tail, continuously shing with him.


    Both fighters had extremely strong defenses, especially Gu Li. He showed no significant injuries even when hit by Zhang Zebin''s fiery punches. However, as the battle continued, Tang San noticed Gu Li falling behind. His remarkable control abilities seemed to wane, likely due to excessive consumption of his bloodline power.


    Gu Li''s defense remained strong, and he fought tenaciously. Even when he could no longer effectively control Zhang Zebin, he managed asional counterattacks, smashing Zhang Zebin with his tail like a heavy hammer.


    Zhang Zebin was no less adept at defense, and his strength was formidable. His Demonic God Transformation, imbued with the power of fire, was also very strong, whether in strength, speed, or power.


    The two fought back and forth. As time passed, Gu Li''s exhaustion grew. The iridescent light on his body gradually faded, and even his Demonic God Transformation began to falter.


    "Stop!" Mu Enqing called an end to the match. Although Gu Li''s abilities were exceptional, Zhang Zebin''s cultivation was ultimately higher, and he won through attrition.


    At this moment, Tang San was filled with astonishment. The Golden Roc Transformation he had just absorbed seemed less appealing now. Gu Li''s ability to control time was incrediblypelling! After watching it for a while, he concluded that it wasn''t spatial confinement but rather a more peculiar maniption of time, capable of instantly freezing it. This control was even more effective than direct spatial restriction. With such control, Zhang Zebin was helpless despite being at a higher order in cultivation.


    He had to acquire this time control ability, no matter what! Gu Lickedbat experience and techniques, so he couldn��t make the most out of his own bloodline ability, but the same power would be far more impactful in Tang San''s hands.


    Now, he was contemting which bloodline imprint to rece with this time control ability or whether to forego absorbing the Golden Roc Transformation altogether and directly absorbing the time control power.


    However, the ability to fly was also crucial. It was indeed a dilemma! He dared not casually merge different types of Demonic God Transformation imprints. If they counteracted each other, it could lead to trouble, potentially weakening rather than enhancing his powers.


    "Senior brother Du Bai, what were the Demonic God Transformations of these two brothers just now? They looked really magical," Tang San asked softly.


    Du Bai exined, "Zhang Zebin''s transformation is the Crimson Dragon Transformation. It''s an offshoot of the dragon n. The Crimson Dragon n has few members, but they are quite powerful, evenpared to other branches of the dragon n. He is really strong and very well-rounded, he��s got strength, speed, fire, and he��s very tough. The teachers always say that he��s a great fighter in every respect. Gu Li''s bloodline is the Chrono Crocodile, and that one is <i>really </i>impressive.


    ��Actually, it��s so impressive that it��s often just called the Chrono Transformation. See, it��smon sense that Demonic God Transformation names include the original demon species. This one doesn''t because the time control ability is just too overpowered. They say that if you cultivate it all the way to the divine level, it can reverse time on arge scale, and even bring the dead back to life. Of course, if it was that easy, any idiot would do it. It��s like my own ability, really difficult to cultivate."


    <i>Chrono Crocodile, Crimson Dragon! Hehe, treasure boys, wait for me...</i>


    Tang San swallowed dry, feeling his understanding of Demonic God Transformations evolving. Ever since arriving at the Redemption Society, he had broadened his horizons and witnessed the capabilities of incredibly powerful demons.


    Compared to these, his previous abilities seemed less significant. How to adjust and reconfigure them would require considerable thought for some time. A goodbination would undoubtedly enhance his strength further.


    The practical ss continued. The fight just now was one of the longer ones,sting about five minutes due to the stalemate between the twobatants. By contrast, the battle between Tang San and Cheng Zicheng had ended in just a few seconds.


    Tang San watched each subsequent battle with great attention. He realized his fellow students'' abilities were unique; none of their Demonic God Transformations were ordinary. Although theirbat experience and application might not bemendable from Tang San''s perspective, their talents were iparable to any human vassals he had encountered. Even among the demons he had seen previously, few possessed such bloodlines.


    "Tang San, are you rested?" After the seventh practicalbat session, Mu Enqing called out to Tang San again.


    "I am rested," Tang San replied respectfully.


    Mu Enqing nodded and said, "You will participate in the final battle to conclude the session. Your opponent will be Wu Bingji. He is the only student among all the disciples who has reached the sixth order. You can do your best; let us see where your limits lie."


    <i>Sixth order?</i> Tang San was somewhat surprised. He naturally knew who Wu Bingji was, though he was still unfamiliar with everyone. Among all the sparring sessions, only two students had not yet fought: Du Bai and a youth who appeared to be sixteen or seventeen.

 Chapter 80: Ice Nymph Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 80: Ice Nymph Transformation</h4>


    This youth looked tall and slender, with a schrly air about his face, and he was quite handsome. He stood aside, watching the battle, always appearing calm.


    He seemed to be the oldest and the most skilled among them all. Of course, that was actually the case. This young man was the eldest senior brother of the Redemption Society.


    "Senior brother is very strong; be careful!" Du Bai reminded him from the side.


    "Okay." Tang San nodded and then stepped forward.


    Wu Bingji also came forward with a faint smile, nodding to Tang San.


    Mu Enqing said, "This battle between you can be called a battle of elements. Bingji''s Demonic God Transformation is the Ice Nymph Transformation. Among all of you, he is the only one whose transformation doesn''t originate from the demon race.


    ��The Ice Nymph Transformationes from the nymph side, it��s a kind of ice nymph. ording to legend, they are natural spirits who have innate control over ice. Bingji''s Ice Nymph Transformation isn''t a direct bloodline inheritance. The ice nymphs rely on division to pass on their lineage. He was identally contaminated by an ice nymph during its division, causing a mutation in his bloodline, which led to his Ice Nymph Transformation. Several students in our academy have Demonic God Transformations with unique characteristics, and Bingji''s ability is one of them."


    <i>Oh, so his transformation is a Demonic God Transformation from the nymph race. </i>This was Tang San��s first encounter with one, and it didn��t seem like a regr nymph transformation either. If it could control ice properly, then it had to be a veryprehensive ability.


    "Senior brother, please enlighten me," Tang San said, bowing slightly to Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji smiled and said, "You control your wind des very well. Controlling elements is also the direction of my study. Let''s exchange our knowledge more in the future. Please, go ahead."


    His voice was gentle and pleasant, devoid of any harshness. Despite cultivating the ice elements, there wasn''t a hint of coldness about him, and it was very easy for others to feel goodwill toward him.


    "Begin!" Mu Enqingmanded, and both of their auras changed simultaneously.


    Tang San''s eyes instantly turned emerald green, and a green light enveloped his body.


    Ayer of icy blue light appeared around Wu Bingji, but just like in the case of Tang San, there wasn��t any physical transformation. He did not attack first but gestured to Tang San, showing the demeanor of a proper senior brother.


    Tang San didn''t hold back. Facing a sixth-order opponent with a rare and undoubtedly powerful Demonic God Transformation, he was naturally fully alert.


    He raised his right hand, and two wind des shot out instantly, tracing arcs in the air and flying straight toward Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji responded the moment Tang San made his move. He raised his right hand, gesturing in Tang San''s direction. In an instant, several crystal-clear ice spikes had already formed before him. He didn��t even look at the Wind des tracing arcs in the air; instead, the dozen ice spikes whistled through the air as they flew toward Tang San.


    At the same time, a path of ice formed under his feet, leading toward Tang San. Stepping on this icy path, he slid toward Tang San as if flying close to the ground.


    Facing the ice spikes, Tang San didn''t release wind des to counter them. Watching the icy path surging toward him and feeling the rapid drop in air temperature, he actually charged toward the ice spikes.


    The two wind des in the air fell first. Wu Bingji showed no intention of dodging, which, in turn, made Tang San''s attempt to control the fight moot. Since the target showed no intention to dodge, what use was there in such tactics?


    The wind des struck Wu Bingji''s back with a crisp sound. The wind des shattered, but Wu Bingji only faltered slightly in his steps.


    <i>Is...is his body turning into ice? Is that state permanent or is it a skill? Either way, worthy of being a sixth-order!</i>


    While the wind des hit Wu Bingji, Tang San confronted the ice spikes.


    Facing the ice spikes, he didn''t release wind des; instead, his figure became illusory. Visually, it even seemed like his body twisted in a way that looked simply impossible for someone who had bones. In that critical moment, he slipped through the gaps between the ice spikes, with none hitting him.


    With that, the distance between the two of them closed.


    Cheng Zicheng''s eyes widened as she watched this scene. She clearly remembered how Tang San had somehow dodged her frontal attack before, moved behind her, and took control of her, which had led to her loss in the match.


    At this moment, she watched intently and she saw everything from an outside point of view, and yet...she was still unable to discern how Tang San dodged those ice spikes. <i>How did he do it? It��s clearly not just a matter of speed.</i>


    Of course, she didn''t know this was the Tang Sect''s secret technique, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.


    With sufficient cultivation level and a ridiculous number of years practicing this secret technique, Tang San had long mastered the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to a degree that not even its creator could��ve dreamed.


    The distance between Tang San and Wu Bingji closed, but he deliberately avoided the icy path spreading on the ground.


    Wu Bingji was surprised by Tang San''s dodging, but he wasted no time. He grabbed at the air, and an ice spear appeared in his hand.


    He thrust forth the spear, and it instantly turned into a barrage of spear shadows blocking Tang San��s path. Moreover, arge cloud of ice mist suddenly bloomed from his feet. With a boom, the ice path burst to shards. The icy mist swept toward Tang San, causing an instant, drastic drop in temperature around him, making his movements somewhat stiff.


    The pressure of a sixth-order opponent was extraordinary to begin with, and Wu Bingji seemed as if he wasn��t simply controlling ice, but rather as if he had be a part of the ice element itself. The constantly erupting chill was truly mighty.


    Tang San''s eyes brightened at this moment, and he released several Wind des. Like in the previous fight with Cheng Zicheng, there were eighteen wind des, but a closer look revealed that these were noticeably more concentrated.


    Tang San moved lightly on his toes, agilely leaping to the side, while the eighteen Wind des spun and flew straight toward Wu Bingji.


    Simultaneously, Tang San raised his right hand before him, a green light in his palm coalescing into a wind de. Then, another wind de formed and instantly fused with the first. The resulting wind de wasrger in size, but in an instant, it actually returned to the size of a normal one. However, it had a noticeably deeper hue.


    The green bloodline light in Tang San''s eyes disguised the light of his Discerning Eye, and under the control of his incredible spiritual power, the eighteen wind des surrounded Wu Bingji, and some of them descended toward his back.


    Wu Bingji charged toward Tang San, releasing arge cloud of ice mist toward him. At the same time, an ice wall rose behind him, blocking the attack of the wind des.


    <i>Bang, bang, bang!</i>


    Three consecutive Wind des struck the ice wall, causing Wu Bingji''s expression to change. His pursuit of Tang San also paused momentarily.


    Three wind des hit the exact same spot on the ice wall, cutting a deep incision. The following wind des, neatly aligned, arrived in quick session. As Wu Bingji paused, the fifth wind de pierced through the ice wall.


    This scene left the spectating crowd feeling dazzled and mesmerized.


    As the saying goes, the bystanders see the clearest. The wind des they observed seemed to be flying erratically in the air, but the next instant, they suddenly adjusted their flight direction, descending from the sky in a neat column and striking directly toward Wu Bingji. Eighteen disorderly wind des were going for perfect, scalpel-like cuts.


    For the first time, Wu Bingji seemed somewhat flustered.


    He couldn''t focus on pursuing Tang San anymore. Instead, he let the ice mist spray toward Tang San while he instantly turned around, his ice spear dancing in his hand to block the barrage of wind desunched by Tang San''s Hundred Birds Homing Strike.


    <i>Boom, boom, boom��</i>


    With each wind de Wu Bingji shattered, an explosive sound echoed. However, the wind des wereing too fast and too close together. Even though he pushed his control of the ice element to the extreme, even creating another ice wall, he still kept retreating while defending.

 Chapter 81: I Lost?

    <h4>Chapter 81: I Lost?</h4>


    The relentless assault, wave after wave, left Wu Bingji feeling breathless.


    Meanwhile, Tang San swiftly dodged to a distance whenever the ice mist was sprayed. Although his movements were slightly slowed due to ayer of frost on him, the wind de in his hand was still constantly changing.


    One after another, wind des appeared, then ovepped andpressed. At this moment, the wind de in his hand, only a foot wide, had turned a deep dark green. It clearly contained a terrifying amount of energy.


    This level of control shocked both Guan Longjiang and Mu Enqing. Tang San was only fifth-order, while Wu Bingji was sixth-order. One controlled the wind element, and the other the ice element. The ice element was rtively stable and easier to maintainpared to wind, and its power was more potent and suitable for both offense and defense. However, Tang San''s control of the wind element was unquestionably superior, especially his method ofpression, which required deep familiarity with the nature of the wind element. He hadn��t stopped afterpressing it once; rather, he kept cramming more and more wind elemental energy into his de.


    They didn''t know that under the Discerning Eye, the changes and fluctuations of the wind element were as clear as daylight to Tang San. In addition, having been a God King in the past, his understanding of the elements was iparable to Wu Bingji''s. With these advantages, controlling the energy was no longer a matter of elemental affinity but a matter of having sufficient spiritual power.


    Upon closer inspection, one would notice that Tang San''s right hand, which was holding the dark green wind de, seemed to be rhythmically pulsating. With each pulse, the turbulent wind element became more stable.


    When Wu Bingji finally neutralized the eighteen wind des, he appeared disheveled. His arms were numb, and he had to recreate his ice spear three times. This was only possible because of his substantial control over ice elements, coupled with the remarkable defensive power of the ice attribute.


    Watching the battle, Cheng Zicheng suddenly felt less upset about her loss. Even someone with Wu Bingji''s cultivation level struggled to withstand the eighteen wind des. In other words, it was only a given that she was unable to do that! Moreover, this fight revealed that Tang San had not used his full strength in their battle. <i>Could his strength actually rival that of the eldest senior brother?</i>


    The dark green wind de in Tang San''s hand finally moved. It shot out of his hand at great speed, but for some reason, it seemed to float slowly through the air, flickering with faint green sparks.


    Even Mu Enqing and Guan Longjiang felt a sense of danger when they looked at the de.


    Wu Bingji''s expression turned grave. He didn''t even consider dodging this wind de. From Tang San''s previous wind de techniques, he understood that he couldn''t avoid Tang San''s wind des even if he wanted to.


    Wu Bingji took a deep breath, and his whole body instantly turned ice blue. On the other side, Tang San''s face visibly paled after releasing the wind de, showing signs of excessive exertion.


    An ice shield formed in front of Wu Bingji, quickly turning from a paper-thin ice sheet into a thick wall. It was then followed by another one. The ice-blue light Wu Bingji radiated kept shing as he rapidly conjured one shield after another, a total of nine, all positioned in front of him. The sight was spectacr.


    Si Ru, who had appeared in the courtyard at some point, watched intently as the dark green wind de flew toward the ice shields, his eyes sparkling. The narrow wind de seemed disproportionate to the stacked nine ice shields, but he understood that creating this wind de was a much moreplex process than forming the nine ice shields.


    To condense nine ice shields, one only needed sufficient cultivation. Wu Bingji, boosted by his ice elemental form, had gone all out to create them. Though the process was exhausting in terms of energy, it didn''t require much skill.


    <i>However,pressing such a vast amount of wind element into a small wind de requires a terrifying level of understanding and control over the element. And this was achieved by a child who is only nine years old? Oh, Mayor, you did strike first and strike hard!</i>


    Finally, the dark green wind de collided with the ice shields.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Almost instantly, the first ice shield was pierced through and shattered to pieces.


    Like cutting through water, the dark green wind de sessively pierced each ice shield, leaving behind a trail of ice chunks and a cloud of cold mist.


    As the battle reached this point, even the onlookers held their breath, watching this astonishing scene with wide eyes.


    <i>Bang, bang, bang! </i>


    The sixth, seventh, and eighth ice shields shattered in session. The wind de finally struck thest ice shield.


    <i>Bang! </i>


    Just as everyone held their breath and Wu Bingji''s face turned pale, the final ice shield managed to resist. The highlypressed wind de had finally exhausted itsst bit of wind elemental energy and failed to prate the ninth ice shield, only leaving a deep mark in it.


    "I lost," Tang San said, breathing heavily. His aura significantly weakened and cold sweat broke out on his forehead, a side effect of excessive mental exertion.


    Controlling andpressing this wind de was difficult for him, but it was also a meaningful attempt.


    His cultivation had risen to the fifth order, and his mental strength had also increased due to the effects of the Discerning Eye. He wanted to try abilities that would allow him to fight above his level. Today''s concentrated wind de was precisely such an attempt.


    Wu Bingji was momentarily stunned, then released his ice elemental body. Although his recovery ability was actually stronger while the ice elemental body was active, casting nine ice shields in session had nearly exhausted his strength and he could no longer keep it up.


    The young man looked at Tang San with aplex expression on his face and said nothing. Instead, he simply nodded.


    Tang San responded with a smile.


    "<i>Phew��</i>" It was only then that someone finally exhaled. Aside from the sound of heavy breathing, the courtyard was eerily silent.


    No one spoke.


    When Tang San had defeated Cheng Zicheng, the students hadn��t felt anything in particr about it. However, in this battle, facing his senior brother and the strongest student of the Redemption Society, he had pushed Wu Bingji to his limits. This would have been one thing if it was one of the older and more advanced students, but Tang San was at the fifth order and only nine years old! Wu Bingji, meanwhile, was nearly seventeen. So, how powerful would Tang San be when he turned seventeen? How powerful would he be when he turned twenty-seven...or thirty-seven?


    Si Ru strolled over from the side, and upon seeing him, Guan Longjiang and Mu Enqing returned to their senses.


    Si Ru approached Wu Bingji and asked, "Do you know where the difference between you and him lies?"


    Wu Bingji nodded with a bitter smile. "In terms of control, especially elemental control, Little Tang is much stronger than me."


    Si Ru nodded, saying, "You''re not as good as him regarding mental strength and elementalprehension. I don''t know how he has cultivated the Wind de ability to this level, but facts are facts. In terms of elemental control, you should learn from him in the future. If you can elevate your control of the ice element to his level, you might be able to reach the seventh order just based on that."


    "Yes," Wu Bingji nodded, then turned to Tang San, "I hope you won''t hesitate to teach me, junior brother."


    "Senior brother, you are too polite. I also want to exchange more ideas with you." Tang San was very interested in Wu Bingji''s ice elemental body, wondering if it was a natural result of the Demonic God Transformation or if it was something he had developed by himself.


    Tang San''s performance in this practicalbat ss was undoubtedly impressive. The teachers'' looks toward him had changed.


    With that, it was time for Mu Enqing to discuss the results.


    All the students lined up in a row, and Mu Enqing stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over everyone.


    "Alright, let��s talk about how you did. First, Tang San versus Cheng Zicheng. Cheng Zicheng, the main reason you lost was a disparity in strength. Of course, that��s normal, so I won��t hold it against you. The problem is that you failed to use your advantages before losing. From the beginning, Tang San thought of countering your advantage in flight by not giving you a real chance to take off. Once you were in the air and you could properly use the speed of the Golden Roc Transformation, then even if you couldn''t beat him, you should have been able to keep him busy for a while, at least. So, when you��re facing an opponent like him, your first thought should be how to take flight."

 Chapter 82: Praises

    <h4>Chapter 82: Praises</h4>


    Cheng Zicheng stuck out her tongue. "Who knew he was at the fifth order? I''m not familiar with him."


    Mu Enqing''s face became stern. "Oh, so because you��re not familiar with him, you just jumped at him? Are you five? It��s the exact opposite. When you don��t know the enemy, you should use your strengths to probe the enemy first. Where was your probing? You were only thinking of beating your opponent quickly so you could show off. In actualbat, mindset is the most important, and that��s a losing mindset. You need to use your strengths against the enemy''s weaknesses. With the wrong mindset, no matter how strong you are, you might still fail.


    "See, Tang San did exactly what you should have done: he used his strength to prevent you from using yours. His first thought was to restrict your flight, so he used his wind des to block all your aerial routes. At that moment, he had already won. Of course, hisbat skills are also much better than yours. And more importantly, from beginning to end, he kept his calm. How about you? For Tang San, there''s nothing much for me to assess in this battle; he did very well."


    Cheng Zicheng turned her head and red at Tang San, who responded with a slight smile and an apologetic look.


    Du Bai nudged Tang San from the side. "Little Tang, I didn''t expect you to be this powerful. Do you want to be my guardian? I heard that every powerful Celestial Fox in the tribe has a guardian. Guardians protect the Celestial Foxes, it��s a very important task."


    Tang San nced at him sideways. "Thanks, but you��d waste such a good opportunity on someone unskilled like me. I��d say you should leave that task to someone else."


    Du Bai rolled his eyes, "Do you realize what you''re missing? You''re missing the chance to guard the great Celestial Fox Vision!"


    Tang San shrugged his shoulders but said nothing.


    Mu Enqing''smentary continued, naturally moving on to the battle between Gu Li and Zhang Zebin.


    His gaze first fell on Gu Li. "You were still impatient in the battle. Just like your junior sister, you failed to utilize your greatest advantage fully. You knew your opponent was depleting your bloodline power by leveraging his cultivation advantage, and yet you didn''t change your strategy. Your loss was well-deserved."


    Gu Li lowered his head, saying, "Teacher, my attack power is too weak to break through his defense. What can I do if he decides to drain my energy? It''s too disadvantageous for me. If I want to be effective, I need a partner with strong offensive abilities."


    Mu Enqing nodded, "You are right in that regard. Your offensive capabilities are weakerpared to your defense and control. However, each ability has its strengths and weaknesses, and ws are normal. In such situations, even if you can''t defeat your opponent, you should try to control your bloodline power consumption better, so you can prolong the fight while finding ways to deplete your opponent''s bloodline power. For example, choose the moments when your opponent intensifies their bloodline power to disrupt them and make them consume more. Even a fourth-order against a fifth-order doesn''t necessarily mean there''s no chance."


    "Yes, sir." Gu Li nodded respectfully, looking quite sincere.


    Mu Enqing turned to Zhang Zebin and said, "You also have many issues. Knowing that his control is strong, why didn''t you choose to move around more in the initial part? Although it''s also exhausting for Gu Li, how many times did he hit you and how much did you hit him? You would be dead if his attack was stronger and broke your defense. When you��re facing someone with strong control but limited control time, keeping as much distance as possible is the best choice. Your safety is your top priority. You have the ability to attack with long-range fire, so why not make good use of it? What''s the use of just charging in blindly? Your energy depletion wasn��t small, either. You would have been the loser if he held on for a few more minutes."


    Zhang Zebin, with a pained expression, nodded repeatedly.


    Next, Mu Enqing pointed out the problems each student faced in actualbat and offered methods for improvement. However, his exnations were of little use to Tang San. With Tang San''s keen eye, he could see more problems than Mu Enqing could point out.


    "Thest match, and the most spectacr of the day, was Tang San''s. He might say he lost, but in my eyes, he didn''t. Bingji would have lost if thatst attack had been just a bit stronger. Now that I think about this battle carefully, I see that both sides responded almost perfectly, especially Tang San. He dominated the match until the end, and he only lost due to a lower cultivation level. His control over the wind element surpassed Bingji''s control over the ice element.


    ��The ability topress elemental energy to such an incredible degree is something I have never seen in a student, and unleashing such powerful attacks with the ordinary Wind de ability of the Wind Wolf Transformation is something new to me as well. Today, I have no critiques for him, only praise. In the use of abilities and actualbat, although he''s the youngest, he seems to be performing better than all of you."


    Wu Bingji thoughtfully pondered, showing no impatience despite his teacher��s criticism.


    "In terms of strength, the wind element is inferior to the ice element and less stable. Therefore, controlling it is much harder. Under these circumstances, Tang San��s control is awe-inspiring. This is a rare talent. Everyone should learn from Tang San in terms of control."


    In today''s practical ss, Tang San became famous after two battles, particrly against Wu Bingji. This earned him everyone''s attention and recognition of his strength.


    The Wind Wolf Transformation was undoubtedly the weakest among all the Demonic God Transformations. Still, Tang San had skillfully utilized it to master the Wind de, eliminating any underestimation from his fellow students.


    Just as Tang San was about to go rest, the teachers called out to him after the practical ss.


    "Come with us," Si Ru said with a smile.


    Tang San followed the three teachers into arge wooden cabin.


    Si Ru''s eyes twinkled, and suddenly, Tang San felt as if the air in the room became viscous, and his body seemed to be transparent, sending a shock through his heart.


    This is...


    Almost subconsciously, he connected with his Wind Wolf imprint. His eyes flickered with a green light as the energy of his Mysterious Heaven Technique instantly transformed into the Wind Wolf Transformation''s power. However, the surrounding wind elemental energy was utterly isted, rendering it unusable.


    "How strange! There''s a significant difference, but the origin seems to still be of the Wind Wolf lineage. What''s going on here?" Si Ru pondered aloud.


    At that moment, Tang San was equally shocked, if not even more so.


    The sensation just now, although not overwhelming, made one thing sure to him: the entity probing him was not merely a spiritual force but divine consciousness!


    Although this divine consciousness probing him was nothingpared to his own when he was a God King, it was still divine consciousness��the power of an actual god-level presence.


    Tang San never expected that the first god-level powerhouse he would encounter would be a human, a being he perceived as frail.


    In the Redemption Society, the strongest was not the mayor but Si Ru, the teacher before him.


    He recalled the mayor mentioning that besides himself as a Green-ss Redeemer, there were also people at a higher level here��specifically, two Blue-ss Redeemers. Surely, Si Ru had to be one of the two. And he was at the god level!


    Of course, with Si Ru''s divine consciousness, detecting the sliver of divine consciousness in Tang San''s mind was impossible. There is a vast difference between levels of divine consciousness. Even if Tang San''s sliver of divine consciousness was weak, it was still at the level of a God King, far surpassing Si Ru''s.


    "What''s happening?" Guan Longjiang asked Si Ru.

 Chapter 83: Blue-Class Saint Mother

    <h4>Chapter 83: Blue-ss Saint Mother</h4>


    Mu Enqingforted Tang San, saying, "Don''t worry. The teachers are just examining your body to see where your Demonic God Transformation has mutated. This will help us tailor our teaching to your needs and better develop your abilities."


    Indeed, after the two battles Tang San participated in today, the teachers almost unanimously agreed that his Demonic God Transformation must have mutated. How else could he disy such formidable power? It defied all conventional understanding.


    But where the mutation urred was crucial. Research on Demonic God Transformations was ongoing among humans. Especially for someone like Tang San, who exhibited such strength at a young age, it was extremely rare and not to be overlooked.


    When Tang San used the Wind de ability, his body showed no physical transformation, no parts turning into anything resembling the body parts of a Wind Wolf. This was simr to Wu Bingji''s Ice Nymph Transformation, which was purely an energy-based change. However, the bloodline fluctuations in Tang San''s body resembled those of the Wind Wolf demon, not an elemental wind body. Thus, in terms of pure elemental control strength, he was inferior to Wu Bingji''s Ice Nymph Transformation. However, what was astonishing was his exceptional control over the wind element. Despite the inherent weakness of the wind elementpared to the ice element, hepensated bypressing it, enhancing the intensity of the energy to a level that even surpassed that of Wu Bingji.


    Si Ru, Guan Longjiang, and Mu Enqing had all noticed that Tang San was somewhat holding back. Otherwise, it was questionable whether Wu Bingji could have won the match.


    This showed that Tang San possessed maturity andposure far beyond his years, which was quite remarkable. Additionally, considering how the mayor had eagerly taken him as a disciple on his first day, the teachers'' curiosity about Tang San had significantly increased.


    Tang San nodded in response, showing no sign of dissatisfaction.


    Si Ru frowned slightly and asked, "Tang San, tell us, how do you control the wind element?"


    Tang San paused, then said, "I can actually see the elemental energy, and it listens to me, so I can control it. I kept ying with the element after I noticed that, and it listened to me more and more. I tried to make it work in different ways, and I found that some of them were actually practical, so I can use the wind energy to produce a couple of different effects."


    Having arrived here, Tang San knew these teachers were different from his former teacher, Wang Yanfeng. They were both more experienced and far more powerful. Therefore, his adept control of the wind element would surely arouse suspicion and curiosity. Since the mayor had instructed him not to reveal the secret of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, he had to exin it differently. He already had a n in mind, having expected that something like this might happen, and he did not panic.


    "You can observe the elements?" Si Ru''s interest was piqued. "Then tell us, what does the wind element look like?"


    Tang San said, "They are individual points of light, green in color. They are lively, constantly moving in joy. They love freedom and hate constraints. If I try to restrict them, they be irritable. But if I let them move freely, they are happy to do what I ask them."


    His profound understanding of the elements was evident; he had described their characteristics in just a few words.


    Upon hearing his description, Guan Longjiang and Mu Enqing''s gaze involuntarily turned towards Si Ru.


    Si Ru nodded slightly and said, "He''s right. I believe he can see the wind elemental energy. Otherwise, his understanding of the elements couldn''t be so profound. Wow, we''ve found a treasure! This kid has an exceptional talent for controlling the wind element. I''m almost certain that his Wind Wolf bloodline is a mutation, and the mutation is specifically in whatever aspect allows him to control the wind element. In this regard, he has a unique perception of elemental energy, and his spiritual strength has also been enhanced thanks to this perception. To sum it up, his excellent control over wind is due to a high affinity with it as well as his strong spiritual power."


    He looked intently at Tang San and said, "Tang San, the mayor is not skilled in elemental abilities, as you should know. In our academy, the one most adept at using elements is me. Therefore, I think it''s inappropriate for the mayor to instruct you, especially when he''s busy. Why don''t you consider taking me as your master instead? I will guide you in your cultivation of elemental abilities."


    Guan Longjiang coughed, ��Old Si, that''s not right. How can youpete with the mayor for a disciple? I have gained a deeper understanding of the elements over these years. I have been directly instructing Wu Bingji. Why don''t you join in? I''ll guide both of you. It won''t be long before you reach the sixth order.��


    Mu Enqing turned his head away. Being an honest man, he felt somewhat embarrassed by these two earnestlypeting for a disciple.


    Tang San looked at the two of them, now understanding the mayor''s previous admonition. The mayor had anticipated this scenario.


    "The teacher said that within the academy, one can only acknowledge one teacher formally. Perhaps you should discuss it with him? I don''t know what to do."


    He was clearly shifting the responsibility, and they knew it, but they couldn��t me him. How could he make such a choice at this moment?


    From Tang San��s perspective, it was in fact an easy choice. For one, he had already acknowledged a master and he was not nning to renege on the agreement. In addition, the mayor knew his secret, and even if that hadn��t been the case, he still couldn''t risk offending someone so powerful.


    "That bastard," Si Ru muttered resentfully, "leading the youth astray! I''ll go find him."


    As he said this, a blue-purple light shed around him, and in the next instant, he had vanished into thin air.


    <i>Lightning!</i>


    In an instant, Tang San felt the power Si Ru had just used, and his surprise only grew even more. Perhaps Si Ru was right��he might be the strongest in the academy in terms of elemental cultivation. Not only was he at the god level, but he controlled lightning of all things. Lightning was known for its explosive nature, and the lightning of such a high-level cultivator had to be truly formidable.


    Guan Longjiang helplessly said, "Tang San, you should head back for now. We''ll talk about this matterter. Focus on your cultivation. You have great potential; do your best to improve your cultivation level soon. You can start taking on tasks directly. Tell Du Bai and Cheng Zicheng to lead you to the task board. The academy will also organize some beneficial tasks for you to participate in. You might want to check out the academy''s small store. Some things would suit you, but you''ll need to earn the money to buy them. The academy maintains fairness in this regard, and no matter how good you are, you will get no favoritism."


    "Yes," Tang San agreed, the key terms "taking tasks" and "small store" bing clear in his mind.


    Today''s practical exercise had been a test for him, and having passed it, these privileges were now open to him. He would need to check them out to familiarize himself with the ce.


    As Tang San went to find Du Bai and Cheng Zicheng, at the mayor''s residence, the mayor stood in the center of a room, respectfully bowing toward the main seat.


    "Saint Mother," Mayor Zhang Haoxuan said, bowing with deep respect.


    "Mayor Zhang, please, don''t be so formal." She slowly raised her right hand as she spoke, revealing a blue pattern on her palm. The mayor nced at it and immediately smiled, nodding toward her.


    The woman sitting in the seat of honor was dressed in a light blue long dress, and her head was covered with a conical hat that had a veil hanging down, concealing her face. Even the air around her body seemed somewhat ethereal.


    "How have you been recently, Saint Mother?" Zhang Haoxuan asked with a smile.


    "I''ve been well. It''s been calmtely, no major incidents. How are things at the academy? Are the children doing well?" the Saint Mother asked with a smile.


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "Everything is going smoothly, and everyone is working diligently. Oh, actually, we recently weed a new member, someone we discovered among the Wind Wolf tribe. This child is special; his Wind Wolf transformation bloodline has probably mutated. He is only nine years old, and his cultivation has already reached the fifth order. We''ve thoroughly checked his background; there are no issues, so we''ve epted him into the academy. He''s already studying here."

 Chapter 84: Gathered As A Flame, Scattered As Sky of Stars

    <h4>Chapter 84: Gathered As A me, Scattered As Sky of Stars</h4>


    "Nine years old at the fifth order? That is indeed a remarkable talent," the Saint Mothermented without much surprise. "Then, I��ll let you take good care of his instruction. The academy has sixteen children now, right?"


    "Yes, including the new arrival, exactly sixteen," the mayor confirmed.


    The Saint Mother sighed lightly. "Unfortunately...this ce might notst much longer."


    "Ah?" Zhang Haoxuan eximed in surprise. "What do you mean by that...?"


    The Saint Mother calmly said, "It seems <i>he</i> has begun to notice. For safety''s sake, we must be prepared to make changes. The academy might need to be relocated. Of course, nothing has been decided yet. There could still be changes. Unless necessary, I do not wish to alter anything here. We have worked hard to achieve this advantageous position."


    Zhang Haoxuan asked with a wry smile, "How much time do we have left, then?"


    The Saint Mother shook her head. "It''s hard to say. Wait for my message for specifics. There shouldn''t be too much danger."


    "Understood. Please take care of yourself as well. You are our organization''s backbone, having made great sacrifices for it. You must remain safe," Zhang Haoxuan said, bowing deeply.


    "I will be fine. For the greater cause, I will certainly persevere."


    Just then, the Saint Mother''s veiled gaze turned toward the door. The next moment, the door burst open, and an angry voice followed, "How dare you, Zhang Haoxuan, you despicable��"


    The words stopped abruptly as a blue-purple light gathered in the room, quickly turning corporeal. It was Si Ru.


    When he noticed the woman seated in the leading position, his mouth twitched slightly and he bowed, saying, "Saint Mother, I apologize. I was not aware of your presence here."


    The Saint Mother smiled slightly. "No need for formalities, Teacher Si Ru. I see that you still have that fiery temper."


    Scratching his head awkwardly, Si Ru said, "Can''t help it, my bloodline is like that."


    Zhang Haoxuan, with a hint of annoyance, said, "Youe rushing in like this. What if someone saw you? Why did you start scolding me the moment you entered?"


    Si Ru retorted, "That child must be entrusted to me. He''d be wasted with you. What do you know about elemental control?"


    Zhang Haoxuan sneered. "I knew you��d try to snatch him from me, old fart. That''s why I acted first. Don''t think about it; he has already be my formal disciple. You have no chance."


    Before Si Ru could say anything, the Saint Mother asked, "Are you talking about the new boy?"


    "Yes," Zhang Haoxuan nodded.


    The Saint Mother smiled. "Alright, you��re even making me curious now. If Si Ru is so moved, the boy''s talent must be exceptional!"


    Si Ru exined, "He has a mutated Wind Wolf transformation, an extraordinary affinity and control over the wind element��a rare find! He''s in the fifth order, and yet he��s actually on par with Wu Bingji inbat. He''s one of the best prospects in the academy and only nine years old. I specialize in elemental control; not giving this child to me would be aplete waste of talent. Zhang Haoxuan, you know nothing about controlling elements."


    "On par with Wu Bingji? Can wind element control really contend with Ice element control?" Even the mayor was surprised. When he had subdued Tang San that day, he hadn''t allowed Tang San to disy his abilities fully. He highly valued Tang San''s multiple abilities, but he had not expected the boy to be even stronger than he imagined.


    With that in mind, just the abilities rted to the Wind Wolf Transformation were enough to make Si Ru desperately seek him out. If Si Ru knew about his other abilities...


    The Saint Mother said with interest, "That''s indeed impressive. Cultivation level isn''t everything, but if his control isparable to Wu Bingji''s, that''s truly remarkable. You must take care of him well. Alright, I must leave now. Mayor, remember to prepare for what I''ve mentioned, just in case."


    As she spoke, she stood up.


    Zhang Haoxuan and Si Ru each ced their right hand over their chest, revealing the Redemption Society runes on the back of their hands. If Tang San were here, he would notice that Si Ru''s and Zhang Haoxuan''s runes were the same shade of green, not the blue he had anticipated.


    "Gather like a fire, disperse like the stars," the Saint Mother chanted softly, and the next instant, she had transformed into light and shadows, quietly vanishing.


    "Gather like a fire, disperse like the stars," Zhang Haoxuan and Si Ru solemnly repeated her words.


    After a moment, Si Ru turned to Zhang Haoxuan, "Will you give the kid to me, yes or no?"


    "In your dreams!" Zhang Haoxuan refused without hesitation.


    "Do you want a beating?" Si Ru retorted fiercely.


    Zhang Haoxuan said in a stern voice, "Do you know why the Saint Mother came just now?"


    Si Ru paused. "Why?"


    Zhang Haoxuan said with a grave face, "She said that our situation here might not be sustainable. The academy could close down at any moment."


    "Hmm?" Si Ru''s pupils dted. "Don��t tell me we were discovered? How��s that possible? We''ve been so careful!"


    Zhang Haoxuan gave a wry smile in reply. "You know her capabilities. If not for the Saint Mother''s protection, could we have been safe here for so long? We''d better prepare early. Notify everyone in advance to execute the n. Besides the academy''s children who don��t need to evacuate immediately, other departments should disperse and hide in different cities. We''ll wait for the situation to settle before seeing if we can return."


    Si Ru nodded. "If the Saint Mother herself came, it must be almost certain. What about the children?"


    Zhang Haoxuan thought for a moment, then replied, "Go with the third n."


    "The third one? Why not the first? Wouldn''t that be safer?"


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head, "Let''s go with the third. This batch of children is too exceptional, I really don��t want to let them go. Besides, with the Saint Mother here, even if there are risks, she can help us avoid many of them."


    "You''re full of tricks, so let''s follow your n. But what about the disciple? Tang San would be better off following me!" Si Ru hadn''t forgotten his original purpose.


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "Of course, you should instruct him. But forget about changing teachers. It wasn''t easy for me to take a disciple. Even if he has a mutated Wind Wolf transformation, can hepare to Du Bai or Cheng Zicheng? Even Wu Bingji''s Ice Nymph transformation didn''t move you; why are you so eager this time? When will you change this impulsive nature of yours? If not for this w, you would''ve been Blue-ss by now. Does the master have to keep an eye on you? At least wait until Tang San breaks through to the seventh order before you start thinking about it."


    Si Ru looked at him intently, "You''re too cunning. No wonder everyone says that we shouldn''t listen to you too much. The best way is to beat you until you submit. But I''ll let you off this time for Saint Mother''s sake. Once Tang San reaches the seventh order, he must switch to me as his master."


    Zhang Haoxuan nced at him, but when he replied, his voice was perfectly calm. "Right, let him choose when he reaches the seventh order. If he''s willing to betray his master and take you as his master instead, I won''t oppose it."


    "You..." Realizing he couldn''t win the argument, Si Ru simply stopped talking. He turned and left without engaging in a physical confrontation with Zhang Haoxuan.


    Watching him go, Zhang Haoxuan sighed softly, "Old Si, old Si, if only you knew. That child might represent another hope for humanity! Forget about you and the others, I haven��t even reported this to our leader. The fewer people who know about him before he grows up, the better."


    ***


    "Here''s the list of tasks." Back at the Redemption Academy, Du Bai led Tang San to a room in the corner.


    To Tang San''s surprise, the room belonged to Wu Bingji. It turned out that he was the one who managed the list of tasks.


    "Hi, senior brother," Tang San greeted, taking the initiative to show respect.


    Wu Bingji smiled slightly. "Hello, Tang San. Are you looking to take on a task?"

 Chapter 85: All The Girls Have A Crush on Him

    <h4>Chapter 85: All The Girls Have A Crush on Him</h4>


    Tang San said, "The teacher said I coulde and look. Senior brother, could you introduce me to the tasks listed here?"


    Wu Bingji nodded. "Our academy''s tasks are mainly for everyone''s training and experience. They include sparring tasks at Kali Academy, hunting demonic beasts, and collecting precious spiritual herbs. These are the three main categories. You can take any of them. However, considering that you��re far more advanced in cultivationpared to the average human your age, I suggest you avoid the sparring tasks, because they may draw too much attention from Kali Academy. I would say that the other two kinds are more suitable for you. Generally, collecting spiritual herbs and hunting demonic beasts is done in teams. Since you��re not alone, it��s safer, and you can also cooperate with others to work more efficiently. As for the rewards, they alle as money."


    He then handed over several detailed lists. Although he didn''t rmend the sparring tasks for Tang San, he also included a list of those.


    "Understood, thank you, senior brother." Tang San spread the task lists on the table to examine them.


    Du Bai, standing nearby, grumbled a bit, "Senior brother, howe I��ve never seen these tasks? I only get tasks like delivering messages or purchasing things, and the rewards are really small."


    Wu Bingji chuckled, "You, little brother? You can��t even protect yourself, so how would you hunt demons and fight academy students? It''s important to know your limits, kid."


    Du Bai said, "I''m not the little brother anymore. Tang San is."


    Wu Bingji looked at him and then at Tang San, shaking his head. "If he wants to, it might not be long before he bes the eldest senior brother. That''s why I call him Little Tang, not Little Brother."


    Du Bai''s mouth twitched, but recalling the battle between Wu Bingji and Tang San earlier, he couldn''t say much. After all, one had to acknowledge the superior strength andbat ability of others.


    Tang San reviewed the task list, focusing mainly on hunting demonic beasts. Demonic beasts were essentially members of the demon n who had yet to awaken their spiritual intelligence. Tang San also ate demonic beast meat, which significantly benefited body tempering.


    Moreover, he noticed that the rewards for hunting demonic beasts were the highest among the three types of tasks. At least, they were rewarded in aetherhorn coins, along with naturae coins and even higher-valued Empyrean coins. Some of these were truly substantial rewards.


    Tang San was most interested in hunting demonic beasts, not only because of the generous rewards but also because he wanted to see if the bloodline power of demonic beasts could be directly devoured. He was curious about the differences between their bloodline power and that of the demon ns.


    After reviewing the list, Tang San asked Du Bai, "Where is the small store? Could you take me to see it?"


    Du Bai smiled, "Right, let''s go to the store. Once you see what''s there, you''ll know what you want and you can choose the tasks so you can earn money for what you want as fast as possible."


    Tang San bowed to Wu Bingji again, and as he was about to leave, Wu Bingji said, "Little Tang, if you''re free tonight, I''d like toe to see you to discuss some things about elemental control. Is that alright?"


    This senior brother had no air of superiority about him, nor did he show any negative emotions due to Tang San''s disy of strength in the previous practical test. Tang San could feel his sincerity and smiled in response. "Of course, that''s fine, eldest senior brother. You''re being too polite. Let''s discuss it together."


    "Alright, I''lle to you after dinner tonight," Wu Bingji said with a smile.


    Du Bai left Wu Bingji''s room and whispered, "The eldest senior brother is such a nice guy. He��s really the kindest person in the academy. Everyone gets along well with him, and he''s really strong. Almost all the girls have a crush on him, even Cheng Zicheng. Let me tell you, beating her is nothing. If you beat the eldest senior brother, though, she might just go all out to murder you."


    Just as Tang San was about to say something, a sharp scream sounded from nearby, and the next instant, Du Bai was sent flying.


    Then Tang San saw Cheng Zicheng spread her wings and carry Du Bai to the rooftop, knocking on his head repeatedly with her wings, "Do you want to die?! Huh?! Do you?!"


    Seeing Cheng Zicheng''s face turn red in anger, Tang San knew that Du Bai was right on the mark. <i>Heh, she sure has mature thoughts for her age! Of course, it��s probably just an innocent crush.</i>


    A brother in trouble can''t be left unaided, though, and Tang San unfortunately needed Du Bai to take him to the store.


    With a light tap of his toes on the ground, Tang San leaped onto the rooftop. "Senior sister, please, don��t interrupt our conversation like that. Du Bai was just telling me something and it seemed important."


    "Hmm?" Cheng Zicheng paused, turned to look at him, and saw Tang San''s honest and naive eyes. "Did you not hear what he just said?"


    Tang San replied, "He said that the eldest senior brother is really nice and very strong. I didn''t catch the rest before you took him to the rooftop. Is there something wrong with the eldest senior brother?"


    Cheng Zicheng red at Du Bai and said, "No, what could be wrong about him? The eldest senior brother is nice. I''m annoyed that he was talking about others behind their backs."


    "Can''t I evenpliment someone?" Du Baimented, with two bumps already formed on his head.


    Cheng Zicheng red at him and raised her wings to hit again. Tang San quickly raised his hand to stop her. "Senior sister, calm down. We''re all friends here. The eldest senior brother even arranged toe to my ce tonight to discuss elemental control. Do you want to join us?"


    "Did the eldest senior brother invite you?" Cheng Zicheng paused.


    "Yes! The eldest senior brother is really good at controlling the ice element, and I want to learn from him. He suggesteding over to my room," Tang San exined.


    Cheng Zicheng''s red face gradually faded as she asked, "Is it appropriate for me to go? I''m not that skilled at elemental control."


    Tang San said, "Actually, when you use your Golden Roc Transformation, you also utilize the power of wind, don��t you? I think we can discuss and help each other with the wind element."


    Cheng Zicheng "reluctantly" agreed. "Alright then. What time tonight?"


    "After dinner, in my room," Tang San said with a smile.


    "Okay," Cheng Zicheng said, not even ncing at Du Bai, and floated down from the rooftop.


    Rubbing his head, Du Bai looked at Tang San and then at Cheng Zicheng, who had left, "Brother, your ability to spout nonsense so seriously is incredible! My horizons have been expanded today!"


    Tang Sanughed. "It''s not nonsense. It''s emotional intelligence. You��d do well to learn some of that. Once you do, you won''t get beaten up as much."


    As they descended from the rooftop, Du Bai was still grimacing in pain from the bruises. He muttered, "To think she dares to hit the academy��s mascot.... She''s asking for bad luck."


    In the distance, Cheng Zicheng, who had just reached her room and pushed the door open, inexplicably slipped, stumbled over the threshold, and twisted her foot strangely, spraining her ankle.


    "Ah! It hurts!"


    Meanwhile, Du Bai, apanied by Tang San, had arrived at the courtyard''s southern room.


    He knocked on the door, and a pleasant voice from inside said, "Come in."


    When he pushed the door open, Tang San saw a sign with "Convenience Store" written on it. The characters were somewhat crooked, definitely not a sample of masterful calligraphy.


    But the moment he entered, he immediately felt something else. The ce had a very particr smell, a mix of medicinal herbs and fragrant aromas. Most importantly, the spiritual energy here was extremely dense.


    Kali City had rich spiritual energy to begin with, especially near Kali Academy. However, this room was undoubtedly the ce with the densest spiritual energy Tang San had ever been to. There were fluctuations of various elemental energies, and even the air felt somewhat thick due to the overly rich spiritual energy.


    Even without using his Discerning Eye, Tang San could sense a blurriness in the air here. It was not due to pollution or smoke, but because of the ridiculous density of spiritual energy.


    Almost subconsciously, he took a deep breath, and immediately, his bloodline felt slightly stimted. However, he also quickly noticed a problem. Although the energy here was extremely dense, it was also very mixed. At a first nce, this room seemed to be a holynd for cultivation, but processing this mixed elemental energy was bound to be a serious pain for the average person.

 Chapter 86: The Little Store

    <h4>Chapter 86: The Little Store</h4>


    The southern room wasrge. Actually, even though it was technically called a ��room,�� it actuallyprised three rooms. Each room had shelves filled with items, many of which were covered with protective cases. And even through the protective cases, it could be clearly felt that each item emitted a distinct aura, contributing to the dense spiritual energy in the room.


    This was indeed a convenience store!


    The owner of the voice that they had heard earlier now stood before them��it was none other than their physical training teacher, Mu Yunyu.


    Mu Yunyu didn''t even nce at Du Bai. Instead, her gaze sized up Tang San twice. "I''ve heard about your achievements. It seems I''ve been too conservative with your physical training. You''ll need to step it up tomorrow."


    Tang San''s mouth twitched involuntarily, and he replied helplessly, "Alright, Teacher Yunyu."


    Mu Yunyu said, "Take a look around. Our store has plenty of good items. Do you need me to introduce them to you? Each item has a description underneath, so you can check them out yourself."


    Tang San quickly responded, "I''ll take a look myself. There''s no need to trouble you, Teacher Yunyu."


    Although the items in this world were somewhat unfamiliar to him, the discernment of a God King was not to be taken lightly! Moreover, with descriptions avable, he wouldn''t miss any suitable items.


    Just as Tang San was about to start looking, Du Bai, beside him, suddenly started limping, "Teacher Yunyu, I think I''ve pulled a muscle today. Can I take a rest tomorrow?"


    Mu Yunyu responded indifferently, "Get lost. You don''t have money to buy anything, don''t be a nuisance here."


    This scene made Tang San chuckle lightly. It seemed that Mu Yunyu knew Du Bai quite well.


    He didn''t say much. Instead, he carefully examined the items on the counter, looking for treasures that might aid his cultivation. After all, the items he could find in such an energy-rich environment had to be extraordinary.


    Although Du Bai was driven away, he didn''t leave. Instead, he quietly watched Tang San from a corner of the room as thetter was selecting items. He seemed to understand his role here; he was just a follower, and Tang San was the real protagonist.


    Tang San''s eyes scanned the items on the cab individually. His eyesight and judgment of items were extraordinary, not just because he was a God King but also because he had a deep understanding and perception of cultivation and various items owing to his past lives. He knew what he needed and which things were worth his attention.


    This so-called convenience store was a ce of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, where each item had its unique value and purpose. Tang San was very careful as he browsed, hoping to find a true diamond in the rough. After all, in this world full of mystery and adventure, even the most inconspicuous item could turn out to be something vital to reaching higher realms.


    In the meantime, Du Bai was fussing around. "Teacher Yunyu, I am the academy��s mascot. You should be nicer to the mascot."


    Mu Yunyu disdainfully said, "Oh please, your meager power of fortune can''t affect me just yet. Wait until you break through to the sixth order. Well, not that you��ll ever get there in this lifetime."


    Du Bai''s mouth twitched, "Teacher Yunyu, that''s not fair. Why can''t I break through? I definitely can."


    "Stop talking nonsense. Get out of here. Don''t let me see you and get upset."


    Du Bai helplessly said, "Alright, Teacher Yunyu, I''ll leave first."


    In this academy, sadly, he couldn''t afford to provoke anyone!


    Watching him leave, Mu Yunyu shook her head helplessly. In the academy, if one had to judge who had the greatest talent at the Demonic God Transformation, it was rather hard to determine. However, in terms of potential and rarity, the Celestial Fox Transformation was a clear first. After all, even on the scale of the entire demon race, the Celestial Fox Vision was one of the top existences. The Grand Priest of the Celestial Foxes was one of the figures with the greatest influence in the Ancestral Court.


    Unfortunately, the bloodline power within Du Bai was still rtively thin. Perhaps it was just tooplicated for humans to get any great achievements in this aspect. Therefore, his cultivation of the Celestial Fox Vision was really slow.


    The academy actually provided him with more resources than anyone else, and correspondingly had the highest expectations of him. Du Bai barely had toplete tasks to receive the best resources from the academy. But even until now, he still hadn''t broken through to the fourth order.


    Of course, if he could break through to the fourth order, he would be at another level altogether. The things that a fourth-order Celestial Fox Vision could do were far beyond what the boy could aplish now.


    After Du Bai left, Mu Yunyu returned to the chair in the main room and sat down, flipping through a book in her hand. Tang San, on the other hand, simply ignored her and continued to check the items for sale at this convenience store.


    He started from the room on the far left. Most of the items in this room were nts, and just as Mu Yunyu said, each had a simple annotation below, along with a price tag.


    There were an incredible variety of spiritual herbs, each containing different types of energy and with different effects. As for the cost, it was naturally high. The more precious and suitable for general cultivation, the more expensive the spiritual medicine was.


    Since arriving in this world, Tang San had never taken any spiritual medicine. However, in his past life, he had been known for his knowledge of spiritual medicines. After all, he had been an inner disciple of the Tang Sect, which was renowned for its study of medicine and poisons. Thanks to the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, he had been able to make excellent use of plenty of spiritual herbs.


    However, the spiritual medicines in the Daemon Continent differed from whatever he had seen in his past lives, perhaps due to the presence of nymphs and demons in this world. But spiritual medicines were still spiritual medicines, and many of them had simr properties and effects. As Tang San browsed through them, he assessed andpared them in his mind. Just looking at the annotations of these herbs was greatly helpful to him, giving him a deeper understanding of the species in this ne.


    During that time, Mu Yunyu looked at him three times, each time finding that Tang San was fully focused on reading the introductions of the items in the small shop.


    A nine-year-old child being so calm andposed surprised her, making her nod in approval secretly.


    When Du Bai first came here, his first question was about the most expensive item, and his second was about what could make him advance in rank immediately. He didn''t get to ask his third question before Mu Yunyu kicked him out.


    In contrast, Tang San asked nothing throughout his visit, instead going ahead and inspecting all three rooms by himself. It wasn''t until the bell for dinner rang from outside that he was brought back to reality.


    "Dinner''s ready, I''m closing up. Do you want anything?" Mu Yunyu asked.


    Tang San, slightly regretful, responded, "Teacher Yunyu, I haven''t finished looking. Can Ie back tomorrow?"


    Mu Yunyu nodded and said, "Of course you can. The shop is always open. You cane and look anytime. As a neer, you can choose an item worth one aetherhorn coin for free."


    The purchasing power of one aetherhorn coin was already astonishing outside, but few items here were valued below one aetherhorn coin.


    "Okay, thank you, Teacher Yunyu. I''ll have dinner now ande back to choose tomorrow," Tang San said, leaving contentedly.


    He hadn''t expected that his biggest gain today would be seeing this small shop, which significantly increased his understanding of the species of the Daemon Continent.


    Dinner was stillvish, but obviously without demonic beast meat, as such a thing wasn''t easily obtained. Tang San heard from Du Bai that even if a demonic beast was hunted, it was generally sold to Kali Academy. The academy would pay good money for it, and that was one of the essential sources of ie for the academy town.


    After dinner, Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng arrived as promised. When Wu Bingji saw that Tang San had also invited Cheng Zicheng, he was slightly surprised, but he just smiled at Cheng Zicheng without saying much.


    Tang San poured each of them a ss of water, and they sat down in the living room.


    Wu Bingji said, "Little Tang, I''m very interested in your wind depression and the way you control the flight of the wind de. Is it purely controlled by spiritual power, or is a technique involved?"


    Tang San replied, "Thepression of the wind de is abination of spiritual power and my own bloodline power. As for the method ofunching the wind de, that one relies more on technique, supplemented by some control of spiritual power."


    "Mainly based on technique?" Cheng Zicheng looked at him in surprise. Everyone thought Tang San''s spiritual power was extremely high, which is why he could precisely control the wind de, so it was unexpected for him to say that it was actually a specific technique that allowed him to do that.


    Tang San nodded and said, "It''s indeed mostly based on a technique, actually something I developed."


    His words were somewhat ambiguous, but it wasn''t wrong to say he had developed it himself.


    The Hidden Weapon Hundred Separations art of the Tang Sect was indeed exquisitely skillful, but the original art was far from the level Tang San had achieved in his previous life. After all, back in the old Tang Sect, he had enjoyed no supernatural abilities or control over spiritual power.


    By contrast, in his next life in the Douluo Continent, hebined the Tang Sect''s hidden weapon techniques with actual spiritual power, greatly enhancing the power and possibilities of hidden weapons and the corresponding techniques. This was not something that could be achieved overnight; it was not only an important inheritance from his first life, but also the fruit of many years ofbor on his own part.

 Chapter 87: Giving Guidance

    <h4>Chapter 87: Giving Guidance</h4>


    Wu Bingji''s eyes brightened, "Can you teach me this technique?"


    Tang San looked at him, slightly hesitant. The techniques of Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation of the Tang Sect were truly intricate, and while his own use could be attributed to some kind of unique talent, teaching them all to Wu Bingji was a different matter. This was unlike his time in Wind Wolf Town; this ce was an important stronghold of the Redemption Society. If Wu Bingji learned these skills, it would likely arouse the organization''s suspicion. Even with the mayor providing cover as his ��master,�� it wasn''t good.


    Wu Bingji noticed his hesitation and said, "I canpensate you with a task. Would that be alright?"


    Cheng Zicheng suddenly spoke up, "What need is there forpensation? We are all friends, Little Tang,e on, be a good sport, will you?"


    Tang San nced at her, thinking, <i>This girl is exactly as Du Bai said! The charm of the eldest senior brother is indeed astonishing.</i>


    Before Tang San could speak, Wu Bingji seriously said, "Zicheng, you can''t say that. Our teacher has always taught us the principle of equivalent exchange. This is an internal rule of the academy, and that��s why we have the task lists. To obtain something, we must give something in return. Little Tang, you can name a price, and if I can afford it, I will pay you."


    Tang San replied, "Eldest senior brother, it''s not that I don��t want to teach you. It''s just that these techniques I created myself are good for controlling the wind element, but I��m not sure they would work as well for the ice element. I need to think about it for a bit, there might be something that would work for you."


    Wu Bingji gratefully said, "Thank you for that. You''re right; different elements have very distinct characteristics. The ice element is one of the more stable among the elements, and it��s suitable for both offense and defense. Actually, that��s my problem right now. I''ve been somewhat confused recently, I��m not very sure whether to focus more on offense or defense. Today''s battle with you was quite enlightening. I never expected that you could make the wind element so powerful with your fifth-order cultivation. It seems there is no inherent strength or weakness among the elements; it all depends on the user."


    Tang San nodded. "Yes, I also don��t think there are stronger or weaker elements. Well, it��s true that some elements have some special characteristics. Like Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation today, controlling time is an incredible ability, even if it can��t be used that much. But besides that, I think they��re all the same. All we can do is do our best to understand our own elements, make use of their strengths, and cover for their weaknesses."


    Wu Bingji deeply agreed. "Exactly. Little Tang, how much do you understand about the ice element?"


    Tang San responded, "I don��t really have a deep understanding, to be honest, but I''ve always felt that although the ice element seems very reserved, it contains a lot of power behind that restrained appearance. Ice is formed from water, but it doesn��t work like water. Water is the softest thing, ice is rigid. This works for defense, and I think you��re doing that right with your shields, but I think you can also make good use of that hardness for offense. You know what they say, the best defense is a good offense."


    Wu Bingji''s eyes shone brightly when he heard hisst sentence, "Right, right, the best defense is a good offense��well said. I understand now, I think I get it. Little Tang, thank you. I think I see a clear path now."


    Guan Longjiang was his teacher, but his guidance wasn''t as straightforward as what Tang San had just exined.


    Seeing his radiant face, Tang San smiled. As a God King, guiding these youngsters was an effortless task. Although he had lived in the Daemon Continent for only ten years and had taken a while to adapt to this identity, at his core, he was a being of three lifetimes.


    Cheng Zicheng looked somewhat confusedly at Tang San and then at Wu Bingji, not entirely understanding what Wu Bingji had realized. But she had never seen Wu Bingji so ted; usually, the eldest senior brother was the very picture ofposure.


    With that said, as long as he was happy, Cheng Zicheng was naturally delighted.


    "Little Tang, you are amazing! What about me? What do you think of my Golden Roc Transformation?" Cheng Zicheng looked at Tang San in expectation.


    Tang San said, "I actually heard a saying from my teacher back in the vige. A roc rises with the wind in a single day, and it soars ny thousand kilometers in one swoop. The Golden Roc is probably the strongest flier among the demon ns, especially over long distances. As Teacher Mu said, you have to make more use of your flight advantage.


    "There are two things that you need: speed and agility. The problem is, your flightcks a bit in both. I think the best thing for you is to just fly more often. Try flying in the forest as fast as possible and dodge the trees in your way. If you practice like that, you��ll be a lot faster and more agile. Also, you��re not transforming fast enough. The more time you spend on the ground, the more you let your opponent profit from your weakness. After all, you can��t do much when you��re not flying. The longer you stay down, the worse it is for you."


    Cheng Zicheng, who had asked casually, didn''t expect Tang San to provide so many detailed suggestions, more than even her teachers. She was momentarily stunned.


    Wu Bingji, who was listening from the side, nodded repeatedly. "That makes sense. Are you trying low-altitude flights in the forest? That''s interesting! Zicheng, I think you should try it. ''A roc rises with the wind in a single day and it soars ny thousand kilometers.'' That''s a very interesting thing to say. Little Tang, you are truly talented."


    Tang San smiled and said, "I was just repeating what I heard from a teacher a while back. Anyway, senior sister, if you find it helpful, you could try it."


    "Uh-huh!" Cheng Zicheng was not stupid, and she knew she would do well to remember Tang San''s advice, especially with Wu Bingji''s support.


    Wu Bingji asked, "Little Tang, what about your method forpressing wind elemental energy? The wind element is vtile, andpressing it is no easy task. How can you control this instability?"


    "Well, the thing is, this is rted to how I understand elements. You say that the wind element is unstable, but that��s not really it. I just think people don��t know the right way to control it. You can��t just force elements to do what you want, you have to learn what they like and what they don��t. Let me show you a simple experiment."


    As he spoke, he raised his right hand. With a flicker of light, a small green cyclone emerged in his palm. The green cyclone moved back and forth across his palm, naturally exhibiting the free nature of the wind element.


    Tang San extended his other hand, and simrly, another cyclone emerged in his palm, about the same size as the previous one.


    He then brought his hands closer together, and the wind generated by the two cyclones made them repel each other and wobble unstably as they approached.


    "Watch closely," Tang San said. Then, he separated his hands slightly, distancing the two cyclones. As the green light flickered, subtle changes appeared in the two cyclones.


    Gradually, even Cheng Zicheng noticed the change��the rotational frequencies of the two cyclones were synchronizing.


    When Tang San brought the two cyclones closer again, they still trembled slightly, but the sense of repulsion was noticeably less intense than before. When they came close together, they suddenly generated a suction force, collided with each other, and quickly fused into one.


    The original two cyclones became one, with a color that was noticeably darker than before, and the wind it generated was also more robust. It rotated steadily in the palm of Tang San''s hand.


    This scene was bizarre for Cheng Zicheng; for Wu Bingji, who had been diligently studying elemental control, it was like discovering a new continent.


    "They��re rotating at the same speed?"

 Chapter 88: The Fifth Imprint, Golden Roc Wings

    <h4>Chapter 88: The Fifth Imprint, Golden Roc Wings</h4>


    Yes, when they finally merged, the two wind des spinning like tornados were like two springs coiling around each other, then stacking together to form a tighter spring.


    As they rotated at the same speed, with only slight deviations thatplemented each other''s arrangement, they made the impossible possible by merging together, and thebined wind de was stronger than the sum of its parts.


    When Tang San merged the wind des during the day, even the teachers couldn''t figure out how he did it. Now, as he demonstrated slowly with clearly spinning wind des, it was much more evident.<i> </i>


    <i>Arrangement, frequency! </i>These two key terms were deeply imprinted in Wu Bingji''s mind.


    "Thank you, Little Tang," said Wu Bingji, feeling inspired. "Let''s call it a day. I think I can''t deal with anything else for now. I need to digest this properly. Thanks again. I''ll be heading back now."


    Saying this, Wu Bingji stood up, bowed slightly to Tang San, then turned and left without hesitation. He cherished the inspiration he had just seized. This inspiration could even be his chance to break through to the seventh order soon!


    Tang San watched Wu Bingji leave, and a faint smile appeared on his face as he thought, <i>A teachable pupil he is indeed.</i>


    Seeing Wu Bingji leave, Cheng Zicheng looked at his departing figure for a moment, then back at Tang San. Sheughed. "You''re impressive, Tang San! Even the eldest senior brother recognizes your skill. I''ll be taking my leave too. Thanks a lot!"


    Tang San said, ��You can try the things I suggested when you have time. Make the most of your strengths."


    "Mhm, I got it. Thank you." The pretty little girl got up and ran out. He wasn��t sure whether she really did get it, but at least she remembered to close the door.


    Watching her leave, Tang San sighed. Wu Bingji was truly adept at controlling the ice element, and he was indeed suitable for learning the Hidden Weapon Hundred Separations art, which would greatly aid his control over the ice element and enhance its offensive power.


    Tang San''s face showed a faint smile, and a gentle light appeared in his eyes. Today''s gains were significant in every aspect. Right now, he was hesitating about integrating the Golden Roc Transformation bloodline imprint as his fifth.


    In terms of hierarchy, Chrono Croc Transformation was certainly a better choice. The Chrono Croc Transformation would undoubtedly elevate hisbat capabilities and overall strength. Of course, the Golden Roc Transformation would also give him an incredible advantage��the ability to fly, which was extremely useful for escaping if push came to shove.


    His assessment of the Golden Roc Transformation for Cheng Zicheng was exactly on point. It was a demon species adept at flying, and that ability shone especially over long distances. However, he wasn''t sure how he would soar after integrating the Golden Roc Transformation imprint. It was unlikely that he would grow wings like Cheng Zicheng.


    Many flying demon species didn��t have flight as their bloodline ability; it was nothing more than their instinct. For example, when he previously absorbed some of the bloodline power of the White-Crested Falcon Demon, he found that its ability was Falcon Eye, not flight.


    In any case, whatever the method, flying was important. Before reaching the God King level, if he wanted to fly, he could only do so by using a Demonic God Transformation''s ability.


    He could just disperse the Golden Roc Transformation if something better came alongter. As for the Chrono Croc Transformation, he could first find a way to absorb and store it without integrating the imprint into his energy vortex.


    With this in mind, he no longer hesitated. He returned to his bedroom, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique, initiating the integration of the Golden Roc Transformation.


    As the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique circted within him, his bloodline power surged naturally. The orange-yellow imprint representing the Golden Roc Transformation began to glow slowly under the stimtion of his internal energy. This glow made the imprint look soft, with a very interesting texture.


    The feeling was bizarre; it differed from when he integrated other imprints. Maybe it was because the Golden Roc Transformation was of a higher level, but he felt some changes in his bloodline. His body''s strength seemed to increase, especially his arm strength.


    The other four imprints he already possessed also emitted a faint glow under the stimtion of the new Golden Roc Transformation imprint. It was clear that thetter wasprehensively enhancing Tang San''s bloodline power.


    The enhancement of bloodline power meant nourishment for his entire body. This nourishment would strengthen Tang San''s physical constitution, allowing him to bear more energy.


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique''s body-tempering effect was already great. Now, aided by the stimtion of the five imprints, Tang San''s blood surged within him, giving him a feeling of tumultuous waves coursing through his veins. His whole body warmed slightly, and his overall aura improved. This boost also hastened the absorption of the unfinished bloodline power from the Wind Wolf Town Lord, Feng Xiong, and it swiftly pushed Tang San��s cultivation toward the peak of the fifth order.


    The Golden Roc Transformation was indeed something else! Although this bloodline power was only of the third order, it felt different from the previous four he had absorbed.


    <i>Is this a difference in level?</i> Tang San wondered. He decided to consult with the Mayorter.


    Soon, the absorption of the Golden Roc Transformation imprint wasplete.


    Tang San opened his eyes.


    The night outside had deepened by now, but Tang San''s eyes became brighter. He took a slow, deep breath, stimting the orange-yellow imprint within him as he circted the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Instantly, Tang San felt a strange power surge through him. His arms became noticeably more solid. The next moment, he saw two orange-yellow streaks of light extending from his arms, expanding outward, and transforming into two orange-yellow light wings.


    The light wings seemed somewhat ethereal at first nce, but they were very much tangible, real items. As Tang San lightly waved his arms, the orange-yellow imprint within him brightened momentarily, and his body felt lighter. With a strong p of the wings, he began to ascend!


    Now in mid-air, he spread his wings and stimted the Wind Wolf Transformation imprint. Wind elemental energy swirled around him, and with his wings wide open, he lightly hovered in mid-air.


    Tang San''s eyes shone brightly. He could indeed fly! This was impressive. Satisfied, he nodded in approval.


    With a thought, he deactivated the Mysterious Heaven Technique, and the light wings on his arms disintegrated, dropping him back to the ground. The fifth imprint was fully integrated into his energy vortex, endowing him with the Golden Roc Transformation''s ability to fly.


    Until now, Tang San had not fully understood the peculiarities of this world, but he had begun to develop a fondness for it. He was confident that this world''s wonders were no less than those of the Douluo Continent he had once inhabited. The demons and nymphs here were indeed remarkable!


    With this new ability to fly, he had a new trump card in store, and��more importantly��another path to survival if need be. He had also proven his strength to his teachers. <i>Perhaps I could ask for a leave tomorrow?</i>


    Thinking this, warmth filled his heart, and his passion for cultivation surged. He returned to his bed and continued to cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique with all he had, absorbing the Wind Wolf bloodline power left over from Feng Xiong.


    ***


    At the Redemption Society, everything was as usual. The morning bell awakened the teachers and students from their cultivation. It was time for breakfast!


    However, things had changed somewhat for Tang San. At breakfast today, he noticed that the way his senior brothers and sisters looked at him was different.


    Although everyone had looked at him kindly the day before, most didn''t pay him much attention. Today, however, whether it was the senior brothers and sisters already there when he arrived at the cafeteria or those who came after him, almost all heads turned to look at him immediately, and his colleagues took the initiative to greet him.


    Yesterday''s battle between him and Wu Bingji had left a deep impression on everyone. Wu Bingji''s nine ice shields had barely withstood Tang San''s wind de. Naturally, everyone��s thought was, <i>Could I handle that technique?</i>

 Chapter 89: Wind Gods Cleaver

    <h4>Chapter 89: Wind God''s Cleaver</h4>


    Du Bai approached Tang San. "Little Tang, when can you show us that Wind God''s Cleaver again? Everyone is really curious about how youpressed the elemental energy."


    "Wind God''s Cleaver? What is that?" Tang San was momentarily stunned.


    "It''s thatst wind de you made yesterday! It was so powerful that everyone started calling it the Wind God''s Cleaver. It sounds really hardcore."


    Tang San couldn''t help butugh bitterly, saying helplessly, "Yesterday, the eldest senior brother was just going easy on me."


    "No, I certainly didn''t hold back. It''s more likely that you were the lenient one." A heartyugh sounded from the entrance. Wu Bingji entered, and it seemed that he had overheard Tang San and Du Bai''s conversation.


    At this moment, his eyes were bright and spirited, and his face was joyful. His entire aura seemed to have significantly improved.


    He took the initiative to sit beside Tang San, giving him a thumbs-up. "Your words yesterday opened my eyes. Thanks to that, I had some really good gains during cultivationst night. In fact, I think I may have found a path of my own. The teachers said that if we want to advance to a higher order in the future, we must find our own personal way. Only then can we really reach a higher level. Little Tang, thank you. I owe you one for this. If I can, I''ll find you a wind-attributed spiritual herb."


    By now, almost all the students were in the cafeteria. Wu Bingji did nothing to keep the conversation private, so they all overheard what he said. The students immediately showed expressions of surprise.


    One of them couldn''t help but ask, "Eldest senior brother, what were you and Little Tang discussing yesterday?"


    Wu Bingji replied with a smile, "About the control of elemental energy. Little Tang gave me a lot of inspiration. He is much better at it than I am."


    "You��re too kind, eldest senior brother," Tang San said helplessly. He could feel how the other senior students looked at him had changed.


    Wu Bingji winked at him, then tilted his head, pointing toward the door.


    Tang San''s heart stirred, and in the next moment, he understood what was going on.


    This had to be because Wu Bingji''s cultivation level had increased, the teachers had discovered something, and then Wu Bingji had reported his conversation with Tang San from yesterday. And the teacher had asked him to say something in the cafeteria. Was it to encourage everyone toe and learn from him?


    Sure enough, Gu Li, who was sitting opposite him, couldn''t help but ask, "Little Tang, do you understand the time element?"


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. Of course, he understood. After reaching the god level, anyone would be interested in the powerful attributes of time and space, and he was no exception. Not only that, but his descendants also had a profound understanding of this area. In his previous life, his son and grandson had powerful abilities when it came to controlling time.


    But now, he couldn''t reveal that! If he showed that he understood the capabilities of time, then forget about the others learning from him, it would be strange if the teachers didn''t dissect and study him instead.


    Tang San shook his head repeatedly, saying, "The mysteries of time are beyond my understanding. I''m hoping to learn from my seniors."


    Gu Li disappointedly replied, "Actually, I don''t really understand it either. I can only use one basic ability."


    Zhang Zebin, his opponent from yesterday, was sitting not far away. He chortled. "Alright, stop understanding it. If you understand it any better, will there be any good things left for us?"


    Everyone immediately burst intoughter. Indeed, Gu Li��s ability to freeze time was a powerful control skill that everyone found troublesome inbat.


    With the discussion, the atmosphere in the cafeteria became lively. People asionally asked Tang San questions, and he answered appropriately. The topics of conversation broadened, making the breakfast quite vibrant. Tang San felt that he was truly beginning to be epted by the group, and the eldest senior brother yed the most significant role. His affinity toward Tang San naturally increased the others'' fondness for him.


    The bell for ss rang.


    This morning''s session was not a physical training ss but seemingly a chance for the students to recover from yesterday''s exertion. It was a theoretical ss held in thergest room in the north building. All students were required to attend. The lecturer was Guan Longjiang.


    Tang San followed everyone into therge room that served as a ssroom and found a chair in a corner. Du Bai naturally took a seat next to him.


    Everyone else also took their seats. Meanwhile, Guan Longjiang was writing something on a board embedded in the wall.


    "Teacher Guan, everyone has arrived," Wu Bingji reported.


    "Mhm, let''s start the ss," Guan Longjiang said, turning around. His gaze swept over the students, pausing noticeably on Tang San.


    ��Today, we will review the hierarchical bloodline ssification of the demon race. We have covered this in a previous ss, but Tang San is new and unfamiliar. And you all have probably forgotten most of it. So, I''ll spend some time going over it again today."


    <i>The hierarchical bloodline ssification of the demon race?</i> Tang San was immediately overjoyed. This was one of the topics he was most eager to learn about. He knew next to nothing about the upper echelons of the demon race. The teachings of Wang Yanfeng were good as basics, but they didn��t go any further than that because the teacher himself did not understand the higher levels of the demon race very well.


    Guan Longjiang exined, "Generally speaking, the demon race ssifies bloodline levels into five major tiers. The situation is much the same with the nymph race. The different tiers of bloodlines determine the various sses within the demon and nymph races. In both races, the bloodline is of utmost importance. A strong bloodline represents great strength and potential.


    ��As human vassals, we do not belong to these five tiers. They are specific to the demons and nymphs. Even if a vassal''s bloodline level is high, they are just a vassal. Only when our bloodline and strength are strong can we have a slightly higher status, and even then, we are still nothing but servants.


    "The fifth tier of the demon raceprises those rtively weak and incapable of fighting. It also includes some vassal species of the demon race, like pig demons. In principle, there are no smaller categories within each n. For example, pig demons are just pig demons; they aren''t divided into ck pig demons and white pig demons or anything like that. Because they are weak, they just have a general name.


    "Porcupines are actually rted to them, but since they do have somebat ability, they don''t belong to this category; they are ssified separately. Anyway, even those among them that can fight to some extent are not all that strong, and generally, they are not born above the third order. Their potential for future growth is also very limited, so they are the absolute bottom within the demon race.


    "The fourth tier is where the real demons start. Almost all of them are adept atbat, and they are born at least at the second order but generally not above the fifth order. Actually, at birth, most demons of the fourth tier are not much different from those at the third tier, but their growth potential is very different. This tier also has thergest number of demons, and most of the mid-level ns of the demon race fall into this category. Unlike fifth-tier demons, they are able to cultivate all the way to the ninth order, although they are in principle unable to reach the tenth."


    <i>So a fourth-tier bloodline can go as far as the ninth order?</i> Hearing this, Tang San felt his understanding being refreshed.


    "And thenes the third tier, a different world altogether. The demons of the third tier are born with at least third-order strength and up to the eighth order. This tier can be considered the backbone of the demon race. Some powerful ns, like the major branches of lions, tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, and dragons, belong to this tier. As for the weaker branches of these ns, they fall under the fourth tier. For example, the Wind Wolves are included in the fourth tier, while the main bloodline of the wolf demon n is that of the Golden Wolf King.


    "At the third tier, cultivating to the tenth order��what we call the god level��and even breaking through to the eleventh order is a possibility. As for cultivating to the twelfth order, that is beyond difficult even for third-tier bloodlines."

 Chapter 90: The Great Demons & Celestial Demons

    <h4>Chapter 90: The Great Demons & Celestial Demons</h4>


    <i>Like I thought...the twelfth order seems to be more or less equivalent to the First ss, just below the God King level.</i> Tang San calcted silently in his mind. It made sense.


    The lineage of Wind Wolves was only at the fourth tier, not even reaching the third. Guan Longjiang''s specific mention of Wind Wolves was for him to hear.


    Guan Longjiang continued, "The demon ns of the third and fourth tiers constitute the main force of the demon world. They are the most numerous and the most active. The demons we usually encounter belong mostly to these tiers.


    "As for the second tier, that''s again another different world. The demons of the second tier can be called great demons. Their lineage is also known as a great demon bloodline. Beings of the second and first tiers have the potential to cultivate to the twelfth order of ancestral great demons. Of course, the potential is just potential; whether one can cultivate it to that level depends on effort and luck. But at least the potential is there.


    "The most important aspect of the second tier is the golden bloodlines of the major powerful ns. Golden bloodlines are a characteristic of the second tier. They are the purest ancestral bloodlines from ancient times, and the ones who possess them inherit immense power. Those of the second tier often possess the strength of the eighth or even ninth order at birth. They are mighty beings, and nearly all of them reach the god level when they mature, so they are at the very apex of the pyramid.


    "Their leaders are the hegemons of the demon ns, and they control the entire demon race. Only those of the second tier and higher, after all, are eligible to enter the Ancestral Court. They are the true Great Demons, and right now, these demons are beyond our ability to contend with. If humanity wishes to rise in the future, we must have individuals who can cultivate to this level to stand a chance."


    As he spoke to this point, a certain mncholy was evident in his expression. It spoke volumes of the extreme difficulties that humans faced in reaching this level.


    ��The first tier...�� Guan Longjiang paused for a moment. ��Sometimes, the first tier is also referred to as Great Demons. But the true beings of the first tier, progenitors of ancient bloodlines, are called Celestial Demons. For true Celestial Demons, their cultivation order at birth is not important. What matters is their inheritance of special bloodlines of the demon race. They are beings who can shift the course of history.


    "First-tier demons rarely leave the Ancestral Court, and all the second-tier Demon Kings see it as their duty to guard them. Their numbers are scarce, but their individual abilities are beyond incredible. Being born at the first tier means that as long as they grow normally, they can certainly cultivate to the twelfth order, even to the pinnacle of the twelfth order.


    "It is said that some Celestial Demons can even touch higher orders. As for whether this is true and what order that might be, that is beyond our knowledge. But any Celestial Demon, within the world of the demon race, is at the very pinnacle of existence. They possess absolute authority, and their lineages are rted to the life and death of the entire demon race. If the leaders of each n with the golden bloodline of the second-tier demon race are Demon Kings, then the Celestial Demons with the first-tier bloodline are the true sovereigns, the Emperors of their ns.


    "ording to the known records, seven Celestial Demons are within the demon race. These seven beingsmand awe in the Empyrean Dominion. It��smonly said that the seven Celestial Demons control the seven main cities of the demon race. In reality, the lords of each main city are controlled by the descendants of the Celestial Demons. On the nymph side, eight beings have reached the same level. However, as far as we know, not all of these beings are alive right now. Currently, there should only be twelve Celestial Demons and Nymphs in total. Three Celestial Nymphs have passed away, and their descendants have not yet grown to reach that pinnacle level."


    Hearing this, Tang San was overwhelmed with shock. The existence of the first tier could almost certainly bepared to the First ss God level of his past life, perhaps even touching the tier of God King. In light of this, his assessment of the level of the Fn, the world containing the Daemon Continent, was an underestimation. This ne was a level higher than he had imagined.


    This was quite terrifying. If this was the case, even if he regained his cultivation at the God King level, relying solely on his power might still not be enough to truly redeem humanity from their state of very. He hadn''t expected the world''s powerhouses to reach such a level.


    The term "Seven Celestial Demons" was deeply etched into Tang San''s mind.


    The atmosphere in the ssroom became solemn under Guan Longjiang''s narration. Although the children were young, they all understood the significance of the Redemption Society. The entities Guan Longjiang had just described were the opponents they would have to face! The idea of oveing so many powerful adversaries seemed nearly impossible. The word "challenge" was far from enough to describe it.


    Guan Longjiang''s gaze swept across everyone. When he looked at Tang San, he saw no fear on his face, only contemtion.


    "Okay, that concludes our review of the demon race''s tier system. You must clearly understand your own inherited bloodline and the corresponding tier of your Demonic God Transformation. This will help you in making choices during your future cultivation. But remember: tiers are not entirely fixed; lower-tier entities can evolve to higher ones if their bloodline undergoes a mutation. In the demon race, there have been cases where beings of lower tiers achieved the golden bloodline through effort and fortuitous events.


    "Actually, Tang San''s Wind Wolf bloodline is precisely one of these mutated bloodlines. You may have noticed that his body does not show any signs of transforming into a wolf when he uses the Wind de ability. Considering that his control over the wind element is much better than that of a normal wind wolf, let alone a human vassal, it��s clear that he has experienced some kind of mutation. And as a result, his growth potential is greater.


    "Bingji''s control over the ice element is also a mutation from the Ice Nymph Transformation. It gave rise to an ice element physique, which also offers him greater growth potential. Your admission to the Redemption Academy means that you all have bloodline powers or Demonic God Transformationsparable to the third tier of the demon race. How far you can go with that depends on yourselves.


    "But you must understand vassals and the true demons are different. We don''t possess their innate immense strength. The power we can achieve depends entirely on the amount of effort you put into it, and those who don��t cultivate get nothing. Moreover, our vassal bloodlines are generally much weaker than those of the same type in the demon ns. It''s challenging to cultivate to their level."


    Tang San listened intently to Guan Longjiang''s lecture when Du Bai, sitting beside him, nudged him lightly.


    Tang San turned to look at him with a questioning look on his face.


    Du Bai chuckled softly and whispered, "Hey, you may want to think again about bing my guardian. There''s still time, you know. I am the only one among us who inherited a first-tier bloodline."


    Tang San''s heart stirred as he was struck by the realization that the origin of Du Bai��s bloodline was one of the Seven Celestial Demons. Could the potential of the Celestial Fox Vision reach such a level?


    Seeing Du Bai''s smug expression, Tang San smiled and continued listening to Guan Longjiang.


    Cheng Zicheng, who was sitting on the other side of Tang San, spoke in a low voice, "Don''t listen to his boasting. Yeah, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is one of the Seven Celestial Demons. But the problem is, Du Bai��s Celestial Fox bloodline is really weak. Otherwise, why can''t he even break through to the fourth order? Celestial Foxes may not be strong at birth, but as they grow up, they don��t even know what a bottleneck is."


    ��You shouldn��t poke at someone��s weakness, Zicheng. You won''t make friends that way," Du Bai said irritably.


    Cheng Zicheng rolled her eyes and ignored him.

 Chapter 91: The Tiers Of The Five Imprints

    <h4>Chapter 91: The Tiers Of The Five Imprints</h4>


    Tang San listened to their bickering, his gaze sweeping the students around him. How many of these senior brothers and sisters possessed second-tier bloodline powers?


    "Senior sister, what tier is your Golden Roc Transformation bloodline?" Tang San asked quietly.


    Cheng Zicheng proudly replied, "The Golden Roc n has no branches; it''s a single line, and a golden bloodline at that. The only difference between members lies in the concentration of the bloodline. The Golden Rocs themselves always possess a second-tier bloodline, so there isn��t such a great difference in power among them, but that��s not the case with the vassals. As Teacher Guan said, our bloodlines aren��t that concentrated. That��s why I am not that incredibly strong and my bloodline is not golden."


    Hearing her exnation, Tang San suddenly felt enlightened. He somewhat understood why his body had undergone a series of reactionsst night when he absorbed the Golden Roc Transformation as his fifth bloodline imprint, even experiencing a cleansing and reinforcement of his entire body. Even his other bloodline imprints were affected.


    Thinking back at the bloodlines he had absorbed previously, based on what Guan Longjiang had mentioned and his own judgment, the Wind Wolf and sh Leopard were fourth-tier bloodlines. The Ironhide Shield of the Rhino Demon and the Falcon Eye of the White-Crested Falcon were probably also of the fourth tier.


    If the bloodline power of Feng Xiong, the Lord of the Wind Wolf Town, was the purest of the Wind Wolf bloodlines, then it was likely at the peak of the fourth tier, but probably not quite at the third.


    Tang San wasn��t sure whether the Aetherhorn Deer itself had a third-tier bloodline, but he <i>was</i> fairly certain that the Discerning Eye, formed by the fusion of the Falcon Eye and Discerning Heart��s Gaze, had at least reached the threshold of the third tier, if not crossed it outright.


    However, Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc Transformation bloodline was without a doubt at least third-tier. Since the Golden Roc was in the second tier, this bloodline unquestionably had tremendous potential.


    In the future, if he could devour the true Golden Roc bloodline, his bloodline imprint could likely be upgraded to the second tier. This was his experience until now, and he was sure that it would apply even at that level.


    This means that while the strength and abilities of the Demonic God Transformation was a key factor in choosing a bloodline imprint, the tier of the bloodline was equally significant. Even a third-order Golden Roc Transformation had brought substantial changes to him; higher tiers would undoubtedly be even more powerful.


    Among all the senior brothers, purely in terms of the tier of the bloodline, Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation was the highest. Even though his bloodline was most certainly diluted, the potential of a first-order bloodline could not be underestimated. Looking solely at the tier rather than the strength, it was probably a second-tier bloodline, even better than Cheng Zicheng��s Golden Roc. Moreover, reaching the first tier and touching the world of Celestial Demons might bring about unpredictable changes.


    Among the others, Tang San was almost certain that Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation came from a second-tier bloodline. Compared to the Golden Roc Transformation, it was at least as powerful, and likely much more so. Anything involving time was a mighty existence in any ne.


    Although he had only been at the Redemption Society for a few days, Tang San felt he had learned a lot. His understanding of this world had deepened significantly, which would greatly benefit his future self-improvement.


    Guan Longjiang continued, "Therefore, in your future path of cultivation, enhancing your cultivation level is one aspect. Insight is also crucial. This morning, Bingji came to me and shared his insights after discussing with Little Tang. He has already started to find his path, which is excellent. Of course, there��s another method that will also enhance your bloodline strength in the future. That is to use the fresh blood of demons from your bloodline. By soaking in the blood of simr demons, you can absorb its energy to strengthen your own Demonic God Transformation."


    Tang San vaguely remembered hearing something simr from the tiger man, Zhang Tianxiao, as well as from Wang Yanfeng. Of course, he wasn''t too concerned about this method of cultivation. He had the Mysterious Heaven Technique, which allowed him to devour bloodline power directly��a method much more elegant and undoubtedly much more effective than soaking in fresh blood.


    Guan Longjiang then borated on some details of cultivating bloodline power and ways to stimte and enhance it. These things were of no use to Tang San. His only way to strengthen bloodline power was by devouring more using the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s power.


    "Alright, that''s all for today''s lecture. Now, the free question session. As usual, everyone can ask one question. Little Tang San, since you''re new here, you''ll be the first to ask today."


    Tang San was momentarily startled, but he quickly thought of his question, "Teacher Guan, you mentioned earlier that among the demon ns there are seven Celestial Demons, each ruling over one of the seven major cities of the Empyrean Dominion. So, which of these Celestial Demons is the master of our Kali City?"


    Guan Longjiang hadn''t borated much about the seven Celestial Demons, as he believed these were existences that these young students had very slim chances of ever encountering.


    Hearing Tang San''s question, Guan Longjiang replied, "Kali City is the domain of the Peacock Demon Emperor. The peacock is the king of all birds, and naturally, the Peacock Demon Emperor has always led all flying demon ns in the Empyrean Dominion. However..."


    He paused for a moment, as if to collect his thoughts. "There is no Peacock Demon Emperor right now. The previous one died for unknown reasons. Although there is a direct descendant of its bloodline, it has not yet cultivated to the level of a Demon Emperor. Otherwise, this lineage wouldn''t be stationed in this remote Kali City. The current Peacock Demon King is in Kali City and is very powerful. But there''s still a gap from being an Emperor. Once it bes an Emperor, it can return to its ancestral home and reim its position as one of the seven Celestial Demons."


    "Thank you, Teacher Guan." With his answer, Tang Sanmitted everything to memory. The Peacock Demon King, the leader of all birds, a first-order bloodline of the flying demon ns, surpassing the Golden Roc. Now that he had that information, he wondered if this realm had phoenixes and dragons; in his previous world, those two bloodlines were the absolute supreme. The peacock of this realm might be different from the one in his memories.


    Continuing from Tang San''s topic, Guan Longjiang said, "The lineage of the Peacock Demon Emperor has a particritymonly found in strong ns, namely, a singr bloodline. Almost all demon and nymph ns that have no branches are very powerful. Well, with the notable exception of fifth tier monsters like pigs and such."


    Then came questions from others, mostly about bloodline cultivation and stimtion. Most of these were irrelevant to Tang San, but some bloodline stimtion discussions were helpful. After all, this was knowledge acquired over the years by the Redemption Society, and it was for the best if he acquired some understanding of demon ns indirectly, before having to face them himself. Therefore, this part of the ss was also quite useful to him.


    After ss, Tang San didn''t rush off but went to find Guan Longjiang.


    "Teacher Guan, may I take leave to go out after this afternoon''s ss?" Tang San asked Guan Longjiang directly.


    "You want to go out? Where to?" Guan Longjiang inquired.


    "I want to go into the city for a walk."


    "To see Gui Gui?"


    Tang San was startled. Did he know about Auntie Gui? But then he realized that it made sense��she was also a member of the Redemption Society. Without borating, he nodded and said, "Yes! I want to see her and find out about Teacher Wang''s situation."

 Chapter 92: Time To See Mei Gongzi!

    <h4>Chapter 92: Time To See Mei Gongzi!</h4>


    "You can go for a walk, but not alone. How about this: let Bingji apany you. Both of you are elemental types, so it''s good to understand each other. Go early and return early. Also, you might be disappointed if you ask Gui Gui too much about Wang Yanfeng, she doesn��t know much either. We''ll check how things are and get back to you. Actually, something big happened recently that triggered a major battle between the Wind Wolf and sh Leopard ns. They just fought yesterday."


    "Ah?" Tang San looked at him in surprise.


    "Don''t worry. It didn''t involve you or Wang Yanfeng. The Wind Wolf Ancestral House initiated it. We don''t know the exact oue yet, but it should be clear by tomorrow. We will inform you then. Remember, you are now a part of the Redemption Society and you must always ensure your safety. Although Kali City is rtively safe, you must be as careful as possible, understand? You are very talented, and we all have high hopes for you."


    "Thank you, Teacher."


    <i>I might as well visit Auntie Gui while I��m at it. That��s a great pretext, now that I think of it. But the first thing on the list is Mei Gongzi!</i>


    Guan Longjiang''s agreement relieved Tang San. If he had disagreed, Tang San would have had to find a way to sneak out. He felt that he could do that at night, but what if the tea shop was closed?


    Today''s entire ss schedule was with Guan Longjiang. The morning was theory lessons, and the afternoon was practical training. The training included guidance on bloodline cirction, sharing insights, and understanding and stimting one''s bloodline.


    Tang San didn''t need much in this area, as his cultivation method vastly differed from the others. However, that didn��t mean he found everything useless. There were some things to learn about stimting bloodline power better, prolonging its activation, and unleashing greater power.


    These insights somewhat benefited Tang San''s use of the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s power to stimte his Demonic God imprints, but he needed to explore independently. The experiences of others were only of referential value to him.


    Of course, in this afternoon''s ss, Tang San didn''t listen very carefully because his mind was elsewhere.


    Wu Bingji naturally had no objections to Tang San''s suggestion. The insights from yesterday had opened a new path for him, and benefited him immensely.


    The ice element was much more stable than the wind element, making it easier topress. After yesterday''s enlightenment, he had already understood how topel the ice element to do his bidding. Certainly, he still failed a lot, but at least now, he had a direction to go in and a method to try.


    Thus, even though Tang San was much younger than him, Wu Bingji didn''t treat him like a child.


    After the ss in the afternoon, the two left the academy and made their way down the mountain.


    ��Let me treat you to a meal today. I tried some elemental controlst night, and the ice element''s flow is actually sluggish and very stable. Compressing it basically just increases the density. The challenge is that the density throughout the entire piece needs to be as uniform as possible, and if there are gaps, those gaps also need to be uniform. Otherwise, the whole thing is unstable and there''s a risk of it bursting. I can''t control it very well yet, but with more practice, I''ll improve."


    Walking down the mountain path, Wu Bingji continued, "So the more I control the ice element, the more I feel that your control over the wind element is amazing. The wind element is so active that it must be much more difficult than controlling the ice element, but you canpress it several times over and it doesn��t blow up in your face. That''s incredible. I need to learn a lot from you in the future."


    Tang San''s mind was already at Mei Gongzi''s tea shop, but hearing his senior brother''s words, he responded subconsciously, "Actually, sometimes, perfect stability doesn''t necessarily mean the greatest power. Some instability might actually benefit you, if you can control that instability."


    Wu Bingji was taken aback. "Control the instability?"


    Tang San almost mentioned the possibility of adding a fuse, like in a bomb, but then he remembered that this world probably didn''t have such things as bombs and fuses. Even if he did say it, Wu Bingji would probably just raise an eyebrow.


    Thus, Tang San simply lifted his hand to gather a cluster of wind energy, which emitted a faint green glow and spun steadily. <i>The wind element cannot be still; once it stays still, it is no longer wind.</i>


    "Look here, senior brother," Tang San said, pointing to the whirlwind in his hand.


    "Okay," Wu Bingji watched intently. Then, he saw Tang San add a smaller whirlwind into therger one. This new whirlwind was more condensed than the bigger one and also spun at a visibly different speed. Its inclusion immediately made the entire whirlwind unstable.


    Then, with a flick of his wrist, Tang San threw the whirlwind out. It flew about five or six meters before exploding, scattering a dozen sharp wind des that sliced through the air with piercing whistling sounds.


    "Wow..." Wu Bingji was stunned.


    Tang San said, "Because the wind element is very active anyway, this method doesn''t really do much. Well, it��s also because I��m just not strong enough to make it work better. But for your ice element, this method is much more suitable. You said yesterday that the ice element is strong in both offense and defense and you don��t know how to choose, right?


    "Well, in my opinion, there''s no need to choose. Attack or defense is just a matter of how you see things. A shield of ice can be used for defense, but what if you throw that shield at someone and make it explode in their face? Is it still defense, then? Oh, and what if, when it explodes, it sts out a bunch of ice des or spikes? I think that��d be way, way stronger. So I think you really shouldn��t focus that much on offense or defense. You should focus on your affinity with the ice element and controlling it well, and then you can do whatever you want with it."


    With his mind on Mei Gongzi''s tea shop, Tang San was preupied with thoughts of that stunningly beautiful face and didn''t worry whether it was too much information for Wu Bingji to process in one go, so he just kept bbering.


    Hearing Tang San''s words, Wu Bingji was momentarily stunned, and he didn��t even see the path in front of him as he walked alongside Tang San. If yesterday Tang San had opened a door for him, then today it was as if the walls around him were blown apart. The ice elements seemed to have shed their outeryer in his mind, revealing their true essence.


    <i>Explosion, offense, and defense in unity, explosion, offense, and defense in unity.</i>


    Walking down the mountain, Wu Bingji didn''t say anything else. He would have liked to return immediately to study if he had the choice. However, his task was to apany Tang San and ensure his safety, so naturally, he couldn''t just go back. He followed Tang San closely, lost in thought about controlling the ice element, utilizing them, and introducing unstable elemental energy into the stable cluster so he could detonate them at will. <i>How should I handle it? How to introduce that unstable energy? How much to add?</i>


    These chaotic thoughts upied his mind so much that he had no time to think about anything else.


    Tang San was happy with this arrangement, and both of them kept walking lost in their thoughts. His mind was actually filled with many more chaotic thoughts than Wu Bingji''s. Scenes from his past life, longing in this life, the joy of finding what he was looking for, and the nervousness of seeing it again soon.


    Once they descended the mountain, they found themselves once more at the center of Kali City. Tang San had studied the map of Kali City numerous times, especially the route from the academy to the city center. Despite being unfamiliar with the area, he had a n in mind and he didn''t take any detours as he headed to his destination.

 Chapter 93: Where Is Mei Gongzi?

    <h4>Chapter 93: Where Is Mei Gongzi?</h4>


    Wu Bingji appeared absent-minded, following Tang San wherever he went without caring about the destination. For him, nothing was more important than pondering over his ice elemental control.


    Walking through streets and alleys, Tang San led Wu Bingji along the edges of roads. They wore the academy''s uniform, marked with the logo of Kali Academy. However, their logo indicated they were vassals, not students. Their status as vassals of Kali Academy was much higher than that of ordinary vassals, so the average demon wouldn''t trouble them under normal circumstances.


    Tang San wasn''t paying attention to their surroundings. As they neared Kali Square, his heart began to beat faster, filled with both anticipation and anxiety. What if Mei Gongzi wasn''t at the tea shop? What if her tea shop was closed? In this world of demons, human vassals were always in potential danger, especially given her and her mother''s beauty.


    From a distance, he finally saw Kali Square. Tang San took a deep breath to steady himself. Gulping hard, he quickened his pace toward the square.


    It was still afternoon, bright but past the day''s warmest period. The first thing Tang San saw was therge tree where he had waited for Wang Yanfeng. The warm afternoon sun shone through the crown of the old tree, casting uneven, dancing shadows on the ground.


    His gaze pierced through the shadows of the trees, and amidst the intery of light and dark, he spotted a little shop in the distance.


    Yes, it was still there. Mei Gongzi''s milk tea shop remained.


    With the Discerning Eyebined with the Purple Demon Eyes, Tang San instantly maximized his vision.


    Wu Bingji actually sensed something and turned to look at Tang San out of reflex. He was startled to see a purple glow swirling in Tang San''s eyes.


    Tang San slowed his steps, afraid to disturb the distant ce under his gaze.


    As he remembered, the milk tea shop was unchanged from hisst visit. Demons buying milk tea queued endlessly at the entrance. Inside, two figures bustled about.


    Absent was the older one; only two petite figures were present.


    <i>She��s there, she��s there!</i>


    Tang San didn''t care whether her mother was present or not; the important thing was that she was there.


    She was as beautiful as ever, with her fair little face and pointed chin. Perhaps due to her busyness, a light pink hue covered her cheeks, perfectly embodying the term "delicate."


    Her long hair was coiled atop her head, secured with a wooden hairpin, revealing her slender neck. A few strands of hair fell around her fair neck, gently swaying with her movements, exuding a youthful aura.


    Today, her attire was ck, a neat outfit with clean lines. For her, it wasn''t the clothes that enhanced her beauty, but her beauty that illuminated the clothes.


    Unconsciously, Tang San had walked under therge tree, standing in its shadow, gazing nkly at the milk tea shop.


    "Little Tang, have we arrived?" Wu Bingji''s voice came from beside him.


    Tang San didn''t look at him but pointed at the tree instead. "Let''s rest here for a bit."


    "Oh, okay." Wu Bingji didn''t question him, as he waspletely immersed inprehending the ice element. He was only too eager to stop and have a quiet moment for better contemtion.


    Thus, these two human vassals stood under the tree''s shade in the center of Kali Square. One stood there staring into the distance like a fool, while the other, equally lost in thought, had his hands sped together, and his lips were moving silently as if he was praying or reciting something.


    It wasn''t until the afternoon sun began to set that Tang San snapped out of his reverie.


    He had been standing here, just watching, watching from afar. Seeing her beauty and seeing that she was safe and sound filled his heart with immense satisfaction.


    He had never considered approaching her, feeling he was not yet worthy. He also knew that it was better not to get close to her until he had the strength to protect her.


    He turned to nce at Wu Bingji sitting under the tree. His senior brother was still engrossed in his own world, unable to extricate himself. asionally, a small puff of ice mist could be seen on his hands.


    Tang San took a deep breath, took out two demonshard coins, and then turned to Wu Bingji. "Senior brother, wait here for me. I''ll go get you something to drink."


    "Oh," Wu Bingji responded. His mind entirely focused on controlling the ice element, paying no attention to anything else.


    Tang San took a deep breath. Seeing Mei Gongzi again stirred the most incredible emotions in his heart: excitement, restlessness, and nervousness.


    This feeling was unique, something he had never experienced even in his past life, akin to going on a blind date. Well, Tang San had never been on a blind date, so he had no way to know if that was the feeling, but he thought that was probably how it felt.


    With theseplex emotions, he had unknowingly arrived outside Mei Gongzi''s milk tea shop.


    There were quite a few demons buying milk tea at this time. Tang San silently queued up at the back. His stature was small and inconspicuouspared to the giant demons around him. Mei Gongzi and the little clerk in the shop couldn''t see him, hidden as he was in the back.


    But Tang San could silently sense their presence and hear Mei Gongzi''s pleasant voice.


    "Thank you."


    "Come again!"


    She only spoke these few words. Yet even these impersonal titudes, when they came out of <i>her</i> mouth, caused his heart to tremble slightly.


    The sound and smile of his wife from his previous life appeared in his mind. She always looked at him with a coy smile. Even after many years, he could still clearly remember the scene of their first meeting.


    Her first words were "My name is Xiao Wu, ''Wu'' as in ''dance.''"


    But when they met again in this world, she said something different. She said her name was Mei Gongzi.


    <i>Mei Gongzi.</i>


    The milk tea was made and sold quickly, so the demons buying it would leave swiftly. Tang San followed the queue, moving forward. Finally, it was almost his turn.


    Just as he was about to step forward, ready to face Mei Gongzi up close, suddenly, something pushed his shoulder hard, sending him stumbling sideways.


    Regaining his bnce, he looked at the one who had pushed him. It was a burly demon with a big belly and two long tusks at the corners of its mouth.


    It didn''t even nce at Tang San. Instead, it turned directly to Mei Gongzi and said, "Ten cups of milk tea."


    Mei Gongzi, at that moment, was looking at Tang San.


    Tang San had been so focused on her that he hadn''t expected anyone to push him at that moment. Caught by surprise, his anger surged, and his face showed a mix of shock and rage.


    Mei Gongzi looked at him with a bit of surprise, then turned her gaze to the demon that seemed to be from the porcupine n. She said lightly, "You didn''t queue."


    The porcupine demon was taken aback, "How did I not queue? I''ve been queuing."


    Mei Gongzi calmly repeated, "You did not queue."


    "What do you mean?" the porcupine demon asked, seemingly starting to get pissed.


    Just as it was about to take a step forward, another demon behind it suddenly grabbed its shoulder and whispered something in its ear.


    The porcupine demon''s expression changed. Slowly stepping back, it gave up its ce in the queue.


    Mei Gongzi then waved at Tang San.

 Chapter 94: Why Are You Selling Milk Tea?

    <h4>Chapter 94: Why Are You Selling Milk Tea?</h4>


    Tang San had regained control of himself, and he was somewhat astonished that these demons actually took the initiative to maintain order. But at this moment, his mind was more focused on how to get a closer look at <i>her</i>.


    He quickly stepped forward, approaching the shop. As he looked at Mei Gongzi through the shop window, he felt many, many emotions.


    "What would you like?" Mei Gongzi asked, her voice just as calm as before.


    Tang San stuttered, "I...I want two cups, two cups of milk tea."


    "Okay, two demonshard coins." Mei Gongzi filled two cups of milk tea and handed them to him.


    Tang San handed over two demonshard coins, but Mei Gongzi pointed to a tray in front of him, filled with demonshard coins.


    Tang San realized she didn''t want to take the money directly with her hands. For some reason, he felt a sense of joy, and he smiled as he ced the coins on the tray and took the milk tea.


    "Move along now," Mei Gongzi said, ncing at him.


    Tang San blurted out, "Why are you selling milk tea?"


    Mei Gongzi was startled by his question, and the clerk beside her couldn''t help butugh. "What kind of person asks silly questions like that? We sell tea because we want money! And we want money because we need to live!"


    Mei Gongzi ignored the clerk''s words. She looked at Tang San and said, "To make money to support my family."


    "Oh, oh..."


    "Are you done now? Move and let people buy their tea," a gruff voice sounded from the side.


    Tang San turned to nce at the porcupine demon, the one who had spoken, and then walked away. After a few steps, however, he couldn''t help but look back at Mei Gongzi.


    He saw Mei Gongzi frowning slightly and then waving her hand at him, signaling him to leave quickly. He then noticed that she was much slower in serving the porcupine demon than she had been with him.


    <i>Are you worried about me because I seem at a disadvantage? Are you afraid the porcupine demon might target me after buying the milk tea?</i>


    Tang San felt warmth in his heart, perhaps because he cared too much, which made him even more sensitive at such times.


    Returning to the big tree, he handed Wu Bingji a cup of milk tea.


    Wu Bingji, somewhat surprised, took the milk tea and smelled it. "What''s this?"


    "Milk tea," Tang San replied, pointing to Mei Gongzi''s milk tea shop in the distance. His gaze lingered once again on the figure of the girl who, alone, upied his entire heart.


    "Oh, are we leaving now?" Wu Bingji asked.


    "Yes, let''s go." Not wanting to cause any trouble for Mei Gongzi, Tang San took one more gaze in that direction, then left with Wu Bingji, milk tea in hand.


    The milk tea wasn''t very sweet but had a mild milky aroma and a taste that warmed his heart. Tang San slowly sipped it as he walked with Wu Bingji in tow. Both of them had a distant look in their eyes once more.


    After walking for a while, Tang San suddenly realized he had taken the wrong path. Adjusting his direction, he headed toward the ce where Aunt Gui lived. It was pretty far from here, but since he had already spoken to Guan Longjiang, he had to go.


    But no matter where he went, the image of Mei Gongzi lingered in his mind.


    <i>How wonderful it would be to be by her side every day!</i>


    Everything seemed normal at Gui Gui''s inn. By the time Tang San arrived, it was already dark.


    Gui Gui was surprised to see him and Wu Bingji.


    "Why are you here? And who''s this?"


    "This is my good friend." Tang San quickly introduced Wu Bingji but refrained from calling him ��senior brother�� while outside.


    Regaining hisposure, Wu Bingji''s eyes sparkled with insight, clearly having gained something from his contemtions. "Hello, auntie. I''m Wu Bingji. I''m with Tang San at Kali Academy Town," he said.


    Gui Gui realized the situation and smiled. "Come in quickly. Let''s talk inside."


    She led them to a room in the inn and closed the door behind here. As she brought over some food for them, she asked Tang San, "Why did you suddenlye here? Is there something wrong?"


    Tang San replied, "I came to see you. Also, how are Teacher Wang and everyone else? Are they all right?"


    Hearing his question, Gui Gui rxed. She had been worried that something had happened.


    "Everything''s fine on my brother''s side. The incident that day actually escted into a conflict between two races. Apparently, the lord of Wind Wolf Town died, and it turns out that his identity was extraordinary; they say he��s actually a direct descendant of the Wind Wolf King. It''s unclear why he became the lord of that backwoods town, but whatever his status was, his bloodline is still his bloodline. The Wind Wolf King was furious when he found out about his death, and he swore revenge. The Wind Wolf and sh Leopard ns have fought several battles since. On the other hand, the town has been pretty calm. Apparently the high priest also left, so there''s no one really in charge of the town now. There shouldn''t be any problems in the short term."


    Tang San thought for a moment and said, "Is there a possibility of bringing them into the city? It''s always unsafe out there."


    With his years of understanding the demon ns, only big cities like Kali City maintained order systematically. Outside the cities, there was no order; everything depended on strength. With strength, you could survive. Without it, you were always in danger.


    A faint smile appeared on her face, and Gui Gui said with augh, "You are a good kid. Don''t worry; the Society is already preparing. Do well in the academy. You can now represent the Wind Wolf lineage. If you perform well, the organization will naturally pay more attention to your teacher''s family. Do you understand what I mean?"


    Tang San naturally understood and nodded thoughtfully.


    "It''s gettingte, and you''ll bete getting back. Eat quickly and then head back. Be careful on the way," Gui Gui urged. She was actually rather touched that Tang San hade all the way here just to see her. Naturally, she was unaware that Tang San''s visit was just incidental.


    After dinner, Tang San and Wu Bingji set off again, heading back to the Redemption Academy.


    As they sped up the road, Wu Bingji suddenly said, "You seemed a bit off today! You kept looking at the girl selling milk tea in the square, do you know her?"


    Tang San was startled, nodded, and then shook his head. He had thought Wu Bingji was utterly immersed in his world, and he was surprised that his senior brother had actually noticed that.


    Wu Bingji asked, "Have you met before?"


    Tang San replied, "I''ve seen her once. It was when Teacher Wang and I were delivering a gift list to the ancestral home of the Wind Wolf n. While I was waiting outside, under that big tree, she gave me a cup of milk tea."


    Wu Bingji smiled slightly and said, "Heh, you actually took leave to see her, right? Well, I have to admit she is pretty cute. I may have been deep in thought about how to control the ice element better, but even so, I��m not blind. She really is beautiful, no wonder you��re stuck with that stupid look on your face."


    His tone then became more serious. "However, Tang San, I must remind you that people selling things in the central square must have a strong background. She''s definitely a vassal of a powerful n, and that��s why the demons there don''t dare to touch her. Everyone appreciates beauty, but you are still young, so I think it would be best not to visit too often."


    Wu Bingji was silent for a moment, then his usual smile returned. "The milk tea was quite good, though."


    "Uh-huh." Tang San nodded, understanding Wu Bingji''s concern. Still, he knew all too well that he would visit again as soon as he could.


    <i>Is she really selling milk tea because she needs money? The milk tea shop seems to be doing really well. How much money did she need?</i> These were the thoughts Tang San had been pondering since seeing Mei Gongzi on his way back.


    It waspletely dark when they returned to the Redemption Academy. Wu Bingji went to report to Guan Longjiang, while Tang San returned to his room.

 Chapter 95: Accepting A Task

    <h4>Chapter 95: epting A Task</h4>


    Closing the door behind him, Tang San let out a long sigh. He quickly went to his bedroom, got on his bed, and took out his small storage bag, removing all the coins. The naturae coins shone brightly, pulsating with intense elemental energy.


    After counting the amount, he carefully put all the coins into the bag.


    He didn''t rush into meditation, as his mind was not yet calm enough.


    His mind was filled with memories of Mei Gongzi''s every frown and smile he had witnessed today.


    Even though he was just a stranger to her, and not even an outstanding one at that, she still showed concern for him. Perhaps it was the kind of care stemming from a subconscious feeling of kinship.


    When Tang San was reborn in this world to find his wife, there were a few things he was worried about. The first was whether he could even find his wife. The second was whether the wife he found would still have the same heart as in her previous life. Even in a ce like the Daemon Continent, he was not the least bit concerned about his wife being reincarnated as a demon. He <i>did</i>, however, fear a significant change in her personality.


    Now, it seemed that fate still favored him, guiding him to find her.


    Although her appearance and temperament had changed somewhat, she was still kind and beautiful. And she had actually be a human! If she was a human vassal, then she had some demon bloodline, that much was clear. But did that matter?


    In his previous life, his wife had been a soul beast, a Soft-Boned Rabbit that cultivated for a hundred thousand years to be human. Tang San couldn��t care less about things like that.


    Excitement was his only emotion at the moment. Seeing Mei Gongzi again and feeling her presence and kindness was truly incredible.


    Right now, he didn''t have the right to disturb her. He needed to be stronger, much stronger. Once he was powerful enough, he would have the right to be by her side, to protect her. To make her fall in love with him again, to make her his wife again, and to help her cultivate to a godly level. Then, they could truly be reunited as a family.


    Although the task was arduous and the road long, a thousand-mile journey started with a single step, and going to see her today had been precisely that one step.


    His heart gradually calmed, and his determination to cultivate diligently reced his excitement. Seeing Mei Gongzi was his most significant motivation for cultivation.


    He sat cross-legged on his bed, quickly sinking into meditation. He decided that tonight, he had topletely absorb the remaining power of Feng Xiong''s bloodline and push forward the level of his Mysterious Heaven Technique. Once he absorbed all of Feng Xiong''s bloodline power, the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique should be able to reach close to the mid-level of the fifth order, while his Wind Wolf Transformation imprint reaching the peak of the fifth order would be no problem.


    A night of hard work thus passed quickly.


    The next day''s sses were as usual.


    In the morning physical training, Tang San voluntarily added extra weight to himself. Without needing Mu Yunyu''s urging, he put on ten additional weights and began a full sprint.


    Watching his determined eyes, Mu Yunyu felt no need to remind him of anything.


    When Tang San returned at noon, drenched in sweat, he was no longergging; this time, he ced eighth. Considering that this was only his second training ss, his peers were shocked once more.


    After lunch, Tang San found Wu Bingji.


    "Senior brother, I want to take on a mission," said Tang San to Wu Bingji.


    "You want to take on a mission? Are you in a hurry?" Wu Bingji asked, somewhat surprised.


    Tang San nodded. "I want to earn some money."


    "That''s true. We do need various resources for cultivation. The more resources, the faster. What kind of task do you want to take on?"


    Without hesitation, Tang San replied, "I want to try an academy sparring task."


    Wu Bingji was shocked. "You want to be a sparring partner at Kali Academy? That''s even more dangerous than hunting demonic beasts, you know? After all, those demon students sometimes can''t hold back. Also, your control over Wind de..."


    Tang San replied, "I won''t reveal too much. The ie from being a sparring partner seems quite high; I want to try it."


    Wu Bingji pondered momentarily, but then shook his head. "You are still too young; I can''t agree. I''ll ask the teacher."


    "Okay." Tang San nodded.


    Choosing to be a sparring partner was a well-thought-out decision. This choice was because, as a sparring partner, he could encounter more demons. With his current mastery of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and his understanding of the rtionship between his cultivation and the demons�� bloodline energy, he could certainly manage to devour bloodline energy without the opponent feeling much of it.


    Small amounts of bloodline energy here and there wouldn��t do much, but being able to do that repeatedly across arge number of sparring sessions would allow him to umte a lot, and it would undoubtedly speed up the cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    The devouring power of the Mysterious Heaven Technique was an excellent shortcut in cultivation for Tang San. He had reached the fifth order, and his actualbat power was actually at the sixth. He had the ability to protect himself and hide his actual level. With things being as they were, what he needed to do was quickly improve himself and elevate his cultivation to a higher level.


    The demon students who enrolled in Kali Academy were from families with pure bloodlines. The Wind Wolf n was only a fourth-tier demon n, yet the pure bloodline of the Wind Wolf King had greatly benefited Tang San. What more to say about the more powerful bloodlines in the higher tiers? Therefore, acting as a sparring partner was the best way for him to cultivate.


    As for the various Demonic God Transformation imprints he inevitably obtained through devouring, he could choose to discard or assimte them as needed.


    Wu Bingji immediately went to find Guan Longjiang, but to Tang San''s surprise, the person who came to see him before the afternoon sses wasn''t Guan Longjiang but his own master, the mayor.


    ��Little Tang,e with me," Zhang Haoxuan called Tang San out and led him back to the room.


    Tang San closed the door of the room.


    "Master, why are you here?"


    Zhang Haoxuan frowned slightly and said, "I heard from Guan Longjiang that you want to participate in sparring at Kali Academy. Why?"


    Tang San exined, "During the past few days, I learned a lot more about demons and their bloodlines, especially the bloodline tiers. I''vepared my bloodline imprints; they are rtively weak, mostly from the fourth-order demon ns. To be stronger, I need to devour bloodlines of more powerful tiers. Kali Academy is the best choice for this."


    He had to provide a good enough reason to Zhang Haoxuan, and in this case, telling the truth was the best policy.


    Zhang Haoxuan said gravely, "But this way, there''s a significant risk of exposure. You should be clear about the consequences if you are exposed."


    "I won''t be exposed, Master. I''m confident. Even if I absorb their bloodline energy, I will control the quantity. It will be just a little, and they won��t really feel anything."


    Zhang Haoxuan advised, "Don''t be overzealous. Steady improvement is the most important. Actually, you��re not the only one who thinks about your cultivation. I''ve given it careful thought as well. If your cultivation method allows you to break through to the god level, it would be revolutionary for all humanity. I''ve already started looking for children to try cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique to see if it''s possible. If it is, it will have a tremendous impact."


    "You''ve already started trials?" Tang San asked in surprise. He distinctly remembered Zhang Haoxuan stating that the Mysterious Heaven Technique must remain confidential.

 Chapter 96: Refusal

    <h4>Chapter 96: Refusal</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan waved his hand, saying, "It''s not what you think. I am just looking for children who haven''t awakened the Demonic God Transformation bloodline and whose parents are bothpletely human to try this out. I want to see if they can generate the kind of spiritual energy you said was produced by your Mysterious Heaven Technique through the most basic cultivation. If they can generate this energy, it will prove that we humans can practice this technique. If not, the significance of the Mysterious Heaven Technique will not be as great. Later, I will try with humans who have a demonic bloodline."


    Tang San nodded. "It''s fine to try that, I think."


    He had considered this issue before. He even had the Wang family''s three brothers and Ling Mushu practice some abilities from the Mysterious Heaven Record. As a result, he had already discovered that they couldn''t cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique, likely due to possessing the Wind Wolf bloodline. He could not just find some random ordinary humans and have them try it, so it was good for Zhang Haoxuan to give it a shot.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "Try devouring my bloodline power."


    While speaking, he extended his right hand toward Tang San.


    Tang San knew this was Zhang Haoxuan''s way of letting him demonstrate how to devour without being detected by the other person. This would decide whether he would be allowed to participate in the sparring tasks.


    Tang San didn''t grasp his hand. Instead, he suddenly swung out his right fist, aiming a blow at Zhang Haoxuan''s head.


    Zhang Haoxuan, with his powerful cultivation, instinctively swung his hand in turn, easily pping away Tang San''s hand with his palm.


    Tang San stepped back and smiled. "How do you feel?"


    Zhang Haoxuan was stunned for a moment. "What?"


    He subconsciously looked at his hand. He hadn��t felt anything unusual when he had swatted away Tang San��s fist. It was merely his bloodline power that instinctively acted to protect his hand as he deflected Tang San''s strike. There seemed to be no change in the bloodline power within his body.


    Tang San said, "I have actually sessfully devoured a bit of your bloodline power. It''s enough to form a second-order bloodline imprint. But if you were a demon with cultivation simr to mine, and we continued to fight, with each bit I absorb, the total bloodline power I gain after a battle would be significant. If converted into the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, it would surpass a day''s cultivation level. And the closer my opponent''s cultivation is to mine, the less they would feel during my devouring. I can control this extent."


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at Tang San, whose eyes brimmed with confidence, and suddenly felt he understood less and less about this disciple.


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique he cultivated was undoubtedly very miraculous. But, after all, he was only nine years old. At such a young age, he had sessfully cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Technique to such an extent. Already at the fifth order, despite his tender age, he was not much inferior to Wu Bingji, even in actualbat.


    In terms of bloodline talent, he was the weakest among all the disciples of the Redemption Society. But the Mysterious Heaven Technique he cultivated, which allowed him to acquire the abilities of others, actually made him the most talented human in history, in a sense.


    Zhang Haoxuan took a deep breath and said, "I disagree."


    "Ah?" Tang San was stunned. He thought he had proven how his devouring of bloodline power could go unnoticed. He expected Zhang Haoxuan to allow him to take on sparring tasks, but unexpectedly, he was met with disagreement.


    Zhang Haoxuan spoke solemnly, "You continue to prove your abilities to me. Thus, for the Redemption Society, you are increasingly valuable. With the potential of your Mysterious Heaven Technique, I should grant you higher protection. And for that exact reason, I must insist you remain inconspicuous. For now, you can''t take sparring tasks; I can''t allow you to take risks like that. Wait until you break through to the sixth order. After reaching the sixth order, I believe your control will improve further. You''ll also be older by then, so you won��t look conspicuous when you pick sparring tasks. You are only nine now, and you��re very small and thin. If you perform well in sparring at Kali Academy, then please tell me, do you really think you will not attract the attention of demons? Let me be honest to you: our town is already under the gaze of the demon race, and the academy might even have to relocate. So please keep a low profile."


    Tang San understood that Zhang Haoxuan''s intention was to ensure his protection, but he couldn��t help but be frustrated. Sparring at the academy was undoubtedly the most suitable way for him to cultivate. However, with the mayor''s disagreement, he had no other choice.


    "Master, what about other tasks? Can I take them?" Tang San asked.


    Zhang Haoxuan asked, "Are you in such need of money?"


    Tang San replied with a bitter smile, "What else can I do, master? I��m without a penny to my name."


    Zhang Haoxuan raised his hand and tossed a small bag to him, "Here are a hundred demonshard coins. Use these for now. Consider it a wee gift from your master. Don''t tell others about it. As for tasks, you can take any except for sparring types. But you must prioritize your safety. When you go on a task, you must be with at least two other people."


    "Alright." Tang San agreed, taking the bag of demonshard coins. There was no need for formalities with his master.


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head helplessly, his gaze softening as he looked at Tang San. His feelings towards Tang San were quiteplicated at the moment.


    Before Tang San''s arrival, he had heard from Zhang Tianxiao only about a student with solid control over the wind element, who had cultivated to the fourth order at the age of nine and possibly had a mutation of the Wind Wolf bloodline.


    In reality, a student of this level wasn''t worth his special attention. However, when Tang San came, he still engaged in routine conversation and testing. As it turned out, Tang San��s actual abilities and potential were far, far beyond what he had expected.


    He was not even sure of what he could teach Tang San.


    "What if you take more of my bloodline power? What do you think?" Zhang Haoxuan asked.


    Tang San said, "That would certainly be helpful for my cultivation, but it would also deplete your bloodline power, and it��d take you a long time to recover. Also, I cannot absorb too much; if I do that, it would really harm your core bloodline essence."


    "If you need it, just let me know."


    Tang San nodded and said wryly, "There''s no room for it now..."


    He couldn''t possibly tell Zhang Haoxuan that he didn''t value his bloodline much because it wasn''t particrly suitable for him...


    After Zhang Haoxuan left, Tang San went back to Wu Bingji.


    The afternoon sses continued; it was time for another practicalbat lesson.


    By the time he returned, severalbat sessions had already passed.


    "Teacher, I request anotherbat session with Tang San to test my insights from the past few days," Wu Bingji said to Mu Enqing as soon as he saw Tang San return.


    "Sure," Mu Enqing nodded.


    Wu Bingji smiled. ��Little Tang, do you need to prepare a bit more?��.


    Tang San replied wryly, "Senior brother, aren''t you just looking for payback here?��.


    Wu Bingjiughed. "Heh, it would be weird if I didn��t. Come on. If you win, I''ll give you five demonshard coins.��.


    "Ah?" Tang San was surprised. "You can wager money?"


    Wu Bingji said, "No, this isn''t gambling. If you win, I can still learn more from you."


    "So, is it like a thank-you gift then?"


    At this, the other students watching couldn''t help butugh.


    Wu Bingji nced at them and said, "Hey, don��tugh. It really is payment in a way. The things I discussed with Tang San these past few days helped me a whole lot. Also, you should know that when ites to learning, seniority doesn��t mean anything. Whoever knows more is the teacher."


    Mu Enqing looked at Wu Bingji and said, "Begin."


    Wu Bingji wasn''t as modest this time as in their previous sparring. The icy blue light in his eyes shone instantly, and simultaneously, the ice elemental energy around him became intensely concentrated.


    An ice ball began to form in the palm of his raised right hand.


    To his surprise, Tang San made a move, but it wasn''t tounch a wind de.

 Chapter 97: Tang San vs Wu Bingji鈥擲econd Challenge

    <h4>Chapter 97: Tang San vs Wu Bingji��Second Challenge</h4>


    Treading lightly on his toes, Tang San shot forward like an arrow, heading straight for Wu Bingji. Each of his palms held a streak of green light��a wind de. However, this time, he didn''t intend tounch the wind des from his hands.


    Wu Bingji was momentarily taken aback. With a tap of his left foot, the dense ice fog around him instantly condensed into ice spikes, thrusting outward to block Tang San''s attack path. And his blockade was not just frontal; it epassed all directions, with Wu Bingji at the center.


    He vividly remembered Tang San''s ghostly steps from theirst fight, a technique that had troubled both him and Cheng Zicheng.


    With such a defense, Tang San should have immediately resorted to a long-range wind de attack. Breaking through his ice spikes with the wind de wouldn''t be challenging, but it would buy him enough time. It would also allow him to test the ability changes he''d discussed with Tang San earlier.


    Although it had been only two days, Wu Bingji felt he had made significant progress in controlling the ice element, having found the right path.


    However, to his surprise, Tang San didn''tunch the wind des in his hands. In the next instant, as the ice spikes appeared, he was already in front of them.


    The wind des in his hands struck out like lightning, and with a series of crisp nging sounds, the ice spikes were sliced through one by one. The wind des in his hands were now moving directly at Wu Bingji.


    In today''s battle, Tang San had a n in mind, possibly influenced by his encounter with Mei Gongzi yesterday. He was determined to be stronger and earn more money. He needed more recognition from the academy and he needed every chance he could get to improve.


    While Wu Bingji was startled, Tang San was already closing in. But with his extensivebat experience, he instantly transformed into his ice elemental physique, enhancing his defense and significantly increasing his perception of the ice element.


    The temperature around his body plummeted. Simultaneously, the ice sphere in Wu Bingji''s right hand flew out, aiming straight for Tang San''s face.


    But in that instant, he lost sight of Tang San.


    Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!


    Tang San''s wind de shed out again, cutting through the ice spikes around Wu Bingji. At the same time, the hue of the wind des in his hands kept deepening. He was actuallypressing more and more energy into his wind de while fighting!


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Before all the ice spikes were cut, the remaining ones around Wu Bingji exploded simultaneously, creating a wave of air that sted outward.


    But Tang San, as if anticipating this, leaped into the air the moment the ice spikes exploded.


    The ice sphere that Wu Bingji had previously thrown out was also still in the air. It instantly darkened in color and exploded, the shockwave sweeping across the surroundings with a bone-chilling coldness.


    Tang San felt his entire body stiffen as if he was on the verge of being frozen.


    The intensity of ice elemental energy in the air right now was much higher than during their fight the other day.


    A smile formed at the corner of Wu Bingji''s mouth. He was clearly aware of the power he had unleashed. In his ice elemental form, all the surrounding cial energy was within his perception.


    <i>Closebat? Hehe, Tang San, this time you''ve made the wrong choice! My ice elemental form is best at close-quartersbat. The closer you are to me, the lower the temperature will be, the greater the effect on you, and the better my control.</i>


    However, his smilested only for a moment. The next moment, he sensed something was wrong.


    There was not only a bone-chilling coldness but also an incredibly sharp aura in the air. And though Tang San''s body was somewhat stiff, he still swung the wind des in his hands.


    Two cyan-green lights descended from the sky, merging into one and instantly forming a gigantic wind de that forcibly sliced through the coldness. It did not make the slightest sound, but it left a ck trail in the air as it headed straight for Wu Bingji''s head.


    It wasn''t just Wu Bingji who had improved.


    Now that he had acquired a fifth bloodline imprint and fully absorbed the power of Feng Xiong''s bloodline, Tang San''s progress couldn''t be less than Wu Bingji''s, could it?


    Having reached the pinnacle of the fifth tier with the Wind Wolf bloodline imprint, Tang San had further advanced in controlling the wind element, not to mention the physical strength enhancement brought by the Golden Roc Transformation, which significantly increased his resistance to ice elemental energypared to two days ago.


    Du Bai mentioned that his ssmates had named the highlypressed wind de Tang San used "Wind God''s Cleaver.�� These three words inspired today''s strike.


    The coldness brushed past him, but the burst of wind at that moment forcefully blew away the concentrated coldness.


    The gigantic wind de almost instantly reached the top of Wu Bingji''s head.


    Wu Bingji reacted immediately upon sensing the danger, with the icy path under his feet almost instantly shooting out. His improved understanding of the ice element allowed him to deploy it faster than before.


    He flew forward along with the spread of the icy path, while an ice shield formed over his head.


    <i>Ice shield, as expected...</i>


    The ice shield shattered almost instantly, not even having time to explode, as Tang San''s Wind God''s Cleaver descended from above.


    However, the surrounding bone-chilling coldness still affected his speed. The Wind God''s Cleaver barely missed Wu Bingji, grazing past his back and striking the ground.


    A fine crack appeared on the floor, and the area around it took on a dark hue immediately.


    Wu Bingji grunted, and a line of blood appeared on his back. Even his ice elemental physique couldn''t withstand the aftermath of the Wind God''s Cleaver.


    Tang San''s movements didn''t stop. He was well aware that considering the gap in cultivation, the longer the fight with Wu Bingjisted, the more disadvantageous it would be for him. The continual drain from the cold would only increase.


    The Wind God''s Cleaver did not explode like his other wind des. Instead, it stayed true to shape as he spun around, swinging it like a whirlwind-powered saber.


    The wind de finally left his hand, spinning rapidly as it headed straight for Wu Bingji.


    While charging forward, Wu Bingji had already turned around. Ice walls rose before him, only to be cleaved apart one after the other by the terrifying wind de, leaving him in a chaotic state.


    However, each time an ice wall was split, it would instantly explode and shatter, using the explosive force to push back the attack.


    But in the next instant, Wu Bingji realized something was amiss.


    For the wind was howling!


    The high-speed Wind God''s Cleaver suddenly exploded into a fierce tornado. This tornado was not just wind power; it also carried the ice debris resulting from Wu Bingji��s own ice walls. Like innumerable sharp des blown by the wind, the pieces of ice surrounded him.


    "Wha..." Wu Bingji, shocked, could hardly believe his eyes.


    In the next moment, he could only curl up into a ball and release his elemental energy to its fullest, turning himself into an ice sculpture to withstand the blizzard from all directions.


    Not only were the students stunned, but so were the teachers.


    Mu Enqing''s mouth twitched, and he wanted to intervene several times. But he couldn''t bear to interrupt such a spectacr fight.


    The speed and ferocity of the battle between Tang San and Wu Bingji were so intense that it left the spectators without even a moment to breathe.


    When the Wind God''s Cleaver exploded into a tornado, Mu Enqing felt his scalp tingle. <i>What kind of spiritual power does he have that he can control wind like this?</i>


    Tang San did not continue his assault, and he looked somewhat pale. Wu Bingji, amidst the ice tornado, appeared on the verge of copse as the ice he wrapped himself in was being sliced like an onion. He kept reinforcing his ice armor, as if he was a damsel in distress facing a brute who was shredding her clothes only for her to bring out more and moreyers of clothing.

 Chapter 98: A New Challenge

    <h4>Chapter 98: A New Challenge</h4>


    Tang San took a deep breath, calming his restless energy. This series of attacks had not depleted his Mysterious Heaven Technique��s power significantly, but they had drained him mentally. He had skillfully used the Discerning Eye to control the wind element, but that was very taxing.


    Wu Bingji''s recent insights into the ice element hade under his guidance, so he naturally had an idea about how to counter Wu Bingji''s newly acquired ice element energypression and explosion abilities.


    Wu Bingji''sprehension was exceptionally high, and his foundation was solid. His control over the ice element had significantly increased in just two days. Coupled with the gap in their cultivation, defeating him was not easy for Tang San.


    In addition, Wu Bingji possessed an ice elemental physique, while Tang San did not have a wind elemental physique. The nature of the Mysterious Heaven Technique meant that no matter what tier he reached, he couldn''t have an elemental physique. Of course, while this ability greatly enhanced elemental control, Tang San''s future direction was not solely about elemental control. He couldn''t abandon his other abilities just to maximize this one aspect.


    As the ice and wind tornado gradually dissipated, Wu Bingji reappeared before everyone, his face pale and his chest heaving visibly.


    He looked at Tang San incredulously, "You used my power against me?"


    His most tremendous shock came from the fact that within the high-speed rotation of the tornado, he couldn''t control the ice element wrapped up by the tornado. Tang San��s clever scheme had turned his own power into a part of the attack against him.


    This was truly terrifying. Tang San''s tactical control abilities were even more potent than he had imagined. He was now fully confident that Tang San had held back during their previous battle. If his junior brother had attacked him like this, he wouldn''t have been able to withstand it.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Let''s call it a draw today. Senior brother, are you still giving me those five demonshard coins?"


    "Here you are." Wu Bingji, far from being discouraged by his near loss to Tang San, was invigorated, immediately tossing five ice-attributed demonshard coins to Tang San.


    "I''lle to see you again tonight! Can''t take the money for nothing," said Wu Bingji enthusiastically.


    "Okay, good." Tang San nodded as he epted the coins.


    Tang San had no aversion to guiding Wu Bingji. Wu Bingji had a good temperament, was dedicated to cultivation, and was intelligent and insightful.


    With the experience of three lifetimes among talented people, Tang San never hesitated to guide such people. Moreover, humans were too weak on the Daemon Continent, and helping them be stronger was a good thing no matter how he looked at it.


    Only at this moment did the other studentse to their senses. They looked at Tang San and then at Wu Bingji, their faces filled with disbelief.


    The day before yesterday, Tang San lost. Although he had shown great strength, he still lost! So how could it be a draw only two dayster? And they could see clearly that today''s eldest brother was stronger than the other day��s eldest brother. But still, it was only a draw.


    ��Aren''t you all humbled? Have you seen what truebat is? That instant burst, and using the opponent''s strength to boot, is the ultimate application of one''s abilities. This is a textbook example of fighting. This match was too splendid," said Mu Enqing as he apuded.


    Two practicalbat lessons and Tang San had brought him surprises both times, each more impressive than thest. How toment on this fight? He didn''t know. He couldn''t find any ws or know what advice to give.


    Wu Bingji''s progress was apparent, especially in making his solid ice walls explode and shatter, and his integration of offense and defense showed great potential. As for thepression of ice elemental energy, Mu Enqing had never seen him do anything like that.


    Such progress in just two days was certainly rted to the previous battle, and it seemed to result from consulting with Tang San. This was even more impressive!


    <i>This Tang San, really...</i>


    Looking at him with new eyes didn''t seem enough. He was a freak, a rarity. Could a nine-year-old child achieve this? He found it hard to believe.


    "Teacher, I want to challenge Tang San," blurted Gu Li.


    Chrono Crocodile, Chrono Croc Transformation. A second-tier bloodline. Among all the students, Tang San valued his bloodline power the most.


    Gu Li''s eyes were zing as he looked at Tang San. He was thinking about control, the essence of control!


    <i>Is time an element? I don��t think you can call it an element. But in a sense, it''s not much different, just more magical.</i>


    Gu Li had always known his Chrono Croc Transformation was powerful. His mastery over the mysteries of time control him a key figure for cultivation by the teachers from the moment he arrived here.


    But precisely because of the power of the Chrono Croc Transformation, controlling time proficiently was extremely difficult for a human without a strong Chrono Crocodile bloodline.


    He had arrived only a yearter than Wu Bingji and was only a year younger. Yet Wu Bingji had already reached the sixth tier, while he remained at the fourth tier, his progress exceedingly slow.


    Enhancing his bloodline by soaking in the blood of a demon of the same attribute was nearly impossible. Not only were members of the Chrono Crocodile n scarce, but each Chrono Crocodile was a mighty entity. Even the power of the Redemption Society could not procure Chrono Crocodile blood for him.


    Today, when he saw Wu Bingji''s enhanced control over the ice element during the fight with Tang San, his thoughts stirred. Would fighting Tang San offer him some insights into mastering elemental control?


    Moreover, he was confident he would not be at a disadvantage fighting Tang San. The reason was simple: his time control almostpletely suppressed any elemental controller.


    <i>Come on, this has to work. Tang San, you''repressing the wind elemental energy, but what if I pause you in time for a moment? The best case scenario would be that concentrated energy turning chaotic. Worst case, it��ll just go boom! If I pause time while your wind des are in flight, can you continue to control them? Can your spiritual power still connect? There��s no way you can do that.</i>


    So, although Tang San had fought Wu Bingji to a draw, Gu Li remained confident in himself. He believed that among everyone here, he was the one who could best counter Tang San.


    Tang San looked at him, seeing the longing in Gu Li''s eyes.


    "You can rest for a while; I''ll wait for you," Gu Li said.


    Mu Enqing asked, "Tang San, are you willing to ept Gu Li''s challenge?"


    "Alright, no problem," replied Tang San.


    Of course he agreed. His heart felt a burning desire. He had been coveting Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation since the very first moment he had found out about it. Now that the opportunity presented itself, he wouldn''t be polite! Even without a slot for the bloodline imprint to merge, he could just give up his heavy armor ability. Compared to the Chrono Croc Transformation, the Ironhide Shield was not just a little inferior; the gap between them could not even be put into words.


    Sitting cross-legged on the spot, Tang San meditated in silence, recovering the spiritual power he had just expended.


    Initially, after arranging to meet Tang San, Wu Bingji had prepared to continue reflecting on his shorings in battle and his control over the ice element. However, upon hearing that Gu Li wanted to challenge Tang San, he immediately understood Gu Li''s intentions.


    He and Gu Li had fought each other before. When they were at the same tier, Wu Bingji had suffered quite a bit at Gu Li''s hands. But once he acquired his ice element physique, Gu Li never stood a chance again. Gu Li''s attacks couldn''t break through his ice element physique. While Gu Li''s time control could indeed render his ice elemental attacks chaotic and uncontroble, the cold nature of the ice element meant that in a prolonged battle, once Gu Li''s time control was exhausted, he would eventually be frozen solid by Wu Bingji.


    <i>So, what about Tang San? The wind element is much more active than the ice element and even more challenging to control. The better Tang San controls it, the more troublesome it will be if it��s disrupted. There''s no doubt that Gu Li''s abilities are a counter to his. So, how will Tang San face Gu Li? And how will he maintain control over the wind element?</i>

 Chapter 99: Battling Against The Chrono Croc Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 99: Battling Against The Chrono Croc Transformation</h4>


    Instantly, Wu Bingji''s interest significantly increased, and without further thought, he quietly waited along with everyone else.


    Tang San had already be the center of attention among the students in just two practicalbat sses.


    Mu Enqing called the other teachers over and recounted Tang San''s performance to them.


    When they heard his story, Mu Yunyu was visibly surprised, while Guan Longjiang called Wu Bingji aside to inquire about the details. Si Ru appeared the calmest, but his gaze never left Tang San.


    The students and even these teachers were eager to see how Tang San would face Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation.


    After resting for about fifteen minutes, Tang San stood up again, his eyes regaining their sparkle.


    Wu Bingji''s mouth twitched when he saw this; in all fairness, he hadn''t meditated, but he was still far from fully recovering, so how had Tang San gotten himself together so fast? "Hey, what''s the deal with you? You''ve recovered in just fifteen minutes?"


    One of the best features of Tang San''s Mysterious Heaven Technique was the endless vitality it generated, and the battle with Wu Bingji hadn��t deplete much of his physical energy anyway. Moreover, his Discerning Eye offered him strong spiritual recovery. Naturally, he didn''t need much time.


    "Senior brother Gu Li, we can start now."


    "Okay."


    Under the watchful eyes of the four teachers and fourteen other students, Tang San and Gu Li stood twenty meters apart.


    "Ready!" Mu Enqing still served as the referee.


    Lights began to ascend from both of them, and Gu Li''s eyes instantly took on a somewhat ethereal quality.


    Looking into his eyes, Tang San felt he could see both the future and the past. <i>This Chrono Croc Transformation is interesting!</i>


    Gu Li''s body began to transform. In addition to the time maniption ability, the Chrono Croc Transformation granted him substantial defenses as well. After all, crocodiles were armored creatures.


    Naturally, a green light emanated from Tang San''s body. Stimted by the Wind Wolf bloodline imprint, his body was enveloped in swirling green light.


    "Begin!" With Mu Enqing''smand, this unique battlemenced.


    Without any hesitation, Tang San flicked his hands, sending two wind des flying straight at Gu Li.


    Gu Li charged toward him withrge strides, and as a light shed in his eyes, the time flowing around them momentarily distorted.


    In that instant, Tang San felt like everything had frozen��aplete suspension of time and space. The wind des in the air halted, as did he. Even his breathing and blood flow ceased momentarily. His heart skipped half a beat.


    Unaffected, Gu Li continued his strides toward Tang San.


    The next moment, Tang San returned to normal, but the two wind des he had thrown were now erratic, veering off their intended path.


    At that moment, Tang San released two more wind des from his hands while tapping the ground with the tip of his foot, shifting directions and flying backward instead.


    By then, Gu Li had already charged a few meters forward, confident that the initial wind des no longer threatened him. He prepared to charge a few more meters to gain control.


    However, the wind des Tang San threw for the second time were incredibly fast, and their target was not Gu Li but the first two wind des he had released.


    The subsequent wind des collided with the ones ahead of them, creating an eerie scene. The wind energy of the four wind des merged, and they transformed into two in midair. Driven by the momentum of thetter des, these two stronger des shed straight at Gu Li!


    At this moment, Gu Li had just charged out five meters, taking his fourth step.


    Caught by surprise, he had no choice but to use the time control of Chrono Croc Transformation again, forcibly bringing everything around him to a standstill.


    Meanwhile, Tang San, supported by the wind, had already flown backward a few meters, widening the initially closed gap.


    As the effect of Chrono Croc Transformation expired, Gu Li advanced a few meters while Tang San retreated further, moving diagonally backward. At the same time, two more wind des flew out.


    The two wind des, formed from the previous four, were about to explode. But in an instant, they were caught up by the twoter ones, stabilizing again. Their power increased even more, and they still pursued Gu Li.


    This control left Wu Bingji, who was watching, dumbfounded. His mind was filled with only one thought: <i>How...is this possible? But...it really is possible!</i>


    These past few days, he had thought that he had discovered the essence of element control, and he had a good direction to move forward. But seeing Tang San manipting wind in such a ridiculous way, he realized that what he thought he knew was just the tip of the iceberg.


    Gu Li was also startled as the twice-impacted wind des were now closer to him. Although he had great confidence in his defense, he had witnessed Tang San slicing through nine ice shields with the Wind God''s Cleaver. He dared not directly confront such a mighty technique.


    All the students of the Redemption Society had apletely different understanding of Tang San''s wind despared to ordinary ones.


    Gu Li was forced to activate the Chrono Croc Transformation again, causing time to pause.


    Tang San and his wind des froze in ce. Gu Li''srge tail whipped fiercely on the ground, propelling him forward at an elerated pace.


    The moment the time freeze was lifted, just as Tang San was about to retreat and release more wind des, the void-like shimmer in Gu Li''s eyes flickered again, deploying another time freeze.


    He didn''t give Tang San another chance to release and merge wind des in the void. Preferring to expend more energy instantly, he hastened to catch up and deliver a heavy blow to Tang San.


    Even Mu Enqing was impressed by this tactic. The sudden change in the rhythm of the battle was executed very well.


    Indeed, the twice-frozen wind des, not receiving any replenishment, finally dissipated. And Gu Li finally reached Tang San. To save time, he didn''t even bother to use his tail for an attack, instead lowering his head and charging directly at Tang San''s chest. Simultaneously, he deployed his third consecutive time freeze right when Tang San had just been released from control.


    Triple move��this was the limit of what Gu Li could achieve. Such rapid and continuous use of his ability significantly increased the rate at which his bloodline power was consumed.


    Finally, his head collided with Tang San''s chest. In this instance, no matter how strong Tang San''s abilities were or how high his control of the wind element was, he could not escape. He could only be struck. This was the terrifying power that this formidable second-tier Demonic God Transformation brought his opponent.


    Compared to Wu Bingji, Gu Li''s cultivation was far inferior; he was only at the fourth order, while Wu Bingji was at the sixth. Tang San himself was around the middle of the fifth order, so he was in-between. However, Gu Li''s continuous tactical use of his abilities nullified Tang San''s advantages, restraining him and closing indirectly.


    <i>Thud! </i>


    Gu Li''s head harshly collided with Tang San''s chest.


    The teachers were all prepared to intervene. To almost everyone, Tang San was the type who excelled in long-range attack but had a weak defense, amon perception of wind element users.


    The wind element improved speed, and wind des had strong cutting power; its characteristic was freedom and unpredictability. However, it was notably weak in defense. Even if one could form a wind shield, it couldn''t have the defensive solid power of an ice shield, not to mention that Tang San didn''t have time to create one in the first ce.


    However, just as Gu Li''s head collided with Tang San''s chest, he suddenly felt a sucking force from Tang San''s torso. His head hit Tang San square in the chest, but Tang San wasn''t directly knocked away.


    Tang San''s chest and abdomen seemed to cave in, but at the same time, Gu Li could feel that the hit wasn''t solid.


    Then, he felt the pulling force.


    It was a chilling feeling. Having used the time-freeze ability of Chrono Croc Transformation thrice in session, Gu Li''s bloodline was at its most turbulent and significantly depleted state. As Tang San devoured his energy, Gu Li felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, his muscles weakened, and the sh felt as if he was hitting a big pile of cotton rather than a human ribcage.


    To others, Gu Li��s head appeared to collide with Tang San��s chest and push him backward, helpless to resist Gu Li��s momentum.

 Chapter 100: Victory!

    <h4>Chapter 100: Victory!</h4>


    Tang San''s time freeze ended at this moment. Almost instantaneously, his handsnded on Gu Li''s shoulders. Then, with phantom-like steps, he rapidly retreated several paces with Gu Li, twisting his upper body and hurling Gu Li away.


    <i>Bang! </i>


    Gu Linded seven or eight meters away, rolling on the ground a few times before struggling to get up. Hisplexion was pale as paper, clearly a case of excessive bloodline power depletion.


    Yet, Tang San''s expression remained unchanged. He straightened his clothes, and the next moment, a wind de was once again forming in the palm of his hand.


    <i>What just happened? Why does it look like he wasn''t injured, even though he was hit? </i>


    Even the teachers, including Mu Enqing, were a bit confused. At the moment of collision, both parties'' bloodline powers and auras had been interacting chaotically, and the point where they became entangled was Tang San''s chest.


    As the wind de in Tang San''s hand deepened in color, Gu Li spoke without hesitation, "I-I concede."


    Due to having used his ability three times just now, and also due to the sudden, uncontrolled depletion of his bloodline power, it was a tall order for him to use the Chrono Croc Transformation now. <i>If I don��t quit and I let him hit me with that, it��s going to be a problem.</i>


    Guan Longjiang frowned slightly, deep in thought. There was nothing wrong with Gu Li''s mode of attack. <i>How did it turn out that after sessfullynding a hit, he was still defeated by his opponent?</i>


    How could he know Tang San had been prepared when Gu Li tried to close in on him?


    When Gu Li collided with him, Tang San hadn��t activated his heavy armor ability, the Ironhide Shield, but he had concentrated the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique on his chest and abdomen. The fifth-order energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique provided formidable protection. Furthermore, by employing the Tang Sect''s unique Controlling Crane Catching Dragon, he directly grabbed Gu Li, absorbing some of his bloodline power, then repelled him using the same technique.


    Gu Li''s Demonic God Transformation was powerful, but his cultivation level was far inferior to Tang San''s. With Tang San''sbat experience, divine consciousness, and the insight of a God King, it was almost impossible for an opponent of the same order to defeat him.


    Thus, Gu Li was defeated. Right now, he was sitting on the floor, experiencing a solid bout of utter confusion.


    On the other side of the room, Tang San was experiencing something entirely different. As he absorbed that strand of Gu Li''s Chrono Croc bloodline power, the gradually forming bloodline imprint made him feel a trace of the power from his past life.


    Yes, it was a feeling very familiar to him.


    The mysteries of time, among the most profound mysteries in the universe, filled him with immense joy at this instant. While basking in this feeling, he decided without hesitation to rece the Ironhide Shield with the Chrono Croc Transformation.


    Once this second-tier Chrono Croc Transformation was integrated, even though it might only be around the third order in terms of power, what it could bring him was not just an additional ability to control time. It would greatly aid his understanding of the world and allow him to touch upon even higher-levelws. This was far, far more significant than the effects of the Golden Roc Transformation.


    After integrating the Golden Roc Transformation and listening to Guan Longjiang''s exnation about the orders of Demonic God Transformations, Tang San''s understanding of this world had deepened. Different tiers of Demonic God Transformations were not just variations of a single ability. Although all were called Demonic God Transformations, the bloodlines of different tiers resonated with the world inpletely distinct ways.


    After integrating the Golden Roc Transformation, his body had transformed, enhancing his ability to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and giving him an increasing sense of integration with this world.


    This ne of existence cherished higher tiers of bloodline power, which was the ultimate reason for the supremacy of bloodlines in this world. The more powerful the bloodline he absorbed, the more he felt this way. Therefore, his future direction of improvement was to pursue both his own cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and the tier of his bloodline.


    Undoubtedly, the Redemption Society provided him with this convenience. Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation and Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc Transformation were powerful bloodline powers. And then there was...


    Tang San walked back to Du Bai and smiled at him. Du Bai gave him a thumbs-up.


    <i>The Celestial Fox is the only first-tier bloodline in the Redemption Society! Even if the owner is only at the third order, it��s still a first-tier bloodline.</i>


    The match between Tang San and Gu Li ended quickly and was not as thrilling as his battle with Wu Bingji. However, after watching this match, the teachers were somewhat silent. They almost unanimously acknowledged that Tang San''s practical experience was vibrant. <i>To think that this child is only nine years old.... What kind of ridiculous talent does he have forbat?!</i>


    Si Ru''s jealousy grew increasingly intense. He envied not Tang San��s prowess, but the luck of a particr mayor.


    The practicalbat ss continued, but Mu Enqing didn''tment on Tang San''s two fights today. He was somewhat unsure how to critique them. Both Wu Bingji and Gu Li had performed exceptionally well today, yet Tang San had still led both of them by the nose. How to instruct them was a problem. Even under his guidance, could they defeat Tang San?


    ss ended, and the teachers left together.


    Tang San didn''t return to his room but went straight to Wu Bingji.


    "Senior brother," Tang San said with a smile.


    "Do we talk now?" Wu Bingji''s eyes brightened. For him, Tang San was a treasure trove.


    "I want to take on a task from you. The mayor teacher has already agreed. I can take on any task other than sparring," Tang San said.


    "Alright, let''s go," Wu Bingji said, leading Tang San back to his ce. A curious Du Bai followed Tang San as well.


    Du Bai, in fact, greatly envied Tang San. Although his bloodline was the unique first-tier, his cultivation was only third-order. He wasn''t good atbat and severelycked physical strength. He didn''t have to participate in the practicalbat sses, but it wasn��t like he never had any desire to. He had to admit to himself that as he watched his colleagues with good fighting prowess, he longed to be among them.


    They arrived at Wu Bingji''s residence, and he took out the task list again.


    "What type of task do you want to undertake?"


    "Other than sparring tasks, which tasks earn the most money?" Tang San inquired.


    Wu Bingji raised an eyebrow. ��Actually, all types of tasks are more or less simr, and the ie depends on the task''s difficulty. The higher up the list, the more challenging the task. But you also need to consider your capabilities! Like this hunting task, for instance.��


    As he spoke, he pointed to the demon beast hunting task list and said, ��The ie from hunting Winged Tigers in the Kali Mountain Range is very high. Demonic beasts from the tiger race are all valuable in their entirety, every single bit of them. If we can hunt one down, the reward is huge. Actually, the reward for an adult tiger is at least ten naturae coins, and mind you, I said <i>at least</i>. But even a young Winged Tiger has fifth-order strength, and adults can reach the seventh order. They��re also very fast and agile, so they are really tough to catch. High risk, high reward.��


    Tang San nodded. "Okay, let''s go with this task."


    "Um. What?" Wu Bingji looked at him in astonishment, "What did you say? Do you want to take on the task of hunting a Winged Tiger? Did your head get injured during sparring today? You should know that in the forests, thebat power of the Winged Tiger is even greater. That''s their home ground. You''re only fifth-order! No, no, this is too dangerous for you."


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "Well, as you said, how can you get a high reward if you don��t take a high risk? And I never thought of doing it alone! Senior brother, let''s do it together! We can also call a few other senior brothers and sisters. It might work out. We can even ask a teacher to protect us in secret."


    Du Bai, listening, couldn''t help but interject, "Hold on, if you do it like that, is it still considered your task?"


    "No, but who cares?" Tang San replied. "I have no intention to take all the benefits for myself. But think of it, these dangerous tasks have much better rewards than the easier ones. Look at those tasks for hunting lesser demonic beasts, they only pay one or two aetherhorn coins. The difference between naturae coins and aetherhorn coins is just too great. Even if I only get one naturae coin, it��s a lot better use of my time than hunting a bunch of low-level demonic beasts. Why not go for it?"

 Chapter 101: Convincing the Teacher

    <h4>Chapter 101: Convincing the Teacher</h4>


    Wu Bingji said, "So what do you want to do?"


    Tang San replied, "First, we need to form a small team where everyone''s abilitiesplement each other. We shouldn''t have too many people, because otherwise there will be too little profits for each of us. Then, we''ll go together to hunt for the Winged Tigers. If we find them, we''ll hunt them down. A teacher can supervise us from the side and intervene if there''s danger."


    Wu Bingji frowned. "Teachers won''t interfere in these tasks; we can only rely on our abilities."


    "Leave that to me. I''ll find a way to convince the teacher. If the teacher agrees to just apany and secretly protect us, not actually help us, it should be eptable, right?"


    "Of course. But will the teacher agree?" Wu Bingji asked doubtfully.


    "Leave it to me.�� Tang San was confident.


    After leaving Wu Bingji, Tang San told Du Bai to return to his room, then headed to Mu Enqing''s residence.


    The Redemption Society''s campus was small, so there were no offices for the teachers.


    He knocked on the door, but Mu Enqing hadn''t returned yet. The teachers had probably gone out together for whatever reason.


    Tang San wasn''t in a hurry and just waited at the door.


    About half an hourter, Mu Enqing finally returned. Surprised to see Tang San at her door, he asked, "Are you looking for me?"


    "Um, hello, Teacher Mu. I have an idea about the practical training ss I''d like to discuss with you," Tang San said respectfully.


    "Come in," Mu Enqing nodded.


    The teachers had actually been discussing Tang San''s abilities inbat. If it weren''t for the very thorough investigation into Tang San''s background, they would have found it extremely suspicious that a nine-year-old child had such immense talent inbat. It was almost against the natural order!


    But the facts were in and clear before their eyes, leaving them no choice but to believe. In fact, Si Ru was nning to look for Zhang Haoxuan again, feeling that this child held great promise.


    Mu Enqing was the most frustrated one. As a practical training teacher, he felt useless in front of little Tang San. How could he teach this child anything aboutbat? Mu Enqing''s expertise wasn''t in elemental control, and even Guan Longjiang and Si Ru couldn''t figure out how to instruct Tang San in this aspect.


    After closing the room door, Tang San respectfully approached Mu Enqing.


    "What are your thoughts? Let''s hear them," Mu Enqing said, sitting down.


    Tang San said, "Teacher Mu, now that I participated in both the physical training sses and thebat ones.... I think there is a problem with our practical sses."


    "Oh?" Mu Enqing looked surprised at the child. "What problem?"


    Tang San unhesitatingly said, "The problem is that they��re not very realistic. In actualbat, our lives would be in actual danger. I think that our potential can only really show when we face this kind of danger. For example, when I was in Wind Wolf Town, I was attacked by some Wind Wolves while I was outside and I nearly died. But after that experience, my understanding of the wind element became much, much better. So, I think practical training sses should expose us to more danger so we can make greater progress under that pressure."


    Mu Enqing''s eyes lit up. "Are you saying that your deep understanding of the wind element is because you''ve experienced life-and-death situations? But you��re only nine, how many experiences like that could you have?"


    Tang San said, "I guess it''s been...twice?"


    Mu Enqing nodded. "Well, that''s because of your highprehension. Even if an average person experiences the same thing twice, they might not have the same realization as you."


    Tang San responded, "If twice is not enough, then three times, and if that��s not enough either, then we can do it even more. You know, after these things happened, I first felt fear. Then I started to think about many things. I mean, it��s hard to forget a fight that almost got you killed. And because I had those experiences, I didn��t want them to happen again. That made me cultivate more seriously and think up more ideas to get stronger."


    Mu Enqing asked, "Then how do you think we should conduct our practical training sses?"


    "I''ve seen the mission list from the eldest senior brother. It includes hunting demonic beasts. It��s like sparring with people at the academy, but there��s a bigger risk of death and it wouldn��t expose our identities as members of the Redemption Society. So I actually thought that we could form teams to hunt demonic beasts, and have a teacher secretly protecting us. But unless there is a risk to life, even if we are seriously injured, teachers should not intervene. This would allow us to feel the pressure of facing strong enemies in realbat. I believe this method would be more effective."


    "Hmm," Mu Enqing''s eyes showed contemtion. The Redemption Society did have simr practical training sses, but these were usually led by a teacher who would guide them at all times and intervene at critical moments. It was rare for students to go out on their own, and if that happened, it was . After all, the Redemption Society had only a handful of students, each carefully selected and extremely valuable to the institution.


    The potential fatal danger to any student was a significant blow to the academy, so the teachers were always cautious.


    ��I am just worried that there might be danger," murmured Mu Enqing.


    Tang San spoke seriously, "Teacher Mu, flowers grown in a greenhouse won��t do well when they are exposed to the wind and sun. On the day I arrived, the mayor told me that we have a long and tough journey ahead of us if we want to help the human race. So we have to put in as much effort as we can. Also, as I said, teachers can follow us in secret and do something only if there''s a real danger to our lives. That makes sense, doesn��t it?"


    Mu Enqing said, "I need to think about this. Do you have a specific n?"


    "I just talked about it with the eldest senior brother, and we think we can pick a somewhat difficult task and organize a small team to hunt. That��s why we hope that at least one teacher can be there to protect us in secret. Only the eldest senior brother and I would know about the teacher''s presence; the others wouldn''t. As long as we canplete the task ourselves, the teacher doesn��t have to intervene. They can just watch over us secretly. As for the reward, we can share half with the teacher. If the teacher ends up intervening to save us, we can even give the teacher eighty percent. It''s all part of our training."


    Mu Enqing responded, "That''s a solution. I''ll discuss it with Teacher Guan. I''ll let you know tomorrow if it''s feasible."


    "Okay, thank you, Teacher," Tang San said, taking his leave immediately.


    As he reached the door, he paused, turned back, and earnestly told Mu Enqing, "Teacher Mu, I really think that if we don��t face these kinds of challenges where our lives are in danger, we can��t really grow strong."


    Tang San left, leaving Mu Enqing deep in thought. The words that struck him most were Tang San''s about flowers in a greenhouse being unable to withstand wind and rain.


    This was not the case for most human vassals; let alone being kept safe in a greenhouse, their very survival was constantly threatened. However, due to theircking innate talent, even though they had plenty of stimulus and made all the efforts they could, their growth was ultimately limited.


    <i>But the children at the Redemption Society Academy were carefully chosen by the organization for their potential to be strong. Should these children, then, not face risks? Without the pressure of life-threatening danger, can their growth indeed be smooth?</i>


    This question had also been troubling several teachers, and for good reason��those with the most talent among these children were also the slowest to improve. This was true for both Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation and Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation.


    The problem was that such bloodline powers were too precious; who would dare to gamble with them?


    Taking a deep breath, Mu Enqing stood up, intent on discussing this issue with Guan Longjiang.


    As Tang San left Mu Enqing''s room, the corners of his mouth curled up into a smirk. He knew he had most likely seeded in persuading the teacher. Actually, it was already evident from Mu Enqing''s expression at the end of today''sbat ss. At that time, he had noticed a clear hint of disappointment in Mu Enqing''s gaze.

 Chapter 102: The Cleansing of Time

    <h4>Chapter 102: The Cleansing of Time</h4>


    <i>When there��s noparison, there��s no injury to one��s pride.</i>


    Tang San, a neer, shone in the twobat sses, overpowering all other students almost with <i>ease</i>; even Wu Bingji, the senior brother, couldn''t defeat him. Gu Li, with his exceptional talent, lost as well. Tang San had practically schooled all the students of the Redemption Society, and there was no one who wasn��t convinced by his abilities.


    This made the teacher responsible for thebat sses question his own teaching methods. Naturally, Tang San''s suggestions for thebat ss struck a chord in such times.


    After dinner, Tang San returned to his room to cultivate alone. Today''s cultivation held particr significance to him.


    His understanding of devouring bloodline imprints was slowly improving, and Tang San realized that the powers of the imprints he devoured but did not integrate into his energy vortex would gradually dissipate. The time they remained in his body varied depending on the tier of the imprint.


    This meant that, apart from the positioned bloodline imprints, no matter how many types of imprints he absorbed, they would all gradually disappear until they werepletely gone. And he had just made the decision that he no longer needed the Ironhide Shield!


    The allure of the Chrono Croc Transformation was too great for him, and Tang San had a hunch that its integration would truly change his understanding of this world.


    The tier of the Ironhide Shield was not high, and its order was low as well. Tang San didn''t really mind discarding it, as it wouldn''t affect his overallbat strength by much, only slightly weaken his defense. By contrast, if he put the Chrono Croc Transformation to good use, he could get far greater results than anything Gu Li could achieve.


    Tang San''s spiritual power was significantly more potent than Gu Li''s. Although time could not actually be described in terms of elements, Tang San''s memories made the attributes of time very clear to him. To control time, strong spiritual power was essential. The bloodline power he had devoured from Gu Li could, at most, provide him with a third-tier Chrono Croc imprint rather than the second-tier original. Even so, with his mighty spiritual power, the effect he could achieve and the abilities he could use would undoubtedly be iparable to Gu Li''s.


    Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Tang San focused inwardly, observing the five imprints he already possessed.


    The Wind Wolf Transformation imprint was still the most prominent among the five imprints. Although it wasn��t all that high-level, being only a fourth-tier demon bloodline, after absorbing the entire bloodline power of the Wind Wolf chieftain, Feng Xiong, it had reached the pinnacle of the fifth order with no room for further advancement. Tang San would need to cultivate his Mysterious Heaven Technique to the sixth order and devour a sixth-order Wind Wolf��s bloodline power to improve further.


    In addition, the remaining four imprints were the fourth-order sh Leopard imprint, the third-order Ironhide Shield, the fourth-order Discerning Eye, and the second-order Golden Roc Transformation.


    Each of the five abilities had its strengths, but the bloodline tiers of the first four were rather low. After all, there hadn''t been any opportunities to strengthen them, apart from the Discerning Eye.


    Tang San now had an idea: if the Demonic God Transformations he imprinted were the abilities of the gifted students from the Redemption Society around him, then evolving these imprints wouldn''t be an issue. As long as his ssmates'' strengths progressed, he could advance. This approach was much easier than searching for demons to devour and absorb.


    Take Cheng Zicheng, whose Golden Roc Transformation was at the fourth order. Although Tang San had only absorbed enough to give him a second-order imprint, he would eventually reach the fourth order through regr interaction and gradual absorption. If Cheng Zicheng advanced to the fifth order, Tang San could naturally achieve it, too.


    Therefore, helping Cheng Zicheng in her cultivation was essentially helping himself.


    Simrly, Wu Bingji''s Ice Nymph Transformation was already at the sixth order. If Tang San devoured his bloodline imprint, he could at least gradually rise to the peak of the fifth order and reach the sixth order once he broke through in his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. In fact, he could push his cultivation to advance by devouring Wu Bingji''s sixth-order bloodline power.


    The only issue currently was theck of space for new imprints.


    The Wind Wolf Transformation''s ability was absolutely irreceable at this point. He had to continue using it, lest he risk revealing his full abilities.


    Tang San highly valued the Leopard sh ability, which gave him speed akin to teleportation. Although the bloodline tier of the sh Leopard n also wasn''t high, merely the same tier as the Wind Wolves, the Leopard sh ability was incredibly handy. The sh Leopard bloodline imprint only seemed less powerful because it didn��t give him any other abilities.


    The seventh-order Shan Ling had demonstrated considerable strength in Wind Wolf Town. Therefore, Tang San was reluctant to give up Leopard sh, at least not until he found a better option. In the future, he nned to see if Leopard sh could be merged with other Demonic God Transformations to produce a favorable mutation.


    The Ironhide Shield, being the least used, was his choice for recement. Its defense was decent, but it was only at the third order. Given Tang San''s Mysterious Heaven Technique and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his defensive needs weren''t that great. He initially nned to absorb defensive bloodlines from other types of demons for fusion and strengthening, but discarding it now was worthwhile for the sake of the Chrono Croc Transformation.


    The potential for growth of the Discerning Eye went without saying. Tang San had already decided to get some of the Celestial Fox bloodline power from Du Bai, even if it was only at the first order, to try to fuse it into that imprint. If that failed, he would find a way to reconstitute the Discerning Eye. Then, he could try absorbing Wu Bingji''s bloodline to prepare for his breakthrough to the sixth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    There was not much to say about the Golden Roc Transformation; the ability to fly was just too important. He would absorb bloodline power from Cheng Zicheng, elevating his Golden Roc Transformation to the fourth order.


    The arrangement of the five bloodline imprints was well-settled. Tang San''s path for the future was bing increasingly well-defined. It wasn''t just about elevating himself; he also needed to find ways to help thosepanions whose bloodline powers he had absorbed to improve as well. This mutual development strategy would enhance their collective strength and benefit everyone involved.


    Wu Bingji''s perception was exceptionally high. Under Tang San��s guidance, his understanding of the ice element had been elevated to a new level. Breaking through to the seventh order in the future was well within reach. Thus, the same applied to others; wherever he could assist, he would. Although Tang San was no longer the God King he once was, his insights were far deeper than those of the Redemption Society''s teachers, making him a far superior mentor to these students.


    Under the influence of Tang San''s spiritual power, the Ironhide Shield was gradually stripped away from his energy vortex. Then, with great care, Tang San drew over the white light orb representing Chrono Croc Transformation, integrating it in the empty position.


    He had managed a rather intense bout of bloodline energy absorption today. The opportunity arose from Gu Li using the Chrono Croc Transformation ability three times in session, which brought his bloodline fluctuations to their peak and at the same time drained his spiritual power. Thus, Tang San could afford to be more forceful with his absorption without being noticed, elevating the Chrono Croc Transformation to the third order. Though it was only the initial level of the third order, it was still quite powerful.


    The Chrono Croc Transformation slowly merged into the vortex, and the white imprint gradually stabilized.


    Suddenly, it was as if something exploded in Tang San''s mind. Everything around him seemed to slow down in that instant.


    Even the bloodline fluctuations within his body and the operation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique became slower.


    In the deepest depths of Tang San''s sea of consciousness, a point of golden light, as small as a needle''s tip, flickered in and out of existence. The flickering rate seemed to fluctuate, suddenly elerating at times and then slowing down again, causing Tang San''s mental power to fluctuate unstably with it.


    Various strange epiphanies continuously emerged in his mind; this was the essence of time.


    Had someone else experienced such a change, they might have risked mental breakdown. But not Tang San. As a former God King, he had a unique understanding of the mysteries of time. In addition, his son and grandson in that life also possessed powerful abilities rted to time, and he had closely watched their growth. Calming himself down, he silently experienced the passage of time, feeling as though his body and spirit were being cleansed.

 Chapter 103: Teaming Up!

    <h4>Chapter 103: Teaming Up!</h4>


    He was being cleansed by the river of time that washed everything away.


    As the sensations of distortion and sluggishness gradually faded, Tang San suddenly felt as if his body had be much lighter.


    Indeed, it was a feeling of lightness. Even his previously somewhat emaciated physique seemed to have filled out a bit. His spirit, energy, and soul feltpletely transformed.


    His cultivation level had not increased, nor had the strength of his body. Yet, the feeling was unmistakably different.


    After quietly contemting his condition for a while, Tang San''s gaze revealed a hint of unusual surprise. He now understood what had happened to him.


    As he merged with the Chrono Croc Transformation imprint, the gentle cleansing of the river of time had cleansed him of the aura of his past life.


    Due to that bit of his divine consciousness, he had kept his memories after reincarnating on this ne. Yet, it was this precise method that led to the ne rejecting him as an outsider. Now, thanks to the level of his divine consciousness, the river of time had not erased his memories, but it <i>had</i> changed his aura. As a result, this ne automatically acknowledged his existence.


    His body felt lighter because the suppression of this ne had almost disappeared. The ne no longer wanted to expel him.


    It wasn��t that the ne no longer rejected outsiders or that he was no longer an outsider. Rather, the Chrono Croc Transformation, in a sense, had concealed him from this ne. It made the ne unable to sense that he was different from the other beings here.


    The effectiveness of this concealment would gradually diminish as his cultivation level increased. However, as long as the Chrono Croc Transformation could keep up with his progression, it would continue to conceal him.


    Now that he was freed from the suppression of the ne, the most significant benefit for Tang San was that he could better absorb the spiritual energy of this world for his use, allowing him to cultivate and improve himself more efficiently.


    <i>Undoubtedly, the benefits are immense,</i> Tang San thought. Just as he had anticipated, the fusion of the Chrono Croc Transformation had brought about a qualitative change in him.


    If one were to ask which of the five major Demonic God Transformation imprints within him would remain untouched in the future, it would be the Chrono Croc Transformation. He naturally wouldn��t swap it with something else, and it also couldn''t be merged with other bloodline powers to produce mutations. A mutation could improve the imprint��s effects, but it could also cause whatever was masking his aura from the ne to disappear, and he could not take that chance.


    A smile formed at the corner of his mouth. <i>Yes, this was definitely the right choice,</i> he mused.


    He exhaled a long breath. Then he returned to a meditative state, absorbing the increasingly rich spiritual energy from the air, continuing his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Mu Enqing''s efficiency wasmendable. The following day, he called Tang San and Wu Bingji to his office, informing them that the academy had approved their proposal. They were allowed to form a group for realbat. The specifics of the arrangement were left to them, with instructions to keep it confidential from other students. They did not know that a teacher would secretly follow and protect them during the mission.


    As they left Mu Enqing''s office, Wu Bingji''s gaze toward Tang San changed once more.


    <i>This kid is too damn capable,</i> he thought. <i>He managed to make the academy make an exception overnight.</i>


    "Are we choosing that one?" Wu Bingji asked Tang San in a low voice.


    "Yeah, let''s go with that one. It''s good; high risk, high reward," Tang San nodded without hesitation.


    "How did you convince Teacher Mu?" Wu Bingji asked.


    Tang San smiled and replied, "I just told him the academy''s practical sses aren''t enough. Without a life-or-death test, it''s hard to get everyone to reach their potential. By the way, why didn''t youe to see mest night?"


    "Yesterday, I meditated and entered the state alone. I feel like my understanding of the ice element has deepened further. I should thank you. Since our talk that day, my cultivation has felt particrly good, as if I''m gaining new insights daily."


    Tang San gave a thumbs-up."Well, senior brother, that��s just because yourprehension is great!"


    "Let''s not talk about this now. Who do you n to bring if we��re going to hunt a Winged Tiger? How many people should we organize for our team?"


    "We don''t need arge group. You and I, senior brother Gu Li, senior sister Cheng Zicheng...oh, and let��s also bring Du Bai. The five of us should be enough."


    "W-What?" Wu Bingji looked at him, dumbfounded. "Just the five of us? Do you think we can defeat a seventh-order Winged Tiger?"


    Tang San shrugged. "You can''t just look at the order of the Winged Tiger. Besides, I''ve already told Teacher Mu we are taking this mission to get experience. Should we bring everyone and gang up on it? Having more people isn''t really better. I mean, the more people we have, the more chaotic things will get. It��s going to be difficult tomand them and if more people have to be rescued, the teacher might not make it. I��d say fewer people make for better training. As long as we cooperate well and our abilities work well together, we can deal with a higher-order demonic beast.


    ��Also, I really told the truth to Teacher Mu. The reason I want to try fighting a Winged Tiger isn''t just for the money, but also because it can really help us get stronger. Don''t you want to advance to the seventh order? How can you do that without pressure? You��ll be the main attacker in our group, so you��ll also get the best experience and insights. Senior brother Gu Li can control the battlefield and senior sister Cheng Zicheng can do the scouting and fly in to rescue people if necessary. They will both be really useful."


    Wu Bingji said, "That��s fine, but what''s the deal with Du Bai? Why bring him along? With his little strength, a Winged Tiger could kill him with a single p."


    With a hint of mischief in his eyes, Tang San said, "Heh, but don''t forget the power of the Celestial Fox. He is our academy''s mascot. To hunt a Winged Tiger, we first have to find one. Luck is also crucial! Having him as our lucky charm is not a bad idea, don��t you agree?"


    Wu Bingji''s mouth twitched slightly. In the end, he said, "But there''s one issue I don''t know if you''ve considered. Leaving Zicheng and me aside, Du Bai and Gu Li are the two with the top-tier bloodline talents in the academy. Even though their cultivation progresses slowly, the academy''s focus on them has never changed. Would the teachers agree to let the two of them go out with us?"


    Tang San said, "It should be fine. We have teachers secretly protecting us, after all."


    Wu Bingji was helpless "You''re quite something, aren��t you? But they have to be willing to go, too."


    Tang San said confidently, "Leave it to me. I''ll convince them."


    Tang San''s method of persuasion was not difficult; he first approached Du Bai.


    "Eldest senior brother and I are going on a hunting mission. The academy has approved it, and we are taking you with us."


    "You��re taking me? What for? I don��t think I can help you with anything" Du Bai looked in surprise at Tang San, who��to his shock��seemed quite serious. For some reason, he found Tang San more agreeable today, as if he had grown taller.


    Tang San earnestly said, "No, no, no, you can do it! Your Celestial Fox Vision will be of great help to us. We need you."


    Du Bai was momentarily stunned, feeling a rush of excitement. <i>They need me. They...need me! </i>


    As the academy''s weakest, the feeling of being required for the first time was... just fantastic.


    "Alright! I''m in!"


    "Okay. We''ll notify you when we leave."


    Then, Tang San went to find Cheng Zicheng.


    "Sister Zicheng, big brother Bingji and I are preparing for a hunting mission. He hopes you can join us but he��s too shy to ask. So, I''m asking on his behalf...will you join us?"


    "I''m in!" Cheng Zicheng''s eyes sparkled.


    Finally, Tang San approached Gu Li.


    "Brother Gu Li, I have something to discuss with you."


    Gu Li looked at Tang San with a puzzled expression. He noticed something different about his junior brother, as if thetter was suddenly more pleasing to the eye. "What is it? We have a ss soon. Make it quick."


    He was still a bit down from his defeat to Tang San yesterday.


    Tang San said, "Here!"


    He extended his hand toward Gu Li, showing an aetherhorn coin in his palm.


    "What��s this?" Gu Li didn''t ept it, looking at him in confusion.


    Tang San exined, "Brother Gu, eldest senior brother and I are nning a hunting mission. We''d like to invite you."


    "Is this payment?" Gu Li asked, puzzled. An aetherhorn coin wasn''t <i>that </i>precious, but it was still not something people would just randomly hand out.


    Tang San shook his head, "It''s not a payment, but a deposit. If you agree to join us on this mission, I''ll teach you how to defeat brother Zhang Zebin when we return. If my method fails, you can take this aetherhorn coin aspensation; if it works, you can give it back to me. Obviously, you''ll have a share in the mission''s rewards."


    "You can teach me how to beat Zhang Zebin? How is that possible?" Gu Li said incredulously. Zhang Zebin was tough and resilient. Although Gu Li could gain the upper hand in the early stages of a fight, he found it impossible to maintain that advantage. Aside from Wu Bingji, Zhang Zebin was his most challenging opponent. As long as Gu Li was unable to break through his defense, all efforts were futile!


    Tang San shrugged and replied, "The day I first came here, did you think I could fight eldest senior brother to a draw? Also, I put my money where my mouth is, no? I��m giving you a deposit."


    "Alright! Let''s give it a try."


    Gu Li finally epted the aetherhorn coin.


    With this, the five-person team was, theoretically, ready to set off.

 Chapter 104: Are You Out of Your Mind?

    <h4>Chapter 104: Are You Out of Your Mind?</h4>


    "What? A Winged Tiger? Are you out of your mind?" Mu Enqing almost jumped in disbelief as he looked at Tang San and Wu Bingji standing before him.


    Wu Bingji looked at Tang San with a sense of helplessness in his eyes as if to say, <i>See, I knew it would be like this.</i>


    Tang San, however, remained calm and seriously said to Mu Enqing, "Teacher, aren''t you there to watch over us in secret? What''s the point of choosing a target that we know for sure we can beat? Because the opponent is powerful, we can feel the pressure and get better. Our cultivation levels aren��t really there yet, but if we coordinate well, then we can definitely take on a seventh-order opponent."


    Although Mu Enqing had been persuaded by Tang San the day before, he hadn''t expected Tang San to be so audacious as to set his sights on a Winged Tiger.


    "Kid, do you realize what a Winged Tiger is? An adult Winged Tiger is seventh-order, but eighth-order ones exist as well. Hell, they can even reach the ninth order if they��re lucky and they cultivate long enough. Can you predict what order the Winged Tiger you encounter will be? These creatures can fly, and their flying speed is quite formidable. If you can''t fight it, you won''t even be able to run away. Choosing a Winged Tiger isn''t training; it''s more like trying to die an early death. You say you��ve gathered some teammates, did they agree to this?"


    Tang San responded calmly, "It would be hard for them to agree considering I haven''t told them which demonic beast we will hunt. They''ll find out when we find it."


    ��......��


    Mu Enqing''s gaze toward Tang San changed significantly, reflecting a mix of surprise and admiration. <i>You''re such a daring child. At nine, you''re setting out to y the Winged Tiger. What will you do at neen? Challenge the Ancestral Court?</i>


    Just then, a stern voice came from outside. "Your bravery is admirable, yet bordering on folly."


    Guan Longjiang strode in, his gaze sharp as he looked at Tang San. "Truly the fearlessness of the young and inexperienced. Are you not afraid that this is a march toward death?"


    Tang San replied, "We will take good care. Besides, aren''t the teachers secretly protecting us? You can''t just reap the benefits without risk. I don��t think any truly strong person became strong just thanks to luck. Teacher Guan, this is a shortcut to awaken everyone''s bloodline power, and awaken it fully. There are risks, of course, but as long as we are careful and well-prepared, I am very sure that we can manage."


    "Nonsense, do you expect all the teachers to apany you? We might as well do thebat training at the academy and beat you up ourselves, why wait for a demonic beast?" Guan Longjiang retorted, clearly annoyed.


    At that moment, another voice spoke up. "Let them go."


    Guan Longjiang and Mu Enqing turned their gaze toward the source. It was none other than Zhang Haoxuan: the person in charge of the Redemption Society branch here, the mayor of the academy town, and��most importantly��their superior.


    With an odd expression on his face, Zhang Haoxuan approached Guan Longjiang and Mu Enqing. "Tang San has a point. Hard pressure is a critical path for stimting the growth of our youth. Perhaps our conservative approach is exactly why their growth has been so slow. Each of them possesses unique talent. We''ve been exploring how to utilize these talents, but what do we have to show for it? Our organization has umted knowledge over the years, but you and I know the pace of this umtion is too slow. At this rate, it might take centuries for humanity to secure a space for survival. If we, as the predecessors, don''t take risks, how can we create a better living space for our future generations?"


    His arrival was a surprise to everyone but Tang San. Actually, before even approaching Mu Enqing, Tang San had already visited Zhang Haoxuan and shared his thoughts.


    Unlike Mu Enqing and Guan Longjiang, Zhang Haoxuan knew of Tang San''s potential and multiple abilities. As the overseer of the entire academy town, he had a more far-sighted perspective. Finally, as Tang San��s master, Zhang Haoxuan had much more faith in him than the other teachers had.


    "But..." Guan Longjiang was still hesitant.


    "I''ll go with them. Even if we find a ninth-order Winged Tiger, I won��t have any problem protecting them." Zhang Haoxuan waved his hand, preventing further objections. ��This is a critical attempt. If it seeds, we can adapt it for the Academy��s teachings. Little Tang is right in that the flowers that grow in a greenhouse would not be able to survive wild winds and heavy rains. They will be the core talents of the Society in the future. They need to be trained, and they need to be trained <i>now</i>.��


    Well, the mayor was the mayor. He had the final word. What else could be said if he himself apanied the group for the mission?


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at Tang San. ��When do you want to start?��


    Tang San replied: ��Let��s do it tomorrow. I have researched with Senior Brother Bingji about the natural habitat of Winged Tigers in the mountains. It is pretty far away, so searching would take some time. If we were to make preparations today, we can leave tomorrow.


    Zhang Haoxuan pressed on. ��How many people would be going?��.


    ��I have already chosen the members for the team. Including eldest senior brother and I, we have a total of five. I think that if our abilitiesplement each other well, we don��t need more people. If there are too many, it��s going to be difficult to coordinate, and if we need help, it��s also going to be difficult for you to help us at the same time.��


    ��Alright, then. We will depart first thing tomorrow morning.��


    When Tang San and Wu Bingji had left, Guan Longjiang looked at Zhang Haoxuan, saying, ��You really dote on your disciple. To think you��d allow him to mess around like this! What if something bad happens?��.


    ��If anything happens, I will take full responsibility,�� Zhang Haoxuan said with no hesitation.


    Guan Longjiang said helplessly, ��Well, I guess all we can do is be careful. You��ll also have to prepare. Although demonic beasts are unable to reach the god level, you��ll still need to be vignt.��.


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head. "You absolute armadillo! Sometimes, you are just too cautious. I��ll be honest, I really felt Tang San''s words. To do extraordinary things, to allow these children to confront the demon and nymph ns in the future, we can��t just train them in theory. If we don��t test those theories in real life, then what��s the point? Even if there are casualties along the way, as long as the final result is good, the experience we gain is precious, and it''s all worth it."


    Guan Longjiang smiled and retorted, "That''s easy to say, but it hasn''t been easy for us to umte this much power and these great students! Anyway, you''re the boss, so I''ll listen to you. Should we invite Elder Si toe along?"


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head. "No need. We need him to stay here and take care of things. There might be trouble if he leaves this area."


    sses, cultivation, meals, cultivation. The day hurried by.


    The team members confirmed by Tang San silently left the academy early the following day and gathered at the mountainside.


    Wu Bingji, naturally, was the team leader.


    The five took advantage of the faint dawn light and quietly headed toward the Kali Mountains.


    Wu Bingji led the way, followed by Gu Li. Cheng Zicheng activated her Demonic God Transformation and flew low above them. Du Bai was in the middle, with Tang San bringing up the rear. The five of them were very familiar with the path, so they entered the mountain range and quickly disappeared into the jungle.


    As the morning sses began, Guan Longjiang suddenly realized that things were off.


    "Hey, what''s going on? Where are Du Bai and Gu Li?"


    He hadn''t asked Tang San and Wu Bingji yesterday about who they were taking with them. In his view, his good disciple, the senior brother of the academy, was always calm and wouldn''t act recklessly. They were going to hunt a Winged Tiger, so they would naturally choose the strongest students as teammates.


    But, early this morning, as sses began, he discovered that was not the case at all. In addition to the two stars, Cheng Zicheng, Du Bai, and Gu Li had also left.

 Chapter 105: Let鈥檚 Make The Arrangements

    <h4>Chapter 105: Let��s Make The Arrangements</h4>


    Whether it''s the Golden Roc Transformation, Chrono Croc Transformation, or Celestial Fox Transformation, they were basically the top talents among the students. Yet, there wasn''t even a single fifth-order among them.


    Two fourth-orders and one third-order with zerobat ability.


    <i>What''s going on? What are Tang San and Wu Bingji thinking? Do they know that if something happens to Du Bai and Gu Li, the headquarters will tear them apart?</i>


    Talent-wise, Du Bai and Gu Li were not only the top students here, but also among the top in the entire Redemption Society and had the greatest expectations ced on them. Why had they been sent to Kali City? Because it was far from the central authority and rtively less likely to encounter problems!


    <i>And now they��re out hunting powerful demons beyond their level! What if they die? Who will take responsibility? Even Zhang Haoxuan can''t handle that responsibility!</i>


    Guan Longjiang panicked at the academy.


    When Zhang Haoxuan, who was secretly following, saw that the five quietly climbing the mountain were these five youngsters, he was also stunned. He knew that Tang San was the leader of this mission, but this disciple of his was just too damn daring.


    Taking Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li was one thing. They were both fourth-order with unique abilities, and Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation was powerful in terms of battlefield control. But why bring a mascot? Du Baicked both physical prowess andbat ability. Forget about him helping them, could they even take care of him in a fight?


    In fact, Guan Longjiang and Zhang Haoxuan were not the only ones surprised. Right before the team set off, Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng were also stunned to see Tang San bringing Du Bai along.


    Of course, they didn''t say anything, because they were unaware of the exact goal of the trip. In their minds, since even Du Bai was brought along, the demon they were hunting couldn''t be <i>too</i> strong.


    Wu Bingji, who was leading the way, felt a bit nervous. He could vaguely guess what kind of reaction his own master, Guan Longjiang, would have upon learning about theposition of their team for this mission.


    <i>Little Tang, oh Little Tang, if it weren''t for that icicle control technique you promised me, I wouldn''t have joined you in this reckless adventure!</i>


    Wu Bingji''s only reassurance was Zhang Haoxuan''s secret protection. <i>The mayor is a ninth-order powerhouse; with him taking care of us from the shadows, this mission should be safe, right? Right?</i>


    The group progressed quickly. This wasn''t a physical training session; everyone could use their Demonic God Transformations and had no additional weights. In addition, having trekked the mountain range many times over, everyone knew the path rather well.


    Quickly, they passed through the umbre-covered area and gradually delved deeper into the Kali Mountains.


    "What''s our target this time?" Du Bai asked, somewhat out of breath. His stamina was still a weakness.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Let''s keep a little mystery. You''ll naturally know once we see it. Let''s discuss tactics for dealing with demons as we walk."


    Wu Bingji turned around and asked, "What''s your n?"


    Although Tang San was young, his two real battles with Wu Bingji and his victory over Gu Li earned him the recognition of his peers for his ability to control the pace of the battle.


    Tang San said, "If we encounter a demonic beast, senior brother, you will be the main force. You need to block the beast''s attack head-on. While you do that, you must also use the ice element to slow it down and disrupt its movements, so it cannot use itsbat strength properly.


    "Senior brother Gu Li, your task is the most important. While eldest senior brother is blocking the demon, you need to find the right opportunity to use the Chrono Croc Transformation to hold it still and create an opportunity for us. We can handle even stronger demonic beasts if you control the Chrono Croc Transformation well.


    "Senior sister Cheng Zi, you are in charge of scouting, and we��re counting on you especially to detect if groups of demonic beasts are approaching us. We can easily handle individual beasts, but encountering a group would be a problem. Your scouting is vital. And once the battle starts, you must harass the demonic beast that the senior brother is blocking. You need to protect and help him.��


    "What about me? What''s my role?" Du Bai hurriedly asked Tang San.


    Tang San said, "Your role is also significant. Your Celestial Fox Vision can observe destiny, and we will need you to use it to choose the best direction for us. During the battle, you must also use the Celestial Fox Vision to guide destiny, ensuring luck is on your side. I will choose a safe location for you, and you just need to control destiny from the shadows."


    The most substantial ability of the Celestial Fox Vision was to control and guide destiny. Such a unique attribute was something Tang San had never seen in his previous life.


    Destiny is an elusive concept, often called the "will of heaven" in mundane terms. The Celestial Fox Vision''s ability to observe and guide destiny may initially seem insignificant, but its impact, especially at higher levels, was incredible. This was why the Celestial Fox Transformation was considered a first-ss bloodline power. The Celestial Fox Great Demon Emperor was, in fact, one of the three most influential characters among the demon and nymph racesbined.


    This was why Du Bai was so highly valued.


    Naturally, at lower levels, the destiny guided and observed by the Celestial Fox Vision was limited, and its effectiveness was minuscule. Additionally, Du Bai��sbat ability wascking at best.


    But having some ability was better than having none. After years of cultivating and umting numerous resources, Du Bai still possessed a third-order Celestial Fox Vision, so he could definitely provide some assistance.


    Other students had never really felt Du Bai to be helpful, since he was by far the weakest inbat. However, Tang San''s perception was different.


    Since Tang San arrived at the Redemption Academy, Du Bai had almost subconsciously been around him. Apart from the time spent cultivating in their rooms at night, Du Bai actually spent most of his time around Tang San. This in itself indicated something significant.


    This child of destiny gravitated toward him, and it was clearly not because he could detect Tang San''s divine consciousness, something even Si Ru couldn''t do. No, it was undoubtedly because he could vaguely sense Tang San''s destiny power and drew close to Tang San so he could borrow from thetter��s destiny.


    Du Bai had told Tang San more than once that he hoped to be his guardian. Du Bai had never shared this with anyone else, and yet he had expressed this idea to Tang San just days after meeting him. Du Bai could subconsciously sense Tang San''s potential, a part of the Celestial Fox Vision''s effect. Du Bai himself might not have fully realized this, but his subconscious still made him feel close to Tang San.


    Therefore, from Tang San''s perspective, Du Bai could indeed sense destiny, follow its course, and guide changes in fortune. Having him along was very much like having a mascot, serving the purpose of attracting good luck and averting misfortune.


    Du Bai''s decision toe with them without hesitation was not just based on trust; after all, they had known each other for only two days. Where could such faithe from so quickly? Apart from the joy of being acknowledged, it was because he could feel that being with Tang San would bring him the favor of destiny.


    Thus, while the teachers might not have noticed, Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision gradually influenced his life trajectory. With his keen perception, Tang San noticed this, which was why he decided to bring Du Bai along.


    The people Tang San had called out this time were those he hoped would improve their cultivation and help him improve his in turn. Tang San intended to grab Du Bai��s Celestial Fox Vision sooner orter, with Wu Bingji''s Ice Nymph Transformation as an alternative. He already had Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc Transformation and Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation, so he was going for the full collection.


    Cultivating them was akin to cultivating his abilities. Why not go for it?


    With the stability he had now and the recent enhancement of his strength, Tang San was gradually regaining a sense of control over his own destiny, something he had been sorelycking in this life.

 Chapter 106: Going Into The Mountains

    <h4>Chapter 106: Going Into The Mountains</h4>


    Neither Mu Enqing, nor Guan Longjiang, or even Zhang Haoxuan realized that Tang San��s words were unusually persuasive when he argued his point.


    Normally, the teachers wouldn''t have let him go after the mighty Winged Tiger, since they were well aware of the risks involved. The fact that they agreed was actually thanks to Tang San��s divine consciousness. Although he had yet to find anything that could directly strengthen it and it was stillcking quantity-wise, with the growth of his spiritual power and the nourishment it provided to his divine consciousness, it started to imbue some of the qualities of a God King to his sea of consciousness.


    Tang San��s growth had truly elerated after he sessively integrated the Golden Roc Transformation and the Chrono Croc Transformation. And this hunting expedition for the Winged Tiger was an opportunity for him from several points of view: acquiring resources for cultivation, earning money, helping his teammates improve, and improving himself.


    They walked until midday, and Du Bai was already feeling dizzy from fatigue, so they decided to rest.


    The Kali Mountains were vast, and even those with good Demonic God Transformations would take up to two weeks to cross the mountain range.


    They found an open hillside with a good view and rested. They took out their dry food and water to replenish their physical energy.


    Leaning against a tree trunk, Du Bai rubbed his legs, saying, "I''ve heard that when the Celestial Fox n travels, they are surrounded by numerous guards and powerful beings. They ride in carriages pulled by mighty demons, covering the sky and followed by rainbows. You know, as an inheritor of the Celestial Fox Transformation, asking for a litter isn''t too much, right? That way, we could move faster."


    Cheng Zicheng, standing atop a tree branch and surveying the surroundings, retorted, "What nonsense are you thinking about? A litter? If you can''t keep up, we might as well leave you behind as food for the demons. I think they��d find you pretty tasty."


    "Zicheng, why are you always so heartless toward me? Are you acting like this when I��m around because you��re secretly in love with me? If that��s the case, just say it. Who knows, I might actually consider giving you a chance," Du Bai said, grinning cheekily.


    Gu Li''s mouth twitched, "Looks like you''re not tired enough if you still have the energy to spout crap. You��re still a kid, what do you know about love? Zicheng is right, you''re just talking nonsense."


    "Senior brother, look at them. They''re all bullying me. Aren��t you going to do something about it?" Du Baiined to Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji, who was studying the map with Tang San, nced back at Du Bai with an eyebrow raised. "Be quiet."


    "Yes, sir." Du Bai immediately shut his mouth, looking aggravated.


    Tang San couldn''t help but chuckle. This guy was a real mascot��not only was he a lucky talisman, but also quite a character.


    "We are here right now, and if we keep going in this direction, we will enter their habitat in about a day and a half. But the area is vast. Generally, they like to move around mountain streams, guarding water sources," Wu Bingji exined, pointing at the simple map in his hand.


    Tang San nodded. "Then we''ll continue to move in that direction. Let''s see what happens as we go."


    Wu Bingji raised his voice. "Everyone, we have now entered the active area of demonic beasts. We could encounter any one of them at any time. You must be careful and stay on guard."


    "Hmm..." Tang San observed the surrounding mountains. The mountains were lush and green, with few bare spots, and even on the cliffs, there was vegetation. The rich spiritual energy of this world indeed made it suitable for the growth of various life forms.


    After resting for a while, just as they were about to set off again, Du Bai suddenly frowned and rubbed his eyes.


    Tang San had been observing him, so these minor gestures did not escape his attention.


    Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision was only at the third order, meaning he couldn''t see changes in destiny but only had a weak sense of it. Even the teachers at the academy didn''t know how to use the Celestial Fox Vision, as Du Bai was a unique case even in the vast Redemption Society. But Tang San had kept a close eye on Du Bai since the beginning, and now that he knew about the Celestial Fox Vision, he understood: many of Du Bai��s seemingly random actions were in fact subconscious responses to this particr sense.


    Tang San approached him and asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "I feel a bit off. I guess I''m just tired," Du Bai replied with a frown, feeling a bit of soreness in his eyes and an inexplicable sense of oppression in his heart.


    Hearing this, Tang San''s expression turned serious. "Senior brother, be on guard."


    He looked up and met the eyes of Cheng Zicheng, who was high up on a tree branch. Hearing Tang San''s warning, Cheng Zicheng instinctively started scanning the surroundings.


    It was at that moment that the unexpected urred.


    Without any warning, the ground not far from Gu Li suddenly burst open with a bang, and a dirt-yellow spike shot straight at Gu Li''s chest.


    The change happened incredibly fast. Without Tang San''s timely warning, everyone would have been caught off guard.


    But with their alertness instantly raised, both Tang San and Wu Bingji reacted immediately.


    A strong gust of wind hit Gu Li''s side, pushing him sideways. At the same time, an ice shield appeared in front of where Gu Li had been standing.


    With a loud bang, the ice shield was pierced by the dirt-yellow spike and the pieces were flung away.


    The next moment, a figure emerged from the ground.


    It was a somewhat strange-looking demonic beast, about three meters long and with a sizeable dirt-yellow tail. Its entire body was covered in scales, emitting a dirt-yellow halo. As it turned out, this spike-like tail was what hadunched the attack on Gu Li.


    "It''s a Fissure Lizard. Be careful. It''s at least fifth-order,�� Wu Bingji''s voice rang out. He was definitely the strongest among them in terms of theoretical knowledge, and he instantly identified the beast.


    The Fissure Lizard''srge tail mmed onto the ground at that moment. The dirt-yellow light surrounding it suddenly intensified and the lizard merged into the ground, causing the entire hillside to shake as if in an earthquake.


    "Freeze!" Gu Li shouted.


    The violently shaking hilltop suddenly became still for a moment.


    Gu Li��s shout wasn''t because his Chrono Croc Transformation required vocalization, but to alert hispanions.


    This was their first time venturing out together for training, so there wasn''t much coordination among them. Thus, on their way, Tang San had already discussed with everyone that they should call out their abilities when using them so theirpanions would know what they were doing and act ordingly.


    The Chrono Croc Transformation was indeed powerful. Even though this Fissure Lizard was more advanced in cultivation than Gu Li, it couldn''t escape the instant time freeze.


    In that instant of freezing, Du Bai had already moved to the other side of therge tree, while Cheng Zicheng had already taken flight from her tree branch. Tang San and Wu Bingji directly charged towards the fissure lizard.


    This was Tang San''s prior arrangement. In the face of strong enemies, Du Bai was to stay as far from the battlefield as possible, while Cheng Zicheng was responsible for observing the battlefield to see if there were other enemies. Gu Li would assist everyone by controlling the pace of the battle, while Tang San and Wu Bingji took on the opponent. Thetter was supposed to be the one giving orders, but he had benefited just too much from Tang San��s advice and now fully trusted his decisions.


    Tang San had already exined this many times on the road, so everyone now reacted instinctively.


    From Wu Bingji��s hands, his usual icicles flew one after another, heading straight for the lizard. However, what Tang San deployed was not his token wind des.


    He vigorously rubbed his hands before him as he rushed forward. In an instant, his eyes turned a deep green, and with the driving force of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, a gust of wind surged up instantaneously.


    The purpose of this wind was not actually to harm the enemy.


    The icicles arrived first, exploding into ice blossoms on the lizard''s hide. The Fissure Lizard had a formidable defense��most earth-attribute demonic beasts, in fact, excelled at defense. Although the Fissure Lizard was certainly in some pain, it was not truly injured, and it only had some indentations and white spots on the scales where it was hit.


    The ground beneath it cracked open, emitting a yellow glow as the lizard was about to burrow into the earth.


    But at that moment, a green whirlwind swept in, almost instantly lifting the fissure lizard, which had just broken free from Gu Li��s control and was preparing to burrow into the ground.

 Chapter 107: Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!

    <h4>Chapter 107: Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!</h4>


    Yes, Tang San''s wind has arrived!


    The Fissure Lizard was of the earth attribute and it was naturally adept at using the ground to hide itself andunch stealth attacks, an ability known as Earth Evasion. In addition, its hide was tough and it had formidable defenses.


    Many of the earth-attribute demonic beasts were herbivores, but this lizard was a carnivore, preying on various small demonic beasts for food. It was evident why Tang San and his group were targeted. In the eyes of demonic beasts, humans were nothing but a nice, tender meal. Demonic beasts weren''t as intelligent as demons, but their hunting instincts were much more potent. Nearly all demonic beasts were dangerous.


    Earth-attribute demonic beasts relied on the ground for most of what they did; theirbat ability was significantly reduced once separated from it.


    Therefore, when Wu Bingji initiated the attack and Gu Li took control, Tang San''s first thought was to separate the beast from the ground.


    A beast like this, with cultivation definitely at the fifth order or even close to the sixth, was not easy to kill due to its strong defense. Therefore, the first step was to neutralize its advantage.


    The Fissure Lizard couldn��t fly. It thrived on the ground, able to move by Earth Evasion anytime and even attack by harnessing the ground��s power. But once off the ground, it''s not much of a threat.


    When Wu Bingji saw the Fissure Lizard floating in the air, held up by Tang San''s whirlwind, a sh of admiration appeared in his eyes. <i>Such precise judgment!</i>


    He knew that his own judgment was sound, but even he couldn''t have reacted correctly in the nick of time as Tang San had. Otherwise, his best move would have been to use ice spikes to lift the opponent from the ground.


    By now, Tang San was controlling the Fissure Lizard��s levitation at will, and Wu Bingji knew exactly what to do next.


    A trail of ice formed under his feet, and Wu Bingji''s speed surged. He instantly glided beneath the Fissure Lizard.


    "Freeze!" Gu Li''s secondmand came.


    As long as there wasn��t a massive difference in cultivation, the effect of the Chrono Croc Transformation was practically absolute. <i>Who can contend with time?</i>


    Just as the Fissure Lizard tried to resist, it froze again. In the next instant, Wu Bingji''s hands had already struck it.


    Presumably at the peak of the fifth order, the Fissure Lizard had a cultivation level simr to Feng Xiong, the Wind Wolf Lord whom Tang San had killed. However, itsck of intelligence made it far less of an opponent. Actually,pared to demons, demonic beasts were generally weaker precisely because of this. There were exceptions, but they were rare.


    Thanks to his sixth-order cultivation and the enhancement of the sixth-order Ice Nymph Transformation and ice elemental physique, Wu Bingji��s gentle touch instantly caused the lizard to turn into a lizard-shaped icicle.


    The Fissure Lizard, indeed, had solid defenses and was generally resistant to all kinds of attacks. However, faced with this incredible cold, it immediately stiffened.


    At the same time, wind des began to descend from the sky. Eighteen consecutive wind des dropped one after the other, looking like a green bridge in the air.


    Each wind de struck the exact same spot with incredible precision.


    The Fissure Lizard''s defense was formidable; even facing the Hundred Birds Homing Strike powered by wind energy, it withstood until the eighth strike before the scales on its nape were cracked open.


    As it tried to struggle, Gu Li uttered the third "Freeze!" And then...there was no ��then.��


    The head of this formidable Fissure Lizard flew. Blood spurted wildly, staining the solid ice red.


    Its body, over three meters long, fell to the ground. This demonic beast that had cultivated all the way to the peak of the fifth order was now dead beyond doubt.


    The entire battle hadsted only about ten seconds.


    After using Time Freeze three times in ten seconds, Gu Li''s face turned pale, but his eyes were filled with excitement.


    <i>Killed? Just like that?</i>


    In the ordinary human understanding, humans of the same level were inferior to demonic beasts, which in turn were inferior to demons. This was due to the level of their physical abilities.


    Previously, encounters with demonic beasts had been rare for Gu Li and his team. Even when they did ur, battles were almost always under the guidance of a master.


    Today, just a few students had killed a demonic beast evidently stronger than all of them apart from Wu Bingji, and they��d done it very smoothly at that. It was their first time.


    Even Cheng Zicheng, who hadn''t directly participated in the battle but rather observed from the air, was visibly excited.


    <i>How was it so easy?!</i>


    The moment after the Fissure Lizard fell, Wu Bingji immediately turned to look at Tang San.


    Their eyes met, and Tang San gave him a thumbs-up. Wu Bingji smiled and returned the gesture.


    Though Wu Bingji was the most advanced in cultivation in their team, he was well aware that the oue of this battle would have been quite different without Tang San.


    Even with Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation and Time Freeze, stopping the defensively strong Fissure Lizard from burrowing into the ground and scampering away would have been a tall order. However, Tang San''s whirlwind had followed Gu Li��s ability seamlessly, separating the lizard from the ground. Ideally, Gu Li should have handled this alone in order to allow Tang San to focus solely on attacking, but he hadn''t done what he had to do in time. Luckily, Tang San hadpensated for it.


    In any case, this makeshift team had just taken down a peak fifth-order demonic beast in just ten short seconds. That was an indisputable fact.


    The Fissure Lizard was also on the academy''s task list, offering significant rewards��one naturae coin per lizard. Its scales were precious. But it was notoriously difficult to kill, as it would burrow away at the first sign of trouble, making it hard even for the strong to capture.


    Yet today, they had managed to kill one.


    "Amazing," Du Bai eximed, jumping out from behind a tree, his face alight with excitement.


    Having not participated in the battle, he was unaware of the details. In his view, it was naturally the strength of hispanions! The Fissure Lizard had been defeated basically in the time it had taken Gu Li to yell three words.


    "Impressive!" Gu Li said, returning to the group and giving Tang San a thumbs-up.


    He was not stupid by any means, and he could see who had yed the most significant role in the battle.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Actually, the credit should go to brother Du Bai."


    "Him? Why him?" Cheng Zicheng questioned with a hint of dissatisfaction. It was clear that she was regretting not participating in the battle.


    Tang San exined, "Because he was actually the one who detected the enemy! Brother Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision grants him foresight. It��s not all that great because his cultivation is not quite there yet, but when he feels difort, it usually means that there��s some kind of danger approaching. That''s why I told you to be alert just now. Otherwise, that sudden ambush could have injured any of us really badly."


    Gu Li nodded, still somewhat shaken. He hadn''t had time to unleash his Chrono Croc Transformation, and in his normal human form, a strike from the Fissure Lizard''s tail could very well have killed him on the spot.


    Du Bai blinked, questioning his own importance. He wasn''t too sure about it.


    Tang San suggested to Wu Bingji, ��Senior brother, our team is one unit. How about we split all our gains equally once we return?��.


    Wu Bingji looked at him and nodded without hesitation. "That''s only fair. If I remember correctly, the Fissure Lizard is worth one naturae coin.��.


    "Wow, we''re rich, we''re rich!" Du Bai danced excitedly around the Fissure Lizard''s corpse.


    Wu Bingji shook his head in mild amusement and said to Cheng Zicheng, "Zicheng, please keep watch for now. I''ll take care of the Fissure Lizard''s corpse."


    Wu Bingji raised his left hand as he spoke, and only then did Tang San notice a bracelet about two fingers wide on his wrist. The bracelet had intricate patterns and emitted faint energy fluctuations.

 Chapter 108: Little Tang, The Core of The Team

    <h4>Chapter 108: Little Tang, The Core of The Team</h4>


    <i>A storage bracelet?</i> Tang San almost immediately sensed the spatial elemental fluctuations from it. As expected of Wu Bingji! Tang San had been wondering whether they should leave the demonic beast''s corpse for their teacher to collectter, as he didn''t want to reveal his storage bag just like that. As it turned out, the eldest senior brother was well-prepared.


    Wu Bingji had a storage bracelet; a sh of light from the bracelet and severalrge bottles appeared.


    Next, he did something simple: he bled the beast.


    The blood of a demonic beast was one of the most valuable parts of its body. Even diluted, soaking in demonic beast blood could aid the cultivation of demons of the same attribute. It was the same for humans who cultivated the Demonic God Transformation. The blood of a fifth-order demonic beast could fetch a decent price.


    He was letting blood and collecting the corpse. Wu Bingji didn''t ask for help, handling it swiftly. He then stored the Fissure Lizard''s corpse in his storage bracelet and had everyone help clean up the traces on the ground. Collecting the body and erasing the tracks took about half an hour.


    "Let''s rest a bit more before we continue," Wu Bingjimanded the team.


    The rest was mainly for Gu Li, as the three consecutive uses of Chrono Croc Transformation had significantly drained both his spiritual power and his bloodline power. The consumption from such continuous usage was far greater than usual, but the effect was also tremendous.


    Even though they had to rest more than they had expected, everyone''s spirits were high. In less than a day since they had set out, they had hunted a fifth-order demonic beast and earned a naturae coin. The share for each person was substantial, much faster than making money through ordinary tasks. Even if they were to return immediately, it would still be a significant profit.


    Previously, Gu Li, Du Bai, and Cheng Zicheng had been curious about the goal of their mission. But Tang San and Wu Bingji didn''t reveal it, simply telling them they would know when they arrived.


    Now, they no longer asked, as the ease with which they killed a peak fifth-order demonic beast had inevitably boosted their confidence.


    Du Bai even fantasized about hunting ten or eight demonic beasts to make a fortune and buying precious materials to consume, hoping to break through the fourth order.


    Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li were almost as excited as Du Bai, but Tang San and Wu Bingji were much calmer. Wu Bingji pondered how he could have been more useful in the previous battle, while Tang San silently meditated and cultivated.


    He didn''t attempt to devour the demonic beast''s bloodline power. One reason was that the bloodline power of a demonic beast was more chaotic than a demon''s, so it likely wouldn��t be as easy to digest. More importantly, if he did something like that in front of hispanions and the demonic beast turned into a dried corpse, how would he exin it? He didn''t want to arouse their suspicions.


    From the previous battle, it was evident that Wu Bingji and Gu Licked somebat experience. Wu Bingji was somewhat better, but Gu Li was indeed inexperienced. If their coordination was in sync with their current strength, Gu Li would only need one well-timed freeze to allow hispanions to take down the enemy.


    However, this was a good start. Teamwork is not something that can appear just because people want to; it takes time to develop.


    Tang San didn''t say much; at this point, no amount of theory would substitute for actualbat. The demonic beasts they would encounter this time weren��t limited to just one. Since the Fissure Lizard hadn''t exerted enough pressure on them, their understanding probably wasn''t unclear. Once they encountered stronger demonic beasts, their insights into actualbat would naturally be more apparent.


    It was already afternoon when they fully recovered. The five set off again, continuing to delve deeper into the Kali Mountain Range.


    Not long after they left, a figurended on the hillside where they had been before.


    Zhang Haoxuan gazed at their departing figures, a smile ying at the corner of his mouth.


    <i>Good, Tang San''sbat capabilities aren��t disappointing in real life either. What would the battle have looked like if it had been another fifth-order student instead of Tang San?</i>


    They could have indeed coped, given that Wu Bingji was a sixth-order cultivator. But against the Fissure Lizard, the likely oue would have been them being caught off-guard and the lizard escaping, probably after injuring a team member in a surprise attack.


    From the current situation, it seemed that sending them out together on this mission was correct. Tang San''s most significant role was in coordinating the team. With him, the team''s overall strength had clearly risen by a good margin.


    <i>Where could this kid have gotten this kind ofbat experience? Could it be that there really are people born with innate knowledge in this world?</i>


    Zhang Haoxuan thought that in terms of pure bloodline talent, Tang San might not even rank in the top fifty among the young people he had seen. However, regarding overall abilities and temperament, he was a solid second. At least, that was how it seemed for now. He just hoped that Tang San could maintain such a rapid pace of growth in the future.


    All bushcraft enthusiasts know this: in the mountains and forests, there''s never a shortage of food. For those familiar enough with the Kali Mountain Range, surviving in the wilderness was not a problem, especially under the leadership of Wu Bingji. Picking wild fruits and fetching mountain spring water allowed them to hydrate and replenish their energy.


    On their way into the mountains, the number of demonic beasts increased, and at the same time, Cheng Zicheng''s role became more important. Her ability allowed her to do low-altitude reconnaissance, and whenever she spotted groups of demonic beasts, the group would go around them to avoid a sh.


    Du Bai was initially excited about hunting more demonic beasts, but Wu Bingji vetoed his suggestion instantly. Demonic beasts had a ridiculously keen sense of smell. Once the scent of blood was in the air, it could and would attract others. Killing a weaker demonic beast would inevitably result in attracting a stronger one...or more.


    A characteristic of the demonic beasts on the Daemon Continent was that they could not be gods. This was likely rted to their intelligence. Any demonic beast capable of cultivating spiritual intelligence would have transformed into a demon already.


    Therefore, the ninth order was the peak for demonic beasts, and there weren��t many demonic beasts that could cultivate to the ninth order just through their innate physical abilities and bloodline strength. Thus, there weren��t that many powerful beings among demonic beasts.


    Of course, this waspared to the demon and nymph races; demonic beasts were still formidable beings from humans�� perspective.


    As the group moved forward, they asionally took down some weaker demonic beasts. Because they could y them quickly and preserve the body whole, there was less hassle in dealing with them, and if they didn��t process the carcass on the spot, the smell of blood wasn��t that much of an issue.


    The first night arrived.


    They once again found a higher ground and arge tree. Staying in the trees at night was much safer than on the ground.


    They were all a little tired, but the most exhausted was Du Bai, who had the poorest physical fitness. Although he was just traveling without engaging inbat, his small frame still struggled to endure the exertion. Tang San tied him to a thick tree branch with a rope, and the kid instantly fell asleep.


    Cheng Zicheng had spent most of the day flying, with her mind tensely focused on the surroundings, resulting in significant mental exhaustion. She, too, went to sleep early.


    On the other hand, Tang San, Wu Bingji, and Gu Li were not sleepy, so they decided to take turns to keep watch. For the time being, the three sat under the tree, chatting in low voices.


    ��Little Tang, what''s that technique for using icicles you discussed? Since we''re not doing anything, why don''t you tell me now?" Wu Bingji asked with a smile.


    Gu Li looked over in surprise. <i>Whoa, is the eldest senior brother seriously asking Tang San for instruction?</i>


    Their journey today had once more changed Gu Li''s perception of Tang San. The team leader was the eldest senior brother, Wu Bingji. However, since entering the mountain, Tang San had been the one to arrange thebat tactics. In encounters, his responses were the calmest and most urate. Subconsciously, everyone felt that he was the core of the team. And Wu Bingji did not seem to mind this at all.

 Chapter 109: Flicking Dart

    <h4>Chapter 109: Flicking Dart</h4>


    Wu Bingji, seeing Gu Li''s curious gaze, smiled and said, "You should also learn more from Little Tang. His insights into cultivation are quite something. I talked to him a couple of times and I understood a lot more about the ice element. Hmm, but your Chrono Croc Transformation is unique. I don��t know if he can help you, but you could ask anyway."


    Gu Li nodded, his appreciation for this new junior brother growing.


    Tang San asked, "��Well, let��s see. Eldest senior brother, what do you think about the icicle as an attack method?"


    Wu Bingji replied, "It��s a good fit for long-range attacks. It''s about speed, pration, and the number of icicles covering an area."


    Tang San nodded. "Yes, it''s somewhat simr to my wind des. The thing is, since the icicles are solid, their power should be greater than the wind des�� power. The advantage of the wind de is that it��s very versatile. It rotates and moves around easily thanks to the wind element being so free, so it can attack from any angle. But ice spikes are different, I think. I think their best feature is their piercing ability. So the question is, what do you do to improve that?


    ��First, I think, should be the density of the icicle. The morepressed it is, the harder it bes. Thenes the speed. The faster it is, the more energy it carries, which means that its power and its piercing ability are greater. If you work on it enough, you might be able topress the ice energy so much that you create an ice needle as heavy as a big icicle. This way, you��ll be able to pierce through anything as long as you canunch it at a high enough speed. Then, it won��t matter what kind of defense your enemy has, you can just st through it."


    Gu Liughed. "Sounds quite chilling, <i>hehehe</i>! But eldest senior brother must have noticed all these things you mentioned as well, right?"


    "I did, but I only figured out a good way topress the ice elemental energy after he showed me a few things, " said Wu Bingji somewhat helplessly. "Little Tang, so you were saying that to make the icicle stronger, one way is topress its volume as much as possible and make it more solid, and the other is to increase its speed."


    Tang San nodded. "If two icicles weigh one jin[1]each, the smaller one will be more powerful. But that��s up to you to work on. The technique I want to teach you is the second kind, a technique that can help your icicles move faster. This technique will let you merge your physical strength with your bloodline power and infuse it into the icicle. Actually, if you practice enough, you can even add your spiritual power to it. That way, the icicle will have even greater piercing power and even if your opponent tries to dodge, they won��t be able to."


    Wu Bingjiughed. "<i>Haha,</i> sounds impressive! Can you show me?"


    As he spoke, he conjured an icicle in his palm and handed it to Tang San. It was an ordinary icicle, about half a foot long and weighing around half a jin.


    The icicle felt cool but showed no signs of melting in Tang San��s hand. This showed that Wu Bingji��s cultivation allowed him a good level of control over the ice element.


    "Eldest senior brother, watch closely," Tang San said. The next moment, his eyes suddenly brightened, though not with the green of the Wind Wolf Transformation.


    With the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique in motion, Tang San''s entire demeanor instantly changed.


    His gaze was not on Wu Bingji and Gu Li, but both could feel a profound aura emanating from him.


    Tang San became immensely focused at that moment. The icicle in his hand gained an ethereal quality��even though the two could see it clearly, it was as if it wasn��t there anymore. It seemed as if it had disappeared or mergedpletely with Tang San.


    In the next instant, Tang San half-turned his body, using his waist to drive his shoulder and his shoulder to drive his arm as he flicked the icicle in his hand like lightning.


    The icicle vanished in midair, silently disappearing into thin air. Even with Wu Bingji''s cultivation level, he only saw a flicker of light before the icicle was gone. It was over twice as fast as the icicles he usually projected.


    When the icicle flew out, Wu Bingji and Gu Li felt their scalps tingle. In that instant, they could sense the surging bloodline power within Tang San.


    <i>Amazing...</i> Wu Bingji barely had time to process this when suddenly, about thirty meters away, a small tree slowly tilted and fell, making a rustling sound as its branches and leaves collided with the other trees around it.


    Gu Li was left agape. <i>The icicle? Did he snap a tree in half just like that with an icicle?!</i>


    Wu Bingji was also shocked beyond measure. <i>How can one single icicle be this powerful?</i>


    Tang San turned to Wu Bingji, smiling. "See, if you want to have a good long-range attack, then you need to unify your physique, bloodline energy, and spirit into one. That''s the only way you can make it impossible for your opponent to hide. It doesn��t matter how powerful your attacks are, if they don��t hit the target, they��re useless. Fast, urate, ruthless! Physique, energy, spirit! These six words tell you how long-range attacks should be. Senior brother, you can try it for yourself. This technique of mine is called Flicking Dart. It''s notplicated to learn, but it is difficult to master."


    "Flicking Dart, what a good name!" Wu Bingji''s eyes shone brightly. He felt a sense of eagerness, as if he was about to jump right into action.


    Tang San didn''t avoid Gu Li as he detailed to Wu Bingji how to use the Flicking Dart technique and control his force skillfully.


    Wu Bingji listened attentively, and Gu Li also didn��t miss a word. Unlike his eldest senior brother, he couldn��t produce anything throwable using his bloodline ability, but he still gained some insights from Tang San��s force application methods. <i>It was definitely the right decision toe along! </i>


    After Tang San finished exining, Wu Bingji was raring to give it a go. "You two go up and rest. I''ll keep watch for now and I��ll start practicing the Flicking Dart." His body was infused with ice elemental energy; the day''s exertions were nothing to him, and his excitement made him feel not the slightest fatigue.


    "Alright!" Tang San agreed and was about to go up the tree to rest when Gu Li stopped him.


    "Little Tang," Gu Li chuckled, "About that method, you promised to teach me to defeat Zhang Zebin.... When are you nning to teach me?"


    Tang San smiled and replied, "No rush, senior brother. Rest first. We need to maintain our best condition for tomorrow. If everything goes as nned, I''ll start teaching you tomorrow night."


    "Good, then it''s a deal." Through the Flicking Dart, Gu Li was wholly convinced by Tang San. If even the eldest senior brother could learn from Tang San, he could too!


    Wu Bingji practiced until midnight before calling Tang San to take over, and he even demonstrated to Tang San the progress he had made with the Flicking Dart.


    After Tang San offered him some corrections, Wu Bingji contentedly went off to meditate.


    Wu Bingji indeed had a remarkable aptitude. The Flicking Dart was one of the more basic techniques in the Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation of the Tang Sect, and it wasn''t that difficult to learn. With his profound cultivation, he had grasped the essence of the technique overnight, and all that remained was practice.


    The night passed rtively peacefully. When everyone woke up the following day, they found Du Bai had rolled from atop the trunk to the side. <i>Luckily</i>, they had tied him up with a rope beforehand, so he hadn��t fallen to his death.


    They continued on their journey.


    Based on their progress the day before, it would take two more days to reach the main habitat of the Winged Tigers. As for how long it would take to actually find a Winged Tiger, that would depend on their luck.


    The sense of aplishment was quite satisfying. Wu Bingji was no longer as cautious as he had been on the first day. They still avoided groups of demonic beasts, but whenever they encountered lonely ones, they actively engaged inbat, honing their skills and improving their coordination.


    Tang San unquestionably became the core of the group. Wu Bingji delegated authority to Tang San to advise everyone on their coordination.


    They moved with intermittent stops, engaging in battles as much as they could. This slowed their progress but allowed them to take down six demonic beasts, the strongest being fifth-order and the weakest fourth-order. Although they were individually less valuable than the Fissure Lizards, the total gain was substantial.


    Being the top seedlings of the Redemption Society, none of them was stupid. As they engaged in battles under Tang San''s leadership, they gradually developed a tacit understanding.


    1. The jin or catty is a unit of weight measurement used in East and South-East Asia. Historically, it varies between 300-600g, and the modern Chinese jin is 500g. ?

 Chapter 110: Guiding Gu Li

    <h4>Chapter 110: Guiding Gu Li</h4>


    Trust is forged through trials. And with Tang San around, everything seemed to flow smoothly as they went through these trials. He became an excellent facilitator, always appearing where he was most needed and helping unite everyone into a cohesive force.


    In his previous life, Tang San, during his youthful days, was the control system soul master[1] and the soul of his team. In this life, although his ability to control wasn''t as great as before, hisbat experience made leading Wu Bingji and the others an easy task. He could enable everyone to perform at 120% of their capabilities with him there.


    Wu Bingji felt this the most deeply. As the one with the highest cultivation in the team, he could always unleash his power to the fullest in battle, experiencing a thrilling sense ofbat. He even felt as though his strength had improved. But he understood it wasn''t an actual increase in his power; rather, he was able to use his power more effectively under Tang San''s coordination, which was all the more valuable.


    The five found a higher ground to rest as night fell on the second day. Right after dinner, Gu Li approached.


    "Little Tang, <i>heh heh</i>~" Gu Li nudged him, winking and grinning meaningfully.


    After spending two days together, Tang San realized that Gu Li''s personality was actually lively, even though he usually appeared more grounded. Once he was out of the teachers'' sight, his true nature gradually emerged.


    Both Gu Li and Du Bai had the burden of great expectations ced upon them by their teachers. Under this pressure, Du Bai found it particrly challenging to improve. At the same time, Gu Li had at least cultivated his Chrono Croc Transformation to the fourth order, thus facing even greater pressure from the teachers.


    Tang San smiled. "What are you doing, Brother Gu?"


    "You know. Didn''t we agree on itst night?" Gu Li chuckled.


    Tang San, of course, knew what he wanted. Wu Bingji had alsoe over. Although Tang San was to offer advice to Gu Li, the benefits Wu Bingji had received from Tang San were also substantial. Just like Gu Li had drawn some insights from Tang San��s advice to his eldest senior brother, thetter could also gain some ideas from the advice Gu Li received.


    Cheng Zicheng, who was on the treetop, and Du Bai, who hadn''t climbed up yet, also joined them.


    During the day''s battle, Wu Bingji had already started using the Flicking Dart technique tounch icicles. The prating power of the icicles had at least doubled. Combined with thepression of ice elemental energy, the power and range had both significantly increased. This was still considering he wasn��t all that proficient yet. Wu Bingji was confident that if he couldpress the icicles into ice needles in the future, it would be an incredibly lethal technique. Seeing Tang San''s formidable use of wind des, he was very confident that this Flicking Dart technique was the way to go.


    Du Bai and Cheng Zicheng had also found out about what had happened the night before. Seeing Tang San about to guide Gu Li today, they were naturally interested and prepared to listen.


    Cheng Zicheng had also received a few pointers from Tang San, but those were about practicalbat experience unrted to cultivation. At this moment, he looked curiously at the youngest among them, surrounded by his senior brothers, wondering how Tang San would advise Gu Li.


    Tang San told Gu Li, "Brother Gu, your Chrono Croc Transformation ability is powerful. It��s practically absolute, considering that you can even influence those whose cultivation is higher than yours. The strength of your bloodline influences the power of the Chrono Croc Transformation. The inherited bloodline strength... I think there''s more than just one way to enhance it. Increasing the bloodline concentration would definitely work, but for such a rare Demonic God Transformation as yours, it has to be difficult. But there''s another method I think you could try..."


    Gu Li was startled; he had thought Tang San would teach him some techniques to deal with Zhang Zebin, but he didn''t expect Tang San to advise him on cultivating Chrono Croc Transformation. The teachers didn''t have any suitable methods, and they could only advise him to continually stimte his bloodline and enhance it by absorbing spiritual energy. What other suitable methods could he have? Therefore, after hearing Tang San''s words, a hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes.


    Tang San, seemingly oblivious to the change in his expression, continued, "...besides increasing bloodline concentration. Generally, our Demonic God Transformation cultivation involves stimting the bloodline. This makes sense, of course, but the thing is, do we really know exactly how to stimte the bloodline to the maximum? Brother Gu, I think I know where you should start.


    "You know that when you control the Chrono Croc Transformation, you must use spiritual power to stimte the bloodline power. Compared to other Demonic God Transformations, your Chrono Croc Transformation demands more spiritual energy. Time is a mysterious thing, it��s always there but it��s hard to grasp. They say that no one can take a pill for regret, because what��s done can��t be undone. For now, your ability may not reverse time, but it can at least freeze it. In the future, when you grow stronger, you might even be able to make time flow backward. I think that''s the ultimate strength of the Chrono Croc Transformation!


    "With that in mind, you must focus on improving your spiritual power. The easiest way to train it is to use it until it��s drained, even overdrawn. When it recovers, it will improve. You should still cultivate by stimting your bloodline, but at the same time, you should concentrate more on your spiritual power. When your spiritual energy is strong enough, you will also find it easier to stimte your bloodline energy. Basically, I believe the key part of the Chrono Croc Transformation is actually the mental part, not the bloodline part. If you focus on this, you might be able to push your cultivation all the way up to the peak of the sixth order."[/ref]The raws here say ��peak of the ninth order,�� but due to reasons exined in ater chapter, this has been changed to ��sixth.��[/ref]


    Tang San truly valued the Chrono Croc Transformation. Without any teachers around, he didn''t care if others wondered about his numerous ideas; he still wanted to share the proper way of cultivation with Gu Li.


    Enhancing the Chrono Croc Transformation wasn''t just about stimting bloodline energy or merely increasing bloodline power. It required continuous mental stimtion to transform the sea of consciousness.


    To master the essence of time control, nothing was more important than possessing strong spiritual energy or even divine consciousness. Thus, the more powerful the spiritual energy, the more frequently the Chrono Croc Transformation could be used. The bloodline would also undergo a transformative change when stimted by this powerful spiritual energy.


    Upon hearing this, the disappointment in Gu Li''s eyes turned to surprise, "Is it possible to enhance spiritual power just by abusing it?"


    Tang San replied, "It''s kind of a barbaric method, but it��s simple and it works. You might want to try it. This way of cultivating spiritual energy applies to anyone. Du Bai, you could give it a try as well. Strong spiritual power will probably be good for your Celestial Fox Vision as well. Of course, we shouldn''t try this while we��re on a mission. Once youpletely empty your spiritual energy storage, it��ll take you a long time to recover."


    Tang San didn''t mention that this rudimentary cultivation method was only really usable in ces with abundant energy, like the Daemon Continent. Here, the energy of heaven and earth was incredibly dense. After overexerting oneself in such a rich environment, cultivators would automatically absorb energy from the air to replenish themselves, and this was not limited to bloodline energy or physical energy, but also included spiritual energy.


    Before his previous life''s Douluo evolved, this cultivation method would have been somewhat feasible but nowhere near as good as in this world.


    "Once we return, I''ll try it too," Wu Bingji said without hesitation.


    1. Just a reminder that in previous SL installments, soul masters were split into several categories based on their role in abat team��attack system, defense system, control system etc. This ��control�� refers to using long-range and AoE abilities to control the pace of the battle, and it��s different from elemental control. ?

 Chapter 111: Once Again, Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer

    <h4>Chapter 111: Once Again, Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer</h4>


    Previously, he focused more on the perception of the ice element and developed his ice elemental physique , a method continuously guided by Guan Longjiang. However, following Tang San''s advice, he began to trypressing the ice elemental energy and soon felt that his spiritual power was insufficient. Enhancing his spiritual power would undoubtedly greatly benefit his control over the ice element.


    "Thank you, Little Tang," Gu Li sincerely nodded.


    Tang San smiled and said, "No need to thank me. It was just an idea. I practice this way, and I think you can tell that my spiritual power is pretty good."


    Naturally, no one here doubted his spiritual power. How could it be possible to control the wind des to such an extent without immense spiritual power?


    Tang San said, "Alright, next, I''ll start teaching you how to defeat senior brother Zhang Zebin."


    "Ah?" Gu Li was momentarily stunned, thinking that the spiritual power cultivation method mentioned earlier was what Tang San had intended to teach him.


    Ignoring his surprise, Tang San walked down the slope. Shortly after, he returned with a vine and a stone.


    "What is this for?�� The other four asked curiously.


    Tang San didn''t exin but simply squatted on the ground and started wrapping the stone with the vine. Soon, the stone was tightly bound, leaving about two meters of vine.


    Tang San gestured to the four, "Step back a little. Senior Brother Gu Li, pay attention to my movements and the trajectory and changes of the stone''s movement."


    "Okay," Gu Li nodded and stepped aside with Wu Bingji and Du Bai.


    Tang San weighed the stone in his hand, a hint of reminiscence shing in his eyes. The next moment, he was in motion.


    He lifted the stone off the ground using the vine, dragging it up with his right hand. Then, he gave the vine a tug, causing the stone to fly sideways. Finally, he made a half-turn, using his movement to swing the vine and the stone, which whirled around and mmed it hard onto the ground, producing a dull thump.


    They were on a dirt slope, and the impact created a shallow pit in the ground, from which the stone bounced up as it was pulled by the vine.


    Without stopping, Tang San spun again, using the rebound force of the impact. The stone''s flight speed increased noticeably, and as hepleted a full rotation, the stone was mmed onto the ground once more.


    <i>"Bang!"</i>


    This time, the sound was noticeably louder than before.


    The stone bounced up faster, and Tang San swung it again without any pause, the whooshing sound even more intense as he forcefully mmed it down again.


    The rebound force produced by the impact between the stone and the ground, Tang San''s spinning speed, and the stone''s velocity in the air all increased with each of his rotations.


    With each booming sound, the pit in the ground grew in size, cracks began appearing in the surrounding ground, and the entire slope trembled.


    Gradually, Tang San spun so fast that he resembled a spinning top. Strangely, in spite of that, the stone alwaysnded precisely at the same point. The flying stone''s terrifying whistling and thunderous booms as it smashed the ground had the four onlookers wide-eyed in amazement.


    They could all feel that this was not just about mming the stone into the ground; each collision was more forceful than thest, each rotation faster, yet thending spot remained precisely the same.


    <i>Borrowing power!</i> Wu Bingji had already summed up this as the most crucial part of the technique.


    <i>How does Tang San know so much?</i> This was Du Bai''s thought.


    Cheng Zicheng was gesturing with her hands, realizing that this technique might not be easy for her. <i>How should I use it? Can I use it with my wings?</i> she wondered. The wings of the Golden Roc weren''t just for flying; they were also tough and mighty weapons.


    Finally, Gu Li fully understood why Tang San had demonstrated this. The swinging stone corresponded to his tail in the Chrono Croc Transformation. The end of his tail was like a meteor hammer, and it was his primary weapon for attack.


    They lost count of how many times Tang San had spun. Suddenly, the stone and vine flew out of his hand, disappearing into the night sky with a piercing whistle. A few momentster, they heard it crash into the forest, probably a few hundred meters away.


    Tang San spun like a top for another dozen circles before stabilizing. When he finally stood still, his chest heaved visibly, and his face was flushed with exertion.


    <i>Thirty-six, only thirty-six times.</i> Tang San''s arms were nowpletely numb. With his nine-year-old physique, he could barely do thirty-six strikes. Indeed, this was a hammer technique, one of his ultimate skills from his previous life, known as the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer. The technique borrowed momentum from each strike to make the next one heavier, and toward the end, its power would be incredibly terrifying as the strikes stacked up to a maximum of eighty-one.


    He had yet to use a hammer in this life, but he still remembered the technique clearly. After witnessing the battle between Gu Li and Zhang Zebin that day, he felt that this hammer technique was very suitable for Gu Li.


    The ground before Tang San had been smashed into arge pit, and the onlookers gathered around to view the pit and the surrounding fissures, their faces showing great interest.


    Tang San turned to Gu Li and said, "Brother Gu��"


    Gu Li quickly interrupted him, "Don''t call me ''brother'' anymore. I now understand what the senior brother meant by ''the aplished one is the master.'' Just call me Gu Li; it''s more like you are my senior brother. Thank you."


    He was certainly well aware of how important this technique was to him. His Chrono Croc Transformation could control opponents, undoubtedly the most incredible control ability in the entire Redemption Society. What hecked was a means of attack.


    The Chrono Croc Transformation granted him strong defensive capabilities and formidable strength. However, his only means of attack was a simple tail whip. He was at a disadvantage against opponents with equally strong defenses, and all he could do was engage in a battle of attrition. Defeat was inevitable if his opponent had a higher cultivation level and could oust him, especially considering that the energy consumption of the Chrono Croc Transformation was much greater than that of a normal Demonic God Transformation. Thus, Gu Li''s greatest fear was facing an opponent with powerful defenses.


    The technique demonstrated by Tang San was undoubtedly capable of enhancing his attack power and explosive force. If Gu Li couldbine the Chrono Croc Transformation with this technique, his attack power would be explosively amplified. He couldn''t even begin to imagine how much stronger he would get if he could master this.


    The Chrono Croc Transformation allowed for solid control over the opponent, followed by continuous tail hammer strikes, each one stronger than thest. Stacked together, this was an extraordinary technique indeed! It supplemented the explosive power he mostcked.


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "This is something I discovered as I was experimenting. It uses momentum and stacks the power of multiple strikes, and I call it the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer."


    Gu Li bowed earnestly to Tang San and said, "Please teach me."


    Tang San epted his bow without hesitation and immediately exined the intricacies of the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer in detail. He did not keep it secret from the others; Wu Bingji, Du Bai, and Cheng Zicheng also listened intently. For a moment, everyone forgot about resting.


    Gu Li transformed into the Chrono Crocodile, swinging his long tail, repeatedly spinning and swinging the tail hammer.


    As he was using his tail rather than his arms, his way of using the technique was somewhat different from the original. Tang San made adjustments ording to Gu Li''s physique.


    By midnight, Gu Li could execute three or four hammer strikes in session.

 Chapter 112: Golden Wing Wind Splitting Slash

    <h4>Chapter 112: Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh</h4>


    The Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer��s essencey not in the rotation or the number of attacks but in the cumtive power of each strike. Every blow must be stronger than thest, stacking up to produce increasingly fierce power.


    The more Gu Li practiced, the more exhrated he became, paying no heed to the day''s fatigue. He continued training until the next day''s dawn, finally resting only when he was utterly exhausted.


    The n to move forward was disrupted. Wu Bingji decided that everyone should rest in ce for a day to contemte Tang San''s Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer. For him, it was just a matter of reference, as he felt that continuing to practice the Flicking Dart was the better choice for him.


    To Tang San''s surprise, it wasn''t just Gu Li who was interested in the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer; Cheng Zicheng''s interest was also quite significant.


    Activating the Golden Roc Transformation, she continuously danced and spun in the air, shing out with her wings and emitting sharp cries.


    Strangely enough, it seemed pretty effective; her shes indeed produced an umting force. Unfortunately, the surrounding trees and stones suffered the consequences, continually scarred by Cheng Zicheng''s golden wings.


    The Golden Roc excelled at flight, and its flexible and sturdy wings were not only what propelled it in the air, but also its best means of attack and defense. However, at this point, Cheng Zicheng was in the same situation as Gu Li��shecked a technique that would allow her to make good use of her weapons.


    Tang San''s continuously spinning figure from the day before significantly moved her. She seemed to have found a path to the heavens as she constantly spun in the air.


    Seeing her sound understanding and genuine interest, Tang San guided her on the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer based on her situation.


    Unlike Gu Li��s meteor hammer-like tail, the main characteristic of the Golden Wings was sharpness, not blunt force. The main problem with Cheng Zicheng using the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer is whether her body could withstand the continuously increasing power. The Golden Wings were not something made of energy or new limbs she grew when she transformed, but rather her own transformed arms, so if they were damaged, it meant her arms were damaged.


    Due to this particrity, when she used the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer, she had to maximize the sharpness of the Golden Wings as much as possible while infusing sufficient bloodline power into them to ensure they aren''t damaged. In addition, the angle of attack had to be carefully considered as well.


    "Sister Zicheng, you must always be aware of the state of your Golden Wings when you��re attacking. The moment they show signs of being unable to withstand it, you must stop immediately. Otherwise, if your wings are injured and you can''t fly, you''ll be at the mercy of your opponent."


    "I understand." Cheng Zi nodded. "My Golden Wings will be stronger as my cultivation improves, anyway. I will infuse them with as much bloodline power as possible. I might not be able to use as many strikes as you and Gu Li do, but I think that it��ll still be effective if I can stack a couple of them. Plus, my flying speed is really good, I can use that to build up power. I can start spinning in advance, and since speed and power are proportional, if I spin a couple of times to increase my speed, my first strike will be stronger than Gu Li��s first strike."


    Tang San gave her a thumbs up. This was a perfect example of learning by analogy and adapting knowledge for personal use.


    Du Bai chuckled and said, "Zicheng, if you use this, it can''t be called Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer anymore. How about I name it for you? Let''s call it Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh. What do you think?"


    Cheng Zi nced at him but replied, "It actually doesn��t sound that bad. Let''s go with that for now. I need to practice well to see how to use it best. Hehe, I''ll surprise everyone when we get back."


    Cheng Zi and Gu Li practiced their techniques, while Wu Bing Ji continued his training with Flicking Dart and ice elementpression. Tang San meditated, cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Only Du Bai seemed idle, gazing into the distance absentmindedly.


    He also asked Tang San how to improve his Celestial Fox Transformation, but Tang San felt somewhat helpless about this.


    He did, in fact, have some thoughts about the Celestial Fox Transformation. The main reason for Du Bai''s slow progress seemed to be that his Celestial Fox bloodline was too diluted. Typically, members of the Celestial Fox n wouldn''t experience such stagnation in their cultivation. However, in his case, the progress was curiously slow.


    Regarding this, Tang San didn''t have many reasonable solutions. The only things he could think of were intense stimtion of the bloodline and the enhancement of spiritual power.


    Finding an opportunity for intense stimtion was key.


    That day, they simply didn''t leave their spot, but Wu Bing Ji, Gu Li, and Cheng Zi all felt their gains were even more remarkable than they would��ve been if they had continued exploring.


    As night fell and everyone was tired from the day''s cultivation, Tang San offered to keep watch at night. After all, he had meditated all day and he was well-rested and in the best mental state.


    Wu Bing Ji, Gu Li, and Cheng Zi found ces in the trees to meditate and rest, while Du Bai stayed under the tree, keeping Tang Sanpany.


    "Little Tang, what should I do?" Du Bai said, sounding somewhat despondent.


    "What''s wrong all of a sudden?" Tang San asked.


    Du Bai said, "I am eleven, almost twelve years old. When I was younger, my teachers told me that my Celestial Fox Transformation had great potential, it was a first-tier Demonic God Transformation bloodline, all that. At that time, I was the most important person to protect in the Redemption Society, and my Celestial Fox Transformation was actually top secret. I barely even cultivated, but by the time I was eight, I had already reached the third order. I was everybody��s darling and they all had hopes for me. But then...in the past three years, it just...stopped. After I reached the third order, I felt my Celestial Fox Transformation stagnated, and I haven��t made any progress at all since then.


    "I have tried many methods to improve, but nothing worked. At most, my perception with the Celestial Fox Vision got a little bit better. The thing is, the third-order Celestial Fox Vision can see others'' cultivation levels and sense their fortune, but it��s very limited. If the other person��s level is much higher, it��spletely useless. You know...I also want to be stronger and stop being a burden. No one ever told me anything bad and the teachers are always encouraging me, but still.... I feel more and more like a piece of trash.."


    Tang San didn''t say anything and simply listened silently to Du Bai��s narrative. It was clear that Du Bai was affected by the improvement in strength of the other three over the past two days.


    "I also want to fight and I also want to be an important part of the team. But my body is weak, and the Celestial Fox Vision isn''t much use at all, so how should I improve? I once overheard the mayor saying that my Celestial Fox Vision might be stuck at the third order because my bloodline is too diluted. If that''s the case, then there��s no point in having the bloodline at all. A third-order Celestial Fox Vision is basically useless. I want to ask if your method of cultivating spiritual power can help me break through."


    Tang San looked at him deeply and said, "It''s difficult."


    Hearing this, Du Bai''s eyes dimmed significantly, and he gave a bitter smile. "I thought so."


    "Because your Celestial Fox Transformation is so high in tier, you probably need much more bloodline energy to break through to the next order. Every three orders is a major stage, and breaking through from the third to the fourth is a significant barrier. If you ovee it, you can reach the sixth order. If not, you will remain at the third order forever.


    "The method of cultivating spiritual power I told everyone about is effective as long as you don��t have to cross a major order bottleneck. For example, it would benefit Gu Li until he reaches the sixth order, but not to the seventh. If a major bottleneck blocks you, it won��t help you. Your total amount of spiritual power is also limited by major bottlenecks, so no matter how much you overdraw it, it can''t rece the evolution of the bloodline."


    This was all true. Previously, when Tang San was cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique up to the third order, he had a clear sense of this. The difficulty of advancing from the third to the fourth order was immense. Moreover, at that time, he was also under the suppression of the ne, which made advancement even more challenging. Thankfully, his extensive knowledge and experience from his previous life as a God King,bined with the unique devouring ability of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, allowed him to make a sessful breakthrough.

 Chapter 113: Integrating The Celestial Fox Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 113: Integrating The Celestial Fox Transformation</h4>


    Du Bai''s situation was equally unique, in a sense. The Celestial Fox Vision might not be very useful at a lower level, but the bloodline tier of the Celestial Fox Transformation was as high as bloodline tiers could get. Generally, the mighty bloodline power would naturally facilitate breakthroughs for the members of the actual Celestial Fox n, but that was not the case for Du Bai, who seemed to have a very diluted bloodline.[1]


    "What should I do? Tang San, you even helped our eldest senior brother with his cultivation. Can you help me? I want to be useful and don''t want to keep holding everyone back. I..." At this point, Du Bai, unlike his usual lively and mischievous self, had a hint of redness in his eyes.


    Tang San patted his shoulder and said, "I have a method we can try. But it might be somewhat risky. I don''t know if your Celestial Fox Transformation will bepatible. I''ve had others try it before, and the results weren''t good. But your Celestial Fox Transformation is special..."


    "I''m willing, I''m willing to try. Rather than keep being useless forever, what''s the harm in taking a risk?" Du Bai said somewhat excitedly.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. He knew that his master, the mayor, was probably nearby, watching over them, but he wouldn''te too close so as to avoid interfering with their experience. Indeed, their conversation would not be overheard by Zhang Haoxuan.


    <i>If Master heard I was preparing to let Du Bai take a risk in his cultivation... I wonder if he would want to kill me. But Du Bai is right about one thing. If things continue this way, from what I��ve seen, he��ll likely never break through the third order in his lifetime.</i>


    Tang San took a deep breath and said, "Let''s try. Well, here��s the deal. The problem you have is that you can��t break through a major bottleneck because your bloodline is weak. There��s nothing I can do about bloodline power unless you somehow get some intense stimtion, which might work. Or if you could bathe yourself in the blood of the Celestial Fox demons, but we both know that''s just a pipe dream. So, we have to approach this from a different angle. We need to focus on spiritual power. I have a method to cultivate spiritual power alone.


    "Apart from me, no one else with the Demonic God Transformation has been able to cultivate it sessfully. Some people tried, but they couldn��t. But you might have a chance since your ability is rted to your eyes. If you can cultivate this thing up to the third order or higher, it might actually help your Celestial Fox Transformation break through to the next level. The Celestial Fox Vision is an eye of fortune, but it also seems to be influenced by spiritual power. Forcing a breakthrough with spiritual power might just work.��


    "Alright, I''ll learn from you," Du Bai said firmly again.


    <i>These past few days, he had watched everyone sessfully hunt demonic beasts under Tang San''s leadership, each reaping their gains and growing stronger. How could he not be envious? After all, he was still just an eleven-year-old boy. He, too, longed to be useful!</i>


    So, Tang San''s words were like a lifeline to him; he had to try it, no matter what.


    "Go rest first," Tang San said.


    "Ah? Aren''t we practicing now?" Du Bai asked eagerly.


    Tang San said, "Now is not the time for cultivation. I''ll wake you early tomorrow morning. But you must keep this a secret. If the teachers find out, I''ll be in serious trouble. But I''m more than eighty percent confident that it shouldn''t be too much of a problem for you even if it doesn��t work."


    "Okay, don''t worry, I''ll keep it a secret. Right now, I''m just praying that it works."


    Tang San patted his shoulder. "Go and rest now. Keeping your spirits up will increase the chances of it working."


    "Okay." Du Bai was generally easy-going, and with Tang San��s reassurance, his mood immediately improved. With that, he went up the tree to rest.


    Watching him climb the tree, Tang San smiled slightly. He genuinely wanted to help Du Bai. Helping his ��senior brother�� was, in a way, helping himself!


    The risk wasn''t just for Du Bai but for Tang San as well.


    Silently feeling the somewhat faint but shining white bloodline imprint within himself, Tang San''s heart also warmed up.


    Yes, he had already extracted some of the Celestial Fox Transformation''s bloodline power over the past few days from Du Bai through contact. He hadn''t rushed to extract from the others because they needed to be ready for battle at any moment. Weakening them even a little could be detrimental in a fight against demonic beasts. After all, they were all together, so there was no rush. However, Du Bai wasn��t participating, so there was no problem on that end.


    Having stayed in the area for more than a day, they had carefully observed the surroundings, and they seemed free of danger. As Tang San was to keep watch during the night, he was also nning on attempting to see if he could integrate Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision into his own Discerning Eye.


    For him, this was undoubtedly a crucial experiment. If the mutation was sessful and in a favorable direction, then his Discerning Eye would indeed ascend to a new level, acquiring even more extraordinary abilities.


    Focusing inward, he adjusted his state of being.


    When Tang San felt that his physique, energy, and spirit had reached their peak, he slowly began to control the imprint of the Celestial Fox Transformation within him to move towards the imprint of the Discerning Eye.


    As the two imprints gradually neared each other, Tang San distinctly felt his eyes beginning to burn intensely. This was the feedback from the bloodline imprints.


    His Discerning Eye was at the fourth order, while the Celestial Fox Transformation he absorbed from Du Bai was about second-order. Given enough time and continuous absorption, reaching a third-order Celestial Fox Transformation wouldn''t be a problem. However, Tang San was worried that the stronger the Celestial Fox Transformation, the more difficult it would be to merge the two. Therefore, he began the attempt while it was still at the second order.


    As the two different imprints gradually came closer, Tang San couldn''t help but feel nervous. Sess or failure hinged on this moment. If sessful, he would enter an entirely new realm. If he failed...who knew what would happen?


    The Discerning Eye seemed to sense the aura of the Celestial Fox Transformation, and it began to emit an intense light. The near-incandescent glow made Tang San''s eyes feel even hotter. He didn''t need to open his eyes to sense the elemental fluctuations in the air around him.


    However, the Celestial Fox Transformation��s imprint showed no change and continued to approach slowly. Throughout the process, there was no sign of repulsion.


    Then, in the next moment, something shocking happened to Tang San.


    Without any warning, his Discerning Eye imprint exploded.


    The cluster of white light burst open almost instantly, and the white radiance scattered outward. Tang San shivered, and he felt a sharp pain in his eyes. The sensation of external elements instantly disappeared.


    <i>Damn, this is bad, </i>was his first thought. But it was already toote to reverse what had happened.


    He was about to lose the Discerning Eye.


    This was particrly distressing for Tang San. The Discerning Eye''s abilities were exceptional, enhancing his normal vision and spiritual power as well as his abilities to observe the surroundings, capture the opponents�� ws, and control the battle. Naturally, he didn''t want to lose it.


    But having lived three lifetimes, his mentality was stable. He wasn''t swayed by this sudden change and continued to circte his energy, focusing inward calmly.


    Then, he witnessed an extraordinary scene.


    The imprint of the second-order Celestial Fox Transformation seemed utterly unaffected by the explosion of the Discerning Eye. It casually moved to the original location of the Discerning Eye and imprinted itself there. Meanwhile, the exploding light of the Discerning Eye did not dissipate but instead formed a halo-like ring around the periphery.


    What was even more peculiar was what happened next. It began to move after the Celestial Fox Transformation��s imprint that was now settled in ce.


    1. Here and in the following chapters, the terms ��Celestial Fox Vision�� and ��Celestial Fox Transformation�� are used very liberally to refer to both the bloodline and the ability. This has been rectified in the trantion, with ��Celestial Fox Transformation�� referring to the overall transformation of Du Bai and the bloodline imprint of Tang San, while ��Celestial Fox Vision�� refers strictly to the visual ability. This is simr to Wind Wolf Transformation vs. Wind de��the former is the bloodline imprint, while thetter is the ability granted by the imprint. ?

 Chapter 114: The Celestial Fox Transformation Wants To Lead

    <h4>Chapter 114: The Celestial Fox Transformation Wants To Lead</h4>


    Tang San had six imprints within him right now��well, five and a half, with the Discerning Eye mostly gone. They were all floating in the energy vortex in his dantian, and the one in central position had always been the fifth-order peak-level Wind Wolf Transformation imprint.


    At this very moment, the recently stabilized Celestial Fox Transformation imprint unexpectedly started moving on its own. Assertively and unapologetically, it pushed its way to the main seat.


    This movement, though small, caused Tang San''s energy vortex to be chaotic, and intense fluctuations instantly appeared. The other four imprints within his body also started to change.


    It was as if they were influenced by the Celestial Fox Transformation, and they were bing agitated.


    Affected by them, Tang San''s energy became erratic and circted wildly within him. Hisplexion turned pale instantly. The intense agitation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s energy and his bloodline power inside him made him immediately realize a grave issue��he was on the brink of deviating from his cultivation path!


    Whether in his first, second, or third lifetime, cultivation deviation was always the most severe issue.


    Cultivation deviation meant that even if one didn''t die, they would be gravely injured. The higher the level of cultivation, the more terrifying the consequences of deviation. And at such times, no one could help him.


    Tang San��s master, Zhang Haoxuan, was a mighty ninth-order powerhouse. However, he was far away and couldn''t sense the changes in his pupil��s body, and even if he did, he wouldn''t be able to help. The Mysterious Heaven Technique was unique in this world.


    <i>What to do?</i>


    Tang San''s greatest strength was his calmness in the face of significant events. The more critical the situation, the calmer he became.


    He remained calm, not panicking due to the sudden onset of cultivation deviation. He first thought of the worst-case scenario: the chaotic movement of his energy could not be brought under control. If that was the case, he would have no choice but to stimte that bit of divine consciousness nurtured in his sea of spirit, using its formidable power to forcibly disperse all bloodline imprints within his body, returning the cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique to its correct path. In doing so, he would be left without any Demonic God Transformation, possessing only the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    This was the worst oue, but it was not entirely uneptable. All he needed to consider was how to exin the disappearance of his Wind Wolf Transformation.


    But clearly, this was not the best solution. That bit of divine consciousness was far too precious for Tang San. If it could be preserved, it had to be preserved. Moreover, he had finally absorbed the imprints of these Demonic God Transformations and be familiar with these abilities; to simply discard them was something he honestly hesitated to do. Not only would his strength decline significantly, but he would have to waste time to regain the bloodline imprints he had lost.


    <i>So, what should he do?</i>


    Without a doubt, the chief culprit of his cultivation deviation was the Celestial Fox Transformation. Its integration had led to the other Demonic God Transformation imprints astray, thus causing these issues.


    The pain from the cultivation deviation grew increasingly intense. Although Tang San''s meridians were rtively robust, he was only nine years old. If this continued, there was a risk of his body exploding. At this moment, he had to make a choice.


    In an instant, he had made a decision.


    Forcefully gathering his mental strength, he focused his mind on his dantian.


    At this moment, the Celestial Fox Vision was already positioned at the center, while the other Demonic God Transformation imprints were fluctuating intensely, each seeming unwilling to yield to the others.


    Tang San forcibly guided them with his mental strength, rearranging their order.


    The Celestial Fox Transformation remained at the center, but Tang San chose the Chrono Croc Transformation for the second position. Following this was the Golden Roc Transformation. Next was the Wind Wolf Transformation. Lastly, sh Leopard Transformation. They were almost in order from the lowest order to the highest.


    In the shortest time, hepleted the rearrangement of these five imprints. Then, he forcibly stabilized them in their new arrangement, preventing any movement.


    Only when they stabilized and ceased their turbulent interactions would his energy vortex return to calm.


    Tang San''s decision was due to his understanding of these bloodline imprints.


    Forcing the Celestial Fox Transformation to the central position undeniably signified the principle of bloodline hierarchy supremacy. The bloodline imprint of the Celestial Fox Transformation undoubtedly looked down on other bloodlines, hence its unwillingness to be ranked lower, and this was what had led to such a change.


    The Chrono Croc Transformation and the Golden Roc Transformation, fluctuated in protest due to their own high tier. By contrast, even though the Wind Wolf Transformation was by far the strongest, at the peak of fifth-order, its fluctuations were not severe; it even seemed somewhat fearful.


    Thus, Tang San''s rearrangement was based on the hierarchy of bloodlines, cing those of higher levels at the forefront.


    Indeed, when he exerted his full strength to stabilize the five bloodline imprints, aside from some fluctuations in the Wind Wolf Transformation imprint, which seemed slightly dissatisfied with the forth ce, the other four imprints quickly stabilized.


    With the stabilization of the Celestial Fox, Chrono Croc, and Golden Roc imprints, the energy vortex in his dantian naturally followed suit and stabilized.


    The impact of the Mysterious Heaven Technique quickly diminished, and the pain receded like a tide.


    Tang San knew his choice was correct and immediately heaved a sigh of relief. All his efforts across three lifetimes hadn''t been in vain! In someone else''s shoes, it would have probably been troublesome.


    Of course, it wasn��t like anyone else would face a situation like his.


    At that moment, a ring of white light slowly converged inward, merging toward the Celestial Fox Transformation. The Celestial Fox Transformation seemed somewhat disdainful of their fusion. When the white ring approached the central luminescent white, it didn''t fully merge, but rather, like a ribbon of light, it circled the periphery, maintaining a certain distance from the second-order white light of the Celestial Fox Transformation. It started spinning in a loop and surprisingly stabilized just like that.


    <i>Is that even possible?</i>


    Even with all his experience, Tang San had never encountered a simr situation. The two hadn''tpletely merged, yet they maintained a bnce. <i>What does this mean?</i>


    The Celestial Fox Transformation did not wholly reject the Discerning Eye but seemed to look down upon it. Both maintained a delicate bnce. The Discerning Eye was eager to merge internally, which Tang San could sense. This seemed to be an instinct on an energy level.


    Simply put, the Celestial Fox Transformation was like an unparalleled beauty, while the Discerning Eye was like the beauty''s devoted admirer.


    The unparalleled beauty didn��t think highly of this admirer but seemed to find him somewhat interesting, so she reluctantly epted him as a backup option.


    <i>Is that the feeling?</i>


    <i>Yes, exactly like that.</i>


    With the rtionship between the Discerning Eye and the Celestial Fox Transformation stabilizing, the other four imprints also quickly stabilized. Tang San''s dantian finally ceased its turmoil, and the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique swiftly returned to its original position, circting within his body on its own.


    The greatest crisis was thus resolved in an instant.


    But at that very moment, Tang San''s entire body shook violently.


    He felt as if his sea of consciousness had exploded instantly, and from the just-stabilized Celestial Fox Transformation imprint, a solid white light burst forth. This light did not shine outward from his body but directly illuminated his sea of consciousness.


    The aura of the Celestial Fox Transformation even carried a hint of self-importance as it rampaged through his sea of consciousness and vigorously absorbed his spiritual power. It also condensed a new imprint within the sea of consciousness as if intended to dominate it. At the same time, the Celestial Fox Transformation imprint in the dantian did not disappear.


    <i>What is going on?</i>


    By connecting the dantian with the sea of consciousness, was it attempting to dominate his body? Without developing its own spiritual intelligence, it obviously couldn''t. However, Tang San could distinctly feel it. As the energy of the Celestial Fox Transformation entered his sea of consciousness, it was not only consuming his spiritual power but also rejecting all other energies within him.


    Apart from the Discerning Eye, the backup option, the other four major imprints all felt an explicit rejection. Despite the Celestial Fox Transformation being only of the second order, it haughtily repelled everything. Even his Mysterious Heaven Technique was being vigorously repulsed.


    Naturally, Tang San was pissed. <i>Hey, don��t you think you''re too arrogant? You''ve just arrived, and not only are you not satisfied with being the first general, you even want to take the throne yourself?</i>

 Chapter 115: Success, Finally

    <h4>Chapter 115: Sess, Finally</h4>


    He fully understood the consequences of his mind being upied by the Celestial Fox Transformation.


    Du Bai''s condition was the best example. The Celestial Fox Transformation, being of an extremely high order, possessed its arrogant instincts. It naturally repelled beings of lower orders. However, if it seeded in that, Tang San would end up like a second Du Bai��from now on, his only ability would be the Celestial Fox Transformation, and if worse came to worst, he would be utterly useless.


    <i>Recklessness sure invites trouble!</i>


    However, having resolved the risk of deviating from his cultivation, Tang San now hadplete control over his body. Facing the mischief of the Celestial Fox Transformation, he felt no urgency. Instead, he opened his mind wide, allowing it to wreak havoc in his sea of consciousness and absorb his spiritual energy as it wished.


    The Celestial Fox Transformation truly integrated with him while absorbing spiritual energy, in a manner very much unlike any bloodline imprint he had absorbed before.


    When he absorbed the Chrono Croc Transformation, the changes it brought to Tang San were significant. That integration allowed him to feel the changes in time of this world and be recognized by this ne of existence, aligning him with this world.


    The integration with the Celestial Fox Transformation was not just about a bloodline imprint or a single ability. It was an integration of destiny, opening a new level of fortune for him. In a sense, the ability of the Celestial Foxes was closely rted to the lord of this ne. It was an existence that could even control certain powers of the ne. This was one reason the Celestial Fox Transformation was highly valued.


    After Tang San experienced the transformation of the Celestial Fox bloodline imprint, he came to a judgment about the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. This demon emperor was likely the messenger of the nar ruler, practically an apostle walking among the living.


    A Celestial Fox had nobat power to speak of, but neither did it need any. Being able to borrow the power of the nar ruler and utilize thews of the ne already ced it at the pinnacle of this world.


    During the integration process of the Celestial Fox Vision, Tang San distinctly felt a different connection with the outside world. The very level of his existence seemed to be transforming, leading to a subtle recognition of everything external as insignificant. The level of all the lifeforms around him appeared to be diminishing while his own continually ascended.


    The luminescent white of the Celestial Fox Transformation shone increasingly brighter in his spiritual world. This was a transformation of the spirit, and it was even more significant to Tang San than a physical transformation.


    Gradually, most of Tang San''s spiritual energy was devoured by the Celestial Fox Transformation, which evolved directly from the second to the third order.


    Without Tang San needing to absorb more bloodline energy from Du Bai, the Celestial Fox Transformation evolved independently.


    This was because Tang San''s spiritual energy was much more potent and purer than Du Bai''s. Apart from his cultivation, his spiritual power was nourished by the feedback from his divine consciousness, as if his spiritual power also constantly enriched that bit of divine consciousness within him.


    <i>That''s about it. If this continues, the little boss upying my spiritual world will likely actively disperse the Mysterious Heaven Technique and fully cause me to assimte into this world</i>, Tang San thought.


    With a thought from Tang San, a pure golden light suddenly shed in the sea of his mind.


    The previously proud, self-satisfied, control-freak, pearly white light instantly froze when this pure golden light appeared.


    Almost instantly, that golden light fell upon the pearly white light. In the next instant, the golden light transformed into arge hand in the sea of his mind, grasping the pearly white light.


    The previously proud and snooty pearly white light suddenly shivered as if sensing something. Tang San even felt the outside world tremble slightly. This was rted to the nar energy connected to the Celestial Fox Transformation.


    Fortunately, his Celestial Fox Transformation power was only at the third order, far from enough to directlymunicate with the nar ruler.


    The golden hand in the sea of his mind suddenly clenched, and in that instant, Tang San could swear that he heard a sharp cry of pain. The next moment, the pearly white light sphere, which had devoured almost all of Tang San''s spiritual energy, was ttened under the grip of the golden hand.


    A great burst of spiritual energy sprayed out. The overall quantity was reducedpared to before, but the outpouring spiritual energy was no longer gaseous; it had transformed into a pale golden liquid.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    The sea of consciousness suddenly became tumultuous. In that instant, Tang San''s perception skyrocketed, and almost every minute change within a thousand meters radius was clear as daylight in his mind.


    Inside the dantian, the pearly white bloodline imprint representing the Celestial Fox Transformation instantly withered, and the Discerning Eye shone brightly in turn. The energy of the Discerning Eye rapidly merged inward, finally adhering to the pearly white core, quickly integrating with it.


    Although the pearly white imprint remained the most prominent position, a faint goldyer gradually appeared. This hint of gold was directly connected to Tang San��s sea of consciousness, maintaining a faint connection between it and the dantian.


    In the sea of consciousness, the previously pearly white light sphere had shrunk into a ball, quietly floating there. The golden hand that had been grasping it only then rxed, shaking off. That hint of gold instantly illuminated every corner of Tang San''s body, making all his Qi even purer.


    The most fundamental energy of heaven and earth from the outside air wildly converged into his body, constantly cleansing and purifying his body and spiritual world.


    On a distant mountain peak, Zhang Haoxuan was meditating cross-legged when suddenly he sensed something. He abruptly opened his eyes and looked somewhere in the distance.


    In his perception, the energy of heaven and earth suddenly became agitated. It looked like a giant funnel, converging to a point somewhere in the forest.


    <i>What''s happening? Is there trouble over there?</i> Zhang Haoxuan leaped to his feet, a red light shed behind him, and he shot off like an arrow in that direction.


    Tang San felt better than he ever had before. It was a sense of unparalleledfort, the kind that signifies a true transformation and rejuvenation of both body and soul.


    He could feel that he had utterly merged with this world. The nar suppression that once apanied his reincarnation was no more. Whether on a physical or spiritual level, he was now in perfect harmony with this realm, feeling an inexplicable connection to it.


    His entire being was transparent and connected, with his spiritual consciousness bonding with his bloodline. In an instant, his cultivation level had leaped from the mid-stage to the peak of the fifth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    What surprised him even more was the enhancement of his five bloodline imprints. Apart from the green imprint of the Wind Wolf Transformation, which remained at the peak of the fifth order but deepened in color, the other four imprints ascended by one order.


    The Celestial Fox Transformation imprint, which had fallen to the second order after being crushed by a golden hand, had now recovered to the third order. The Leopard sh advanced to the fifth order, the Chrono Croc Transformation to the fourth, equal to Gu Li''s own level, and the Golden Roc Transformation also reached the fourth order. His Discerning Eye and Celestial Fox Transformation had fully integrated. It could be said that his entire being had undergone a sublime elevation.


    The most significant enhancement, however, was in Tang San''s spiritual power. His sea of consciousness had transformed from a gaseous to a liquid state. This liquid form of spiritual energy was on an entirely different level from before; his spiritual power was thus consolidated and so was his cultivation.


    Now, as he cultivated, the gaseous spiritual energy that he produced was slowly converted into liquid. In the same-sized sea of consciousness, a far greater amount of spiritual energy could be contained in liquid form than its gaseous counterpart, giving him a much greater scope for improvement. Even if his sea of consciousness did not expand, his spiritual power could continue to progress more effectively.

 Chapter 116: Changes and Gains

    <h4>Chapter 116: Changes and Gains</h4>


    The transformation brought by the fusion of the Celestial Fox Transformation was truly immense, something even Tang San hadn''t anticipated. The bloodline imprint he had merged with was only of the second order, yet so domineering! Even Tang San himself had never imagined such an oue. It was because Du Bai, with his third-order Celestial Fox Transformation, had performed so poorly in the past that Tang San had vastly underestimated the powerful heritage of this first-tier bloodline.


    Initially, Tang San believed that while the Celestial Fox Transformation was powerful, it probably required a higher level to show its strength fully. However, he hadn''t expected that just a one-tier advantage could bring about such a significant change. If not for his trump card, he might have ended up like another Du Bai, forcibly merged with the Celestial Fox Transformation, forever with third-order cultivation, and with all other abilities wholly rejected by the Celestial Fox Transformation. He would have been left to wait for luck alongside Du Bai��and luck would have been the only aspect somewhat improved.


    The golden hand, capable of manipting the energy of the Celestial Fox Transformation, yed an extremely crucial role. The sea of consciousness used it to show the Celestial Fox Transformation who was the boss. That was the bit of divine consciousness Tang San had brought from his previous life.


    The application of divine consciousness was filled with infinite mysteries, but Tang San had always been reluctant to use it, fearing its consumption. Once this bit of divine consciousness was used up, he would lose thest connection to his original world. It would also mean the loss of his most crucial self-preservation power.


    But in the sea of spirit, it was different. No matter how high the level of the Celestial Fox Vision ability or the first-tier bloodline of the Celestial Fox Transformation, they could notpare to a God King! While Tang San��s divine consciousnesscked quantity, it was still at the level of a God King quality-wise, and the tier of the Celestial Fox Transformation, high though it was, was still far from that of a God King.


    If the Celestial Fox Transformation was considered to be representative of this ne, Tang San''s divine consciousness was the once supreme ruler of the divine realm, the monarch of an entire universe.


    The higher the world''s hierarchy, the more apparent the suppression effect of the hierarchy bes. In front of the divine consciousness at the God King level, the Celestial Fox Transformation couldn''t even muster the thought to resist.


    Tang San wasn''t worried about the Celestial Fox Transformation causing mischief within his sea of spirit because he had divine consciousness as his trump card.


    Indeed, he had to admit that the Celestial Fox Transformation was formidable. After devouring his spiritual energy, it directly filtered it, liquefied it, and prepared to assimte it. Thankfully, before it could assimte it, it was brought under control by Tang San��s divine consciousness.


    The transition from vapor to liquid was the most crucial transformation of spiritual power. Complete liquefaction signified that Tang San''s spiritual level had ascended to another realm. Typically, this would require at least a seventh-order cultivation and the corresponding spiritual power. Now, thanks to this fortunate coincidence, he had broken through without any hardships.


    Additionally, his existence being fully recognized by this ne reduced the oppressive force acting upon him. Tang San could now determine that at least until he reached the ninth order, he should not encounter any significant bottlenecks. Actual problems would only arise when he tried to be a god once more. At that time, he would likely be discovered by this ne again, leading to renewed suppression.


    But at his level of cultivation, that was still a distant concern and not something to be worried about.


    From a distance, Zhang Haoxuan had already observed the situation here. His sharp gaze instantly noticed Tang San cultivating under a tree while the others were resting on the tree, with no sign of any danger.


    <i>What''s going on? No danger? But the intense disturbance of natural energy just now was from this direction! Maybe one of them made a significant breakthrough?</i>


    He didn''t look at Tang San at first but focused on Wu Bingji. Wu Bingji''s progress had been rapid recently. However, he had just broken through to the sixth order not long before, and it was impossible to aim for the seventh order quickly. After all, the leap from sixth to seventh order was a significant threshold.


    <i>If not Wu Bingji, then who?</i>


    His spiritual power swept over everyone, finding nothing amiss. The aura of all these youngsters was very normal.


    This left Zhang Haoxuan somewhat puzzled. After observing for a while longer, he finally left.


    He didn''t know that his arrival was well within Tang San''s perception.


    Due to the difference in cultivation, Tang San would not have sensed Zhang Haoxuan''s arrival unless he used his divine consciousness. But now it was different; his spiritual energy had liquefied, greatly enhancing his perceptive abilities. Although Zhang Haoxuan was a ninth-order powerhouse, when it came to pure spiritual power, he was technically in the same realm as Tang San quality-wise, although the mayor had more of it.


    Tang San was naturally adept at concealing his aura, so it was no surprise that Zhang Haoxuan couldn''t detect any change in him.


    With Zhang Haoxuan gone, Tang Sanpletely rxed. Since he was on night watch, he didn��t let himself enter a meditative state. Instead, he quietly relished the gains from his recent advancement.


    The gains from this night were tremendous. He was now very grateful for his decision to join the Redemption Society. In just a few days here, he had acquired more than he had in years of cultivation previously. Such is the advantage of resources! Hispanions, with their top-tier bloodlines, had been a tremendous help to him.


    Indeed, he had to do his best to help them improve.


    He was now at the peak of the fifth order. He needed to consolidate his realm, and soon, he could consider advancing to the sixth order. And when he made that push, he had to start with the Wind Wolf Transformation, as that was his publicly known bloodline.


    In the early morning, Cheng Zicheng stretched her body atop the tree, feeling refreshed after a night''s rest. Her arms were sore from practicing the Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh the day before.


    Looking down, she immediately spotted Tang San sitting beneath the tree, causing her to pause slightly. Tang San seemed to have undergone some changes. He looked more pleasing, and his physique was no longer as thin, instead appearing more robust. His features had opened up considerably overnight, transforming from ordinary to somewhat handsome.


    Beside Tang San was Du Bai, who, like Tang San, sat cross-legged, silently cultivating.


    As the sky brightened, the morning sun rose slowly in the distance. Wu Bingji and Gu Li also awakened from their cultivation one after another.


    The day''s practice and a night of rest had led to a palpable improvement in each of them. Gu Li was the most excited, almost wishing to stay there and continue practicing his Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique.


    Under the tree, Tang San, sensing the awakening of the three, also opened his eyes.


    Then he nudged Du Bai beside him and asked in a low voice, "How do you feel?"


    Du Bai opened his eyes, initially dazed but quickly regaining focus, and thoughtfully said, "I feel something. My eyes seem warm andfortable. Other than that, there''s nothing special yet."


    "It seems that your body might not reject this technique, at least not for now. So keep cultivating. This method requires time to umte. You have to umte a lot of energy before you see the gains."


    Before the others woke up this morning, Du Bai had climbed down from the tree himself. He had been looking forward to Tang San''s guidance.


    Taking advantage of the morning''s purple aura, Tang San taught Du Bai how to cultivate the Purple Demon Eyes. Du Bai followed suit in practicing with him.


    Tang San had greatly enhanced his spiritual power and consequently improved his Purple Demon Eyes. The effect of today''s cultivation was excellent. To his surprise, Du Bai, who wasn''t exceptional in other aspects, seemed natural at cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes. On his first day of practice, Tang San could already sense a change in him as a faint purple aura radiated from his eyes. This was a phenomenon that hadn''t urred when he tried it with the Wang brothers and Ling Muxue before.

 Chapter 117: Closing In On the Winged Tigers

    <h4>Chapter 117: Closing In On the Winged Tigers</h4>


    <i>Could it be that they couldn''t cultivate the Purple Demon Eyes because their bloodline tier is too low? And Du Bai can do it with the Celestial Fox Vision''s higher tier? It would make sense....</i>


    This was a distinct possibility, and also a pretty favorable situation. If the Purple Demon Eyes could help Du Bai continuously enhance his spiritual power, and considering that Tang San confirmed that the Celestial Fox Transformation was able to devour spiritual power to improve, then it was actually possible for Du Bai to use this method to break through.


    After breakfast, the group couldn''t stay put. Wu Bingji and Tang San were aware that the mayor was following them secretly. They set off again, heading deeper into the jungle.


    ording to the map, they had about a day''s journey left to reach the habitat of the Winged Tigers.


    Along the way, whenever they encountered lonely demonic beasts, even the usually cautious Wu Bingji didn''t stop them from engaging. Right now, demonic beasts were the best targets for practice.


    Even Cheng Zicheng was no longer just scouting; she used her freshly practiced and somewhat clumsy Golden Wing Wind-Splitting sh, coordinating with everyone in the attack.


    As a beginner, facing fifth-order demonic beasts was somewhat scary. But with Tang San and Wu Bingji by their side, there was naturally no danger. Moreover, the most significant advantage of Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation was that it allowed a great margin for error.


    Whenever the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer failed to connect, he could immobilize the opponent briefly and start over.


    Today, their gains were even greater than the day before, and they managed to take down seven or eight demonic beasts. Among them was one at the peak of the fifth order, on par with the Fissure Lizards.


    All their faces showed nothing else but beaming smiles. This outing had not only improved their strength and battle experience but also yielded many demonic beasts. It was indeed a bountiful gain!


    "Little Tang, make sure to call me for future missions! I��ll be at your beck and call!" In his great mood, Gu Li became much more active. The thought of beating Zhang Zebin after mastering the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique brightened his spirits like nothing else.


    Tang San smiled. "Sure! This kind of practical training is really great for everyone''s strength progression. If we train, cultivate, and then train again, then we��ll get much better much faster."


    Wu Bingji cautioned them, "We must not be careless. The Kali Mountain Range is extremely dangerous. ording to the academy''s records, this trail that leads to the habitat of the Winged Tigers is rtively safe. This areacks precious herbs and other natural treasures because the environment is not good for them. We would have encountered stronger demonic beasts if we had taken a different direction. We can''t let our guard down just because we had a couple of victories. Also, we are about to enter the territory of the Winged Tigers. From this point on, the danger will increase. Everyone, please remain vignt.��


    "Yes," the others responded in unison. They knew that they were nearing the border of the Winged Tigers'' habitat.


    Wu Bingji said in a serious tone, "Let''s find a ce to rest and recover early today. We''ll enter the Winged Tigers'' territory tomorrow, when we��re fresh. Gu Li, Tang San, and I will take turns keeping watch tonight. Don''t work on your new abilities for now; just stay in top condition."


    "Yes," everyone agreed again.


    When they set out that morning, Wu Bingji also shared their mission target, informing the other three. Unexpectedly, Gu Li, Cheng Zicheng, and Du Bai showed no particr reaction to the possibility of facing a seventh-order Winged Tiger. Cheng Zicheng even suggested strategies for intercepting the Winged Tiger in the air.


    At that moment, Wu Bingji realized that his younger fellow students were getting overconfident due to their previous smooth progress.


    They had quickly ovee peak fifth-order demonic beasts. Wu Bingji was at the sixth order, and Tang San, while not there yet in cultivation, wasparable in strength. Their team cooperation made them feel confident even against a seventh-order demonic beast.


    This was the mindset of the other three. Wu Bingji was worried, but when he looked at Tang San, he saw that thetter didn''t show any particr emotion either. It then urred to Wu Bingji that the mayor was secretly following them, so he calmed down as well.


    Tang San''s thought was actually simple: you don��t know reality until it punches you in the face. These young people needed a good jolt. A heavier blow would be more beneficial for their improvement. He didn''t feel the need to warn them now; when danger struck, reality would teach them a harsh lesson.


    With his experiences from a past life, he was well aware of the circumstances that best stimted potential. Actually, hispanions were not the only ones who needed this catalyst; he also did.


    They chose a spot on higher ground, ate something simple, and then everyone went to sleep early.


    Wu Bingji took the first watch while the other four rested in the trees.


    The sky gradually darkened utterly. Although they were on a hillside, the giant trees above obscured the light of the stars and moon, making their surroundings quite dim.


    As time ticked by, the four in the trees were immersed in meditation.


    Suddenly, Tang San opened his eyes, and they shed with faint light. His enhanced spiritual power significantly improved his perception, and he sensed something!


    He looked down; Wu Bingji below hadn''t sensed anything yet and was just sitting there, paying attention to the surrounding noises.


    Just then, a howling wind rose in the mountains, the chilly mountain breeze bringing cold waves.


    Wu Bingji shivered and stood up, instantly on high alert. His nose twitched, and he seemed to be sniffing something.


    The next moment, he froze. He stood like that for a second or two, then he pped therge tree behind him with his palm.


    The shock woke everyone meditating on the branches.


    "<i>Aaaah!</i>" cried out Du Bai. He was the one with the poorest control of his own body, and he nearly fell from the tree due to the shock.


    Tang San quickly grabbed him, stabilizing him on the branch.


    "Hold tight to the branch, stay up here, and don''te down," Tang San advised him, then leaped down to join Wu Bingji.


    Gu Li followed Tang San, jumping down from the tree. Cheng Zicheng didn''t descend but immediately activated her Golden Roc Transformation, her arms turning into golden wings spread at her sides. Her sharp gaze focused on the ground below.


    "Senior brother, what''s wrong?" Gu Li asked Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji replied, "There''s a scent of blood in the wind; a demonic beast might be approaching. It probably smelled us."


    Most demonic beasts had an acute sense of smell, and they were especially quick to notice blood and unfamiliar scents. To them, the scent of humans was not only foreign, but actually rather enticing.


    "Prepare for battle," Tang San said softly. The next moment, a swirling green light surrounded him.


    Gu Li had also activated his Chrono Croc Transformation. His body was encased in thick scales, his long tail slightly raised, and the tail hammer gently swaying.


    Facing the potential arrival of a demonic beast, his mood was somewhat excited. After two days of practicing the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer, he had grasped some of its mechanics. His initial three strikes were stable, ensuring each blow was more potent than thest. He was eager for an enemy to arrive to give him a chance to practice.


    <i>Whoosh~ whoosh~</i>


    Another strong gust of wind blew. Indeed, there was a faint scent of blood within the mountain wind. It had to be said that Wu Bingji''s sense of smell was incredibly sharp.

 Chapter 118: The Wind Brings Forth The Winged Beasts

    <h4>Chapter 118: The Wind Brings Forth The Winged Beasts</h4>


    From the woods below, a rustling sound emerged. Wu Bingji whispered, "Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger. It might be a Winged Tiger. Be careful."


    As he spoke, suddenly, a figure burst out of the woods with a swoosh. The muscr figure pped its wings furiously, charging directly toward the hillside where they were.


    With Tang San''s Discerning Eye and Celestial Fox Vision,bined with the Purple Demon Eyes, there was no one around who could see better. With just one nce, he saw the appearance of the neer.


    It was a majestic tiger covered in dark yellow fur with brown stripes. Its back sported a pair of solid and broad wings, with longer fur than its body. From below its lips, two sharp, dagger-like fangs protruded. Its torso was robust and powerful, measuring over two and a half meters in length.


    Its manner of advancing was unique. It leaped off the ground with its limbs, and then, in mid-air, it powerfully pped its wings for a second burst of speed. It was incredibly fast, and as it moved through the trees, it exuded a fierce aura.


    It was indeed a Winged Tiger! They hadn''t even entered the Winged Tigers'' territory yet, and now they unexpectedly encountered one at the border!


    Tang San saw it; the next moment, Wu Bingji and Gu Li also saw it. However, there was no panic on their faces. Instead, they showed expressions of joy. The reason was simple: this wasn''t an adult Winged Tiger, but a young one.


    An adult Winged Tiger was at least four meters long, muchrger, and had a distinct aura. This Winged Tiger, judging by its size, clearly hadn''t reached adulthood. Such a Winged Tiger would be below the seventh order, likely around the fifth or sixth. It was entirely within the capabilities of their current team.


    Wu Bingji rubbed his hands together, and a streak of blue formed in his palms, deepening quickly as he manipted it with his hands. It was an icicle.


    Through trial and error over the past few days, Wu Bingji found that by rubbing his hands and channeling the ice elemental energy between them, he could quicklypress the icicle, enhancing its power.


    Gu Li let out a low shout, stepping forward. A sh of pale yellow light in his eyes, and the Winged Tiger, about to pounce onto the hillside, paused momentarily in midair.


    The most terrifying aspect of the Time Freeze ability wasn''t actually the momentary dy, but the disruption it caused to the momentum built up by the opponent.


    The fiercely charging Winged Tiger was frozen in ce, and the moment it started to move again, it naturally lost its bnce.


    Gu Li spun in midair. Hisrge tail swung up, and he executed the first strike of the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique, sending the tail hammer fiercely toward the tiger''s head.


    The coordination of the Chrono Croc Transformation and the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique was perfectly executed, and Gu Li was incredibly excited.


    A loud bang echoed as the Winged Tiger''s head was struck square. The impact sent it whirling down toward the ground.


    At the same time, Wu Bingjiunched the icicle in his hand. It was only a third of the size of a normal one, but its deep blue color betrayed a much greater density. It vanished in a sh thanks to the Flicking Dart, shooting straight towards the eye of the Winged Tiger.


    Tang San was not idle either. In his hands, eighteen wind des blossomed in the style of the Hundred Birds Homing Strike. On closer inspection, one would notice that the wind des he released were a few shades deeper in color than when they had first left the academy to enter the Kali mountain range, a clear sign of increased attack power.


    The Winged Tiger knocked down by Gu Li stood up and finally regained its footing. It let out a loud roar as it prepared to counterattack. At the same time, a burst of green-yellow light exploded from it, blooming outward like an explosion.


    "Freeze!" Gu Li''s second activation of the Time Freeze arrived almost instantly. The blooming green-yellow light paused momentarily.


    It was at this moment that the icicle arrived.


    After numerous battles, the team''s level of coordination had improved immenselypared to when they first entered the mountain range.


    With a puff, the icicle first pierced the green-yellow light, about to stab into the Winged Tiger''s eye.


    But at that moment, the Winged Tiger burst forth with anotheryer of green light, slightly more solid.


    With a crisp sound, the green light blocked the icicle. This almost tangible light seemed to be very strong defensively. However, the icicle was now far morepressed than Wu Bingji''s normal ones. Though it was powered by the same sixth-order cultivation, the energy it carried was much greater than before.


    Though slowed down, the tip still pierced into the green light.


    Wu Bingji was stunned at the power of his own attack. Just as Tang San had said, if he could refine the icicle to the level of an ice needle, what defense could there be against it?


    The Winged Tiger let out a heaven-shaking scream. Although the green light had blocked most of the attack from the icicle, it still blinded one of its eyes.


    With its scream, the green-yellow light on the Winged Tiger''s body instantly erupted to the extreme, forming a light sphere over three meters in diameter centered around it andpletely enveloping it.


    Tang San''s infallible Hundred Birds Homing Strike drove the wind des down one after another. However, most of the green light dissipated when they hit the green-yellow barrier, with only a tiny part of the impact force affecting it. All eighteen wind des hit the same spot, as always, yet they only caused the light of the green-yellow shield to dim slightly.


    "Wind Astral!" Wu Bingji eximed almost instinctively.


    Indeed, it was Wind Astral, formed by condensed wind element energy. This Wind Astral had a solid immunity to wind attribute attacks. Its defensive power was extraordinary, and it could also be used offensively to great effect.


    Not only was the Winged Tiger a wind-attribute demonic beast, but it was a peak existence among them beasts. Tang San''s wind des had little effect on it.


    Even so, the intense pain in its eye almost instantly sent this young Winged Tiger into a frenzied state. The slightly dimmed blue-yellow shield exploded in an instant. Countless wind des and wind arrows burst forth indiscriminately, like an arrow volley flying at the team.


    <i>Is this a fifth order? </i>This thought shed through Gu Li''s mind. <i>Could a fifth-order demonic beast be this strong?</i>


    <i>Sixth order! </i>This was Tang San''s judgment. At that moment, the Winged Tiger''s body had turned entirely green-yellow, with a somewhat translucent texture.<i> A wind elemental physique!</i> <i>Extremely strong!</i>


    This demonic beast was at the sixth order, had exceptional innate talent, a powerful body, and a wind elemental physique that granted it incredible control over the wind element. Its strength was likely above Wu Bingji''s.


    Though these thoughts shed through his mind, Tang San''s movements did not cease.


    Gu Li had already shouted his third "Freeze!" However, his Time Freeze could not stop everything everywhere��that would have been an absurd level of power. With his cultivation level, his ability could impact an area with a diameter of about five meters.


    At this moment, he, Tang San, and Wu Bingji were scattered, and more importantly, there was therge tree where Du Bai was located. Thus, when Gu Li activated his ability, his main goal was to protect himself and Du Bai, as well as Cheng Zicheng, who was also flying around therge tree. Moreover, this time, the Time Freeze was not used to immobilize the Winged Tiger, which meant the beast could still move.


    In other words, Tang San and Wu Bingji had to rely on themselves in this dangerous situation.


    Their previous initiative had suddenly turned into a passive defense. Gu Li''s continuous use of Chrono Croc Transformation three times had also exhausted him significantly. He couldn''t even deploy the second strike of his Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer.


    At such a time, Tang San''s strength was showcased.


    His hands moved rhythmically, sending out wind des like shes of lightning. It was not just eighteen this time; in an instant, more than twenty-five wind des flew out from his hands, precisely intercepting most of the wind des and wind arrows attacking him and Wu Bingji. And that was not the end of it. Tang San radiated a brilliant green light, and he absorbed the surrounding wind elemental energy, causing the attacks released by the Winged Tiger to dim visibly.

 Chapter 119: Winged Tiger Battle

    <h4>Chapter 119: Winged Tiger Battle</h4>


    The attacks manifested by the Wind Astral were as substantial as reality itself, and as their power was significantly enhanced by the wind elemental physique, they far surpassed Tang San''s wind de. This was evident as the ice shields formed by Wu Bingji shattered one after another.


    A bizarre scene then unfolded; Tang San''s wind des, upon colliding with the wind des of the Wind Astral tier, quickly dissipated. They couldn''t entirely withstand the impact. However, the Wind Astral des also changed direction upon collision, striking other Wind Astral attacks instead. A chorus of shrill whistles filled the air, yet no attack could get close to Tang San and Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji effectively blocked only the frontal attacks. Tang San''s sequence of wind des deflected the other surrounding Wind Astral attacks.


    Tang San was undoubtedly the best in his ss in terms of mid-range attacks. This disy of his ability to control the trajectory of his attacks left Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng, who were watching from the air, utterly astounded.


    In their brief encounter, Tang San had already deduced that the Winged Tiger, with its formidable physique and natural aptitude for wind control, was certainly above Wu Bingji, even though thetter was also at the sixth order. Ending the battle swiftly was necessary to avoid casualties.


    "Senior brother, buy me some time!" Tang San shouted, retreating backward while moving his hands in front of him like dragons swimming in a sea of clouds. A green light swiftly gathered in his palms. Tang San''s eyes turnedpletely a vivid green, a clear sign that he was pushing his energy to its utmost limit.


    At that moment, Wu Bingji also erupted with power. With Tang San having dealt with most of the Wind Astral attacks, Wu Bingji swung his right hand, releasing another icicle using Flicking Dart.


    The Winged Tiger, with one eye destroyed, was in a frenzy. Right after its explosive attack, without a moment''s pause, it pounced, already in front of its target.


    The icicle was shot at close range, and the Winged Tiger swung its paw, attempting to swat it away. At that moment, theunched icicle exploded on its own.


    With a loud bang, the explosion sent the Winged Tiger''s paw flying back. In the next instant, Wu Bingji had formed an ice spear in his hand and thrust it fiercely, aiming for the Winged Tiger''s other eye.


    The Winged Tiger roared in anger, gathering the wind elemental energy around its body once more, ready to unleash a burst of wind des.


    At this moment, Gu Li finally caught his breath.


    "Freeze!"


    The Winged Tiger stiffened for an instant. The energy it had just gathered almost instantly dispersed, and it failed to form the de storm it had intended on. Meanwhile, Wu Bingji''s ice spear was already before its eyes.


    Their coordination under immense pressure was incredible.


    The ice spear was about to pierce into the Winged Tiger''s eye socket. Suddenly, a burst of green light surged from the Winged Tiger''s body, and the Wind Astral erupted in response, forcefully repelling the ice spear.


    However, this action was hasty and less ferocious than the previous outburst. The Wind Astral gave in inch by inch under the full force of the ice spear.


    The Winged Tiger''s wings pped violently, creating a fierce wind that blew Gu Li away. It drifted up and backward, and rich wind elemental energy swiftly converged toward it at an astonishing speed.


    <i>How tough! </i>Wu Bingji thought, shaken. Despite being of the same sixth order, this juvenile Winged Tiger, not even a mature beast, surpassed him in both elemental control and physical strength. Such was the innate gift of demonic beasts��and the talent of the demon race.


    But at this moment, he couldn''t retreat; his junior brother and sister were behind him, and he had to buy time for Tang San. He had a blind trust in Tang San, believing that as long as he could hold off the Winged Tiger in this head-on sh, Tang San would surely deliver a battle-ending blow.


    He took a deep breath, and with that, he started radiating an icy blue glow, causing a noticeable drop in the surrounding air temperature. His entire body instantly turned ice blue, a sign that he had pushed the Ice Nymph Transformation to its limit and he was initiating his ice elemental body.


    He thrust the ice spear in his hand violently into the ground, and in the next moment, numerous icicles erupted around him.


    As these icicles emerged, they released a bone-chilling coldness in a wild burst.


    Finally, the wind element around the Winged Tiger erupted, transforming into a massive whirlwind that swept downward.


    The icicles shot up from the ground, hurtling toward the whirlwind. They were each over two meters long, and they whistled piercingly as they shot forth.


    The icicles prated the whirlwind, and it almost instantly engulfed them. The whirlwind, now filled with icicles, immediately became far more threatening.


    But then, Wu Bingji shouted, "Explode!"


    With a series of booming explosions, the ice crystals within the whirlwind detonated, their powerful explosive force disrupting the concentration of the wind element. The entire sky filled with a vast expanse of icy mist. The whirlwind continued to howl, but its advancing force had dissipated, scattering in the air.


    Wu Bingji''s face flushed. This move he had just used was the pinnacle of his ice attribute abilities. This was the Ice st technique��something he had developed from what Tang San had taught him. Not only was the ice elemental explosion itself powerful, but the resulting shrapnel could cause significant damage to everything around it.


    His attempt had managed to block the Winged Tiger''s whirlwind.


    At that moment, a ball of orange-yellow light descended from the sky with a piercing screech, striking the Winged Tiger right on the head. The attack was perfectly timed, as the beast had just unleashed its whirlwind and was trying to catch its breath.


    With a dull thud, the orange-yellow figure rebounded and shot upward, but the Winged Tiger was also smashed down from the sky,nding on the ground with its skull sporting a fresh, bleeding crack.


    The one who struck was Cheng Zicheng.


    Since the beginning of the battle, she had been looking for an opportunity.


    Without a doubt, she was far outmatched by the Winged Tiger in strength, and a frontal battle gave her no chance of even staying alive, much less winning. However, the recently learned Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh had her eager to try.


    Cheng Zicheng cleverly waited for the right moment, which was undoubtedly bound to appear during the most vigorous collision between the Winged Tiger and its two opponents. At such a time, the Winged Tiger''s cultivation would be significantly weakened, as would its attention.


    Cheng Zicheng chose to strike from the side where the Winged Tiger was blinded. She rapidly rolled and spun in the air, driving a pair of golden wings, and unleashed a nine-consecutive Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh.


    Cheng Zicheng''s approach on the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer was different from Gu Li''s. Although the golden wings were tough, they fell far short in terms of weight and powerpared to the meteor hammer that was Gu Li''s tail. Therefore, she couldn''t repeatedly use the spinning momentum to enhance her attack power, at least not with the current state of her golden wings.


    But Cheng Zicheng had her own ways. Although she didn''t have a terribly robust physique, her speed was unmatched among the students of the Redemption Society. After continuous trials, she found that leveraging her speed was a good solution to her problem.


    Spinning around nine times seemed to be the optimal number, allowing her to maintain a stable form and maximize her speed without getting dizzy.


    Therefore, her first Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh strike was executed after nine rotations. The attack and cutting power were formidable, actually surpassing Gu Li''s strike after five rotations.


    However, with Cheng Zicheng''s current physical strength and cultivation, she could only do one sh; she couldn''t go for the second one no matter what.


    The main reason was that after one strike, her golden wings were so numb from the shock that they needed time to recover. How could she possibly use the momentum to spin and attack again?


    Thus, it was a single, charged strike for her. But even this one attack was enough toe down upon the sixth-order Winged Tiger from the sky and leave a wound��something she, a mere fourth-order child, could unquestionably take pride in.


    The Winged Tiger crashed to the ground, and the intense pain in its forehead made it roar angrily, bellowing at the sky again.


    It was at this moment that a shadowy figure quietly approached.


    This shadowy figure seemed to exist between illusion and reality, its faint dark green color blending with the night. If one didn''t look carefully, they might not even notice its presence.

 Chapter 120: Oh No! Look Who鈥檚 Here!

    <h4>Chapter 120: Oh No! Look Who��s Here!</h4>


    The illusory light and shadow, almost invisible, flew toward the Winged Tiger, and by the time the Winged Tiger noticed, it was already there.


    The fur on the back of the Winged Tiger bristled in an instant, the sense of an imminent deadly threat making it dig out even the most deeply-hidden drops of its power.


    The green Wind Astral burst forth again, poised to forcibly defend or at least mitigate some of the attack''s potency.


    However, when the Wind Astral was released, the Winged Tiger was shocked to find that the wind element around it had vanished and disappeared instantly. Indeed, the very energy that it was most proficient in controlling was nowhere to be found, and within a five-meter radius from it, there was none!


    The next instant, however, it noticed a massively rich concentration of wind energy not far away. Unfortunately for the tiger...the water in a nearby well can''t do anything to quench the immediate thirst.


    From afar, Tang San''s eyes shed with a glimmer of pearly white light, a halo that flickered and vanished instantly.


    The next moment, a shadowy, dark green streak had already prated the Winged Tiger''s remaining eye.


    The growls of the Winged Tiger stopped immediately; its throat produced nothing but a gurgling noise. Its robust body stiffened for a moment before crashing to the ground, blood gushing from all its orifices.


    The shadow that had prated its eye hadpletely obliterated its brain, killing it instantly and leaving it dead beyond doubt.


    Meanwhile, Wu Bingji had conjured a thick ice wall, and through the transparent barrier, he witnessed the Winged Tiger''s copse, though he was momentarily unaware of what he was seeing.


    In the air, Cheng Zicheng managed to steady herself after much difficulty, but she was still dazed from the collision; she also hadn''t quite grasped the situation.


    Gu Li had just steadied himself from the onught of the fierce wind and rushed back. By the time he got back, however...the battle was over!


    "Done!" Tang San''s voice rang out, snapping everyone out of their shock. As they turned to look at Tang San again, their gazes couldn''t help but change.


    <i>How did he do it?</i> This was the question on everyone''s minds.


    Tang San exined, "I gathered energy and sent apressed Wind de into its eye, and it shredded the tiger''s brain. It was greatly weakened from the collision with senior brother Bingji and it couldn''t dodge or defend itself."


    <i>Not that it could''ve dodged or defended anyway.</i> What Tang San had used was not a Wind de but a new, personal development��a Wind Needle. The energy concentration of a Wind Needle was many times greater than that of an Ice Needle. Thus, even Tang San''s spiritual power needed time to aplish this.


    Had his spiritual power not made a qualitative leap, this level of control would have been almost impossible. Even Tang San felt some fear when the Wind Needle took shape. Thankfully, as it was guided by his spiritual power, the Wind Needle was perfectly precise as it struck.


    At the same time, he tried his spiritual control for the first time. After merging with the Celestial Fox Vision, he renamed his foremost white bloodline imprint the Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    Unlike the Discerning Heart''s Gaze, which offered him some vague awareness of the surroundings, and the upgraded Discerning Eye, which could see various elements in the air, the further-evolved Discerning Eye of Heaven could even control these identified elements within a certain distance, regardless of the element type.


    Thus, in that instant, Tang San had used the Discerning Eye of Heaven to disperse the wind element around the Winged Tiger. This was followed by the piercing Wind Needle, which struck the fatal blow.


    With the prating power of the Wind Needle, even the Wind Astral might not have been able to withstand it anyway. But for safety and as a little experiment, Tang San activated the Discerning Eye of Heaven for the first time. The effect was even better than he had imagined. <i>A sixth-order Winged Tiger, dead in one shot!</i>


    Only now did Gu Li and Wu Bingji begin to breathe easier. The battle had been extremely tense for them. Only now could they rx.


    He turned to Tang San and gave a thumbs-up. Because of the ice wall, he couldn''t see how Tang San had done it. But regardless, the Winged Tiger was dead. There was no doubt about that. They had indeed taken down a Winged Tiger.


    It was not a fully mature seventh-order one, true, but it also wasn''t a fifth-order baby. Rather, it was an intermediate sixth-order Winged Tiger.


    Every bit of this demonic beast was a valuable treasure. Although the exact value varied depending on the beast''s order, the difference was not all that important. Its fur and most other parts had the same value regardless of the order. Moreover, this Winged Tiger''s fur was almost intact, without any damage, which made it even more valuable��not quite ten naturae coins, but probably eight.


    <i>Damn, we''ve struck it rich!</i> Even someone asposed as Wu Bingji understood this was a fortune.


    Furthermore, their mission for this trip waspleted, and the gains were immense.


    "You''ve really killed it. Little Tang, you''re amazing," Du Bai eximed in surprise, sitting on a tree branch.


    He was the only one who had seen how Tang San had made his move.


    He had watched from the tree as Tang San gathered his strength, even vaguely noticing concentric circles of green light converging toward Tang San''s palm. The light was continuouslypressed during the process. The final projection was a shadowy, dark green light, almost indistinguishable at night. Even with his excellent vision, he could only discern it as a vague streak of light.


    At that moment, Du Bai had felt something special. Tang San had been facing away from him, yet when he hadunched that attack, Du Bai had suddenly felt a weirdly familiar sensation emanating from him.


    Then, the Winged Tiger had died.


    Tang San approached Wu Bingji and Gu Li, asking, "Are you two alright?"


    Wu Bingji smiled, "Apart from some energy depletion and nervousness, we''re fine. I need to quickly deal with the body to prevent the scent of blood from spreading. Our mission isplete. This is the outer area of the Winged Tiger''s territory. We should leave tonight and return once we''ve taken care of the body. We can''t stay here any longer, just in case..."


    Just as he was saying this, suddenly, a cry of rm rang out, "Oh no!"


    Everyone turned to look and saw that Du Bai had fallen off from his tree branch.


    A sh of orange-yellow light, and the speed of the Golden Roc Transformation was fully exhibited for everyone to see. Almost immediately before Du Bai hit the ground, Cheng Zicheng caught him.


    "What''s the matter with you? Can''t you even sit still?" Cheng Zicheng chided.


    "It''s not that..." Du Bai''s voice trembled violently. Cheng Zicheng then noticed Du Bai''s eyes emitting a faint white light, and tears streamed down his face.


    "D-danger, t-there''s danger," Du Bai said in a trembling voice.


    Seeing this, Tang San''s face turned pale.


    <i>The Celestial Fox Vision is an eye of fate; what does such a strong reaction mean?</i>


    Previously, when the sixth-order Winged Tiger arrived, the Celestial Fox Vision had not reacted this way, indicating no significant danger.


    But at this very moment, Tang San felt a noticeable heat in his eyes, a sensation of tears about to emerge, his scalp tingled, and it felt like a cold breeze swept across his spine.


    "Not good!"


    Without hesitation, Wu Bingji immediately collected the corpse of the Winged Tiger nearby and shouted, "Zicheng, take Du Bai and leave; we need to retreat."


    Just at that moment, a deafening roar erupted, sting away the leaves of the trees in its path.


    The five people who were preparing to flee the scene all felt their heart skip a beat when they heard this roar filled with rage and emotion. All of them, except for Tang San, felt their legs turn limp.


    At this moment, they didn''t need to guess to understand what was happening.


    They had killed the little tiger and...the big tiger was here.

 Chapter 121: Ninth-Order Winged Tiger King

    <h4>Chapter 121: Ninth-Order Winged Tiger King</h4>


    Wu Bingji''s mouth twitched as he turned to look at Tang San. After hearing the tiger''s roar, he never thought of fleeing. It was impossible to escape from a higher-order winged tiger with their speed.


    He muttered, "Half gone, half of it is gone!"


    Tang San nced at him, his mouth twitching slightly.<i> Who would have thought that the senior brother was such a miser at heart?</i>


    Only he understood what Wu Bingji meant. The mayor apanied them for protection, and if they encountered an irresistible force, the mayor would intervene. But if the mayor intervened, they would have to give up half their gains. At least half of the winged tiger''s profits!


    That''s why Wu Bingji felt so helpless.


    It had been just within their grasp! The hunt they hadpleted solely relying on their own power! Yet now, it seemed the mayor had to step in.


    But Tang San was thinking about something else. The feeling from the Celestial Fox Vision was telling him it wasn''t that simple.


    If it was a problem the mayor could solve, they should be safe��or at least their <i>fate</i> would not be all that miserable.


    Du Bai might not feel it directly, but the Celestial Fox Vision''s perception of fate wouldn''t react so violently. The same applied to Tang San himself. Within his spiritual sea, his divine consciousness resided��a remnant from his previous life and a trump card that he kept in reserve to protect him in this life. His sense of danger was not as strong as Du Bai''s, not to the extent of being moved to tears. Yet, even so, what he felt was a lethal threat! And this meant...


    The starlight and moonlight in the sky suddenly dimmed in that instant.


    A colossal figure descended from the sky.


    With a wingspan exceeding twelve meters and a body exceeding eight meters in length, the beast was covered in brownish fur with a faint golden sheen. The terrifying pressure it radiated made everything around tremble, as if there was an earthquake. Its crystal-yellow eyes streaked with blood, radiating insane anger. The turbulent energy in its blood made the air around it seem almost viscous.


    Under Tang San''s gaze, the wind element in the air wildly converged toward the massive body. The star and moonlight shining on its back created a flowing halo of dark gold.


    "What...in the world...is that..." Gu Li said, dumbfounded. He remembered very clearly what he had been taught about Winged Tigers, and no matter how he scoured his memories, he couldn''t recall anything like this.


    <i>This... it''s just too big, too massive...</i>


    An eight-meter-long tiger with a wingspan over twelve meters. What kind of creature was this?


    Wu Bingji''s lips quivered. At that moment, he could no longer care about the material possessions he was about to lose.


    "Wing...Winged... Winged Tiger King..."


    Indeed, this wasn''t a mature Winged Tiger. A mature Winged Tiger was of the seventh order, and those with more potent bloodlines could even reach the eighth order.


    However, the demonic beast before them, filled with insane anger and hatred in its eyes, was not a seventh- or eighth-order Winged Tiger. Theyer of dark gold sheen highlighting its fur revealed its powerful bloodline.


    The strongest bloodlines among the demon kind were the Golden Bloodlines, belonging to the direct lines of the major demon ns. Demonic beasts, however,cked the elevated spirit of their more advanced peers, and they could not give birth to such a Golden Bloodline unless they could somehow awaken their sentience through some sort of lucky opportunity. Only the most powerful demonic beasts could manifest a hint of dark gold in their bloodline.


    Thus, a demonic beast with a hint of dark gold in its bloodline would be the undisputed king among its kind, standing at the very top of the demonic beast food chain.


    Indeed, what these children were facing was no longer just a Winged Tiger, but a ninth-order Winged Tiger King!


    <i>The outskirts... this is just the outskirts of the Winged Tiger''s territory! How could it be? How is this possible... No wonder that young Winged Tiger was at the sixth order, not the fifth, and it even had a wind elemental physique and the power of the Wind Astral. It was an offspring of the Winged Tiger King!</i>


    They were about to face the insane revenge of a top-level, ninth-order, mighty demonic beast.


    "Zicheng, Du Bai, leave, quickly!" Wu Bingji shouted, frantically gathering ice energy around him.


    Tang San bitterly smiled. "We can''t leave. The wind element in this area has beenpletely sealed. This is a domain of the wind attribute. Within this domain, we simply cannot fly."


    Indeed, Zicheng was pping her wings hard, yet she couldn''t generate any airflow. She couldn''t take off no matter what she did.


    <i>ROOOOAARRRR!!!!</i>


    The ninth-order Winged Tiger King roared furiously, striding forward with its robust limbs and approaching them step by step. The immense pressure instantly caused the five youngsters to be drenched in sweat from the intense fear.


    Gu Li muttered, "Do you think if we give it the body of its child, it would spare us?"


    Tang San''s eye twitched slightly. "You can''t be serious. It''d only kill us faster."


    Suddenly, a massive ze shot up into the sky. The blinding light instantly illuminated the sky and brought warmth to the earth. In the jungle, every detail was revealed under the explosive fire, and the dark-golden sheen on the Winged Tiger King''s fur became even more apparent.


    <i>ROOOOAARRRR!!!!</i>


    The Winged Tiger King seemed to sense something and roared toward the sky.


    The rising ze, now like a meteor chasing the moon, descended from the sky, transforming into a massive fireball and hurtling straight toward the Winged Tiger King.


    "He''s here!" Wu Bingji slightly rxed, a look of relief shing in his eyes. Yes, the mayor had arrived. Their savior was finally here!


    The Winged Tiger King''s enormous wings suddenly pped, sending a mighty green light soaring into the sky. The spiraling green light, like a light tornado, changed the color of the heavens and earth wherever it passed.


    The green and red lights collided fiercely in the sky. A halo of blue and red light spread outwards in mid-air from the ground. The night sky was illuminated in green and red, an incredibly spectacr sight.


    "Why aren''t you running yet? Do you want to die?!" echoed Zhang Haoxuan''s roaring voice.


    Tang San and the others finally reacted. Wu Bingji quickly ran to Du Bai and picked him up on his back. With Tang San, Gu Li, and Chengzi following closely behind, the four of them broke into a run.


    The collision of ninth-order powerhouses was not something they could be involved in. Even the aftermath could quickly devour them!


    The Winged Tiger King roared in anger. Its wings spread once more, and two green light des, each tens of meters long, whistled out, flying toward them. Wherever these des passed, nothing remained standing.


    A red light shadow descended from the sky, followed by a tremendous roar��also a tiger''s roar��filled with intense heat.


    The ze fell, instantly turning the surroundings into a sea of fire. The mes surged, managing to block the vast expanse of wind des.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s Demonic God Transformation was the ze Tiger Transformation, originating from the ze Tiger. It was immensely powerful, and it exuded a mighty aura. Even though they were both tiger races, the rank of the ze Tiger was actually above that of the Winged Tiger, as thetter was a demonic beast, not a demon. But the Demonic God Transformation of humans and the power of proper demons still differed. Therefore, in terms of bloodline, the two opponents were on par.


    Unfortunately, the Winged Tiger that the mayor was facing was the Winged Tiger King, with a hint of dark-golden bloodline. The physical prowess of the Winged Tiger King was something Zhang Haoxuan could notpare to. In a sh of ninth orders, he had no assurance of victory.


    With the attack from behind blocked by the mayor, Tang San and the others quickly fled.


    As they were running, however, Tang San now understood why he had such a foreboding feeling. They were at the border of the Winged Tiger territory, which meant that within that area, there was not just one Winged Tiger! Winged Tigers were not terribly social beings, but the creature attacking them was a Winged Tiger King. Therefore, the question had to be asked: could this kingmand its kin?


    And even if it could not, there was still something important to consider. Winged Tigers lived in family units, and this Winged Tiger King was unquestionably the pir of its family. The Winged Tiger they had killed was an infant, which meant that the Winged Tiger King probably had a...

 Chapter 122: The Tigress Is Here

    <h4>Chapter 122: The Tigress Is Here</h4>


    <i>ROOOOOAAARRRR!!!</i>


    A piercing roar erupted. Gales swept through, instantly blowing the leaves off the surrounding treetops and leaving them bare.


    The faces of Tang San and his fourpanions changed dramatically.


    <i>It came, it really came. This was the truly lethal threat!</i>


    Shrouded in a blinding green light, a colossal figure smashed onto the ground not far in front of them. The massive shockwave it created as itnded instantly sent them flying backward.


    It was about six meters long, with a wingspan of over eight meters. A huge concentration of the wind element swirled around its body, its furious roars even more intense than the Winged Tiger King''s.


    <i>Damn, the tigress is here! Once we took down the youngling, the mother came right away!</i>


    Had the young Winged Tiger not sought to kill Tang San and his group for food, their family would still be intact. Had they known such a family was there, Tang San and his group would have simply walked around them.


    However, due to its gluttony, the greedy young Winged Tiger had lost its life, and its parents went into a frenzy as a result.


    The pull of bloodline power immediately alerted the Winged Tiger King, who rushed to the scene at once. Following closely was the tigress; she arrived slightlyter, but still in time to effectively block Tang San and hispanions'' path.


    Undoubtedly, this was an adult Winged Tiger. In the world of tigers, the females were generally less powerful than their male counterparts. However, being the wife of the Winged Tiger King, this particr tigress was undoubtedly a paragon among her kind.


    <i>Just a hair''s breadth from the eighth order. </i>That was Tang San''s instant assessment. In other words, the tigress before them was at the peak of the seventh order, incredibly close to breaking through.


    Though Zhang Haoxuan himself was at the ninth order, even just holding his ground against the Winged Tiger King was an achievement in and of itself. To Wu Bingji, the mayor''s presence had been all but absolute assurance, yet now, this mighty guardian was fighting an even mightier foe.


    As a result, with their protector unable to fulfill his mission, these children were faced with the formidable seventh-order Winged Tigress that was grieving the loss of her own child.


    Wu Bingji and Gu Li were by far not in their peak state, while Tang San and Cheng Zicheng were in a somewhat better condition. However, even Wu Bingji, the one with the highest cultivation among them, was only at the sixth order.


    The gap between the sixth and seventh orders was far greater than the one between the fifth and the sixth, not to mention the opponent''s formidable physical strength.


    Wu Bingji gently set down Du Bai, who was on his back, and whispered, "Run as far as you can. You must not die. No matter what, find a way to get back."


    At that moment, his emotions calmed down. Despite being only sixteen years old, he was the eldest disciple of the Redemption Society. He was the oldest and most advanced in cultivation among them all.


    He harbored no resentment; what point would there be? Who could have anticipated such a turn of events?


    But at this moment, he had resolved to protect his junior brothers and sisters at all costs.


    "Tang San, take them and leave immediately. If necessary, scatter and run. Save as many as you can. I''ll hold it off. I don''t know for how long, but I will. Just go."


    They were still within the domain controlled by the Winged Tiger King, so even Cheng Zicheng couldn''t fly. But once they left this area and flight became possible, Cheng Zicheng''s chances of escape would be significantly higher.


    "It''s no use. You alone can''t hold it off for long." Tang San''s voice was equally calm. He stood beside Wu Bingji, shoulder to shoulder.


    "Eldest senior brother, I was the one who suggested that wee here for training. We should face the enemy together."


    Tang San was only nine years old, noticeably shorter than Wu Bingji. Yet, standing side by side with him, his stature did not seem a single inch smaller.


    "Weren''t we targeting a seventh-order Winged Tiger anyway? The target''s right in front of us, so why run? Let''s just do it." Gu Li stood on the other side of Tang San, the three forming a concave line.


    Tang San turned to Cheng Zicheng and Du Bai, "It''s no use for you two to stay. Go, now."


    He had no confidence in defeating a peak seventh-order Winged Tiger, even without hiding his abilities and using all his powers. After all, even though he was at the peak of the fifth order, it was still just the fifth order.


    "I won''t leave! Du Bai, you go!" Cheng Zicheng stubbornly looked at the three, showing no intention of leaving.


    "Stop wasting words, let''s go. Can he get far on his own?" Wu Bingji suddenly turned around, scolding his junior in an angry tone.


    At this moment, the massive Winged Tigress was surrounded by a dazzling green light, dispelling the darkness around it. The Wind Astral swirling around it was several times denser than the younger Winged Tiger''s, and it emitted a tremendous oppressive force toward everyone.


    "I..." Cheng Zicheng wanted to say something more, but after ncing at the pale-faced Du Bai beside her, she gritted her teeth, grabbed Du Bai, and turned to run.


    Tang San''s eyes showed no fear. If he had a choice, he would never reveal his true abilities, let alone use his divine consciousness. But now, it seemed that the chances of having an actual choice were slim.


    He hadn''t anticipated such a situation. Not even Zhang Haoxuan could protect them, ninth order and all. ns can''t keep up with changes; only by revealing his trump card could he ensure everyone''s survival.


    But in his heart, he felt reassured; he hadn''t misjudged people, had he? Whether it was Wu Bingji''s resolute decision to cover their retreat or Gu Li''s seemingly reckless but strong determination in the face of death, it all made him feel like he was back in the past, fighting alongside hispanions.


    <i>They are all trustworthy.</i>


    A faint white light flickered in and out of view in Tang San''s eyes. He spoke softly, "Eldest senior brother, brother Gu Li, help me. Ice Spear!"


    Responding to Tang San''s words without hesitation, Wu Bingji grasped the void with his right hand, rapidly condensing the ice elemental energy in the air. His entire bloodline power surged, not holding anything back in the face of their enemy''s immense oppressive force.


    The ice spear appeared in the air and shot forward instantly, emitting a piercing howl as it headed straight for the tigress.


    Tang San tapped the ground with his toes and leaped up simultaneouslynding like a phantom on the spear. Riding the spear, he rushed straight toward the tigress.


    Wu Bingji and Gu Li didn''t pause. As the ice spear carried away Tang San, they followed closely, charging forward.


    Although they didn''t know what Tang San was nning, at such a time, they could only give it their all.


    Tang San did not use the bloodline imprint of the Wind Wolf Transformation. At this moment, his eyes were filled with a bright white light. Under the gaze of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, the wind element in front of him was visible, surrounded by the intensely dense Wind Astral, entwined with dazzling green light.


    In an instant, the tigress moved. Its vast wings pped violently, and the next moment, its massive figure lunged straight at Tang San. Its right w swung up, bringing an iparably fierce aura with it, and five Wind Astral des generated by its tiger ws descended upon him.


    Tang San would be instantly cut into pieces if this w hit him.


    "Freeze!" Tang San shouted explosively.


    "Freeze��" Gu Li was already prepared, and the Chrono Croc Transformation was activated at Tang San''s signal.


    The control of the Chrono Croc Transformation was powerful, even when facing opponents of higher orders.


    However, the gap in strength between the two sides was simply too vast. The tigress''s swiping ws and lunging torso paused in mid-air, but it was only for a moment, and the Wind Astral on its w des did not diminish.


    Wu Bingji was charging forward, his heart in his throat. Were his eyes deceiving him? The tigress had paused for the briefest of moments, but to him, it had almost seemed as if...she paused twice in session?

 Chapter 123: A Battle To The Death

    <h4>Chapter 123: A Battle To The Death</h4>


    When Tang Sanunched himself forward, he had already made up his mind. Having faced countless challenges across three lifetimes, hisbat experience was immensely rich.


    Undoubtedly, the creature before them was not something they could confront. With a physique almost akin to an eighth-order demonic beast, even standing still and allowing them to attack might not break its defense.


    The Winged Tiger''s innate bloodline ability was the Wind Astral, an extremely powerful amalgamation of offense and defense. And it could fly, which made escape impossible.


    The fact that the town''s mayor could withstand a ninth-order Winged Tiger King was no small feat. Thus, at this moment, they could rely on no one but themselves.


    Wu Bingji was not mistaken; the tigress''s body had indeed paused twice in mid-air. One pause was due to Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation, and the other was from Tang San. This was his first use of the Chrono Crocodile��s bloodline ability.


    When using Time Freeze, he felt a portion of his spiritual power being drained instantly, and everything in front of him twisted momentarily.


    His Chrono Croc Transformation imprint was only at the third order, so it was theoretically less effective than Gu Li��s. Still, his current spiritual power had liquefied, making him much stronger than Gu Li on a spiritual level, hence the simr effect in time solidification.


    Tang San acted in that moment of the tigress''s frozen stance. He suddenly sprang from the ice spear, which fell under his stomp. His figure, soaring into the air, flickered ethereally. In the next instant, he had already dodged the tigress''s w. Using the light of the Wind Astral on the tiger''s ws as cover, his form abruptly vanished for a moment.


    Wu Bingji and the others only saw a blur before Tang San, inexplicably, was already above the tigress''s head.


    Tang San never stuck to outdated notions, especially in life-or-death situations.


    <i>Leopard sh Transformation!</i>


    A single flicker brought him directly above the tigress. He was instantly on the tigress''s back after fully activating his Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon technique. Instead of attacking directly, he fully engaged his Mysterious Heaven Technique, frantically devouring energy!


    He didn''t know if his ability to devour demons would work on demonic beasts. But he knew this was his only chance.


    To survive the tigress''s attack, he had to do two things: strengthen himself and weaken the enemy.


    "Boom��" A massive surge of bloodline power instantly rushed into Tang San''s body.


    <i>It worked! </i>That was Tang San''s first thought. But in the next instant, the tigress reacted, and the Wind Astral on its body suddenly erupted. A massive burst of energy surged, catapulting Tang San into the air.


    He was sted a hundred meters away, breaking through the tree canopy. Even so, at the instant of the Wind Astral''s explosion, he knew that he had achieved his goal. In that brief moment, he had touched the tigress��s back and essed the bloodline energy surrounding its heart.


    This was where its blood and energy were most concentrated, and naturally, the ce where the bloodline energy was richest. Due to the effect of two Time Freezes, in that instant, the tigress had been left without its Wind Astral protection, and it had only taken a mere moment for Tang San to drain it.


    With this absorption, Tang San did not even stop to consider whether his body could withstand it. His cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique was already at the peak of the fifth order, and it was instantly elevated to the utmost limit within this level.


    What Wu Bingji and the others saw was Tang San being violently sted into the air, blood spurting from his mouth, and his clothes torn apart. His life or death was uncertain.


    "AAAAHHH!!!" Wu Bingji shouted, instantly throwing the icicle he had formed in his hand, fully unleashing his ice elemental power and charging toward the tigress.


    Gu Li did the same. At this moment, his inner grief overcame fear. They didn''t know what Tang San had done, but the instant Tang San was blown away, the tigress''s suppression of their bloodline powers was noticeably weakened.


    They figured Tang San might have died, so they went all out!


    At the very least, they wanted to buy time for Cheng Zicheng and Du Bai to escape. Even if they didn��t make it, they had to ensure that their younger siblings escaped.


    Even with its peak seventh-order strength, the tigress felt weakness throughout its body from Tang San''s absorption. That Tang San''s clothes were torn apart as he flew in the air wasn''t actually due to the Wind Astral''s impact but because he had absorbed too much energy too quickly. His body was unable to withstand it, and the energy had dispersed through his pores and shredded his clothes.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Wu Bingji was sent flying by a w strike; his protective ice armor shattered intorge pieces. If it weren''t for Gu Li''s Time Freeze forcibly arresting the strike��s momentum for half an instant, that strike might have cost him half his life.


    In his frenzy, Gu Li swung his tail hammer and struck the tigress''s right w, forcing it to the ground. But the next instant, he was sent flying by the tigress''s left w. The sharp tiger ws left five deep, bone-visible scratches on him. Even the thick scales of the Chrono Crocodile couldn''t entirely stop the tiger''s ws, and blood gushed out.


    If it weren''t for Tang San''s absorption, which had weakened the tigress''s strength, Gu Li would have lost his life in that instant.


    The gap was too vast. Their attacks couldn''t breach the defense of the seventh-order Winged Tiger, and every strike from the beast threatened their lives.


    Wu Bingji struggled to sit up, continuously shooting icicles at the tigress''s eyes, trying to distract it. Unfortunately, even the young Winged Tiger��s Wind Astral could block the icicles normally; facing the power of a seventh-order beast, they were instantly shattered by the Wind Astral.


    Meanwhile, Tang San had reached peak altitude and was now plummeting back down.


    The tigress harbored a more profound hatred for him��the human that had done <i>something</i> to its energy.


    It didn''t pursue Wu Bingji and Gu Li anymore. Instead, it suddenly lifted its head, pped its wings, and leaped toward the sky. Its gaping maw opened, and its enormous fangs were poised to bite Tang San in half.


    A few more seconds and Tang San would be tiger food


    "No��" Wu Bingji bellowed, and in an instant, the ice elemental power burst forth. An ice wall behind him shattered, propelling him like a meteor chasing the moon, rushing straight toward the tigress.


    His time with Tang San had been brief, yet he had learned much from him in that short half-month. He could feel that his junior had an astonishingly brilliant talent, even though he only had the lower-tier Demonic God Transformation of the Wind Wolf. Although he was only nine years old, Wu Bingji admired and deeply respected him.


    A roar also echoed at this moment: "Freeze!"


    Gu Li, his entire body stained red with blood, let out this roar with all his strength. The intense white light mingled with the blood on his body, manifesting the strongest Time Freeze he had ever done in his life.


    The tigress clearly slowed down, and its wings stiffened in ce. Despite the inertia still carrying it upward, its gaping jaws simply couldn''t close.


    "Freeze!" A familiar voice rang out at this moment beside Wu Bingji''s ear.


    Due to being propelled forward by the exploding ice wall, Wu Bingji''s back was mangled and bloody. However, the pain allowed him to remain lucid, in spite of beingpletely drained.


    The ice spears he had thrust out instantly shattered on contact with the beast. He suddenly spread his arms wide, and as his ice-blue body collided with the tigress, his arms wrapped tightly around the beast''s thick neck.


    The ice-blue color instantly spread over the tigress''s body. And as thest drops of energy of the sixth-order Ice Nymph Transformation were squeezed in a supreme effort, the tigress froze.


    At the same time, the green figure falling from the sky somehow somersaulted and curled up. Faced with the enormous jawsing to bite him, he didn''t evade but instead plunged into them.


    The tigress watched him fall into its mouth, but the Time Freeze, coupled with the freezing that chilled its entire body and stiffened its movements, made its jaws mp down just a beat toote.


    The next moment, a dazzling green light burst forth inside its mouth. The tigress let out a heart-wrenching roar, spewing out a thick mist of blood mingled with a green glow.

 Chapter 124: Escaping By The Skin Of Their Teeth

    <h4>Chapter 124: Escaping By The Skin Of Their Teeth</h4>


    The blinding Wind Astral burst forth, and Wu Bingji, frozen onto the tiger, was also sted away by the shockwave. In the face of the exploding Wind Astral, the Ice Nymph Transformation couldn''t fully protect him, resulting in his blood spraying wildly.


    The tigress frantically pped its wings, the surrounding vegetation sliced into various shapes by the rampant wind element.


    The tigress clutched its head with its paws in agony, seemingly trying to dispel the pain from its head, but at this moment, it was bleeding from all orifices. Copious amounts of blood gushed out amidst its frantic struggle.


    The body of a seventh-order demonic beast was truly formidable. However, tough as its hide was and strong though its bones and muscles, its internal organs were just like any other internal organs��vulnerable. And a full-power wind de exploding inside its throat did exactly what a wind de exploding inside someone''s throat was bound to do: it shredded everything in its path into pieces.


    Moreover, it wasn''t just Tang San''s power but also the tigress''s own.


    When Tang San was sted into the sky by its Wind Astral, the immense bloodline power that surged into his body nearly caused it to burst.


    But Tang San did not panic, as this was a situation he had anticipated.


    With the massive surge of bloodline power into his body, the first thing that happened to him was that he almost instantly broke through the bottleneck of the sixth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    This was one of Tang San''s key objectives in approaching the tigress. Breaking through the sixthyer of the Mysterious Heaven Technique required an immense amount of energy. Though the bloodline energy of demonic beasts was rather impurepared to that of demons, the energy from a seventh-order Winged Tiger was so abundant that even after filtration, it was far more than enough to meet his needs.


    At that moment, the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique was circting at breakneck speed within Tang San, forcibly protecting his meridians from being overwhelmed by the furious bloodline energy.


    The blood spouted by Tang San was also a result of the same issue. Rather than being caused by an injury, it was caused by his own energy expelling the impurities in the fresh bloodline energy in order to avoid injury.


    By the time he descended from the sky, he had already regained control of his body.


    He was now grateful for having daringly integrated the Celestial Fox Transformation earlier. His precise control over his own body in a moment like this was only due to the influence of his liquefied spiritual power. The difficulty of such a feat was something that Tang San understood all too well.


    Additionally, his ability to maintain control over the rampant energy within him in such extreme conditions was also thanks to his experience from three lifetimes of manipting various levels of spiritual power.


    Due to theck of time, he couldn''t absorb that massive energy. Instead, he opted to direct it outward, causing an explosion when he entered the tigress''s mouth.


    He had actually been nning to go for the tigress''s eyes, which were practically the most vulnerable. Having just advanced to the sixth order of cultivation,bined with the bloodline energy absorbed from the tigress, breaking through its defenses was feasible.


    But unexpectedly, Wu Bingji and Gu Li had joined forces to fight the tigress, which not only slowed it down but also presented Tang San with a unique opportunity to attack.


    The ferocious energy he could not contain was unleashed through his Mysterious Jade Hands and almost instantly vented into the softest part of the tigress''s mouth. Even Tang San''s Mysterious Jade Hands, which toughened his palms to an incredible degree, struggled to withstand that violent energy. A mist of blood burst from the surface of his skin. As for thepletely unprotected throat of the demonic beast...


    When Tang San left the mouth, he looked badly injured, and he really was, but it was clear that the tigress was by far worse off. It fell to the ground, vomiting blood profusely, and its eyes rapidly dimmed.


    Even the toughest defense can be easily breached from within, and Tang San had fully demonstrated this.


    Hended on the ground, barely able to maintain his stance. Meanwhile, Gu Li, who had exhausted all his strength and overdrawn himself in the distance, along with Wu Bingji, who was sted away andy on the ground, had both fallen into unconsciousness.


    In that brief battle, all three had fought with all their might. They would have undoubtedly perished under the Winged Tiger''s ws if there had been even the slightest mistake.


    "<i>AOOOOOOOOO!!!!</i>" A piercing roar resounded in the distance. A massive burst of greenlight shot up into the sky, shattering the vast swathes of red light.


    A terrifying aura burst forth wildly, and Tang San''s face changed; he knew exactly what was happening. The Winged Tiger King sensed that its mate was dying and it had gone into a frenzy, bing too much for the mayor to handle.


    The fury of losing a child, the hatred of losing a wife. One could only imagine the terrifying attacks that a ninth-order Winged Tiger King would unleash in this state.


    Tang San struggled to turn around. His condition was dire. His meridians were strained, his energy in disarray, his aura chaotic. He was simply unable to continue the fight.


    The massive silhouette of the Winged Tiger King appeared in the distant sky, but just then... Tang San saw a brilliant red light streaking across the heavens.


    The red light was incredibly bright; as soon as it appeared, the entire sky was red, like a spectacr sunset.


    This red light suddenly suppressed the intense green light emanating from the Winged Tiger King. As the red light passed, the Winged Tiger King let out a pitiful scream, its massive body unable to maintain flight. The green Wind Astral around it shattered, and the tiger was flung into the distance.


    <i>What a powerful strike!</i> Tang San froze for a moment. Was the mayor that powerful?


    Heavily injured, the Winged Tiger King fled, not even attempting to find its mate. At this moment, thest glimmer of light in the eyes of the tigress finally extinguished, signaling herplete demise.


    This peak seventh-order Winged Tiger, which was maybe just weeks or months away from reaching the eighth order, thus fell under thebined efforts of Tang San and his allies.


    The red figure in the distance swiftly approached like a streak of flowing light.


    When Zhang Haoxuan saw Tang San rapidly descending, his eyes widened instantly.


    His first thought was, <i>It''s over, it''s all over.</i>


    Cheng Zicheng and Du Bai were nowhere to be seen, Wu Bingji and Gu Liy on the ground, their fate unknown, and only Tang San was still barely supporting himself.


    Tang San noticed the longsword in Zhang Haoxuan''s hand. It was a somewhat transparent-looking dark red sword that seemed neither metal nor jade, emitting a fierce red glow. Without a doubt, the stunning red light from before was unleashed by this sword.


    "Master...." Tang San coughed out a mouthful of blood and then copsed on the ground, finally unable to hold on any longer.


    "They..." Zhang Haoxuan''s voice trembled. These were some of the best students in this session; how could he exin something to the organization if something happened to them?


    Tang San shook his head, saying, "They''re fine. Cheng Zicheng and Du Bai left ahead. We three covered the rear and we somehow managed to take down the tigress. Please check on the two senior brothers."


    Upon hearing that Cheng Zicheng and Du Bai had evacuated, Zhang Haoxuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation was just too important, and Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc Transformation also held incredible potential. Fortunately, these two were alive and had not perished under the tiger''s ws.


    Without saying anything else, Zhang Haoxuan quickly went to Wu Bingji and Gu Li''s side to check their condition.


    Wu Bingji''s injuries were quite severe, and he had at least four or five broken ribs. Thankfully, his breathing was steady, which indicated that there was no immediate threat to his life.


    Gu Li had passed out due to mental exhaustion rather than physical injury, although he had also been struck by the tigress. His physical status seemed normal, but his mental fluctuations were noticeably unstable.


    <i>But at least these two are still alive!</i>


    "Alive, that''s good, that''s good..." Zhang Haoxuan muttered to himself, and only then could he rx, opening his mouth to spit out a mouthful of blood.


    Wiping the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth, he picked up Wu Bingji and Gu Li and brought them near Tang San. The ming longsword in his hand slowly merged into his right arm and disappeared.


    "Teacher, that strike of yours was really powerful!" Tang San eximed.


    Zhang Haoxuan frowned. "It''s just ast-resort attack, what''s so great about that? It was an attack that required charging up. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have been dyed for so long. Cheng Zicheng and Du Bai..."[1]


    1. The original idiom here is "sacrificing eight hundred soldiers to kill a thousand enemies," basically an action that deals substantial damage to both parties. ?

 Chapter 125: I Had Good Luck, Thats All

    <h4>Chapter 125: I Had Good Luck, That''s All</h4>


    Tang San said, "Please hurry and find them. They will be in danger if they encounter other demonic beasts in the forest. Since you''ve driven away the Winged Tiger King here, even if there are other Winged Tigers, they probably won''t get anywhere near this area. I''ll stay here and watch over them. In a little while, I should be able to fight."


    "Those two are not in a condition to move; they can only rest here for now. First, we need to stabilize their injuries. You stay here and guard them; I''ll be back as quickly as I can," Zhang Haoxuan said without hesitation, suppressing his injuries. He leaped up again and swiftly headed into the distance.


    He had to find Cheng Zicheng and Du Bai; otherwise, these vast forests would be too dangerous for them.


    He left, and Tang San breathed a sigh of relief, though his physical condition was still deplorable. Fortunately, his Mysterious Heaven Technique had made a breakthrough. Now that he was at the sixth order, his energy offered him an even more substantial capability to nourish and heal himself.


    He silently circted his energy, adjusting his disordered aura and meridians and slowly healing his injuries.


    At the same time, Tang San discovered that inside his body, there was an additional bloodline imprint. It was a translucent emerald color, much more transparent and solid than his Wind Wolf Transformation imprint.


    Without a doubt, he had gotten this imprint from the tigress. When he thoroughly devoured it, it was to weaken the tigress and strengthen himself, but unexpectedly, he had also obtained a bloodline imprint, even though the source was a demonic beast rather than a demon.


    Now that the battle was over, he slowly analyzed the remaining power of the tigress''s bloodline within him,paring the bloodlines of demonic beasts and demons.


    Unlike anybody else on this, he could simply put the bloodline imprints one next to another andpare them directly. As expected, the bloodline power of demonic beasts was more turbulent, unlike the pure bloodline power of demons, and it contained more impurities. This was likely because their spiritual intelligence was low at best, and during cultivation, they could only passively absorb spiritual energy; they could not consciously circte it, much less filter it and use catalysts to improve it. This was one of the reasons demonic beasts could not cultivate to the level of a God King.


    However, in terms of the vigor of their qi and blood, demonic beasts were certainly not inferior. This peak seventh-order tigress contained the most formidable bloodline energy Tang San had ever felt. Within its enormous bodyy incredibly potent bloodline power.


    Of course, this was because he had not yet felt the bloodline power of the mayor, his master.[1]


    <i>The wind-attribute imprint the tigress left should be called the Winged Tiger Transformation. Hmm... the Winged Tiger is of the wind attribute. As expected, the innate ability of the Winged Tiger is not flying, it seems that''s something instinctual. Considering the color of the imprint, it��s clear that the ability attached to it is the Wind Astral.</i>[2]


    <i>Now, what would happen if the Winged Tiger Transformation with the Wind Astral ability were to merge with the Wind de from my Wind Wolf Transformation? </i>


    Undoubtedly, the Winged Tiger Transformation''s bloodline tier was higher than the Wind Wolf Transformation''s. If the Winged Tigers were demons, their bloodline tier would directly start at the third tier. Unfortunately, they were demonic beasts, not demons, so their bloodline purity was somewhat inferior, but it should still be above the fourth tier. As for the Winged Tiger King, its bloodline was undoubtedly peak third tier, if not higher.


    The Winged Tiger Transformation imprint was likely able to merge with Tang San''s Wind Wolf Transformation, allowing it to evolve and offering Tang San a more varied range of attacks than just the basic Wind de.


    Of course, this wasn''t something he can do right now. The intense impact of the bloodline energy on his meridians still had to be repaired. Fortunately, the Mysterious Heaven Technique had made his meridians very flexible, and its nurturing effect on Tang San''s physique was excellent. Given enough time, full recovery was a given.


    Now, the only concern was whether another powerful Winged Tiger would try to profit from the others'' misfortune.


    The mayor had previously dealt a heavy blow to the Winged Tiger King, and Tang San hoped the Winged Tigers didn''t have the habit of helping each other. Otherwise, he would really have to rely on his divine consciousness.


    Just then, he distinctly felt a warm sensation flowing through his eyes, which soothed his tense mood somewhat.


    Was this...the effect of the Celestial Fox Vision, or rather the Discerning Eye of Heaven, telling him there was no danger nearby?


    While Tang San was marveling at the function of the Celestial Fox Vision, Zhang Haoxuan returned, carrying Cheng Zicheng and Du Bai on each shoulder.


    Seeing the mayor return, Tang San breathed a sigh of relief and became even more intrigued by the mysteries of the Celestial Fox Vision. Indeed, there was no danger; the foresight it provided was genuinely fascinating! It was exactly like the premonition he had of the imminent threat that the Winged Tiger King posed. At that time, the intense sense of crisis was because of the hidden danger represented by the tigress, a danger they had been forced to face by themselves.


    Zhang Haoxuan descended from the air, and only then did Tang San notice that while Cheng Zicheng was all right, Du Bai had fallen unconscious, and his face was deathly pale.


    "Master, what happened to senior brother Du Bai?" Tang San asked in surprise.


    Before Zhang Haoxuan could speak, Cheng Zicheng said, "While we were running away, we both felt extremely guilty. I was carrying him, and he kept saying he was useless. Then, I suddenly felt a strong surge in spiritual power. After that, he fell unconscious. He scared me terribly, he was just hanging there like a limp noodle. Luckily, the mayor came after us after a minute. I don''t know what exactly happened."


    <i>A sudden burst of intense spiritual fluctuations, then he fell into aa</i>...


    "It must be mental exhaustion," Zhang Haoxuan stated.


    Tang San instantly understood what had happened.


    Du Bai must have felt profoundly useless and filled with self-me while escaping with Cheng Zicheng. Then, he used the power of the Celestial Fox Vision, exerting it to its fullest to try to manipte their fate.


    <i>It seems... he seeded!</i>


    If he hadn''t taken the chance to attack the tigress''s mouth, even if he could have blinded it, the three of them would still have been in great danger. Unless he used his divine consciousness, death would have been almost inevitable.


    They had unexpectedly coordinated perfectly at that moment, ultimately managing not just to injure but to kill the tigress. There was no way luck was not involved!


    Du Bai''s remote maniption of the power of fate seemed to have contributed to their sess. This was truly fascinating.


    "You, you guys..." At this moment, Cheng Zicheng saw the massive body of the tigress not far away.


    Now rxing, Zhang Haoxuan also noticed the body of the tigress and eximed in surprise, "Wow, how is it this big?!"


    Previously, his focus was on the well-being of his students, and he hadn''t paid attention to the Winged Tiger. Now that things had settled down and all five children were alive and well, he finally processed what had happened.


    The strength of demonic beasts was most often proportional to their size, and the Winged Tiger certainly fell into this category. The size of this Winged Tiger in front of them dwarfed an ordinary adult Winged Tiger, yet they had managed to kill it.


    When Zhang Haoxuan looked at Tang San again, his face showed nothing but shock.


    Tang San smiled wryly. "This is the result of everyone''sbined effort."


    Cheng Zicheng said, "Mayor, you''re so amazing. How did you get here? Thank goodness for you, or we would have been doomed!"


    Zhang Haoxuan''s mouth twitched slightly. His arrival was indeed crucial; he had stopped the Winged Tiger King. However, this Winged Tiger in front of them had nothing to do with him!


    But at this moment, he didn''t know what had happened, and knowing the secret of Tang San''s Mysterious Heaven Technique, he didn''t say much.


    "Rest here and recover as quickly as possible. We still need to leave this area soon. Otherwise, we''ll be in trouble if the Winged Tiger King returns." When he sat down, he visibly trembled, indicating that his earlier encounter with the Winged Tiger King had been anything but easy.


    However, he couldn''t rest yet. He carefully examined Wu Bingji''s condition, aligning his broken bones correctly to prevent them from healing the wrong way. He also needed to monitor Gu Li and Du Bai and make sure nothing went wrong.


    1. He has, in fact, absorbed some of the mayor''s bloodline power. This is an error in the raws. ?


    2. The original here is ��Wind Tiger Transformation,�� but for reasons pertaining to theter chapters, as well as consistency with the other transformations, we have decided to change it to Winged Tiger Transformation. ?

 Chapter 126: In Retrospect

    <h4>Chapter 126: In Retrospect</h4>


    Du Bai and Gu Li were deeply unconscious, showing no reaction at all. Their spiritual power was severely depleted.


    Cheng Zicheng was the only one fully unharmed; thus, she was in charge of keeping watch.


    Tang San had no time to exin anything. With Zhang Haoxuan''s return, he hurriedly engaged in the Mysterious Heaven Technique to tend to his injuries.


    The night was indeed a heart-stopping experience.


    The tigress''s body had disappeared when Tang San awoke from meditation the following day. He then saw Wu Bingji, with his torso wrapped in bandages and supported by wooden splints, resting against the trunk of arge tree not far away.


    Du Bai and Gu Li were still lying there. Cheng Zicheng and Zhang Haoxuan were nowhere to be seen.


    After a night of recovery, although he was still feeling some faint pain inside, Tang San''s injuries had stabilized.


    "You up? Have something to eat." Zhang Haoxuan''s voice sounded as he approached from behind Tang San, offering him some fruits.


    "Thank you, Master." Tang San took the fruits and began to eat heartily.


    The fruits from these mountains were rich in spiritual energy. After eating seven or eight of them, the replenishment of spiritual energy, nutrition, and hydration made Tang San feel much better.


    Zhang Haoxuan sat beside him. He was rather pale, but his aura had regained stability. <i>As befitting of a ninth-order powerhouse!</i>


    "Tell me, how did you defeat the tigressst night?" Zhang Haoxuan asked.


    Tang San replied, "It resulted from everyone''s concerted efforts. Didn''t the eldest senior brother tell you?"


    "He did tell me about the earlier part, but he mentioned that it looked like you were about to be eaten by the Winged Tiger," said Zhang Haoxuan.


    Tang San replied wryly, "When I lunged at it, I was actually nning to restrain the Winged Tiger. But as it flung me away, I actually made a breakthrough. The eldest senior brother must have told you the rest. I was lucky during my fall; Inded directly into the tigress''s mouth. At that time, it couldn''t close its mouth because the eldest senior brother froze it and Gu Li also used Time Freeze, creating an opportunity for me to attack. I released a full-power wind de inside the tigress''s mouth. Thanks to my breakthrough, my attack was strong enough to injure it seriously."


    "Attacking from inside its mouth? No wonder," Zhang Haoxuan mused. He had also observed the tigress''s condition earlier, noting that the fatal wound was indeed internal, leaving the tiger''s hide perfectly intact.


    "This time, you almost got into aplete disaster. Never undertake such risky missions again. If it weren''t for your luck yesterday, by the time I got there, you would have been torn apart by that tigress," Zhang Haoxuan said, still feeling a shudder of fear.


    Tang San smiled. "Luck is also a part of strength! Don''t forget why I brought Du Bai along. If I''m not mistaken, his unconsciousness is due to using the Celestial Fox Vision to the maximum, so the power of fortune was on our side. Otherwise, how could it have been so coincidental that I would fall directly into the tiger''s mouth for an attack?"


    "Hmm?" Zhang Haoxuan was startled. "Are you saying that his third-order Celestial Fox Vision could influence a peak seventh-order Winged Tiger? That''s impossible!"


    <i>My third-order Discerning Eye of Heaven also possesses the fortune-boosting ability of a third-order Celestial Fox Vision. In addition, two people in our group are at the sixth order, so the gap in cultivation is not that ridiculous. It��s not like Du Bai influenced the Winged Tiger��s fortune by himself, he had help from all of our fortunes, </i>Tang San thought to himself.


    Of course, he wouldn''t say this out loud, as he didn''t want Zhang Haoxuan to know that he had absorbed the Celestial Fox Vision.


    "Anyway, that''s how it turned out. Otherwise, how could we defeat a seventh-order Winged Tiger under normal circumstances?" Tang San said with a smile.


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at him intently, finding it increasingly difficult to see through his newly epted disciple. Despite being only nine years old, Tang San always gave him the impression of being very mature. It was truly odd, yet even after all the investigations, it seemed that his background was clean.


    "Little Tang, are you alright?" Wu Bingji''s weak voice called out.


    Tang San responded, "Eldest senior brother, I''m fine. How about you?"


    "It hurts..." Wu Bingji gasped in pain. He had severe internal and external injuries, which had been somewhat stabilized under Zhang Haoxuan''s treatment.


    "You deserve the pain, going on such a reckless mission to hunt a Winged Tiger," Zhang Haoxuan said irritably. The mere recollection ofst night''s events still frightened him.


    Wu Bingji''s mouth twitched into a bitter smile. "Teacher, shouldn''t you be more concerned about someone who''s only nine years old but has already broken through to the sixth order? Didn''t you hear what he just said? He''s already at the sixth order. Is he even human? He''s seven years younger than me."


    "Uh?" Zhang Haoxuan was momentarily startled. His attention hadn''t been on this before, and even though Tang San had just mentioned a breakthrough, he hadn��t really processed the information.


    Hearing this, he immediately fixed his gaze on Tang San, "You... you��ve reached the sixth order?!"


    "Mm-hmm." Tang San nodded, "Under immense pressure, at the brink of life and death, I made a breakthrough. Didn''t I tell you and Teacher Guan before that the best way to break through is when facing great pressure, especially during life-and-death crises? It fully stimted my potential."


    Zhang Haoxuan gasped in surprise. Sixth order! A nine-year-old at the sixth order! This kid...


    <i>Among all the students of the Redemption Society, he��s the second one to reach the sixth order! And he��s barely been here for a couple of days! Wait, if I remember correctly, Tang San had just broken through to the fifth order when he arrived. How did he reach the sixth order so quickly? Isn''t this rate of improvement a bit too fast?</i>


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at Tang San like a monster, making Tang San ufortable. "Teacher, don''t look at me like that. I''m a bit scared."


    "YOU are scared? You dared to fight a peak seventh-order Winged Tiger, and you��re iming that you know fear?" Zhang Haoxuan raised his hand, really wanting to p his pupil into the ground, but considering the boy was still injured, he held back.


    Tang San chuckled. "It''s not just me who''s made a breakthrough. I think everyone will give you some surprises. Senior Du Bai and senior Gu Li, after they wake up, should also have the potential for a breakthrough."


    Upon hearing this, Zhang Haoxuan shivered. "You mean, the two of them..."


    Tang San nodded and said, "Senior Gu Li''s final moment of freezing time against the tigress exceeded his normal power. At that moment, everyone was facing certain death, and he fell unconscious after that burst of power. He has been at the peak of the fourth order for quite a while now, unable to break through. I think that moment might have been his breakthrough. Senior Du Bai''s situation is probably simr. As you said, can a third-order Celestial Fox Vision affect the luck of a seventh-order Winged Tiger? Tough call. But what if it''s fourth-order?"


    Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes truly lit up.


    <i>The Chrono Croc Transformation and the Celestial Fox Transformation are the best bloodlines in the Redemption Society and the most hoped-for. If this time, both of them advance...</i>


    Thinking of this, Zhang Haoxuan''s entire mood changed, and he clenched his fists.


    "If it''s really as you say, I''ll take responsibility for everything that happened and the dangers you faced."


    Tang San shifted the topic from his breakthrough to the sixth order, asking with a smile, "Teacher, what ability does your me de have? It''s amazing. To think you could even injure a ninth-order Winged Tiger King!"


    Zhang Haoxuan nced at him and said, "That is my lifebound weapon. It''s fused with my cultivation, crafted by the top demonic beast weapon master from the spine of a ninth-order ze Tiger. I obtained it from the organization in exchange for my years of umted merits. It takes a long time to gather the energy I need to use it, but it can unleash a powerful attack. Without it, we would have been in big trouble yesterday. Would you guys have survived to see today''s sun?"

 Chapter 127: We鈥檙e Rich, We鈥檙e Rich!

    <h4>Chapter 127: We��re Rich, We��re Rich!</h4>


    "Lifebound weapon? What does that mean?" Tang San asked curiously.


    Zhang Haoxuan exined, "It''s a weapon that merges with your bloodline, bing a part of your body. You constantly nurture it using your bloodline energy. It''s an endeavor only those above the seventh order can attempt, because it requires massive bloodline power. Generally, it''s difficult for us humans to achieve. I was just lucky."


    <i>So that''s how it is.</i> The ze Saber was made from the spine of a ze Tiger, and Zhang Haoxuan''s Demonic God Transformation was the ze Tiger Transformation. Theyplemented each other, so they could grow together. When he used the ze Saber, Zhang Haoxuan could temporarily reach the peak of the ninth order and unleash an incredibly powerful attack, but it required charging up.


    Purely in terms of strength, he was inferior to the Winged Tiger King, but with the ze Saber as his lifebound weapon, he could seriously injure the Winged Tiger King.


    "Mayor, I''m back!" A crisp voice rang out. Cheng Zicheng had returned, bringing a few pieces of wood with her.


    Zhang Haoxuan asked Tang San, "How''s your recovery? Can we hit the road now?"


    "I should be okay."


    Zhang Haoxuan said, ��You and Cheng Zicheng carry Bingji, and I''ll take the two who are unconscious. Let''s leave here right now and head straight back to the academy.�� If what you said is urate, and the Chrono Croc Transformation and Celestial Fox Transformation can evolve, it''s worth the risk. The most important thing now is to bring these little ones back sessfully. After encountering the ninth-order Winged Tiger King yesterday, who knows what we might face next? It''s better to return sooner."


    "Yes, sir!"


    Right away, Tang San and Cheng Zicheng assembled the pieces of wood into a stretcher and tied them with thin vines, then secured Wu Bingji on top, trying their best to keep him from moving. Carrying this makeshift stretcher, the two of them followed Zhang Haoxuan, who carried Gu Li and Du Bai, one in each hand.


    With that, the group of six set off again, heading back toward the academy.


    Suddenly, while they were moving as fast as they could, Wu Bingji burst intoughter.


    "Big brother, what are youughing at?" Cheng Zicheng turned her head back, looking at him in confusion.


    "We''re rich. We''re rich!" Wu Bingji said,ughing merrily.


    Cheng Zicheng, who had never seen her senior brother in this state, asked, "Big brother Bingji, are you alright?"


    Tang San, following behind, said, "He''s fine, just injured. He''s rxing now, letting himself go a bit."


    Wu Bingji keptughing, "We''re rich, we''re rich."


    Cheng Zicheng: "..."


    Yes, they were indeed rich now! Even setting aside their previous gains and the demonic beasts they hunted, thest two Winged Tigers alone were worth a fortune.


    They had taken down the sixth-order Winged Tiger youngling. Initially, due to the Winged Tiger King, Wu Bingji had thought they would lose half of it. But then, the Winged Tigress hade along, and they had killed it themselves!


    Zhang Haoxuan had held off the Winged Tiger King, creating an opportunity for them, but they would still get half the profit, right?


    The peak seventh-order Winged Tiger female was worth more than just ten naturae coins, not to mention its intact hide, which could fetch a sky-high price. Even if they had to share with Zhang Haoxuan, it was still a fortune for them. A fortune with a price tag in naturae coins!


    Despite the pain of his injuries, Wu Bingji felt at ease lying on the stretcher, watching the scenery zip by, as if his wounds did not bother him in the slightest.


    Tang Sanughed at the sight. "Senior brother, now you understand what it means to seek fortune amidst danger. Isn''t this harvest greater than what you''ve gained from a year of cultivation?"


    Wu Bingji nodded without hesitation. "Much more."


    The gains from these few days were enormous in terms of both material rewards and cultivation.


    Tang San smiled, "Once we get back, you should rest well and heal. We''lle back again."


    "Come back again?" Zhang Haoxuan''s voice, a bit louder, came from ahead, "Grow some sense, will you? We nearly got wiped out. You''ve forgotten the pain before even healing?"


    Tang Sanughed. "Master, no gain without risk. As I just said to the eldest senior brother, we��re looking for fortune amidst danger!"


    "Shut up, I don''t want to hear it," Zhang Haoxuan said irritably. He was injured this time, and the ferocity of the Winged Tiger King was such that even if he managed to kill it, he probably wouldn''t survive. <i>These kids...</i>


    He almost regretted bringing Tang San into the Redemption Society. Since his arrival, there seemed to be an added element of instability in the academy. But on the other hand...it was also clear that his appearance had triggered some much-needed changes as well.


    The return journey was rtively smooth. Zhang Haoxuan was a ninth-order powerhouse, and even though he was injured, ordinary demonic beasts did not even dare to get close. The moment he released a bit of his aura, all demonic beasts in the vicinity fled for their lives.


    The return journey took only two and a half days. From a distance, the grand Kali Academy was already in sight. Zhang Haoxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his brow was still furrowed with worry, as Gu Li and Du Bai had not regained consciousness yet.


    Wu Bingji''s injuries had somewhat improved after two days of rest. Recovery wasn''t difficult with his sixth-order physique and the ice elemental physique. It would have taken an ordinary person close to six months to recover from bone and muscle injuries he had suffered, but he could get back to full health in about half a month.


    "Keep it low-key when we return, and don''t spread the word. Got it?" Zhang Haoxuan reminded them in a low voice.


    With the two still unconscious, the pressure was all on him. After all, he had fully supported this operation.


    "Don''t worry, Master," Tang San immediately responded, appearing very obedient.


    Zhang Haoxuan red at him irritably. "Let''s go."


    When they finally arrived at the academy in the evening, he settled Du Bai and Gu Li in their rooms to rest. Then, taking Wu Bingji, who could barely walk, along with Tang San and Cheng Zicheng, they went straight to the cafeteria.


    As they pushed open the cafeteria door, all eyes immediately turned to them.


    Seeing them return, several teachers in the cafeteria stood up.


    "You''re back? Good to have you back," Guan Longjiang said, immediately relieved upon seeing Wu Bingji.


    He walked over, looked Wu Bingji up and down, and asked, "Are you injured?"


    "Um, just a small injury. I''m fine, Master," Wu Bingji said with a smile, then added, "We hunted down some demonic beasts and brought them back. We''ll have an extra dish for dinner today."


    "Woah, hooray for senior brother!" The students immediately cheered. The meat of a demonic beast was indeed a rare delicacy!


    Mu Enqing looked behind the four, "Where are those twods, Du Bai and Gu Li?"


    Zhang Haoxuan said naturally, "They''ve expended a lot of their spiritual power and they need to rest, so I''ve taken them back to their rooms."


    "Is everything okay?" Guan Longjiang asked.


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "It''s fine. I just need some rest; that''s all."


    <i>Extra food, time to eat!</i>


    The extra meal was the meat of the Fissure Lizard they had hunted on the first day. This fifth-order demonic beast''s meat could have been sold for a reasonable sum of money. But now, considering their substantial gains, they didn''t care about this expense. In addition, the most valuable parts of a fifth-order Fissure Lizard were its scales, bones, and central tendon. Although the meat was also valuable, using it to win people''s hearts rather than their money was by far the best choice.


    After quickly finishing dinner, Tang San slipped away with Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng.


    If not now, then when? Once Gu Li and Du Bai''s unconscious state was discovered, they would surely face consequences.


    They could leave, but Zhang Haoxuan couldn''t!


    After the students ate, they left, but the teachers stayed behind.


    Si Ru''s expression darkened as he looked at Zhang Haoxuan. "Are you injured? What happened? Did something happen to Du Bai and Gu Li?"

 Chapter 128: Next Time? There Will Be No Next Time.

    <h4>Chapter 128: Next Time? There Will Be No Next Time.</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "A minor issue, but it''s okay. Indeed, they''ve overextended their spiritual power and are now resting."


    Guan Longjiang became visibly anxious. "What happened, exactly?��


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled wryly. "These kids are quite a handful. But it''s not their fault, probably just bad luck."


    Mu Yunyu frowned. "Weren''t they with Du Bai? Although the third-order Celestial Fox Vision doesn''t have a direct effect, it should be able to influence luck, right? How could they be unlucky?"


    Zhang Haoxuan''s mouth twitched. "Is it excellent luck to encounter a Winged Tiger King right at the edge of its territory? It wasn��t just the kids. I myself almost didn''t make it back either."


    He then broadly recounted the experiences of Tang San and the others on their journey, without omissions.


    As the head of the Redemption Academy and the mayor of Kali Academy Town, he had to make sure that everyone in his team was well aware of everything that was going on.


    Listening to his story, Mu Yunyu''s face lost color, and the others also showed drastic changes in their expressions.


    "Almost...they were almostpletely wiped out!" Guan Longjiang said with a trembling voice.


    Mu Enqing remained silent, while Mu Yunyu eximed, "How could you agree to let them go in the first ce? If that had happened..."


    Si Ru snorted coldly. "The main issue is that a certain someone here is rather useless. If it had been me, even if it were the Winged Tiger King, I''d still bring back its corpse. It''s just that I prefer not to reveal myself. We can''t just dispose of a ninth-tier demonic beast''s corpse easily. It would raise too many suspicions."


    He was one of the few god-level powerhouses in the entire Redemption Society, and there were no god-level beasts among the demonic beasts, so his im wasn''t an exaggeration.


    Zhang Haoxuan replied irritably, ��Then, you should go next time."


    ��Next time?" Guan Longjiang''s voice instantly became agitated, "Zhang Haoxuan, what kind of foolish decision is this? Do you realize, this time..."


    Guan Longjiang''s roaring voice was like a stormy baptism for the mayor. Despite his twitching lips, Zhang Haoxuan could only listen in silence.


    ***


    Cheng Zicheng stuck out her tongue and turned to Tang San, asking, "Tang, do you think Brother Gu Li and Du Bai will wake up? They won��t..."


    Tang San shook his head, "They''ll be fine. It''s just spiritual exhaustion. Their Demonic God Transformation is not just physical, and their abilities require spiritual power. It��s not like they were hit by a spiritual attack, all they did was overexert their Demonic God Transformation. That means they''ve just drained themselves, and their essence was not harmed. I think the reason they��re sleeping right now is just their instincts acting so they can heal faster. Haven��t you noticed their pulse and breath are very stable?"


    "Right, it would be great if they could wake up. Just hope nothing bad happens!" Cheng Zicheng sped her hands and prayed to the sky.


    Tang San said, "Praying to the sky is useless. Whoever or whatever is there doesn��t really seem to love humans."


    Cheng Zicheng paused for a moment. "That''s true. So, what should we do?"


    Tang San said, "When the opportunity arises, we''ll break through this sky and write new rules."


    Cheng Zicheng rolled her eyes. "You''re really talking big, aren��t you? I''m heading back. I don''t want to get caught and scolded by the teachers."


    With these words, she turned and ran off.


    Wu Bingji, who had been silent by the side, spoke up after she left, "Little Tang, how should we handle our spoils from this time? Should we take inventory?"


    Tang San smiled. "No need, no need. Senior brother, you handle it. Just convert it all into money and distribute it among the team. We can do it this way: although we killed both Winged Tigers, the mayor saved us by holding off the Winged Tiger King. Without him, we would have been goners. Let''s give him half of the earnings from the tigress. The rest, we can split equally among the five of us."


    Wu Bingji thought for a moment. "That sounds good. I''ll handle it these next few days. We need to divide it properly. I think we don''t need to sell everything. Let''s keep the Winged Tiger meat for ourselves. Tiger meat is very nourishing. Tiger bones can be used for medicinal wine or soup to strengthen muscles and bones. We can use it for everyone. What do you think?"


    "That sounds great. Let''s all eat the tiger meat together."


    Although Wu Bingji was fond of money, he was not greedy. As the eldest senior brother, he always considered the whole picture. This adventure was indeed thrilling, and the rewards were also immense. Among these gains, Tang San undoubtedly contributed the most, by teaching them the Flicking Dart and Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer techniques during their journey and turning the tide in dire situations. Next to Tang San, the one with the most significant contribution was naturally Wu Bingji, who had the highest cultivation level.


    Thus, Wu Bingji first sought Tang San''s opinion when dividing the spoils. Seeing Tang San''s generosity, he was also happy to go along.


    Of course, it wouldn''t be fair to the five who risked their lives to distribute all the gains among all the students in the academy. However, setting aside a portion of the demonic beast''s meat and bones to nourish everyone was a sensible decision. After all, the Redemption Society was exactly what its name said, a society. Amunity. In the face of the demons and nymphs, humans were too weak. Only by progressing together could they enhance their survival capabilities.


    After parting with Wu Bingji, Tang San noticed the ongoingmotion near the distant cafeteria. <i>Poor mayor,</i> he thought with a hint of amusement.


    Returning to his room, Tang San reflected on the unexpected nature of their recent adventure. He was willing to take risks because he wanted to enhance his strength rapidly, but if he had known they would encounter an eighth-order <i>and</i> a ninth-order demonic beast on the same expedition, he would not have taken that particr risk. Did they really have such terrible luck or was it something else?


    Fortunately, the oue was in their favor.


    He had advanced to the sixth order through this experience��the second time that the result of a close brush with death had brought him from the verge of a breakthrough into the next level. The first, of course, was defeating the Lord of Wind Wolf Town, which allowed him to break through from the fourth order to the fifth. His advancement speed was phenomenal.


    However, Tang San was acutely aware that he would no longer be able to make such significant advancements, at least for a while. Not because he couldn��t cultivate anymore or that his normal cultivation rate would slow down, but rather because his body was beginning to struggle to keep up with his current cultivation.


    After all, he was only nine years old, and his body was not fully developed, especially since he had suffered from malnutrition in his early years.


    Looking to break through from the sixth to the seventh order represented a significant leap. It was a qualitative transformation that would allow him to enter the realm of high-order Demonic God Transformation. To achieve this transformation, he needed to reach the necessary level of strength and ensure that his body could withstand this power.


    Thus, Tang San��s focus in the following period was to consolidate his existing abilities and better coordinate them. He aimed to elevate the tiers of his bloodline imprints and, most importantly, to toughen his body. He needed to develop his physique further and strengthen his bones and muscles, ensuring a more robust constitution capable of sustaining the tremendous energy he would acquire in the future.


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique offered excellent nourishment, and the demonic beast meat and bones they had acquired were also highly beneficial for bodily nourishment. Tang San had already nned how to use the money they earned. Part of it he intended to give to <i>someone</i> he cherished, and the other portion would be used to purchase spiritual herbs for body tempering.


    The small store in the Redemption Academy had quite a few good items, and although he hadcked the funds before, and he couldn��t reveal the money he had anyway, he would soon have even more money and an excuse to spend them. With sufficient funds, he could acquire some valuable items.


    During the two-day journey back, Tang San had recovered substantially from his previous injuries. His cultivation at the sixth order had also stabilized. His body was now filled with a robust amount of energy, and his meridians felt full. This was another reason why Tang San realized that he might not be able to make another breakthrough quickly.

 Chapter 129: Integrating the Winged Tiger Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 129: Integrating the Winged Tiger Transformation</h4>


    After a quick cleanup of the room he hadn''t returned to for a few days, Tang San finished washing up and went straight to bed.


    Having cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Technique for nine days straight now, Tang San felt a warm sensation course through his body. The nourishing flow of energy naturally fostered his growth. Once he sensed his condition was stable, Tang San''s spiritual power surged, slowly shifting the newly acquired Winged Tiger Transformation bloodline imprint toward the fourth-positioned Wind Wolf Transformation imprint.


    The Winged Tiger Transformation was a powerful imprint. Although he only had a moment to absorb it, given that the tigress was at the peak of the seventh order, Tang San had still assimted the imprint up to the sixth order.


    However, considering the level of the Winged Tiger Transformation within the tier system, it obviously wasn''t qualified to upy the sixth position of Tang San''s bloodline imprints. The best choice was to merge it directly into the Wind Wolf Transformation.


    The Wind de and the Wind Astral, though different in power and application, shared the same origin��both wind-attribute abilities. In addition, they were not far in terms of level, with one being at the peak of the fifth order, and the other at the sixth. Once sessfully merged, Tang San''s mastery over the wind element would surely elevate to the sixth order. This wouldn''t easily arouse suspicion, nor would he need to seek out a sixth-order Wind Wolf for devouring and absorption. It was just perfect.


    Under his control, the two imprints began to merge.


    As they began to make contact, Tang San distinctly felt both imprints vibrating intensely. There was a sense of mutual repulsion, as if neither wanted to merge with the other.


    "What''s going on? It''s understandable for higher-level abilities like the Celestial Fox Vision, but why are you two fourth-tier imprints acting so haughty?"


    Surprised, Tang San immediately realized a possibility. He already knew that the higher the tier of the Demonic God Transformation imprints, the stronger their exclusivity would be during the fusion process. Now, it seemed that they also became more exclusivist the higher their order was.


    One at the peak of the fifth order and another at the sixth. Naturally, merging them would pose some difficulties.


    However, he remained confident in the fusion. His spiritual power was now powerful enough, and he had ample time to use his liquefied spiritual power to work with these two imprints. Besides, since they were both of the wind attribute, they were essentially of the same origin, making the probability of sessful fusion rtively high.


    Therefore, Tang San didn''t stop the fusion process; instead, he increased the pressure of his spiritual power, pushing the two imprints to blend.


    A cyan-green light illuminated his dantian, and the vibrations of the two imprints grew increasingly intense.


    Suddenly, from the Discerning Eye of Heaven imprint positioned in the best spot, a glowing white halo rippled out.


    It was only a third-order imprint, just like the Chrono Croc Transformation and Golden Roc Transformation. But when that glowing white light appeared, the cyan light within Tang San''s dantian dimmed almost instantly. Even the vibration of the two imprints grew weaker, making the fusion process smoother.


    <i>Bloodline reigns supreme!</i>


    This thought instantly surged through Tang San''s mind.


    The Discerning Eye of Heaven felt like an elder brother, awakened from his slumber by the younger ones and roaring in anger. The younger ones immediately became obedient, no longer daring to cause trouble.


    <i>Are these the benefits of merging with the Celestial Fox Transformation? How remarkable!</i>


    After integrating the Celestial Fox Vision into the Discerning Eye to achieve the Discerning Eye of Heaven, Tang San hadn''t had the chance to test its capabilities. Now, it appeared that this first-tier bloodline ability��s effects were not limited to just impacting luck.


    Du Bai��s ability seemed ineffective mainly because he only had the Celestial Fox Vision, and it was low-order to boot. Hecked the necessary physique to support the Celestial Fox bloodline <i>and</i> the spiritual power to unlock its potential fully. Moreover, the teachers had very little understanding of how to utilize the Celestial Fox Vision.


    After Tang San acquired this ability, he realized its significant impactbined with his other skills. The Celestial Fox Vision, being a first-tier ability, indeed yed a crucial role. No wonder it was ranked among the top three in the demonic beast hierarchy.


    Tang San eagerly anticipated Du Bai''s breakthrough to the fourth order. The only way for Tang San to enhance ability further was by absorbing it from Du Bai. Hence, he could only hope that Du Bai would advance more quickly, and it was mainly for this reason that he had taught Du Bai the Purple Demon Eyes.


    The subsequent fusion process became smoother. The fourth-positioned green imprint''s color deepened, gradually resembling a solid gemstone that flickered with light. Tang San''s perception of and sensitivity to the wind element underwent a noticeable change.


    <i>Can I now directly materialize the wind element? This would eliminate the initialpression process.</i>


    Moreover, being able to use the Wind Astral would significantlypensate for Tang San''s deficiencies in defense��after all, the Wind de was not a defensive ability by any stretch.


    This new fusion imprint was undoubtedly at the sixth order, and only more powerful than either of the original ones. With his cultivation fully stabilized and his abilities integrated to his preference, this meant that Tang San had officially be a sixth-order powerhouse.


    However, looking at the other four imprints within his body, they seemed somewhat pitiful inparison. The Leopard sh was better off at the fourth order but not yet at the fifth. The other three were all uniformly third-order. Although their bloodline tiers were high, their cultivation orders were not, and that significantly limited their effectiveness.


    To further enhance his strength and push his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique to the seventh order would take considerable time. So, the next step would be to find ways to elevate the levels of his imprints.


    Another important task was to find a sixth bloodline imprint.


    With each additional imprint came an extra ability, and elevating the imprints to the same level as his cultivation would undoubtedly significantly increase Tang San''s strength.


    Even though he had just entered the sixth order, Tang San was quite confident that demonic beasts of the same level would not be a match for him. After all, he possessed as many as five bloodline imprints.


    A slight smile formed at the corner of his mouth as he gradually entered a deep meditative state. The gains from this external training were genuinely amazing!


    <i>Fortune sure favors the bold...</i>


    ***


    Early morning.


    <i>Bang! Bang! Bang!</i>


    The loud banging at the door jolted Tang San out of his meditation. Taking a deep breath and allowing the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s energy to circte automatically within his body, he opened his eyes.


    "Who is it?"


    A familiar voice came from the other side of the living room. "It''s me, it''s me, Little Tang, it''s me! Open the door quickly, hahaha. I have some good news for you!"


    Hearing this voice, Tang San''s eyes lit up. He swiftly got out of bed, hurried out of the bedroom, and opened the living room door.


    The familiar figure pounced on him, giving him a big hug, "Hahaha, you''re all still alive, that''s great, really great! I thought you were gone. This is wonderful."


    He lifted Tang San and spun around in a circle.


    "Okay, brother Du Bai, please put me down," Tang San said somewhat helplessly.


    Indeed, the familiar voice and figure belonged to none other than Du Bai.


    Du Bai finally put him down. When their eyes met, Tang San distinctly felt a surge in his sea of spirit, and his liquefied spiritual power started pulsating. The Discerning Eye of Heaven seemed to tremble slightly.


    "You''ve advanced?" Tang San blurted out, his face filled with surprise and joy.


    "Eh, I haven''t said anything. How did you know? Wahaha, yes! I''ve advanced, finally advanced to the fourth order. My Celestial Fox Vision is now at the fourth order. Hahaha!" Du Bai was dancing with excitement.

 Chapter 130: Fourth Order Celestial Fox Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 130: Fourth Order Celestial Fox Transformation</h4>


    Du Bai had been stuck at the third order for years now. Everyone always said that the Celestial Fox was the highest-tier bloodline in the entire Redemption Society, and that his talent was unique. However, despite years of effort, he had made no progress and had littlebat ability. Seeing hispanions growing stronger, how could he not feel anxious?


    But he had no solution.


    During their recent outing for training, Tang San, Wu Bingji, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng had always fought, while he had not. While the others were hunting demons, he just watched from the sidelines. That feeling was like a hundred ws scratching at his heart.


    Particrly in thest battle, he had watched helplessly as Tang San, Wu Bingji, and Gu Li covered their retreat, allowing him and Cheng Zicheng to escape. At that moment, he had truly felt useless.


    He was a young man with a passionate heart, longing to stand beside hispanions and fight against powerful enemies. But he was useless; his presence wouldn��t have made a difference.


    In that instant, his desire, his anger toward himself, and his intense unwillingness caused him a splitting headache, as if his brain was about to explode.


    What use was the so-called first-tier bloodline of the Celestial Fox? What use was the Celestial Fox Vision? He would rather have a lesser bloodline withbat capabilities!


    At that moment, he erupted. He exerted his spiritual power to the fullest, frantically pushing his Celestial Fox Vision, praying inwardly for only the safety of hispanions. He didn��t know if it would help, but that was the only thing he could do.


    In that instant, it was as if something within him shattered. He even thought he saw the distant battlefield, witnessing the dire plight of Tang San and the others. The vision shed by, and then he was engulfed in darkness. In those final moments, he vaguely remembered a burst of white light emanating from him, enveloping the battlefield afar.


    When he awoke, he found himself in his room. At first, he was groggy, but soon, he felt an unusual sensation. Following this feeling, he rose from the bed. As he stepped out of his room and gazed at the sky outside, feeling the changes around him, he suddenly realized he was seeing things quite differently now.


    His Celestial Fox Transformation had evolved! He had finally surpassed the third order and entered the fourth, and it was not just your average improvement, but a unique and incredible evolution.


    Previously, his Celestial Fox Vision had been more about passive observation and intangible feelings, sensing whose aura was slightly stronger or who had poorer luck. It could somewhat foresee danger, but he waspletely oblivious to the details.


    However, he now felt a vague ability to influence some aspects of fate. It was as if the threads of the world were within his perception, and he could attempt to manipte them, causing them to shift ording to his will.


    At that moment, he thought of hispanions, and his heart was instantly overwhelmed with ecstatic joy. So, he rushed to Tang San to share the exhrating news. Unexpectedly, Tang San instantly recognized the evolution of his Celestial Fox Vision.


    "Shh!" Tang San gestured at him to keep silent. "Keep it down, don''t spread the word. Your Celestial Fox bloodline is a vital secret of the academy. When you were at the third order, it wasn''t very noticeable. But the more powerful your Celestial Fox Vision gets, the more important it is, and the greater the danger to you. This must only be shared with our teachers, not even our senior fellow disciples."


    "Got it!" Du Bai nodded excitedly. "Are you all alright? How''s our eldest senior brother?"


    "Don''t worry, everyone''s fine. Only you and Gu Li were unconscious. Now that you''re awake, he should be waking up soon, too."


    Du Bai heaved a long sigh of relief. "That''s great, truly great. It''s so good that everyone''s alright!"


    As he spoke, he rushed forward to hug Tang San.


    With a helpless sigh, Tang San patted him on the back. "Calm down, alright? Let''s report this to our teachers first. Hmm...never mind, you can''t control your emotions right now. I''ll go and bring the teacher here. Just wait here for me."


    It was still early in the morning, almost time for breakfast. Tang San closed the door and had Du Bai wait in his room while he headed straight to the cafeteria.


    He wasn''t looking for the mayor, Zhang Haoxuan, as thetter didn''t actually reside within the academy. The real steward of the academy was Guan Longjiang. In a sense, he was the head of discipline.


    Thinking back to how Guan Longjiang scolded Zhang Haoxuan yesterday, Tang San couldn''t help but feel amused. His master had taken the brunt of the scolding that he himself should have been subjected to! And he expected to be scolded today, too. Yesterday, the primary target was the team-leading mayor because they had just returned.


    Sneaking into the cafeteria, Tang San immediately spotted Guan Longjiang.


    Guan Longjiang arrived at the cafeteria every morning to check on the breakfast and ensure everything was arranged for everyone.


    The canteen was filled with a rich aroma, clearly the scent of meat soup or something simr. It was probably the broth made from the bones of the Fissure Lizards they had eaten the day before. This was truly nourishing for everyone. Perhaps even the meals at Kali Academy couldn''tpare.


    "Teacher Guan," Tang San called out softly.


    Guan Longjiang turned around, his face darkening upon seeing his pupil. "I was just looking for you. Tang San, do you realize..."


    Seeing the fury about to erupt in Guan Longjiang''s eyes, Tang San quickly stepped forward, whispering, "Teacher Guan, I have some good news to tell you."


    "Good news? What good news?" asked Guan Longjiang, puzzled.


    Tang San leaned in close to him and whispered something in his ear.


    "What? Really?" Guan Longjiang''s eyes widened instantly, and hepletely forgot about scolding Tang San.


    "Is it true? Are you sure?" The voice of the stern teacher trembled slightly.


    "Positive, positive. There��s no mistake; he felt it too," Tang San affirmed.


    "Where is he? Why didn''t hee with you?" asked Guan Longjiang eagerly.


    "He was too excited, and I was worried about exposing him. I think this matter should be kept secret, given its importance. So, I asked him to wait in my room and I came straight to you to report. I think that was the right thing to do."


    "Yes, absolutely right. It must be kept secret," Guan Longjiang said excitedly, rubbing his hands together, barely containing his emotions. "Let''s go, take me there. I need to see for myself to be sure."


    "Alright."


    Immediately, Tang San led Guan Longjiang to his dormitory door. However, before he could enter, Guan Longjiang pulled him back. "Stay here at the door, don''t let anyone in."


    With these words, he pushed the door open and entered, leaving Tang San outside.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched. <i>This is my room! And now I''m left standing guard?!</i> <i>Well, whatever, standing guard it is. It seems like I might avoid a scolding today, right?</i>


    It wasn''t long before the door opened again.


    When Guan Longjiang reappeared before Tang San, his face was beaming.


    "Teacher Guan, how did it go?" Tang San asked tentatively.


    Guan Longjiangughed heartily. "Good, very good. Extremely good! Hahaha, Tang San, you''ve really done a great deed this time. Remember to keep it a secret. For now, let that young man stay out of sight. You take him back to his ce, let him stabilize his state and bring his abilities under control. Otherwise, everyone will sense the change in his bloodline. I''m going to find your teacher."


    Saying this, he hurried off.

 Chapter 131: Du Bai Is Slightly Jealous

    <h4>Chapter 131: Du Bai Is Slightly Jealous</h4>


    Tang San returned to his room and saw Du Bai''s face still flushed with excitement. "Teacher Guan confirmed it. I''ve made a breakthrough. Hahaha. Impressive, isn''t it?"


    Tang San replied, somewhat helplessly. "First, you need to control your emotions and stabilize your bloodline fluctuations to be truly impressive. Right now, anyone can tell something''s off with you."


    When Du Bai first came in, Tang San had instantly sensed it��a feeling as if Du Bai could <i>disrupt thews.</i>


    Yes, disrupt thews. In this regard, Tang San''s judgment was indeed more urate than Guan Longjiang''s.


    What arews? They are the fundamental principles based on which the world works, the basis for the order of the ne. And when Du Bai hugged Tang San, thetter felt a disturbance in this order. Although it wasn''t enough to change the order, it was undeniable that there was a disturbance.


    With the Celestial Fox Transformation advancing to the fourth order, its actual effects began manifesting. Tang San distinctly felt its extraordinary nature. However, he still wasn''t sure what effects Du Bai''s fourth-order Celestial Fox Vision could produce. But as soon as he got close, he immediately felt something strange.


    Du Bai was full of goodwill toward him, so when Tang San came in contact with him, he felt as if his luck had improved. The flow of his Mysterious Heaven Technique inside his body became smoother.


    His Discerning Eye of Heaven also resonated with Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision, absorbing some of Du Bai''s aura. Although it wasn''t through the absorption of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and it was just minimal, Tang San could feel a slight improvement in his Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    This meant that as long as he was with Du Bai, the Discerning Eye of Heaven could evolve independently, without having to use the Mysterious Heaven Technique to absorb Du Bai��s energy.


    This made Tang San think. The Celestial Fox Vision was an ability that controlled fate. Directly absorbing the power of Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation would undoubtedly weaken the kid��s fate.


    After reaching the fourth order, Du Bai had changed. Absorbing from him again the way Tang San had done before could likely lead to a bacsh of fate. It was better to just stay by his side and benefit from his luck. Though the progress would be slower, it wouldn''t cause any problems.


    Thus, Tang San was happy to have Du Bai by his side.


    "Alright, alright, I get it. It''s just that I''ve just broken through. I''ll try to control it. The fourth order does seem different," Du Bai said excitedly.


    Tang San nodded. "I''ll take you back to your room first. I''ll bring breakfast to youter. I expect the teachers will be looking for you soon."


    "Okay, thanks, brother. By the way, can I continue to cultivate the Purple Demon Eyes?" Du Bai asked quietly.


    Tang San nodded, saying, "It shouldn''t be a problem. Your breakthrough to the fourth order must have also increased your spiritual power. Your breakthrough was likely triggered because you felt those very strong emotions, and your bloodline energy practically boiled. But as your spiritual power grows, you��ll be able to control the Celestial Fox Vision better and make future advancements easier. Try cultivating it, and ask me if you notice any changes. We''ll talk about it as we go. Plus, if you reach a high enough level, the Purple Demon Eyes can be a weapon to use inbat as well."


    "A weapon? What do you mean?" Du Bai asked, puzzled.


    Tang San felt around silently, ensuring no one was nearby. Then he said, "Well, if you can cultivate your spiritual power high enough, you can use it tounch spiritual attacks. Watch closely."


    Saying this, he turned to the side, and the next moment, a sh of purple light shone in his eyes.


    A purple light, about an inch long, shot out from his eyes, vanishing in a sh.


    Though it wasn''t directed at Du Bai, he distinctly felt his newly enhanced spiritual power and the power of luck being significantly suppressed in an instant. It was as if there was a massive beast in front of him. The rming spiritual shock made him let out a cry of surprise.


    Once he had merged with the Celestial Fox Transformation, Tang San''s spiritual power had condensed into a liquid. Furthermore, he hadbined the Celestial Fox Vision with his Discerning Eye to form the Discerning Eye of Heaven, a fusion of three great visual abilities. Finally, the Purple Demon Eyes were an incredible visual technique that Tang San had been cultivating for the longest time. These three elementsplemented each other perfectly, and Tang San was sure that the power of his Purple Demon Eyes was both greater and more important to him than it had been in his past life at the same level.


    That day, when confronting the Winged Tiger, if it weren''t for the firm control of Gu Li and Wu Bingji, he would have risked revealing this powerful ability to give the Winged Tiger a proper spiritual shock.


    He showed this in front of Du Bai because he had already taught Du Bai the method of cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes, so there was not much to hide at this point. Another reason was to show Du Bai how strong he was in this aspect and how promising the Purple Demon Eyes were.


    He hoped Du Bai would improve quickly, as this would also speed up the advancement of his own Discerning Eye of Heaven! Now that Du Bai was at the fourth order, it meant that Tang San��s bloodline imprint could soon also reach the fourth order.


    Du Bai stared at Tang San, dumbfounded. "Whoa, that��s a thing? And how is your spiritual power so great?"


    Tang San nodded. "Ites from cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes. So now you know why I told you that cultivating this could help evolve your Celestial Fox Vision."


    "Uh-huh, uh-huh." Du Bai nodded repeatedly. It was precisely because he possessed the Celestial Fox Vision that he could feel just how formidable Tang San''s output of spiritual power was in that instant.


    "Oh, by the way, I''ve also broken through to the sixth order," Tang San said casually.


    "You..." Du Bai stared at him, agape, and after a long while, managed to blurt out, "You absolute freak."


    Du Bai suddenly felt that his breakthrough to the fourth order seemed much less impressive. <i>Tang San is two years younger than me and he��s already reached the sixth order. Isn��t that the same as the eldest senior brother? Also, he could fight the eldest senior brother to a standstill when he was at the fifth order. Now that he��s at the sixth order, doesn''t that mean he''s the strongest of us? And he��s the youngest! Where do I even begin to make sense of this?!</i>


    Du Bai wanted to say, <i>I don''t want to y with you anymore!</i> But Tang San had just taught him the Purple Demon Eyes, so it wasn''t easy to say that!


    With the Celestial Fox Vision entering the fourth order, Du Bai felt that Tang San''s aura actually seemed even more agreeable to him. He was familiar with this sense of closeness��the better someone''s luck, the closer he felt to them.


    "I''m going back to my room. Thanks for pouring cold water on me. That sure helped me stabilize my emotions," Du Bai said, looking lost in space.


    "No need to thank me," Tang San said with a slight smile.


    "Who''s thanking you?! <i>Hmph</i>. I''m off!"


    In the end, Tang San still apanied him back to his room, fulfilling his promise to Guan Longjiang, and then went to the cafeteria for breakfast.


    The broth made with demon beast bones was just superb! A bowl of it and the nourishment made everyone feel warm and tingly. After such a great breakfast, everyone was naturally spirited and lively.


    This morning, it was time for the physical training ss taught by Teacher Mu Yunyu.


    Apart from Du Bai, Gu Li, and Wu Bingji, all the others gathered in the yard.


    Teacher Mu Yunyu looked solemnly at the students, saying gravely, ��The academy has carefully selected each of you. Your talents rank among the top among humans with the Demonic God Transformation. You should all be aware of where our Demonic God Transformationes from��it''s a legacy born from our ancestors'' humiliation. So, the first thing you must do is to protect yourselves, grow quickly, and be useful individuals. Your adventures bring personal danger and a great loss to the academy and the organization. Today, I am warning you that in the future, no matter what task you are doing, you must act within your capabilities and not be rash. Protecting your safety is the key to having a future.��


    While speaking, her rather icy gaze fell on Tang San.


    Of the five who had gone on the mission, only Tang San and Cheng Zicheng attended today''s ss. Tang San was the one who had proposed the entire mission. It would be strange if he weren''t targeted.

 Chapter 132: Commendation

    <h4>Chapter 132: Commendation</h4>


    Tang San appeared humble and contrite, but Mu Yunyu had no intention of letting him off the hook. She sternly said, "Tang San, step forward!"


    Tang San took a step forward.


    Mu Yunyu slowly approached him. "Do you realize that what you did��"


    "What he did is somethingmendable, and we should praise Tang San for his brave spirit!"


    Mu Yunyu was startled, and so were the other students. They instinctively looked toward the direction of the voice that had just interrupted their teacher.


    It turned out to be Guan Longjiang. He had an unusually big grin on his face, and he was apanied by Mayor Zhang Haoxuan, who looked simrly smug.


    Contrasting his disheveled appearance fromst night, when he could only sit down passively and take the tongueshing, the mayor now radiated joy. He was confidently following Guan Longjiang with his hands sped behind his back and a noticeable hint of pride in his eyes.


    Mu Yunyu gave Guan Longjiang a puzzled look. Hadn''t they agreedst night? Today, they were supposed to criticize Tang San as a warning to everyone. What if such an incident happened again? Although there had been no casualties, even the mayor had been significantly injured. They had almost lost the academy��s best talents in one blow!


    Guan Longjiang came beside her, patted Tang San''s shoulder, and smilingly addressed the other students, "You must be curious about what Wu Bingji, Tang San, and the others have been doing these past few days. Now, let me tell you."


    "With the academy''s support, Tang San, Wu Bingji, and three others went on a mission to hunt demonic beasts. Initially, I opposed their request, as the demonic beasts they aimed to hunt were too powerful. But then, Tang San told me that flowers that grow in a greenhouse cannot survive the storm. Facing stronger challenges and greater crises better stimtes their potential.


    "After careful consideration, we agreed to their request and let them undertake this mission. You might be wondering what demon they sought to hunt. Well, let me tell you. They chose the Winged Tiger, a creature that reaches the seventh order at full maturity."


    Upon hearing this, the students immediately erupted into a buzz of astonishment. <i>A seventh-order demonic beast, seventh-order! What guts these guys have!</i>


    "As we were worried about their safety, the mayor secretly followed them to provide protection. Along the way, they continuously improved theirbat skills and teamwork through battles with demonic beasts, and they are all much stronger now.


    "When they reached the border of the Winged Tiger territory, they found one immediately, but it was luckily a sixth-order Winged Tiger, not yet an adult. But as you all know, a sixth-order demonic beast is much stronger than a sixth-order human due to their formidable bodies. But even in these circumstances, Tang San and his team of five sessfully killed this sixth-order Winged Tiger andpleted their mission, all without the mayor''s assistance."


    Everyone knew about Wu Bingji''s injuries; they had seen the eldest senior brother in bandages in the cafeteria. But the news of the team killing a sixth-order Winged Tiger left everyone in shock and awe.


    "But wait, there''s more. The Winged Tiger they killed was indeed not an adult, as I said. However, it had a family, and its parents found the team immediately. Its father, a ninth-order Winged Tiger King, is an incredibly powerful being. The mayor intervened in time, holding off the ninth-order Winged Tiger King. However, the tiger''s mother, a peak seventh-order demonic beast, attacked the team as well."


    Guan Longjiang paused here, and even though the students knew Tang San and his team had returned safely, they couldn��t help but feel anxious.


    "At that time, they had no reinforcements and could only rely on themselves. The oue, as you see, is that they all came back. Du Bai and Gu Li returned unconscious, Wu Bingji was seriously injured, and Tang San had minor injuries. But their achievement was remarkable. Although luck yed a part, they sessfully killed the peak seventh-order tigress. It seems impossible now that I say it, but they made it possible."


    This revtion elicited another wave of astonishment from the students. Their gaze changed as they looked at Tang San and Cheng Zicheng.


    ��In just over a week of training, they all grew significantly. Tang San was right; greenhouse flowers cannot withstand the storm. And their achievements are one thing. The more important thing is that in the process of getting there, they all managed to be much stronger. Therefore, after discussing with the mayor, we decided that demonic beast hunting would be an important part of practical training. All of you will take part in this and put your abilities to the test. Considering the exceptional performance of Tang San, Wu Bingji, and their team, the academy has decided that all profits from the two Winged Tigers they had taken down will go to them. However, they offered the tiger meat and bones to the academy for everyone''s nourishment.��


    Cheers immediately filled the air. The Fissure Lizard soup was already amazing, but demonic beast meat came in different grades! Namely, the higher-order and more ferocious the demon, the better the nourishing effect of its flesh and bones. Tigers were the kings of demonic beasts, so even a lower-order tiger would provide amazing nourishment, let alone a sixth-order one. As for a peak seventh-order tiger, there was no need to even talk about it. They had never even seen something like that, much less eat it.


    Cheng Zicheng was rather bewildered at the moment.


    This morning, when she met Teacher Mu Yunyu, she was severely reprimanded. In the academy, there were only a few teachers, and Mu Yunyu was the only female teacher, so all female students sought her guidance individually.


    Just now, it looked like Teacher Mu Yunyu was about to make Tang San an example of what <i>not</i> to do. So how did everything change the moment Teacher Guan arrived?


    Mu Yunyu''s face turned sour, and she pinched Guan Longjiang secretly. Unfortunately for her, Guan Longjiang seemed perfectly unfazed.


    <i>Do all profits go to us? Does this mean that everything valuable, aside from flesh and bones, now belongs to us? </i>Tang San was overjoyed. This meant at least five more naturae coins, right?


    "Alright, that''s settled. Let''s start the ss. Teacher Mu, please continue," Guan Longjiang said with a cheerful smile.


    "Continue my ass. Come with me!" Mu Yunyu, not giving him any face, pulled his sleeve and dragged him aside. She had to find out right there and then why Guan Longjiang''s attitude had suddenly changed.


    Zhang Haoxuan approached Tang San, smiling. "Alright, back in line. That was an excellent performance you put up. We''ll keep doing this in the future."


    Tang San naturally understood why; Du Bai''s evolution of the Celestial Fox Transformation had greatly surprised the teachers. This first-tier Demonic God Transformation was simply too important for the Redemption Society as a whole. Another god-level fighter would be certainly good, but if Du Bai could reach the god level in the future, it might allow the entire organization to reach the threshold of top-tier power.


    This was because the Celestial Fox Vision was an auxiliary ability, and its primary function was to support other abilities!


    <i>The fact that the demons respect the Celestial Fox Emperor so much, indicates the importance of this support ability. Its appearance among humans means an excellent opportunity for us to evolve!</i>


    Soon, a bewildered Mu Yunyu returned. The anger on her face had vanished, reced by a somewhat odd expression, as if she wasn''t sure whether to yell at someone or burst outughing.


    She suddenly realized that the most frustrated person shouldn''t be herself but rather her brother, who was responsible for the practicalbat sses.


    Mu Enqing had taught the students practicalbat for a long time, but while the improvements associated with these sses were decent, they were certainly not extraordinary by any means. In other words, Tang San had achieved something in a couple of days that Mu Enqing hadn''t managed in years!


    Moreover, Tang San himself was only nine years old, yet he had already reached the sixth order. This rate of improvement was genuinely terrifying.

 Chapter 133: It鈥檚 Okay, I Don鈥檛 Need The Inner Core

    <h4>Chapter 133: It��s Okay, I Don��t Need The Inner Core</h4>


    "Everyone set off as usual. We''ll make a round trip to Tianpeng. Today, everyone''s load will be increased by twenty percent. Potential needs pressure to be better stimted."


    Hearing that their load would increase by twenty percent, the previously excited crowd suddenly grimaced, but they had no choice but to follow the teacher''s instructions.


    Mu Yunyu called out to Tang San. "Tang San, you stay behind for a moment."


    While the others went off for physical training, Tang San stayed behind.


    Mu Yunyu sized him up, her expression somewhat peculiar. Zhang Haoxuan hadn''t left yet, and Guan Longjiang had also returned.


    Being stared at directly by three teachers, even Tang San, who had been a God King, felt a bit nervous. He remembered his teachers back in his past life.


    "Teachers, is there something else? Don''t I need to join the physical training?" Tang San pointed towards his ssmates, who were gradually moving away.


    "Are you truly at the sixth order now?" Mu Yunyu asked.


    Tang San silently nodded. "It seems so."


    Mu Yunyu''s mouth twitched slightly. This child was nine years old, nine! As a teacher, she was only at the seventh order! Although the leap from the sixth to the seventh order was certainly significant, facts were facts. And facts said that she, at the ripe old age of twenty-six, was just at the seventh order. Tang San still had plenty of time to catch up!


    Guan Longjiang murmured, "Tang San is at the sixth order, and Du Bai broke through to the fourth order. Actually, Gu Li was at a bottleneck earlier, and I am pretty sure he might also advance. Cheng Zicheng hasn''t advanced, but her gains this time aren''t small. Entering the fifth order shouldn''t take too long if we through in some resources. Bingji also said that his gains were tremendous. This training might be dangerous, but it really is��"


    Mu Yunyu cut him off. "Although you''ve reached the sixth order, I must tell you not to try to advance to the seventh order within the next five years or so. Your body isn''t fully developed yet, and if you break through now, your own bloodline power could cause your body to burst apart. I don''t think I have to exin what that means. You''re young and prone to impulsiveness, but remember this for your own life''s sake."


    "Yes, Teacher Mu. I feel it, too. So, I''ll definitely work on strengthening my body and improving my endurance. Actually, this breakthrough to the sixth order happened by chance. During the battle, some wind-attribute energy from that Winged Tiger infused into my body, and somehow, I broke through. But now, I often feel pain in my meridians, and my body is struggling to cope. I''ll need to focus on improving that for a while."


    Hearing this, Mu Yunyu''s expression softened considerably. "It''s good that you understand. Now focus on umting strength and solidifying your foundation."


    Tang San nodded once more.


    Mu Yunyu turned her head to look at Guan Longjiang, thinking, <i>The sixth order, he''s reached the sixth order just like that?</i>


    Guan Longjiang looked at her, then at Zhang Haoxuan, who had a mysterious smile. They suddenly wondered if Zhang Haoxuan had already known about Tang San''s potential. If it weren''t for the difference in their Demonic God Transformation, they might have even suspected that Tang San was Zhang Haoxuan''s illegitimate son.


    "Alright, go join the training. Eat more of the demonic beast meat. Keep the blood of the Winged Tiger to nourish your body. Also, demonic beasts above the seventh order have inner cores. You could consider keeping the inner core of the seventh-order mother tiger for yourself. It''s of the wind attribute and might improve your control over the wind element. You might even manage to develop a wind elemental physique."


    Tang San was tempted, but he immediately said, "Keeping the demonic beast''s blood for personal use is fine, but let''s sell the inner core. After all, it was obtained by all of us together."


    Demonic beasts at or above the seventh order were far more valuable than sixth-order ones because of their inner cores��solidified energy, practically. Although a seventh-order demonic beast wasn''t powerful enough to use its core for actual attacks, it was nheless the crystallized essence of their entire cultivation. It was by far the most valuable part of a seventh-order demonic beast.


    Guan Longjiang said, "Considering how you all fought, I don''t think anyone would object. Just take less of the other things."


    Tang San firmly replied, "No, let''s sell it and divide the proceeds among everyone. Teacher, I''ve just broken through to the sixth order, and using the Winged Tiger''s inner core now might be too much for my body. I need to strengthen that first. As for the inner core, there might be another opportunity in the future."


    "Mhm, let''s do that then. It''s more important to condition your body well." Zhang Haoxuan somewhat understood why Tang San refused the inner core. This kid didn''t have just one kind of Demonic God Transformation; whether consuming an inner core would be helpful or restrict him in the future was hard to say.


    Tang San indeed had that exact idea. He had no interest in cultivating a wind elemental body, believing that he could disy abilitiesparable to that of a wind elemental physique as long as he had sufficient spiritual power. However, cultivating a wind elemental physique would make his cultivation shift decisively toward the wind attribute, which was not what he desired.


    Mu Yunyu said, "That''s good as long as you know your foundation isn''t stable. Go and join the weight training. Your weight load will be doubled, since you''re already at the sixth order."


    "Yes." Tang San turned and left for his weighted mountain climbing exercise.


    Watching his departing figure, Guan Longjiang couldn''t help but say, "This kid is simply a prodigy. He''s got nothing but a mere Wind Wolf Transformation, yet he advanced so quickly. And I''ve heard from Bingji that he''s gotten a lot of advice on element control from Tang San and that''s why he managed to improve his abilities the way he did."


    Zhang Haoxuan chuckled. "Do you think I would have taken him as my disciple so easily if I hadn''t discovered his talent?"


    Seeing his confident demeanor, Guan Longjiang snapped, "This time, you were just lucky with your adventure. If it had failed, I wonder how you would have exined it to the organization."


    Zhang Haoxuan replied with a sheepish smile, "Alright, we won''t go next time."


    Guan Longjiang mused, "Don''t be stupid, we''ll still go, but we really have to enhance the safety measures. This time was dangerous, but as Tang San said, the effect under external pressure and intense stimtion was outstanding. Tang San advanced to the sixth order and Du Bai to the fourth. Gu Li hasn''t woken up yet. Bingji and Zicheng also made significant gains. A period of consolidation should bring even better results. This kind of realbat training benefits the children��s growth. We need to perfect this approach, not deny it."


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at him andughed. "Wasn''t it you who scolded me severely yesterday?"


    "Isn''t there something you need to take care of in your town? Go and deal with it. As the mayor, you shouldn''t be wasting your time here. I''m going to check on Du Bai."


    Saying this, Guan Longjiang turned and left.


    Gu Li also woke up that night but was severely overdrawn, and his cultivation had not recovered. He needed to meditate and regte his breathing to recuperate.


    Tang San and his team donated a portion of the demonic beast meat they had hunted and brought back, selling most of the remainder to the academy in exchange for naturae coins. Wu Bingji was also handling the sale of other parts of the demonic beasts, which was expected to be mized in about two to three days.


    Tang San kept a low profile, attending sses and training daily to stabilize his recently achieved sixth-order cultivation. At the same time, he practiced the Mysterious Heaven Technique to nurture his body.


    Two dayster, good news came one after another. Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng both broke through to the fifth order!


    The five-member team all advanced in their cultivation, except for Wu Bingji, who had just recently entered the sixth order. This sess led the academy to fully endorse their method of practical training. Although risky, the results were excellent.


    In particr, the evolution of the Celestial Fox Transformation and Chrono Croc Transformation brought great joy and celebration to the entire Redemption Society.


    An even more exciting moment had arrived for Tang San and the four others.


    Du Bai excitedly burst into Tang San''s room, urging him to get up. "Let''s go. The eldest senior brother called us over to divide the money!"

 Chapter 134: Time To Split The Loot! Are We Rich?

    <h4>Chapter 134: Time To Split The Loot! Are We Rich?</h4>


    "Oh, oh, time to split the cash?" Tang San''s eyes lit up, and he was thrilled beyond measure.


    When they arrived in Wu Bingji''s room, Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng had already arrived. Everyone''s face was brimming with joy.


    Du Bai rubbed his hands together and said with a giggling smile, "Big brother, how much is it in total? Let��s divide it up. Ha ha, I can''t wait any longer."


    Wu Bingji chuckled. "Now that everyone''s here, let me tally it up for you.


    "This time around, we bagged twenty demonic beasts, including two Winged Tigers. One was a peak seventh-order Winged Tiger and the other was a younger sixth-order. The rest were fifth-order or lower. The big-ticket item is the seventh-order beast''s inner core, but their scales, skins, sinews, bones, and unique bits are also pretty valuable. I won''t break down the prices for each part right now.


    "The academy snagged the meat and bones of the demonic beasts since they bought them straight up, definitely at a discount. They got them for seventy percent of what they''d normally go for. That''s eptable, though. If we tried to sell them ourselves, we wouldn''t have gotten full price because it was just too much all at once. It was easier to let the academy handle it, so I said yes for us.


    "We held onto all the blood from the demonic beasts, and the academy will use it to beef us up. Using demonic beast blood is a fancy way to train and normally we really couldn''t afford that luxury, but luckily, we scored plenty of it this time. It''ll take a while to get everything ready, but it''s all going to benefit us in the end.


    "The remaining parts were sold for money, totaling twenty-eight naturae coins. It was originally just over twenty-seven, but the mayor approved an increase to twenty-eight. As we agreed before we left, we''ll split it evenly. First, everyone takes five naturae coins."


    As he spoke, he pulled out a bag and gently shook it in front of him. Instantly, naturae coins tumbled out one by one. All twenty-eight coins appeared, causing the elemental fluctuations within the entire room to intensify.


    This was truly a lot of money! They had never seen so much before. These were not demonshard coins or aetherhorn coins, but naturae coins! The purchasing power of naturae coins was impressive on its own, but they were also highly beneficial for cultivation, making them treasures in their own right.


    ��These naturae coins have different attributes, they''re not the same. Pick yours now. I''ll take the ice-attribute ones, of course. The rest is up for your pick, go ahead."


    All four of them joyfully took five coins each.


    The attributes were not that important to them. Using naturae coins for cultivation was a luxury that most people could not afford.


    After they had divided the coins, three naturae coins remained on the table.


    Wu Bingji said, "Tang San, take them."


    "Hmm?" Tang San blinked, puzzled, and looked at the elder brother, "Elder brother, did you buy something for everyone to share?"


    Wu Bingji shook his head, saying, "No way, you totally earned this. I''m sure the others would agree. You''ve been leading us the whole time. If it weren''t for your calls when we faced those demonic beasts, we wouldn''t have gotten even close to what we did. Don''t rush to say no. Plus, you taught me the Flicking Dart and showed Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer. Don''t think that we forgot about that favor. So don''t be shy about it; we wouldn''t even have been on this training if it wasn''t for your idea. Just ept it."


    "Yeah, I''ve also learned from Little Tang," Du Bai quickly added. However, Tang San nudged him, stopping him just before he mentioned the Purple Demon Eyes.


    Tang San responded, "Then I won''t stand on ceremony with everyone. If you all agree, I''ll take it."


    Inwardly, he sighed.


    <i>I sure did teach you, but you don''t have the slightest idea what I''ve gained from you myself. Such naive children! Indeed, you are all part of my nurturing n. Well, except for the eldest brother.</i>


    Eight naturae coins were a huge sum for Tang San. Together with what he had previously acquired from Feng Xiong, he now felt extraordinarily wealthy.


    One naturae coin was equivalent to a hundred aetherhorn coins, or ten thousand demonshard coins. If he converted everything into demonshard coins, his total assets now exceeded one hundred thousand, so it wasn��t an exaggeration to say he was immensely wealthy.


    Everyone put away their naturae coins. Although Tang San had received the most, everyone else had five coins each, the greatest amount of money they had ever seen. Naturally, all five of them were beaming with happiness.


    "When are we going again, Little Tang?"


    With this one sentence, Du Bai drew everyone''s attention to Tang San. Indeed, when and where were they going next?


    The gains from this training were enormous. Not to mention the five naturae coins per person, but most importantly, both Du Bai and Gu Li had advanced a level��a major challenge. Cheng Zicheng and Tang San himself had also advanced.


    Such improvements were beyond their wildest dreams before. Du Bai and Gu Li had always feared they might be stuck at a bottleneck for life. Now, having broken through, the perilous training process seemed a small price to paypared to their gains. As the saying goes, once the wound heals, the pain is forgotten.


    Moreover, the increase in their strength greatly boosted their confidence. With such a rate of improvement, more training expeditions could naturally lead to even further advancements!


    Wu Bingji also turned his gaze toward Tang San. He was the only one among the five who had not advanced this time, so Tang San��s sessive advancements filled him with envy. Once he advanced again, he would truly reach a higher level��the seventh order, a watershed level. Only those who reached the seventh order were able to truly have a say in anything that was going on around them.


    Tang San said, "We can''t just rush things, guys. We''ve made some serious gains, and everyone''s leveled up, which is awesome. But it''s not all about this one adventure. Much of ites down to your hard work before we even started. Each of you hit a tough spot and was stuck for a while, and this chance helped you smash through. The thing is, cultivation isn''t just about the thrills and pushing limits; it''s also about building and soaking in what we''ve learned. First, let��s dig into all the cool stuff we''ve managed to pick up this time. Once we''ve got that down, we can figure out our next big move."


    Wu Bingji nodded and responded, "Little Tang''s got a point. We''ve leveled up this time, and you guys took some really big steps forward. You should solidify your new skills before we think about going out again. Teacher Guan said they might be taking other students for mountain trainingter, but that''s not for us. The teachers think we should keep building on what we''ve got for now."


    Du Bai and Gu Li were visibly disappointed, but they didn''t object.


    Tang San smiled and proposed, "How about we set some goals? Gu Li, you need to practice the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer until you absolutely nail it. Try to hit eighteen strikes smoothly. Cheng Zicheng, try to pull off three strikes of the Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh. And Du Bai, you work on the basics of that spiritual power method I showed you. You need to be able to use it a little. Once we all hit these marks, we can think about heading out for another adventure. Sound good?"


    "I have no issues," Gu Li said without hesitation, then quickly added, "Little Tang, what method of cultivating spiritual power did you teach Du Bai? Can I learn it, too?"


    This was a reasonable request. After all, the Chrono Croc Transformation also required strong spiritual power as a support. However, Tang San thought momentarily and replied, "It might not work out. This training method needs you to be able to control spiritual power. Du Bai hasn''t got it down yet either. Plus, your Chrono Croc just leveled up; maybe hold off on trying this for now. I''m worried it could go sideways if you try it too early."


    Disappointed, Gu Li said, "Alright then. I''ll focus on the hammer first. Once I''ve mastered it, I''ll take care of that Zhang Zebin, heh heh heh."

 Chapter 135: Shopping At The Redemption Store

    <h4>Chapter 135: Shopping At The Redemption Store</h4>


    With a smile, Tang San said, "We''ve earned so much money this time. The most important thing for us is to convert this money into strength. We can start preparing for the purchase."


    "I agree!" Cheng Zicheng immediately raised her hand, her face full of excitement.


    Tang San snickered. <i>What girl doesn''t like shopping? Girls of all ages are the same in this regard.</i>


    "Let''s go to the shop!" Du Bai, holding the naturae coins in hand, turned to leave.


    Wu Bingji shook his head slightly, saying, "Tang San, what about me? To what extent should I cultivate before going out for experience?"


    Tang San looked at Wu Bingji, thought for a moment, and said, "Once you''ve gotten to the point where you can actually produce ice needles, I think that will be the time."


    "Okay!" Wu Bingji nodded without hesitation.


    Although his injuries had not fully healed, he had been working hard on controlling the ice element. Thanks to Tang San''s guidance, his understanding of the ice element deepened significantly.


    "Let''s go then, off to the shop. I think the one who''s going to be getting rich is Sister Yu," Wu Bingjiughed. [1]


    The five of them left Wu Bingji''s room. With money in their pockets, they felt confident. Du Bai, leading the way, walked briskly toward the shop managed by Mu Yunyu.


    When they arrived at the shop, Mu Yunyu was in the process of tidying up the counter. Seeing the five of them together, she couldn''t help but smile and say, "Oh my, oh my, our little tycoons have arrived. What''s it going to be? A big purchase today?"


    Tang San responded with a chuckle, "Sister Yu, we''re here to buy things. Since we''re all buying together, could you give us a discount?"


    "Discount? No way. Don''t think I don''t know how much you''ve earned. Do you still want a discount? Don''t you know what envy, jealousy, and hatred mean? Not fleecing you is already very kind of me," Mu Yunyu said with a yful smile.


    Du Bai protested, "Sister Yu, you can''t do this! If you''re like this, we might as well shop in the city. There might be even better things there."


    Mu Yunyu was unfazed. "Sure, go ahead! You''re free to go. The city has many good things, but the key is whether they''re willing to sell to you. Not even all the demons are qualified to shop there, so what makes you think they''d sell things to vassals? You can try it if you want."


    Tang San''s mind stirred upon hearing this. This was the first time he''d heard this, but it made sense. It seemed that vassals were discriminated against even when it came to purchasing things.


    Wu Bingji smiled. "Sister Yu, don''t listen to Du Bai''s nonsense. We''ll start picking out what we need." While speaking, he gave the others a telling look.


    Mu Yunyu, veryposed, said, "Go ahead. Note down whatever you fancy, ande to settle the bill together at the end. You can get the items in batches."


    Many treasures needed special care; taking them all at once could result in major losses in effectiveness. Her offer for them to collect items in batches meant that she agreed to store the purchased items for them unconditionally.


    The five didn''t say much more and immediately started selecting items.


    The shop had a wide variety of items. They had all been here before, but when it came to buying, Wu Bingji, the eldest senior brother, was the only one with actual experience. His savings were substantial, so he had shopped here a few times. Gu Li had also bought things once or twice. As for Du Bai, Tang San, and Cheng Zicheng, this was their first purchase.


    Du Bai and Gu Li usually received more care due to their exceptional talents. Their ability to evolve was crucial for the academy, which naturally led to an allotment bias toward them. However, some of the precious items in the shop had been acquired at a significant cost, and the academy couldn''t just give them away, especially since the two students hadn''t made breakthroughs in years.


    Mu Yunyu said, "If you need any rmendations from a teacher,e find me."


    Seeing the five of them, she felt delighted. She was well aware that the total earnings of these five exceeded twenty naturae coins, as the two Winged Tigers they had hunted down were extremely valuable. That one inner core alone was probably more than five naturae coins.


    "Oh, right. The second batch of students going for the hunting experience will depart tomorrow. Again, five people. And after they return, there will be a third batch. You''re conveniently divided into three groups. So, if you see something good, hurry up and buy it before others return and grab it. Some items in my shop are unique, and once they''re gone, they''re gone."


    While Tang San browsed the disy case, he couldn''t help but smile at Mu Yunyu''s sales tactics, which were quite ordinary. Setting aside the high value of the items here, considering the earnings, could the second group of students going for the beast-hunting achieve the same gain as them? It seemed highly unlikely.


    Du Bai''sck ofbat power meant that their group was practically one member short when it came to battles, but that waspensated by the sixth-order Wu Bingji. Tang San himself had yed a crucial role, and so had Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation. Cheng Zicheng''s reconnaissance support and Du Bai''s luck enhancement were also very important. As for the leaders of the other two groups, they were only at the fifth order, and the groups'' overall abilities were also weaker than Tang San''s group. Most importantly, how could they possibly make such incredible gains without Tang San?


    Tang San had already nned what to buy. After carefully looking around during hisst visit, he had noted some precious items that suited him.


    He quickly selected his desired items, noted their numbers, and walked back to Mu Yunyu.


    "Sister Yu, I want these items," Tang San said, handing over the numbers he had recorded to Mu Yunyu.


    Mu Yunyu checked the list against her inventory, quickly jotting down what Tang San wanted.


    After transcribing the full list, she couldn''t help but express surprise. "What are these items you''re getting? The Dragon Tendon Fruit is quite suitable for refining meridians. You''re pretty generous. This single Dragon Tendon Fruit is worth one naturae coin! But what use do you have for this Green Jade Vine? It''s just a low-level demonic beast, we use it for binding things. Are you buying it for rope? It moves on its own, you know? It''s not stable at all!


    "And this, what do you need this for? Sharp Crystal Gold? What use do you have for this rare metal? It can''t even be used as demonshard coins, as it contains no inherent energy. And this ck Crow Stone. What''s the use of that? And you''re buying so much of it. It might be hard, but it also contains no energy. Do you have too much money? Are your palms itching?"


    Listening to Mu Yunyu''s string of reprimands, Tang San couldn''t help but show a wry smile. "Sister Yu, I do have a use for them."


    "What use? With the amount you''re buying, these four items together will cost two naturae coins. Do you even know what Sharp Crystal Gold is used for? This is the least useful of them. Women use it for jewelry. Demons use it as a gemstone because it has a beautiful color and a nice luster. Basically, it''s just popr and expensive due to its scarcity, not because it has any incredible properties. What does a boy like you want with it? Are you nning to make jewelry for a girl? Have you taken a fancy to Cheng Zicheng?"


    "I..." Tang San didn''t know what to say. He knew Mu Yunyu meant well, but he indeed had a use for these items!


    "Ah? Do you have a crush on me? No way, Tang San, I don''t like younger guys. Don''t even think about it. Get that idea out of your head!" Cheng Zicheng, with her sharp ears, overheard the conversation and immediately rejected him without hesitation.


    But then, remembering Tang San''s good qualities, she added, "Tang San, I know you''re a good person, but we''re still young. We should focus on cultivating and studying."


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. <i>What the hell, am I getting a ''nice guy'' tag now?</i>


    1. Yes, they are calling their teacher Sister Yu in an effort to look cute. ?

 Chapter 136: Ending The Shopping Trip

    <h4>Chapter 136: Ending The Shopping Trip</h4>


    ��Sister Yu, l really have a use for these. ck Crow Stone and Sharp Crystal Gold are both very tough and they have some characteristics that I need. Sharp Crystal Gold has no elemental properties, yes, but it actually repels all elements. I''m thinking of using it to forge a weapon. It would be easier to break through elemental defenses.


    "Think of the Winged Tiger we encountered. The Winged Tiger has the Wind Astral ability, so my wind des arepletely useless against it. I want to make myself a weapon that I can use inbination with the wind des. I want ck Crow Stone for the same reason, and since it''s cheaper, I''ll buy more of it. Sharp Crystal Gold is too expensive, so I''ll just buy a little to try out."


    "Forge a weapon?" Mu Yunyu was taken aback, as this was the first time she had heard about using Sharp Crystal Gold to make weapons. It was certainly a costly endeavor��the piece Tang San wanted was only the size of a baby''s fist, yet it was worth almost one entire naturae coin. She felt it to be a useless expenditure.


    ck Crow Stone, on the other hand, wasn��t very expensive. This material didn''t repel elements; its only advantage was its hardness. Tang San bought a lot, about one cubic meter. If it weren''t for the fact that Kali City didn''t produce ck Crow Stone, it wouldn''t be worth much at all.


    "Do whatever you want. After all, it''s your money, and how you spend it is up to you," Mu Yunyu said irritably.


    "Thank you, Sister Yu."


    In total, the things he needed came to two naturae coins and thirty-five aetherhorn coins.


    The most expensive items were the Dragon Tendon Fruit and Sharp Crystal Gold. The Green Jade Vine and ck Crow Stone didn''t cost much.


    Tang San was satisfied with his purchases. He didn''t need the shop to keep them in storage for him; he could just take everything straight to his room.


    Du Bai beckoned to Tang San. "Little Tang, help me decide what to buy. Should I also get a Dragon Tendon Fruit? There''s still one left."


    Tang San approached him and said, "Don''t buy the Dragon Tendon Fruit. Instead, I suggest that senior sister Zicheng should buy it."


    "It''s too expensive; I can''t bear to spend that much," Cheng Zicheng said, looking like a miser.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Hehe, how can you catch a wolf if you don''t put a sheep as bait? Senior sister, the biggest problem with your Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh is the fact that your toughness iscking, and not only does the recoil make you unable to use it more than once, but you also run the risk of injuring yourself. You know that, don''t you? Well, look at the description of the Dragon Tendon Fruit. Its greatest benefit is strengthening tendons and bones. I think if you use one, not only will it solidify your fifth-order cultivation, but it will also make your body stronger, so it''ll be much easier on you when you use the Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh. It''s worth a try."


    "Really?" Cheng Zicheng looked at the long, dark purple fruit, still hesitant.


    "I think it''s a good idea, too," Wu Bingji came over. He had already chosen his items, which were naturally all rted to ice attributes. He was now at the early stage of sixth order, so his priority was to improve his cultivation. Therefore, he selected items that would enhance his perception of the ice element and the richness of his bloodline. He didn''t buy much, as the naturae coins themselves were excellent for cultivation. He hadn''t tried to use them before because he simply couldn''t afford it, but he was ready to try it this time.


    "Okay, then I''ll buy one. It''s so expensive~" Cheng Zicheng stuck out her tongue and decided to buy thest Dragon Tendon Fruit.


    "What about me? What should I buy?" Du Bai asked Tang San for help.


    Tang San smiled and said, "You and senior brother Gu Li need items that improve spiritual power. You should focus on that. You have just broken through, and your spiritual power is snowballing. If you use a couple of elixirs that enhance spiritual power, you can quickly stabilize your cultivation and you''ll be able to progress faster."


    There weren''t many elixirs for enhancing spiritual power in the small shop, just two or three types. Du Bai discussed with Gu Li, and they split them evenly, buying everything avable.


    However, the elixirs for enhancing spiritual power were extremely expensive. Together, they spent six naturae coins, three each, which made them so reluctant to pay that they refused to buy anything else.


    Tang San didn''t rmend Du Bai to enhance his physical qualities now because he was innately too weak in that aspect. Even with enhancement, achieving the same level of toughness as others was almost impossible. Focusing on spiritual power was a better choice, especially since that was where the actual utility of the Celestial Fox Transformationy. Only by enhancing his spiritual power sufficiently could there be a possibility for the Celestial Fox Transformation to continue advancing.


    Afterpleting their purchases, the five of them spent over ten naturae coins in total. Mu Yunyu looked delighted. In a great mood, she personally saw them out of the shop.


    "Remember to use the elixirs promptly when you get back. Don''t waste their potency. You''re wee to visit again."


    After Tang San and the others left, someone emerged from behind the shop��Guan Longjiang.


    Without turning her head, Mu Yunyu said, "Why not give these kids a bit of a discount? Shouldn''t we support them more?"


    Guan Longjiang smiled slightly in response. "This is what we call ''spreading the dew evenly.'' Their gains this time were too great, and they weren''t short of money. What we earn from them naturally should be used to subsidize the other children. Who told them to make money so quickly? Keep a close eye on them here. Tomorrow, I''ll go with your brother to protect the second group going out for field training. It might take up to ten days before they can return. I hope they also have a good harvest. I also want to see if this real-life field training is effective."


    Mu Yunyu said, "Among these five children, four advanced in cultivation, and they even brought back so many demonic beasts. The facts speak for themselves. It''s hard toin. That kid, Tang San, really has some methods. I heard from Zicheng that the overallmander during this operation wasn''t Wu Bingji but Tang San. Although Wu Bingji is their eldest senior brother, they all seem to be looking to Tang San for directions now."


    Guan Longjiang nodded. "This kid seems to have a special charisma, he''s a natural-born leader. I hope he can continue to grow with this momentum. On the other hand, your brother is pretty frustrated. He''s been teaching practicalbat for so long, but Du Bai and Gu Li were stuck at the same order for years. And yet, after going out with Tang San for a few days, they both broke through. Yesterday, your brother even told me that for the second batch going out for training, we shouldn''t intervene unless they are actually facing death. Let them experience the taste of hovering on the edge of life and death, he said. He''s really determined this time."


    Mu Yunyu said with a hint of helplessness, "Then I''ll have to worry about the kids in the second batch for a bit. Don''t go too far, though! Safety first."


    "Don''t worry. It''s not like they''ll encounter a situation like the Winged Tiger King every time," Guan Longjiang reassured her.


    Tang San and the other four returned to their rooms. Each having purchased valuable items, they were naturally eager to use them immediately.


    Tang San put the Sharp Crystal Gold and ck Crow Stone into his spatial storage bag. He wouldn''t use them for the time being, but his lips were curled up in satisfaction.


    Although he spent over two naturae coins today, Tang San knew it was worth it. The Dragon Tendon Fruit was a solid investment. It was the ideal medicine for him right now. It would help him toughen up and refine his meridians, as well as enhance his overall physical quality, allowing him to withstand the energy of his sixth-order cultivation. Moreover, it would elerate his bodily growth. With the addition of demonic beast meat and blood, Tang San was sure that his frailty would soon be a thing of the past.


    What he said to Mu Yunyu was sincere. He needed to let his body continue to grow to break through to higher realms. After all, he was only nine years old, and his body struggled to handle the internal energy, which was a significant issue.


    Even though he was a God King in his previous life, cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique to the third order at his age would have been very good under normal circumstances. The only reason he had been able to achieve such a high cultivation was due to the devouring ability, which allowed him to elerate his progress. However, his physical growth couldn''t keep up with the speed of his cultivation advancement.

 Chapter 137: Green Jade Vine

    <h4>Chapter 137: Green Jade Vine</h4>


    Tang San didn''t rush to consume the Dragon Tendon Fruit to temper his body. It could be taken within three days. Instead, he turned his attention to the Green Jade Vine.


    True to its name, the Green Jade Vine was a mix of green and white, giving it a translucent appearance. It had a unique texture, soft to the touch, and exuded a faint warmth.


    The Green Jade Vine that Tang San had bought was over three meters long and as thick as a baby''s arm. It was confined within a cage, and it constantly twisted and turned inside like an impatient snake.


    Although it was called "vine," it was not a nt but a demonic beast, a second-order one. If it could awaken its spiritual intelligence, it could theoretically be a nymph. Unfortunately, it hadn''t. Awakening spiritual intelligence was not an easy feat, after all. In addition, it was deemed inedible by the demon races, even though it had some energy that could be consumed. Practically, its only worthy in its toughness.


    The Green Jade Vine was easy to maintain; with water and sunlight, it was practically indestructible, disying remarkable vitality. Itmonly thrived in deep mountain forests. It wasn''t aggressive, and it didn''t feel pain either.


    As Tang San gazed at the Green Jade Vine with its jade-like luster, a hint of nostalgia flickered in his eyes.


    He opened the cage and released the vine.


    As soon as it was out of the cage, the Green Jade Vine seemed to sense something and immediately became active, wriggling and crawling on the ground. Instinctively, it sought out a water source.


    Tang San waved his right hand, summoning a gentle breeze that swept up the Green Jade Vine, bringing it into his hand.


    The Green Jade Vine was warm and smooth, but as soon as Tang San grasped it, it started to coil, winding itself around his arm. This was an instinctive reaction. Although not adept at attacking, once touched, it would immediately use its toughness to entangle the entity that touched it. Some weaker demonic beasts would be strangled to death by it.


    As the three-meter-long Green Jade Vine wrapped around him, Tang San''s eyes twinkled, and he activated his Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    The Green Jade Vine suddenly trembled violently. The faintly visible green halo surrounding it instantly dimmed, and in just a moment, it withered, losing its power to entangle and limply falling to the ground.


    With a shake of his right hand, Tang San''s devouring ability was pushed up to the maximum, and the shriveled Green Jade Vine instantly turned into fine powder.


    He closed his eyes, silently sensing the existence he had just absorbed into his body.


    This section of the Green Jade Vine was very cheap, the cheapest among the four items he had purchased, costing only five aetherhorn coins. And even this price was because the Green Jade Vine was alive and living demonic beasts were generally priced higher. As Mu Yunyu said, it was basically a living rope.


    Tang San''s energy vortex operated naturally, expelling some random impurities from his body, and a faint green-white bloodline imprint appeared within the energy vortex.


    From his previous experience devouring the mother Winged Tiger, Tang San had learned that demonic beasts could also form bloodline imprints. The Green Jade Vine was also considered a demonic beast, albeit a weaker one, and naturally, it could manifest an imprint as well.


    The first time he entered the small shop, Tang San had seen it, but at that time, he hadn''t decided. Upon his return, among all four items, what he wanted to buy the most was not the other three valuable items but this Green Jade Vine. This was why he had eagerly taken out the Green Jade Vine first.


    After purifying the weak Green Jade Vine imprint of impurities, it was equivalent to a first-order imprint, and a very weak one to boot.


    Yet, a hint of joy appeared on Tang San''s face.


    The next moment, he exerted his spiritual power and ced the small Green Jade Vine imprint into the sixth and most recent opening, ranking itst among all six.


    Indeed, he had chosen the bloodline imprint of such a weak vine-like demonic beast as his sixth imprint.


    The Green Jade Vine imprint stayed firmly in ce, emitting a soft, gentle glow of green jade. It was almost negligiblepared to the other five imprints, but the joy on Tang San''s face was particrly evident.


    Taking a deep breath and channeling the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, Tang San raised his right hand. Instantly, a small cluster of green light gathered in the palm of his hand, gradually taking the form of the Green Jade Vine.


    The Green Jade Vine, now more slender than the one he had devoured earlier, slowly elongated under Tang San''s control. It wrapped around him, moving ording to his will and morphing into various shapes.


    This was Tang San''s sixth bloodline imprint and the only one that looked like a nt. It was just of the first order, and the weakest one by far. Yet, Tang San''s eyes were filled with a sense of wonder no weaker than when he had integrated the Celestial Fox Transformation.


    In the world known as the Douluo Continent, there existed something called a martial soul. Upon reaching the age of six, everyone participated in a martial soul awakening ceremony. A martial soul could be anything really; they were incredibly diverse. There were beast martial souls and tool martial souls. Among the people who awakened their martial soul, a few would also develop a type of energy called soul power. By cultivating this soul power, they could enhance the might of their martial soul. Such individuals were called Soul Masters, and they were the world''s most powerful and revered beings.


    In his previous life, Tang San also awakened his martial soul at the age of six. Unlike others who had only one martial soul, he had two. One of them, which apanied him throughout his previous life, was an inherently weak entity known as the Blue Silver Grass.


    And at this moment, the Green Jade Vine he had merged with was the closest in aura and properties to the Blue Silver Grass among all the nts he had encountered in this world thus far.


    Despite the weakness of the Green Jade Vine, in Tang San''s heart, it was as if he had returned to his previous life, back to the moment when he first awakened.


    <i>Blue Silver Grass, Green Jade Vine!</i>


    <i>And that person from all those years ago...</i>


    ......


    <i>"I am Xiao Wu, ''Wu'' as in ''dance.''"</i>


    ......


    Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Tang San pursed his lips and retracted the Green Jade Vine. Though it was terribly weak now, who was to say it wouldn''t be incredibly versatile in his hands in the future?


    ***


    One-third of the students were out for practical experience, and with both Guan Longjiang and Mu Enqing absent, the primary teaching duties were taken over by Mu Yunyu. Si Ru hardly ever appeared in front of the students, and Tang San had no idea what he was up to.


    After a morning of physical training that exhausted everyone, Tang San sought out Mu Yunyu before lunch, telling her he wanted to take the afternoon off to go into the city.


    Mu Yunyu readily approved. She seemed rather agreeable today, probably because Tang San and his group had recently spent a considerable sum at her ce. She reminded Tang San to be cautious with his money in the city, as even the demons here rarely saw naturae coins.


    Having reached the sixth order, Tang San didn''t need an escort. His sixth-order strength had invisibly elevated his status in the academy. After all, in terms of cultivation, he was now second only to Wu Bingji. And he had fought thetter to a draw while he was at the fifth order!


    After lunch, it was once more time for sses. Mu Yunyu took over Guan Longjiang''s theoretical teaching.


    As soon as the afternoon sses ended, Tang San immediately left the academy and headed down the mountain. He was eager to drink that delicious milk tea, and he was even more eager to see the girl who sold it.


    Rushing down the mountain, Tang San only slowed down upon entering Kali City.


    Even after three lifetimes, his heart still fluttered with excitement and nervousness at the thought of seeing her.


    Time seemed to stretch in anticipation, and Tang San found himself quickening his pace unconsciously. Finally, as evening approached, he arrived at the familiar ce.

 Chapter 138: She鈥檚 Nowhere To Be Found

    <h4>Chapter 138: She��s Nowhere To Be Found</h4>


    Kali City''s central square was bustling at this time, crowded with people. The city''s heart would have flourished even more if there had been an actualmercial district.


    From a distance, Tang San could already see the sign of the milk tea shop, with a line still formed in front. It was evident that the shop was quite popr.


    Tang San quickened his pace towards the milk tea shop.


    Just as he was about to reach the shop, his steps slowed suddenly, a look of undisguised disappointment shing in his eyes.


    Two figures were busy at work inside the shop: the familiar young waitress and the gentle young woman.


    Mei Gongzi''s mother and the waitress were bustling about, but Mei Gongzi himself was nowhere to be seen.


    <i>She... She''s not here.</i>


    A strong sense of loss swept over Tang San, his enthusiasm instantly doused as if someone had just dumped a bucket of ice water on him. It''s an eternal truth��the more one cares, the greater their disappointment.


    Tang San pursed his lips, standing there somewhat dazed. He didn''t join the queue for milk tea; instead, he slowly retreated and sat under the familiarrge tree.


    He sat there, looking toward the milk tea shop, watching the constant stream of customers and Mei Gongzi''s busy mother.


    As the sky gradually darkened, Tang San''s gaze remained fixed on the shop, and he waited in silence.


    Would shee today? What was she doing? He didn''t know, couldn''t even ask. All he could do was wait.


    As the sky grew darker, the same two people were still busy inside the milk tea shop, without the presence he hoped to see.


    Tang San realized that he might not see her today.


    It was gettingte, and he had to return. Otherwise, there would be trouble if he wasn''t there when Mu Yunyu did her room checks in the evening.


    He silently joined the queue at the milk tea shop, waiting patiently. The crowd buying milk tea had reduced by this time, and it was soon his turn.


    "What would you like, young man?" Su Qin asked softly, looking at the boy standing outside the counter.


    Her voice was charming, just like her exquisite beauty, which seemed untouched by time. Mei Gongzi didn''t resemble her much;pared to her mother, she had a more dashing air. Both were beautiful, just in different ways.


    "Auntie, I''d like fourteen cups of milk tea," said Tang San, taking out fourteen demonshard coins, the same Wind Spirit Stone demonshard coins he had brought from the Wind Wolf Town, and cing them on the payment tray.


    Su Qin looked at him in surprise but nodded, instructing the young waitress to prepare Tang San''s order.


    Tang San asked hesitantly, "Auntie, with such good business, can you manage all the work?"


    Su Qin smiled and replied, "It''s manageable."


    "I''ve been here before, and you even gave me a free cup of milk tea. Do you remember me?"


    Su Qin paused. She saw many, <i>many</i> customers daily. Although human vassals were rare, it wasn''t like she never saw them. She somewhat remembered this child''s face, but it was very vague.


    This was Tang San''s third visit; the first time, Su Qin had been there, but the second time, it was only Mei Gongzi and the female waitress.


    "Hmm, I do remember seeing you before." Su Qin nodded.


    Tang San said, "When I came that time, there were three of you, and the other sister gave me the milk tea. Isn''t she here today?"


    Why was he buying as many as fourteen cups of milk tea? It was to probe for information while the milk tea was being made.


    "Xiao Mei has gone to school. When she''s not at school, she helps me here. Ah, your milk tea is ready!" Su Qin smiled, handing him tworge bags containing fourteen cups.


    "Thank you, Auntie."


    <i>She went to school! </i>Tang San quicklytched onto this crucial piece of information. Mei Gongzi was going to school? Where? She was also a human vassal, yet she wasn''t one of the students at the Redemption Academy. Could she be going to school together with the demons?


    Although filled with questions at this moment, he didn''t inquire further, as the demonic beasts in line behind were urging him on. He just turned around and left.


    On the way back, he was deep in thought.


    <i>The scope of human vassals attending school in Kali City should be pretty limited. In the demons'' cities, schools are rare. And even among demons, not all have the opportunity for education. Only the powerful demon races and the nobility among them attend school.</i>


    <i>Where might Mei Gongzi be attending school? Howe she is able to attend school at all, in fact? And for that matter, I still don''t know how her family could open a milk tea shop in the central square. What kind of background can she have?</i>


    Having been to Mei Gongzi''s milk tea shop three times, Tang San had only once seen a demon cause trouble, and it had been immediately quelled. There had to be a reason for this.


    What was the story behind Mei Gongzi and her mother? What kind of power was silently protecting them?


    With these doubts in his heart, he made his way back up the mountain.


    The reason for buying specifically fourteen cups of milk tea was simple: there were ten remaining students in the academy. Adding himself, Mu Yunyu, and Si Ru, there were thirteen people in total. Thest cup was, of course, a respectful offering to his master.


    Although he didn''t know if they would drink it, he would buy it for everyone.


    Tang San had timed his return perfectly before Mu Yunyu''s evening room check. He first found her and offered her a cup


    "Here, Sister Yu, please have some milk tea."


    The milk tea had already cooled, but Mu Yunyu was still pleasantly surprised.


    "Milk tea? From the shop in the city center? You went to the city center?" Mu Yunyu asked in surprise.


    Tang San nodded. "I happened to walk by and I saw that this milk tea shop had a lot of customers, so I bought some for everyone."


    Mu Yunyu immediately smiled, "I''ve tried it before; it''s delicious. Thank you! You''re very generous, thinking of everyone even when you have money. Come apany me to check the rooms, and then we can distribute these to everyone."


    "Alright," Tang San agreed.


    Tang San followed Mu Yunyu to check each room, offering everyone a cup of milk tea. Naturally, everyone was delighted, especially the girls, who seemed to have a particr fondness for milk tea. It was a pleasant surprise for those who hadn''t tried it before, and for those who had, it was a joy.


    After distributing the milk tea, Tang San felt that his fellow students'' attitude towards him had warmed considerably.


    "Sister Yu, is Teacher Si Ru around? I also bought one for him. And for Master," Tang San added, referring to Zhang Haoxuan.


    "Old Si isn''t here. Never mind him. His cup is mine now," Mu Yunyu said, taking another cup without one shred of hesitation. "Your teacher should be around. Find him at his ce. Thanks, Little Tang."


    Mu Yunyu returned to her room, and Tang San had already finished his cup on the way back. Holding thest cup of milk tea, he went to the mayor''s residence.


    He knocked on the door, and a voice from inside groaned, "Who is it?"


    "Master, it''s me," Tang San responded.


    Soon, the door opened, and Zhang Haoxuan, dressed in pajamas, let Tang San in.


    "It''s prettyte for a visit. Are you having trouble with your cultivation?" Zhang Haoxuan asked.


    Tang San shook his head. "I went to the city today and bought milk tea for everyone. I''ve brought a cup for you, too." As he spoke, he handed over thest cup of milk tea.


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled, "So you have some money now, huh? I heard you bought a Dragon Tendon Fruit. Have you eaten it yet?"


    Tang San shook his head, "Not yet. I n to eat it tonight."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "That was a smart purchase. The Dragon Tendon Fruit is excellent, especially for strengthening the meridians and internal organs. When you take it, control the medicinal power carefully and not let it dissipate. Eat it with the skin, don''t waste anything."


    "Alright," Tang San said. "Master, there''s something I''d like to ask for your help with."

 Chapter 139: I Would Like To Make A Hammer

    <h4>Chapter 139: I Would Like To Make A Hammer</h4>


    "What is it?" Zhang Haoxuan''s eyebrows rose in curiosity.


    Tang San exined, "I feel my close-quartersbat abilities arecking, so I thought of a solution. I want to get myself a weapon for self-defense."


    "Oh? What kind of weapon are you thinking of getting?" Zhang Haoxuan asked, somewhat surprised.


    "I want to make a hammer," Tang San said.


    "That''s easy to do. You can have it made at the cksmith''s shop. But can an ordinary hammer really do anything to increase your close-quartersbat abilities ? Are you referring to the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique you taught Gu Li? How did youe up with that idea? I have to admit, it''s quite interesting. I''ve seen Gu Li practicing it a lottely."


    Tang San chuckled. "You don''t really think I made it up myself, do you? It''s recorded in the <i>Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record</i>. I haven''t even mastered it yet myself. But I think its destructive power is pretty amazing. And with my ability to control the wind element, I can use that to increase the speed of my rotations, which could be effective. I n to forge the hammer myself and ask for your help firing it up."


    Zhang Haoxuanughed. "Don''t tell me you know how to smith as well!"


    Tang San scratched his head. "It shouldn''t be too difficult, right?"


    Of course, he couldn''t tell Zhang Haoxuan that his father, in his previous life, was the number one cksmith in the Douluo Continent. Tang San had learned from the best, and he was already rather adept at making hidden weapons from his first life. His cksmithing skills likely surpassed the level of any cksmith on the Daemon Continent.


    "Alright then,e find me tomorrow afternoon. I''m free. I''ll take you to the cksmith''s shop. You can try it out yourself, and if it doesn''t work out, we can ask the cksmith for help." Zhang Haoxuan agreed.


    Tang San gave him an extraordinary sense of anticipation. Since his arrival at the Redemption Academy, he had continuously brought everyone shocks and surprises, sometimes even a sense of fear.


    The world certainly had its geniuses, and the demon race was replete with them. However, Tang San was undoubtedly the most talented human Zhang Haoxuan had ever encountered.


    Perhaps it was fate that the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record chose him. Only Zhang Haoxuan knew that because of this, Tang San had be even more significant in his eyes than Du Bai and Gu Li, who possessed the top-tier Demonic God Transformations bloodlines.


    Tang San had reached the sixth order before he even turned ten. His rate of improvement was astounding! If he continued this way, he should be able to reach the ninth order before the age of twenty, and who knew whether he would touch the threshold of the mysterious level beyond the twelfth order in the future? It was still uncertain to what extent he could cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    The fact that Zhang Haoxuan had escorted Tang San''s team on their outing was actually primarily out of concern for Tang San''s safety. The more potent Tang San''s abilities and the faster his progress, the more importance Zhang Haoxuan ced on him.


    To protect Tang San, even the organization was kept in the dark about his connection to the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record. This secret was too important to reveal before Tang San was fully developed.


    "By the way, now that you''ve reached the sixth order, I will apply to elevate your Redemption ss to Orange," Zhang Haoxuan told Tang San.


    "Alright, thank you, Master," Tang San responded.


    Among the students, only Wu Bingji was an Orange-ss Redeemer due to his cultivation. Reaching the sixth order naturally qualified one for the Orange ss even without significant contributions to the organization.


    "A nine-year-old Orange-ss member, hehe, you''ve certainly set a record. However, Little Tang, I must remind you. Don''t stand out too much in the academy. You''re already quite noticeable here. You know your situation; it''s better to be steady and low-key."


    "Okay, Teacher, I understand. ''Grow quietly, don''t show off!''" Tang San said with a chuckle.


    "Exactly, that''s the spirit. Go now, get some rest. Come over after lunch tomorrow; I''ll make arrangements with the cksmith''s shop," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    After Tang San left, Zhang Haoxuan closed the door and picked up the milk tea. A faint red glow danced at his fingertips, quickly warming up the tea. The aroma of milk mixed with the scent of tea lingered in his nostrils. Zhang Haoxuan took a deep breath and slowly sipped the milk tea, his eyes thoughtful.


    After returning from thest practical training, Zhang Haoxuan had been away for a few days. During this time, he had thoroughly investigated Tang San''s entire history from birth to the present, carefully examining every single minute detail.


    It was really because Tang San was too outstanding, like a treasure trove, always bringing out something novel and intriguing.


    During the team''s training expedition, Zhang Haoxuan had observed Tang San giving pointers to Wu Bingji, Gu Li, Cheng Zicheng, and Du Bai, and nothing had escaped his notice.


    Whether it was the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, the control over the ice element that he taught Wu Bingji, or even the method of training one''s eyesight, they were all unprecedented among humans.


    His biggest worry was, naturally, Tang San''s background. If he turned out to be a demon sent to infiltrate the Redemption Society, that would be a significant problem.


    However, all evidence showed that Tang San''s background was spotless, without any ws. Zhang Haoxuan could also clearly feel Tang San''s helpfulness and kindness toward everyone around him.


    What Tang San didn''t realize was that his master could have ended his own fight much earlier on the day they faced the Winged Tiger King. Indeed, Zhang Haoxuan was a true blue powerhouse even among ninth-order beings. He had noticed the situation with the tigress and could have provided support earlier. In fact, he had been monitoring the battlefield, ready to intervene at any moment. He wanted to see how Tang San would react in a life-and-death situation.


    What shocked Zhang Haoxuan was that the three students actually managed to kill the tigress at thest moment.


    Others didn''t notice, but Zhang Haoxuan, with his mighty spiritual power, realized that Tang San had also used Time Freeze. In other words, he had absorbed the Chrono Croc Transformation from Gu Li, utilizing his Mysterious Heaven Technique. That was his fifth type of Demonic God Transformation.


    Zhang Haoxuan was shocked and filled with amazement.


    This was why he had re-examined Tang San''s background after returning, even though he had already done a background check long before he had even met the child.


    Now, he hade to trust Tang San fully. After carefully investigating and considering Tang San''s overall situation, he truly believed that he was a proper human.


    There was also another reason for this certainty: even among the demons and nymphs, no creature with five different bloodlines existed.


    There were indeed anomalies, with some demons inheriting two different bloodlines from their parents. But this was the limit, as more bloodlines would create a chaotic mix, preventing any bloodline power from ever being enhanced.


    However, Tang San was different. He had five Demonic God Transformation abilities, and each one would grow as he grew. Zhang Haoxuan was sure this was unprecedented in the history of the continent.


    Leaving aside the fact he unquestionably had human blood, even if Tang San was an actual demon, he would be a supreme genius in their world. Any demon n would surely treasure him beyond imagination; how could they send him as a spy?


    In fact, the demons were aware of the Redemption Society but had notunched targeted campaigns against them, as neither demons nor nymphs took the Redemption Society seriously. To them, the Society was little more than an annoyance.


    Therefore, Zhang Haoxuan increasingly believed that Tang San might be uniquely blessed, truly a divine favor upon humanity.


    <i>Such an exceptional human has to be protected and nurtured at all costs. In the future, Tang San might very well be the true leader of humanity!</i>

 Chapter 140: Consuming The Dragon Tendon Fruit

    <h4>Chapter 140: Consuming The Dragon Tendon Fruit</h4>


    Tang San was unaware of Zhang Haoxuan''s rich inner thoughts. He knew that Zhang Haoxuan was aware of him teaching other abilities to the group, and there was no need to hide it. Relying on his bit of divine consciousness and the perceptions of fate changes after integrating the Celestial Fox Transformation, he was confident that Zhang Haoxuan harbored no ill will toward him.


    He didn''t need the Redemption Society to do anything for him; all he needed was a safe ce and time to improve himself. As he became more familiar with this world, he was gradually finding the direction for his advancement.


    So far, the most significant help he had received in this world was the integration of Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation. The fusion of the Celestial Fox Vision into his Discerning Eye had allowed his spiritual power to liquefy at a young age, a transformational change. More importantly, this liquefied spiritual power had started to nourish his bit of divine consciousness, which was crucial.


    By strengthening that bit of divine consciousness, he might soon be able to use some of his abilities from his past life, and eventually regain the stature of a God King.


    Back in his room, Tang San didn''t rush to cultivate. He was still pondering the matter of Mei Gongzi attending school.


    From her appearance, Mei Gongzi seemed a bit older than him, but not by much; girls tended to mature earlier, after all. She seemed to be around twelve or thirteen years old. <i>What kind of institution would she attend at this age, especially as a human vassal?</i>


    Based on his knowledge so far, she would likely be attending some basic school.


    Sighing internally, Tang San remembered that there were several basic schools in Kali City. However, the city was so vast that it would be impossible to search them all. Most importantly, if Mei Gongzi frequently attended school, the chances of seeing her at the milk tea shop would be slim, which Tang San was reluctant to ept.


    <i>Oh, I miss you so much...</i>


    He couldn''t just ask Mei Gongzi''s mother which school she attended. What should he do?


    Right, he couldn''t afford to be daunted by the difficulty! It was just a matter of basic schools. Starting tomorrow, he would investigate how many there were and then check each one until he found her.


    With this thought, Tang San''s determination solidified. He believed he would find Mei Gongzi and her school. First, he would need a detailed map of Kali City that marked the schools''locations.


    With a direction in mind, his heart settled. Tang San took out the Dragon Tendon Fruit; it was time to consume it. He needed to strengthen his physique further, as only a robust body could bear more energy. Otherwise, his body would be the greatest hindrance to his continued advancement.


    Bringing the Dragon Tendon Fruit to his lips, he bit into it, and a fragrant juice flowed into his mouth. The fruit quickly withered, and the aromatic liquid flowed down his throat. As it descended, the temperature suddenly spiked, like a line of fire, instantly plunging into Tang San''s abdomen.


    The warm liquid imparted an indescribable, peculiar sensation as a heat wave rushed swiftly toward his limbs and bones. A fiery energy instantly engulfed Tang San''s entire body, making him feel like steam enveloped him. His skin turned red, radiating intense heat.


    <i>What potent medicinal strength! </i>Tang San remained clear-headed amidst all this. He circted the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, spreading the medicine''s effect throughout his body.


    Harnessing his mighty spiritual power, he could distinctly feel the efficacy of the Dragon Tendon Fruit permeating his body, subtly transforming every part of him.


    Truly deserving of its exorbitant price as a heavenly treasure, this substance might not significantly boost energy, but its nourishing effects on the body were remarkable.


    Feeling the fiery baptism on his body, Tang San gradually entered a state of meditation.


    With his body at the center, the surrounding air temperature noticeably rose as the Dragon Tendon Fruit subtly and silently tempered his body.


    The entire night passed in such silent cultivation.


    As the first rays of sunlight entered the room in the early morning, Tang San awoke from his meditation.


    A sensation of soreness and itchiness pervaded his entire body. Opening his eyes, Tang San instinctively stretched, flexing his body.


    Instantly, he heard a series of crackling sounds from his bones, and it seemed as if this simple movement was stretching out the meridians within his body.


    The feeling of soreness and itchiness gradually gave way tofort. The vital energy and blood surged within him, bringing a refreshing and clear sensation and a lingering sour and stinky smell.


    When Tang San looked down, he saw ayer of gray dirt on his skin, the source of the unpleasant odor.


    Without a doubt, this was the effect of the Dragon Tendon Fruit purging impurities from his body. The Mysterious Heaven Technique had such an effect by itself, but the added nourishment of the Dragon Tendon Fruit enhanced it significantly.


    After getting out of bed, Tang San didn''t rush to wash up. Instead, he performed a few stretching exercises to loosen his body thoroughly, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.


    After a satisfying bath, Tang San silently observed the changes in his body.


    In just one night, he had grown at least three to four centimeters taller, and even his lean physique seemed to have filled out a bit. His skin and muscles had be more stic as if his entire being had grown.


    The effect of the Dragon Tendon Fruit was indeed impressive. The bloated feeling in his body due to the excessive amount of energy had noticeably lessened. It wasn''t as difficult to bear. Although it was still improbable to push the Mysterious Heaven Technique to the seventh order quickly, his physique had unquestionably advanced.


    ***


    It was time for breakfast, but with five students absent, the cafeteria seemed somewhat emptier.


    As soon as Tang San entered, he saw Du Bai and Cheng Zicheng eating together.


    When Tang San caught sight of Cheng Zicheng, he immediately noticed her changes. She looked noticeably more mature, as if she had aged a year or two in a short time. Her facial features had be a little more slender, giving her the air of a youngdy. Her skin was radiant and glossy, and her figure appeared more slender and toned.


    This was obviously the effect of the Dragon Tendon Fruit.


    Tang San sat down next to them. Du Bai turned his head to look at him and couldn''t help but exim, "The effect of the Dragon Tendon Fruit is excellent! Tang San, you''ve changed too, just like Zicheng. No way, I will buy one to eatter; this thing can even make people more attractive!"


    Tang San had grown taller in his eyes, and his appearance and temperament had subtly changed. He was no longer as thin and small; rather, he seemed slender and nimble. His skin was more lustrous, and his facial features had lightened up, making him much more pleasing to the eye.


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "If you have enough money, eating it will benefit you somewhat. However, spiritual elixirs are more suitable for you. Your Celestial Fox Vision relies more on spiritual power for support."


    Du Bai chuckled softly and said in a lowered voice, "It''s useful, you know. Practicing the Purple Demon Eyes has been beneficial. After breaking through to the fourth order, the effect is much more noticeable. As I practice it, I can clearly feel my spiritual power increasing. After practicing this morning, I felt a change in the sea of my consciousness."


    "What change?" Tang San asked curiously.

 Chapter 141: Smithing

    <h4>Chapter 141: Smithing</h4>


    "Originally, my spiritual power felt kind of like a gas. Since I broke through to the fourth order, it has been growing quite a lot, and practicing the Purple Demon Eyes you taught me actually made it even better. Today, I suddenly felt my spiritual power condensing. It��s turning liquid, I think! There��s a lot more of it, but it takes up a lot less space, so I can gather a lot more of it. That means I have much more room for improvement."


    "Liquid spiritual power?" Tang San was also astonished. His spiritual power had be liquid due to the absorption of the Discerning Heart��s Gaze, Falcon Eye, and Celestial Fox Vision, along with a bit of divine consciousness at the center of his sea of consciousness and his fifth-order cultivation at the time.


    Yet Du Bai, having only broken through to the fourth order, was already transforming his spiritual power into a liquid form! Even without the Purple Demon Eyes, merely with the Celestial Fox Vision, he could probably have achieved it, albeit in a longer time.


    "Truly worthy of being a first-tier demon bloodline! Indeed formidable!"


    "Congrattions, senior brother Du Bai! It seems like your spiritual power is bing much stronger. Do you have any new sensations with your Celestial Fox Vision?" Tang San asked.


    Du Bai nodded, "I feel much more now. I can see luck more clearly. For instance, I feel your luck today is quite good. But for some reason, it seems to me like your luck is different from others��. For one, I feel a lot closer to you for whatever reason. Also, I can see other people��s luck much clearer, but yours seems kind of elusive, as if it��s trying to escape my sight."


    Tang San thought this must be rted to his own Celestial Fox bloodline. It seemed the teachers'' assessment was correct; entering the fourth order of the Celestial Fox Transformation had brought about a fundamental change in Du Bai. Such changes would continue to enhance as Du Bai''s spiritual power grew, truly bringing out the capabilities of this top-tier Demonic God Transformation.


    "Senior sister Zicheng, your transformation is also great. How do you feel?" Tang San asked Cheng Zicheng.


    "I''m doing quite well. My body has be much tougher. As you said, my Golden Wings are stronger, and my flying speed has improved, not to mention that I��m faster anyway since I broke through. I can use the Golden Wing Splitting Wind sh much easier, and it��s more powerful too," Cheng Zicheng said with delight.


    Du Bai eximed, "Indeed, money can make things happen! It''s all about having money. With it, even cultivation speeds up."


    Seeing hispanions improve brought only joy to Tang San. Their advancement was akin to his own; their strength represented the limit of his bloodline power.


    sses went on as usual��mainly physical training, since other teachers were absent. After consuming the Dragon Tendon Fruit, Tang San felt the physical training became more effortless. He voluntarily increased his workload to better absorb the medicinal effects of the fruit.


    The morning was for physical training, and there were no sses in the afternoon, a rare break. Tang San had previously arranged to meet with his master, so after lunch, he went straight to Zhang Haoxuan''s residence.


    "You''ve eaten the Dragon Tendon Fruit?" Zhang Haoxuan scrutinized him and immediately noticed the changes in him.


    Tang San nodded and said, "The effect is quite noticeable, isn��t it? I can feel my body bing tougher."


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled and nodded."The effect of the Dragon Tendon Fruit is indeed good. Though it''s not considered a top-tier natural treasure, it''s really not bad. Too bad it��s rare; our academy only managed to get a few. Either way, it doesn��t matter to you, because it can only be consumed once. The effect diminishes greatly the second time. You do need to strengthen your body, but don''t rush it. After all, you''re still young. As long as you regrly consume demonic beast meat and you grow normally, your body''s endurance should beparable to an adult''s by the time you''re fourteen or fifteen."


    "Yes."


    "Let''s go. I''ve already made arrangements with the cksmith shop. Are you sure you want to forge it yourself?" asked Zhang Haoxuan.


    Tang San nodded and replied, "I want to try it, Master."


    "Alright. Give it a try, then." Zhang Haoxuan had great faith in Tang San. Although the boy hadn''t been there long, he had significantly impacted Zhang Haoxuan''s understanding of human cultivation.


    Zhang Haoxuan increasingly realized how marvelous the Mysterious Heaven Technique was. He had tried it in secret but couldn''t get it to work. If it weren''t for the fear of exposing it, he would have liked to find a human child without the Demonic God Transformation to try it.


    Since Tang San''s arrival at the academy, not only had his cultivation improved rapidly, but he had also significantly influenced the other students. Particrly, Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation and Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation, which had been significant challenges for the academy, had all broken through after Tang San took them out for training. It was fitting to call him the lucky star of the Redemption Society.


    Upon entering the cksmith shop, they were greeted by waves of heat. Warm air circted in the shop, where several muscr cksmiths worked.


    Seeing Zhang Haoxuan arrive with Tang San, the cksmiths set aside their work to greet him.


    Being able to live in the academy town, they were naturally vassals. With a nce from his Discerning Eye of Heaven, Tang San could tell that the cksmiths'' Demonic God Transformations were of the strength type. Their cultivation was not very high, around the third order, but it was sufficient for cksmithing.


    "Alright, you guys take a break. Leave this ce to us for a while," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    The cksmiths nodded and left, showing great respect for him as the mayor.


    "What do you n to do?" Zhang Haoxuan turned and asked Tang San.


    "I''ll need your help with the smelting, Master, and then I''ll give forging a try," Tang San replied.


    "Alright. What do you need to smelt?" Zhang Haoxuan asked curiously.


    Immediately, Tang San took out the ck crow stones he had purchased.


    "ck Crow Stone? What do you need to smelt it for? Apart from being hard, it has no special properties. It��s very hard, I guess, but because it��s too hard to work with, it��s practically useless. These stones are only good for fence repairs. The ones in the shop have probably been gathering dust for a long time," Zhang Haoxuan said, looking at Tang San with confusion.


    Tang San said, "Master, I really want to try it. With such hard ore, I am wondering if I can produce something even harder if smelted. I want to try forging a weapon."


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head somewhat helplessly, "This is wishful thinking. If you want a weapon, finding a better metal for forging is better. What use could ck Crow Stone possibly have?"


    Tang San insisted, "Please, Master, help me try this out." He had already put the ck Crow Stone into the smelting furnace as he spoke.


    He had bought many pieces of stone, almost enough to fill the entire furnace.


    "Let''s give it a try then," Zhang Haoxuan said, somewhat resignedly.


    Tang San picked up a forging hammer from the side. Zhang Haoxuan approached the smelting furnace, raised his right hand toward it, and activated the Fierce Tiger Transformation. His body visibly erged and a fierce me shot from his palm onto the ck Crow Stone, starting the high-temperature smelting process.


    Tang San stood beside him, watching intently, silently waiting for the ck Crow Stone to show a change.


    ck Crow Stone seemed to have a very high melting point. After being heated for a while by Zhang Haoxuan, they only turned slightly red, with no other changes.


    Just as Zhang Haoxuan was about to say something, Tang San preemptively said, "Master, please increase the temperature."

 Chapter 142: Black Crow Stone? This Is Black Gold!

    <h4>Chapter 142: ck Crow Stone? This Is ck Gold!</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan felt helpless and intensified the infusion of his bloodline power, turning the mes erupting from his palm golden-red. The fierce golden-red mes were scorching, gradually causing the furnace to turn red. Meanwhile, the ck Crow Stone'' hue shifted increasingly toward red.


    "The furnace can''t be heated any further, or it will blow up," Zhang Haoxuan warned.


    "That''s enough. Please continue with the heating, ck Crow Stone," Tang San said as he picked up the tongs nearby and extracted the piece of ck Crow Stone that had undergone the most significant color change due to Zhang Haoxuan''s mes.


    This piece was red-hot, radiating intense heat when removed from the furnace.


    Tang San ced it on an iron anvil, steadying it with the tongs in his left hand while his right hand swung the forging hammer.


    Having cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Technique to the sixth order, Tang San wielded the hammer effortlessly. With a resounding ng, the first strike fiercelynded on the ck Crow Stone.


    Zhang Haoxuan saw that the blow ttened the usually hard ck Crow Stone. He immediately looked surprised; under the high temperature of his fire, the hard and brittle ck Crow Stone had actually be malleable!


    Tang San''s movements did not cease. The forging hammer in his hand repeatedly struck down as he twisted his upper body. While holding the tongs with his left hand, he still managed to leverage the force of his upper body, making each strike more potent than thest.


    While this wasn''t theplete Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique, it was nheless imposing.


    With each heavy blow, the ck Crow Stone kept changing shape; noticeably, ck powder scattered with each change in shape.


    Watching Tang San forge, Zhang Haoxuan was amazed. When Tang San swung the forging hammer, his entire demeanor seemed to change, as if the hammer was a natural extension of his body, giving off a sense of unity between man and hammer.


    Tang San felt the same way. In his previous life, his second martial soul had been a hammer! Known as the foremost in strength, his Clear Sky Hammer had been his final trump card, his most potent weapon whenever he faced formidable enemies.


    s, he hadn''t brought any of that with him in this life. Yet, the sensation of wielding a hammer remained.


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    As the forging hammer fell blow by blow, the piece of ck Crow Stone rapidly shrank, but it also underwent some peculiar changes.


    As it shrank in size, the originally pitch-ck stone gradually began to emit a metallic sheen. The ore��s original ck-golden hue also became increasingly rich with Tang San''s forging. With each heavy strike, the color became more vibrant, slowly acquiring a metallic essence.


    "This is..." Zhang Haoxuan''s pupils constricted. Metal? Could ck Crow Stone be forged into metal like other metal ores? There had been attempts before, but none had been sessful. Was the temperature not high enough, or was the power used during the forging not enough?


    As he pondered, the ck Crow Stone under Tang San''s hammer suddenly burst into a brilliant light, shooting up nearly ten feet high. The light shone for several seconds before silently fading away. The ck Crow Stone transformed into a piece of ck-golden metal, its size reduced to less than a fifth of the original.


    Tang San crouched down, closely examining the metal. The inherent hardness of the ck Crow Stone remained, and it had be even stronger. Moreover, its toughness had increased!


    ck gold, in his previous life, had been a scarce metal. Its primary characteristic was its inertness, and it showed little reaction to any substances or interactions. It was also incredibly tough. In other words, it was an excellent choice for both weapons and armor.


    When Tang San first saw the ck Crow Stone, he couldn''t be confident that it was ck gold ore. Only upon his second observation, with his enhanced Discerning Eye of Heaven, did he make a more urate judgment, concluding that the ck Crow Stone was, in fact, ck gold ore.


    Now that the forging wasplete, the presence of ck gold ore was confirmed, and its purity was also quite high.


    Although ck gold was not particrly precious, it was the most suitable for making forging hammers due to its great toughness. Additionally, it was excellent for creating hidden weapons, as it was able to easily prate elemental defenses.


    This was why Tang San had bought up basically all the ck Crow Stone. They could be used to make hidden weapons. He was currentlycking effective means of attack, but that would change soon enough.


    "What is this?" Zhang Haoxuan asked, looking at Tang San in surprise.


    Tang San shrugged, saying, "I don''t know either. I just wanted to forge some metal and then try to make some of the hidden weapons recorded in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record. Teacher, this metal seems quite tough."


    Zhang Haoxuan lifted his hand, drawing the sessfully forged ck gold into his palm. He silently felt it, squeezing hard with his hand. Just as Tang San said, the quality of this metal seemed very high, extremely tough. At the very least, it was one of the toughest metals he had ever seen.


    <i>This works?</i>


    <i>Is this what they call transforming trash into treasure?</i>


    "Teacher, let''s continue. Let''s try to refine all the ck Crow Stone this afternoon," Tang San said.


    Zhang Haoxuan couldn''t help but ask, "What was that burst of light just now?"


    Tang San, with an innocent look, said, "I don''t know either!"


    He couldn''t exactly tell his teacher about the Thousand Refinement, a reaction that urred when forging reached a certain level with rare metals. Hundred-Refined metals were top-quality, and Thousand-Refined metals even had a little spirituality! Although his current cultivation was far from his previous life''s level, producing such top-notch effects was still rtively easy for him. In fact, if Zhang Haoxuan hadn''t been there, looming over him like an eagle, he could have even further refined the metal.


    For now, he was simply refining the ck Crow Stone. The biggest issue with ck gold ore was that it required extremely high temperatures for forging. Once transformed into ck gold, however, such high temperatures weren''t necessary, as the furnace''s heat was sufficient. High temperatures were the only thing that genuinely affected ck gold, as it could be softened under high heat. Beyond this, it feared almost no other elemental properties. As for its weakness against high temperatures, Tang San would find another way, such as matching it with another metal for alloy forging.


    But for now, such extreme considerations weren''t necessary. Pure ck gold by itself was already an excellent material for making hidden weapons.


    Zhang Haoxuan continued heating up the ore, and Tang San continued forging. Zhang Haoxuan quickly noticed that while Tang San seemed somewhat unskilled initially, he gradually became more proficient. The forging hammer swung vigorously in his hands, asionally emitting bursts of light. The rhythmic hammering sound resonated beautifully within the cksmith shop as if carrying a unique melody.


    Over the years, Tang San had observed that the forging standards of this world were quite ordinary, perhaps due to the world''s abundant resources and the overwhelming strength of the demon and nymph races. Naturally, he couldn''t reveal forging techniques far beyond this world''s level, but he could still employ some of the basic forging techniques that he knew.


    Piece by piece, the ck Crow Stone was refined. Tang San wasn''t hurrying to shape it; the most crucial task for now was to refine all the ck Crow Stone into ck gold. This required Zhang Haoxuan''s bloodline me to reach the critical temperature. Once the ck gold was produced, Tang San could proceed with forging using just the cksmith shop''s resources.

 Chapter 143: Surveillance

    <h4>Chapter 143: Surveince</h4>


    After almost no rest, it wasn''t until the evening that Tang San finally finished forging the ck gold. Watching the ck Crow Stone transform into ck gold, Zhang Haoxuan''s face was astonished.


    "Where did you get this spatial bag?" Zhang Haoxuan asked. Now that the forging was done, he remembered noticing something that he hadn��t seen his pupil use before.


    Tang San couldn''t just conjure ck Crow Stone out of thin air, and transporting it was troublesome, so he decided not to hide the existence of his spatial bag from Zhang Haoxuan any longer.


    "I brought it from Wind Wolf Town. Master, when I was leaving there, I encountered the Lord of Wind Wolf Town. I killed him and I devoured his bloodline power. That''s why I was already at the fifth order when I arrived here," Tang San exined candidly.


    After spending these days together, he gradually epted the Redemption Society and his master. There was no longer a need to hide certain things.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes flickered slightly. "You were at the fourth order then, no? And he was at the fifth?"


    Tang San nodded. "I know what you��re thinking, but he was really badly injured from his fight with a powerful member of the sh Leopard n. I guess I just got lucky."


    Zhang Haoxuan''s mouth twitched slightly. "So...you''re saying you instigated the war between the Wind Wolf and sh Leopard ns? It was quite a heated battle, you know? Many powerful demons kicked the bucket. Even the Ancestral Court was rmed, and it took great effort to suppress the conflict."


    Tang San blinked innocently. "He wanted to kill me at the time; I couldn''t just let him, could I? As for what happened afterward, I wouldn��t know."


    "Nice way to sidestep responsibility!" Zhang Haoxuan''s expression was priceless as he gave Tang San a thumbs-up. "You sure are ruthless, kid!"


    He had noticed it when Tang San led the team to kill demonic beasts��not only was he decisive and struck hard when time came, but he was also able to keep his cool when needed.


    He had observed Tang San''s team''s performance throughout their journey. He was confident that without Tang San, the team would have likely achieved less than half of their results, not to mention taking down not one, but two Winged Tigers.


    Tang San''s guidance in teamwork andbat skills, as witnessed by Zhang Haoxuan, had greatly impressed him. This child''s disy of selflessness and leadership talent was very satisfying.


    The reason he had agreed to that training was partly to assess Tang San. Only in real situations, hazardous ones is one''s true character revealed.


    "Thank you, Master." With thest piece of ck gold forged, Tang San contentedly stored it away.


    Zhang Haoxuan asked, "What about your hammer? Aren''t you forging it today?"


    Tang San shook his head, "Not today. I''m out of strength. I''ll do it another day. After refining the ck Crow Stone into metal, it feels much more malleable but less heat resistant. Next time, I��ll just use the cksmith''s shop; there''s no need to trouble you."


    "Alright. Then you should also head back and rest early," Zhang Haoxuan nodded. With this child, he was unsure how to guide him further. Or rather, there wasn''t much for him as a teacher to do, given Tang San''s astonishing rate of growth.


    Tang San added, "Oh, Master, where can I buy a detailed map of Kali City? I''d like to purchase one. The small shops don''t seem to have it."


    Zhang Haoxuan asked in puzzlement, "What do you need a detailed map for?"


    Tang San replied innocently, "To study! Getting familiar with the city should be good, right? Plus, it helps me avoid danger and ces I shouldn''t go. The maps used by the teachers in ss are quite basic. Not very detailed."


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "Thene with me. I have one that you can use for now. Detailed maps are very precious, all hand-drawn. They are quite expensive. You can return it to me when you''re done with it."


    "Okay, thank you, Master."


    Not having to spend money was, of course, the best. The need for hand-drawn maps showed that the technology of the Daemon Continent was quite behind, still in the era of cold weapons through and through. Of course, the fact that firearms and the likes had not been developed could be simply because such things couldn��t hold a candle to the individual strength of the beings here.


    When Tang San went to get the map from Zhang Haoxuan, he understood why the mayor had said it was very precious. Theplete map was huge, made of a single piece of leather. It was about six square meters, and even folded, it was arge piece.


    Tang San brought the piece of leather back to his residence and hung it up on the wall. A detailed and colorful map was immediately presented before his eyes.


    This map was many times more detailed than the ones Guan Longjiang used in ss, depicting everything about Kali City in great detail. Even the surrounding mountains and the paths there were clearly marked.


    Tang San quickly located their academy town on the map, which even clearly showed the approximate number of houses in the city. The Redemption Academy wasn''t on this map, either because it was builtter or because the mayor had felt it was better not to include it.


    Tang San began to search for the symbols of all the schools, memorizing them.


    There were three main levels of schools: the mostmon lower-level schools provided elementary education, which most demons and some vassals could attend. More advanced education required a certain status to attend. The top tier was naturally the nearby Kali Academy.


    Judging by Mei Gongzi''s age, she likely wasn''t attending the lowest level of elementary education. The mid-level general education was the most probable. And such schools in the vast Kali City numbered only twelve.


    It became much more manageable after narrowing down the range��like waiting for a hare at a tree stump.


    For the next few days, Tang San spent his days attending school, and in the afternoons, he either went to the cksmith to forge or down the mountain to observe the target schools. His days followed a regr pattern.


    However, after several days of continuous surveince, there was no result. Mei Gongzi was nowhere to be seen. Tang San even revisited Kali za but still did not spot Mei Gongzi. He couldn''t keep asking around, so he had to resort to the most straightforward method: continue surveying the schools.


    Through observation, Tang San noticed that these schools dismissed their students near dusk. After school, the demons would leave all at once. He also learned from his master that regr schools didn''t have boarding facilities, meaning students would definitely go home after school.


    He devised a n for himself: observe each ordinary school for three days. If Mei Gongzi appeared, he would surely spot her.


    As he watched the pupilse out, Tang San noticed that only some of these schools had human vassals attending. These were likely vassals of stronger bloodline races, but they were not on the same level as the demons and had to exit the school through side gates.


    This made Tang San''s surveince a bit easier, but after six continuous days and two schools, he still found nothing.


    The forging of ck gold, on the other hand, was progressing smoothly. Tang San was also looking for metals thatplemented ck gold but couldn��t find any. On the bright side, he had already forged a pair of hammers for himself from ck gold. They were tailored to his use, making his future forging much easier.


    Zhang Haoxuan was still very kind to him, having designated a special area for him in the cksmith shop, separated from the other cksmiths. Others could, at most, hear the sound of his hammering but couldn''t see what he was forging.


    Not long after, the team that had left for training returned.


    The best way to describe their appearance upon returning was "dirty and dusty."


    The group of five was almost all injured. Though the wounds didn''t seem severe, their rather dejected expressions indicated that the results were not as good as they had expected.

 Chapter 144: Still No Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 144: Still No Mei Gongzi</h4>


    Du Bai quietly went to Tang San''s room before Tang San could even inquire about the situation.


    "Little Tang, do you know? Their training results are far from ours! Hehe," Du Bai said mischievously as he closed the door.


    "Oh? How did the senior brothers and sisters'' training go?" Tang San asked.


    Du Bai exined, "They only killed a few low-order demonic beasts, the strongest just fourth-order. Not a single fifth-order. Far worse than us, I''d say. And I heard they even rmed a group of demonic beasts. If it weren''t for the teachers'' intervention, they might have beenpletely wiped out. They couldn''t even reach the designated destination or see the target demonic beast."


    Tang San remarked, "Why do I feel like you''re enjoying their misfortune?"


    Du Bai immediately straightened his face, "I''m not~ I won''t admit it~ How could I take pleasure in their misfortune? Even though everyone used to say I was just a mascot with no real use, I wouldn''t be happy at their bad luck~"


    "Alright, go back. The teachers are probably not in a good mood either, so don''t show them this bad side of you," Tang San said somewhat helplessly.


    Tang San had already guessed that the results of this second training batch wouldn''t be as good as theirs. His power and Wu Bingji''s were far greater than these children''s, and hisbat experience was far beyond theirs. Failure in their first external training was to be expected. However, if they could learn from this experience, they would surely gain something, and it wasn''t all bad.


    The training summary came the next day. Naturally, the students from the second batch who had gone for the training were severely criticized.


    Listening to their recount of the entire process, Tang San thought that it wasn''t actually that bad. Sadly, the differencepared to his batch was indeed stark.


    They hadn''t gained much or found the targeted demonic beasts. The students hadn''t improved much after this outing either, but they <i>had</i> experienced quite a few scares. However, this was a real battle experience, and they did gain something from it. In Tang San''s view, this was already a good oue.


    The third batch would continue��it was only fair to give everyone a chance. The only difference for the third batch was that these six students knew they would be apanied by teachers. This gave them a sense of security, which would surely affect their training results. But that couldn''t be helped now; they needed to try multiple approaches.


    Tang San had been keeping a low profile recently, earnestlypleting the training and assignments set by the teachers, studying hard, and improving every day. He asionally forged, and then creeped around the schools in session.


    To the teachers in the academy, he said he was going to the cksmith''s shop, which Zhang Haoxuan could vouch for, so no one asked further questions. Thus, he naturally had more time to go out.


    However, Tang San was quite frustrated that he had gained no new information after staking out at several schools in session.


    He even began to doubt whether Mei Gongzi''s mother had lied to him and Mei Gongzi wasn''t actually attending school. But, judging from her mother''s expression, it didn''t seem likely, and there was no need to deceive a child like himself.


    <i>What to do? Continue the surveince.</i>


    Time flew by, and even by the end of the third batch of students'' training, Tang San had still not found the school where Mei Gongzi studied.


    The situation of the third batch was somewhat better than the second. Knowing that teachers were apanying them, the students were bolder and luckier in their actions, resulting in slightly better oues.


    During this period, Wu Bingji''s injuries healed, and he was training every day. Gu Li, Du Bai, and Cheng Zicheng also stabilized their cultivation levels.


    It took a month for all the students toplete their training rounds. Although only the first batch had outstanding results, the teachers found upon evaluation that, as Tang San initially said, facing real and strong opponents in actualbat clearly yielded better results.


    The next step was consolidation and cultivation, allowing the students to assimte the gains from their realbat experiences.


    Another month passed, and the most significant change for Tang San was his transition from nine to ten years old.


    Over these two months, frequently eating demonic beast meat, along with his own self-care and cultivation, brought significant changes to his body. He grew considerably taller, no longer looked as thin, and became more pleasing to the eye.


    There were also changes in his temperament.


    Initially, his performance had been far too dazzling, but he became very low-key. Apart from attending sses, other students rarely saw him.


    Through daily interactions with Du Bai, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng, Tang San gradually enhanced his bloodline imprints steadily and continuously.


    Among these, Tang San had advanced his Golden Roc Transformation to the fourth order, asionally venturing to the back mountain to experiment with its flying capabilities. Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation and Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation had both reached the peak of the third order.


    At this level, Tang San realized that advancement was indeed not easy. The higher the bloodline imprint tier, the more difficult it was to advance. He couldn''t devour and absorb too much of their bloodline power at once to avoid affecting them, so he had to progress gradually.


    Either way, excluding the negligible Green Jade Vine, the other five imprints were doing rather well. After the fusion of the Winged Tiger Transformation and the Wind Wolf Transformation, Tang San named the new imprint the Wind Tiger Transformation, and it was well-established at the sixth order.[1] The sh Leopard and Golden Roc Transformations were both at the fourth order, while the Celestial Fox and Chrono Croc Transformations were at the peak of third order.


    As Tang San continually tempered his body, increasing its strength, his sixth-order cultivation gradually stabilized, and the sensation of overflowing energy gradually vanished. This was his most crucial change,ying the foundation for subsequent improvements.


    However, Tang San''s mood was not good, and he was not all that excited by the steady improvement in his strength. Not being able to find Mei Gongzi''s whereabouts meant he could never be happy.


    Moreover, as time passed, and the number of schools he watched over increased, his mood grew increasingly gloomy.


    Today, it was thest of the middle schools he was guarding. Could it be that he had to go on to guard the elementary schools? That would take him a ridiculous amount of time!


    <i>If nothing else works, I''ll just wait at Mei Gongzi''s tea shop. She has to return there eventually, right? As long as she does, I''ll definitely see her there.</i>


    <i>No! Still no sign of her!</i>


    Even as the skypletely darkened, he still did not see the person he longed to meet. Tang San was truly disappointed.


    <i>Let''s go back.</i>


    With dejection in his eyes, he headed back to the academy town.


    Tang San kept pondering all the possibilities in his mind. Where exactly could Mei Gongzi be studying? He had staked out all twelve middle schools, and although he had only visited thest one once, given his keen observation skills, he was fairly sure that another visit would do him no good


    In other words, either Mei Gongzi was attending an elementary school, or Mei Gongzi''s mother had deceived him, and she was not studying at any academy but was doing something else or had gone somewhere else.


    In the past month, he had visited the tea shop several times, yet he had never seen Mei Gongzi there.


    <i>Could there be any other possibility?</i>


    As Tang San pondered, he had already begun climbing the mountain. He was entering the vicinity of Kali Academy.


    As he climbed upward, suddenly, his spirit jolted slightly, and a marvelous feeling enveloped his heart. His eyes grew warm, and this warmth seemed to carry a hint of strange excitement. Indeed, his emotions were involuntarily stirred.


    <i>What''s happening? The Discerning Eye of Heaven?</i>


    Undoubtedly, this was a change brought about by the Discerning Eye of Heaven, and it was not a premonition of a crisis.


    The Celestial Fox Vision could observe fate, but it was only after reaching the fourth order that it could, to some extent, control and guide fate.


    1. The original here names the hybrid ��Tiger Wolf Transformation,�� but this is the only ce it shows up. Every other mention of it in future chapters calls it Wind Tiger Transformation. Hence, we reced the original Wind Tiger Transformation in ch125 with Winged Tiger Transformation and this one with Wind Tiger in order to maintain consistency. ?

 Chapter 145: Going to The Ends of The Earth for Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 145: Going to The Ends of The Earth for Mei Gongzi</h4>


    Previously, during their battle with the Winged Tiger, Du Bai achieved a breakthrough precisely because he made a critical move, shifting from observation to control. This led to his advancement to the fourth order.


    Luck, of course,es in both good and bad forms. When misfortune approached, a user of the Celestial Fox Vision naturally sensed it and instinctively made decisions to attract fortune instead and avoid disaster.


    Tang San hadn''t experienced much of what it felt like when good luck approached. After all, he hadn''t had the Celestial Fox bloodline for long and he hadn''t deliberately explored it. He nned to wait until he broke through to the fourth order to sense and investigate it further carefully and to figure out how to incorporate it into his strength.


    So, what was this feeling he was experiencing at the moment? His eyes felt hot, and an inexplicable excitement took over him. Could this signify...good luck?


    Just then, footsteps echoed down from the mountain. The heavy footsteps, unmistakable even without looking, told Tang San that a demon was approaching.


    He quickly moved aside on the path. Encountering demons on this mountain road was not unusual; teachers and students from Kali Academy used this route as well. He would only go another way at a fork in the road leading to the academy town when nearing Kali Academy.


    Most of the demon students at Kali Academy were of noble descent, and these nobles typically prided themselves in their status. They disdained to mistreat their vassals, especially since the academy town itself existed to serve Kali Academy. Thus, when students from Kali Academy encountered vassals from the academy town, they generally treated them decently, and some even greeted them amicably if they were in a good mood.


    Tang San had just stepped to the side of the road when he saw students from the demon n descending from above.


    The group leader was about two meters tall, with thick golden hair cascading down his back and his eyes shimmering with a golden sheen. His appearance was almost indistinguishable from that of a human, which was quite unusual. If not for his vertical pupils, it would have been difficult to identify him as a demon.


    <i>A high-tier demon...</i>


    Before arriving at the Redemption Society, Tang San might not have been able to make such a judgment. But now, he recognized it instantly. This was a member of the high-ranking demonic n, a high-tier demon with a very powerful bloodline.


    Such demons could transform into human form. For them, being in a human form was more flexible and more convenient for daily life than their original form. It had even be a tradition.


    The fact that humans could be vassals to the demonic and nymph ns, and why human females were sometimes favored by the demon ns, was partly due to this.


    There was even a belief among the demon n that humans were their descendants with an iplete bloodline, inheriting the potential to take on a human form but not the potent strength of the demons. In fact, the higher the tier of the demon, the more they tend to believe in this theory.


    Unquestionably, this young member of a demon n was very eye-catching, and the other demons following him clearly regarded him as their leader.


    However, at this moment, Tang San''s gaze, despite its focus, did not dwell on this obviously golden-bloodline demon and his significance.


    What he saw in his eyes was only the person next to this golden-haired demon.


    At this moment, a phrase involuntarily surfaced in Tang San''s mind: <i>But in the crowd once and again, I look for her in vain. When all at once I turn my head, I find her there wherentern light is dimly shed.</i>


    Wasn''t the stunningly beautiful girl walking beside the golden-haired demon, dressed in Kali Academy''s uniform, with long hair flowing behind her but no expression on her face, the very Mei Gongzi he had been searching for these many days?


    Upon seeing Mei Gongzi, Tang San felt like his brain had exploded, and everything became clear instantly.


    Mei Gongzi''s mother had not deceived him; Mei Gongzi was attending school, but it was not a middle or elementary school. She studied at the preeminent higher-tier academy in Kali City: Kali Academy.


    In that instant, Tang San''s thoughts became crystal clear. Mei Gongzi was a human vassal. There was no doubt about that��his Divine Consciousness couldn''t be mistaken. However, he didn''t know what kind of Demonic God Transformation Mei Gongzi possessed. At this moment, it appeared that she, as a human vassal, could walk alongside a young demon student with a golden bloodline, and her status seemed not low either. Coupled with the fact that her family''s tea shop was located in such a ce as Kali Square, Mei Gongzi''s background became obvious.


    Without a doubt, her father had to be from a very powerful n with a high-tier bloodline. Only this could ount for her status and her attending Kali Academy.


    Just as Tang San''s mind became enlightened and he finally understood the truth, suddenly, his vision went dark.


    "What are you looking at? Are you worthy to look at the prince?" A towering figure stood before Tang San, a hand asrge as a fan blocking the sunlight as it reached straight for his head.


    Tang San instinctively retreated, jumping backward. He pressed his hands forward in the air, and a gust of wind element propelled him backward, allowing him to avoid the other''s grasp.


    "You dare to dodge?" The muscr demon student had no intention of letting him go and roared as he moved to advance.


    "Enough!" A voice with a bit of authority rang out. The muscr demon student instantly stopped.


    The Kali Academy students descending from the mountain also stopped in their tracks.


    For Tang San, others were of no consequence; his gaze remained fixed on Mei Gongzi.


    He noticed Mei Gongzi frown slightly, while the golden-haired demon male student beside her smiled and said, "Don''t be angry, Little Bear, let''s go."


    From start to finish, he never even nced at Tang San. It was out of consideration for Mei Gongzi being a human that he spared Tang San, a mere vassal.


    Mei Gongzi instinctively cast her gaze toward Tang San, and their eyes met, causing Tang San''s heart to tremble suddenly. Mei Gongzi''s eyes showed a trace of surprise, as if she felt something familiar, but she couldn''t recognize Tang San immediately due to his significant changes over the past two months.


    As a person who had lived through three lifetimes, Tang San should have been far moreposed, but at this moment, he felt a strong urge to rush forward, beat up everyone around Mei Gongzi, and embrace her to ease his longing.


    He clenched his fists unconsciously.


    The muscr demon, Little Bear, snorted. "Be careful, boy. Lower your head."


    Tang San took a deep breath, forcibly restraining his inner impulses, and slowly lowered his head.


    Reason ultimately triumphed over recklessness. He couldn''t take action unless he invoked his Divine Consciousness; otherwise, he might not be able to defeat these obviously top students of Kali Academy. Besides, even if he did win, what then? How would Mei Gongzi regard him now?


    Then he suddenly realized something��could the golden-haired guy be trying to get close to Mei Gongzi? But the next moment, he shrugged off the idea. Mei Gongzi was only about thirteen or fourteen years old. These students weren''t much older than he was; how could they have romances like that? And even if the thought crossed their minds, Kali Academy would not simply allow them to mix their bloodlines like that.


    In addition, Mei Gongzi didn''t seem to be particrly close to him, nor did they show any intimate gestures. They were just ordinary ssmates.


    Although still anxious, thinking this way, Tang San felt much better. Whatforted him most was that Mei Gongzi was so close to where he lived! This made things much more convenient.

 Chapter 146: I Want To Join The Sparring Team

    <h4>Chapter 146: I Want To Join The Sparring Team</h4>


    An hourter.


    "Senior brother!" Tang San hurriedly rushed into Wu Bingji''s room.


    "What''s wrong, Little Tang? Why are you so agitated? Did you invent a new hidden weapon technique?" Wu Bingji''s eyes lit up with excitement as he spoke. He was very interested in Tang San''s hidden weapon techniques, greatly aiding his control of the ice element. He had recently be proficient in the Flicking Dart technique.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Hidden weapon techniques are easy to discuss, but do you have any sparring partner tasks? Especially at Kali Academy? I''d like to take one, preferably a long-term one if you can get me one."


    "You want to take on a sparring partner task?" Wu Bingji looked at him in surprise and said, "You''re too young. I''m afraid that won''t work. Especially at your age, with such cultivation, exposure would be troublesome! No, no, the teachers definitely won''t agree."


    Tang San quickly responded, "Senior brother, when have you ever seen me do something I''m not sure about? I''ll be careful. I just need a sparring task, doesn''t matter what it is, as long as it''s at Kali Academy."


    "No, no way!" Wu Bingji shook his head vehemently. Setting aside whether the teachers would agree, he did not!


    Seeing the less-than-ster results of the second and third batches of students returning from real-world practice, he realized how important Tang San was. Although he didn''t know how his younger fellow disciple had learned so much, their gains had been immense with Tang San leading the team. Not only had they earned a lot of naturae coins, but everyone had also significantly improved their strength. Nearly everyone had advanced, which was a wonderful thing! He was nning to go on a second field training with Tang San as soon as possible.


    Tang San responded without hesitation, "A brand-new hidden weapon technique. I guarantee it''ll be great."


    Wu Bingji''s eye twitched. "What kind of hidden weapon technique?"


    Tang San thought for a moment and said, "I''ll teach you a good one. Once you master it, it will be really powerful. Actually, if you master it, you can instantly kill demonic beasts at the sixth order. It''s going to take you a long time, though."


    "Ah?" Astonished, Wu Bingji looked at Tang San with wide eyes. "How is that possible? Instantly killing sixth-order demonic beasts?"


    Although he was in the sixth order, and his recentprehension was quite good with noticeable improvement, the physical strength of a sixth-order demonic beast was not something humans could easilypare with. Facing a sixth-order demonic beast one-on-one would require an arduous process to win, depending on the exact species. He instinctively didn''t believe Tang San''s im of instantly killing a sixth-order demonic beast. But then, thinking about how Tang San''s previous boasts had alle true, he couldn''t help but <i>want</i> to believe.


    "You better not be bluffing!" Wu Bingji said in surprise.


    "How could I possibly bluff? Let''s give it a try. I''ll demonstrate it to you. However, because of my Demonic God Transformation, I can''t really master this technique; only your ice attribute can. But it requires a very delicate operation. I originally nned to teach it to you anyway, so you can further develop it. Once you master this hidden weapon, we can go out for field training again. By then, even if we face a Winged Tiger likest time, we won''t be at a disadvantage anymore."


    "Really? Then show me quickly!" Wu Bingji was the "eldest brother," but he was still only seventeen. He was naturally curious about the miraculous hidden weapon technique Tang San described.


    "Let''s go outside then. A quick test will do."


    Tang San was determined to go to Kali Academy to apany his past and future wife, even at the risk of exposing some of his secrets. Once it involved Mei Gongzi, he would cast aside all his deep thoughts and far-reaching ns.


    The two went outside, and Wu Bingji asked curiously, "How do we test it?"


    "Stand more than thirty meters away from me," Tang San instructed, pointing at a distant spot.


    "So far away?" Wu Bingji was surprised. The power of hidden weapons was undoubtedly greatest at a medium distance, and thirty meters was already quite far. Even his icicles would lose momentum over such a distance. In addition, closer distances allowed the influence of spiritual power, but it couldn''t keep up at greater distances.


    "Just trust me," Tang San urged, pushing him toward the designated spot.


    Soon, the two stood thirty meters apart.


    Checking that no one else was around, as it was nearly dinner time, Tang San took a deep breath. A green light swirled in his eyes, and a ball of turquoise green light slowly took shape in his right hand.


    The light appeared almost substantial, and instead of shining brightly, it just radiated a faint aqua hue. The invisible wind swirled around it as wind elemental energy continuously converged into it.


    Wind Astral! This was truly the Wind Astral!


    After absorbing the bloodline imprint of the Winged Tiger, Tang San''s original Wind Wolf bloodline imprint had undergone aplete transformation. Essentially, the stronger Wind Astral had devoured the basic Wind de, which made sense given that the Winged Tiger was inherently much stronger in terms of both order and bloodline tier. However, the aura of the Wind Wolf''s bloodline persisted. After all, weaker though it was, it was still a n of the demon race, a level of existence above demonic beasts. Thisbination made Tang San''s Wind Astral even more stable than the Winged Tiger''s original one.


    Watching the green light sphere deepen in color, Wu Bingji was secretly astonished. As far as he remembered, even when Tang San used thepressed Wind de, it never took this long to prepare. Yet now, it had already been brewing for over ten seconds.


    "Senior brother, activate your ice elemental physique and create an ice shield. Actually, make it triple," Tang San said as the green light in his hand suddenly split into two, forming two aqua-green spheres of light.


    "Alright!" Knowing Tang San''s prowess, Wu Bingji didn''t dare to be negligent. He quickly activated his elemental physique and conjured three ice shields before himself.


    Tang San took a deep breath, his eyes shining brightly. In the next instant, he flicked his wrists,unching the two green spheres.


    The two spheres flew through the air with a faint whoosh, heading straight for Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji couldn''t help but wonder if Tang San was nning to use the explosive power of the wind element. Such a tactic wasn''t unheard of, but it was well known that the cutting force of the wind element was far more effective than its explosive power. The speed of the wind de was also greater than the speed of these two approaching spheres. What was he doing?


    Just as the two green spheres approached, he braced for whatever was toe. Whatever ability it was, it would soon reveal itself.


    <i>Bang! Bang! </i>


    The two green spheres collided with his first ice shield.


    Contrary to his expectations, there was no explosion; instead, the two green spheres were deflected upward.


    "Is that it?" Wu Bingji blurted out. He had barely felt an impact.


    But the next moment, he witnessed a strange sight. The two deflected spheres traced an arc in the air before colliding with each other.


    With a soft <i>puff</i>, the two green spheres shattered. In an instant, hundreds of green shes burst forth, covering the entire space in front of Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji instinctively ducked as a series of soft thuds continuously erupted against his ice shield. There wasn''t much force, but he soon felt a stinging pain all over his body.


    He instinctively retreated, focusing all his energy on fortifying his ice elemental physique. Once the series of thuds ceased, he looked closely and couldn''t help but gasp.


    His three ice shields in front of him were riddled with holes, yet bizarrely, they hadn''t copsed. Meanwhile, his whole body was throbbing with pain, and his clothes had turned into tatters.

 Chapter 147: Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball

    <h4>Chapter 147: Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball</h4>


    If it weren''t for the considerable defensive strength of his ice elemental physique, he might have been turned into a sieve just now.


    "Is...Is this a hidden weapon technique?" Wu Bingji was filled with intense shock, and he was frozen in ce, unable to react.


    Tang San had already approached him.


    "Senior brother, are you alright?" he quietly asked.


    Wu Bingji looked up at him, his eyes full of shock, "This, this... How did you do this? You..."


    Tang San chuckled. "Control! It''s all about controlling the elements. Impressive, isn''t it?"


    "This is too powerful. Thirty meters! And still such force! What kind of divine hidden weapon technique is this?" Wu Bingji looked at Tang San, his mouth dry and eyes filled with wonder.


    "Let''s go, we''ll talk when we��re inside." Tang San pulled Wu Bingji back to his dwelling, as Wu Bingji''s current state was too bizarre to be seen by others.


    In Wu Bingji''s room, Tang San closed the door, turned to Wu Bingji with a grin, and said, "This is a hidden weapon technique I''ve been working on over the past month. The problem is that I can��t really do it very well because the wind element is not very well-suited to it. But by the time I realized this, I��d already invested too many hours of work into it. And then I thought...hold on a moment, wind might not be the best element for it, but if you try it using ice, it should produce incredible power."


    "Tell me quickly, what''s the trick to it?" Wu Bingji asked eagerly.


    "I call this the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball. See those two light spheres? They are the ''mother'' balls. But the true power lies hidden within them. Do you remember I told you that once you canpress icicles into ice needles, your long-range attacks will improve? They can break through all kinds of strong defenses; even the tough bodies of demonic beasts might not withstand it."


    "Ah, I can now use ice needles to some extent, and you��re right, they really have incredible prating power," Wu Bingji said excitedly. This was histest outstanding achievement. Controlling the ice element topress it into ice needles greatly aided his overall cultivation and experience with the ice element. Thus, he truly admired Tang San.


    Tang San exined, "The reason I��m saying that the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball would be well-suited for you is that you can use it with the ice needles. I said that the balls are the ''mothers,'' right? Well, the ''children'' are a bunch of smaller weapons hidden inside. I don''t have control over ice, so what I hide inside are wind needles. But how can the power of wind needlespare to ice needles? The prating power of ice needles is much greater! Also, once an ice needle pierces into an enemy''s body, as long as you can connect with your spiritual power, you can make them explode and cause even more damage. Imagine that power!"


    Hearing this, Wu Bingji couldn''t help but gasp in amazement. "That works? You mean to say, using an ice element shell to cover many ice needles, then flicking them out with a technique to make them collide and explode at a distance. How is that even possible..."


    He had just finished speaking when he remembered Tang San''s recent disy. Thinking back, it indeed was as his junior brother had said! And if Tang San could do it, then what prevented <i>him</i> from doing the same?


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "Senior brother, don''t worry, there''s a knack to it. Let me exin it slowly. Your ice element is much more powerful than my wind element, at least in this aspect, so it''ll be more difficult for you to use. This secret technique will take you a long time to practice, but as long as you progress step by step following my method, I think you''ll soon be able to use it easily. Now think of what I told you earlier: if you really master this, don''t you think it can one-shot a sixth-order demonic beast?"


    Wu Bingji blinked and pondered over the power of his ice needles, "The Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball''s explosion can elerate the ice needles within? And it''s not a gradual eleration, but an all-out push?"


    Tang San nodded and replied, "Of course, it all depends on how you use the Ice Explosion Technique. It''s different from the wind element. But I''ve already thought it through for you. Let''s take it step by step."


    Wu Bingji''s mouth twitched. "Well...alright. But you can''t get past the teacher''s test! How can you work at Kali Academy? You''re too young." He knew that Tang San wasn''t teaching him this marvelous hidden weapon technique for nothing; his junior brother had already stated his intentions, so it was clear that he wanted Wu Bingji to help him.


    Tang San said, "I''ll figure out a way with Master. You just find me a way to get in, preferably one the teachers will easily agree to."


    Wu Bingji smiled, "You''re always full of surprises. I don''t know what you''re up to this time. Let me think about it, and I''ll tell you tomorrow."


    "Alright, no rush. I trust you, senior brother. Today, I''ll teach you the basics of the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball, and you can start practicing from there. Let''s take it step by step," Tang San generously said, showing no intention of waiting for Wu Bingji to sort things out before teaching him.


    "Okay," Wu Bingji responded without hesitation, genuinely interested in Tang San''s hidden weapon technique.


    "Do you remember the Flicking Dart I taught you?" Tang San said. "Let''s start with an enhanced version of it. It''s also the basis of the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball."


    "Enhanced Flicking Dart?" Wu Bingji asked curiously.


    Tang San nodded and asked, "When you use the Flicking Dart tounch ice needles, how far can they maintain their power?"


    Wu Bingji thought for a moment and replied, "Within a range of thirty meters, the power doesn''t diminish. Beyond thirty meters, the power gradually decreases, and thepressed ice element bes unstable. As for detonation, I can also do that within thirty meters right now."


    Tang San nodded and said, "Then, with this enhanced Flicking Dart, you can increase that distance by at least twenty meters. And it''ll be easier to detonate as well."


    "How?" Wu Bingji''s eyes lit up. This was a more practical and effective way to improve his strength.


    Tang San exined, "We''ll utilize the Ice Explosion and add an ice bead at one end of the needle. You can control it within thirty meters, right? So, when ites close to that distance, you can detonate the ice bead and let the explosive force push the ice needle, so you can get a second eleration. This way, the ice needle will be much faster and prate much deeper. You''ll probably be unable to detonate it afterward, but I think the ice needle itself would be pretty unstable. After all, it''s very concentrated energy and it''s getting away from you. The more energy you put into it, the more likely it is to explode on its own when it hits something."


    Wu Bingji was stunned and asked, "Would that work? How can we ensure that the energy generated by the exploding ice bead will push the needle forward?"


    As expected, he immediately realized the issue with this idea.


    Tang San chuckled, "That''s where the real skilles in. What if you put the ice bead and needle inside a tube? Imagine a cylinder justrge enough to fit the bead. Once it explodes, the force can only be released forward and backward. And then if you block one end of the cylinder, the whole force of the explosion shoulde out the other end, no? You can try first without throwing it. Hold it in your hand first, and you''ll understand naturally. Actually, you can even make the needle t on one end, like a mini-icicle, and that way, it''ll take more of the explosive force and move faster."


    "Can it be done like that?" Wu Bingji stared at Tang San dumbfounded, "I don''t know how your brain works."


    <i>This is the experience of living three lifetimes!</i> Tang San thought to himself.


    The Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball, originally made of metal, was a powerful hidden weapon and ranked among the top even among all the hidden weapons Tang San could make. He previously used a basic version with the wind element. Of course, when targeting Wu Bingji, he hadn''t used the Wind Astral to deploy the wind needles. Otherwise, Wu Bingji wouldn''t have been able to block them.

 Chapter 148: Second Acceleration

    <h4>Chapter 148: Second eleration</h4>


    The fundamental skills necessary to use the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball were undoubtedly challenging to learn. Even Tang San, with his liquid spiritual power and experience from his past, needed a long time to umte and control the necessary energy. For Wu Bingji to master it certainly wouldn''t be an easy task.


    However, inparison, the ice element was indeed much more straightforward to cultivate. In this respect, Tang San didn''t deceive Wu Bingji. The ice element was more stable than the wind element to begin with, and it was easy to fashion into a solid shape. Moreover, the concentrated energy could be detonated to great effect. When utilized well, it made the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball much easier to use than the wind element. Of course, it still required step-by-step practice.


    Tang San''s method of propelling the ice needle for a secondunch was inspired, to some extent, by the guns and the cluster bombs of his previous life. Theoretically, it was perfectly feasible to reproduce the same effects using the energy in this world.


    "The base of the ice cylinder must be stable, and the ice bead inside needs to be independent, which means you should be able to detonate it independently rather than together with the ice cylinder''s base. Then, the front ice needle should be tightlybined with the ice bead, and the ice needle should sit inside the cylinder without leaving any gaps. This way, when you detonate, all the force can be fully applied to the ice needle. At the same time, you must ensure that the recoil is contained. Do you understand what I mean?" Tang San continued to exin to Wu Bingji.


    "I kinda understand," Wu Bingji nodded. Being very intelligent, he had roughly grasped the method through Tang San''s description.


    "In that case, let me do a demonstration for you without focusing on power. This way, you can see it." Tang San extended his right hand as he spoke, and a wind needle formed from wind elemental energy gradually took shape in his palm. Then, a small wind bead was condensed behind the wind needle, followed by a base to encase the wind bead and the needle. The wind elemental energy at the tail end of the wind needle expanded slightly, sealing the gaps.


    "Just like that. Watch closely!" Tang San said as he detonated the windball. With a whistling sound, the wind needle at the front was propelled forward, piercing into the wall and leaving a dent in it, clearly not all the way through.


    Tang San''s use of the wind element was impressive, and the underlying principle was fully demonstrated before Wu Bingji.


    "Let''s do it again." Tang San once more condensed a wind needle with a propeller. He flicked it with his finger, and the wind needle shot like lightning. After traveling three meters, a burst of green light at the tail shed as the internal wind ball exploded. The fast-moving wind needle elerated a second time with the burst of green light, shooting out like a phantom and piercing the wall, this time creating a small hole.


    Wu Bingji inhaled sharply. Now, it was crystal clear. Tang San had demonstrated the feasibility of secondary propulsion right in front of him. As for Wu Bingji, he was very confident in hispressed ice needles. The needles themselves had impressive prating power. If his ice needle could achieve a secondary eleration, its power would be iparable to the wind needles Tang San had just used.


    This concept of secondary eleration alone opened apletely new door when it came to hidden weapons, not to mention the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball.


    Imagine if many ice needles were hidden within an ice ball. The ice ball explodes, propelling the ice needles, which undergo a secondary eleration, immensely boosting their prating power. The range of attack could be significantly extended. If the ice needles prate an enemy''s body, and if the energy condensed into ice needles is properly calcted, they could even explode inside the target. The power of that...


    As Wu Bingji fantasized, his eyes zed with excitement, his mouth agape, almost drooling. If he could sessfully execute this technique, the power would be unimaginable!


    "Tang San, this, this..."


    Tang San chuckled, "No need to thank me. This technique suits you best, senior brother! First, perfect this enhanced version of the ice needle, and then we can practice the next step. It''s not hard to condense one, but to do it quickly depends on your control of the ice elements. It won''t take long to seed with your ice elemental physique. The quicker you condense them and produce more, the greater yourbat power will be."


    "Mhm, mhm," Wu Bingji nodded repeatedly. He didn''t even dare to dream of using the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball right now. For now, he just hoped to master this secondary propulsion technique.


    "I''ll go ahead then. See you at the cafeteriater."


    Tang San was confident about convincing Zhang Haoxuan. After all, Zhang Haoxuan was privy to his secrets. He just needed to tell Zhang Haoxuan that he wanted to visit Kali Academy to observe the abilities of various demonic beast races and find bloodlines more suitable for him to absorb. Zhang Haoxuan would likely agree. After all, Tang San had proven time and again his ability to protect himself and his mature mindset.


    Tang San taught Wu Bingji not just for assistance in this particr case, but also with the genuine hope of enhancing the strength of their small team. Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li would take a long time to master the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer; for the mascot, having the Purple Demon Eyes was the most effective. Wu Bingji was exceptionally gifted in terms of elemental control, and helping him strengthen this aspect was the best way to enhance hisbat abilities. Once Wu Bingji broke through to the seventh order, things would changepletely.


    The following day, Wu Bingji quietly approached Tang San and told him that there was, in fact, a way to do things so he could get to Kali Academy.


    Tang San couldn''t be a sparring partner; he was only ten years old, and to do so at such a young age without raising suspicion among the demons was just wishful thinking. However, if he just wanted to enter Kali Academy, that was different. Besides sparring with the demons, there were other jobs at Kali Academy! Being a janitor was always an option if he couldn''t be a sparring partner.


    The academy town was created to serve Kali Academy, and Zhang Haoxuan managed the entire town. Therefore, how to provide services to Kali Academy was entirely up to Tang San''s master.


    "Do you want to observe?" Zhang Haoxuan asked Tang San when they met at noon.


    "Yeah, I want to see if there''s a Demonic God Transformation more suitable for me. I''m now at the sixth order and I should be able to integrate another ability. The stronger the bloodline I integrate, the greater my power will be!" Tang San said to Zhang Haoxuan.


    Zhang Haoxuan frowned slightly, "Are you sure you can merge with a higher-tier Demonic God Transformation?" The ones he had seen Tang San integrate before were almost all low-tier.


    Tang San replied, "Not only that, but I can also switch between them."


    He did not want to hide this from Zhang Haoxuan anyway. After all, Zhang Haoxuan already knew his most important secret, and knowing more would enable him to better cooperate with Tang San. Whether initially through his divine consciousness orter through the Celestial Fox Vision, Tang San was sure that this master could be trusted. Otherwise, he would probably have been taken away by the Redemption Society and someone would be experimenting on him right now.


    "Hmm?" Zhang Haoxuan looked at him in surprise.


    "Freeze!" Tang Sanmanded in a low voice.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s body stiffened slightly. It was just for an instant, but the next moment, his eyes widened.


    <i>Is this... Time Freeze? Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation?!</i>


    "You..." Zhang Haoxuan looked at Tang San in shock, suddenly feeling like he couldn''t breathe.


    Tang San grinned. "I''ve spent plenty of time with Gu Li and slowly absorbed it. It reced the Ironhide Shield that I originally got from a rhino demon."


    Zhang Haoxuan inhaled sharply. The Chrono Croc Transformation was a second-tier Demonic God Transformation bloodline! It was one of the top bloodlines in the entire Redemption Society. <i>If Tang San could learn the Chrono Croc Transformation, that means he can also acquire high-tier abilities...</i>


    As he was still in shock, he saw Tang San''s back light up with an orange-red glow, and two wings of light unfolded behind him, stirring the air and lifting him up.


    <i>Golden Roc Transformation!</i>

 Chapter 149: The Done Deal

    <h4>Chapter 149: The Done Deal</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan subconsciously clenched his fists while Tang San deactivated his power and stood before him again.


    "I''m thinking that, obviously, Kali Academy must also have powerful Demonic God Transformations. I want to go and see, maybe I can...<i>learn</i> something. You understand," Tang San said with a longing expression.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s breathing became noticeably heavier. "Reason tells me I should report this to the organization and protect you as the most important asset. Do you have any idea how much what you just did could do to upend the world?"


    Tang San looked at him thoughtfully. "Master, I''ve already given you the specific methods of cultivation. It''s not that I am precious, but the Mysterious Heaven Technique is. I don''t know where it came from and I don''t have more information than I gave you about how it works. That''s why I need to experiment more, to see its limits. Only then can we better find how it fits with us humans and give humanity a chance to rise."


    Zhang Haoxuan closed his eyes, murmuring, "But do you realize what it would mean if your secret were discovered?"


    Tang San smiled faintly. "I''ve thought about this issue a long time ago. If I��m identally discovered one day, I''ll just be an individual. Whether they kill me or I end my own life, I''ll never let slip one word about the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Only the two of us know about this. No matter what, I will hide it as much as possible, and I need you to help me hide it, too. Even if I die ten years, a hundred years from now, until our Redemption Society is better established and we can cultivate more strong individuals, the Mysterious Heaven Technique must not be exposed. Otherwise, humanity will be in the greatest danger. You said that yourself, didn''t you?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded silently. It was precisely because of this consideration that he hadn''t reported the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Once reported, it would be out of his control. If the organization decided to let more ordinary people learn it, keeping it secret would be almost impossible, which could easily spell disaster for humanity.


    "Honestly, I genuinely can''t understand how these words cane from a ten-year-old. Tang San, do you know? I''ve even thought...maybe you''re a savior sent by the heavens to save humanity. I''ve also considered that you might be a spy sent by the demons. I hope it''s the former. Thetter is unlikely because a being like you would be an absolute top genius, even among the demons. They wouldn''t risk sending you just to handle a bunch of humans. I will do everything possible to protect you, but you must promise me that you will protect yourself as well. You''re just too important to all of humanity," Zhang Haoxuan said earnestly.


    "Don''t worry, I value my life." <i>After all, I''ve already died enough times...</i> Tang San silentlyined in his heart.


    "Alright then, whatever you want, I''ll cooperate with you. You can observe, but don''t act rashly."


    <i>Master settled!</i>


    Tang San didn''t know how Zhang Haoxuan exined it to the other teachers, but he soon received a notification from Wu Bingji. He could now work at Kali Academy.


    The job was simple: sweeping the courtyard three days a week. Indeed, it was just that. And thus, Tang San became a janitor at Kali Academy.


    The remaining four days would naturally be spent studying and cultivating at Redemption Academy. Someone else would take over the sweeping duties if there were any outside practical training sessions.


    Undoubtedly, Zhang Haoxuan''s arrangement for him wasprehensive.


    There were no immediate ns for outdoor training. After the students of Redemption Academy were divided into three groups for separate training excursions, the following period was for self-reflection, as well as targeted guidance for individual problems. Tang San very much approved of this approach. Train, reflect, then train again; rinse and repeat. This was the best method.


    Although Tang San had grown quite a bit, he was only about 1.5 meters tall at ten years old. He was just a little dot in front of the towering figures of the demons.


    The uniform of the academy town was also their work attire at Kali Academy.


    After everything was arranged, on the morning of the third day after Tang San had requested a job, he followed Zhang Haoxuan to the academy.


    Finally, he was entering Kali Academy, the premier educational institution in Kali City.


    As a staff member, he naturally couldn''t use the main entrance. Kali Academy had a small back gate on the side facing the academy town, through which all the staff entered to work.


    Stepping through the small gate, Tang San could feel the atmosphere change; it seemed more solemn and dignified. Moreover, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was denser here than outside.


    "Tang San, remember that Kali Academy holds a truly esteemed position in Kali City. Not only do the top nobility of Kali City send their children here, but so do many from other great ns. This ce is home to many powerful individuals, with no shortage of those at the godly orders. So be prudent, understand?" Zhang Haoxuan advised in a low voice.


    Tang San, of course, understood what he was being advised and nodded a few times.


    Kali Academy was vast and divided into three major areas. The first was the academic area, which had six teaching buildings of varying sizes, including the main teaching building, each dedicated to different subjects.


    The second area was the residential area. Students at Kali Academy were required to live on campus. Leaving the campus necessitated permission, and a three-day holiday was granted once a month.


    Now, Tang San understood that he had been extremely lucky both times he had encountered Mei Gongzi. It just happened that she was on her break and she was at the tea shop rather than the academy.


    The third area was the cultivation area, consisting of various training grounds suitable for different students. The academy''s high-end shops were also located in this area. Their function was simr to the small stores of the Redemption Society, but undoubtedly, the quality and variety of goods here were much higher.


    The division of the three significant areas was clear and straightforward. Tang San''s job was to clean a roughly 10,000 square meter open space in front of the main teaching building in the academic zone. This area needed to be swept twice daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, with a thorough cleaning once a week.


    "Sweeping is rtively easy, but cleaning is more tiring."


    Zhang Haoxuan led Tang San to a forest within Kali Academy. Behind it was a row of low buildings, wholly hidden from the front by the forest.


    Zhang Haoxuan approached one of the low houses and knocked on the door.


    The door opened, and an elderly man with a slightly hunched back emerged.


    "Old Mao," Zhang Haoxuan greeted with a polite smile.


    "Ah, the mayor has arrived! Come in,e in," chuckled the old man.


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head, "I won''t sit, thanks. This is the boy I told you about. Please arrange work for him; I must be on my way. His name is Tang San; you can call him Little Tang. Little Tang, meet Old Mao."


    "Grandpa Mao, hello," Tang San stepped forward, bowing respectfully.


    "No need to call me grandpa; just Old Mao is fine. We don''t use familial terms here, understand?" Old Mao scrutinized Tang San.


    Seeing the indifference in his eyes, Tang San quickly nodded. "Understood, Old Mao."


    Old Mao said to Zhang Haoxuan, "Then you can go. I''ll take care of this boy. As long as he behaves, he''ll be fine."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded, "Thank you. Little Tang, Old Mao has worked at Kali Academy for decades and knows this ce well. Follow his orders, and you''ll be fine here."


    "Yes, thank you, Mayor."


    After Zhang Haoxuan left, Old Mao said coldly, "Come in with me."

 Chapter 150: Little Sweeper Tang

    <h4>Chapter 150: Little Sweeper Tang</h4>


    Tang San followed him into the small house, which was sparsely furnished. One side was piled with brooms, buckets, and the like, while the other side had a table and several stools that looked like they could break at any moment.


    Old Mao sat down on a stool, looking at Tang San, and said, "You should know where you are. Being able to work in the academy means the mayor has recognized you as a talent. So, while working here, you must abide by the rules. Abiding by the rules is not just for yourself but for everyone in our town. Although they are acting with some restraint toward us workers in the academy, if you provoke them, that will be your end. And it won''t just be you who dies; you''ll implicate everyone."


    "Yes," Tang San agreed.


    Old Mao said indifferently, "Remember, do not speak. When you work, act as if you are mute, always keep your head down, and do not look anywhere else that��s not your direct responsibility. Don''t see, don''t listen, don''t speak. What you think and what you feel is none of my business, but what you <i>do</i> is. Most importantly, don''t cause trouble for me or anyone else. If you can do this, you can keep working here; otherwise, you''ll have to leave. I was reluctant to take a little naive child like you in. But the mayor assured me that you would be alright. For everybody��s sake, I hope you prove him right."


    "Yes." Tang San felt rather odd as he listened to Old Mao''s admonition. Having lived three lives and once been a God King, being lectured like this was indeed a peculiar experience. Of course, he wouldn''t get angry with Old Mao; he understood the meaning behind the old man''s words. Everything was for the sake of the human vassals in the academy''s town. In a society like the Daemon Continent, the elder��s way of acting was not wrong; it was for the best.


    "Let''s go. I''ll take you to where you''ll be working. Starting today, you''ll begin your work."


    Immediately, Old Mao had him take up the tools and led him out of the house.


    The main teaching building of Kali Academy was an imposing structure, over fifty meters tall, but it only had five floors. It was visible even from the academy town.


    Kali Academy had over a thousand students, divided into six grades for teaching. The grades had no particr time limit, and students needed to pass the assessment of one grade to advance to the next and continue their cultivation. Assessments were held every six months. This meant that if your strength was sufficient, you could graduate in three years. But if you were not capable enough, you might never graduate. Thus, not all students could actually graduate from Kali Academy.


    The open space in front of the main teaching building was vast and empty, with the ground made of smooth and t stone. The stones were arranged into various patterns, with the most prominent being the crests of the ten strongest demon ns. There were no traces of the nymph tribes to be seen here.


    Old Mao pointed out the area to be cleaned. "Remember, don''t try to be clever here. No matter what your Demonic God Transformation is, do not use it while working. Just maintain your human form for cleaning. Work diligently. At noon, return to our side for lunch. Then, continue working in the afternoon. Generally speaking, cleaning is done twice daily. Apart from these two times, if you see any dirty spots, clean them immediately."


    After finishing his instructions, Old Mao signaled Tang San to start.


    Tang San began to sweep along the square''s edge, with Old Mao watching from the side. Tang San understood he was being supervised to see if he couldplete the work steadily.


    He worked here not to earn money throughbor but to meet Mei Gongzi. He swept at a steady pace, maintaining a consistent rhythm.


    Old Mao watched for a while and was quite satisfied with Tang San''s performance. At least from his behavior, it was evident that he was not an impatient child.


    Half an hourter, Old Mao left. Tang San continued to sweep slowly on his own.


    Although the work here was somewhat monotonous, for Tang San, boredom was trivial. What surprised him was the richness of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth here, likely due to some array within Kali Academy that enhanced it. While sweeping, he quietly activated the Mysterious Heaven Technique, absorbing this spiritual energy to nourish his body.


    He was in no hurry, and as he swept the yard slowly, he slowly cultivated.


    His body had undergone significant changes since he consumed the Dragon Tendon Fruit. He was now deliberately tempering his body, unlike before when he made himself appear frail to conceal his true strength.


    The entire morning passed in such sweeping. When Old Mao returned, he saw an almost spotless square and Tang San clearing away the swept-up debris.


    "Time for lunch. Howe it took you this long?" Old Mao looked at the boy before him in surprise.


    Tang San wiped the slight sweat from his forehead and smiled. "I also cleaned up some fallen leaves and weeds in the shrubbery. It seemed to me like something that had to be done anyway, so I went ahead and did it."


    "Alright, let''s go eat," Old Mao responded.


    The academy''s meals were uniform, at least for the workers. Simple and in food was the norm, something Tang San was ustomed to, undoubtedly much poorer than inside the academy. Beforeing here, Zhang Haoxuan reminded him that he could bring his food, but Tang San chose not to. It would be too conspicuous and might look odd to his fellow workers.


    Throughout the meal, neither Old Mao nor Tang San spoke. After eating, Tang San quietly cleaned up the utensils and found a quiet corner to sit and meditate.


    After resting for about two hours, Tang San picked up his broom and cleaning tools again and returned to the main teaching building square to continue sweeping.


    Old Mao seemed to approve of his quiet nature, watching him with softer eyes in the afternoon. Naturally, others had done this job before, and he was well aware that two hours of sweeping was usually enough, and even just an hour in the afternoon would suffice. So, the job was not very tiring.


    But Tang San had swept for nearly four hours in the morning and only rested for two hours at noon before resuming, which made Old Mao think that this child was quite diligent.


    Little did he know, Tang San only did it to spend more time on the square, hoping to see a particr person!


    He hadn''t seen her all morning. Students from the demon ns rarely appeared on this side of the main teaching building square, perhaps because this area was just for show. asionally, he could see a few students, but they were just passing by.


    Tang San was not in a rush. Knowing that Mei Gongzi was studying here was enough; he was bound to encounter her eventually. No matter the academy''s size, it was still an enclosed area and there were only so many ces students could go to.


    After a day of sweeping, the entire square feltpletely fresh when Old Mao came to check in the evening.


    There wasn''t even a tiny stain on the ground; it was immacte and tidy. The greenery around the square was neatly trimmed, giving a harmonious feel.


    In his previous life, Tang San''s leading martial spirit was the Blue Silver Grass, whichter evolved into the Blue Silver Emperor, the emperor of all nts. He had a naturally strong affinity for nts. That was why he had chosen the Green Jade Vine as his sixth bloodline imprint��he was hoping that by enhancing it, he could gradually strengthen it and use some of his previous life''s abilities. Those were the abilities he was most familiar with!

 Chapter 151: Cultivating The Celestial Fox Vision

    <h4>Chapter 151: Cultivating The Celestial Fox Vision</h4>


    While tending to the greenery, he naturally employed the Green Jade Vine to absorb some of the life essence unique to the nt world, nurturing his own Green Jade Vine bloodline imprint. Even with the Discerning Eye of Heaven, he hadn''t been as focused as this.


    Of course, this was also because other bloodline imprints couldn''t be nurtured by the energy in the air. Due to its lower order, only the Green Jade Vine made Tang San distinctly feel the imprint bing more active as he slowly absorbed this life energy into it.


    This wasn''t an enhancement of his bloodline power but purely an enhancement of the life energy of the bloodline imprint. Tang San didn''t know what effects this improvement would bring, but he wanted to try.


    With no nymph students here, it wasn''t easy for him to further enhance the order of the Green Jade Vine, but he needed to understand more about the nts of this world. Through the Green Jade Vine''s interaction with thesemon nts, he could gain some insights, just like how he had some new realizations after consuming the Dragon Tendon Fruit earlier.


    As evening approached, Tang San''s day of work ended. After bidding farewell to Old Mao, he headed back to the academy town.


    Leaving his residence, he walked toward the back gate, passing by the cultivation area of Kali Academy.


    Tang San deliberately slowed his pace, asionally ncing around. With his Discerning Eye of Heavenbined with the Purple Demon Eyes, he could see everything within his line of sight in incredible detail, and he clearly memorized these locations.


    He wanted to see Mei Gongzi; unfortunately, it seemed that his luck wasn''t good today, and he didn''t see any traces of her.


    As Tang San walked to the back gate, slightly disappointed, an idea suddenly struck him.


    The Celestial Fox Vision could sense fate, and upon reaching the fourth order, it seemed that Du Bai could even somewhat control it. So, if he could also elevate his own Celestial Fox Vision to the fourth order and control his fate to some extent, would his luck improve, allowing him to meet Mei Gongzi as he wished?


    With this thought, Tang San''s eyes suddenly lit up.


    No wonder the Celestial Fox Vision was considered a top-tier bloodline! Its applications were indeed extensive.


    If the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor knew someone was nning to use its Celestial Fox Vision to chase a girl, it would probably be fuming with anger.


    Considering this possibility, Tang San decided it was time to get closer to Du Bai.


    He returned to the Redemption Academy just in time for dinner. His work at Kali Academy wasn''t a secret, though the teachers hadn''t disclosed the nature of it to the other students, so nobody was surprised to see him appear.


    Having now spent some time at the academy, especially after the training trip, Tang San had now integrated well into the group, particrly with a few people he was familiar with.


    Tang San sat down next to Du Bai, who was eating his meal, and told him, "Come to my roomter."


    "Okay." Du Bai nodded, turning to look at Tang San with an inquiring gaze, his eyes sparkling brightly.


    As his spiritual power increased, he found his affinity toward Tang San growing stronger. With his understanding of the Celestial Fox Vision, he naturally realized that fate was guiding him to spend more time with Tang San, and that would somehow be incredibly beneficial for him.


    He had felt this way since childhood; those he felt close to usually ended up helping him significantly. If he disliked someone, it usually meant that person was problematic in some way, at least not good for him, or perhaps not a good person at all.


    Wu Bingji was the first to finish dinner. Recently, he��d been feeling that there was never enough time as he immersed himself daily in his Ice Needle eleration training. Just mastering Ice Needle eleration was challenging, let alone the Cluster Soul Chasing Ball, which was still a faraway goal.


    The main reason was hisck of spiritual power. He had recently spent a fortune on a rare treasure that boosted spiritual power. It had nearly drained the entire fortune of this frugal senior brother, causing him genuine distress. Just the day before, he had told Tang San that once he mastered the second level of Ice Needle eleration, he nned to go out for training again, as he was running low on funds!


    Not only Wu Bingji had this thought, but almost all members of Tang San''s team felt the same. This was because their gains from the first time were simply too significant.


    With the gains from that time, they had all purchased some items to enhance their strength, creating a virtuous cycle that made increasing their power easier and faster. With this feeling of elerated improvement, who would want to train in a routine and orderly manner?


    Gu Li''s experience was particrly profound; just yesterday, he had defeated Zhang Zebin for the first time using the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer, truly unting his prowess. With the strengthened control of his fifth-order Chrono Croc Transformation, coupled with the continuous attacks of his tail hammer, Gu Li''sbat power was now among the top in the academy.


    Du Bai followed Tang San back to his room. "What''s up? Is there something good happening?" he asked cheerfully.


    Tang San chuckled, "What more good things do you want? I just wanted to ask how your spiritual power has been improving recently. How long until you canpletely liquefy your spiritual power?"


    Du Bai rolled his eyes. "Hey, it��s not that easy! Even Teacher Guan and the two Mu teachers haven''t managed to do it yet, and I''m only at the fourth order! Well, in any case, I can feel that when I practice the Purple Demon Eyes you taught me, my spiritual power bes more concentrated and easier to turn into a liquid. It''s just a pity that the time for the morning purple qi is too damn short every day."


    "Don''t rush it. The practice of the Purple Demon Eyes requires constant umtion and nurturing. Your eyes wouldn''t be able to take too much at once. It''s best if you can keep improving your spiritual power, but I have another training method. Wanna try it?"


    Du Bai paused. "What method?"


    "Exhaustion. Use up your spiritual power as much as possible. After you do that, when it recovers, it''ll improve to some extent. This should work better than regr cultivation. It should work for both you and Gu Li."


    "Ah? How should I do that?" Du Bai asked, somewhat distressed. "It''s easy for brother Gu to deplete his power if he just keeps using Time Freeze. But my Celestial Fox Vision is a passive ability. Even if I try to influence luck, it can only speed up the drain rate a little. I can''t use it all in one shot likest time, so I guess I need a really strong kick to make me spend all that energy."


    Tang San nodded. "Mmm, I think I understand. That means, with strong triggers, your Celestial Fox Vision bes stronger. An example would be maxing out on luck. But draining energy like this would make you weak, like how you faintedst time, right?"


    "Pretty much. The fainting was from the bacsh of draining my energy. Last time was too harsh; I recovered faster with the breakthrough to the fourth order. Otherwise, it would have taken even longer."


    Tang San nodded. "Then we could try that. For example, if you were in a near-death state, would that count as a trigger?"


    Du Bai was stunned. ��Near-death? How should I know?"


    A glint shed in Tang San''s eyes, and suddenly, Du Bai felt a sharp pain in his eyes.

 Chapter 152: Helping With Du Bai鈥檚 Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 152: Helping With Du Bai��s Cultivation</h4>


    The next moment, Tang San''s right-hand shot like lightning, grabbing Du Bai''s forehead. Du Bai shivered all over, instantly bing rigid. He felt a sucking force from Tang San''s hand as if something was being stripped away from inside him. A strong sense of crisis instantly spread throughout his body, feeling as if he might die in the next instant.


    "Ah!" Du Bai eximed, but his voice was immediately stifled by Tang San''s other hand grasping his throat. He looked at Tang San in disbelief and saw his "junior brother" smiling innocently, as if he wasn''t choking Du Bai and draining his energy.


    Du Bai quickly felt that he was starting to hallucinate, as if his sea of consciousness hadpletely solidified. The intense fear made him smell death approaching. <i>No, it can''t be. How could Tang San harm me?</i>


    Tang San''s eyes narrowed slightly as he continuously observed Du Bai''s changes.


    Tang San''s words were not to deceive Du Bai. Du Bai''s cultivation of the Celestial Fox Vision was indeed tricky, primarily because, as a human, his bloodline inheritance was not pure and strong enough. Continuous stimtion and enhancement of the potential in his bloodline required strong spiritual power as support, and indeed, constant stimtion of the bloodline was necessary, as it had been provenst time. Without such intense stimtion, he might never have broken through to the fourth order in his lifetime.


    Tang San silently felt the changes in Du Bai''s bloodline power. He didn''t actively devour it but instead just observed the reaction of the Celestial Fox Vision as its owner came under deathly threat. Right now, this understanding was even more important than simply devouring the bloodline energy.


    The Celestial Fox Vision was different from other bloodline powers. In fact, Tang San''s own advancement from the second to the third order was not due to devouring Du Bai''s bloodline energy, but rather because he had integrated the ability with his own Discerning Eye. This integration brought him a sort of enlightenment, leading to advancement.


    Du Bai''s eyes gradually emitted white light, the soft white glow bing more intense. Tang San, who was suppressing his life force with his power, clearly felt his blood cirction bing sluggish; even the operation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique seemed to have unstable fluctuations. It was as if something terrible was about to happen to him.


    Tang San''s eyes emitted a warm, prickling sensation as his Discerning Eye of Heaven spontaneously activated. To his surprise, he saw a white column of energy above Du Bai''s head, about three feet high, swaying as if it might disperse at any moment. His spiritual power blossomed, and he also turned to look at his own body.


    There was a simr energy column above his head, only two feet high but much more solid than Du Bai''s. The two white energy columns collided, attracted, and repelled each other as ifpeting.


    <i>Fate, this must be the collision of fates.</i>


    Even when it came to those of great strength, fate often yed a significant role. Those with good luck often reaped easy rewards in anything they did, cultivation included.


    At this moment, Du Bai''s aura, under the life-threatening pressure brought by Tang San, was struggling and erupting, attempting to change everything through the interference of luck. If not for Tang San''s own Celestial Fox Vision, he would have been greatly disturbed.


    And this was while Tang San was at the sixth order, while Du Bai was only at the fourth. The fact that the fourth order could so intensely reject the power of the sixth order only served to illustrate the formidable power of the Celestial Fox Vision.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face as he improved his understanding regarding the functions of the Celestial Fox Vision. It seemed that it cultivated the user''s aura, constantly consolidating it to be stronger. Being around people with strong auras could invisibly enhance one''s own, even drawing in and absorbing others'' luck to bolster oneself.


    When actively used, it directly caused the user''s aura to erupt, improving their luck. The side effect, in turn, was weakness on the mental level. When applied to others, it was akin to lending the user''s aura to them, causing their luck to suddenly improve, leading to beneficial oues in the very short term. Like when they killed that Winged Tiger��Du Bai''s outburst had essentially lent them his luck.


    <i>So this is how the Celestial Fox Vision functions at the fourth order.</i>


    With this thought, Tang San slowly rxed his grip on Du Bai''s hands, stealthily absorbing some of his bloodline power.


    As he released his grip, Tang San mimicked the previous changes in Du Bai''s aura, allowing his pir of aura to no longer suppress Du Bai''s but merge with it. The two pirs of aura intertwined,plementing each other, and rose upward.


    Once the two pirs of aura had risen, reaching five feet, Tang San instantly felt an overwhelming uplift in his mood, as if struck by a solid confidence that he would meet Mei Gongzi tomorrow.


    This feeling was mysterious yet profoundly real.


    "<i>Huff, huff, huff!</i>" Du Bai gasped heavily, ring at Tang San angrily. "Are you trying to kill me?"


    Having just said that, he suddenly paused. He looked at Tang San, blinked, and said, "Little Tang, why do I feel you''ve be more handsome? And I feel that what you just did...uh...it worked for me?! How''s that possible?"


    Tang San could feel the enhancement from merging their auras; naturally, he knew what Du Bai was talking about.


    Tang San said, "This is the oppression I mentioned, a strong trigger for your Celestial Fox Vision. This will activate the deepest power of your bloodline, enhancing the Celestial Fox Vision. Now try retracting the power and see how it feels."


    Tang San quietly guided his pir of luck back as he spoke. Du Bai clearly couldn''t see this pir of luck, possibly because he possessed the pure Celestial Fox Transformation rather than the triple hybrid Tang San had, or maybe due to Tang San''s more substantial spiritual power.


    Both of them experienced the effects of their Celestial Fox Vision, yet their experiences were worlds apart.


    Tang San appeared spirited, clearly sensing that his Celestial Fox Vision had advanced, drawing near the fourth order. Moreover, he had borrowed some of Du Bai''s luck. Indeed, his fortune tomorrow would probably not be bad.


    Du Bai, however, felt waves of emptiness and cold loneliness, his weakness making him sway. He might have nearly fallen if Tang San had not supported him in time.


    "Right, right, this is the feeling. It''s as if my Celestial Fox Vision has been overused. This feeling is correct. Little Tang, you are truly amazing. Once I recover, perhaps my Celestial Fox Vision might even improve. Even our teacher couldn''t think of this cultivation method, and you figured it out by yourself. I''m impressed."


    Tang San thought, <i>The teachers couldn''t think of it because nobody else has the Celestial Fox Vision, so how could they know how it works? I''m taking each step as ites.</i>


    He eagerly wished for Du Bai to improve quickly; Du Bai''s advancement meant he himself was not far from advancing. His cultivation was at the sixth order, so there was still plenty of room for improvement in his Celestial Fox Vision.


    The Celestial Fox Vision of the fourth order could already change a person''s luck. What about the fifth order? The sixth order? And what happened when it reached the twelfth order? Its power could potentially affect the fate of an entire n, race, and eventually continent!


    The Celestial Fox Emperor was one of the top three formidable demon emperors, and it was clearly thanks to this!


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face. He escorted Du Bai back to his room, advising him to meditate and cultivate, and then returned to his room.

 Chapter 153: Time For Some Good Luck!

    <h4>Chapter 153: Time For Some Good Luck!</h4>


    Such cultivation was beneficial for Du Bai and equally so for Tang San.


    As they cultivated together, the synergy and improvement in their fortunes were far more significant than if either practiced alone.


    As long as Tang San kept his Celestial Fox Vision slightly weaker than Du Bai''s, he could seamlessly merge his ability with Du Bai''s.


    It seemed that a new daily cultivation task was in order. If it worked with Du Bai, it could also work with Gu Li. Compared to the Celestial Fox Transformation, enhancing the Chrono Croc Transformation was more manageable��it merely required absorbing the bloodline power from Gu Li.


    Dawn.


    After breakfast, as the sky began to brighten, Tang San and Du Bai stood together on a hillside outside the Redemption Society, gazing into the distant east, jointly cultivating their Purple Demon Eyes.


    After a night''s rest, Du Bai mainly recovered his spirits. As the purple dawn approached, a purple hue appeared in his eyes, a sign that he had begun to grasp the basics of the Purple Demon Eyes.


    Under the influence of his Celestial Fox Vision, his cultivation of the Purple Demon Eyes was far more efficient and faster than that of an ordinary person.


    They continued their cultivation until the sun rose.


    Du Bai turned to Tang San and said, "It''s different, I can feel it. My Celestial Fox Vision seems to have improved a bit. It''s not as significant as thest breakthrough, but it''s progress. Before the breakthrough, when I cultivated the Celestial Fox Transformation, it was always a gradual umtion with slow improvement. I��ve never felt this way before. Little Tang, thank you."


    Tang San smiled slightly, "I''m d it''s helpful. Keep practicing your Purple Demon Eyes; they''re your best tool. Now, I''m off to work at Kali Academy."


    After bidding farewell to Du Bai, Tang San descended the mountain. Having received his work permit the day before, he passed through the back gate''s security check and re-entered Kali Academy.


    Perhaps due to the guidance of fortune fromst night, he felt even the sunlight seemed much brighter today.


    "Fortune, oh fortune, please be on my side!"


    When he arrived at the small building, it seemed Old Mao had just finished breakfast. Surprisingly, a hint of a smile appeared when he saw Tang San.


    "Little Tang, you did well yesterday; keep up the good work. The academy''s Dean of Instruction sought me outst night to praise your cleaning."


    "Thank you, Old Mao. Thanks to your good teaching," Tang San replied humbly.


    Old Mao patted his shoulder. "Excellencees from every profession; do well."


    <i>What kind of excellencees from sweeping floors?</i> Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly, but he made sure Old Mao didn''t see it and verbally agreed.


    Taking his things, he cleaned the main teaching building again, this time without Old Mao apanying him.


    Being praised first thing in the morning was a sign of good luck!


    Since he had thoroughly cleaned the day before, today''s task was much more manageable. Tang San was supposed to work one day and rest the next, but as this was his trial week, he needed toe in every day. This was mainly to let Old Mao assess his suitability for the job. If he passed smoothly, he could be a regr employee, working one day and resting the next three times a week.


    <i>Mei Gongzi, Mei Gongzi, Mei Gongzi...</i> As Tang San swept the floor, he silently prayed in his heart.


    However, even after a morning of sweeping, he still hadn''t caught a glimpse of Mei Gongzi.


    <i>Seems like my luck isn''t that great today! Oh well, it''s not something I can force,</i> Tang San thought helplessly.


    Luck aside, he found that cultivating within Kali Academy was indeed excellent. The spiritual energy here was the densest he had ever experienced. Even as he absorbed it at a low rate, while sweeping the yard, it had a tremendous nourishing effect on his body.


    His Mysterious Heaven Technique was superblypatible with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, especially when it came to life energy.


    After a day and a half of merging with the nt life energy, the bloodline imprint on his Green Jade Vine had be noticeably more active. The low-tier Green Jade Vine even seemed to have a sense of eager anticipation.


    He returned to the small house at noon to eat and rest.


    While Tang San was meditating and resting, a somewhat urgent shout suddenly came from outside. "Old Mao, Old Mao!"


    "I''ming!" Old Mao, who was napping on the table, quickly got up. It seemed that he got a bit dizzy from rising too fast, as his body swayed a little.


    Hearing the shout, Tang San had already gotten up and quickly went to support him.


    Old Mao nced at him, nodded, and left the small house.


    Outside the small house, a burly man was waiting anxiously. Seeing Old Maoe out, he waved him over and said, "Hurry up, the dean is inspecting every part of the cultivation area today. Take your people and get the cleaning done immediately. You have just over an hour. Right now, immediately."


    "Yes, yes, we''ll go right away. Little Tang, grab your things, let''s go. I''ll gather the others immediately."


    It wasn''t just Old Mao and Tang San in the small house; there were several small rooms and each room housed two people, serving as a ce to rest and store cleaning supplies.


    Old Mao assembled a dozen people and immediately headed to the cultivation area behind the academy with various cleaning tools.


    Old Mao quickly delegated tasks, assigning cleaning duties to everyone else.


    "Little Tang, since you''re new to this ce, follow me. Let''s clean the Demonic Battle Zone."


    Tang San had studied the internal map of Kali Academy; the Demonic Battle Zone was where the academy''s students practicedbat. It wasrge, covering two levels.


    Following Old Mao, he quickly arrived at the ce.


    The Demonic Battle Zone was a ring-shaped building that extended both above and under the ground.


    Upon entering the Demonic Battle Zone, Tang San immediately sensed a powerful energy array. Even the walls around him shimmered with faint energy fluctuations.


    This ce, used forbat training of demon race students, obviously had to be well-defended, or it would have been destroyed long ago.


    "The Demonic Battle Zone isrge, but wee here to clean on the daily. The usual cleaning isn''t needed; we just need to focus on spots that might usually be overlooked, like the tops of door frames and corners of windows. You carry a bucket of water; I''ll lead you. We need to move quickly, time is of the essence. If we don''t clean properly, we''ll be in trouble." Old Mao spoke much faster than yesterday, clearly in a hurry.


    Tang San had no objections; he fetched a bucket of water and followed Old Mao. He cleaned wherever Old Mao instructed swiftly and thoroughly.


    Watching Tang San''s adept movements, Old Mao breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like they would finish in time. He grew increasingly pleased with the young boy. Thetter was just a child, but he was clearly very responsible. The mayor''s rmendation was indeed a good one.


    They first cleaned the circr corridor that ran all the way around this ring-shaped building. Behind the doors along the corridor was the actual Demonic Battle Zone.


    As they cleaned, Old Mao exined the generalyout of the area to Tang San.


    The upper level of the Demonic Battle Zone was an open-air battlefield, an extensive arena covering 15,000 square meters,rge enough to amodate multiplebatants simultaneously.


    The lower level consisted of smaller individual areas, mainly for a few people''s practical training andbat exercises. Each had its purpose.


    With Tang San''s efficient cleaning, the outer circle of the area was already done in just over half an hour.


    The usual hygiene standards here seemed rtively high, so there weren''t too many neglected spots.


    "Let''s go inside." Old Mao led Tang San through a side door.


    There were no guards here. When the two pushed open the heavy door, they immediately felt the energy fluctuations inside. Two groups of students were engaged inbat.


    As Tang San stepped through the gate into the Demonic Battle Zone, he realized his luck was finally shining upon him.

 Chapter 154: Mei Gongzi, Peacock Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 154: Mei Gongzi, Peacock Transformation</h4>


    Tang San almost immediately spotted Mei Gongzi among the two groups of people.


    Each group consisted of seven members, but she appeared to be the only human. The others were all demons.


    Among Mei Gongzi''s group, Tang San recognized two individuals: the little bear that had once threatened him, and the other his "romantic rival," the golden-haired young man.


    Seeing Mei Gongzi, Tang San found his gaze lingering on her. Today, she was dressed in a form-fitting, green outfit that, together with her hair tied into a ponytail, entuated her slender figure. The thirteen-year-old girl had begun to develop, and it seemed that in no time she would be a great beauty.


    She stood at the end of the line, and her transformation was strange.


    Originally, Mei Gongzi had ck hair, but now, her long hair was a striking shade of blue and it fluttered with her movements. In her hand, she held a thin sword adorned with feathers hanging from the pommel....<i>Are those peacock feathers?</i>


    Tang San gazed in surprise at the weapon in Mei Gongzi''s hand, a sh of realization sparking in his mind.


    He almost instantly recalled Gu Longjiang''s story.


    In Kali City, the ruling power was a formidable race. This demon race had once been a powerful presence even in the Ancestral Court. However, their strength had waned due to the death of their emperor and the absence of a new sovereign.


    Even so, the current chieftain was still a Demon King��the Peacock Demon King.


    From the transformation Mei Gongzi had undergone, it was evident that her Demonic God Transformation was the king of all birds, the peacock��the Peacock Transformation!


    Her bloodline heritage belonged to the lineage of the ruler of Kali City!


    Now, Tang San understood everything��why Mei Gongzi''s mother could open a milk tea shop in the center of the city, why Mei Gongzi could study at Kali City''s best academy, and why even the demons dared not harbor ill will toward her even though she was a human. It was all due to her bloodline!


    She inherited the bloodline of the Peacock n, and it was clearly not just any ordinary peacock demon lineage. She had to be from the purest lineage of the Peacock Demon King, the only thing that could exin her eligibility to study at the Kali Academy.


    <i>Snap!</i>


    As Tang San rapidly processed these thoughts, he felt a sudden pain at the back of his head.


    A low growl from Old Mao followed in his ears, "What are you looking at? Get back to work."


    "Ah, yes!" Tang San hastily replied and averted his gaze.


    Tang San had already noticed that Mei Gongzi was really going at it! Even though she was positioned at the rear, she was certainly not sitting there doing nothing. Each swing of her Peacock Plume sent numerous tiny feathers flying, attacking opponents from mid to long range, disrupting their movements and creating opportunities for her teammates.


    Whenever an opponent tried to approach her for a close-range attack, her teammates would defend with all their might, giving no chance to the adversary. She seemed to be the core of the team.


    As for her side, that young demon with golden hair had grown far more robust, yet still retained a humanoid form, and he looked more like a human vassal with the Demonic God Transformation activated than an actual demon. His long golden hair radiated a dazzling light, and his hands had grown enormous. Each strike of his palms posed a significant threat to the opponent.


    <i>The Golden Lion n!</i>


    This was the greatest bloodline among the lion demon ns��a golden bloodline! Indeed, nothing short of formidable!


    This young member of the Golden Lion n had at least an eighth-order cultivation. Mei Gongzi, in Tang San''s perception, was at the seventh order. <i>What powerful bloodlines they both have!</i>


    Thebatants on both sides were around the seventh order in strength, with only the two leaders of each side being at the eighth order.


    Since Tang San only watched briefly, this was all he could observe. He couldn''t look any longer, as watching further would provoke Old Mao''s anger. However, having seen Mei Gongzi here today, Tang San was quite satisfied. What luck! The Celestial Fox Vision is truly remarkable!


    Mei Gongzi naturally didn''t notice a lowly Tang San sweeping the floor as the battle between the two sides continued unabated.


    Tang San could only steal nces asionally while sweeping, trying to remember the feeling of those fleeting moments.


    After observing a few times, he noticed that Mei Gongzi''s Demonic God Transformation didn''t cause much change in her physique, except for her hair and eyes turning a beautiful peacock blue, which added a bit of heroism and mor to her appearance. Apart from that, there were no other changes. This was the characteristic of a very high-level Demonic God Transformation.


    This made sense if she had inherited the bloodline of the Peacock Demon King. In that case, her Peacock Transformation was likely a first-tier Demonic God Transformation, on the same level as the Celestial Fox Transformation.


    <i>No wonder she holds such a status even among the demons.</i>


    It could be said that Mei Gongzi is the first human Tang San has seen who held a truly high position among the demon ns.


    The battle was intense, and Tang San could only observe asionally, catching glimpses of thebat. Mei Gongzi''s team had the upper hand; her peacock feathers seemed to exist between reality and void, possessing great power and always appearing at critical moments. The young man from the Golden Lion n on her side was also powerful, his eighth-order strength allowing him to bear the brunt of the enemy team''s attacks and create more opportunities for victory.


    The disparity in strength between the two sides was apparent, so the spar did notst long and ended with Mei Gongzi''s team emerging victorious.


    After the battle, both sides stood together, seemingly discussing something. While quickly cleaning, Tang San asionally nced over, his attention entirely on Mei Gongzi and that guy from the Golden Lion n.


    He wasn''t worried about them having something between them. After all, Mei Gongzi was still too young! But he still didn��t like seeing her getting too close to other men, especially when the other party looked so outstanding.


    The young man from the Golden Lion n looked to be about the same age as Wu Bingji, yet he already had eighth-order strength. Moreover, being from a golden bloodline, his talent and potential were unquestionable.


    Fortunately, Mei Gongzi appeared indifferent to everyone, clearly keeping her distance. Her teammates also showed great respect for her, and the young man from the Golden Lion n did not deliberately approach Mei Gongzi at this time, which somewhat relieved Tang San.


    <i>Be stronger. I need to be stronger faster!</i>


    Jealousy, indeed, is a cardinal sin. Seeing them together as a team, Tang San admitted he was jealous. This jealousy made him want to be stronger faster and strive with all his vigor. Otherwise, if that guy actually turned out to be a love rival, how could Tang San stand a chance against him in this world where strength reigned supreme?


    After Mei Gongzi and her group finished their discussion, they left, and the demon battle area turned quiet. Tang San efficientlypleted his cleaning within the allotted time. After finishing, he followed Old Mao quietly and returned to the small house.


    His afternoon cleaning tasks were not canceled due to the additional task; he continued cleaning the za in front of the main academic building in the afternoon.


    While cleaning, his mind was filled with the image of Mei Gongzi in her Peacock Transformation state. That shade of peacock blue was indeed breathtakingly beautiful. And she was only in her early teens! Who knew how much more attractive she would be as a fully-grown woman?


    It was good to see her. The Celestial Fox Vision had indeed brought him good luck. When he went back, Tang San had every intention to continue cultivating with Du Bai, striving to reach the fourth order sooner and cast more luck on himself. Even though this manner of cultivation would exhaust him, what was a little weakness to Tang San? Moreover, with his strong liquid spiritual power, the degree to which he was weakened would surely not be as great as in the case of Du Bai.


    The afternoon cleaning duties were rtively easy. Just as Tang San was about to finish, he suddenly felt a tremor in his heart and instinctively looked up.


    Mei Gongzi, who now had her usual ck hair, quickly walked toward the school''s main gate.


    <i>Is she going out?</i>

 Chapter 155: The Closeness of Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 155: The Closeness of Mei Gongzi</h4>


    At this moment, she was alone, d in the uniform of Kali Academy, her long ck hair cascading down her back. She radiated an unusual brilliance, at least in the eyes of Tang San.


    Subconsciously, he stopped sweeping, staring intently at her, his heart a whirlwind of emotions. How he longed to rush over and embrace her! His lips tightened unconsciously, and his eyes began to moisten slightly.


    This was the first time he had seen her alone, with no one else around. It seemed as if the entire Kali Academy had be the backdrop for their encounter.


    Holding the broom in his hands, Tang San gazed at the love of his past life and the new affection in his current life. His hands couldn''t help but tremble slightly.


    <i>The fortune of the Celestial Fox Vision indeed does not deceive me.</i>


    Mei Gongzi, who was walking away, paused in her steps. It seemed she felt something and turned her head unconsciously toward Tang San.


    Their eyes met, and Mei Gongzi appeared slightly startled, a hint of bewilderment shing in her eyes. The next moment, she turned around and walked toward Tang San.


    Amid his emotional turmoil, Tang San saw her walking toward him. He, who had lived three lifetimes, felt almost breathless. His heartbeat elerated suddenly, the intense beating so strong it seemed unbelievable even to himself.


    <i>What''s happening, what''s happening to me? She''sing, what should I do?</i>


    He wanted to lower his head, as would be fitting for Sweeper Tang San at such a time, but he was utterly unable to shift his gaze away from her.


    Mei Gongzi kept approaching until she stopped just two meters away from him. As she looked at him, her eyes were bright and she had a gentle smile. Then, her melodious voice rang out.


    "Have I met you before?"


    Tang San was momentarily stunned. His mouth opened, but nothing came out of it but an inarticte sound.


    "I''m asking you something," Mei Gongzi said. She frowned slightly, and her tone turned noticeably more assertive.


    "I... I''ve bought milk tea before," Tang San finally managed to say, catching his breath.


    "Oh?" Mei Gongzi''s eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh, you did! I remember you now. You seem to have changed a bit."


    Since theirst meeting, Tang San had naturally undergone some changes. He had grown taller, gained weight, no longer looked as thin, and appeared much healthier.


    "Mm-hmm. I''ve been eating moretely," Tang San said, almost as if possessed.


    Mei Gongzi nodded. "Remember, don''t stare at the students here. If you run into someone with a bad temper, it could cause trouble, understand?"


    "Mm, I understand, thank you," Tang San responded.


    Mei Gongzi murmured, "So, you work here. Alright, I see."


    With these words, she turned and walked away.


    Tang San almost subconsciously blurted out, "Mei Gongzi..."


    Immediately after, he regretted it. He honestly didn''t want her to think he was some kind of weirdo.


    But to his surprise, Mei Gongzi continued to walk away quickly, disappearing down the road as if she hadn''t heard him.


    <i>Did she not hear me, or did she choose to ignore me? </i>Tang San''s heart instantly became entangled in confusion.


    No matter what significant events he encountered, he usually maintained hisposure and wisdom. But, when it came to her, this wisdom wholly shattered.


    Mei Gongzi walked out of Kali Academy, and just as she stepped out of the main gate, she suddenly stopped, unconsciously turning around to look back at the academy.


    Her brows furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion in her heart. <i>That person just now...</i>


    She had seen many human vassals and this boy was most definitely not the only one to have bought milk tea from her. So why could she clearly remember having met him twice before, especially when his physique and appearance had obviously changed?


    She felt a mysterious closeness to that slightly younger, somewhat frail-looking boy.


    She knew her character well; apart from her mother, she maintained her distance and a distinctly cold demeanor toward almost everyone. Her initiative to approach him and ask him something was quite out of character, especially since he was aplete stranger!


    <i>Wait, hold on. </i>It wasn''t the third time she had seen him, but the fourth. She recalled seeing him sweeping in the Demon Combat Zone that afternoon.


    After a moment of thought, she gently shook her head and headed down the mountain.


    When Tang San returned to the Redemption Academy, it was not yet time for dinner, so he went straight to look for Du Bai.


    "Brother Du Bai, how are you feeling today?"


    Du Bai replied, "I really pushed myself yesterday, and I''m feeling kind of weak today, but as you said, my spiritual power is growing faster. I felt something for sure this morning, and now it''s even clearer."


    Tang San said, "So, are we good to keep going tonight? I��ll keep helping you with your cultivation. Your Celestial Fox Vision probably needs some extra help to get stronger."


    Looking gratefully at Tang San, Du Bai said, "Little Tang, I��m really starting to believe in luck these days. Ever since I met you, good things just keep happening, not to mention the cash rolling in. Most importantly, my Celestial Fox Transformation that''s been stuck forever is finally moving forward. Thanks a ton! If you ever need anything, just give me a shout."


    Tang San smiled and said, "Helping you is helping myself. If your Celestial Fox Transformation improves, won��t it bring good luck to everyone around you?"


    Today''s encounter made him see the Celestial Fox Vision in apletely new light. He had met Mei Gongzi twice in the vast Kali Academy, which was incredible! It was undoubtedly the beneficial effect of the Celestial Fox Vision, particrly considering that she had spoken to him in the afternoon of her own initiative. Even on his way back, Tang San could barely contain his excitement.


    Setting everything else aside, if he could <i>coincidentally</i> see her every day or so, getting familiar with her would be a good start!


    "Hehe, you��re right, you��re right. Alright, after dinner tonight, I''lle find you," Du Bai said with a chuckle.


    <i>Who doesn''t want to be useful?</i> Du Bai felt that after his breakthrough to the fourth order, the academy started to pay attention to him again. In theirst operation with their temporary five-person team, everyone said that luck yed a significant role; otherwise, Tang San couldn''t have exploded with power at just the right moment, in the jaws of the Winged Tiger, turning defeat into victory.


    Furthermore, his perspective on his cultivation had changed considerably thanks to the method of cultivating spiritual power through the Purple Demon Eyes. This feeling was quite satisfying.


    Tang San genuinely wanted to help Du Bai enhance his Celestial Fox Vision. This ability, with its attribute of luck, was so unique that Tang San would have wanted to study it thoroughly even if it had no discernible practical use��not to even mention that it had one and this practical use benefited him directly.


    "I''lle to you," Tang San suggested. "That way, after the training, you can meditate directly in your room, and then I''ll head back to mine."


    "That works," agreed Du Bai.


    After dinner, Tang San and Du Bai practiced the Celestial Fox Transformation together. The method was simr to the previous day, with Tang San applying intense pressure. Although Du Bai was mentally prepared, Tang San had a very good grasp on how to reproduce the near-death sensation, making the practice quite effective.


    After Du Bai rested in his weakened state, Tang San returned to his room to continue his cultivation.


    His Discerning Eye of Heaven remained at the peak of the third order without advancing. It wasn''t a time to worry; as long as he continued practicing with Du Bai, breaking through was just a matter of time.


    After returning to his room, Tang San didn''t rush into cultivation. Today''s encounter had made him reconsider his initial n to umte experience over time.

 Chapter 156: Making A Plan

    <h4>Chapter 156: Making A n</h4>


    Getting stronger quickly was imperative; otherwise, how could he protect Mei Gongzi? And how could he deal with a love rival?


    If he considered the Golden Lion a love rival...the harsh truth was that Tang San was no match for him now!


    <i>Indeed, the reality of having a love rival hits hard. I must find a way to be much stronger.</i>


    To further improve his Mysterious Heaven Technique, he had to enhance his physical strength; it was the only way his body could support its continuous advancement. Next was to strengthen the levels of his bloodline imprint.


    He would gradually improve his Celestial Fox, Chrono Croc, and Golden Roc Transformations. Unfortunately, Du Bai, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng��s own cultivations imposed limitations on his speed. The fifth order was the highest tier he could achieve now, and that process could not be rushed.


    His Wind Tiger Transformation had reached the sixth order, and he was definitely unable to advance further as long as his Mysterious Heaven Technique was only at that order as well. Thus, all he could enhance was the Leopard sh and his newly integrated Green Jade Vine.


    The Green Jade Vine held special significance for Tang San, as it was both a memento of his past life and the foundation of some of his past-life abilities. He didn��t know if he could get it to where he wanted it, but he had to try.


    He was forced to consider a moreprehensive and somewhat aggressive cultivation method to keep up. Forget the Golden Lion for now; even Mei Gongzi, with her Peacock Transformation, was likely at the seventh order. Did she need his protection? It was more like she would be protecting him. In today''s battle, she hadn��t used her full strength. Her true power was evident from the respect shemanded among her team members, who were undeniably strong.


    <i>Alright, it��s time to make a n!</i>


    For the next few days, Tang San worked at Kali Academy. Blessed with the good fortune from Celestial Fox Vision, he encountered Mei Gongzi three times: twice in the za in front of the main teaching building and once while he was assigned to clean another area.


    Mei Gongzi didn''t initiate conversation with him, but Tang San felt her gaze on him. In other words, she had noticed him.


    <i>Does she care about me? Probably not. </i>Tang San had the self-awareness to realize that as a mere janitor, there was no way she would give him special attention.


    During these days, Tang San was devising a n. Not just a somewhat aggressive n to enhance his cultivation but also a strategy to pursue Mei Gongzi.


    With his current status, it was obviously impossible to pursue Mei Gongzi, and of course, his age was also a factor. However, he needed to find a way to get close to her, to make her have a favorable impression of him,ying the groundwork for the future and getting to know her better.


    After several days of deep contemtion, aplete n gradually shaped Tang San''s mind. <i>What Sweeper Tang San couldn''t aplish, perhaps another Tang San can.</i>


    As night fell, the teachers and students of the Redemption Academy were either asleep or meditating. The entire academy was peaceful under the night sky.


    Silently, Tang San opened his room door. d in ck nightwear, he slipped out through the door gap.


    His spiritual power enveloped him, concealing him perfectly. To hide himself, he even merged a trace of divine consciousness into his spiritual power for camouge.


    This was a necessary precaution, as Si Ru was a god-level powerhouse with exceedingly strong perception. One slip-up and his divine consciousness could detect Tang San instantly.


    Carefully leaving the Redemption Academy, Tang San then sped up slightly. He quickly left the small town surrounding the academy, heading straight for Kali Academy.


    The distance between the two ces was short, and soon, Tang San was already nearing Kali Academy.


    He didn''t rush into action but stopped first, quietly sensing the changes around him, as a faint white halo lit up in his eyes.


    <i>Discerning Eye of Heaven!</i>


    He primarily utilized the predictive ability of the Celestial Fox Vision. Though at the peak of the third tier, he couldn''t directly change his fate, determining auspicious or ominous oues was no issue.


    The most miraculous aspect of the Celestial Fox Visiony in its control over fate. Cultivated to a level above God King, one could even be a part of fate itself. Even if the wielder of the Celestial Fox Vision had nobat ability, they couldn''t be harmed, as luck wouldn''t permit it.


    After a moment of silent sensing, the peak third-tier Celestial Fox Vision didn''t predict any danger for Tang San. After this test, he knew it was safe to proceed.


    Silently leaping up, he quickly approached Kali Academy.


    From nearly a week of observation, he had already made many deductions about this ce.


    Within the entire Kali City, there were immensely powerful defensive arrays. Tang San didn''t know how these arrays were created, but that didn''t prevent him from discerning their characteristics.


    Kali Academy had an overarching defensive or, rather, early-warning array. After all, covering such a vast area withplete defense would require an immense amount of energy. However, an alert system posed no issue. As soon as an outsider scaled the wall or something like that, the array''s rm would be instantly triggered, calling forth the strong entities in the academy.


    The array covered everything without any blind spots, a fact Tang San knew without even thinking about it. Hence, there was never any special defense inside Kali Academy. That oneyer was more than enough.


    Tang San wasn''t in a rush. He found a corner near the back gate of the academy, where he entered every day, and concealed himself.


    He simply held his breath and waited quietly.


    The wait wasn''t long. About fifteen minutester, his target arrived.


    It was inevitable, since tonight, like other nights, he had cultivated with Du Bai, and having Du Bai enhance his luck using the Celestial Fox Vision''s power was quite beneficial for Du Bai''s stimtion of his bloodline.


    With fortune on his side, it would have been weird <i>not</i> to encounter what he was waiting for.


    Two figures sneakily approached the back gate of Kali Academy and began undressing. Yes, undressing. They removed their splendid clothes and changed into the uniforms of Kali Academy students.


    These two demons appeared to be around twenty years old. Once they donned the school uniforms, they looked exactly like all the other students.


    Even though he was more than ten meters away, Tang San could faintly smell the alcohol on them.


    They must have drunk quite a bit!


    "Meow, meow��" One of the demons let out a soft, cat-like meow.


    It didn''t take long before the small back door of Kali Academy silently opened, and the two demons quickly entered.


    <i>There��s my chance!</i>


    Tang San moved almost instantaneously, crouching and taking advantage of the night''s cover. He darted out from his shadowy corner, and just as he was about to reach the door, his figure shed and vanished without a sound.


    "Hmm?" The guard who opened the door frowned, sensing something, but when he looked around, he found nothing.


    "Thanks, brother," said one of the demon students who had just entered, pulling out a bottle of liquor from his pocket and handing it to the guard.


    "Come back earlier next time, you two. Otherwise, I have to wait for you, and it''s tiring," the guard said as he pocketed the liquor and turned back to the rear door of the security room.


    The two demon students also left quickly, disappearing in the blink of an eye.


    They didn''t know that Tang San, using the near-instantaneous speed of Leopard sh, had already moved from the shadows outside the door to the shadows inside.

 Chapter 157: Sneaking In

    <h4>Chapter 157: Sneaking In</h4>


    Having sessfully infiltrated the academy for a few days now, Tang San had calcted this position early on. With the cover of shadows and his nocturnal attire, it was exceedingly difficult for anyone to discover him.


    The reason for this n was rted to his experiences over the past few days.


    He entered and exited through the back door every day. While Kali Academy had a defensive rm array, regr entry and exit wouldn��t trigger it naturally.


    At one point, when he left through the back door, he encountered some demon students and overheard their conversations.


    One demon student said, "Let��s sneak out for a drink tonight! I''ve already arranged it with the gatekeeper."


    This caught Tang San''s attention, and he came out to observe at night. Indeed, several groups of students would sneak inte through the back door every night.


    Kali Academy was a boarding school of sorts; students were not allowed to leave on regr days unless they had leave. However, where there were rules, there were people who broke them! Being young and restless, these demon students naturally found it hard to endure loneliness. Sneaking out to have fun only made sense. The guards turned a blind eye. They were benefiting from the situation, so why not?


    Thus, Tang San took advantage of this opportunity to infiltrate back into Kali Academy.


    He removed a ck metal mask from his storage bag and put it on his face, covering the upper half. Forged from ck gold, it concealed his identity and offered some protection.


    After the two demon students and the guard had left, Tang San acted again, quickly moving deeper into Kali Academy.


    His recent week''s work as a cleaner wasn''t for nothing; he was already quite familiar with theyout here. He headed straight for the cultivation area.


    This time, his midnight infiltration wasn''t to rendezvous with Mei Gongzi but for another purpose.


    About five minutester, Tang San cautiously approached a building.


    This building had a pointed roof and wasn''t veryrge in terms of floor space. Not far from here was the Demon Battle Zone. And in front of this building, there were two demon guards.


    Both demon guards were of robust stature, over three meters tall, with broad shoulders and bear-like waists. Their extraordinarily long arms each held a metal staff, about five meters long and as thick as an adult''s arm, obviously very heavy.


    These were Mighty Ape Demons. Ape demons held a fairly high position among the demon races; in fact, they were one of the top ten races.


    Although Mighty Ape Demons weren''t the elite among their kind, they were a significantbat force of the ape demons. To Tang San''s perception, these Mighty Ape Demons were at least of the eighth order in cultivation.


    This was the only ce guarded like this in the entire Kali Academy. Because this was Kali Academy''s "convenience store"!


    Of course, it wasn''t called a convenience store here, but the Academy Store.


    Tang San had heard from Zhang Haoxuan about the Academy Store of Kali Academy. The items sold here were exclusively for Kali Academy students; they were cheaper than outside, and the quality and variety far surpassed that of the store at the Redemption Society.


    The Academy Store sold items and also purchased items, including demon beast corpses and rare nts, as exclusive student benefits.


    Tang San''s target today was precisely this ce.


    The presence of two eighth-order guards underscored the importance of this location. Moreover, the store had its own separate rm array. If someone sneaked in, the rm would go off immediately.


    The guards and the rm were not actually against outsiders but to prevent students frommitting theft. Such incidents had happened before in Kali Academy.


    Tang San chose this target not because he was confident in taking down two eighth-order guards and avoiding the rm.


    Kali Academy had God-level powerhouses, and not just one. Once he was discovered, escaping would be more challenging than reaching the heavens.


    Therefore, he had to rely on wit, not brute force, to achieve his goal.


    Tang San watched the two eighth-order Mighty Ape Demons patrolling the door from a distance. He was not in a hurry, so he quietly waited.


    It was still the first half of the night, and their vignce was still high; not the best time for action. He was patient, sitting in a dark corner, resting while quietly waiting for the opportunity.


    Time passed by the minute. About two hourster, the two Mighty Ape Demons came together.


    One Mighty Ape Demon looked at the sky. "Is it about time?"


    The other nodded, saying, "About time. Let''s go in and check around. In another hour or so, it should be dawn."


    "Let''s go." The two eighth-order demons walked together to the front door of the store. As they approached the door, a faint yellow halo emanated from them, and a simr halo radiated from the store��s door. When the two halos touched, the rm array did not sound.


    A Mighty Ape Demon opened the door and walked inside, while another turned around to face outward, guarding the entrance.


    Tang San''s action was timed perfectly at the moment one ape demon turned around and the other entered.


    What he had been waiting for was this brief opportunity.


    He approached from the side; just before moving, he transformed his arms into two wings of light, pping them in the dark corner to propel his body. He flickered through the blind spot of the ape demon guarding the door. At the same time, he activated Chrono Croc Transformation, causing a momentary dy in the demon''s movements.


    Seizing this fleeting moment, he prated the barrier of the yellow halo and slipped inside.


    The defense of the surveince array was only at the entrance, and the ape demon guarding the door happened to ovep with its own token. Taking advantage of this, Tang San used Leopard sh to pass through as he approached.


    The wings of the Golden Roc increased his speed, and he used Leopard sh again. He exerted his whole strength and monitored his surroundings for any changes with the Discerning Eye.


    The moment he entered the store, Tang San used Leopard sh for the second time. With the powerful observation of the Discerning Eye, he immediately found a dark corner to hide in.


    He hid in the shadows, his presence wholly concealed, motionless in his hiding spot.


    No rm sounded. The eighth-order ape demon outside did not notice, and the one inside had already started its patrol.


    The academy''s store had a rule: a guard would patrol inside every four hours, whether it was day or night. Tang San had been waiting for just such an opportunity.


    Unless they had a bloodline specialized in spiritual power, most demons didn''t excel in that area; their strengthy in their physique more than anything else. The loophole Tang San exploited could hardly be called a loophole, but with his boldness, meticulousness, and careful preparation, he sessfully infiltrated his intended destination.


    Who else could simultaneously possess abilities like Chrono Croc Transformation, Golden Roc Transformation, and Leopard sh? No race in this world could be invisible. Tang San perfectly utilized these three Demonic God Transformations in a short time, sessfully infiltrating and smoothly reaching his destination.


    Now that he was inside, he was in no hurry. He scanned the academy store, which had a massive, thirty-meter-long counter. Various sections of the counter werebeled with categories such as weapons, medicines, supplements, nts, and daily necessities.


    Behind the counter wererge cabs stocked with items.


    Tang San understood that the most precious items would not be disyed in these cabs, and even if there were some, they would be protected with separate measures. Obviously, he ran the risk of triggering an rm if he tampered with them.

 Chapter 158: The Kali Academy Store

    <h4>Chapter 158: The Kali Academy Store</h4>


    Tang San''s visit this time was not necessarily to gain something specific. His primary goal was understanding the situation inside the academy''s store, with reconnaissance being the top priority. He would not rashly cause a disturbance. If he was to risk being discovered, he had to grab something that was valuable enough to make it worth it, so for now, he had to find out what was avable.


    After observing for a moment, Tang San used Leopard sh twice in session to hide in a darker corner further inside. He curled up into a ball and concentrated on concealing his own aura.


    When he utilized the Discerning Eye of Heaven and his mighty spiritual power, even the patrolling demon with eighth-order cultivation could not possibly detect him.


    After the demon finished its patrol and left the store, locking the door behind it, Tang San was the only one left inside.


    Relieved, Tang San stretched his body. With a flicker of white light in his eyes, his Discerning Eye of Heaven surveyed the inside of the store.


    Under the gaze of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, the cabs behind the counter immediately appeared in various colors. Each color represented a different attribute, with the more vibrant colors indicating greater elemental energy and therefore greater value.


    Tang San quietly approached the counter and scanned the disy cases behind it. As he had surmised, nearly all the cases with truly intense light had an extrayer of protection. The protection seemed to be just the cab doors, but they were connected to an rm system, a fact he could see through his Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    With his cultivation level, he could not simply bypass such an rm array, at least not without making any noise. However, his purpose this time was simply to observe the rm system from up close. Given his experience, it was not impossible for him to crack the array, given enough time and observation.


    The level of defense seemed to vary in different areas. The sections containing weapons, supplements, and medicines had metal cabs, each equipped with heavy doors.


    Areas with living supplies and nts were open-style. Naturally, the nts were not extremely precious treasures but daily necessities, including some directly consumable fruits and vegetables.


    After inspecting the outer counters, Tang San moved around to the back.


    The back of the store had thergest area behind the counter, and instead of cabs, there were a number of vaults made of thick metal. Tang San could feel through touch and by observing with the Discerning Eye that there was a more intricate rm system behind them, and the metal they were made of was at least a foot thick. Even for a god-level expert, silently breaching these defenses and removing the contents was nearly impossible.


    The store''s internal and external defenses were undoubtedly stringent! There were six vaults here, and who knew what rare items they contained? Even the students of Kali Academy probably rarely saw them directly, and they had some kind of catalog when they wanted to browse the items.


    Without a doubt, the contents of these vaults were the real treasures and Tang San''s ultimate target.


    To open the vaults, it was crucial to understand their defensive arrays, especially the rm systems. As long as the rms weren''t triggered, there was a chance.


    Tang San began with the external rm system. His first task was to locate the central hub of the store��s rm array system.


    From his week of observations at Kali Academy, Tang San noted that the demon race''s proficiency in constructing arrays was still at a very basic level. Theycked the capability to create particrlyplex arrays. This starkly contrasted with the terrifying physical talents of the demon race and was a key reason Tang San was confident of sess.


    To put it simply, even the massive defensive system of Kali Academy was essentially a single,rge array. It consumed a lot of energy, but it was not intricate. It didn''t even have a nested array, which was an essentialponent of true defense systems.


    As a former God King, Tang San used to study energy transformations in the Divine Realm during his free time, exploring how different energies could bebined to create greater effects, often through the use of arrays.


    The Douluo, where he had previously resided in, had extensively researched arrays, eventually advancing into a high-tech era. The progression from cold weapons to firearms was a breakthrough in energy arrays. And moving on from the era of basic firearms to the high-tech era required even moreplex arrays.


    The Divine Realm had lost the ability to monitor the Douluo for a long time. When he returned, the continent had undergone massive changes. At that time, to sustain his wife''s life and give her hope of returning, he did not fully return for a while but instead simply observed the changes on the Douluo. He gained substantial knowledge about the advancements in energy arrays, and with his powerful divine consciousness, learning such knowledge was more effortless than ever.


    Compared to the ne of the Douluo Continent, the Fn was far superior in terms of energy, resources, and life level. In fact, the intensity of its energy matched even the Divine Realm''s. However, in terms of technology, it was far behind. The difference was quite substantial.


    Therefore, after carefully analyzing the protective array of Kali Academy, Tang San knew that as long as he had enough time and could find the core of the array, even the entire academy''s rm array would be virtually ineffective against him.


    This required time and the ability to reach the core. The rm array of Kali Academy was undoubtedly the most essential part of the academy, guarded by powerful beings. It was obviously not difficult for him to locate, but to enter and observe closely was a whole different matter. He had to wait until his Discerning Eye of Heaven advanced further, allowing him to observe energy changes more minutely and judge the array from a distance.


    However, the store was different. The defense array inside the academy store was entirely independent. As long as he was inside, finding the core of the array was not difficult.


    Under the gaze of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, the energy fluctuations within the six vaults were clearly visible to Tang San.


    To his amusement, he found that the defensive rm arrays of the six vaults were all the exact same, and even more bizarrely, none of thembined physical and array elements into the logically effective dual setup. They were all solely based on arrays. That is to say, even the locks were part of the array, not physical locks.


    This showed that the demon race ced great importance on their arrays, confident that no one could break through. It indicated theck of research into arrays and other forms of using the natural energy of the ne.


    <i>Hehe, that makes things much simpler. Once the core array is broken, everything here will be up for grabs.</i>


    Tang San took out paper and pen from his storage bag and silently observed the energy fluctuations in the vault. He started deducing the location of the core array by calcting the pattern of these energy changes.


    After about an hour, he found it.


    Kali Academy was quite clever in this aspect. The core array was inside one of the six vaults, meaning that one had to first enter the vault in order to break the core array.


    The opening of the vault, it seemed, required something like an energy key drawn in an array, something Tang San couldn��t possibly deduce by himself.


    This posed a challenge for him, but he did not be impatient and instead started again from the disy cabs behind the counters outside. The ces in the disy cabs where more valuable items were stored also had rm arrays, different from those in the vaults. Each cab had an individual rm, but they were all very simr in type. This was probably to save costs... or perhaps they were simply unable to create interconnected or nested arrays.

 Chapter 159: The Beginning Of The Plan

    <h4>Chapter 159: The Beginning Of The n</h4>


    Deducing the rm formations of these outer cabs was much easier. In a little over an hour, Tang San was confident he could open the doors of these disy cabs without making a sound.


    Afterpleting this, a smile gradually appeared on Tang San''s face. He had a n.


    As dawn broke, at the entrance of Kali Academy''s store, a Mighty Ape Demon stretched its body, unable to resist yawning.


    The other Mighty Ape Demon nearby yawned along with it, grumbling, "Why haven''t they arrived yet? Thesezy bones are killing me with sleepiness."


    "They''re here!" said the yawning ape demon in front.


    A small-stature fox demon was approaching quickly. It had long, shiny, brown-yellow hair, a sharp, pointed mouth, and a slender build. Its eyes were huge, and it was easy to see where the demon��s gaze shifted to as they darted around.


    "You''re a bitte today, Manager Hu!" chuckled one of the ape demons.


    The fox demon, Manager Hu, replied irritably, "I''m notte; you''re just gettingzy. Come inside for the handover, then you can go to sleep."


    "Alright!"


    The two apes followed Manager Hu as he opened the door and entered the academy store.


    Just as they entered, Manager Hu suddenly stopped, and his alreadyrge eyes widened even further. He darted forward like lightning the next instant, rushing straight to the counter.


    The Mighty Ape Demon guards were startled and quickly followed, with one shouting, "Manager Hu, what''s wrong?"


    With an angry and sharp voice, Manager Hu eximed, "What''s going on? How do you guys do your job? Why is a cab door open?"


    The two Mighty Ape Demons hurried forward to check, and indeed, a cab door in the medicine area was open. The medicine counter facing the main entrance was very conspicuous, which was why Manager Hu had noticed it immediately.


    "It''s impossible! Everything was fine when we were patrolling," the Mighty Ape Demons quickly defended.


    However, Manager Hu remained silent, visibly angry. He swiftly took out a ledger from the counter and startedparing it with the contents of the opened cab.


    His grim and angry expression gradually eased as he murmured, "Nothing''s missing, nothing at all. That''s good, that''s good."


    The two Mighty Ape Demons looked confused. "Manager Hu, what''s going on? This cab..."


    Manager Hu nced back at them and said, "Strange... I don''t know why the cab door was open, but nothing inside is missing."


    Since nothing was missing, it ruled out the possibility of the Mighty Ape Demons stealing. Moreover, they were only responsible for patrolling and didn''t know how to open the cabs in the first ce. Forcing them open would have immediately triggered an rm.


    "Good that nothing''s missing!" The Mighty Ape Demons sighed in relief.


    But Manager Hu did not dare to rx. He immediately walked out from behind the counter towards the back vaults and found that the vault doors were all properly closed. He quickly opened one and went inside to inspect the vault''s contents.


    None of them noticed that when Manager Hu opened the first vault door, a shadow shed out, silently exiting the academy store.


    <i>At the janitors�� house.</i>


    "I''m sorry, Old Mao, I''mte today. I woke up a bitte this morning," Tang San said apologetically.


    "It''s alright, you''re only a few minuteste. Just be careful next time. Go to work," Old Mao said with a smile.


    "Yes, I''ll go right away."


    Watching Tang San pick up the cleaning supplies and head out to work, Old Mao''s gaze became even softer. The boy had been there for a week and he was performing almost wlessly. He was dexterous, not talkative, did well whatever he was instructed to do, and was very thorough in cleaning. This week, the person in charge of general academic affairs had praised him twice for areas cleaned by Tang San.


    Thus, Tang San was undoubtedly confirmed for the job. Starting this week, he woulde three days a week for cleaning, with possible additional calls in exceptional cases. The sry was settled weekly at twenty demonshard coins. For a human vassal, this was a reasonably good ie.


    Twenty demonshard coins were enough for a human vassal to livefortably in Kali City; with some frugality, there could even be savings.


    Moreover, Tang San was still only a ten-year-old child.


    After a day''s work, Tang San returned to the Redemption Society, had dinner, and spent time cultivating with Du Bai. Du Bai''s spiritual power had been improving fast this past week, showing that Tang San''s cultivation method��some people would call it psychological torture, but those people were not there to see it��was quite effective. It significantly stimted the growth of his spiritual power.


    The Celestial Fox bloodline itself also significantly elerated the growth of Du Bai''s spiritual power.


    Tomorrow, Tang San could cultivate at the academy again without going to Kali Academy.


    After finishing cultivation with Du Bai, Tang San returned to his room and began writing and drawing on paper, preparing for his next steps based on his memories.


    Tang San was cautious. In the following week, he did not attempt to infiltrate Kali Academy''s store again, and he just stuck to his routine of work and cultivation.


    During this week, luck allowed him to see Mei Gongzi twice. Tang San felt his mood brighten like sunshine each time he saw her.


    The only thing that made Tang San impatient was that, during his time at Kali Academy, he saw the young man from the Golden Lion n with Mei Gongzi one-third of the time.


    Although he saw no close interactions between Mei Gongzi and the young man, it worsened Tang San''s mood. Being younger was an issue, but it was also undeniable that the Golden Lion Dog had excellent qualities in many aspects. What if...


    Yes, "dog" was the nickname Tang San had given him.


    Tang San felt helpless about this; his n needed more time. With his current strength, he was stillcking. He had to hasten the execution of his n!


    Night fell. The night always carried a sense of mystery. Even in the dark stillness... some remained active.


    Tang San quietly left the small Academy Town and once again arrived at the back door of Kali Academy under the cover of night.


    With a flickering white light in his eyes, the Discerning Eye of Heaven activated. Tang San silently sensed his luck.


    Du Bai had already blessed him in the evening, so Tang San''s luck was bound to be good. Still, he decided to observe cautiously for safety.


    He waited at the back door.


    It seemed that fortune still favored him, as two drunkards arrived together, quietly knocking on the door.


    The door opened, and the guard quietly pulled it open, letting them in.


    Seizing this opportunity, Tang San darted out from the shadows with a Leopard sh, preparing to enter as he had before.


    However, as he leaped out, a sudden, inexplicable sense of rm surged in his heart.


    <i>Not good!</i>


    He immediately aborted his Leopard sh, tapped the ground with his right foot, flipped backward, and darted toward the distance.


    At the same time, arge hand grabbed at the air, precisely where he would have been had he continued with his Leopard sh.


    Immediately following was a loud shout. "WHO DARES TO TRESPASS?"


    A powerful aura erupted, and a figure wrapped in blue-purple light charged out, moving directly toward Tang San.


    <i>Eighth order! At least eighth order!</i> In the instant of the opponent''s eruption, Tang San immediately understood what he was facing.


    A strong sense of danger struck again, and Tang San swiftly dodged, using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and narrowly avoiding the strike of two bolts of lightning.


    He activated Leopard sh again. Although his sh Leopard bloodline imprint was only at the fourth order, his cultivation was at the sixth, which gave him more than enough energy. Thus, he blinked continuously from ce to ce, using the trees around to conceal himself.

 Chapter 160: Discerning Eye of Heaven, Evolved!

    <h4>Chapter 160: Discerning Eye of Heaven, Evolved!</h4>


    The pursuer behind was not slow either. Bursts of lightning continuously erupted, felling trees in a ferocious bombardment. More terrifyingly, a vast expanse of lightning was umting above its head, and it was clearly preparing for a wide-range attack on Tang San.


    Tang San did not run toward the direction of the academy''s small town but instead toward the mountainside. Before alerting the upper echelons of Kali Academy, he had to escape from his pursuer; otherwise, he would face serious trouble.


    <i>How could Du Bai''s luck fail me? I didn��t even feel any sense of misfortune until thest second! Yet I couldn''t even make it into Kali Academy. Really...</i>


    <i>Leopard sh, Leopard sh, Leopard sh!</i>


    At this moment, Tang San used Leopard sh like it was nothing, his figure darting away swiftly like a shooting star.


    The figure behind him let out continuous roars, no less thunderous than the lightning crackling around it, as it flew through the air in rapid pursuit. Below its feet was a huge sphere of lightning, with a vast expanse of lightning converging above its head.


    With a fierce wave of its hand, dozens of lightning bolts descended from the sky, covering all directions where Tang San could escape.


    Tang San pushed the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track as far as he could, but even inbination with Leopard sh, it had a limit. To save his life, he could no longer care about exposing himself. He prepared to activate the Chrono Croc Transformation and use Time Freeze if lightning approached, giving himself a chance to escape. With the perception of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, he could make that decision in a split second.


    But at that moment, Tang San suddenly felt an intense heat surge in his eyes. The next instant, his sea of consciousness exploded.


    Tang San felt as if a third eye, a vertical one, was rising above his head, and a sh of white light instantly enveloped his body. His sea of consciousness seemed to boil for a moment, experiencing a significant surge in an instant.


    The lightning-element demon pursuing Tang San from behind was also surprised, as it discovered that under its wide-range lightning attack, the other party was somehow dodging using some kind of weird footwork, and not a single bolt of lightning was hitting its mark.


    Just as it prepared to continue the pursuit, suddenly, the lightning ball under its feet became unstable, and the next moment, a muffled thunder echoed.


    <i>Is it going to rain?</i>


    As natural lightning filled the sky, the lightning ball beneath the demon��s feet erupted violently, frightening it into a quick backflip.


    The lightning ball transformed into hundreds of electric beams, exploding and covering the view ahead with blinding light.


    <i>Why the heck did it suddenly explode?!</i> The lightning-element demon youth, uponnding, was filled with a mix of shock and anger. By the time it thought to pursue again, it had already lost sight and sense of the other party.


    Soon after, a powerful individual from Kali Academy arrived.


    "Luo Huanyu, what happened?" asked the monstrous demon teacher.


    "A petty thief, not very strong. I think it was from the sh Leopard tribe, it was constantly using Leopard sh and seemed to be at the fourth order. It was pretty thin, so it might be a human vassal of the sh Leopard tribe," replied the demon youth, Luo Huanyu.


    "A fourth-order petty thief and you couldn''t even catch it? Can you be any more useless?" the burly demon teacher bellowed angrily.


    Luo Huanyu''s mouth twitched slightly. "Teacher, it''s not my fault. Just now, my lightning ball exploded suddenly because it was influenced by natural lightning, and he escaped while I was trying to control it."


    The teacher''s nose twitched, and his eyes zed with even greater anger, "You''ve been drinking, haven''t you? You rascal! Drunk to the point you can''t even control a lightning ball, you''re simply useless. Wait till we get back and see how I deal with you."


    "I... I''m sorry, teacher," Luo Huanyu said helplessly. Indeed, he had drunk quite a bit with two ssmates. However, he had an inherently strong perception of the lightning element and he was a very diligent cultivator of the lightning element. He had noticed Tang San immediately when he felt the energy of the lightning change in the surroundings. To some extent, Leopard sh used the power of electricity for movement, so he could naturally sense it.


    In any case, Luo Huanyu was absolutely pissed. What could a fourth-order sh Leopard petty thief even do if it infiltrated the academy? Wasn��t this just making a fuss over nothing? And now, he had been caught red-handed by the teacher!


    When these students went out to have fun, the teachers generally turned a blind eye. But being caught in the act was another matter entirely, and punishment was inevitable.


    "Don''t let me catch you, or I''ll tear you apart," Luo Huanyu muttered venomously, looking in the direction Tang San had vanished. The next moment, the demon teacher grabbed him by the neck and dragged him back.


    Tang San zigzagged through Kali City. After confirming that he had shaken off his pursuer, he finally found a dark hiding ce.


    His breathing was clearly rapid, but there was a strange expression on his face.


    When his sea of consciousness boiled, he understood something: the luck bestowed upon him by Du Bai hadn''t disappeared, let alone failed. His previous judgment about his luck had been correct.


    <i>There was no real danger. More importantly, under the pressure of the pursuit from behind, the Discerning Eye of Heaven finally advanced! That invisible vertical eye rising above my head was the manifestation of the Celestial Fox Vision!</i>


    For the first time, he felt the powerful force of luck.


    At this moment, the sky was filled with rolling thunder, and raindrops had begun to fall. Was this a coincidence? No, it was luck. True luck.


    <i>The lightning ball under the feet of the demon pursuing him exploded suddenly��was that a coincidence? No, of course, it was also luck.</i>


    <i>The fact that I could escape all the thunderbolts using the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and the Leopard sh was also due to luck! The luck brought by the fourth-order Celestial Fox Vision!</i>


    After all this luck had been bestowed upon him, Tang San now felt like his whole body was on the verge of copse. Only by cultivating to replenish his energy could he feel somewhat better.


    An important thing to note was that his own cultivation level was at the sixth order, and a sixth-order body had problems enduring the bacsh of a fourth-order bloodline. The effect was ridiculously intense. This showed Tang San how difficult it was for Du Bai to cultivate the Celestial Fox Vision and why thetter felt weak every day after exhausting his own spiritual power.


    But he had truly witnessed the Celestial Fox Vision''s power today, and even someone like him was thoroughly impressed.


    His pursuer was an eighth-order powerhouse, while the Celestial Fox Vision was only at the fourth order. And yet the luck bestowed upon Tang San by the fourth-order Celestial Fox Vision rendered his eighth-order opponent unable to pursue him. <i>Although there was a bacsh, what if my Celestial Fox Vision was stronger? Would it cause the other guy to be killed by his own lightning?</i>


    This Celestial Fox Transformation felt like a unique gift. The fourth-order Discerning Eye of Heaven was his greatest gain tonight.


    At this moment, despite enduring waves of weakness, he could feel the spiritual power in his sea of consciousness further condensing, allowing for more space to amodate spiritual energy.


    Only slightly over a tenth of his sea of consciousness was filled with liquid spiritual power. Compared to his body''s capacity to bear the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, his sea of consciousness could hold a far vaster amount of spiritual power, supporting him all the way to the peak of the ninth order without any issue.


    He had to further enhance his Discerning Eye of Heaven. The Celestial Fox Vision was important, but the original Discerning Eye and itsponents were also useful. Now that the Celestial Fox Vision had improved, he could find a way to enhance the others and improve the overall Discerning Eye of Heaven before the next upgrade of the Celestial Fox Vision.


    Of course, even though Du Bai''s current rate of cultivation was much faster than before, pushing forward the Celestial Fox Vision was still a challenge. It might take at least a year or two to reach a higher level.


    The fourth order, which allowed him to directly bestow luck upon himself, was sufficient for now. He was finally taking control of his own fate��quite literally.


    After resting for more than an hour and observing the direction of Kali Academy, Tang San finally took a detour and quietly returned to the town.

 Chapter 161: Fourth Order Changes

    <h4>Chapter 161: Fourth Order Changes</h4>


    When Tang San returned to his room, he felt waves of weakness assailing his mind��not just mental fatigue but an overall weakening of his vital essence and spirit.


    His formidable spiritual power and the incessant vitality of the Mysterious Heaven Technique made enduring this weakness much easier. Had it been Du Bai, he would have been rendered unconscious, just like before.


    The Celestial Fox Vision was unquestionably a unique gift, yet its users were bound to experience physical frailty, the price for wielding control over fortune.


    Tang San''s uniquenessy in his ability to control multiple bloodline abilities simultaneously, transcending the norms of this world thanks to the Mysterious Heaven Technique. To this world, he was an independent, external anomaly, but with his sessive integration of Chrono Croc Transformation and Celestial Fox Transformation, it was as if he had deceived this ne of existence, bing a part of this world.


    ording to Guan Longjiang''s ounts about Demonic God Transformation and the bloodlines of demon and nymph ns, it was not unheard of to find beings with two or sometimes even more bloodlines. Usually, those with dual bloodlines could have amazing talent in either or both; those with multiple bloodlines, however, were almost invariably weaklings, as the purity of each bloodline wasn��t strong enough for them to cultivate into powerful beings.


    However, Tang San was different. The most significant distinction was that his bloodline improvement didn��te as a result of inheritance, but through devouring and absorbing the bloodline power of others, using the Mysterious Heaven Technique to transform it into new bloodline imprints or further enhance those he already had. In theory, as long as his body could endure it, all his bloodline imprints could be stronger at the same time. These imprints actually aligned with the martial soul and martial rings of his previous life.


    Today was the first time Tang San truly experienced the power of the Celestial Fox Vision. With its sudden advancement to the fourth order, he managed to prevent an eighth-order powerhouse from pursuing him due to sheer luck. And this was only the fourth order!


    To ordinary people, luck seemed elusive, but he, who was once a God King, understood clearly that luck was indeed a part of strength, and a very important part at that.


    Could he have traversed to the Soul Land universe after his suicide in his first life if not for luck? Could he have grown to be a God King, a uniquely blessed existence? Could he have found the reincarnation of his former wife shortly after arriving in this world? Certainly, there were chances, but how high were those chances?


    No...all these events were tied to luck.


    Upon first arriving in this world, Tang San was filled with unease, particrly about what his wife''s reincarnation would be. Seeing the Wind Wolf n sacrifice human women on altars filled his heart with immense fear. He was truly terrified that his wife might be one of those sacrificed.


    But luck still favored him, allowing him to finally find his wife. And it seemed that his reincarnated wife was faring quite well in this world, born into an exceptionally good family far surpassing ordinary humans.


    Thus, after arriving in this world, Tang San grew to believe even more in luck...until, finally, he now possessed the ability to harness it!


    The fourth order of the Celestial Fox Vision would undoubtedly be of great assistance to him, allowing him toprehend the mysteries of the Celestial Fox Vision further.


    His Celestial Fox Transformation came from Du Bai. However, without Tang San��s assistance, Du Bai might never have been able to advance in his lifetime. Now, with Tang San''s own bloodline imprint at the same order, his experience and the way he could explore guiding this powerful bloodline with the divine consciousness were things Du Bai could not even dream of. Under his guidance, Du Bai might continue to advance, and Tang San would improve alongside him, creating a virtuous cycle.


    He would now have to replenish the drained physical and spiritual energy by meditating and cultivating, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Thus, Tang San quickly entered a state of deep meditation.


    Today''s infiltration of the Kali Academy had failed. As a result, the academy��s vignce might be heightened, which would make further attempts even more difficult. However, the breakthrough of the Celestial Fox Transformation made itpletely worth it to Tang San, even with the drawbacks of the failed infiltration, especially since that also meant Tang San''s Discerning Eye of Heaven had advanced to the fourth order.


    ***


    At dawn, Du Bai faced eastward, practicing his breathing and absorbing the auspicious purple qi from the east with Purple Demon Eyes.


    "Hey Tang, what''s with the dark circles today? Didn''t sleep wellst night, or did your meditation go sideways?" Du Bai nced at Tang San beside him.


    While absorbing the purple qi, Tang San shook his head and said, "I didn��t rest well yesterday. I had some things on my mind, and I couldn''t meditate properly."


    Du Bai patted his shoulder, looking like someone who had been through it all. "Don''t overthink it. You''re already doing great. Just keep it up. Once I be stronger, I''ll have your back. My fortune will apany you, granting you the greatest of luck."


    Tang San smiled, "Thanks for that. Alright, let''s do it now."


    Du Bai nodded. This was his recent cultivation routine. Every early morning, after practicing the Purple Demon Eyes, he would fully exert the Celestial Fox Vision on Tang San, significantly depleting himself. He would slowly recover during the day''s cultivation and learning and then do it again in the evening.


    This continuous process of depletion and recovery made him much more proficient in using the Celestial Fox Vision. Moreover, such application stimted the growth of his spiritual power, and the power of the Celestial Fox Vision gradually increased.


    White light flickered in Du Bai''s eyes, and vaguely, a white beam of light condensed on his forehead, splitting to both sides and transforming into a vertical eye. A subtle white halo enveloped Tang San, his entire body steaming with white energy. His body momentarily stilled, and the dark circles under his eyes faded somewhat the next moment, making him appear more spirited.


    As the white light in Du Bai''s eyes receded, he showed signs of exhaustion and tapped his forehead. ��Whoa, I��m dizzy. That really took it out of me! But I''m starting to understand how spiritual power links up with the Celestial Fox Vision. The way my spiritual power''s turning into liquid is speeding up big time. I bet in a year, at most, all the spiritual power in my sea of consciousness will be liquid. And there should be a lot more of it, too. Seriously, all credit to the Purple Demon Eyes."


    Tang San chuckled. "It''s all thanks to your hard work. You know I''ve been at Kali Academytely, right? Once I get the hang of things there, if I meet some students, I''ll get them to scout out stuff in the academy''s store that can boost your spiritual power and pick them up for you."


    "Great!" Du Bai''s eyes lit up, "Then I''ll give you all my money. By the way, when are we going out for practical training? I tell you, we''re all pretty eager. Everyone''s just waiting for you."


    Tang San''s eyes flickered, "Let''s wait another week or two. Let your power stabilize a bit more. Then we''ll go again."


    "Okay!" Du Bai instantly felt less tired.


    The gains from theirst training were truly immense; almost everyone''s strength had improved to varying degrees. Compared with the other two groups, their improvement was much more significant. The eldest senior brother, Wu Bingji, was undoubtedly the top student of the academy. And Gu Li, after learning the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique and advancing his Chrono Croc Transformation to the fifth order, had improved his already considerablebat power and was now arguably the second strongest after Wu Bingji.


    Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc Transformation had also reached the fifth order, and her use of the Golden Wing Splitting Wind sh was bing more and more proficient. She was invincible in the recent internal sparring sessions, defeating many previously stronger opponents.


    Without a doubt, all these changes were the result of theirst expedition. Now, everyone was eager to go out for training again.

 Chapter 162: Determination

    <h4>Chapter 162: Determination</h4>


    Tang San was aware of their eagerness but simply couldn''t let go of Mei Gongzi. With the blessing of fortune, he almost always caught a glimpse of her at Kali Academy, whether intentionally or not. Even just a distant view of her made him feel particrly at ease. Moreover, his n was still in progress, and although it would take some more time to seed, it was already halfway there.


    Today was the day he worked at Kali Academy. Saying goodbye to Du Bai, Tang San took his leave and soon arrived at the Kali Academy.


    Upon entering through the back door, he observed the area for a few moments and noticed no apparent changes in defense. It made sense; though he had used Leopard sh in front of a student, his ability was only at the fourth order. Kali Academy wouldn''t pay much attention to a fourth-order thief. However, students wanting to sneak out at night might face unfortunate consequences.


    Once inside Kali Academy, Tang San first went to the small house to fetch some items, then headed to the main academic building''s za to clean everything as usual.


    His recent stint at work had familiarized him with the ce, at least with some of the human vassals working there.


    Young, sensible, and hardworking, Tang San was well-regarded by the human vassal staff. Old Mao, in particr, was very satisfied with him. Whatever task was assigned to Tang San, he wouldplete it well, neverining even if it wasn''t his job and simply doing whatever was asked of him.


    Frequently cleaning the za, Tang San was asionally noticed by passing students. However, as an unremarkable human vassal youth busy with his chores, he naturally didn''t attract much attention.


    As Tang San swept the ground, he concentrated on his vision and quietly activated his Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    Combining the powerful abilities of the Discerning Heart''s Gaze, Falcon Eye, and Celestial Fox Vision, the world before Tang San''s eyes immediately became a kaleidoscope of colors.


    Various types of natural energies in the air were visible to him, and with the guidance of Tang San''s spiritual power, these energies selectively converged toward him.


    Just as the Celestial Fox Vision at the fourth level evolved from merely sensing to controlling fortune, the Discerning Eye of Heaven had a simr evolution. Not only could it see more subtle changes and previously invisible energy fluctuations, but it could also attract these energies to a certain extent, either integrating them into his body for cultivation or altering their distribution.


    While sweeping, he quietly observed the different energy fluctuations within the academy. He quickly located the array''s energy that served as the rm system for Kali Academy''s entire defense system.


    This rm array created an invisible energy barrier that enveloped the academy. Such a barrier would require tremendous energy to defend against strong enemies. However, a thinyer was sufficient for mere warning purposes.


    This thinyer of energy was pale red and nearly invisible. Without the Discerning Eye of Heaven, even Tang San''s liquid spiritual power would have found it difficult to detect this energy.


    Now, not only could he see it, but he could also faintly sense the cirction of the energy and the patterns it formed as it flowed. This was precisely what Tang San hoped to achieve.


    As he learned these patterns and flows, he could sense their changes and then try to merge into these energy currents by controlling the energy around his own body. Once sessful, when he crossed the rm barrier, again, he would be treated as a part of it, seamlessly blending in rather than triggering the rm. If sessful, he would not need to use the door; he could simply scale the wall.


    Moreover, this rm system was fundamentally simr to the one at the store, which meant that it greatly aided Tang San''s study of the entire system.


    Additionally, through his observations, Tang San discovered that apart from the rm array, another array also covered the entire academy��an energy condensation array.


    This array was simpler in structure than the rm array, but its effect was orders of magnitude greater. It absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into Kali Academy, making the spiritual energy here far richer than in the outside world.


    Only two arrays covered the entire academy, both serving important functions. However, in Tang San''s view, these arrays were rather rudimentary. If he had the required cultivation and resources, he could easily create arrays far superior to these.


    Through his observations with the Discerning Eye of Heaven, he had almostpletely figured out the rm array in just one day. In a few more days, he should achieve his goal.


    After a day of sweeping, Tang San was preparing to return to the academy''s town, counting the small houses and walking along the familiar route back.


    Suddenly, he sensed something and saw two figures approaching from a distance.


    When he saw them, Tang San''s steps subconsciously halted, his mouth turned downward slightly, and his gaze sharpened.


    Mei Gongzi looked beautiful as usual in her school uniform, and the long hair she had tied up revealed her slender, white neck. Sadly, she was apanied by the Golden Lion Dog, who seemed to be conversing with her.


    Tang San lowered his head and continued walking, heading in their direction along the roadside.


    "Come with us to the Kali Mountain Range for training this time. Don''t worry; with my protection, even if we encounter a ninth-order demon beast, we can handle it. You''ve missed it several times already, and I think the teachers are starting to notice," said the Golden Lion Dog.


    "Oh, I''ll think about it," Mei Gongzi responded indifferently.


    "What''s there to consider? Do you have any concerns? Let''s go together, there won''t be any idents. Field training is something all students above the fourth year must experience. Next year, we''ll be taking the exams for the sixth year, and the scores from field training count for quite a bit. I''ll make sure you get a good share of the gains this time to ensure your training score."


    "When do we leave?" asked Mei Gongzi.


    "Five days from now. That''s the n. We''ll explore the habitat of the Winged Tigers. There was some unrest in their area recently; I am not sure why. So, this training mission is to investigate the Winged Tiger area," the Golden Lion Dog said excitedly.


    "Alright then."


    As Tang San passed them by, Mei Gongzi nced in his direction but said nothing. Tang San, however, heard every word of their conversation.


    <i>Field training in the Winged Tiger habitat?</i>


    The Golden Lion Dog clearly had ulterior motives! Field training meant close contact day and night, not to mention outdoor camping. He was definitely seeking a chance to get close to Mei Gongzi.


    <i>The audacity! How could this be allowed?</i>


    Tang San subconsciously clenched his fists. <i>Training, huh?</i> <i>What a coincidence, Du Bai just asked when we��re going out for training again. </i>


    However, there would be a teacher apanying them. Could he disrupt the Golden Lion Dog''s ns under the teacher''s supervision?


    Perhaps only if the mayor, who was familiar with the details, apanied them.


    Yes, he needed to n well and elerate the implementation of his previous n.


    With these thoughts, Tang San made up his mind.

 Chapter 163: Preparations

    <h4>Chapter 163: Preparations</h4>


    After the Golden Lion Dog and Mei Gongzi left, Tang San did not choose to return to the Redemption Academy; instead, he went back to the small house.


    He respectfully approached Old Mao, who was about to finish his meal. ��Old Mao, I have something I''d like to discuss with you.��


    ��What''s the matter, Little Tang?�� Old Mao asked with a smile.


    Tang San said, ��The mayor has tasked me with an errand in five days, which might require me to be away for a few days. Do you think I could work continuously for the next few days, then leave toplete the mayor''s task and return to work afterward?��


    Old Mao thought momentarily and replied, ��That should be fine. Clean up the square a bit more these days, and I��ll have someone cover for you. Do you know how many days you��ll be away?��


    Tang San nodded and answered, ��It��s not decided yet. I must wait for the mayor��s instructions, but it shouldn��t be more than ten days at most.��


    Old Mao nodded in agreement. ��Alright, good. Let me know once you have a confirmed schedule.��


    After thanking Old Mao, Tang San returned to the Redemption Academy vige.


    Instead of returning to the academy, he headed straight for the mayor''s ce.


    ��Master, I think we should go out for another training expedition.��


    When Zhang Haoxuan heard Tang San''s words, the first thing he felt was a headache. The results of thest expedition were astonishing, leading Du Bai and Gu Li to make breakthroughs and advance in the two most valued Demonic God Transformations of the academy��a great achievement for the academy. However, it also made the positions of these two students even more crucial. Going out for another risky expedition? What if something dangerous happened?


    Seeing his hesitation, Tang San quickly said, "Master, there won��t be any issues. Last time was just a fluke, and we turned things around, right? This time it��s different. Du Bai��s Celestial Fox Vision has hit the fourth order, and with that kind of power, we can steer our luck, making this mission smoother. Plus, everyone��s gotten stronger, so it��ll definitely be easier than before. The other senior brothers reckon we��re just lucky, but it��s not all about luck. Our skills definitely yed a big role too. Everyone learned a lot in the first round of training; shouldn��t we give the second round a shot? Think about it: if we can help Du Bai and Gu Li level up faster, wouldn��t that be a win for everyone?"


    Zhang Haoxuan said somewhat helplessly, "You really have a way with words. However, if you want to go out for training again, I guess no one will oppose you this time. But you must promise, absolutely no risks this time."


    Tang San smiled wryly. "We didn''t take risksst time either! We just arrived at the edge of the Winged Tiger''s territory when we encountered it. That wasn''t our fault, was it?"


    Zhang Haoxuan''s mouth twitched. "Three at once, including a ninth-order? Is that also the luck brought by the Celestial Fox Vision?"


    "<i>Cough,</i> that definitely won''t happen this time," Tang San said with a chuckle.


    Zhang Haoxuan thought for a moment and said, "Okay then. Last time, you showed the benefits of training and how well you can adapt. You''re right. The other groups didn''t get as much out of their training as you did, and that reallyes down to skill, especially in leadership. If this training turns out simrly, you''ll have further proven your leadership skills, which we value. Based on our thorough analysis, you seem to have a knack for leading. If things go well this time, I will suggest that all sixteen of you go together next time, and you''ll be in charge."


    Sixteen people together? Tang San didn''t want this, in all fairness. It was harder tomand and care for more people, and what if casualties urred? But since Zhang Haoxuan said so, he had no reason to refuse and could only say, "Alright, I''ll listen to you. Then, this time, please protect us in secret. If we encounter a strong enemy, I''m worried about being discovered using other abilities."


    "If you''re going for training, of course, I''ll be the one to protect you in secret. Do I even need to say it?" Zhang Haoxuan said helplessly. In his heart, his disciple was the most important. <i>The Chrono Croc Transformation of Gu Li, the Celestial Fox Vision of Du Bai��this kid knows them all. He''s genuinely a spit on the face of heaven, and to me, he��s the real future of the Redemption Society!</i>


    "Oh, by the way, teacher, just to let you know, my Celestial Fox Vision has also reached the fourth order," Tang San said with a smile.


    Zhang Haoxuan was speechless.


    ***


    After returning to the academy and having dinner, Tang San immediately found Wu Bingji and told him about the uing training expedition.


    Wu Bingji had recently been engrossed in mastering the control of the secondary explosion of his ice needles. He felt he had made considerable progress, and his strength had significantly improved. He readily agreed when he heard that Tang San was organizing another training expedition.


    Wu Bingji��s jaw dropped when he heard Tang San''s destination of choice. "Going to the Winged Tiger area again? What if we find the Winged Tiger King again? It definitely wants to tear us to shreds, you know!"


    Tang San chuckled, "No worries, our teacher will be with us this time. We don''t need to fear the Winged Tiger King with the teacher around. With our team''s strength, dealing with an ordinary seventh-order adult Winged Tiger shouldn''t be a problem, right?"


    Wu Bingji nodded. Last time, they had killed a peak seventh-order tiger, and although luck had yed a big part, their strength had improved significantly since then. Facing a seventh-order Winged Tiger now might not be as daunting.


    "Then it''s settled. You inform the senior brothers and sisters tomorrow morning. I need to take leave for training, so I should be working at Kali Academy these few days."


    Wu Bingji asked, "You''ve been working there for many days. How is the observation going? Any gains?"


    Tang San grinned. "Definitely some gains. You''ll know when we go out for training this time."


    "Okay." Wu Bingji trusted Tang Sanpletely. He was now immersed in researching the ice needles. Although he was still far from mastering the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball, the ice needles alone had significantly boosted his attack power.


    After discussing with Wu Bingji, Tang San didn''t return to his room to rest. Instead, he returned to the academy town and went straight to the cksmith shop. Since he was going out for training and had the important task of supervising his "rival in love," Tang San was sure he needed to prepare thoroughly.


    This time, he was even more serious than ever, and even more excited.


    This was his first opportunity to actively approach Mei Gongzi, to track her movements, follow her, and silently protect her from the shadows.


    The next day, he went to work at Kali Academy as usual, sweeping diligently while observing the rm array with his Discerning Eye of Heaven. Time was of the essence, and the next step of his n was to start tonight!


    While Tang San was busily preparing, Mei Gongzi returned to the milk tea shop after school.


    "Mom, let me help you." Mei Gongzi changed into the shop''s uniform, came to Su Qin''s side, and started making milk tea, taking over from her mother.


    "Why did youe back today?" Su Qin asked her daughter.


    Mei Gongzi replied, "Song Junhou asked me to join the team for an outdoor training expedition to the Winged Tiger area in the Kali Mountains."


    Su Qin frowned slightly. "He just wants to get close to you. It''s better to keep your distance from the heirs of these golden bloodline families, just to be cautious."


    "I know. However, ording to Kali Academy''s rules, outdoor training is required. I''ve declined a few times before, so this time, I had no choice but to agree."


    Su Qin gently stroked her daughter''s long hair. "Then go, but be careful and protect yourself."


    "Don''t worry," Mei Gongzi said with a smile, which she showed only when she was with her mother.


    Sadly, Tang San couldn''t witness this sight; otherwise, he would have seen a hundred flowers in bloom.

 Chapter 164: Mei Gongzi鈥檚 Vigilance

    <h4>Chapter 164: Mei Gongzi��s Vignce</h4>


    "Mom, something strange has been happening recently. For some reason, I keep running into this human vassal who works as a cleaner at the academy. Once or twice wouldn''t be odd, but over the past few weeks, I''ve met him at least a dozen times, in different ces. I feel like he''s watching me."


    "A human vassal? What does he look like?" Su Qin asked, surprised.


    Mei Gongzi replied, "He''s quite young, younger than me. Oh, right, he must have bought milk tea from our shop before. He used to be very skinny, but he seems to have grown taller and looks a bit healthier."


    Su Qin''s heart stirred. "Are you talking about the one who came for the first time and we gave him a cup of milk tea? The one who was staring straight at you?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded. "Yes, that''s him. I don''t know how he ended up working as a cleaner at Kali Academy recently, but I keep running into him."


    "Well, just be careful. It''s probably not a threat; maybe it��s just a coincidence. Take a chance to investigate and see what his Demonic God Transformation is. Also, ask his name," Su Qin said.


    "Alright."


    ***


    Night fell.


    Tang San knew to leave the Redemption Academy quietly only after everything inside had settled down for the night.


    He had squeezed every bit of Du Bai��s energy earlier, and he felt a massive amount of luck surrounding him. With his Discerning Eye of Heaven, he could vaguely see a white light swirling around him. It was definitely a cloud of explosive good fortune.


    As usual, Redemption Academy was very quiet at night. Tang San nned to sneak in earlier than usual tonight, as he didn''t intend to take the back door this time.


    He found a shadowy spot by the courtyard wall and activated his Discerning Eye of Heaven. Instantly, he saw the faint red rm barrier that extended from the surface of the wall and covered the entire academy like a protective bubble.


    Tang San took a deep breath, his spiritual power pulsating as he began to adjust his own energy frequency. He didn''t have a token to bypass the rm, so all he could do was try to match the frequency by adjusting his own.


    After two days of careful observation and understanding, he felt confident enough to proceed.


    Gradually, a faint red light emanated from his body, a result of synchronizing his energy with the rm''s frequency based on the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    He slowly raised his right hand and gently pressed it against the wall.


    This was the most critical moment; sess or failure depended on the oue of this touch.


    When his right hand touched the wall, a faint red ripple appeared, and Tang San''s gaze immediately turned sharp as he got ready to turn and run at any moment.


    But the red ripple only spread slightly before calming down and merging with the red light emanating from Tang San, as if they were one and the same.


    <i>It works!</i>


    Tang San was overjoyed. He immediately pressed his body against the wall, and the red glow from his body gradually merged with the red light from the wall.


    He clung to the wall, his fingers grasping the slightly protruding parts, and with a push of his legs, he lightly leaped to the top of the wall.


    By this time, the red light on his body hadpletely merged with the rm system''s red light. With his strong spiritual power, he could clearly determine whether he had triggered the rm under these conditions.


    Indeed, his understanding of arrays was far ahead of this civilization��s, and it didn��t seem like he would run into any issues.


    He vaulted over the wall andnded lightly on the ground. The first hurdle was sessfully cleared.


    Tang San couldn''t help but praise himself inwardly, thinking that from now on, he wouldn''t need to use the door anymore!


    Without any dy, he quickly moved along the wall and through the shadows, soon arriving near the academy''s store.


    Once more, he hid in a corner, sitting still and observing.


    It had been some time since a cab door in the academy store had mysteriously opened on its own. Tang San believed that this incident at the store must have passed by now. After all, nothing was lost and it was only a cab door to begin with, not a vault door, so it was probably brushed off as a one-time incident.


    The guards were still those two eighth-order Mighty Apes. Their strength was unquestionable, but in terms of intelligence... well, they were smartpared to normal apes.


    Tang San was in no hurry, just silently observing from the shadows. He suddenly had a strange thought: if his Celestial Fox Vision could reach the same order as these Mighty Ape demons, maybe he would be able to apply a lucky charm to himself and then simply stroll in, and they would just let him pass.


    In all fairness, there was such a possibility. Right now, however, he couldn''t determine how powerful a high-order Celestial Fox Vision would be, and he didn��t care to find out first-hand. Rather than facing a master of luck, he would feel safer confronting an enemy of a higher order. Without god-level cultivation, he had no intention of dealing with beings like the Celestial Foxes.


    Time passed by the minute as he waited. At worst, he would wait four hours for the Mighty Ape demons to enter for their internal patrol.


    But with the blessing of the Celestial Fox Vision, Tang San''s luck was not bad. Only about twenty minutester, it was time for the two Mighty Apes to conduct their internal patrol!


    Compared to thest time he had been here, it seemed much easier to infiltrate.


    As a user of the Celestial Fox Vision himself, he was a favored child of luck, and with Du Bai''s added luck, good fortune was inevitable.


    He waited silently for the Mighty Ape demons to finish their patrol and the doors to close again. At that moment, for Tang San, the academy store was now a very safe space. He had a whole four hours to do whatever he wanted.


    Although he hadn��t taken anything with him on hisst visit, he had still made significant gains. Now, if he wished, he could open the most important vault with the central system, just like the fox demon store manager didst time.


    However, Tang San didn''t rush to do so. Instead, he activated his Discerning Eye of Heaven and scanned the entire interior of the academy store.


    The fourth-order Discerning Eye of Heaven was vastly different from the third order. Under its gaze, all the energy fluctuations here were visible, particrly the arrays within the cab doors. Tang San could almost see through them clearly, thanks to the subtle changes in energy.


    In less than a quarter of an hour, he had deciphered the arrays covering the cab doors arranged outside of the counter. He could open any door he wanted without triggering the rm.


    After a thorough exploration of half an hour, Tang San finally reached the six vaults at the back.


    He stopped before the most important vault, continuing to sense the energy changes within. The most crucial part was to see if there were any differences from that day.


    It turned out that Kali Academy hadn''t changed the defensive array.


    As Tang San''s palm showed wave after wave of energy ripples, bringing them slowly closer to the vault door, simr energy ripples also appeared on the surface of the vault door.


    The ripplesbined, and Tang San, with his spiritual power controlling the Mysterious Heaven Technique, simted an energy key that perfectly matched the door-opening array.


    With a soft sound, the vault door opened.


    A faint smile appeared at the corners of Tang San''s mouth.


    The moment he stepped into the vault, he was immediately enveloped by a dense wave of energy.


    <i>Great stuff! This ce is filled with treasures!</i>


    Kali Academy was the only high-level academy in the entire Kali City. Even members of the golden bloodline races studied here, hinting at the wealth contained within. Even if the items stored in the academy store were not Kali Academy''s most precious treasures, they were rare and valuable items notmonly seen.

 Chapter 165: Not Killing The Goose Laying Golden Eggs

    <h4>Chapter 165: Not Killing The Goose Laying Golden Eggs</h4>


    Tang San did not look at the treasures in the vault. Instead, he first located the main control array.


    The rm��s main control array was in the innermost part of the vault, inside a sealed metal chamber.


    The small chamber had no openings and the door was tightly closed and locked; however, just like the vaults had rm arrays but no locks, this chamber had a lock but no rm arrays.


    Tang San didn''t need to enter the chamber; he simply ced a hand against the metal door, silently sensing the energy fluctuations inside. With his powerful spiritual power, he memorized every subtle change in energy.


    When Tang San was a God King, he was the supreme ruler of the divine realm, overseeing it all. The highest governing body in the divine realm was the Divine Council, controlling the heart of the divine realm. This heart once influenced multiples, and for their purposes, they relied on an energy array far more advanced than anything else Tang San had seen or used in all his lifetimes.


    Though Tang San was no longer a God King and couldn''t use his divine consciousness liberally like he once had, his experience remained. What seemed like aplex array to the demons was nothing but child''s y to him.


    A faint smile gradually appeared on Tang San''s face. The arrays of Kali Academy led to the same goal despite different paths!


    After days of observation, he had essentially grasped the mainyout of the arrays used here. Now, with the Discerning Eye of Heaven evolving to the fourth order, he could confirm his observations: these smaller arrays were indeed based on the exact same principles as therge array wrapping around Kali Academy, and they were likely built by the same hand.


    Now, it was simple. Tang San had mentally sorted out the characteristics of these arrays. After reconstructing the array prototype in his mind, he had thoroughly mastered everything.


    His smile grew wider; his n could now be set into motion smoothly.


    Inside the vault, there were rows of disy cases with different items, each preserved in various ways. Some were tightly sealed, while others were simply disyed in open cases.


    Besides the core array that it was housing, it turned out that this vault also contained weapons and armor forged from rare metals.


    In Tang San''s eyes, the craftsmanship was... truly rough! The items themselves were nothing more than scrap metal in his eyes. However, he couldn''t deny that the materials were genuinely excellent, far from ordinary. He was even a little envious of the materials. He had never seen such fine materials on the Douluo. He had only encountered simr-quality materials after bing the God King and overseeing others in the divine realm.


    If he was the one to handle these things, producing divine artifacts wouldn''t be impossible.


    But Tang San didn''t touch anything. Yes, he didn''t take a single item.


    Undoubtedly, he could effortlessly empty the ce with his current understanding of the academy store''s defense array. Without even looking, he could guess that one of the vaults had to contain storage equipment. Taking everything away would be no big deal.


    However, doing so would undoubtedly cause a considerable stir at Kali Academy. To avoid being exposed, he''d need to flee quickly. But while he could escape, what about the academy town? The first suspects would surely be the human vassals, and his actions would undoubtedly be followed by a massive purge and search. What about the Redemption Society?


    These were all issues he had to consider. And since he could take the items anytime now, there was no need to rush. He could just consider them temporarily stored here. When necessary, he could take all the resources only when nothing of concern was left. At the very least, he had to ensure the safety of the Redemption Society. The academy town might not reveal much under search, but if the members of the Redemption Society were revealed, that would be a big problem.


    Therefore, Tang San never intended to plunder everything directly from the beginning. Instead, he simply wanted to ensure he could enter here anytime he wished. Everything else could wait.


    Exiting this vault, Tang San promptly chose the third one and opened its door. Mastering the core array made opening the doors effortless, even quicker than using a key.


    Upon opening the metal door, intense natural energy instantly enveloped the area. Tang San could feel his body warming slightly from the dense natural energy.


    Most of the treasures were preserved in sealed containers among the rows of disy cabs. These containers were strictly necessary here, because this vault hosted... spiritual medicines.


    The natural energy emitted by these spiritual medicines was so rich that the air inside the vault felt almost viscous, even though they were all sealed in containers. Due to their incredible variety, the energy seemed somewhat mixed.


    Tang San sensed silently and could perceive hundreds of spiritual medicines here, each more potent than the Dragon Tendon Fruit he had consumed before.


    The level of Dragon Tendon Fruits was such that they weren''t even qualified to be stored in these vaults.


    <i>Wealth, such immense wealth! No wonder the demon race''s cultivation progresses so rapidly. So many of these natural spiritual medicines are absolute treasures; if used properly, they could greatly assist me in cultivation.</i>


    Although Tang San had some doubts about whether the demon race could fully utilize the effects of these spiritual medicines, even if they consumed them like normal food, the effects were still bound to be impressive!


    <i>Truly, all good things! Cultivating in such a ce was like being in a treasurend on earth.</i>


    Tang San took a deep breath, circting the Mysterious Heaven Technique, filtering the dense natural energy he inhaled before integrating it into his cultivation. This deep breath alone made him feel his blood pulsating more vigorously.


    <i>My, this was truly impressive.</i>


    Instead of acting hastily, Tang San carefully observed everything around him, gradually forming a n in his mind.


    Although the nts in this world differed from those in the Soul Land he once knew, the properties of their energies couldn''t deceive him. With Tang San''s past life experience as the ruler of nts, identifying them was a matter of minutes.


    ording to Tang San''s analysis, the difference between nts and nymphs was simr to that between demonic beasts and the demon race.


    These lifeforms were fundamentally the same, but nts without spiritual intelligence, regardless of their high energy levels, could only be ssified as treasure nts��treasures of heaven and earth��not as nymphs.[1]


    However, whether they were treasure nts or nymphs, they shared simr origins.


    Tang San''s first target was these high-order nts in the vault.


    Based on his experience with magical beasts, these treasure nts were probably also graded in the same way. Once they reached the divine order, they would inevitably develop spiritual intelligence and be truly sentient. Thus, there were no divine-level treasure nts; those would have be nymphs.


    Tang San walked to the first row of disy cabs, approaching a ss-like cover. Inside it, a purple-ck vine was coiled.


    This vine was covered in thorns and emitted a faint cold light, clearly not something to be taken lightly.


    Tang San had attended sses on heavenly and earthly treasures at the Redemption Society, but his education was notprehensive enough. Therefore, he had never learned about this type of thorny vine. However, based on his observations of its appearance, Tang San could roughly guess what kind of nt it was, and by employing the Discerning Eye of Heaven, he could determine its order.


    1. The original keeps using ��treasures of heaven and earth,�� but for rity and flow, we have reced this with ��treasure nts�� where necessary. ?

 Chapter 166: The Sixth Imprint, Blue Silver Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 166: The Sixth Imprint, Blue Silver Emperor</h4>


    The transparent protective shield was embedded with a defensive array, which posed no challenge to Tang San. He easily broke through the array and cautiously lifted the cover.


    As soon as he lifted the cover, a sudden change urred. The purple-ck vine inside, which had appeared lifeless, suddenly sprung out like lightning, its sharp spikes hurtling directly toward Tang San��s face.


    Yet Tang San remained calm and prepared. He grasped the vine with a lightning-fast motion of his right hand, unafraid of the sharp spikes.


    The spikes couldn''t prate his jade-like palm. With a glint in his eyes, Tang San activated the Mysterious Heaven Technique, forcibly absorbing the energy within the thorny vine.


    The vine struggled violently but couldn''t escape the grip of Tang San''s Mysterious Jade Hands. Just as Tang San had expected, like the bloodline energy of demonic beasts, the energy of nts could also be devoured and absorbed by the Mysterious Heaven Technique. It was clear that the devouring trait acquired by the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique upon arriving in this world was absolute.


    Restless nt energy flowed into Tang San, gradually forming a new bloodline imprint within him.


    To Tang San''s surprise, the nt-based bloodline imprint was much purer than that of demonic beasts. Perhaps this was because the nt was a natural treasure, directly nurtured by the pure spiritual energy from heaven and earth. In any case, the imprint was exceptionally clear and translucent rather than opaque.


    The vine began to wilt, and Tang San stopped absorbing its energy. He then carefully ced it back under the protective cover.


    He had absorbed around one-third of its energy, and the imprint he had developed was around the third order. Moreover, pure nt-based life energy was now a part of his energy vortex, and it was slowly absorbed as he cultivated.


    Indeed, this was Tang San''s intention. By absorbing the energy of treasure nts, he aimed to form nt-based bloodline imprints and integrate them into his Green Jade Vine, thereby enhancing the power of this sixth bloodline imprint. At the same time, once partially absorbed, the energy contained in these treasure nts would make his cultivation more efficient and nourish his body, making it easier for him to withstand the cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. This was more beneficial for his cultivation right now than absorbing energy from demons or demonic beasts.


    It was just a preliminary trial, but it appeared that his judgment was entirely correct. Absorbing the energy of nts was the right way to go.


    With so many treasure nts here, as long as Tang San didn''tpletely deplete them, their inherent properties would naturally absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the air to replenish themselves. This vault was abundant in elemental forces, thanks to all the nts in it, so that was no problem. The slightly wilted nts wouldn''t make any noise or raise suspicion. Thus, this ce could be a cultivation paradise for Tang San, rapidly enhancing his strength.


    Not rushing to integrate the imprint immediately, he chose another nt that looked like a vine and was around the fifth order.


    Absorbing higher-order imprints was not necessarily better. Tang San needed to maintain the original form of his Green Jade Vine and not change it rashly. With his experience from his previous life, he could make a very educated judgment about what kind of bloodline imprints to devour and integrate. These imprints needed to have beneficial attributes, and at the same time, he had to slowly increase the energy he absorbed rather than taking in a lot of it at once. Devouring something too powerful could cause the Green Jade Vine to copse or be absorbed into another imprint, which was not the desired oue.


    With Tang San''s sixth-order cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, after continuously absorbing the energy of five nts, each between the fifth and sixth orders, his dantian was filled to the brim. This was just about right.


    After making sure that everything in the vault was exactly the way he had found it, Tang San cautiously exited and closed the door.


    With some time remaining before the next patrol, he found a hidden corner to sit down. He activated the Mysterious Heaven Technique to absorb the life energies he had just integrated into his body.


    Absorbing these pure life energies through his energy vortex was much easier than absorbing the mixed energies of demon bloodlines. His body, nourished by the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, felt warm andfortable, and he felt the indescribably gentle energy spreading throughout his meridians. His cultivation level rapidly increased, surpassing the progress of ten days or half a month of normal cultivation. And this was even before he integrated the bloodline imprints.


    Tang San did not intend to integrate the five nt-based bloodline imprints he had just absorbed here, mainly because he feared not controlling them well and exposing his aura. He was also concerned that any physical anomalies during the integration process might affect his sharpness when leaving.


    When the four-hour patrol period ended, Tang San had almostpletely absorbed the life energy. The vast life energy converged within him, allowing his cultivation to take another firm step within the sixth order.


    Taking advantage of the patrol, Tang San quietly slipped out. It was still dark, but dawn was not far off. He returned the way he hade, climbing over the wall.


    When Tang San returned to the Redemption Society, the sky gradually brightened, and dawn was approaching. However, he didn''t rest. After all, time waited for no one. He decided to rest and cultivate leisurely as he swept the ground at Kali Academy.


    Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he began integrating the imprints.


    Since he only devoured a portion of the energy from each nt, the orders of the imprints formed inside him were not very high, all around the third order, with the highest just barely reaching the fourth order.


    Such order imprints were most suitable for Tang San to devour, given that the order of his Green Jade Vine was quite low.


    The first to be devoured was the thorny vine. The moment the third-order imprint merged with the first-order Green Jade Vine, the two imprints began to sh. The Green Jade Vine, being somewhat weaker, was eventually overtaken by the thorny vine, resulting in their fusion.


    Controlling a third-order fusion with Tang San''s current cultivation level was effortless. Soon, his sixth bloodline imprint reached the third order, and then he proceeded to the next one.


    Fusing third-order with third-order was easier, and the process was swift. As he integrated the five imprints one by one, his sixth bloodline imprint reached the fourth order.


    The sky outside brightened further. The fusion process went smoothly, mainly because the imprints were of the same nt type, so they found it easier to ept each other.


    There was a sh of light in Tang San''s eyes, and with a flick of his right hand, a blue-purple vine sprouted from the palm of his hand, adorned with delicate ck patterns, instantly spreading outward.


    The thorny vine, about as thick as a baby''s arm and incredibly resilient, extended about twenty meters before Tang San found it could stretch no further.


    With a thought, spikes emerged from the vine. When he channeled his energy into it, the twenty-meter-long vine stiffened instantly, like a giant spear.


    He waved his right hand, and vines rapidly emerged, intertwining in the air to form arge.


    A hint of satisfied reminiscence appeared in his eyes.


    In his previous life, his primary martial spirit was the Blue Silver Grass, and now he could essentially replicate some of its abilities thanks to this vine. Although there were differences in strength and a number of specific characteristics, they were quite simr overall.


    Before evolving into the Blue Silver Emperor, his Blue Silver Grass martial soul used to have four abilities: Bind, Parasite, Spider Web Restraint, and Blue Silver Prison.


    Right now, Tang San could use three of them, and while he couldn��t fully use Parasite, he would eventually be able to do that. In other words, he had recovered three quarters of his previous life��s Blue Silver Grass spirit ring abilities, and he was well on his way to recover more.


    This was the existence Tang San was most familiar with! Familiarity meant better control and greater practicality.


    As dawn arrived, there was a knock on Tang San''s door.


    "Are you not up yet? Time for cultivation," Du Bai''s voice called out.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Tang San''s mouth. A new day, a fresh start��it was truly wonderful.


    His sixth bloodline imprint would advance to the sixth order in the following days. This imprint, naturally, would be called the Blue Silver Emperor.


    And one day, the Blue Silver Emperor would return to its former glory.

 Chapter 167: The Second Training Expedition, Let鈥檚 Go!

    <h4>Chapter 167: The Second Training Expedition, Let��s Go!</h4>


    In the following days, Tang San was incredibly busy. He worked during the day, silently cultivating at the same time, and went to his best cultivation spot at night.


    nt-based sources of life energy were exceptionally nourishing for the body. With ess to the Kali Academy''s treasure trove, Tang San no longer needed to purchase nt-based materials and treasures for cultivation. He could simply absorb a portion of energy from vine-like nts to enhance his Blue Silver Emperor bloodline imprint, and then some energy from those nourishing treasure nts to nurture himself.


    In just five days, he felt he had undergone aplete transformation.


    To the Redemption Society teachers and students, Tang San seemed to have grown taller and more robust recently. His brows and eyes appeared more open, and he looked increasingly pleasing to the eye.


    Finally, the time for the second training expedition was approaching.


    Early in the morning, Tang San and his group of five were all packed and ready to leave.


    After breakfast, Guan Longjiang called the five of them over.


    "I know that yourst expedition was very sessful, and each of you has grown in strength. But I want to tell you that your sessst time wasrgely due to luck, and luck won''t always be with you."


    He paused, suddenly realizing something, nced at Du Bai, coughed, and then continued, "Therefore, remember that this journey is not just for the growth of your powers, but more importantly, to better understand how to attract fortune and avoid disaster, how to protect yourselves, and how to survive in unfamiliar environments. Safety is always the priority because only the living have a future."


    At this point, he paused and turned his gaze to Wu Bingji, saying, "Bingji, as the eldest brother, you must set an example for your junior brothers and sisters. Lead everyone well, and prioritize safety above all. Do you understand?"


    "Yes, Teacher," Wu Bingji respectfully replied, but his gaze unintentionally stopped at Tang San, who was beside him.


    <i>Can I lead everyone? It''s just a nominal role, I suppose.</i>


    Following his gaze, Guan Longjiang''s eyes fell directly on Tang San, "Tang San, I know you''re full of cunning ideas. But remember, no matter how talented or smart you are, you must not recklessly take risks, as this concerns the lives of your teammates. Last time, you almost suffered a great loss. Recall the moments when you nearly perished."


    "Yes, Teacher Guan," Tang San quickly responded.


    At this moment, he was thinking about other matters altogether. Today should be the day Mei Gongzi and her group also set off. The timing should be slightly staggered, but their directions were the same. He needed to observe more, maintain a certain distance, and not get too close to avoid being detected, but also not stray too far away. In case of danger, he needed to be able to help in time.


    "Alright, let''s set off," Guan Longjiang said, naturally noticing Tang San''s somewhat distracted state and feeling helpless inside.


    <i>But what more can I say?</i>


    Talking about luck,st time, even with Du Bai being only third-order, they managed to escape from the jaws of a seventh-order peak Winged Tiger, even turning the tables on it. Their overall gains were greater than the other two groups��bined. The increase in the strength of Du Bai and Gu Li was a great boost for the entire Redemption Society.


    Initially, the organization nned to move them to a safer ce, but the improvements in Celestial Fox Vision and Chrono Croc Transformation dyed this decision. Perhaps this ce was more suitable for their advancement and cultivation.


    Du Bai was at the fourth order, Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng were at the fifth order, and Tang San and Wu Bingji were at the sixth order. There were not many young teams like this in the Redemption Society.


    Wu Bingji was Guan Longjiang��s direct disciple, and he had witnessed his disciple''s significant progress.


    Guan Longjiang was well aware of Tang San''s guidance to Wu Bingji in using the ice element. Wu Bingji had nothing to hide from his teacher. When Guan Longjiang learned the intricacies of their practice, he was astounded. He even felt that Tang San seemed more like Wu Bingji''s teacher than he was. Since Tang San''s arrival, although Wu Bingji was still at the sixth order, his strength had improved tremendously.


    His perception and application of ice elemental energy had brought him close to the peak of the sixth order. Advancing to the seventh order was basically just a matter of time.


    All these changes began from the moment Tang San arrived. Because of this, the organization investigated Tang San''s background several times, but the results were always the same��naturally, since there really was nothing wrong about Tang San��s background.


    What Guan Longjiang hadn''t told Tang San was that his mentor, Wang Yanfeng, the three Wang brothers, and Ling Muxue were all going to be brought into the Redemption Society. The hope was to see if another prodigy like Tang San could emerge among them.


    "With that, let''s set off!" With Guan Longjiang''smand, Tang San''s team embarked on their second training journey.


    The other students watched, aware of Tang San''s team''s achievements from their first outing. When they had gone out for training, everyone had been full of determination, believing that they could achieve what Tang San''s team achieved, even if not to the same extent.


    However, the reality was far different. They had tried hard, but when facing demonic beasts and life-threatening crises, they had often panicked. Without the teachers'' timely rescue, there would surely have been casualties. As for their final gains...they didn��t even want to think about it.


    As Tang San''s team set off on their second training expedition, everyone wanted to see whether their sess in the first was due to luck or if they were truly far superior in capabilities.


    There were those who wished to join Tang San''s team, like Zhang Zebin, who had been defeated by Gu Li. He couldn''t understand how his juniors had be so strong that he was left powerless against them.


    However, the academy thought it best to reconfirm Tang San''s team''s capabilities before considering a redistribution of the training groups.


    They entered the Kali Mountains from the back mountain, a path all too familiar.


    Wu Bingji led the way, with Cheng Zicheng flying low. Gu Li and Du Bai walked in the middle, and Tang San at the rear. The group of five swiftly moved forward, soon disappearing into the forest.


    "Du Bai, how do you think our luck will be this time?" Gu Li nudged Du Bai, walking in front of him.


    Du Bai chuckled and said, "With me here, our luck will surely be as bright as the sun! Couldn''t be better."


    Gu Li smirked, "Mascot, I''ve noticed you''ve been pretty mboyanttely!"


    Du Bai''s mood was indeed iparable to the past. Before, when people called him a mascot and teased him, he snapped back, disappointed at his own inability topete with his fellow students. But recently, he had been far more spirited and active, and he took his mascot role very seriously.


    "Confidencees from strength, you know?" Du Bai said somewhat proudly.


    The continuous improvement of his spiritual power, the progress of liquefying his spiritual power, and the effective cultivation of Purple Demon Eyes made him feel a breakthrough to a fifth-order Celestial Fox Vision was not impossible. How could he not be in high spirits? Moreover, he could now use the spiritual impact of the Purple Demon Eyes, so he was no longer powerless in a fight.


    After about two hours of travel, they went deep into the Kali Mountains. Wu Bingji ordered a rest, and everyone stopped at a higher ground to rest and regroup.

 Chapter 168: Enhanced Mechanical Hidden Weapons

    <h4>Chapter 168: Enhanced Mechanical Hidden Weapons</h4>


    Tang San said, "Before we set out this time, I heard while working at Kali Academy that some of their students are also venturing into the Kali Mountains for trials. It''s likely that we''ll encounter them. Sister Zicheng, when you''re scoutingter, take the opportunity to observe and see if there''s any movement from them nearby. If so, pinpoint their location and maintain a distance from them."


    "Uh-huh, got it. Are they strong?" Cheng Zicheng asked with interest.


    Tang San nodded, with a serious look on his face. "Very strong."


    The Golden Lion Dog was at the eighth order, which they definitely couldn''t handle at their current level. The mayor was right behind them, but he would not reveal his presence unless strictly necessary.


    From the conversation between the Golden Lion Dog and Mei Gongzi, Tang San concluded that they didn''t have a teacher apanying them. After all, the Golden Lion Dog had a golden bloodline, and if Tang San��s guess was correct, Mei Gongzi possessed a Demon Emperor��s bloodline, a supreme bloodline. Such abination would surely allow them to protect themselves even against ninth-order demonic beasts.


    Wu Bingji frowned slightly. "Why didn''t you mention this before we left?"


    Tang San replied, "I was afraid the teachers would worry too much, and it would affect our experience outside. With sister Ziheng scouting and maintaining our distance from them, there shouldn''t be a big problem. Besides, our strength isn''t what it used to be! And speaking of that, I have some things for you."


    While speaking, Tang San took out a couple of items from his storage bag.


    Seeing the jet-ck items emitting specks of golden light, everyone couldn''t help but be surprised.


    The objects in front of them shimmered with a cold light. They were definitely weapons, yet they were unlike anything they had ever seen.


    "What are these..." Wu Bingji asked in surprise, looking at Tang San.


    Tang San exined, "I came up with these weapons alongside Teacher Zhang Haoxuan. Originally, I made them for Du Bai because, well, he''s not much of a fighter. But then, I figured it wouldn��t do to just gear up one person, so I ended up making something for everyone. These hidden weapons are like the moves I showed you, senior brother, but they��re mechanical, so anyone can handle them and they pack a serious punch. I tailored each one to match your unique traits. Sister Cheng, these two are yours."


    As he spoke, Tang San handed Cheng Zicheng a crossbow-like hidden weapon with an stic shoulder strap and a cylindrical item.


    Due to time constraints, Tang San could craft only a limited number of hidden weapons, and some particrly powerful ones couldn''t be made overnight. They required time, and he didn''t have enough for himself, let alone enough to distribute them to everyone.


    Seeing the novel items, everyone, being young, was naturally very interested. "What are these?"


    Cheng Zicheng took the two hidden weapons, feeling their significant weight. They shimmered coldly and felt mysteriously substantial to the touch.


    Tang San smiled, "This is the Backpack Crossbow.[1] You wear it on your back. See these three crossbow bolts here? When you want to fire, bow your head, and they''ll shoot from behind. It''s potent when fired mid-flight, but the downside is it can only be fired once before reloading. These hidden weapons are made of ck gold, which is very precious. So, you must be sure to recover the bolts after firing. There are only two bolts for each of you, and if you lose them...well, they��re lost.


    "The other is a Sleeve Dart. It��s a lighter version of the same thing, and you can wear it on your wrist. Simrly, bend your wrist downward and the sleeve dart will shoot out. Depending on how you set the mechanism, you can shoot all three at once or just one at a time."


    While exining the use of the hidden weapons to Cheng Zicheng, Tang San felt a strange sensation in his heart, as if he were back in his youth in a previous life, when hidden weapons yed a crucial role in his initial rise.


    "Before using these two hidden weapons, I suggest you charge them first. Charging means infusing your bloodline power into the arrays on them. This will umte energy, so their power will be much greater when you fire them. Different bloodline powers should amplify the hidden weapons differently; I''ve already experimented with this."


    Indeed, the biggest difference between the hidden weapons Tang San crafted this time and those he had made in his previous lifey in the arrays.


    These were the evolved versions of hidden weapons, keeping up with the times!


    On the Douluo, thousands of years after he ascended to godhood, spirit-guided devices had emerged��soul tools. The Tang Sect, founded by him, had taken the manufacturing of these devices to its peak. Powerful soul tools were essentially advanced hidden weapons used withplex core arrays. Of course, there were even stronger ones capable of catastrophic power.


    However, the issue was that Tang San, already a god, hadn''t learned to craft these soul tools. He only had the concept; how could he know how to craft them when he was already a God King and no longer in tight contact with the Douluo?


    Thus, he only knew the theory of soul tools and hadn��t had the chance to experiment with them. The hidden weapons he crafted now were his first experiments on integrating arrays with hidden weapons based on that theory.


    More importantly, this world''s energy system differed from that of the old Soul Land. Therefore, the arrays he designed also had to align with this world''s bloodline energy system.


    The enhanced mechanical hidden weapons thus developed were naturally much more powerful than those in his previous life. The most magical aspect was that different bloodline powers could produce different effects.


    "What do you mean by different bloodline powers having different effects?" Wu Bingji asked curiously.


    Tang San exined, "Simply put, if sister Cheng uses it and infuses her bloodline power, the arrows shot will have characteristics of the Golden Roc Transformation, like exceptional speed and the sharp attributes of the Golden Roc feathers, making their prative power even stronger. If you use it, infusing your Ice Nymph bloodline energy, then your arrows will have ice properties."


    "Is that possible? Has the mayor''s research on arrays reached such a level?" Cheng Zicheng examined the two hidden weapons in her hands, looking at the small core arrays engraved on them glow with a faint halo, her face filled with disbelief.


    Arrays were actually taught at Redemption Academy, but only at the most basic level. The teachers didn''t understand them all that deeply themselves, so how could they teach more to their pupils? Seeing such a miraculous application was simply shocking.


    Tang San picked up two rtivelyrger objects and handed them to Du Bai, "These are for you, brother Du Bai. Due to the time constraints, I only made this pair of Godly Zhuge Crossbows for you. I''ll also make some other things for you to arm you to the teeth."


    Du Bai excitedly took the two Godly Zhuge Crossbows. They were rather heavy, but he had been undergoing a certain teacher��s physical training drills, so even at his age and size, using them was no problem.


    "How do you use this Godly Zhuge Crossbow?" he asked curiously.


    Tang San replied, "After focusing your bloodline power, just pull the trigger here, and it''s ready to use. In terms of sheer power, it''s the strongest among these hidden weapons. Each Godly Zhuge Crossbow can fire thirty-six small bolts. I''m also eager to see the effect of the crossbow when you use the energy of your Celestial Fox bloodline. You might not even need to aim. The luck control of the Celestial Fox Vision will guide them to hit your target. Well...no, on second thought, maybe it��s for the best to aim a bit before shooting. I''ll show you how to use itter."


    He then handed one Sleeve Dart each to Wu Bingji and Gu Li, and with this, the whole team was armed.


    1. The original name here is ������ͷ��, which literally means ��tense-back head-lowering crossbow.�� ?

 Chapter 169: Using Hidden Weapons With Demonic God Transformations

    <h4>Chapter 169: Using Hidden Weapons With Demonic God Transformations</h4>


    "We''re short on time, and with your abilities, you''d be just as powerful without hidden weapons. Especially you, eldest senior brother. Hidden weapons should be reserved to protect yourself when your strength is exhausted."


    Everyone donned their hidden weapons, curious and rather surprised at the same time.


    Tang San then distributed crossbow bolts to each of them and began instructing them on using these hidden weapons.


    "Are these little things really powerful? What''s their attack range?" Gu Li asked curiously, fiddling with the Sleeve Dart in his hand.


    Tang San replied, "The Sleeve Dart can shoot up to thirty meters. It��s weaker than the others but simpler to use. The Backpack Crossbow can shoot fifty meters, and the Godly Zhuge Crossbow can reach a hundred meters, but you need to aim carefully. Du Bai��s Celestial Fox Vision is perfect for the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, and his spiritual power is up to the task of aiming, anyway. Senior brother, can you produce an ice shield for target practice? Then, I��ll tweak everyone��s hidden weapons to match their Demonic God Transformation. This will help you use your hidden weapons with your specific powers."


    Tang San had already experimented with the various effects apanying different Demonic God Transformations. He was pleasantly surprised by the hidden weapons he had crafted in this world, vastly different from those he had made in the Douluo Continent. Different Demonic God Transformations allowed a single weapon to produce many different and interesting effects.


    "I''ll go first," Cheng Zicheng said excitedly.


    With Tang San''s help, she equipped herself with the Sleeve Dart and the Backpack Crossbow.


    Wu Bingji conjured a half-foot-thick ice wall that stood erect on the ground.


    "Senior brother, here I go!" Cheng Zicheng said with a giggle, raising her hand. A golden light enveloped her as she activated the Golden Roc Transformation. Bloodline power flowed into the core array of the Sleeve Dart, and instantly, a golden halo rippled outward from the weapon. The golden array etched on it became increasingly distinct, emitting a mysterious glow.


    Three bolts shot out in the next instant, apanied by a faint mechanical click.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Wu Bingji, who was watching intently, suddenly felt a sense of danger. In an instant, he was pulled to the side.


    Three pale golden streaks of light whizzed past him almost instantaneously, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye.


    A sudden chill enveloped Wu Bingji��s back, and he felt sweat soaking him in an instant.


    The excited Cheng Zicheng, Du Bai, and Gu Li instantly froze. Cheng Zicheng''s face turned deathly pale.


    The one who pulled Wu Bingji away was naturally Tang San. Others might not know the power of these hidden weapons, but as their creator, how could he not?


    ck gold bolts possessed immense prative power, and it was further augmented by the sharpness and speed bestowed by the Golden Roc Transformation. The bolts were so fast that they wouldn��t have been even visible to the naked eye if not for the energy surrounding them; they pierced through the ice shield, leaving three clean, smooth holes without any cracks around them, demonstrating their formidable prative force.


    And Tang San had previously mentioned that this was the least powerful among the three types of hidden weapons.


    <i>This is the weakest?!?!</i>


    "<i>Ahem</i>, senior sister Zicheng, I think you''d better go find your bolts. Don''t lose them," Tang San reminded Cheng Zicheng.


    With a trembling voice, she asked, "Senior brother, are you alright?"


    Trying to appear calm, Wu Bingji said, "It''s okay, I''m fine. I didn''t expect this little thing to be so powerful."


    Tang San smiled and said, "The Sleeve Dart itself is not that powerful, but with the energy of the Golden Roc Transformation imbued into it, the bolt��s speed is doubled at the very least. If you catch someone off guard with this, well, I think you can imagine what happens. And the Backpack Crossbow is in fact more powerful than this."


    Wu Bingji gasped. "Little Tang, what kind of monster are you?"


    Du Bai looked at them, then at the pair of Godly Zhuge Crossbows in his hands, struggling to suppress the excitement in his heart.


    An hourter, after everyone had be familiar with their hidden weapons and personally tested them, they were almost unable to put down the treasures in their hands.


    The boost of the Demonic God Transformation to the hidden weapons was immense; the only requirement was to charge them in advance. Each charge allowed for one use, and a single charge couldst about a day. After a day, the energy stored by the array would deplete, and it would require recharging.


    It wasn''t that Tang San couldn''t engrave an energy-storing array, but adding such an effect would significantly increase the array''s requirements. One issue was theck of time, and the other was the small size of the hidden weapon, making it too difficult to craft.


    The most excited was Du Bai, who hugged his Godly Zhuge Crossbows and called them his "little treasures" with utter obsession.


    In his hands, the Godly Zhuge Crossbows, though not strengthened by a power- or speed-based Demonic God Transformation, were imbued with something even more terrifying in a sense: luck. Even Wu Bingji was unlikely to escape unscathed if he were to confront Du Bai while thetter was armed with these crossbows.


    Meanwhile, Gu Li, draping his arm around Tang San''s shoulder, was already pestering him to make more hidden weapons.


    The others looked at him with sparkling eyes. The emergence of these hidden weapons significantly enhanced their overall strength.


    "Senior brothers and sisters, regarding these hidden weapons... I hope you can keep them a secret from everyone. They are for our team''s use only. They are incredibly difficult to make and also a secret between my master and me," Tang San said seriously.


    He knew bringing out the hidden weapons before bing stronger wasn''t the best move. Not to mention anything else, just the Redemption Society''s suspicion toward him would greatly increase.


    But now, with his insufficient strength, he could only rely on hidden weapons topensate for his weaknesses. Once he regained his godly status, he wouldn''t need any hidden weapons. So, this was a move made out of necessity.


    This world''s understanding of arrays was too limited, so hidden weapons could not be poprized here. After all, he was the only one who could make them. He could not be expected to make hidden weapons tirelessly! Therefore, he never considered spreading these hidden weapons to all of humanity. Doing so might even be a disaster for mankind.


    One��s sin is nothing but possessing a piece of jade��that was the principle here.[1] And if the hidden weapons fell into the hands of demons or nymphs, wouldn''t it be like giving wings to a tiger?


    Therefore, after careful consideration, Tang San decided not to let the hidden weapons spread too widely, and instead only allowed his closepanions to use them. This was also a way ofpensating for secretly devouring their bloodline powers.


    "Rest time''s almost up. Let''s get ready to move on," Wu Bingji said, touching the Sleeve Dart on his wrist. He liked this high-quality little gadget. If Cheng Zicheng fired it using the Golden Roc Transformation, it could prate threeyers of his ice shield or ice wall! The power was truly terrifying.


    Tang San said to Cheng Zicheng, "Senior sister, can you scout from the air? Focus on the direction we��re moving in and explore the surrounding area. Check for any students from Kali Academy. If there are any, let us know immediately."


    "Okay." Cheng Zicheng nodded. Her fondness for Tang San was growing. His arrival had brought significant changes to them. And today, only she and Du Bai had received two hidden weapons!


    Cheng Zicheng used the Golden Roc Transformation and quietly ascended. The other four set off again, continuing their journey into the Kali Mountain Range.


    1. This is an old Chinese proverb referring to the fact that possessing a treasure beyond your status will attract disaster because of your inability to protect it and make good use of it. ?

 Chapter 170: Discovering The Team From Kali Academy

    <h4>Chapter 170: Discovering The Team From Kali Academy</h4>


    With the inclusion of hidden weapons, there was no doubt about the significant boost to their small team''s strength. As they walked, Tang San discussed with them how to use these weapons, especially when coordinating with each other to maximize their effectiveness at the right moment.


    Ice Nymph Transformation, Celestial Fox Transformation, Chrono Croc Transformation, and Golden Roc Transformation��these four major bloodline powers each allowed for unique enhancements to hidden weapons. Combined, they could result in a deadly formation.


    Cheng Zicheng returned every half hour to meet up with them. It was only during the second half-hour of reconnaissance that she obtained results.


    "I''ve spotted them. Seven people, about five kilometers away from us. I only took a distant nce, I didn''t dare to get too close for fear of being detected," Cheng Zicheng reported.


    The Golden Roc''s visual prowess was incredible, a necessary quality for such a high-speed flier.


    "Alright. senior sister, maintain this distance and follow them. If they move away from our direction,e back, inform us, and do the same if they approach. As long as we keep a certain distance from them, we need not fear an encounter," Tang San instructed Cheng Zicheng.


    "Okay!"


    Having located the people from Kali Academy, Tang San inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. His most important mission in this venture was to covertly protect Mei Gongzi, no matter what...


    As they proceeded, on the first day of their journey, Tang San and his team didn''t even encounter any demons. He wondered if it was due to their good fortune following Du Bai''s advancement of the Celestial Fox Vision.


    At the same time, Tang San''s Celestial Fox Vision was also advancing. With the dual Celestial Fox Visions, they could definitely be considered a super-luxurious lineup. Even the top teams of the demon race would find it hard to have two beings possessing the Celestial Fox bloodline.


    As evening approached and the day darkened, Wu Bingji initially wanted to find a ce for everyone to rest. However, based on the message from Cheng Zicheng, Kali Academy was still on the move. Tang San suggested they continue marching as well to maintain the same distance from the Kali Academy team. They would rest when the Kali team settled for the night.


    About an hourter, Cheng Zicheng reported back that the Kali Academy had chosen a ce to camp.


    Tang San and his team also stopped, settling down in a spot with higher terrain for a break.


    After dinner, everyone rested and took turns on guard.


    Tang San told Wu Bingji, "Senior brother, I''m still a bit uneasy. I want to go have a look at Kali Academy. No worries, I��ll just observe from a distance."


    Wu Bingji thought momentarily and said, "Isn''t that too risky?"


    Tang San replied, "No, we have senior brother Du Bai, right? Du Bai, give me a bit of luck as part of your practice today."


    Because they were deep in the Kali Mountains, Du Bai naturally had to reserve his full use of the Celestial Fox Transformation. He did not fully enhance Tang San as he usually did during their practice sessions.


    "Okay," Du Bai agreed. The light in his eyes flickered, and a faint white halo formed above his head into the shape of a vertical eye. An invisible white light enveloped and fell upon Tang San.


    Instantly, Tang San felt as if everything would work out just fine.


    Wu Bingji, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng watched in amazement. It was their first time witnessing Du Bai exert his Celestial Fox Vision intentionally to such an extent.


    "I need to rest for more than three hours to recover," Du Bai said, visibly weakened. Although he hadn��t overdone it, the exertion was still pretty serious.


    Under normal circumstances, the Celestial Fox Transformation naturally carried the power of fortune. Du Bai could sense the level of luck around him, and he naturally attracted good fortune and repelled incidents. Even a slight application of this luck could affect those around him. However, specifically enhancing someone''s luck to such arge extent was a significant drain, consuming both spiritual power and bloodline power. It required a longer time to recover.


    Yet, this kind of exertion stimted his bloodline, benefiting his cultivation of the Celestial Fox Vision.


    Being a human vassal, his bloodline naturally couldn''tpare with the purebred Celestial Fox demon race, so the extent to which he could cultivate the Celestial Fox Vision was unknown. Therefore, he needed to continuously stimte his bloodline, maximizing the use of his bloodline power in order to dig up its potential and strengthen it.


    Another method to enhance one''s bloodline was to immerse oneself in the fresh blood of the rted demons, increasing the concentration of one''s bloodline. But capturing a high-order Celestial Fox or a direct descendant of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was nothing but a fool''s dream. Therefore, Du Bai''s enhancement could onlye from stimting his abilities.


    Wu Bingji said, "Go and return quickly. If you encounter danger, send a signal, and we''lle to support you."


    Tang San nodded.


    With his ability to conceal himself, the chances of being discovered were extremely slim. He was going to recon��to see if Mei Gongzi was really among the Kali Academy team, first and foremost, and also to observe the situation of the others.


    Watching Tang San disappear into the night in a few moments, Gu Li said, "Senior brother, don''t you find it strange how Tang San seems to be paying extra attention to the Kali Academy team this time?"


    Wu Bingji responded, "He must have his reasons. You guys rest now; I''ll take the first watch."


    He chose to trust Tang San unconditionally. Since joining the Redemption Society, the changes brought about by Tang San had been immense. Almost everyone benefited substantially from him, yet he never asked for anything in return.


    Well... that was <i>so far as Wu Bingji knew.</i>


    This expedition felt very different from thest one, most directly due to the vast difference in their strength.


    If they encountered a seventh-order Winged Tiger again, Wu Bingji was confident that they could put up a good fight and retreat unscathed even if they couldn��t take it down. The seventh order no longer seemed so frightening. Thest time they had ventured out, it had been with trepidation!


    Tang San activated the Discerning Eye of Heaven, sensing the changes in various energy signatures around him. Following the direction previously indicated by Cheng Zicheng, he rapidly approached.


    With the lucky enhancement of the Celestial Fox Vision, he wasn''t worried about not finding the opposing camp; the drive of good fortune could assist him in achieving that.


    Five kilometers was naturally a short distance for him. In just a few minutes, Tang San had already sensed the presence of the distant Kali Academy team.


    Their aura was so intense that it could be seen with the Discerning Eye of Heaven, with clear fluctuations of various elements on their side.


    Quickly approaching to about a hundred meters, Tang San used the Discerning Eye of Heaven to mask himself with the elements, rendering his aurapletely silent.


    The opposing team surely had members responsible for reconnaissance, so he had to be careful.


    Therefore, after approaching this close, he began to use Leopard sh to leap forward. Simultaneously, a faint dark purple halo glowed in his eyes and his skin turned dark purple. In an instant, his aura blended in with the surrounding vegetation.


    This was an application of the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline imprint��assimting with nts. Tang San himself had created the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline imprint. The direction of its evolution and the characteristics it had were all within his control.


    Gradually nearing, Tang San concealed himself in the shadow of arge tree, focusing on his perception.


    Regarding cultivation level, he was certainly not as advanced as the Golden Lion Dog. Within the Kali Academy team was the eighth-order Golden Lion Dog, and the other members were at least sixth-order; he could even sense two at the seventh order. This team''s strength was much greater than their own.


    However, in terms of spiritual power, Tang San was confident he surpassed them.

 Chapter 171: The Beauty and The Beasts Team

    <h4>Chapter 171: The Beauty and The Beasts Team</h4>


    As far as Tang San��s understanding of the ne went, spiritual power could only be transformed into a liquid state by those who had bloodlines with spiritual attributes or reached the ninth order at the very least. Meanwhile, Tang San not only had fully liquefied spiritual power already, but he was also nurturing a bit of divine consciousness within. His spiritual power was nourishing his divine consciousness, while his divine consciousness also provided a catalyst for his spiritual power to evolve and grow stronger.


    Therefore, he was confident in concealing himself without any issues.


    To break through to the ninth order in cultivation, Tang San still had a long way to go, but that was not the case for the enhancement of his spiritual power. That would happen naturally, in time. What he needed to do now was continuously increase the amount of liquefied spiritual power andpletely fill up his sea of consciousness. Once the sea of consciousness wasplete, he could proceed to the next step in cultivation, preparing for the future reshaping of his divine consciousness.


    The team from Kali Academy had a bonfire, so things were fairly visible even from a distance.


    Lighting a fire in the forest has its pros and cons. The advantage is that it can drive away some wild beasts and mosquitoes, but the disadvantage is that it exposes you. If a powerful predator lurked around, it would not fear the fire. Thus, in these circumstances, daring to light a fire shows great confidence in one''s strength.


    Tang San''s gaze slowly swept across, and when he saw a figure, his eyes instantly froze.


    Mei Gongzi was still in Kali Academy''s uniform, as usual. Her long hair was tied up behind her head in a perked-up bun, revealing her slender and fair neck. She sat beside the bonfire, holding a cup and drinking something.


    The Golden Lion Dog was seated just two meters away from her beside the campfire. Aside from them, there were four others. Tang San knew that there were supposed to be seven of them, and it was clear that one was responsible for scouting and guarding the surroundings. Tang San had not yet detected this person, so he had to be even more cautious.


    <i>This guy, sitting so close to Mei Gongzi! How dare he!</i>


    Tang San could feel a surge of jealousy within him. He also wanted to sit beside the campfire and have dinner with Mei Gongzi!


    He mentally named the team from Kali Academy "Beauty and the Beasts."


    Song Junhou, whom Tang San had nicknamed Golden Lion Dog, took a map from his breast pocket, spread it out, and pointed somewhere, saying, "We are currently in this area. Continuing towards the territory of the Winged Tigers will take us about two more days."


    "Hmm," Mei Gongzi nodded, her expression indifferent, seemingly unconcerned about this.


    Song Junhou smiled and said, "Our goal this time is at least two Winged Tigers, and I want to see if we can take down some that are seventh order or higher. Every part of a Winged Tiger is a treasure and they��re really easy to mize."


    Mei Gongzi didn''t make a sound, continuing to sip on her beverage silently as if lost in thought.


    Seeing her indifferent attitude, Song Junhou didn''t say anything more, just smiled.


    On the other side of the campfire, a burly bear demon youth said, "Captain, we haven''t encountered any demons all day, and I''m getting a bit restless. Tomorrow, you must restrain your aura. With you, the king among beasts with the golden bloodline, no demons dare to approach us."


    Upon hearing this, everyoneughed except for Mei Gongzi.


    The bear demon youth''sment wasn''t an exaggeration. The demon races with golden bloodlines had a significant deterrent effect on demonic beasts. With Song Junhou''s presence, ordinary demons didn''t dare approach them.


    Song Junhou said, "The main reason is to save time. Even if there are demons in the outer ranges of the mountain, they are too low-level and not worth our time or effort. If you''re interested, I can restrain my bloodline aura tomorrow so everyone can get some practice. All gains will be yours."


    "Haha, our captain is so generous."


    They didn''t suppress their voices during the conversation, and Tang San, with his excellent hearing, could clearly understand. He couldn''t help but smirk; the others were ttering the Golden Lion Dog. However, he was pretty satisfied with Mei Gongzi''s attitude, as it was evident that she didn''t feel much closeness to her teammates. This relieved him; his biggest fear was any development of deeper feelings over time, which would be troublesome.


    After dinner, the Beauty and the Beasts team prepared to rest. Their equipment was naturally much better than Tang San''s. Each tent was made of demonic beast skin that looked very sturdy and kept them warm. The tents had unique exits at the top, which could only be opened from the inside, allowing the inhabitant to instantly rush out in case of an emergency.


    They also took turns keeping watch, with only one person responsible. Only when they began to rest did Tang San finally see thest of the seven-man team��well, six demons and one human girl��appear.


    This student, who had been hiding in the shadows until now, was a flying demon. When he exhibited his bloodline''s innate power, a pair of ck wings would grow from his back. With these wings retracted, he could blend into the darkness, especially in shadowy areas, concealing his aura. He was clearly the one responsible for scouting in their team.


    Mei Gongzi naturally had her own tent, which was white and stood out among the few demons. Under Song Junhou''s arrangement, the tents of the other demons formed a circle around Mei Gongzi''s tent. As the only female in the team, Mei Gongzi wasn''t even required to keep watch.


    Once he sensed they were all resting, Tang San quietly left. He retraced his steps back to his camp.


    The following day, they set off again. Cheng Zicheng was still in charge of long-distance scouting. Tang San told her that the other party also had members capable of flight and advised her to be cautious to avoid detection.


    On the second day, both teams progressed more slowly than the day before. Along the way, they encountered a number of demons, mainly of the fourth and fifth order. The weaker ones did not dare attack them.


    ording to Cheng Zicheng, the Beauty and the Beasts team encountered even more demons than they did, including a group of over twenty baboon demons. These Diamond Baboons were not weak, with the strongest leader possessing sixth-order strength. However, this was not much of a challenge for the Beauty and the Beasts team. Song Junhou, as the team leader, disyed his mighty power, easily defeating the leader and killing most of the Diamond Baboons.


    As for Tang San and his team, under the effect of the Celestial Fox Vision, they only encountered three demons on the road. With their well-coordinated efforts, they dealt with these encounters without causing even the slightest disturbance.


    Cheng Zicheng witnessed the different encounters of both teams. Despite being only five kilometers apart, their experiences were worlds apart. She was beginning to believe that Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation actually enhanced everyone''s luck.


    At one point in the afternoon, Tang San suddenly grabbed Du Bai and said, ��Brother Du Bai, do you feel anything?��


    "What feeling?" Du Bai was momentarily stunned. "What do you mean?"


    Tang San said, "Like a premonition of danger."


    "Not at all!" Du Bai looked surprised. "What danger? I don''t feel anything."


    "Oh. That''s good then." Tang San nodded.


    For some reason, since lunch, he had been feeling restless, yet his perception revealed nothing. He also had the fourth-order Celestial Fox Vision, and such a feeling undoubtedly indicated some impending danger. However, Du Bai didn''t feel anything.


    <i>What could this mean?</i>


    Both he and Du Bai had the fourth-order Celestial Fox Transformation. It was impossible for Du Bai not to sense a crisis when Tang San did. After all, in terms of the cultivation level of the Celestial Fox Vision, Tang San was definitely inferior to Du Bai. Even if his spiritual power was stronger, sensing danger shouldn''t be such a big difference.


    Moreover, this restless feeling had persisted all afternoon, and it was only growing increasingly intense.

 Chapter 172: Looming Danger

    <h4>Chapter 172: Looming Danger</h4>


    Tang San''s mind stirred slightly.


    Could it be that the danger was not with them, and their Redemption Society team was fine, but the problemy with Mei Gongzi, whom he had been concerned about all this time?


    <i>Is Mei Gongzi in danger? Does the Golden Lion Dog have designs on her? </i>


    This was the only exnation that made sense for why Tang San felt a sense of crisis while Du Bai did not. Du Bai didn��t know Mei Gongzi and her safety had nothing to do with the Redemption team. It was normal for him to feel nothing, while Tang San''s feelings resulted from his concerned mind.


    Cheng Zicheng had been keeping an eye on the situation on the other side and hadn''t reported back any encounters with powerful demons or the like.


    The power of the demons was at most of the ninth order, and a ninth-order Demonic Beast King would not normally appear on the outskirts of the Kali Mountain Range.


    <i>And even if there was one, with the Golden Lion Dog��s eighth-order strength and his golden bloodline, plus the entire team, even if they were facing a ninth-order Demonic Beast King, they should be able to retreat at least, right? </i>This was also the reason why they didn''t have a teacher apanying them��such a level of challenge didn��t require one!


    If it wasn''t the threat of demonic beasts, then it had to be a man-made disaster...or rather a demon-made one. The greatest likelihood was that a problem would arise within their team. There had been no disturbances during the day, so the problem might ur at night��and it would probably be this very night!


    With this thought, Tang San subconsciously clenched his fists. No matter what, he had to ensure Mei Gongzi''s safety. He would not hesitate even to use that bit of divine consciousness at a critical moment.


    Meanwhile, Tang San gained a deeper understanding of his Celestial Fox Vision. Just a premonition of danger allowed him to deduce so much. Although it might not all be correct, the general scope should be fairly urate.


    What slightly reassured him was that, despite the continuous feeling of unease, the sense of crisis was not too intense. This meant that the danger was not so great.


    Evening came quickly, and they continued to rest in sync with the Beauty and the Beasts team on the other side, maintaining a distance of five to six kilometers.


    After dinner, Tang San left the team quietly, using the pretext of scouting the other team, and approached the Beauty and the Beasts team once more.


    With the observations from the previous day, he became even more cautious today, paying special attention to whether the aura of the opposing team''s scout was present in the darkness. He stopped at an even farther distance this time, watching from afar.


    The Beauty and the Beasts team had chosen a campsite on higher ground tonight. Tents were already set up, and a zing bonfire brought light and warmth to the night.


    A grill was set up over the fire, and demonic beast meat was roasting over it, with asional drips of fat sizzling on the mes.


    The Golden Lion Dog, Mei Gongzi, and other demon students were all around the bonfire, waiting for their dinner.


    Seeing Mei Gongzi with his own eyes, Tang San could breathe a little easier. It was good that she was fine. However, his inner unease grew stronger as he neared the Beauty and the Beasts team.


    <i>Where exactly does the danger originate from, internally or externally? </i>


    Based on Tang San''s assessment of the overall situation and evaluation of the team''s strengths, the likelihood of an internal threat was definitely higher.


    While observing from the shadows, Tang San also adjusted his condition. He silently took out a ck-gold mask that could cover the upper half of his face and put it on, then checked the hidden weapons he had attached to his limbs. He concealed his aura and tuned his spirit, energy, and mind to their optimal state.


    The aroma of the demonic beast''s meat gradually became tempting, and Tang San could smell it. Their Redemption Academy team, sadly, did not dare to roast meat so openly as it was too revealing. One reason was their fear of being discovered by the demon race, due to their identity as members of the Redemption Society, and another reason was that they were not really confident in facing all demonic beasts that mighte their way. If they brazenly roasted meat, their teacher would probablye and reprimand them immediately.


    Tang San didn��t know where Zhang Haoxuan was, but it was likely that his master was keeping an appropriate distance and probably observing him from behind at this very moment. This was one reason for Tang San''s confidence��having a ninth-order powerhouse behind him. Should he encounter a danger he couldn''t face, the mayor would be there to back him up. He wouldn''t easily reveal that bit of his divine consciousness unless there was no other option.


    The demonic beast��s meat was roasted, and a demon student from the Beauty and the Beasts team took out some seasoning to sprinkle on it, then used a small knife to cut and share the meat.


    Tang San naturally disapproved of their way of barbecuing. Some parts were even burnt. It might have be too tough to chew if not for the rich fat in the demonic beast meat.


    <i>Such good ingredients, wasted!</i>


    In Tang San''s eyes, this worldcked the concept of gourmet food. Of course, he could cook delicacies, but he hadn''t had the opportunity to showcase this skill yet, and he was looking forward to it.


    Mei Gongzi only ate a small piece of meat and not much else. She was still drinking her beverage, milk tea, perhaps. But it seemed she had no intention of sharing it with others.


    The other demon students ate heartily, devouring an entire demon beast. Obviously, they had enormous appetites.


    <i>Still no change! </i>Everything seemed normal. Yet, that unease lingered in Tang San''s mind.


    <i>What��s about to happen?</i>


    "The aroma of demonic beast meat, so strong even from afar. You seem to be living quitefortably in these days of your training!" A somewhat sinister voice suddenly echoed. The cold voice seemed to emanate from all directions, resounding through the mountains and woods, sending chills down the listener��s spine.


    It wasn''t one of the team members, so it appeared that Tang San had been mistaken and it was indeed an external threat. But whose voice was this?


    Even with Tang San''s spiritual power and the observing ability of his Discerning Eye of Heaven, he hadn''t noticed anything before this voice appeared.


    The next instant, he saw several figures descending from the sky. As they approached the Beauty and the Beast team''s bonfire, their bodies were illuminated in a myriad of colors. It was very strange.


    As it turned out, fanning out behind them were tails of peacock plumes. Instantly spread out, they were exceptionally dazzling under the reflection of the bonfire light.


    <i>Peacock''s Disy! The Peacock Demons!</i>


    There were five figures descending from the sky, four of which had peacock plumes. The one in the center, however, did not, and he actually appeared to be a normal human.


    He was tall and ramrod straight, with a very handsome appearance, looking to be in his twenties. However, hisplexion was pale, and his lips were slightly thin.


    Hearing this voice and seeing this person''s appearance, the Golden Lion Dog and other students from Kali Academy were all taken aback. They had all stood up by now, and Mei Gongzi''s brow was furrowed.


    The young man in his twenties smiled slightly and said, ��My dear sister, I heard you were out for training, so I havee to see you. Aren��t you moved by your brother��s love?��


    Mei Gongzi replied indifferently, "I don''t have a brother."


    The young man scoffed, "Of course you don''t. What right does a mixed-blood like you have to possess the noble bloodline of the Great Peacock Demon Emperor? Come with me, and don��t make things difficult for yourself."


    "Wang Yan, what do you mean?" The Golden Lion Dog stepped forward, moving in front of Mei Gongzi.


    "Little lion, don''t meddle. This is an internal matter of our n and none of your business. You''re not qualified enough to y the hero." Others might fear the Golden Family, but the Peacock Demons, with their Demon Emperor heritage, certainly did not.


    Song Junhou coldly said, "Do you know what you''re doing? Although you are the city lord''s son, Kali Academy is protected by the Ancestral Court. If you dare toy a hand on us, aint to the Ancestral Court will have serious consequences for you."

 Chapter 173: The Peacock Demon Clan

    <h4>Chapter 173: The Peacock Demon n</h4>


    The young man addressed as Wang Yan gave a slight smile. "Oh no, I''m so scared! Don''t you realize how stupid you''re being? I was nning to let you go, but now that you''re threatening me, I guess I have no choice but to silence you by killing you. Having someone from a golden bloodline as apanion in death for my so-called sister is not a bad option either."


    Song Junhou''s face changed. "Wang Yan, you''re just the trash of your family. Do you have that much confidence that you can defeat us?"


    Wang Yan shrugged. "Well, maybe I''m not cut out for this; after all, we''re both eighth-order. And me being the ck sheep? As the legitimate eldest son, I��m about to lose my inheritance to my dad��s whims. So, I have no choice but to take out anyone threatening me. Don��t think I haven��t figured out why you''re getting close to my so-called sister. It��s because you heard my dad might make her an heir to the throne, right? You''re reading too much into it. My dad''s just trying to fire up somepetition between me and my useless brothers."


    Pausing, he turned his gaze to Mei Gongzi behind Song Junhou. "But yeah, my sister does work harder than us. She��s not even fourteen and already a sixth-order, which is kind of annoying. If she ends up being the rightful heir, she��d have the divine precedencew on her side, making her a real threat. How can we, descendants of the Peacock Demon Emperor, let a half-blood muttpete for this? We can only wipe away this disgrace with her blood. As her brother, it is my duty to fix this mess."


    Song Junhou''s expression grew even nastier. He could feel the immense power of the four Peacock Demon nsmen around him��all of eighth-order cultivation. On their side, he was the only one of the eighth order. Moreover, the Peacock Demon n was the n of a Great Demon King. Even though there was no Demon Emperor ruling over them at the moment, their bloodline power was extreme. At the same level, he might not even be a match for Wang Yan.


    "If all of you pretend you haven''t seen or heard anything, I might just let you off the hook. We can pretend that she just fell into the mouth of a demonic beast. As the legitimate eldest son, even my useless brothers are not as good as me. Once I inherit the throne and carry on the will of the Demon King, I will offer you my favor."


    Unless necessary, Wang Yan didn''t want to kill Song Junhou. After all, he was the direct descendant of a golden bloodline. If he killed him with no good reason and information got out, Wang Yan himself would be in big trouble. So, his previous words were more for intimidation.


    Song Junhou indeed hesitated. He naturally intended to curry favor with Mei Gongzi not just for her beauty, but more so for the needs of his family. The internal strife within the Golden Lion Family was severe. To inherit the throne in the future, not only did he need to be strong himself, but external support was also necessary. He had heard that Mei Gongzi might be one of the candidates for the current Demon King''s throne, which was why he had this idea. Otherwise, given Mei Gongzi''s human bloodline and the pride of his Golden Family''s bloodline, he would never have approached her.


    Faced with the potential danger to his life and considering the Peacock Demon n''s exceptional speed, escaping in front of so many powerful beings seemed incredibly difficult, causing him to hesitate.


    If he were to fall at the hands of Wang Yan, especially in these remote mountains, and hisrades were utterly silenced, his family might not even find out. Besides, he wasn''t the only heir in his family.


    Moreover, Wang Yan''s approach to eliminating threats seemed normal to him. In any demon n, such situations arose when one''s right to inheritance was threatened. This was thew of the jungle in the demon world.


    <i>But, if I simply back off, will Wang Yan really let him go?</i>


    Seeing Song Junhou��s apparent hesitation, Wang Yan''s smile grew thicker. "You should know who has a better chance: a half-blood or me, the legitimate eldest son. In the history of our demon ns, there has never been a case of a half-blood inheriting the throne. It will not be an exception for her. The Ancestral Court wouldn''t allow it, either. She is just a tool used to motivate us. Think it through and step aside. My word is my bond; we won''t kill her in front of you; we will just take her away. You just need to pretend you haven''t seen anything."


    Song Junhou took a deep breath and suddenly shouted, "No way! If you want to take her, you must defeat me first!" As he spoke, a brilliant golden light erupted from his body. With a stride, he charged directly at Wang Yan.


    Wang Yan was momentarily stunned. The young man was hesitating, so why was he suddenly making a move? But in the next instant, a smirk appeared on Wang Yan''s lips. He didn''t need to take action himself. A Peacock Demon with his tail feathers spread out had already shed forward. The tail feathers, aze with light, absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy. With a swing of his right hand, a multicolored light surged from his palm, colliding directly with Song Junhou''s assault.


    With a loud boom, Song Junhou was sent flying away.


    As he made his move, the other team members also attacked, each targeting the nearby Peacock Demons. However, the strength of the four Peacock Demon guards was formidable. In just a moment, they had knocked their attackers to the ground and kicked them down the mountain side, into the distance.


    In just a few breaths, only Wang Yan and the five Peacock Demons, along with Mei Gongzi, who had neither moved nor spoken throughout, remained in the camp.


    Tang San had been quietly approaching since the Peacock Demons appeared, listening to their conversation. He also witnessed Song Junhou and the others being knocked down the hill.


    <i>Is the Golden Lion Dog really so weak? </i>


    Of course he wasn��t. Tang San watched as he and his teammates fled immediately after being knocked down the mountain side. Yes��he had simply taken his teammates and run away.


    There was clearly some trickery involved. It was either a pre-arranged scheme or a newly reached agreement. Given the initial conversation and how quickly they ran, thetter seemed more likely.


    "My dear sister, now we can have a good talk," Wang Yan said, a smile curling up his lips, as the other four Peacock Demons slowly moved forward, tightening the circle.


    Mei Gongzi''s face remained calm, her eyes cold. "I have nothing to say to you, and I''m not your sister."


    A cold light flickered in Wang Yan''s eyes. "Honestly, I also wish you weren''t my sister. With your looks, if we weren''t rted, it��d be nice to have you as a concubine when you��re older. Too bad you were born into this mess. You shouldn��t have made our dad like you so much. Juste with us. I won��t kill you��don��t want to alert our dad through our bloodline connection. I��ll just lock you up until I take the throne, and then I��ll let you go."


    Hearing his words, Mei Gongzi scoffed coldly. "Hmpf! With your cowardly character, you��re still dreaming of inheriting the throne? If you do, that will be the end of the Peacock Demons."


    Wang Yan flew into a rage. His most tremendous and deep resentment was due to beingbeled as useless since childhood. Though his talent was indeed mediocre, and he was not diligent, such demons were often the ones who desired to prove themselves the most. He might not have any skills to be proud of, but he certainly had a proud heart.


    "Take her down!" Wang Yan bellowed in anger.


    The four eighth-order Peacock Demons were about to make their move, but they suddenly sensed something and abruptly scattered in all directions.


    A cold light fell from the sky, silent as a whisper.

 Chapter 174: Holding Her Hand

    <h4>Chapter 174: Holding Her Hand</h4>


    With a series of sharp sounds, the glinting cold lights instantly buried themselves into the ground, vanishing from sight. The sharp aura in that instant gave even the eighth-order Peacock demons a chilling sensation down their spines.


    The Peacock demon race, naturally endowed with powerful perceptive abilities, had suddenly sensed imminent danger, which prompted their instantaneous evasion.


    Wang Yan, too, was startled. He leapt back abruptly, and the expression on his his face changed dramatically. He barked, "Who''s there?"


    A yellow light flickered instantly, and Mei Gongzi, acting on instinct, raised her hand, only for it to be suddenly seized by a powerful grip. The next moment, wrapped in the flickering yellow light, she was suddenly whisked out of the hillside''s range.


    A swath of cold lights instantly burst forth from that yellow figure, hurling toward the five Peacock demons.


    The one who acted was naturally Tang San. He had been biding his time, understanding all too well that defeating these Peacock demons was impossible with his current strength. He stood no chance against such a formidable race''s eighth-order members unless he unleashed his divine consciousness.


    Those streaks of cold light were bolts fired from the Godly Zhuge Crossbows. Two fully loaded Godly Zhuge Crossbows alternating their shots for repelling the enemies, seizing a person, and covering the retreat, The whole process was executed in one fluid motion.


    Mei Gongzi''s hand was small and delicate, and it felt cool to the touch. When Tang San grasped it, a surge of immeasurable love almost instantly rose inside him.


    As he held her hand tightly, he was filled with indescribableplex emotions. Keeping them under control, he activated Leopard sh in session like it was nothing, running away with Mei Gongzi as if they were shooting stars.


    Facing the Zhuge Crossbows, the four Peacock demons swung their own plumes, blocking the crossbow bolts fired at close range amidst a series of metallic shing sounds.


    Their strength was formidable. Confronting such a powerful attack, their Peacock plumes blossomed in the air like a fan, easily deflecting each cold light. However, they were still taken aback by the mighty force carried by the bolts.


    While blocking the bolts from the Godly Zhuge Crossbows, Tang San, with Mei Gongzi in tow, used Leopard sh several times in session, escaping dozens of meters away.


    "Fools, chase them!" Wang Yan bellowed, and all five Peacock demons spread their wings, pursuing Tang San and Mei Gongzi without a moment��s dy.


    At this time, Tang San''s Discerning Eye of Heaven was fully activated. Everything around him was clear in his mind without the need for actual. Each use of Leopard sh was precisely executed using the trees for cover, forcing the five Peacock demons to determine their direction of escape constantly.


    However, eighth-order was eighth-order, especially since the Peacock demons were of the highest bloodline tier. Their lithe forms could nimbly cross both mountains and forests, and their low-altitude flight through the woods was truly swift.


    White light surged in Tang San''s eyes, and a white vertical eye gradually lit up on his forehead. As it was concealed by his mask, even Mei Gongzi at his side couldn''t see this vertical eye''s appearance. She could only feel that Tang San''s aura seemed different at this moment, as if he had merged with the world around him, bing an inseparable part of it.


    Tang San suddenly flung out his left hand, hurling Mei Gongzi forward. His voice rang in Mei Gongzi''s ears, "Go quickly, I''ll draw them away."


    Mei Gongzi''s delicate body flew forward, and her Peacock wings unfurled behind her. As she soared ahead, she turned her head to look back at Tang San, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.


    This sudden rescue made no sense to her. From this stranger, she felt an odd sense of trust. She didn''t perceive his strength as particrly great; those continuous Leopard shes indicated he possessed the sh Leopard bloodline. Yet, it was not easy to master Leopard sh to such an extent! After all, the sh Leopard was not a powerful species to begin with, and the one who saved her was human.


    Having thrown Mei Gongzi to safety, Tang San stopped in his tracks, reaching into his storage bag with his right hand and instantly pulling out his Godly Zhuge Crossbows. The two crossbows in his hands flickered like illusions as he rapidly loaded bolt after bolt.


    He had redesigned the quiver for quick reloading and prepared the bolts in advance, so it took him just a brief moment to have them locked and loaded.


    In this brief moment, the five Peacock demons had already caught up.


    With a slight smile on his lips and the white light in his eyes growing more intense, Tang San thought: <i>Come, taste the fate-favored might of my Zhuge Crossbows, the Aetherhorn Bolts!</i>


    The arrays on both Godly Zhuge Crossbows lit up with a faint white glow, and in the next instant, bolts enshrouded in a soft white light shot out.


    Previously, while rescuing Mei Gongzi, Tang San had focused on maximizing the speed of his Leopard sh, so he had not infused the power of the Discerning Eye of Heaven into the Zhuge Crossbows. Now, their true power was unleashed.


    These bolts, except for the faint white light wrapping them, seemed no different from those before. However, the eight pursuing Peacock demons felt an intense sense of crisis.


    They all wielded their peacock feathers to defend while trying to evade. But then, something strange happened.


    Wang Yan precisely pointed his peacock feather at a bolt, but for some unknown reason, his heart suddenly trembled and his feather was inexplicably skewed, allowing the bolt to graze past its edge and arrive instantly at his chest.


    Caught off guard, Wang Yan found it toote to dodge. Numerous peacock feathers moved from his back to protect him, blocking in front.


    However, eerily, the bolt found its way through the gaps, and although brushed by the peacock feathers, it still pierced his body.


    Wang Yan felt his bloodline power suddenly stagnate for a moment, and a pain in his chest indicated he was wounded.


    And this was only the first bolt; simr situations urred with most other bolts.


    He and the other four Peacock demons also encountered various problems, inexplicably failing to block the powerful bolts. For a time, muffled grunts echoed as the five powerful Peacock demons'' defenses were broken, causing them to fall from the sky.


    Tang San''s smile broadened slightly. "Indeed, the effects of the Aetherhorn Bolts are the best!"


    Due to their size and the quality of the ck gold, the Zhuge Crossbows could only carry one Demonic God Transformation effect at a time. Otherwise, their power would be even more terrifying ifbined with other effects.


    The five eighth-order powerhouses were all immediately subdued by the Godly Zhuge Crossbows with the effects of the Discerning Eye of Heaven. Although such injuries were unlikely to prate their muscles and cause severe damage, they still instilled terror in the five Peacock demons as they couldn''tprehend what force had harmed them.


    After firing, Tang San turned and ran, pursuing Mei Gongzi ahead. To his dismay, he found Mei Gongzi hadn''t run far; she was nearby, looking at him curiously.


    "Are you stupid? Run!" Tang San couldn''t help but scold her. He dashed to her side like lightning, grabbed her hand again, and pulled her as he ran forward.


    Mei Gongzi''s hand twitched, but she was unable to pull away from Tang San''s grasp. He had already stored both Zhuge Crossbows in his storage bag, not reloading them as he had no more bolts. The bolts he had previously crafted were only enough for two volleys.


    The five Peacock demons behind them didn''t pursue further, possibly frightened by the Aetherhorn-infused crossbow bolts.


    After running for over ten kilometers, Tang San gradually slowed down, sensing no pursuit from behind.

 Chapter 175: Blue-Class Redemption Member - Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 175: Blue-ss Redemption Member - Mei Gongzi</h4>


    ��They did not pursue us. But they��re probably not dead,�� Tang San whispered. Using the Mysterious Heaven Technique, he slightly altered his voice to sound more mature than his usual tone.


    ��Hmm.�� Mei Gongzi nodded, then looked at him earnestly. ��Shouldn''t you let go of my hand now?��


    ��Oh, umm...yes.�� Tang San reluctantly released her hand. Mei Gongzi''s initially cold hand had warmed up a bit in his grasp.


    ��Who are you?�� Mei Gongzi scrutinized him with an intense gaze.


    Tang San''s face was covered with a mask, and they wore dark clothes.


    ��I...�� Hesitating upon hearing her question, he longed to tell her, <i>I am your husband from a previous life, and I will be in this life as well.</i> But saying that would probably make him sound insane.


    ��You can call me Asura.��


    Tang San intended to name his alias Sea God, after his godly title from a past life, but that seemed too extravagant. Asura, another divine title he once shared with his wife in a past life, felt more fitting.


    ��Asura?�� Mei Gongzi paused, finding the name a bit strange.


    ��Are you human?�� she asked.


    ��Yeah, yeah.�� Tang San nodded.


    ��Thank you for saving me,�� Mei Gongzi��s voice remained somewhat indifferent, as if the previous danger had nothing to do with her.


    <i>Such mental fortitude</i>, Tang San thought to himself.


    ��No need to thank me,�� he replied. In his mind, he added, <i>I will always protect you.</i>


    ��I must go now,�� said Mei Gongzi, turning to leave.


    ��Where are you going now?�� Tang San asked.


    Mei Gongzi replied, ��Back to my camp. My tent is still there.��


    "Go back?" Tang San was startled. "Aren''t you afraid of those demons who are after you..."


    Mei Gongzi silently shook her head. "If they didn��t dare to kill me, what else can they do? If they werepetent, they wouldn''t need to fear someone like me with a human bloodline."


    A thought struck Tang San, and he suddenly realized something.


    Throughout the entire attack, Mei Gongzi had remained calm andposed, even now. What did this imply? Did she have a contingency n? Something to counter those who were after her, like Wang Yan''s men? Was he overthinking due to his concern for her?


    But at that moment, when they were about toy hands on Mei Gongzi, how could he possibly not save her?


    Realizing all this, he didn''t ask further questions, only silently watching as Mei Gongzi gradually disappeared into the night.


    Suddenly, she stopped, turned toward Tang San, and lifted her right hand, brushing back the long hair at her temples. A deep blue light suddenly shone on the back of her right hand.


    Tang San''s pupils contracted instantly upon seeing that deep blue color.


    "You can call me Mei Gongzi."


    Mei Gongzi waved at him, then turned and leaped up, disappearing into the forest in an instant.


    Tang San stood still for a long time, unmoving.


    <i>She, she...</i>


    To someone who possessed visual abilities like he had, that patch of blue could not be clearer. It was unmistakably a rune he was highly familiar with and in fact possessed himself. However, the rune on his hand was orange.


    <i>Yes, that was the Redemption Society��s mark!</i>


    Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple. The Redemption Society��s members were divided into seven sses, and blue...represented the second level in the hierarchy of the entire Redemption Society!


    Tang San clearly remembered that his master, the mayor, had once told him that in Kali City, the highest ss wasn''t his Green ss, but the Blue ss. There were only two Blue-ss individuals there.


    Tang San once thought one of them might be the god-tier powerhouse Si Ru, butter found out Si Ru was also Green-ss. He had naturally always been curious about the Blue-ss members.


    Yet, he never imagined that the future wife he wanted to protect with all his heart was one of them.


    <i>She''s only in her teens! How could she be at the Blue ss? When she showed me the Blue-ss Redemption bloodline imprint, she was trying to confirm my identity, whether I was a member of the Redemption Society.</i>


    Tang San chose not to reveal his mark because he didn''t want Mei Gongzi to see that he was at the orange ss, as it would likely expose his identity. He hid his true self under the identity of Asura to more easily protect her in the future, do things that Tang San��and his friend, Sweeper Tang San��couldn''t do openly, and conceal his ability to use multiple Demonic God Transformations.


    Tang San had previously thought that since she was also a human vassal, there might be a chance to bring her into the Redemption Society. When he had rescued Mei Gongzi earlier, he had considered revealing his affiliation with the Redemption Society to guide her into joining. But due to Mei Gongzi''s calm demeanor, Tang San had decided to leave matters be for now. Unexpectedly, not only was she part of the Redemption Society, but she was also among its top echelon.


    This was clearly rted to Mei Gongzi''s Peacock Transformation and her status within the Peacock Demon n.


    Tang San''s mind was in disarray, but he gradually calmed down after some time. Since Mei Gongzi was at the Blue ss, and considering her attitude, it was clear that the likes of Wang Yan posed no threat to her.


    <i>No wonder those premonitions through the Discerning Eye of Heaven weren''t very strong��was it because Mei Gongzi could handle the situation herself?</i>


    He decided to return first and think about itter.


    Just then, Tang San felt his heart skip a beat, and someone appeared beside him.


    "Why did you do it?" a familiar voice asked.


    Tang San turned to look at the mayor, his master, who had arrived beside him. This was his most significant source of confidence. If he couldn''t take Mei Gongzi away, there was likely no need to use even a bit of his divine consciousness��he was certain that his master was secretly following him.


    Ever since he revealed his ability to simultaneously use the Chrono Croc Transformation and the Celestial Fox Transformation, it was indisputable that he held a highly esteemed position in his master��s eyes.


    Suddenly, Tang San thought of a possibility and turned to Zhang Haoxuan. "Master, did youe with us this time to protect both us and her?"


    "Hmm, quick response. But you haven''t answered my question yet," Zhang Haoxuan said irritably.


    Tang San gave an awkward smile, removed the mask from his face, and put it into his bag. "If I say it was love at first sight, would you believe me?"


    After a moment of silence, Zhang Haoxuan tilted his head at him and said, "Oddly enough, I do. It doesn��t really make sense to me otherwise. Kid, you''re bing more and more mysterious in my eyes. Everything about you can only be described as extraordinary." He opened his hands as he spoke, revealing several crossbow bolts that glinted with a chilling light.


    "Except for those that hit those Peacock Demons, I''ve retrieved the rest for you. How you''vebined this weapon with the Demonic God Transformation, particrly the Celestial Fox Transformation, is beyond my understanding."


    Zhang Haoxuan, who had been secretly protecting them, was almost dumbfounded when he saw Tang San injure five eighth-order Peacock Demons at once with his Godly Zhuge Crossbows.


    Those were Peacock Demons! Even as a ninth-order, he wasn''t sure he could handle five great Peacock Demons at once without resorting to his lifebound weapon. But Tang San had done it with his small crossbow bolts.


    Those Peacock Demons didn''t continue their pursuit due to the intimidation they felt as Zhang Haoxuan released his aura in the distance, as well as the cowardly nature of Mei Gongzi''s supposed elder brother, who was panicked after being injured.


    "Blue ss, she''s actually a Blue-ss! Why, Master? Shouldn''t you have told me about it?" Tang San said with a wry smile.


    Zhang Haoxuanughed quite delightedly because this was the first time since he had known Tang San that he was seeing his ��pupil�� appear at a loss. Usually, Tang San seemed to have everything under control, and he always pulled something surprising out of his sleeve.

 Chapter 176: Mei Gongzi鈥檚 Suspicions

    <h4>Chapter 176: Mei Gongzi��s Suspicions</h4>


    "She is a Blue Redeemer due to her potential future growth and importance to the organization. Of course, you have already be more important in my heart than her. However, your significance should remain unknown to the organization until you fully grow."


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. "But Blue ss, so important... Could it be..." He suddenly thought of a possibility.


    "Can you even guess that?" Zhang Haoxuan looked at him, surprised.


    Tang San shrugged. "I heard her previous conversation with that Wang Yan."


    "You know, if you continue like this, someone might have to silence you one day," Zhang Haoxuan said, his wordsden with significance.


    "It won''t happen, as you said. I am somewhat more important than her," Tang San said nonchntly. The mayor''s attitude toward him seemed to be changing more and more. It was less like a teacher-student rtionship and more like speaking to an equal. He was no longer being seen as a mere child.


    "If you don''t want to be silenced, hand over the method for making this hidden weapon. To you, it��ll be a great contribution. To everyone else, it��ll be my contribution."


    Tang San said, "Master, this is not good."


    "Can''t bear to part with it?" Zhang Haoxuan looked at him, half-smiling.


    "No, that��s not it. The thing is, this hidden weapon is reallyplex; not just anyone can make it. More importantly, if the Redemption Society uses it on arge scale, it will alert both the demon and nymph ns. After all, once they have it, they��ll definitely use it. You''ve seen the power of my Godly Zhuge Crossbow. It has a special array, and if it��s infused with different Demonic God Transformations, it can produce many different effects. Once the demon and nymph ns be alert, it could spell disaster for the organization. Of course, I am willing to give you the design. Still, I wouldn��t like to hand it over to the organization right now, for the same reason you worry about the spread of my Mysterious Heaven Technique. Having a treasure like this could spell disaster for me."[1]


    "Then why do <i>you</i> use it?" Zhang Haoxuan asked with a yful expression.


    "It won��t cause problems just because one or two people use it. After all, no one would associate it with our Redemption Society specifically," Tang San said confidently.


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "You do make sense, to some extent. But I must remind you, don''t provoke Mei Gongzi. Her importance to the organization far surpasses ours."


    Tang San''s eyes flickered. "Is it to infiltrate the Peacock Demon n... or even to control it?"


    Zhang Haoxuan''s expression darkened, "Knowing too much is not good for you. This matter is of great significance, even the most important direction for the organization. Your sudden awareness of this in this ident is not good. Do you understand what I mean?"


    "I understand." Tang San nodded without hesitation, "But I don''t understand why Mei Gongzi didn''t take action against me before. When I first rescued her, I didn''t have a clear feeling, butter, from her attitude, I could sense that she had a backup n to deal with her so-called brother, and she could have rescued herself. If anything, I may have inconvenienced her with my rescue. I half expected her to attack me so that she could keep her secrets hidden."


    "Attack you? Your human identity would prevent her from attacking you, especially since you saved her. What do you think our Redemption Society is, an assassin organization?" Zhang Haoxuan said irritably. "Hmm, but with that said, her attitude toward you is strange. She didn''t delve into your identity and even used the Redemption mark to confirm. It''s right that you didn''t reveal the Redemption mark; otherwise, how would you hide your identity and that weapon?"


    Tang San nodded. "I want to maintain this secret identity. It''ll be useful for covering up any future actions."


    "Anyway, stay away from her in the future, and don''t provoke her with any identity," Zhang Haoxuan advised.


    Tang San said helplessly, "Don''t you think I can help her? Isn''t your disciple very outstanding? I like her."


    "You''re just a kid who hasn''t matured yet. What do you know about liking someone? Get back quickly; don''t make me angry," Zhang Haoxuan scolded him, ruffling his hair.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched.


    <i>Me? A child? I was tens of thousands of years old when your ancestors were babies! </i>


    However, Zhang Haoxuan''s attitude was somewhat reassuring. This master was genuinely protective of him. Despite Mei Gongzi''s Blue-ss status, he didn''t expose Tang San as a member of the Redemption earlier, more to protect him and keep his secret. Undoubtedly, Zhang Haoxuan''s valuation of Tang San''s Mysterious Heaven Technique was at least not less than Mei Gongzi''s. The mayor was clearly an intelligent person.


    Mei Gongzi silently returned to her campsite, where the campfire was still burning, but her teammates had not returned.


    The campfire crackled, but Mei Gongzi''s beautiful eyes carried a hint of confusion and contemtion.


    Just before she was rescued by that mysterious man called Asura, she had an extraordinary feeling. When Asura first held her hand and led her away, she even felt a moment of daze, which was a first for her. She was fully alert then, so how could she suddenly follow a stranger? Although those crossbows attracted everyone''s attention, she should not have made such a mistake.


    What puzzled her the most was when Asura grabbed her hand. It felt very natural��habitual even, as if this wasn''t the first time he had held her hand. But in her memory, even her supposed father had never been so close. How could a stranger grab her hand like that?


    And if the first time she had been caught off guard, what about the second time? When he pulled her and ran again, the naturalness and firmness with which he held her hand were the same. In that instant, Mei Gongzi felt a unique sense of security in her heart. The moment he held her hand, she felt it clearly��she trusted that he would protect her at all costs.


    "Why is it so?" she wondered, genuinely puzzled. She shouldn''t have revealed her identity as a member of the Redemption, but in the end, unable to control her emotions, she wanted to confirm if the other person was from the Redemption Society. However, he seemed not to understand, which meant that he wasn''t a member of the organization.


    <i>What exactly was going on? Asura, Asura, such a strange name. Who is he? And why did he suddenly appear here to protect me? It''s as if he was following me in secret.</i>


    With a heart full of doubts, Mei Gongzi sat beside the campfire.


    A surprised voice rang out, "You dare toe back?"


    Without turning her head, Mei Gongzi silently threw a piece of wood into the fire. "Why wouldn''t I dare toe back? This is my resting ce."


    Wang Yan, looking somewhat pale, emerged from the forest with four followers from the Peacock n.


    Every one of them was injured. The operation of the Aetherhorn-imbued Godly Zhuge Crossbow had almost subjected them to the baptism of powerful bolts, and the prating abilities of ck gold were fully disyed. Although they were not seriously injured, they all suffered to varying degrees. Yet what made them most unsettled was not their injuries, but the oddness of this whole situation.


    "Where is that guy?" Wang Yan said with fearful anger. As he spoke, he vigntly observed the surroundings.


    "Who are you talking about?" Mei Gongzi continued to add wood to the fire, unperturbed.


    "The one who rescued you," Wang Yan said angrily, tossing a few ck gold crossbow bolts to the ground as he spoke.


    After being injured, they sensed the aura of a ninth-order powerhouse and did not dare to continue the pursuit out of fear. Though their injuries weren''t severe, their frustration was immense. How embarrassing was it for five eighth-order powerhouses to fail to capture a sixth-order teenager and even suffer collective injuries?


    1. This is an idiom that can be literally tranted as ��one has no sin but possessing a piece of jade.�� It means that if you have a treasure beyond your status (that you are unable to either use or protect) you might invite disaster because others would covet it. ?

 Chapter 177: Peacock Valor

    <h4>Chapter 177: Peacock Valor</h4>


    Wang Yan decided to use the Beauty and the Beasts Squad''s camp to rest for a bit, to treat his wounds, and to n tomorrow''s actions. Unexpectedly, after all their searching, Mei Gongzi had returned on her own, and alone at that. Moreover, his arrival seemed to be of no concern to Mei Gongzi.


    <i>What is this situation? </i>


    Wang Yan''s anger stemmed more from the humiliation of being underestimated and ignored.


    ��I don��t know,�� Mei Gongzi replied indifferently, then slowly stood and turned toward the five of them.


    ��Capture her!�� Wang Yanmanded loudly.


    His four subordinates immediately surrounded Mei Gongzi but kept a nervous watch on their surroundings, as the previous crossbow attack had left them with a profound sense of foreboding.


    The feeling of being unable to dodge was terrifying; while it had not been fatal this time, what if a crossbow bolt hit a vital spot like the eyes? One of them had even gotten his palm pierced while trying to protect his eyes.


    Mei Gongzi looked at them and shook her head gently. ��You think you cany your dirty hands on me? Get down, now.��


    As she spoke, she waved her hand gently.


    Immediately, a bizarre scene unfolded: the four Peacock Demons approaching her swayed and slowly copsed to the ground.


    Wang Yan was stunned and eximed, ��What did you do to them?��


    Mei Gongzi looked at him intensely. ��What punishment is due for plotting against the royal family? Calling you a fool would be an insult to the word. Have you forgotten even the secret arts of our race?��


    ��Peacock Valor? You... you can wield the power of Peacock Valor? Impossible, you��re a half-blood...�� Wang Yan was shocked, his gaze filled with disbelief as he looked at Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi gently waved her right hand, and a peacock plume appeared in her grasp. The slender quill of the plume was in her hand, and the colorful barbs at the top swayed gently. The patterns formed by the peacock blue on the feather emitted a faint halo, within which countless rings of light seemed to orbit and bloom.


    The feathers on Wang Yan��s back instantly spread out, and his tail plumes emitted a simr halo. However, upon closer inspection, the blue on the plume in Mei Gongzi''s hand appeared deeper, with a more pronounced halo. The light emitted by Wang Yan''s peacock plumes seemed somewhat paler inparison.


    ��No, this can��t be. Why is your bloodline stronger than mine? Impossible!�� Wang Yan eximed in disbelief.


    The richness of a bloodline signified its nobility. He could not believe that Mei Gongzi, who had human blood, could possess a more potent Peacock Demon bloodline than himself.


    Peacock Valor was one of the innate abilities of the Peacock Demon race. It emitted an intangible aura, and only those of the purest bloodline among the royal family could activate the power of Peacock Valor upon reaching adulthood. Should any member of the race threaten a member of the royal family, under the deterrence of Peacock Valor, they would temporarily lose all the powers of their Peacock Demon bloodline.


    Mei Gongzi was still a few years away from adulthood; ording to the Peacock Demon race''s age norms, one was considered an adult at sixteen. Wang Yan, of course, was already an adult and possessed the ability of Peacock Valor, but it posed no threat to those of the royal bloodline like Mei Gongzi, so he had not activated it earlier. He never could have imagined that Mei Gongzi would be stronger than him in this aspect.


    They were of the same royal lineage, but still, having a weaker bloodline meant being somewhat suppressed.


    The four Peacock Demons who had fallen to the ground were now trembling in fear. Plotting against a royal family was an absolute great sin among any demon race, with consequences extending to one''s family.


    Previously, they had unhesitatingly attacked Mei Gongzi because she was a half-blood, but how could they have imagined that not only was Mei Gongzi''s royal peacock bloodline richer than Wang Yan''s, but she had also awakened the power of Peacock Valor before reaching adulthood? Her talent was peerless, she was clearly a rare genius among the Peacock Demon race.


    ��Aren��t you contesting the throne��s session with me? Then today is a perfect opportunity. Let us duel here, with them as witnesses. Whoever loses dies,�� Mei Gongzi said indifferently while slowly lifting the peacock plume.


    The originally ivory-colored quill of the peacock plume gradually turned peacock blue, emitting a demonic glow. Her long ck hair also turned peacock blue at this moment, blue light twinkled in her eyes, and her delicate body slowly levitated up from the ground. Enormous wings unfolded behind her, and her aura rose.


    The vast space around her was bathed in peacock blue.


    A speck of golden light slowly shone on her forehead, turning into a golden line that extended diagonally upward from between her brows, sketching out a magnificent golden pattern on her forehead, as if she was wearing a crown.


    ��Seventh order!�� Wang Yan cried out in shock, staring intensely at the golden pattern on Mei Gongzi��s forehead, his face turning ashen.


    Wang Yan��s mind went nk at this moment. As a royal family member, he was all too familiar with the golden pattern on Mei Gongzi''s forehead. It was the mark of the peacock royal family, the Peacock Golden Crown. Only those of the purest bloodline in the peacock royal family could awaken it. Awakening the Peacock Golden Crown signified the talent to break through limits and achieve the status of a Demon Emperor, not just a Demon King.


    Although possessing such talent did not guarantee bing a Demon King, at least their father, the current Peacock Demon King, had not achieved the status of Demon Emperor. However, this at least represented a chance. Most importantly, Wang Yan himself had not yet formed his own Peacock Golden Crown.


    The formation of the Peacock Golden Crown had nothing to do with cultivation level but was rted to potential and talent. It also represented an undeniable right to session.


    Only now did Wang Yan truly understand why Mei Gongzi, despite being a human hybrid, was granted the right to session. When his father, the king, had announced this, nearly all the family elders had opposed it. Yet, his father had merely remarked, "We''ll discuss thister," without further exnation.


    Of course there was no further exnation! What exnation was needed? The Peacock Golden Crown was a first-ss ticket to session rights! Moreover, this was the first Peacock Golden Crown in their generation! He, the so-called legitimate eldest son, only had a faint outline of the Peacock Golden Crown.


    Seeing the golden crown was like witnessing the king''s presence!

 Chapter 178: Golden Crown Successor

    <h4>Chapter 178: Golden Crown Sessor</h4>


    The four Peacock Demons, subdued by the power of Peacock Valor, were now genuinely trembling in fear. Attempting to assassinate a member of the royal family was already a grave sin, let alone one with the Peacock Golden Crown, who was for all intents and purposes a future Demon King. Escaping death seemed nearly impossible.


    The Peacock Golden Crown shone brilliantly, with intense golden light. Despite Wang Yan being a level higher in cultivation and unaffected by Peacock Valor due to his royal bloodline, he was deeply intimidated by the presence of the Peacock Golden Crown. He had never been a warrior of absolute courage, or any kind of warrior, for that matter.


    "Sister... I..."


    "Pick up your peacock plume. Do not disgrace our royal family. Aren��t you contending for the throne? I give you this opportunity and right to challenge me." Mei Gongzi said coldly.


    She had the right to say this, for she bore the Peacock Golden Crown. Its presence meant that no demon could question her bloodline. The Peacock Golden Crown gave her indisputable superiority among the Peacock Demons. Even though Wang Yan was the legitimate eldest son, his ranking would be below Mei Gongzi''s until he manifested his own golden crown.


    "I, I... Sister, if I say this was all a misunderstanding, would you believe me?" Wang Yan involuntarily took two steps back. In the face of Mei Gongzi��s powerful aura, he didn''t even have the heart to fight back.


    Mei Gongzi simply looked at him coldly, the light from the peacock plume in her hand growing increasingly intense. The vast wings and tail feathers spread out behind her were fabulously resplendent.


    Female Peacock Demons usually did not have long tail feathers, except those of royal lineage. The tail feathers of the royalty, however, were even longer and more dazzling than normal male Peacock Demons�� feathers. Mei Gongzi was already stunningly beautiful, and her appearance was further enhanced by the spectacr tail feathers, rendering her beauty beyondpare.


    "Greetings to the Crown Sessor with the Golden Crown!" Wang Yan suddenly eximed, kneeling down on one knee.


    Mei Gongzi��s lips twitched. Even someone like her could barely maintain her icy demeanor.


    <i>Is this all Wang Yan is capable of?</i>


    "I was wrong; I disrespected the Crown Sessor with the Golden Crown. I was momentarily blinded and I did not know you had already formed the Golden Crown. I only aimed to ensure the purity of our peacock lineage. I deeply realize my mistake now. My subordinates were incited by me as well. Please grant us an opportunity topensate for our sins," Wang Yan pleaded, tears streaming down his face, his eyes filled with sincerity.


    If Tang San were here, he would want to ask him, <i>Are you trying to be funny now?</i>


    In terms of talent and ability, Wang Yan certainly fell short. But he could even rival the Rhino n��s bloodline in terms of sheer thickness of the skin.


    Mei Gongzi slowly lowered the peacock plume in her hand and said indifferently, "Leave. Don''t spoil my mood."


    "Yes, yes," Wang Yan breathed a sigh of relief, quickly got up from the ground, and prepared to run.


    "Wait," Mei Gongzi spoke again.


    Wang Yan quickly turned around, his face obsequiously asking, "Crown Sessor with the Golden Crown. Do you have any other orders?"


    "Clean these crossbow bolts before you leave," she said tly.


    "Alright." Wang Yan hurried forward, and the other four Peacock Demons also managed to get themselves off the ground. The effect of Peacock Valor��s intimidation had worn off, and they didn��t want to make Mei Gongzi use it again.


    Mei Gongzi deactivated her transformation and sat back down by the campfire.


    Wang Yan and his subordinates quickly cleaned the crossbow bolts and neatly ced them in front of Mei Gongzi. Then, they slowly backed away and promptly disappeared into the darkness.


    Mei Gongzi looked in the direction they left, murmuring to herself, "A Peacock Demon race that has lost its pride, still dreaming of returning to the Ancestral Court?" From Wang Yan, one could see the decline of the Peacock Demon race. Once mighty demons, even contenders for the leadership of the Ancestral Court, they had failed in the end but left a glorious mark in history. However, due to the absence of a Demon Emperor, the Peacock Demon race had declined. Otherwise, they wouldn��t be just overseeing the remote Kali City.


    She picked up a cleaned ck-gold crossbow bolt, examining it closely.


    The crossbow bolt had intricate patterns and grooves, and even had a tiny array etched into it. It seemed that the function of the array was to prevent the bolt from making a sound, as it waspletely quiet even when she swung it through the air. The craftsmanship of this crossbow bolt was the most exquisite Mei Gongzi had ever seen.


    <i>Did Asura make this? It''s such a delicate weapon. His aura didn��t feel very powerful, he��s definitely not stronger than me, at least. Yet, this crossbow bolt injured five Peacock Demons. Even though they��re weaklings, they��re still Peacock Demons with top-tier bloodlines, and at the eighth order to boot. So what exactly is this weapon?</i>


    At that moment, her eyebrows rose slightly. A figure appeared from the mes, towering in front of her like a massive beast.


    "Yourpanions are approaching. They must being back to check on the situation," Zhang Haoxuan said with a smile.


    "Then why are <i>you</i> still here?" Mei Gongzi looked at him.


    "I came to give you something." While speaking, he ced a Godly Zhuge Crossbow in front of Mei Gongzi.


    Seeing the crossbow, Mei Gongzi paused, "Did you intercept that person?"


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head. "He appeared just to protect you, with good intentions. He asked me to pass this Godly Zhuge Crossbow to you."


    Mei Gongzi picked up the Godly Zhuge Crossbow. Looking at its intricate structure, her eyes showed even more surprise.


    "He also asked me to tell you to take good care of yourself." While speaking, Zhang Haoxuan taught Mei Gongzi how to use the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.


    "Do you know who he is?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head. "I don''t know. But I felt that he had something that could threaten me, so I didn''t probe further. However, his actions toward you seem benevolent. I just don''t know why he came; he is quite mysterious. But you shouldn''t have revealed your mark in front of him."


    "Hmm, I acted impulsively, thinking he was one of ours." Mei Gongzi lowered her head, fiddling with the Godly Zhuge Crossbow in her hands.


    "I should leave now. They are returning." Zhang Haoxuan''s figure shed and again merged into the mes, disappearing.


    Mei Gongzi collected the Zhuge Divine Crossbow and the crossbow bolts in front of her. She took a small pot from her spatial bracelet and started brewing milk tea.


    Soon, a surprised voice rang out, "Are you alright? Where are they?"


    Following that, the teammates of the Beauty and the Beasts Team, one by one, returned to the camp with embarrassed faces.


    They all had expressions of surprise. Seeing Mei Gongzi sitting there, calmly drinking milk tea, they sensed something was amiss.


    <i>Howe she wasn''t taken away? What��s happening? Those were five eighth-order demons!</i>


    "I''m tired. I need to rest," Mei Gongzi said without ncing at Song Junhou and quietly returned to her tent.


    Song Junhou and the other demon race students exchanged nces, their faces a mix of disbelief and incredible embarrassment. Although they had been clearly sted away by their opponents, their escape had been just a bit <i>too</i> smooth and they had taken just a bit <i>too</i> long to return.


    "What should we do, captain?" the bear demon asked in a low voice.


    "Let''s rest first. It seems Wang Yan and his group have already left. We can only wait to ask when we return."


    "What about our training mission..."


    "Everything as usual."


    "I don''t know how she did it. Could it be that the Peacock Demons are also protecting her in secret? Then��"


    Song Junhou frowned deeply, waved his hand, and didn��t let his teammates continue. He was feeling rather irritable. He had already made his decision earlier, but now, he felt that he might have picked the wrong side. Mei Gongzi seemed to be different from what he had imagined.

 Chapter 179: The Remnants of Fragrance

    <h4>Chapter 179: The Remnants of Fragrance</h4>


    In school, she always maintained a very low profile.


    Though she bore the bloodline of the city lord''s lineage, she was, after all, a human-demon hybrid, not a pure demon.


    Therefore, the girls from the demon race were unwilling to befriend her and even deliberately distanced themselves from her.


    Yet, she remained calm and cold throughout.


    The Peacock Demon race might have declined, but it was still a top-tier race.


    Song Junhou approached her partly because of her genuine beauty, which bore a softness not found in demon females, and more importantly, because he had heard that Mei Gongzi might be a potential sessor to the Peacock Demon King. Despite finding it unbelievable, he thought befriending her could lead to good rtions with the Peacock Demons. That was... until Wang Yan appeared.


    The threat of Wang Yan was something he couldn''t ignore, as Wang Yan was the legitimate eldest son and had brought many strong figures with him. In that short minute, he had reached the conclusion that it made far more sense to befriend Wang Yan.


    But who could have imagined that things would go against his wishes, ending up like this?


    After their earlier escape, they hadn''t gone far and wanted to observe the battlefield. But before they could settle down and turn to look, Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Demons had already disappeared. Everything had happened so fast that they hardly understood what had urred.


    Yet at this moment, Mei Gongzi was still there, while Wang Yan and his party were gone, vanished into thin air. What did this mean?


    ***


    Tang San silently returned to his quarters, acting as if nothing had happened. He relieved Gu Li, who was on night watch, allowing him to rest, and took over the night watch himself. After all, with the mood he was in, rest was thest thing on his mind.


    Leaning against arge tree, Tang San looked at his palm. It seemed to still carry the faint fragrance from her palm. Despite the situation''s urgency, Tang San vividly remembered her hand''s cool and soft touch.


    <i>Her hand was cold��was she afraid of the cold?</i>


    Even though he knew Mei Gongzi was at least a sixth-order cultivator, he couldn''t help but feel such emotions.


    This was the first time he had made physical contact with Mei Gongzi since arriving, and the impact was profound. Even now, he felt his heart palpitating.


    It took quite a while before Tang San gradually calmed down. He had appeared before Mei Gongzi as the masked Asura to protect her better. After all, his real identity couldn''t be easily exposed. The mystery of Asura allowed him to do many things his real identity couldn''t. He could fight more freely, too. Mei Gongzi would undoubtedly be puzzled by his abilities, including the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, so he had decided to give her one for self-defense.


    He had never expected that she would be a Blue-ss member of the Redemption Society, one of the highest-ranking members in Kali City. He had once thought about getting her to join, but who could��ve known that she already was a member? This was good news, as they shared the same ideals, saving him a lot of trouble.


    Mei Gongzi was his wife''s reincarnation. After reincarnation, everything from her previous life was forgotten, except for a tiny imprint in her soul, making her essentially a new person.


    When Tang San chose to die for love and be reborn to pursue her, he considered many scenarios. For example, whether her reincarnation was human didn��t matter; as long as she could cultivate, he could find a way to help her regain her human form.


    He also wondered how he would react if Mei Gongzi was not as beautiful in her new life. His love would allow him to ept her no matter her appearance because the imprint of her life, her soul, was still that of the person he deeply loved.


    What Tang San worried about the most was ideological differences. For instance, if a different environment made Mei Gongzi into someone whose idealspletely shed with his, what then?


    He had considered all these possibilities. But in reality, it seemed that none of this had happened, and everything was extending in the best possible direction. This was already a perfect oue that brought him greatfort.


    Although this world is highly unfriendly to humans, as long as he could be with the person he loved the most, he was willing to change those unfriendly aspects.


    Tang San''s feelings wereplex at this moment, but more thanplexity, there was joy. He was genuinely happy to have followed Mei Gongzi this time, protecting her in secret, as this had allowed him to learn many more of her secrets.


    Perhaps this protection was not crucial to Mei Gongzi, as she could resolve all troubles alone, but it was essential to Tang San, as he now had fewer qualms when it came to her. Some of the things he had worried about were gradually being resolved.


    This was the situation he most hoped to see because it meant all he needed to do was to be as good to her as possible.


    Of course, Tang San also realized some problems, such as his strength not being sufficient to protect her properly.


    Although Tang San''s improvement had been very rapid, primarily through devouring nt life force in the Kali Academy store to enhance his cultivation, he limited the amount he devoured each time to avoid being discovered.


    If Mei Gongzi herself could resolve the threat brought by five eighth-order Peacock Demons, then to catch up with her and be a strong protector for her, he at least had to reach the eighth order.


    And now, he still had a considerable distance to reach the eighth order, and he had to continue to work hard.


    Even the best hidden weapons were just external objects. Moreover, the hidden weapons he had produced were far from sufficient to face strong enemies properly.


    While cultivating, it was also time for him to start showcasing his skills.


    The moment hade for the three primary mechanical hidden weapons of the Tang Sect to make their appearance. From now on, he needed to start searching for materials suitable for their creation.


    The three primary hidden weapons of the Tang Sect included the first-ranked Buddha''s Fury Tang Lotus, the second-ranked Torrential Pear Blossom Needle, and the third-ranked Peacock Plume.


    The Buddha''s Fury Tang Lotus was the most difficult to craft, the Torrential Pear Blossom Needle required the most stringent materials, and the Peacock Plume was the mostplex.


    With the resources and abilities currently avable to Tang San, the third-ranked Peacock Plume was the only one he was confident in crafting. Coincidentally, Mei Gongzi belonged to the Peacock Demon race. Tang San decided this would be the next gift he would present to her.


    As his thoughts gradually calmed down, Tang San silently circted the Mysterious Heaven Technique''s energy throughout his body, adjusting his state.


    With the continuous enhancement of the sixth bloodline imprint, Blue Silver Emperor, and the absorption of life energy from various heavenly and earthly treasures, Tang San''s overall condition had improved significantly.


    The immense life force refining his body made his meridians more resilient, and his physical strength slowly grew as well. Propelled by this vast life force, the realm of his Mysterious Heaven Technique was also approaching the peak of the sixth order.


    However, without a doubt, breaking through from the sixth to the seventh order was a qualitative leap, and it was not so easy to ovee this threshold.


    Tang San had a way now, of course. If he took and devoured a precious treasure nt from the academy store''s vault, he could potentially make a breakthrough. But that would undoubtedly be draining the pond to get all the fish. Once an item was stolen, it would inevitably be discovered by the academy store, turning it into a one-off deal.


    Therefore, to break through to the seventh order, he had to progress step by step, umting a lot before making a breakthrough.


    Tang San was very aware of his uniqueness. The Celestial Fox Vision greatly aided him, allowing him to avoid many troubles and making his cultivation smoother.


    However, the Celestial Fox Vision also had its issues, and there was a hidden danger to Tang San that even luck couldn��t mitigate.


    Tang San had consulted Zhang Haoxuan about this issue, and,bined with various changes in Du Bai, he could draw a couple of conclusions.


    Due to the favor of fortune, the Celestial Fox race could be considered an incredibly logic-defying existence in this ne, and this defiance came with a price. Namely, the Celestial Foxes could not cultivate other abilities than the Celestial Fox Vision and remained physically frail.


    Tang San''s existence was undoubtedly unique. He obtained multiple Demonic God Transformation imprints by cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Furthermore, after integrating the Celestial Fox Transformation, he was recognized by this ne.


    A god was an existence that transcended the ordinary and entered the sacred, detached from yet dependent on the ne. Gods could be said to be the guardians of the ne, in a sense.


    Tang San''s abilities did not belong to this ne, yet he utilized its resources as best as possible.


    Once he broke through to the god level, he would inevitably be subjected to this ne''s overall scrutiny. And if anything wrong happened, he might even be targeted by the entire ne.


    The more his cultivation increased, the more deeply Tang San felt this issue, and he often pondered how to resolve this problem before he reached that level.


    Otherwise, he feared that he would be unable toplete the breakthrough and would be suppressed by the ne during the process.

 Chapter 180: I Have A Daring Idea

    <h4>Chapter 180: I Have A Daring Idea</h4>


    After breakfast, they set off again the following day, continuing their hunting expedition against the Winged Tigers.


    ording to their pace, in just over a day, they would approach the habitat of the Winged Tigers, the same ce where they had encountered dangerst time.


    Naturally, they harbored no fear. They had previously escaped adverse conditions and even managed to kill two Winged Tigers.


    This time, their overall strength had increased by more than just a notch, and the mayor was also following them in secret. Even if they encountered the Winged Tiger King once more, there would be nothing to worry about.


    As they ventured deeper into the Kali Mountain Range, the number of demonic beasts increased, and Tang San''s team began to make substantial gains. Hunting lower-order demonic beasts was no longer a challenge for them.


    By nightfall of the third day, they had harvested twelve fourth- and fifth-order demonic beasts. This already surpassed the gains of the other two teams from the previous expedition.


    Next, it remained to be seen if they could hunt the most prized Winged Tigers.


    Due to thest incident, Wu Bingji deliberately kept a distance, resting a bit further away from the Winged Tigers'' area. They would need more than two hours to reach the ce where they hadst encountered the Winged Tiger King, and they would cover that distance tomorrow.


    ording to Cheng Zicheng''s information, the Kali Academy''s Beauty and the Beasts Squad was resting closer to the Winged Tigers'' habitat, about a dozen kilometers away from their location.


    Both teams had the same target.


    "Eldest brother, shall we all discuss our strategy for tomorrow?" Tang San said to Wu Bingji.


    "Okay." Wu Bingji gathered everyone. He knew Tang San was about toy out the tactics for tomorrow.


    Tang San first took a stack of metal masks from his storage bag and distributed them to everyone. Unlike his Asura mask, these covered the entire face.


    Wu Bingji nodded at Tang San, "Go ahead, Little Tang."


    "Alright. Based on what''s going on, Kali Academy''s after the Winged Tigers, just like us. Since we''re aiming for the same target, we might run into each other. So, starting tomorrow, please wear these masks to keep your identities under wraps. We''ll still try to steer clear of the other team as much as we can, but who knows? I''ve been keeping an eye on them for thest couple of days. That Kali Academy squad has at least one eighth-order, two seventh-orders, and four sixth-orders. They''re way stronger than us. Even though we have a teacher backing us up, it''s best to avoid shing with them. But, I''ve got a daring n I want to run by you all."


    Gu Li''s mouth twitched. "If even <i>you</i> call it a bold idea, how bold must it be?"


    In their eyes, Tang San was someone with a boundless imagination. The fact that he had dared to propose going out alone to hunt Winged Tigers had already shocked them, and most importantly, he had even managed to convince the teacher to agree. That was even more astonishing.


    Now, if he had evenbeled an idea bold, they could only imagine the absolutely audacious stuff going through his head.


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "Although it''s a bold idea, I''m quite confident about it. Most importantly, if we seed, our gains will be way greater thanst time''s."


    "Better thanst time?" Du Bai gasped in surprise.


    Tang San nodded. "It''s hard to estimate exactly how much, but if it works out, the rewards will be amazing. The resources we��ll be able to buy might be enough for everyone to advance an order in cultivation."


    "What? Really? Let''s do it!" Du Bai was the first to agree without hesitation.


    Gu Li looked at Du Bai and nodded. "Then I''m in, too. But let me just confirm, how bold exactly is this idea? Is it going to end up killing us?"


    Tang San replied, "I''m just about confident that it won��t."


    Gu Li nodded. "Then I agree too."


    Cheng Zicheng didn''t speak but turned to look at her Big Brother Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji shrugged. "Don''t look at me. As the so-called leader, I am just a tool, don''t you understand? I have even more confidence in him than you do. Little Tang, go ahead and tell us. Once again, let''s see what kind of miracle you will lead us into.��


    Tang San smiled slightly, "Alright, let me arrange it. Among the five of us, sister Zicheng is the best at speed, followed by me with my wind element eleration. Both of us are very fast. Winged Tigers are also really fast, of course, but they definitely can''t match sister Zicheng in sustained flight. So, in my n, sister Zicheng ys the main role, and I''ll assist from the side. Senior brother, the three of you will need to do this..."


    Tang San began toy out his n. He had thought of this n before they embarked on this mission, in fact. Except for the hup with Wang Yan and his acolytes, everything else was developing in the direction he had envisioned.


    As they listened to his exnation of the n, everyone''s expressions gradually changed. Even though they all had great confidence in Tang San, they couldn''t help their jaws dropping.


    Tang San spoke very earnestly. Clearly, this n wasn''t made up on the spot; he analyzed every possibility meticulously, thoroughly dissecting each potential scenario.


    "...so, the most important thing is, during the whole thing, try not to show yourselves near the Kali Academy squad. If we can do everything without them noticing, that would be perfect."


    Wu Bingji gasped. "Little Tang, I always knew you were bold, but this is just brazen. You''re trying to bite off more than you can chew!"


    Tang San smiled slightly. "Senior brother, fortune favors the bold, no? Last time, you didn''t believe we could kill the Winged Tigers, but we brought back two. So why can''t we bring back even more this time? If my n seeds, we��ll all be able to cultivate to the next order using these gains."


    Wu Bingji did not reply but looked at the other three instead. "What do you guys think?"


    Du Bai waved his hand fiercely. "Let''s do it!"


    Cheng Zicheng nodded. "If you all agree, what''s there for me to disagree? I''m confident in my flying speed. Even an eighth-order Winged Tiger would need some time to catch up with me. As for the ninth order, isn''t the mayor there just in case?"


    Tang San extended his right hand, his eyes twinkling. "Then it''s settled."


    Everyone''s palms stacked on his, their eyes meeting, all revealing a look of excitement.


    As the saying goes, the young calf is unafraid of the tiger. And for this mission they were about to undertake, Tang San had given his n a name: Spurring On the Tiger to Swallow the Wolf![1]


    1. Thises from an old Chinese idiom, ��������, coined during the Three Kingdoms period. It refers to making one enemy attack another so one couldter swoop in and reap the profits. The one ��swallowing the wolf�� is not the tiger, but the third party that caused the tiger to attack the wolf. ?

 Chapter 181: Executing The Plan

    <h4>Chapter 181: Executing The n</h4>


    The Beauty and the Beasts Squad had packed up early in the morning, tidying up their tents. They had a more detailed map than that of the Redemption Society.


    The Golden Lion Dog, Song Junhou, said, "Today, we''re heading into Winged Tiger territory. Everyone, stay sharp. These tiger demons usually stick with their families, they don��t live in big groups. Most adult Winged Tigers are seventh order, and the younger ones are at least fifth. We must find a family, take down three or more, and bring them back. That''ll wrap up our training mission. It''s not too tough, but since we''re in their territory, we have to be careful. Keep it down during fights to avoid drawing in more of them and getting swamped. Got it?��


    "Understood!" everyone replied in unison, except for Mei Gongzi.


    Since the incident the night before, Mei Gongzi seemed unchanged, but Song Junhou felt that she had be even more distant from the other team members than she used to be. He felt awkward about this but didn''t know what to do. Afterpleting this mission, he could only secretly allocate arger share of the Winged Tigers'' profits to her in hopes of re-establishing goodwill.


    He didn''t know that his desertion in the face of battle had greatly pleased someone in secret. At least this imagined rival was no longer a concern.


    Even forgetting about Mei Gongzi''s status as a Blue ss member of the Redemption Society, the Golden Lion Dog''s desertion, abandoning Mei Gongzi in danger, already disqualified him from being Tang San''s rival in any respect, love first and foremost.


    At that time, Tang San least wanted to see Song Junhou ying the hero, desperately resisting. In that case, he could in fact leave a profound and positive impression on Mei Gongzi''s heart.


    Fortunately, demons seemed tock humanity and were driven by self-interest. So,st night, Tang San didn''t bother to show up. With Mei Gongzi capable of facing five eighth-order Peacock demons simultaneously and a rival who had already shown his true colors, what was there to worry about?


    Song Junhou gave Mei Gongzi a nce, saw that she seemed indifferent as usual, and then waved his hand, saying, "Let''s set off!"


    The group of seven moved quickly. ording to the map, it would take a little over an hour to enter the territory of the Winged Tigers.


    Song Junhou led at the front, with the thick-skinned bear demon at the rear for defense. Mei Gongzi, as the team''s long-range attacker, was positioned toward the back. The demon responsible for scouting flew ahead.


    They advanced quickly through the jungle as they had practiced. And soon, as daylight broke, they entered the Winged Tigers'' territory.


    There seemed to be an invisible pressure in the air, slowing their steps as they waited for information from the scout.


    Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes in the sky watched their every move, following them as they advanced.


    They were not as lucky as Tang San and his teamst time; the Redemption Academy team had encountered Winged Tigers just as they had reached the edge of the beasts�� territory. After entering the area, they searched for half a day but found no trace of the Winged Tigers.


    It was almost noon.


    "Everyone, take a break here and wait for Xiao Yun to return."


    Xiao Yun, the team''s scout, was a Shadow Sparrow demon. He excelled in ambushes from the shadows and was best at short-distance aerial assaults. Naturally, he was the one in charge of scouting for the team.


    After a morning of searching without finding any Winged Tigers, the group, somewhat disappointed, gathered to rest and eat to replenish their strength.


    Song Junhou frowned slightly, puzzled as to why they hadn''t encountered any Winged Tigers yet. They had been in the Winged Tigers'' territory for half a day, and ording to the data they had, the tigers�� numbers were notcking in the slightest. In fact, the team had been worried about encountering too many Winged Tigers, so theck of any finds so far was abnormal.


    A seventh-order student in the team asked with a frown, "Captain, why can''t we find any Winged Tigers?"


    It was an Ironback Ape holding a long metal rod as thick as an arm.


    The Ironback Ape demons were known for their steel-like body and immense strength. Moreover, they were swift and moved like the wind. Among the ape demons, they ranked very high, and they were a vitalbat force. Their tier was much higher than that of the Mighty Ape.


    Apart from Song Junhou, this Ironback Ape was the strongest in the team, towering over the rest at three meters in height. Another seventh-order demon, slightly inferior, was a cat demon known for its speed.


    "I also find it strange. Having been here this long, we should have found something by now," Song Junhou said, his brow deeply furrowed. "Everyone, have some food and rest while we wait for Xiao Yun."


    "Okay."


    At this moment, a shadow silently swooped in and stopped in front of Song Junhou, transforming into a somewhat slender and petite figure��it was Xiao Yun. The Shadow Sparrows were among the most diminutive and most delicate in form among the demon races, and Xiao Yun was a perfect example.


    "Captain, I found three Winged Tigers. Two adults and one youngling, probably a family. The adult Winged Tigers are around the seventh order, and the cub is at the fifth," Xiao Yun reported excitedly.


    Song Junhou''s eyes brightened. "Can you confirm their location and lead us back?"


    "No problem," Xiao Yun said without hesitation.


    "Good!" Song Junhou eximed joyfully, waving his hand. "Let''s proceed with the mission. We can rest once we''ve dealt with these three Winged Tigers."


    Hearing that the Winged Tigers were finally found, the other demons got excited and immediately set off again, led by the Shadow Sparrow.


    Mei Gongzi silently followed the team. Since that day''s incident, she spoke even less than usual. Feeling somewhat ashamed, the demons didn''t engage much with her, thus increasing the distance between them over the day.


    After about fifteen minutes of travel, Song Junhou sniffed the air, and his eyes glinted with golden light. "It''s the Winged Tigers. I can smell them. Prepare for battle. Remember to maintain formation during the fight. Old Yuan and I will take the front; you assist from the sides. Aim for a quick and decisive battle, and try not to make too much noise. After the task isplete, we''ll immediately store their bodies and leave the Winged Tigers'' territory. If all goes well, we can return after we rest a bit."


    "Go!"


    ***


    About two kilometers away from them, Du Bai was sweating heavily. He said to Wu Bingji, "The misfortune I cast on them has been withdrawn, as Little Tang requested. I need at least an hour to rest before I can control fortune again."


    Wu Bingji nodded. ��You should rest for now. Good job."


    On the other side, Gu Li said, "Then I''ll head over."


    "Good, be careful. Don''t forget Xiao Tang''s instructions," Wu Bingji responded.


    "Rest assured, elder brother," Gu Li assured, then quickly moved and disappeared into the jungle.


    Wu Bingji looked towards the sky, unconsciously clenching his fist. The n was about to begin!


    <i>On the other side.</i>


    Leading the pack like a lion king, Song Junhou approached the jungle ahead. The terrain of this mountain forest was rugged, fitting the lifestyle of the Winged Tigers. They preferred living in caves, as they could stayfortable even with the wind and rainmon in this area.


    Soon, a cave came into view, with a strong feline scent emanating from it.


    Song Junhou squinted his eyes and waved at a team member.


    The team member chuckled, walked near the cave entrance and turned around. Suddenly, his body erged, particrly the buttocks.


    With a light puff, a light green stream of air was ejected, shooting straight into the cave.

 Chapter 182: Round 1, Fight!

    <h4>Chapter 182: Round 1, Fight!</h4>


    This team member was a sixth-order Skunk Demon, an existence not very weed among the demon races. The Skunk Demon''s most incredible ability was its fart, a gas that caused extreme stimtion to the senses. Once smelled, it instantly irritated one��s nerves, and its unbearably foul odor could make an opponent extremely ufortable. Naturally, the more tightly-closed the space, the greater its power.


    This Skunk Demon was of the sixth order. While its lineage was not favored in Kali City, it could enter Kali Academy because it was a genius in its n, with the potential to reach the god level, so a great price was paid for its admission.


    The reason why Song Junhou had chosen it as a member of his team was the power of its chemical weapon. The Skunk Demon''s fart was not an indiscriminate attack; it could envelop a specific area under its control. Otherwise, someone like Song Junhou would not have been caught dead in the same city as a Skunk Demon, much less in the same team.


    Indeed, in actualbat, the Skunk Demon''s ability, if used well, made for amazing crowd control. And the cave they were facing right now was naturally the perfect ce for it to demonstrate its prowess.


    Before long, a series of angry tiger roars echoed from the cave.


    <i>Roar roar roar��</i>


    Immediately following, a gust of wind blew, and a massive burst of cyan-green light erupted from the cave.


    The Winged Tiger, being of wind attribute, naturally tried to blow away the odor of the Skunk Demon with a gust of wind.


    The Skunk Demon chuckled, a green light shing in its eyes. It opened its mouth and inhaled, drawing back in the green gas blown out of the cave by the gust of wind.


    Witnessing this scene, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but turn her head away. Though it was not her first time seeing it, she still found it hard to ept these habits of the demon n, and some of them disgusted her from the bottom of her heart.


    A vast green-lit beast suddenly rushed out of the cave, letting out an angry roar and apanied by numerous wind des shing outward.


    A seventh-order Winged Tiger!


    Song Junhou immediately charged forward. He roared at the sky, his golden hair growing longer and his body bing more imposing. Intense golden mes surged, with the pressure of the golden bloodline directly suppressing the seventh-order Winged Tiger. Behind him, a vast golden lion''s shadow faintly appeared, mirroring his movements. He threw a punch, and intense golden light burst forth instantly.


    For the past few days, he had been feeling very frustrated. Although Mei Gongzi had never said anything to him, he knew all too well that he had seriously offended her, and that was made doubly obvious by her attitude, even colder than usual. What was more important was that he didn''t know how she had dealt with the crisis brought by Wang Yan. He even wondered whether the incident that day had been a test arranged by the siblings.


    And now, everything was over; she couldn''t look at him the same way again. So, with a sigh in his heart, he exploded in fury as he faced the seventh-order Winged Tiger.


    Under the suppression of the golden bloodline, the green light on the angry Winged Tiger instantly dimmed. Although the Winged Tiger''s bloodline was objectively not weak, it was still far inferior to the golden bloodline. Moreover, Song Junhou was one order higher in cultivation.


    In the next instant, an intense golden light was already surging toward it.


    The Winged Tiger had only enough time to activate its Wind Astral before the golden light brutally struck it head-on.


    With a loud bang, the seven-meter-long Winged Tiger was sent flying, crashing heavily into the cave wall and letting out a groan of pain as it embedded itself ever so slightly into the rock.


    Song Junhou''s eyes swirled with golden light like a deity descending from heaven, his intense golden me growing more substantial. This golden ze seemed to ignite the fur on the Winged Tiger, rapidly disintegrating the Wind Astral under the scorching golden light.


    This demonstrated the might of the golden bloodline.


    Each race''s golden bloodline excelled in different aspects, and the power of the Golden Lion n was the Golden Holy Fire��a power capable of incinerating both energy and soul, and extremely domineering. Once it hit its target, unless that target couldpletely suppress it by sheer power of higher-order cultivation, it would continue to burn until the target died.


    The seventh-order Winged Tiger suffered incredibly from the start, unaware its opponent was from a golden bloodline, and a particrly strong one at that. It could only fully activate its Wind Astral to barely resist the Golden Holy Fire from scorching its body, but this drained a significant amount of its bloodline power. It was suppressed in every possible way.


    Just then, apanied by another roar, a second Winged Tiger charged out. Without needing Song Junhou''s order, the Ironback Ape leaped up, holding its metal rod with both hands and striking down from above.


    Song Junhou charged forward, his fists joining above his head. The intense golden me transformed the shadow of the Golden Lion behind him into substance. The next moment, apanied by a fierce roar, the massive golden lion''s shadow descended from the sky, mming hard into the seventh-order Winged Tiger embedded in the mountain wall.


    <i>BOOM!</i>


    The Wind Astral shattered, and the Winged Tiger screamed in agony. Its robust body copsed instantly, and it was from all seven orifices. It was clearly on the brink of death.


    Song Junhou opened his mouth and inhaled, drawing back the Golden Holy Fire that was about to scorch the body of the seventh-order Winged Tiger. The fur of the Winged Tiger was quite valuable; burning it would significantly reduce its value.


    A seventh-order Winged Tiger was killed in just two strikes under his total effort, prompting loud cheers from his teammates.


    At the same time, the Ironback Ape was already gaining the upper hand against another seventh-order Winged Tiger. With its formidable strength and defense, it fought fiercely against the Winged Tiger, aided by the other teammates harassing the tiger from the side. Meanwhile, the Skunk Demon sneaked into the cave.


    By the time the second seventh-order Winged Tiger was dealt with outside, the Skunk Demon had already dragged out a fifth-order young tiger that had fainted because of the skunk��s incredibly potent fart. With that, the entire family of Winged Tigers was captured.


    The process took only a few minutes, fully showcasing the formidablebat strength of the Kali Academy''s Beauty and the Beast team. Well, it was more the Beast part of the team; during the battle, Mei Gongzi did not even need to make a move.


    "Clean up the battlefield, prepare to withdraw," Song Junhoumanded. Having swiftly in the seventh-order Winged Tigers, he vented his pent-up frustrations and felt a resurgence of spirit. His mood lightened; even if Mei Gongzi''s impression of him had worsened, he was a high-rank member of a golden bloodline, and she was nothing but a half-blood.


    The three Winged Tigers were quickly dealt with and stored in storage bags.


    They were now ready to withdraw from the Winged Tiger''s habitat, rest for a bit, and make further ns as nned.


    But just then, a loud bird call rang out from the sky, apanied by a gust of wind descending from above.


    <i>ROOOAARRR!!!</i>


    An angry roar followed.


    With a sh of golden light in the sky, a dazzling golden silhouette zipped by incredibly fast. Two streaks of cyan-green light pursued closely behind.


    The golden light flying in front came too suddenly, barely recognizable as arge golden bird, with the two blue lights trailing not far behind. They were clearly flying at full speed, yet for some unknown reason, they suddenly paused just as they were about to fly over the Beauty and the Beast team.


    This momentary pause seemed to throw them off bnce, causing them to plummet from the sky and crash into the forest beside the Beauty and the Beasts team.


    "Be careful. Prepare for battle. Formation!" Song Junhou shouted, and the others gathered, maintaining theirbat formation.


    Mei Gongzi remained at the center, with the Shadow Sparrow Demon circling the perimeter. In the front were Song Junhou and the Ironback Ape, with the Skunk Demon concealed. The seventh-order Cat Demon and Bear Demon nked Mei Gongzi on either side.

 Chapter 183: The Reappearance of The Golden Roc

    <h4>Chapter 183: The Reappearance of The Golden Roc</h4>


    With a raise of its hand, the Cat Demon unleashed a radiant chain that connected five members in the central battle formation, excluding only the Skunk Demon and the Shadow Sparrow. Not only was it adept at speed, but it also possessed a particr supportive ability.


    <i>ROARRR!!!</i>


    Angry roars echoed as two massive figures leaped out of the forest. Astonishingly, they were two seventh-order Winged Tigers!


    "Captain!" the Bear Demon growled lowly.


    "Attack!" At this moment, Song Junhou was at his peak momentum. The sudden appearance of two more Winged Tigers was an opportunity not to be missed. The only oddity was the streak of golden light that had flitted by. The aura of the golden silhouette was not strong, so it was clearly not a powerful demon beast, and the Winged Tigers behind it seemed to be hunting it.


    <i>Kill them first, think of other problems after!</i>


    The Golden Holy Fire ignited, and a deep lion''s roar suddenly erupted. The dazzling golden mes burst forth again, transforming into a sea of fire that enveloped both seventh-order Winged Tigers.


    Sensing the presence of the Golden Bloodline, these two seventh-order Winged Tigers were more cautious than the one that had previously charged out of the cave, as they were already in a state ofbat.


    A gale whipped up, and two cyan-green tornadoes burst forth instantly, stirring the Golden mes away from their hides. At the same time, a multitude of wind des erupted from them, sweeping toward the group.


    "Hmph!" Song Junhou snorted coldly. The Golden Holy Fire instantly boiled over, and the wind element disintegrated under its scorching heat. All wind des were extinguished before they could prate the golden firewall.


    At the same time, he roared, and it was much louder than the first time.


    A faint golden silhouette appeared above the heads of the two seventh-order Winged Tigers, causing their aura to plummet instantly��bloodline suppression!


    The bloodline suppression triggered by Song Junhalmost immediately disadvantaged the two seventh-order Winged Tigers.


    The Ironback Ape Demon leaped forward, its long rod targeting one of the Winged Tigers. Golden light burst forth from Song Junhou; his right hand grasped the void, and the Golden Holy Fire coalesced into a ming longsword.


    With a single sh, the colossal sword light shattered the two tornadoes, and Song Junhou leaped forward, confronting the other seventh-order Winged Tiger.


    The other members of the squad were not idle either. The Shadow Sparrow maneuvered behind the Winged Tiger facing the Ironback Ape, aiming for a sneak attack. The golden chain released by the Cat Demon had the effect of shared damage. The Cat Demon also leaped forward, targeting the Winged Tiger facing the Ironback Ape.


    The Bear Demon did not make a move but stood guard beside Mei Gongzi. Peacock feathers in Mei Gongzi''s palm trembled, and shadows of peacock feathers appeared out of thin air, covering both Winged Tigers.


    The team''s coordination was excellent. Although they had just finished a battle, they remained perfectlyposed as they faced two more seventh-order Winged Tigers.


    In less than two minutes, Song Junhou severed one of the Winged Tiger''s wings with a single strike. A momentter, the sword formed from Golden Holy Fire pierced directly into its nape. He secured the victory first thanks to his formidable bloodline suppression, clearly showcasing his eighth-order cultivation.


    Drawing the Golden Holy Fire back, Song Junhou slightly gasped for breath. Actually, the first Winged Tiger he killed had drained him more than the second. At that time, he was keen on releasing his emotions and somehow proving himself in front of Mei Gongzi, so he had unleashed his most powerful moves with all his might. He was much more cautious for thetter seventh-order Winged Tiger. He adopted a standardbat style and leveraged his eighth-order strength to overpower and defeat the seventh-order foe.


    On the other side, the battle ended not long after. The Ironback Ape broke the Winged Tiger''s spine with a single strike, and several team members swarmed up to finish it.


    "Captain, our luck is excellent this time! Looks like we can all head back now, right?"


    As they cleaned up the corpses of the two seventh-order Winged Tigers, Song Junhou��srades were naturally excited. One sixth-order tiger and four seventh-order ones meant that everyone would earn a fair amount even after sharing the profits.


    Having single-handedly in two seventh-order Winged Tigers consecutively, Song Junhou was also in high spirits. It was good luck��encountering and resolving battles one after the other, enhancing the team''s overallbat strength even further and earning a fat profit in the process. "Mm, not bad. Everyone has worked hard. Let''s clean up and retreat to rest. We''lle back again if there''s a suitable opportunity; if not, we''ll return to the academy."


    Soon, the seventh-order Winged Tigers were dealt with and put away in their storage pouches. The seven people gathered together, ready to leave the Winged Tiger habitat.


    Not far from where they had just left the battlefield, a loud bird cry rang out again in their ears.


    Mei Gongzi''s expression changed instantly. <i>This bird cry sounds familiar!</i>


    Before the Beauty and Beast Squad could fully react, a streak of golden light had already swooped past overhead.


    "There''s that bird again." The Shadow Sparrow leaped up, instantly reaching the sky. But the speed of the golden light was so incredible that it couldn''t even get a clear view of the opponent. Then, it felt a gust of wind approaching.


    This time, three cyan-green streaks of light were rushing toward them at breakneck speed.


    The immense pressure caused the Shadow Sparrow Demon''s face to change drastically, prompting it to descend and hide among the shadows of the trees quickly.


    They were Winged Tigers, without a doubt. And the pressure they exuded was even greater than what the team had faced before.


    It was a now-familiar script: for some unknown reason, the three Winged Tigers halted their flight right above the Kali Academy team and crashed into the forest with mighty roars.


    If the previous incident could have been written off as a coincidence, there was no way that its recurrence could be considered mere chance.


    "There��s something going on. Everyone, hide!" Song Junhoumanded in a low voice.


    But before they could properly conceal themselves, however, a series of wind des burst out of the forest, heading directly toward them.


    "We''ve been discovered. Prepare for battle," Song Junhou shouted angrily. At the same time, a sh of lightning crossed his mind. What was that golden bird? Was it deliberately luring the Winged Tigers here?


    The three Winged Tigers tumbled chaotically as they crashed into the forest. They could not understand what was going on��they had been forcefully halted mid-flight by an invisible force and all the energy they put into catching that bird had brought them straight down into the jungle.


    Just then, a series of cold, icy lights suddenly burst forth, elerating a second time in mid-air before instantly piercing their hides.


    The power of the icy lights was not enough to seriously injure them, but the intense pain made the three Winged Tigers even more furious. They charged directly toward the source of the icy lights.


    From the other side, an angry lion''s roar echoed.


    Somewhere on a treetop, hidden within the canopy, there was a silhouette surrounded by faint white light. In Du Bai''s vertical eye, white light surged, augmenting his fortune.


    This wasn''t his ultimate good fortune boost, but maintaining a certain level of luck was still achievable. And this fortune just so happened to prevent them from being discovered by the enraged Winged Tigers.


    The icy light needles were naturally Wu Bingji��s doing. They were used to attract the Winged Tigers charging into the forest and guide them in the right direction. Naturally, the Winged Tigers'' fall from the sky was the result of the Chrono Croc Transformation.


    Even for seventh or eighth-order demonic beasts, that momentary interruption of their momentum as they flew at full speed was more than enough to disrupt their movement. The greater the speed, the more uncontroble their movement became, and the result was obvious. If it weren''t for the demonic beasts'' muscr physiques, they would probably have been killed by the fall.


    The three in the canopy held their breaths, maintainingplete silence. They had witnessed the strength of the Beauty and Beast Squad from a distance, especially Du Bai, who ryed the situation on the battlefield to the others thanks to his powerful vision.


    Theirst encounter with a Winged Tiger had been a narrow escape from death, whereas the Beauty and Beast Squad had already quickly taken down five Winged Tigers, indicating the vast difference in strength between the two squads.


    Tang San''s n was akin to dancing on a knife''s edge.


    Indeed, Tang San''s n to spur on the tiger so they could swallow the wolf was pretty simple: using Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc Transformation''s rapid flight to guide the Winged Tigers to attack the Beauty and Beasts Squad, continuously weakening them, using their hands to kill the Winged Tigers, and finally, striking from the shadows to seize their gains.

 Chapter 184: Golden Holy Fire Astral

    <h4>Chapter 184: Golden Holy Fire Astral</h4>


    This n sounded simple, but in practice, it was challenging.


    For example, using Cheng Zicheng as bait was very risky. She was only at the fifth order, and one wrong move could mean certain death if she was caught by an adult Winged Tiger.


    Therefore, she couldn''t attract the Winged Tigers alone; Tang San had to assist her to ensure she wasn''t caught before she could fully elerate.


    Then there was Wu Bingji''s team.


    Du Bai controlled their fate. With good luck, the n would proceed smoothly, and they would be safer. Gu Li ensured the Winged Tigers would stop abruptly in the middle of their high-speed flight. Wu Bingji guided the Winged Tiger to attack with his nearly invisible ice needles.


    Wu Bingji was tense; he knew that whether it was facing the Winged Tigers or the Beauty and the Beasts team, either party was beyond their abilities to deal with.


    The enemy might think the first time they were discovered by Winged Tigers was coincidental. But the second time? That could not possibly be a coincidence. They would surely suspect that someone was messing with them.


    Thus, Tang San had carefully selected stronger Winged Tigers for the second wave��one eighth-order tiger and two seventh-order ones. A group like this was the limit for the Beauty and the Beasts team. They were tired from their previous battles, and whether they knew it was a trap or not made no difference; facing such strong foes and emerging unscathed would take all they had.


    When Wu Bingji sensed the Winged Tigers rushing in the direction he guided them in, away from him and Du Bai, the way he looked at Du Bai changed.


    Without a doubt, fate yed a significant role. Otherwise, it wouldn''t be impossible for the Winged Tigers, with its perception, to discover them, given the difference in strength.


    Gu Li''s face was pale, whether from overusing his Chrono Croc Transformation or from fear.


    When they heard the sounds of fierce battle nearby, they couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. By this point, it was clear that Tang San''s n was sessful.


    Now, all these little orioles sitting in a tree had to do was wait for mantis and the cicada to finish fighting, then swoop in to im their prize.


    "Can you see the battle over there?" Wu Bingji quietly asked Du Bai.


    "I can''t. I''m too tired. I��ll have to rest for a bit." Maintaining the fate enhancement had drained Du Bai. He would need the Celestial Fox Vision and the Purple Demon Eyes to peer through the tree canopy, and that was a tall order right now.


    "Eldest senior brother, what do we do now?" Gu Li quietly asked.


    Wu Bingji shook his head and said, "Stay put and wait for Little Tang''s signal. Zicheng will ry the situation here to him. He''ll surely be ready with the next steps."


    He didn''t know what Tang San would do, but he believed the Beauty and the Beast team must be going crazy by now.


    And indeed, Song Junhou was really on the verge of going mad.


    He had great confidence in his strength and golden bloodline, but that also depended on the opponents. If he faced opponents that were too great in numbers or in strength, even he couldn''t withstand them!


    When the three Winged Tigers madly charged at them, Song Junhou''s face turned pale.


    If it were just three seventh-order tigers, his team could manage, but one of them was eighth-order. In terms of strength, they were on par with Song Junhou''s team, especially after their previous two battles.


    The three Winged Tigers would certainly not consider them friends, as they carried the bloody scent of the previously in Winged Tigers. These demonic beasts would not misidentify the smell of their kind.


    The eighth-order Winged Tiger''s eyes were a bright cyan. Facing those smeared with the blood of its kin, it didn''t hesitate for even a moment. des of wind, solid as reality itself, roared forth under the push of Wind Astral, transforming into a sweeping storm.


    The Beauty and the Beasts team could no longer afford to specte about who was plotting against them. Song Junhou dashed out in a sh, no longer fighting in human form. Apanied by a mighty roar, he transformed into a golden lion over eight meters long, and his dazzling golden mes burst forth. His mighty bloodline power was unleashed without restraint. The Golden Holy Fire surged instantly, colliding with the storm. Immediately, golden mes erupted in the forest, turning many trees into ash.


    In peak condition, even facing an eighth-order Winged Tiger, Song Junhou would be confident in defeating it. But the previous two battles had taken their toll. After all, the Winged Tigers were powerful demon beasts. Continuous use of the Golden Holy Fire had caused his bloodline power to deplete, and at his level, it would take some time to recover. Only at the ninth order would his recovery truly elerate.


    The eighth-order Winged Tiger opposite was not ordinary; it was a pinnacle eighth-order powerhouse, close to the level of a Tiger King. Each of its hairs was imbued with Wind Astral, making it look as if it were carved from cyan jade.


    The Golden Holy Fire Astral blocked the Winged Tiger''s storm, but it visibly lost power in the process.


    The Golden Lion Song Junhou had transformed into roared, "Use all you have and let��s end this quickly! Other enemies are lurking in the dark!"


    Intense golden mes enveloped him as he spoke, and a massive golden lion silhouette emerged behind him. It merged with him immediately, and his eyes turned pure gold. On his forehead, a faint golden light shadow emerged.


    A golden crown only appeared on demons with golden bloodlines, or those of an even higher tier. Although the golden crown on Song Junhou��s head still looked very ethereal, as if it had just been condensed and not yet solidified, the fact that he could form a shadow of a golden crown also proved the purity of his bloodline, and it indicated a future possibility of him leading the lion ns.


    With the emergence of the Golden Crown, Song Junhou''s aura surged, elevating him to the pinnacle of the eighth order. The crown radiated a golden light that formed a halo around it, causing the cyan light on the opposing eighth-order Winged Tiger to noticeably weaken and proving that bloodline suppression was still effective.


    The madness in the eyes of the eighth-order Winged Tiger visibly diminished, and a hint of caution appeared in its gaze. Although it wasn''t truly intelligent, it knew opportunity and danger when faced with them.


    Three massive wind des slowly condensed in front of it. They looked perfectly solid, much unlike something made of air, and they reached a frightening five meters in length.


    The Winged Tiger let out a resounding roar at the sky. Among the three wind des, two shot directly toward Song Junhou, while the third soared into the sky, turning into a bright cyan light.


    Song Junhou''s pupils contracted instantly. Calling for help��this creature was calling for reinforcements!


    They could not afford to waste time; if more Winged Tigers were drawn in, even they would be in danger.


    At this moment, he held nothing back. As he pounced forward, he was enveloped in an even more intenseyer of golden light, which expanded outward and then merged into a silhouette around his body, making his original eight-meter length increase to ten meters.


    This was the Golden Holy Fire Astral, formed by the condensation of the Golden Holy Fire, a powerful ability that could only be cultivated by the golden bloodline.


    The two massive wind des had barely reached him when they were instantly shattered by his ws. He then lunged directly at the eighth-order Winged Tiger.


    The Wind Astral of the eighth-order Winged Tiger was also at its peak. As they collided, gold and cyan lights burst out continuously. The eighth-order Winged Tiger was forced to retreat step by step under Song Junhou''s attack. It waspletely suppressed in both strength and attributes.


    While Song Junhou unleashed its fullbat power to suppress the eighth-order Winged Tiger, his teammates were also engaged in battle with the two seventh-order ones.

 Chapter 185: Looking From The Sidelines

    <h4>Chapter 185: Looking From The Sidelines</h4>


    The seventh-order Ironback Ape and the seventh-order Cat Demon started confronting the two seventh-order Winged Tigers.


    The Ironback Ape also reverted to its original form, its stature swelling to over six meters. It discarded its iron rod, instead using its incredibly tough body as both weapon and shield to withstand the Wind Astral attacks and go head-to-head with the seventh-order Winged Tiger.


    The Cat Demon disyed astonishing speed, rapidly darting through the air. The sixth-order Bear Demon blocked the front, coordinating with the Cat Demon in the attack.


    The Shadow Bird continuouslyunched sneak attacks from the shadows, leaving multiple wounds on the two seventh-order Winged Tigers.


    Mei Gongzi calmly wielded her Peacock Plume. Each thrust created a series of afterimages, targeting the eyes of the seventh-order Winged Tigers, greatly distracting them.


    If Wu Bingji and his team could have seen the situation on the battlefield, they would surely have been astonished. The Beauty and the Beasts team quickly gained the upper hand, even whilst facing one eighth-order and two seventh-order Winged Tigers.


    And what about Tang San at this moment? He was at a distance!


    Cheng Zicheng, pale-faced, followed closely by his side. The two rapid sprints had greatly exhausted her, especially with the formidable Winged Tiger in pursuit. She feared being torn apart in mid-air by the Winged Tigers�� ws.


    Tang San gazed into the distance, observing the situation on the battlefield. When he saw a st of Wind Astral explode, the corners of his mouth slightly curled up.


    He had never underestimated thebat strength of the Beauty and the Beasts team.


    Mei Gongzi had the confidence to emerge unscathed even when facing five eighth-order Peacock Demons. So, how could one single eighth-order Winged Tiger possibly pose a threat to her? And the Golden Lion Dog, being a descendant of the golden family, definitely had some trump cards.


    Therefore, Tang San never believed an eighth-order Winged Tiger could threaten this team. Otherwise, Kali Academy wouldn''t have let them undertake missions without an apanying teacher.


    With that in mind, the most significant opponent he reserved for the Golden Lion Dog was not at the eighth order.


    If in the previous battles against the Winged Tigers, the Beauty and the Beast team had been more than capable of suppressing their opponents, now they were going all out. Continuousbat had significantly drained their bloodline power. In addition, they had begun to sense something amiss with this situation.


    How could they not consider the possibility of enemies lurking in the shadows, deliberately drawing the Winged Tigers to attack them? An intangible shadow loomed, casting a heavy feeling in their hearts.


    At this time, Song Junhou fully demonstrated the formidable strength of a descendant of a golden bloodline n.


    One of the best traits of demons with such a bloodline was that they had much tougher meridians, which allowed them to use their power at a higher intensity and for a longer time than demons with inferior bloodlines. The power of the unleashed Golden Holy Fire was formidable, and even the eighth-order Winged Tiger didn''t dare to let the Golden Holy Fire touch it, so it maintained its Wind Astral at maximum intensity.


    "What should we do now?" Cheng Zicheng quietly asked Tang San.


    Tang San said, "Senior sister, your task ispleted. Leave the rest to me. Circle around them and meet with the eldest senior brother. Be ready to assist meter."


    "Okay." Even Cheng Zicheng didn''t know when they had all started to have such blind trust in Tang San. It seemed like no matter what he did, there would be no issues, and every decision he made was correct.


    Cheng Zicheng quickly left, while Tang San stayed in ce, silently observing the distant battle.


    Then, he took out a ck gold crossbow bolt and carefully sliced open his left index finger.


    A drop of blood was squeezed out, and Tang San''s eyes lit up. The bloodline energy in his body surged as the Mysterious Heaven Technique rapidly circted. His spiritual power was infused into the blood, enveloping it with concentrated wind elemental energy. His eyes instantly turned cyan, and with a sh of light, the Wind Astral carried the blood drop towards the Beauty and the Beast team in the distance.


    Imbued with that trace of Tang San''s spiritual power, the drop of blood took on a faint golden hue. It was not ordinary blood, but a drop of Tang San''s blood essence, containing the core power of his bloodline. Even though it was just a drop, his face turned slightly pale once it was squeezed out, indicating that he was feeling some weakness.


    The Wind Astral carrying this drop of blood essence reached above where the Beauty and the Beast team and the three Winged Tigers were fighting. There, the light shattered, and the trace of spiritual power Tang San had ced in the drop of blood essence instantly erupted.


    The drop exploded instantly, releasing a dense fluctuation of bloodline aura.


    The Beauty and the Beast team and the three Winged Tigers fighting below all noticed the explosion. However, due to Tang San''s Wind Astral, the Winged Tigers didn''t feel the bloodline aura. At the same time, the Beauty and the Beasts team was startled, instinctively thinking another Winged Tiger was approaching. However, the power of the Wind Astral wasn''t all that great, so they didn''t pay much attention to it.


    After this, Tang San rapidly concealed his presence, restricting his aura while activating the Discerning Eye of Heaven to mask the elemental fluctuations around him. At the same time, he activated his sixth bloodline imprint, the Blue Silver Emperor, mimicking the aura of nts. Moving through the forest and covered by surrounding vegetation, he seemed to vanish into thin air as he approached.


    Tang San had always acted purposefully and meticulously in his three lifetimes before taking action. He would not take risks lightly unless in exceptional circumstances.


    Neither the Winged Tigers nor the Beauty and the Beasts team were opponents the Redemption Society team could handle. But his strategy of spurring on the tiger so he could swallow the wolf did not involve handling either party; the entire point of it was to reap the benefits. And now, the climax was about to unfold.


    Song Junhou''s face was solemn, and the massive shadow of the Golden Lion flickered behind him. As he deployed the full power of his golden bloodline, his strength was immense. The eighth-order Winged Tiger was increasingly suppressed, its Wind Astral weakening under the scorching of the Golden Holy Fire, and it was starting to falter.


    The situation of the other two seventh-order Winged Tigers was not good either. Under the other Beauty and Beasts team members'' joint attack, they also sustained multiple injuries.


    While fighting, Song Junhou pondered in his heart, wondering about this hidden enemy.


    There was no doubt that this hidden enemy was not stronger than them; otherwise, they would have attacked directly without suchplications. However, while the Winged Tigers were not a threat to them individually, the fact that they kepting still posed a significant problem. This hidden enemy seemed adept at speed��the golden bird demon that had flown ahead earlier seemed to be the enemy, or at least one of them. Were they other students from the academy? It probably wasn''t the Peacock Demon n, as their strength didn''t warrant such secrecy.


    In any case, they would have to deal with the Winged Tigers in front of them first.


    At the same time, Song Junhou started to wonder��once these three were dealt with, what would the enemy do next?


    <i>No...I don��t want to find out. Once we��re done with these three, we are out of here.</i>


    The Golden Holy Fire surged again, and Song Junhou''s entire body shimmered with golden light. He suddenly shouted, "Condense!"


    The Golden Holy Fire around him instantly condensed into vast lion ws. They were as sharp as swords, and they whistled through the air as they fiercely fell upon the Winged Tiger.


    At the same time, his bloodline aura also surged tremendously. The eighth-order Winged Tiger noticeably stiffened because of the bloodline suppression, and the next instant, the sharp lion ws were already in front of it.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    The eighth-order Winged Tiger was struck and sent flying. For the first time, its Wind Astral shield was fully shattered. Bone-deep w marks turned it bloodied, and the apanying Holy Fire Golden Astral scorched its body, causing the Winged Tiger to emit a heart-wrenching roar.


    However, it didn''t continue to fight. Instead, it suddenly pped its wings and turned to flee.

 Chapter 186: The Power of the Golden Holy Fire

    <h4>Chapter 186: The Power of the Golden Holy Fire</h4>


    Although demonic beastscked intelligence, their survival instincts were strong. Confronted by an unbeatable opponent, the beast knew that disaster was looming and opted to flee.


    "Thinking of running away?" Song Junhou had already red up in genuine anger. Having grievously wounded the Winged Tiger, how could he let it escape?


    Winged Tigers, after all, were excellent sprinters. If it managed to open up some distance, he would be hard pressed to catch it afterward.


    The Winged Tiger barely managed to gather the Wind Astral again. It immediately pped its wings and prepared to soar into the sky.


    At that moment, the Golden Holy Fire behind Song Junhou exploded. It propelled him forward like a cannonball, and it instantly caught up with the Winged Tiger. His ws fiercely grabbed the wings of the eighth-order demonic beast, and the Golden Holy Fire once more erupted in a ze.


    The Golden Holy Fire that was already burning inside the Winged Tiger��s wounds suddenly surged, almost instantly invading its body. Song Junhou''s eyes shone with golden light as the fierce golden mes swept downward, suppressing the Winged Tiger and smashing it directly to the ground.


    The Golden Holy Fire on the Winged Tiger burned even more intensely, turning it into a massive golden fireball. It screamed continuously, but it was utterly unable to break free.


    Tang San had drawn closer, and he couldn''t help but be shocked by the scene before him. The power of the eighth-order Winged Tiger was not anything to scoff at, but it could not even contend against the Golden Holy Fire. Moreover, he could feel that the Golden Holy Fire burning on the Winged Tiger was fueled not by Song Junhou��s energy, but by the tiger��s own body and bloodline power. The Golden Holy Fire had ignited the bloodline of the Winged Tiger, and it was burning more and more fiercely.


    A momentter, an even more bizarre scene unfolded: Song Junhou absorbed these burning golden mes. Under Tang San��s astonished gaze, his previously depleted physical strength and bloodline power were recovering rapidly.


    <i>Oh, so the Golden Holy Fire can do something like this? What a unique and powerful ability! Truly befitting of a golden bloodline!</i>


    However, Tang San also felt pangs of regret; if he allowed it to burn like this, all the valuable parts of the eighth-order Winged Tiger would be incinerated.


    Previously, Song Junhou had not done this; obviously, he was also unwilling to ruin his own profits. But now, with a powerful enemy lurking in the shadows, he could no longer afford to be frugal. He directly used this powerful ability of the Golden Holy Fire, allowing himself to recover to his peak.


    The intense golden mes zed, and the screams of the eighth-order Winged Tiger beneath him weakened.


    Just then, the earth-shattering roar of a tiger suddenly rang out.


    Hearing this roar, the Winged Tiger suppressed by Song Junhou suddenly let out a roar in response, perhaps in a final burst of strength, and the golden mes wrapping it burst outward. A dazzling cyan light burst out from within it, forcibly pushing Song Jun away.


    The golden lion transformed by Song Junhou shimmered in its eyes, revealing a trace of surprise as it gazed upward into the sky.


    The eighth-order Winged Tiger scorched by the Golden Holy Fire seemed to have expended itsst breath of life, and it was now lying prostrate and weakened on the ground, on the verge of death.


    Meanwhile, the other two seventh-order Winged Tigers also heard the deafening roar, but their reaction was very different. They showed no sign of fleeing; instead, theyunched a crazy, all-out assault. Their Wind Astrals exploded forward, turning the tides and forcing the Ironback Ape and the Cat Demon to retreat continuously, barely holding their ground with Mei Gongzi''s support.


    The sky seemed to darken in an instant, and the next moment, the wind element in the air suddenly intensified... and the gusts of wind carried a bloody scent as they swept through the forest.


    Then, something even more terrifying happened.


    Loud tiger roars resounded, clearly not from just one Winged Tiger. The piercing howls made the valley seem alive and filled with madness.


    Song Junhou''s face changed drastically, and without hesitation, he bellowed, "Quick, break through!"


    As it spoke, Song Junhou lunged without hesitation toward the seventh-order Winged Tiger in front of the Cat Demon. The dazzling Golden Holy Fire formed into a lion''s paw, swatting the Winged Tiger and wounding it grievously. He followed up with a leap and his tail swept across, striking the other seventh-order Winged Tiger. In perfect coordination, the Ironback Ape smashed the tiger with its rod, breaking apart the tiger��s Wind Astral and its shoulder in one go.


    But at this moment, they could no longer afford to continue attacking the two seventh-order Winged Tigers. Without a moment of hesitation, the seven-member team turned and ran away, led by Song Junhou.


    Meanwhile, Tang San had already concealed himself in the canopy of arge tree, using the Discerning Eye of Heaven to hide his aura, ensuring that not even a trace of it was detectable.


    A massive Winged Tiger flew swiftly into the sky, heading straight toward where Song Junhou''s team was retreating. Moreover, Winged Tigers from all directions converged, all pursuing Song Junhou and his team.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. He realized that he might have gone too far.


    He had released a drop of his blood in order to spread his own aura around, aiming to attract the Winged Tiger King, who considered him an enemy.


    Thest time, they had killed the Winged Tiger King''s mate, and with both mate and child dead, the impact on the Winged Tiger King was imaginable.


    Under Zhang Haoxuan''s onught, the Winged Tiger King was injured and forced to retreat. However, remembering an enemy''s scent, aura, and other characteristics was a natural ability for these mighty beasts. The moment Tang San released his blood and aura, he was almost immediately detected.


    Through the use of the Discerning Eye of Heaven and the control of his mighty spiritual power, Tang San had released this aura toward Song Junhou.


    The Golden Holy Fire protected Song Junhou. As soon as the blood got close to him, it was naturally incinerated, but Tang San��s aura had already infiltrated.


    This was Tang San''s gift to the Golden Lion Dog.


    But even Tang San hadn''t anticipated that this time, the Winged Tiger King wouldn''t juste for revenge by himself, but rather call upon all the Winged Tigers in the area to join the battle. Indeed, he might have gone too far!


    No matter how fast Song Junhou and its team ran, could they outpace the Winged Tigers, adept in wind element control and with literal wings on their backs? Getting out of this situation was not going to be easy.


    After a brief moment of surprise, however, Tang San regained hisposure. He wasn''t overly concerned about the safety of the Beauty and the Beasts team. After all, Song Junhou indeed had some skill, as a member of a golden bloodline. As evident from the strength he had just disyed, even in a one-on-one fight with the Winged Tiger King, it might not win, but he wouldn''t lose either. The only issue was the previous exhaustion.


    Moreover, there was Mei Gongzi. The fact that Mei Gongzi could face five eighth-order Peacock Demon elites so calmly suggested that she could confront ninth-order powerhouses. Tang San was watching secretly anyway and he would assist her at a critical moment, ensuring her safety.


    Finally, Tang San��s master was also watching from the sidelines, and Tang San knew that he would intervene if necessary. So rather than worrying about solving this situation, Tang San��s worry was dealing with the numerous Winged Tiger corpses; disposing of them might not be easy!


    In this brief moment, dozens of Winged Tigers had flown past, all at least at the seventh order, with several being eighth-order. Led by the Winged Tiger King, they pursued relentlessly.


    Tang San descended from the sky next to the two injured seventh-order Winged Tigers lying on the ground. They had at most twenty percent of theirbat strength left, and at this moment, this was the safest spot in the area; the Winged Tigers who were in peak shape were going after their enemies.

 Chapter 187: The Gifts of the Winged Tigers

    <h4>Chapter 187: The Gifts of the Winged Tigers</h4>


    Without much effort, Tang San disposed of the two severely injured seventh-order Winged Tigers, then put them away, together with the fatally wounded eighth-order Winged Tiger, into his storage pouch.


    This haul alone surpassed the total of theirst training expedition.


    Instead of rejoining hispanions, Tang San continued to conceal his aura and pursued the direction of the Winged Tiger pack. He prioritized ensuring Mei Gongzi''s safety, though he also intended to seize any opportunities that happened toe his way. His only concern was the limited space in his storage pouch; it couldn''t hold many more Winged Tigers.


    Winged Tigers, by nature, were not pack creatures; they lived in family units. However, the ninth-order Winged Tiger King was the true sovereign in this territory. In times of crisis, its call to arms would naturally be heeded by all Winged Tigers.


    Winged Tigers were formidable creatures to begin with, and with their king at the ninth order��the pinnacle for demonic beasts��they were apex predators in the Kali Mountains. Normally, god-level demons disdained hunting them, so they lived practically undisturbed. However, the recent attack, which had resulted in the death of the Winged Tiger King''s mate and offspring, had agitated the entire n.


    Thus, the gift Tang San presented to Mei Gongzi''s team was formidable.


    Song Junhou was inwardly groaning, unable to fathom why things had suddenly turned out this way. He had never heard of anyone being hunted by a whole n during training in the Kali Mountains, especially since Winged Tigers weren''t pack creatures. How could he be so unlucky?


    Previously, he had somewhat restored his bloodline energy by devouring the bloodline energy of an eighth-order Winged Tiger through the Golden Holy Fire. However, the golden bloodline essence that allowed the Golden Holy Fire to burn was not recuperated. With the Golden Holy Fire Astral, he could restore his overall energy by burning the enemy''s bloodline energy, but the golden bloodline essence would be consumed and that took time to recover.


    <i>Ninth order! The tiger that roared just now must have been a ninth-order Winged Tiger King, otherwise why would those injured Winged Tigers fight so desperately all of a sudden?</i>


    Both the Ironback Ape and the Cat Demon had sustained minor injuries, bleeding from wounds inflicted by the Wind Astral. Although the other team members were uninjured, they had expended plenty of energy in the previous battles. They might have had a chance to fight a demonic beast king to death, but injuries were inevitable. More importantly, it wasn''t just the Winged Tiger Kinging; it was also bringing its army! Song Junhou could sense them clearly.


    In terms of power, they couldn��t win. In terms of speed, they couldn''t run. What to do then?


    Song Junhou turned to look at hispanions, and his gaze locked on Mei Gongzi. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then suddenly paused.


    Mei Gongzi''s expression remained cool and detached. She simply ran alongside the team without betraying any emotion. In contrast to the other members'' panic, she seemed prettyposed.


    A thought struck Song Junhou, and he shouted, ��This won''t do. The Winged Tigers are too fast, we can��t outrun them. They''ll catch up soon. You go ahead, I''ll cover the rear.��


    ��Captain, how can we do that? How can we let you take the risk alone?�� The Bear Demon, true to its role as Song Junhou''s loyal subordinate, voiced its concern at the crucial moment.


    ��Enough talk, go ahead.�� Song Junhou abruptly halted, turned, leaped over the heads of his team members, and positioned himself behind them.


    The Ironback Ape and the Cat Demon exchanged nces and then, without hesitation, ran forward even faster. Mei Gongzi showed no intention of turning back. As for the Skunk Demon and the Shadow Sparrow, it was even less likely for them to stay behind, as their directbat abilities were no match for even a seventh-order Winged Tiger, let alone the Winged Tiger King.


    Only the sixth-order Bear Demon stopped and stood by Song Junhou''s side.


    ��Idiot, go! What use is there for you to stay?�� Song Junhou turned and kicked the Bear Demon in the hip, sending it tumbling.


    Just as the Bear Demon opened his mouth to say something, a colossal figure descended from the sky, pouncing straight at Song Junhou.


    The ninth-order Winged Tiger King unleashed its full power. The sharp Wind Astral energy burst forth instantly, shredding the surrounding trees inrge swathes. Like giant scythes, the streaks of blue light cleaved directly toward Song Junhou.


    ��<i>Roar��</i>�� Song Junhou let out a great lion roar, and his body once more radiated golden light.


    He was staying behind for several reasons. They simply couldn''t outrun the Winged Tigers, and rather than being continuously hunted, it was better to make a stand. Also, when the Peacock Demon n besieged Mei Gongzi, the fact that he had just led the team away and fled had clearly left a bad impression on her. This was the best opportunity to turn that around.


    Mei Gongzi''s safe emergence from an encounter with five eighth-order Peacock Demons held some secret, which Song Junhou regretted not knowing. He didn''t want to miss this chance to reconcile, but more importantly, he really wanted to see what Mei Gongzi''s trump card was. With so many Winged Tigers chasing them, it was unlikely they were all just after him. The worst he would have to face was the Winged Tiger King.


    Of course, the most crucial point was that he still had an ace in the sleeve. As a direct descendant of a golden bloodline n, he naturally had some assurance.


    Thus, he chose to stay behind, his back ramrod straight even as he faced the risk of death.


    The fierce Golden Holy Fire burned, elevating Song Junhou''s stature. His right w struck out like lightning, emitting a piercing screech as it cut through the air. The Golden Holy Fire shed with the Wind Astral, turning thetter golden.


    Song Junhou revealed his true form, and his whole body burst out with blinding light. His golden mane stood on end, his presence in no way inferior to the ninth-order Winged Tiger��s.


    A violent roar erupted from the collision, with the wind and fire elements fiercely colliding and devastating everything around. In an instant, the vegetation around them was shredded and burned, and dust and stones flew.


    The sh of these two powerhouses caused the elemental energy in the area to stir wildly.


    The Bear Demon finally came to its senses. Being only at the sixth order, it was useless in such a battle. But as it thought to flee, figures descended from the sky. Fierce Winged Tigersnded one after another, converging from all sides.


    It was genuinely a menacing sight! Under their gaze, the little courage the Bear Demon had mustered instantly crumbled. Its face paled as it kept retreating, but behind it was the battleground of the two powerhouses, a ce it couldn''t approach.


    "Boss, boss, help! Help, they''re alling!" The Bear Demon was nearly paralyzed with fright, overwhelmed by intense fear and feeling the terrifying fluctuations of the wind element around it.


    Little did it know, its boss''s mind was also filled with curses.


    Song Junhou never imagined that the Winged Tigers would not even think to pursue Mei Gongzi and the others. They actually chose to surround him alone!


    The effect of that drop of Tang San''s blood essence was indeed extraordinary. Naturally, Song Junhou wouldn��t know that the weak energy fluctuation he had sensed earlier came from the blood of the Winged Tiger King��s mortal enemy.


    The Winged Tiger King couldn''t recognize the appearance of its enemy; all it remembered was the aura of the one who had in its wife that day. At that time, it was engaged in battle with Zhang Haoxuan and didn''t see what was happening on Tang San''s side of the battlefield. But the enemy before it now bore that same aura, and considering his strength, he certainly seemed capable of killing its wife. Even with its undeveloped brain, this level of reasoning was not beyond it.


    By now, Tang San had arrived nearby. Witnessing this scene, he felt a surge of shock, but then he rxed. If Mei Gongzi had been among those besieged, he would have needed to find a way to intervene and rescue her at any moment. But Mei Gongzi wasn''t among those under attack. She had already left. So, it was time to sit back and watch the beasts fight.


    <i>What a fierce battle between lions and tigers!</i>

 Chapter 188: Ancestral Possession

    <h4>Chapter 188: Ancestral Possession</h4>


    Song Junhou''sbat experience was indeed considerable. With the Winged Tigers closing in, he knew that further trouble was brewing.


    Even facing a single Winged Tiger King was already a formidable task, as it was a ninth-order powerhouse while he was only at the eighth. Only by leveraging his golden bloodline could he narrow this gap. However, the prior exertion had taken a considerable toll, and with so many Winged Tigers around��four of them at the eighth order and the rest at the seventh... it would be like ants overpowering an elephant, except he was no elephant and they were no ants.


    He <i>had</i> to flee and he had to flee now.


    In an instant, he made his decision. Continuing the fight would lead to certain death. Escape was the only viable option.


    A fierce golden light suddenly burst forth, and the golden lion silhouette emerged again.


    With its appearance, the Winged Tiger King''s attacks were slightly weakened. In the next moment, Song Junhou erupted into action!


    His body suddenly erged, and the golden silhouette behind him merged with him directly. The surrounding air shimmered with faint golden light, and even the sky itself brightened, now adorned with a golden glow.


    As he observed from a distance, Tang San felt a unique power awakening in the world around him. A power far surpassing the Winged Tiger King and Song Junhou suddenly surged.


    In the distant sky, a golden lion''s head slowly emerged. The colossal golden lion''s head, spanning hundreds of meters, appeared, and at that moment, all the Winged Tigers present subconsciously felt their legs go weak as if they were about to prostrate themselves.


    Even from a distance, Tang San could sense this dreadful pressure. However, white light swirled in his eyes, and a proud bloodline aura instantly spread throughout his body, breaking free from that suppression. It was the effect of the Celestial Fox bloodline. The Celestial Fox bloodline��s level undoubtedly surpassed the terrifying aura that was suppressing them.


    A deep roar echoed throughout the forest. "Great Ancestor, please allow me to borrow your power and let the golden radiance spread across thend!"


    The next moment, the body of Song Junhao, which had already expanded to fifteen meters, turned far bigger, and a golden crown slowly emerged. The terrifying aura rendered even the ninth-order Winged Tiger King immobile.


    <i>ROOAAAARRRR!!!</i>


    The massive golden lion let out a deafening roar. It swung its w, forcefully sending the Winged Tiger King, covered in Wind Astral, flying.


    The protective Wind Astral wrapping the Winged Tiger King shattered, and the enormous ws nearly tore the tiger in half


    Among the surrounding Winged Tigers, the seventh-order Winged Tigers almost copsed to the ground, unable to resist the sudden burst of overwhelming aura. This was the power of the Golden Mind, the aura of the Golden Lion Demon n ancestors.


    A hint of disdain flickered in the golden lion''s eyes. The next instant, one of its sharp ws struck the ground, picking up the Bear Demon. With a sh of golden light, it then transformed into a golden lightning bolt, flying toward the golden lion''s head floating in the air.


    The massive lion��s head and the smaller yet still huge lion in which Song Junhou had transformed shrank down instantly, closing the distance between them at the same time. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared without a trace.


    In Tang San''s eyes, this scene was truly breathtaking.


    The power unleashed by Song Junhao just now was no less than that of a ninth-order pinnacle expert. Although it had not quite reached the level of a god,bined with the pressure of the golden bloodline, it was no different from a god-level expert to the demonic beasts.


    The Winged Tiger King was heavily wounded in an instant, and Song Junhao actually managed to escape thanks to his ancestor''s power taking over. Although it was clear that it could only be unleashed for an instant, such a trump card was indeed terrifying.


    Tang San had a clear sense of self-awareness. If it were him, unless he ignited all of his divine consciousness, he would be instantly devoured by the formidable Golden Holy Fire. He was already considering this golden bloodline for when he was able to absorb a seventh bloodline imprint.


    Just then, the Winged Tiger King, who had been heavily wounded, struggled to rise slowly and roared in defiance. Large mouthfuls of greenish-blue blood sprayed from its mouth, and its vitality rapidly faded.


    The four eight-order Winged Tigers seemed to understand its intention. They all pped their wings, soared high into the sky, and pursued Song Junhao, who was escaping into the sky.


    The Winged Tiger King wobbled, then fell back to the ground. Although the injuries it had just suffered were not fatal, they were extremely severe, leaving it incapable of chasing the enemy any longer. However, as a ninth-order peak beast, it had some measure of sentience and could naturally see that the strong warrior that had injured it was on hisst legs, with no strength left for furtherbat. Its actions moments ago were a message to its subordinates that they had to kill the Golden Lion at all costs; otherwise, if they attracted the attention of his n, their species would likely face extinction.


    Seeing the four eighth-order Winged Tigers fly away, Tang San didn''t dare to dy and quickly activated his Golden Roc Transformation, closely following them in low-altitude flight.


    Song Junhou had used his ultimate trump card and he had definitely depleted his strength. In this situation, his first choice after escaping was undoubtedly to rendezvous with Mei Gongzi and the others. However, the four eighth-order Winged Tigers in pursuit might still catch up by following his aura.


    Mei Gongzi''s safety was the top priority for Tang San. Despite the presence of many incapacitated seventh-order Winged Tigers and a heavily injured ninth-order Winged Tiger King, he couldn''t afford to wait. Protecting Mei Gongzi was paramount.


    Moments after he left, however, a figure silently appeared before the Winged Tiger King. And when it saw this figure, the Winged Tiger King let out a roar filled with unwillingness and despair....


    The speed of the flight offered by the Golden Roc Transformation was simply ridiculous. Although Tang San''s Golden Roc Transformation level was slightly lower than Cheng Zicheng''s, his cultivation was far superior. With the longsting energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, he could continue flying for a much longer time.


    The Winged Tigers soared high in the sky, but unbeknownst to them, they were closely followed by Tang San, who was flying low among the trees without falling behind. Thanks to the guidance of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, the trees ahead might just as well not exist. Tang San easily adjusted his direction, maintaining considerable speed even as he flew through the forest.


    Judging from the speed at which Song Junhou had fled, he was definitely five kilometers away at the very least. Had it not been for themand of the Winged Tiger King, it was doubtful that the other Winged Tigers would have pursued. Song Junhou''s indeed had bad luck.


    Of course, Song Junhou��s misfortune was not without reason. Cursed by two Celestial Fox Visions, it would have been stranger if his luck were good.


    Tang San had no worries about not finding them; he simply followed the pack.


    He had to admit that the Beauty and the Beasts team was just as fast to flee as it was to fight. It took a good half hour before the eighth-order Winged Tigers in the air seemed to discover something, and they suddenly changed direction and elerated.


    In the end, the Kali Academy team was still bound to be caught.


    Tang San slightly slowed down and approached carefully.


    Sounds of battle emanated from not far ahead. Tang San could see various types of elemental energy converging and colliding ahead through the Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    The Beauty and the Beasts team had already regrouped by the time he got there.


    Transformed into human form, Song Junhou was on the Bear Demon��s back, his face white as a sheet. Neither of them had any strength left to fight, so they were hiding in the rear.


    Among the other five, the Ironback Ape was at the forefront, with the Cat Demon and Shadow Sparrow on either side. The Skunk Demon, shivering in the rear, was so frightened that it dared not even make a sound. Mei Gongzi held the central position.


    The Beauty and the Beast squad seemed in dire straits, and the troubled expressions on their faces were a far cry from their earlier demeanor.

 Chapter 189: Mei Gongzi鈥檚 Spatial Mystery

    <h4>Chapter 189: Mei Gongzi��s Spatial Mystery</h4>


    Tang San stopped behind arge tree, quietly taking out his Godly Zhuge Crossbow, ready to act at any moment.


    Observing the battle between the Beauty and the Beasts team and the tigers, he couldn''t help but be impressed by the strength of the demon races��especially Song Junhou, who had managed to break through the blockade despite being surrounded by numerous Winged Tigers.


    Had it not been for Tang San��s strategy and the fact that he and Du Bai had deprived Song Junhou of his fortune using the Celestial Fox Vision, with his strength, he could have roamed the Kali Mountain unchallenged.


    Mei Gongzi remained indifferent, seemingly unaffected by everything that had happened earlier.


    Four eighth-order Winged Tigers approached slowly from four directions. The powerful Wind Astral surrounding them merged into a great wall, pressing toward the Beauty and the Beasts team.


    Their focus was on Song Junhou because of the formidable strength he had disyed earlier. Especially the scene where he had summoned the power of his ancestor, which still left these eighth-order Winged Tigers somewhat intimidated.


    At this moment, Song Junhou clearly had no no strength left for battle. He was as pale as paper; activating the ancestral possession required a significant consumption of his golden bloodline essence, and now he couldn''t even use his Golden Holy Fire.


    Initially, he thought that with this deterrence and his severely injuring the Tiger King, he could escape the territory of the Winged Tigers and they would not pursue further. But unexpectedly, the relentless Winged Tigers continued their chase, cornering them into a dead end.


    With the speed of the Winged Tigers, the team couldn''t outrun them. Their only option was to fight with their backs to the wall.


    "Captain, what do we do?" the Ironback Ape asked loudly.


    Song Junhou gave a bitter smile/ "Our only choice is a desperate battle. I''ve severely injured the ninth-order Winged Tiger King, but my strength is almost depleted. I can''t continue to fight. It''s up to you to fight to the death. We can''t run away."


    The Beauty and the Beasts team still had six fighters left: the Ironback Ape, Cat Demon, Shadow Sparrow, Bear Demon, Skunk Demon, and Mei Gongzi. However, the Skunk Demon might as well not be there, especially against the Winged Tigers whose main attribute was the wind element. In other words, there were only two seventh-order fighters among them, while their opponents were four eighth-order powerhouses.


    The Cat Demon felt the current situation was eerily simr to when four eighth-order Peacock Demon powerhouses besieged Mei Gongzi. And now, they were all under attack, an ironic twist of fate.


    "Let''s fight!" the Ironback Ape roared. Its figure swelled as its bloodline power ignited, unleashing its most potent strength.


    The Bear Demon also put down Song Junhou, stepped forward, and activated its bloodline power, its body swelling in size.


    "Step back," a cold voice said at that moment.


    Mei Gongzi slowly emerged from between their burly figures.


    Only thirteen years old and about 1.6 meters tall, she appeared small and delicatepared to her monstrous demon teammates. Her beautiful face was cold and expressionless. Yet, for some reason, as she stepped forward, both the Ironback Ape and the Bear Demon subconsciously took two steps back.


    The elongated peacock feathers shimmered in a deep, mysterious peacock blue, and as Mei Gongzi took each step, her aura began to change.


    Her jet-ck hair and eyes had turned a peacock blue. While her aura didn��t increase much, everything around seemed to darken instantly, as if her body was devouring all the light.


    The four eighth-order Winged Tigers almost simultaneously stopped in their tracks, their gazes filled with wariness as they watched Mei Gongzi.


    Just then, a pair of enormous peacock wings unfurled from Mei Gongzi''s back. Each densely packed feather radiated a soft glow. Golden patterns emerged on her forehead, forming a crown-like design.


    "Peacock Golden Crown?!" the Ironback Ape blurted out almost instantly.


    At a distance, Song Junhou��s jaw dropped, and he looked at Mei Gongzi with a face full of shock and disbelief.


    At this moment, he finally understood why Wang Yan and the Peacock Demon n had retreated earlier. Even if they had a thousand times the courage, they wouldn''t dare to strike at the Golden Crown Sessor! Moreover, a Peacock Demon who had awakened the Golden Crown was iparable even to those with a golden bloodline like himself.


    Song Junhou had always held high expectations for Mei Gongzi. ording to rumors, she was one of the Peacock nsmen granted an exceptional right to session. Even so, he had never imagined that a human hybrid could awaken the Peacock Golden Crown, bing a generation''s Golden Crown Sessor.


    In his memory, it had been long since a true Golden Crown had appeared even among the pureblooded members of the n. This was the mark of a being with the potential to be a Demon Emperor!


    For a moment, as the crisis eased, the Beauty and the Beasts team members were utterly stunned.


    In the next instant, Mei Gongzi moved. A burst of blue and gold suddenly blossomed, the pleasing hue outlining a pattern of peacock tail feathers in light.


    All the surrounding green Wind Astral was instantly dyed blue and gold. Mei Gongzi''s figure seemed to disappear instantly, only to appear suddenly in every space in the field of vision. It was as if, in a moment, there were countless Mei Gongzis, behind each of them trailing a splendid swathe of peacock tail feathers.


    Peacock''s Disy, a dazzling brilliance!


    The enormous peacock wings on her back slowly closed, and the brilliant blue and gold in the air converged toward her body like a river flowing into the sea, finally merging into the peacock feathers on her back.


    The four eighth-order Winged Tigers froze in ce, motionless like sculptures, devoid of any hint of life.


    Herrades fell silent.


    "Let''s go," Mei Gongzi said softly. She retracted her peacock feathers and headed into the distance.


    Song Junhou, supporting himself, struggled to stand and followed with a stagger.


    The other members of the Beauty and the Beasts team followed with rigid movements. Thegging Skunk Demon looked at their retreating figures and then back at the four eighth-order Winged Tigers, frozen in ce like statues.


    The Skunk Demon quietly approached one of the Winged Tigers, intending to collect it in its storage bag. But the moment it touched the eighth-order Winged Tiger, there was a loud bang. The tiger instantly exploded, turning into a shower of flesh and blood that covered the Skunk Demon from head to toe.


    The Skunk Demon yelped in surprise and fled, drenched in blood, chasing after its teammates.


    Tang San stood behind the tree, unmoving for a long time. At that moment, his shock was no less than that of Mei Gongzi''s teammates.


    To be more urate, perhaps he was the only one who truly understood what Mei Gongzi had done. And precisely because he had seen it clearly, the shock in Tang San''s heart was even more intense. He now truly understood how powerful Mei Gongzi was and why she was fearless even when besieged by five Peacock Demon n powerhouses.


    It was the power of space��yes, she mastered the power of space!


    The moment she took action, she did not move forward; rather, space itself folded to let her pass. She cut through space with each flicker of the peacock feathers, leaving behind traces of fragmentation. And the torn space turned into the sharpest of des, slicing through everything within range.


    The four eighth-order Winged Tigers were thoroughly dissected in this fractured space. The space sliced their bodies from the inside out; they appeared intact on the outside, but even the slightest touch would cause them to shatter.


    Such a terrifying power of space was unheard of; even in the world of his past life, Tang San had never seen anyone wield such spatial abilities.

 Chapter 190: Returning To The Scene

    <h4>Chapter 190: Returning To The Scene</h4>


    Time and space were the most elusive and challenging elements to cultivate. These two powerful attributes were closely rted to the origin of the entire cosmos and its profound mysteries.


    Take, for instance, the Chrono Croc Transformation of Gu Li; it merely tapped slightly into the power of time, and it was far from the essence of the time attribute. Reaching the god level was likely necessary to attain a higher realm of mastery.


    However, the spatial power Mei Gongzi had disyed just now seemed to have genuinely touched the essence of space. Even Tang San couldn''t fully decipher the strange spatial fluctuations emanating from her. He could only vaguely sense a mystical fusion between her peacock feathers and the space around her. Each feather seemed to divide space intoyers, intermingling at different levels to create rifts, thus unleashing immense destructive power.


    It appears that those who previously besieged her, including her brother, did not possess such a capability. Otherwise, given that formidable control over spatial abilities, he and Mei Gonzi couldn''t have escaped so far when they were chased.


    <i>Does this mean that this is a unique ability of Mei Gongzi?</i>


    This was the true power of a first-tier bloodline.


    Yes, a first-tier bloodline.


    The Peacock Demon n inherently possessed a first-tier bloodline, each of which had unique characteristics. Tang San personally experienced the formidable power of the Celestial Fox Vision. However, when he encountered members of the Peacock Demon n, he did not truly feel the strength of that first-tier bloodline.


    Five eight-order members of the Peacock Demon n with so-called first-tier bloodlines couldn''t stop him. What kind of first-tier bloodline was that? He had been prepared to unleash his Divine Consciousness if necessary, but the opponents were much weaker than he expected, so there was no need to resort to that.


    But just now, Mei Gongzi''s sudden eruption of power had indeed showed him the terror of the Peacock Demon n.


    A n that had once produced a Demon Emperor, a n capable of controlling Kali City and reigning over it, had just revealed its profound heritage.


    Mei Gongzi, with only seventh-order cultivation, could instantly annihte four eighth-order beasts in a single move, showcasing the might of a first-tier bloodline.


    Tang San and Du Bai had elevated their Celestial Fox Vision to the fourth order, which benefited them greatly. What kind of abilities would they have if it reached the seventh order?


    Tang San had pondered this, but he found it exceedingly difficult to achieve. Enhancing the Celestial Fox Vision was challenging for them, since they were not of pure blood.


    Yet Mei Gongzi elevated her bloodline to the seventh order; clearly, she was not an ordinary member of the Peacock Demon n.


    Tang San felt a bittersweet pang in his heart. He had intended to protect Mei Gongzi, but who knew her strength would be so formidable? Even a ninth-order powerhouse might not be her match. She hardly needed his protection!


    The previously formidable Golden Lion Dog paled inparison. Despite being an order higher in cultivation, the gap in bloodline power was immense. Well, this made sense; even a golden bloodline was insignificant before the Peacock Demon King''s bloodline.


    However, even this powerful Peacock Demon n could only secure a small territory, merely controlling Kali City at the edge of the continent. How powerful, then, were the other first-tier bloodline demon ns?


    Taking a deep breath, Tang San calmed his emotions. Only then did he emerge from behind therge tree where he was hiding.


    Of the four eighth-order Winged Tigers from before, one had exploded. The other three still stood there, lifelike, almost like sculptures.


    Tang San quietly approached one of the eighth-order Winged Tigers and slowly ced his right hand on it.


    Immediately, with his extraordinary spiritual power, he could sense the state of the Winged Tiger''s body. Through the Discerning Eye of Heaven, he observed that the spatial power within the tiger caused its flesh and blood to separate, yet still maintain a bizarre equilibrium. Surprisingly, its life force had not wholly ceased.


    What level of control over spatial power would be needed to achieve this? The power of the Peacock Demon n was just too formidable.


    Tang San initially wanted to absorb some of the Winged Tiger''s bloodline power, but he realized it was impossible. The tiger''s body was riddled with spatial fissures. Suppose he used the Mysterious Heaven Technique to absorb it. In that case, the mighty spatial power with its all-rending ability might also be absorbed into his body, which would be in old suicide.


    Suddenly, Tang San noticed a strange change. On the foreheads of these three Winged Tigers, a blue pattern appeared. It was a few concentric circles of peacock blue spiraling inward like a vortex. It was both beautiful and eerie.


    A thought struck Tang San, and he first surrounded himself with the Wind Astral for protection. Then, he gently extended a finger to touch the peacock feather pattern on the forehead of the eighth-order Winged Tiger in front of him.


    <i>BANG!</i>


    In an instant, the body of the eighth-order Winged Tiger exploded, sending flesh and blood flying everywhere.


    A powerful force impacted against the Wind Astral, propelling Tang San more than ten meters away.


    A hint of contemtion shed in Tang San''s eyes, followed by a renewed expression of shock.


    He understood now. No wonder the terrifying spatial power within the eighth-order Winged Tiger was not triggered. This spatial power was constrained, and the constraint was the peacock feather pattern. All the spatial power injected into the Winged Tiger''s body was concentrated under its skin, leaving only a residual trail that formed the peacock feather pattern. Once touched, it disrupted the bnce and naturally caused an explosion.


    Then, if the person who cast it came over, could they, by using this pattern, potentially withdraw the spatial power infused into the body and give it a chance to revive?


    <i>Wait a second...</i>


    As Tang San reached this thought, he suddenly felt a shiver down his neck. In an instant, his Wind Astral burst out, protecting his back. Simultaneously, with a tap of his foot on the ground, he lunged forward.


    A sharp, cold gleam shed by where he had just been standing. His premonition of danger, connecting with him in a sh, saved his life.


    Tang San awkwardly turned in mid-air as nts on the ground around him grew wildly, instantly forming a wall of vegetation behind him.


    Even though the nt wall was torn apart the next moment, it brought him just enough time to turn around.


    Mei Gongzi''s peacock wings were spread wide behind her, each feather''s circr pattern emitting a light halo resembling a vortex.


    <i>As expected, she returned.</i>


    Upon realizing that the spatial power could be reimed, Tang San��s first thought was that she would likely return to reim it.


    The four eighth-order Winged Tigers were an absolute treasure. Since she had set the spatial power to be reimable instead of directly killing them, it meant she might return to im her prize. Tang San had just destroyed one, so Mei Gongzi''s attack on him was a response to this.


    At this moment, Tang San was wearing a different mask and dressed differently from when he appeared as Asura. Even his body shape was back to its original form, making it nearly impossible for Mei Gongzi to recognize him.


    "Who are you?" Mei Gongzi asked coldly. "Were you the one scheming against us all this time?"


    Tang San could feel the surging killing intent emanating from Mei Gongzi. Without a doubt, a poor response would likely result in a confrontation with the formidable power of the Peacock Demon King''s bloodline.


    "Don''t attack. I''m human," Tang San quickly said, using his natural voice instead of the altered one he had used.

 Chapter 191: Trying To Kill Your Husband?

    <h4>Chapter 191: Trying To Kill Your Husband?</h4>


    This decision was made in a sh. Asura''s identity should be mysterious to Mei Gongzi. Back then, he lookedpletely different from now. Approaching Mei Gongzi using Asura''s identity right now was naturally inappropriate. That identity was key to protecting her from the shadows and acting at critical moments.


    But Tang San naturally wished to be with her every moment. Therefore, he swiftly made some changes to his n.


    ��Humans? A human with two demonic bloodlines? How have I never heard of this?�� Mei Gongzi��s eyes narrowed slightly, a cold light shing within them.


    She could naturally tell that Tang San had previously used two abilities. One was simr to the Wind Astral of the Winged Tigers. The other was the ability to control nts. Dual bloodlines!


    Dual bloodlines were not unheard of among demons and nymphs, but they were very rare. In addition, such dual bloodlines were usually weaker than purebloods. These beings were also known as mixed-blood demons or nymphs and were not highly regarded. After all, let alone mixed-blood humans, even demons and nymphs with mixed bloodlines rarely reached beyond the sixth order.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. Just now, to save his life, he could not care about concealing his strength. He didn''t use Leopard sh, fearing that his identity as Asura would be exposed.


    ��Yes, that��s right. I have two bloodlines.�� As he spoke, he raised his right hand, and on his palm, orange light patterns surged, disying the Orange ss mark of the Redemption Society.


    When Mei Gongzi was willing to talk to him, Tang San knew that she would no longer attack him and that he didn''t need to reveal too much of his abilities anymore. Instead, the identity of Redemption was the best means of saving his life.


    "Orange?" Sure enough, upon seeing the orange mark, Mei Gongzi visibly rxed a bit, and the energy she was emanating grew softer.


    "Was this attack arranged by you? What was the purpose?" Mei Gongzi asked indifferently.


    Tang San replied, "The purpose was to use your team��s power to kill the winged tigers while we reap the spoils."


    He intentionally made his demeanor more respectful.


    "Do you know my identity?" Mei Gongzi said softly.


    At that moment, Tang San''s pupils suddenly contracted; without hesitation, his hands swiftly pped in front of him, and the Wind Astral exploded, propelling his body backward like a cannonball.


    He knew he was in trouble.


    Mei Gongzi''s blue-level identity in the Redemption Society was a great secret, not something an Orange ss member like him could know. He wanted to exin quickly, but Mei Gongzi didn''t give him the chance to exin and attacked directly.


    As the Wind Astral shattered, Tang San saw something like a giant peacock quietly spreading its tail feathers before him. Everything around him became stagnant, and all space seemed to fold upon itself, blurring the line between reality and illusion. The countless denseyers of space sliced toward him with their unparalleled sharp aura.


    Tang San had rarely felt such a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Without a doubt, Mei Gongzi intended to kill him. And with his current strength, he simply couldn''t withstand this strike.


    He desperately wanted to tell Mei Gongzi,<i> My dear, do you realize you''re attempting to murder your husband?</i>


    He never expected that he would have to use the divine consciousness, which he had been saving precisely to be able to reach and help Mei Gongzi, against her of all people.


    Well, if he didn''t use it, dying at the hands of his wife would be quite the irony.


    In this life-threatening moment, there was no room for hesitation. Tang San''s eyes suddenly brightened, a strange brilliance blossoming in his gaze.


    It was a soft golden hue, the strange gold flickering with a faint halo. At that instant, memories of his past life swirled in his mind, and his gaze became ethereal yet filled with warmth.


    Staring at the lethal folded space, he slowly raised his right hand, making a grasping motion in the void.


    As if sensing something, the folded space momentarily stagnated.


    Then, an explosive roar suddenly erupted. "SHOW MERCY!"


    Tang San''s grasping motion and the folded space approaching him halted simultaneously.


    Immediately following, a mass of intense firelight forcefully squeezed through, and fierce mes rose, enveloping Tang San and protecting him within.


    The blue glow receded like a tide, revealing Mei Gongzi''s figure. At this moment, her eyes held a trace of bewilderment mixed with a touch of strange brilliance.


    Zhang Haoxuan stood in front of Tang San, gasping for breath.<i> So damn close! Just a bitter and it would have been catastrophic!</i>


    If he had been one secondte, his beloved disciple, the child upon whom he had ced his greatest hopes, might have been torn apart by his own people.


    Mei Gongzi fixed her gaze upon Zhang Haoxuan.


    "Don''t misunderstand. He''s one of our own. He''s my disciple," Zhang Haoxuan exined urgently.


    Mei Gongzi''s brows furrowed slightly, and the confusion in her eyes faded as she spoke softly, "Is he supposed to know my security level because he��s your disciple?"


    Zhang Haoxuan''s thoughts raced. He immediately understood that Tang San must have revealed his Orange ss mark to Mei Gongzi. Naturally, she believed that revealing his Redemption identity to her meant he knew that she was also part of the Redemption Society.


    "It''s my fault. He is my only disciple, and I have high hopes for him, so I told him some secrets. I told him because I was worried about a sh between you when he encountered you at the academy. I will ept punishment from the organization for this."


    "The academy? He''s also at Kali Academy?" Mei Gongzi''s eyes sparkled, but this time without a hint of murderous intent.


    Zhang Haoxuan quickly nodded in acknowledgment, pulling Tang San from behind him.


    The golden light in Tang San''s eyes had faded; his back was ice-cold, and he was drenched in cold sweat. <i>So damn close!</i>


    At that moment, his divine consciousness had nearly erupted.


    Upon hearing Zhang Haoxuan''s voice, he had already begun to rein in his divine consciousness; otherwise, it would have been toote. With Zhang Haoxuan''s intervention, even if Mei Gongzi''s spatial power hit him, she could retract her power as long as he didn''t die instantly. With his teacher present, his life was undoubtedly safe.


    What puzzled him, however, was that he had sensed Mei Gongzi withdrawing her spatial power <i>before</i> Zhang Haoxuan''s voice emerged. Although shepletely deactivated her power only after that, it was clear that she had .


    Zhang Haoxuan pped the back of Tang San''s head. "Take off your mask and let Mei Gongzi see your face."


    <i>This kid doesn''t make things easy for his master.</i> The consequences would have been unthinkable if he had arrived just one momentter.


    Tang San felt helpless.<i> I am a God King, and you dare to p me like that!</i>


    He removed the mask from his face, revealing his actual appearance.


    When Mei Gongzi saw him, she was momentarily stunned and couldn��t help but blink a few times. In that instant, she seemed less cold.


    ��I see, so this is who you are?��


    "Yes, it is me," Tang San nodded and said with a bitter smile.


    Mei Gongzi looked at him and then at Zhang Haoxuan. She walked towards the two intact eighth-order Wing Tigers. Approaching one, she raised her hand and tapped the tiger''s forehead. Immediately, a wondrous space power rippled. Indistinctly, Tang San could discern a vortex-like space in the palm of Mei Gongzi, extracting the spatial power from within the Wing Tigers.


    The eighth-order Winged Tiger''s body went limp the next instant, but it still had a faint breath. It wasn''t dead!


    The other tiger was treated simrly. Then, both eighth-order Winged Tigers were taken into Mei Gongzi''s storage pouch.


    Then she turned to Zhang Haoxuan and said, "This should not happen again."


    "Yes," Zhang Haoxuan respectfully bowed to her.


    Mei Gongzi nced at Tang San, and then her figure flickered and disappeared into the forest''s depths.


    Tang San''s gaze remained on her until she vanished from sight.

 Chapter 192: Sister Mei

    <h4>Chapter 192: Sister Mei</h4>


    <i>Thud! </i>


    Tang San staggered forward as pain shot through the back of his head. He grimaced in pain.


    "Master, why did you hit me again?!"


    "Do you have a death wish? Do you realize how important she is to the organization? How could you recklessly reveal your identity in front of her? Even Si Ru doesn''t know her true identity; in Kali City, I''m the only one in the organization who knows."


    Tang San replied with a wry smile, "In that situation, do you think she wouldn''t have killed me if I hadn''t revealed my identity? Please, hear me out first!"


    He then exined how he had followed the four eighth-order Winged Tigers. Even though Tang San had been a God King in his previous life, he couldn''t have predicted Mei Gongzi''s return before seeing the mark on the Winged Tiger''s forehead!


    Upon hearing his exnation, Zhang Haoxuan''s expression softened considerably.


    "Was it your n from the beginning to appear before her with your actual identity rather than the Asura one?" he suddenly asked. Naturally, as the head of the Kali City Redemption Society, he wasn��t an idiot.


    Tang San shook his head. "Not really. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. As you can see, she knows my actual identity, so it would��ve been stupid to reveal the other one. The identity of Asura is more convenient for acting in the shadows." He didn''t tell Zhang Haoxuan that using two identities was to better protect Mei Gongzi covertly, as only with the Asura identity could he use his abilities without restraint in front of Mei Gongzi.


    Sadly, now that his true identity had been exposed, revealing both the Wind Astral and Blue Silver Emperor abilities, he could no longer show these bloodlines while assuming the identity of Asura.


    "Be cautious around her in the future. She''s vital to our organization, and I believe you''ve also realized her importance," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    "Mm-hmm." Tang San nodded, clearly aware. Seeing Mei Gongzi utilize the powerful abilities of the Peacock Great Demon King, a true first-tier bloodline awakening, he acknowledged that her Blue ss status in the Redemption Society was undoubtedly well-deserved. Both she and Du Bai had first-tier bloodlines, yet Du Bai was considerably inferior. Without Tang San''s arrival, Du Bai would still be struggling at the third order. Yet Mei Gongzi, only a little older, was already at the seventh order and had thebat power of the ninth. Such a being was likely unparalleled within the entire Redemption Society.


    "I hope you can grow up quickly as well. In my mind, your role in the organization might even surpass hers. What she can do is only within Kali City. But what you can achieve could benefit all of humanity."


    <i>You sure have a keen eye, Master!</i> Tang San thought to himself, but he nodded outwardly, adopting an appearance of being open to learning.


    "Let''s go, it''s time to return," Zhang Haoxuan said, somewhat irritably.


    Tang San asked, "Master, do you have the ninth-order Tiger King?"


    Zhang Haoxuan red at him. "You know, being too smart isn''t always a good thing."


    Tang San chuckled. "But I am your disciple, and I formted this n. I should have a share in the spoils, right? By the way, did you annihte the entire Winged Tiger group?"


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head. "Destroying a species goes against the harmony of heaven and earth. I only took down a few of them."


    When the Golden Lion Dog fled, it was naturally Zhang Haoxuan who appeared before the Winged Tiger King. Facing the severely injured Winged Tiger King, there was no question about which one of them woulde out on top. As for the other seventh-order Winged Tigers, they were no match for him to begin with. Dealing with them was even easier considering they had been intimidated by the golden bloodline.


    "Isn''t it because the storage device can''t fit them?" Tang San looked at him with some confusion. He didn''t believe that humans would have any qualms regarding harming the harmony of heaven or whatever when it came to killing demon beasts and demons. These races had just too much malice toward humans.


    Zhang Haoxuan raised his hand, and Tang San shrank his neck, grinning at him.


    The mayor said, "Too much good stuff might turn into a problem. If I killed them all, it��d be easy to give ourselves away. After we get back, I must go around other cities to gradually sell the loot. Don��t worry; you guys won''t miss out."


    Although the Winged Tigers weren''t entirely eradicated this time, they lost almost all beings of the eighth order and above, and it wouldn''t be easy for them to recover quickly. This meant that the Redemption Academy students had to go elsewhere for the next training session.


    With that, Zhang Haoxuan and Tang San met up with Wu Bingji and the others, and they returned to the Redemption Academy.


    The gainsst time had been huge; this time, they were far beyond that.


    What surprised Tang San the most was the Qi and blood from the ninth-order Winged Tiger.


    Zhang Haoxuan had killed it, but he let Tang San devour and absorb its Qi and blood while the body was still warm. The bloodline power of the ninth-order Winged Tiger King was incredible, and it instantly pushed Tang San''s Mysterious Heaven Technique to the peak of the sixth order. He could break through to the seventh order whenever he wanted. The only problem was whether his body could withstand the power of the seventh order.


    Tang San suppressed it forcibly, gathering the massive bloodline power within his body, not rushing to break through. Solidifying the foundations was essential; having built his foundations two times already, he understood this better than anyone.


    After seeing Mei Gongzi''s formidable strength, Tang San reflected deeply, realizing that his current cultivation was insufficient. The gains were not small this time, and he also revealed his identity in the Redemption Society to Mei Gongzi. After returning, he needed to cultivate well, slowly, and steadily. He had to improve his strength to protect Mei Gongzi. After all, she had significant tasks to undertake.


    When they returned to the Redemption Academy, everything was as usual.


    Zhang Haoxuan instructed them to keep the gains from this time a secret. After all, for the other students, their gains this time, including the ones brought by Zhang Haoxuan himself, were just ridiculous.


    As for the distribution of benefits, that would be discussed after the mayor finished dealing with the spoils.


    Although the Redemption team didn''t show a significant increase in strength this time, the benefits they gained were more substantial. No matter how they were distributed, there would surely be more of them thanst time. With money, cultivation would naturally be much more effective.


    And Tang San''s heart had already drifted back to Kali Academy.


    ***


    "Sister Mei, you saved all of us. How can we share these gains with you? They should all be yours."


    The Beauty and the Beasts team had already returned to the academy and they were dividing the spoils. But all team members looked at Mei Gongzi and had no intention of taking their share.


    The spoils included the body of an eighth-order Winged Tiger and a few seventh-order Winged Tigers. Naturally, this didn''t include the two eighth-order ones Mei Gongzi took awayter.


    Mei Gongzi shook her head. "I''ll take the eighth-order one. You guys can divide the rest." Saying this, she stepped forward, picked up the body of the eighth-order Winged Tiger, and turned to leave.


    Watching her departing figure, Song Junhou couldn''t help but cover his face with his hand. Then he released it and gave himself a hard p.


    For the first time in his life, he understood what regret meant.


    When he saw the Peacock Golden Crown light up on Mei Gongzi''s forehead and the peacock feathers stabbing out, instantly killing four eighth-order Winged Tigers, he regretted it to the point his guts turned green.


    She was the only Golden Crown Sessor of the Peacock Demon n in this generation! Not only the heir to a Demon King, but also a being with the potential to be a Demon Emperor!


    Was a first-tier bloodline stronger than a golden bloodline? Not necessarily. Although the golden bloodlines were second-tier, their strength was stable, and almost all direct golden bloodline n members possessed powerful abilities. In addition, the talents of the golden bloodlines were usually not that difficult to awaken.


    By contrast, most descendants of first-tier bloodlines had abilities on the level of second-tier bloodlines. Only the genuinely outstanding among them could awaken the true power of a first-tier bloodline.


    Of course, some first-tier bloodlines were exceptions, and the Peacock Demon n was precisely one such exception. Those of the Peacock Demon n who couldn''t awaken the Golden Crown at all had strength equivalent to a third-tier bloodline. This was why Wang Yan and his subordinates, although they were at the eighth order, did not exhibit powerful abilities.

 Chapter 193: The Awkward Golden Lion Dog

    <h4>Chapter 193: The Awkward Golden Lion Dog</h4>


    The awakening of the Peacock Valor was challenging, but when a member of the Peacock Demon n awakened their Peacock Valor, they became incredibly powerful. Even among the first-tier bloodlines, they were consistently among the foremost.


    The former Demon Emperor of the Peacock Demon n once ranked fifth among all demon emperors. This gave an idea of the true strength of the Peacock Demon n''s bloodline power.


    Among the demon and nymph ns, as many as twelve reached the level of Demon Emperor, the twelfth order. They all stood at the pinnacle of the twelfth order.


    These twelve Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors jointly ruled the Ancestral Court, governing the entire Daemon Continent through it.


    Among the twelve rulers in the Ancestral Court, seven were from the demon ns, and five were from the nymph ns. And the ranking on which the Peacock Demon Emperor was fifth did not just include the demons, but all twelve of the rulers.


    Mei Gongzi, only thirteen years old, had awakened the Peacock Valor. What did this mean? Even if she possessed a human bloodline, it wasn''t important! Among the previous generation of the Peacock Demon n, only the current Peacock Great Demon King had awakened the Peacock Valor. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been assigned to such a remote ce as Kali City. It was unknown what issue prevented the Peacock Great Demon King from stepping into the twelfth order. Otherwise, once he became a Demon Emperor, the status of the Peacock Demon n would not be what it was now.


    The biggest problem for the Peacock Demon n was the difficulty in awakening the Peacock Valor. But once awakened, they became supreme powerhouses.


    The fact that the Peacock Great Demon King of the eleventh order could be the lord of a major city instead of a demon or nymph emperor fully confirmed this statement. It was even said that the eleventh-order Peacock Great Demon King could contend with some of the emperors.


    Among the next generation of the Peacock Demon n, Wang Yan was known to have the potential to awaken the Peacock Valor. This was why Song Junhou had chosen to yield when facing Wang Yan.


    As the eldest legitimate son of the Peacock Great Demon King, Wang Yan had undoubtedly received the lion''s share of the family''s resources. Nearly every natural treasure had been used on him, and even the blood of n members had been utilized to improve his bloodline, enhancing its strength. Yet, up to this point, Wang Yan had not even fully awakened his Golden Crown, much less the Peacock Valor.


    Who could have imagined that Mei Gongzi, a human hybrid, someone not of pure blood, had already awakened the Peacock Valor? How was that possible?


    But Mei Gongzi had proven with her strength that it was true. She was the only Golden Crown Sessor in the Peacock Demon n.


    Song Junhou had always coveted her, having heard that she might be one of the candidates to be the next king, which was why he had always been especially friendly to her. But when push came to shove, he opted for the more likely to seed, Wang Yan. Yet, as fate would have it, this has be somewhat awkward....


    Moreover, Mei Gongzi eventually killed a formidable enemy and rescued everyone. Now they all fully understood why, in the presence of Wang Yan and others, Mei Gongzi was perfectly safe even as she was alone in the middle of the forest.


    <i>Who among her kin would dare toy a hand on the Golden Crown Sessor? That would be absolute suicide.</i>


    Once a demon n member with an awakened Golden Crown died, the crown transformed into a guidance portal, instantly bringing over the Peacock Great Demon King. This was a natural ability of the Peacock Demon n. Whoever killed Mei Gongzi would have to face the wrath of the Peacock Great Demon King, a beingparable to a Demon Emperor.


    <i>Not to mention Mei Gongzi could annihte four eighth-order Winged Tigers in one move!</i>


    Thus, even their way of addressing her changed. Mei Gongzi became Sister Mei.


    "Captain, what should we do?" the Bear Demon asked Song Junhou.


    Song Junhou��s mouth twitched. "Since Sister Mei has asked us to take the spoils and go, let''s do it. Also, don''t call me captain anymore. With Sister Mei here, I''m not qualified. From now on, she is our team''s captain."


    "Uh-huh." The other team members nodded in agreement. Strength was paramount in their world, and the fact of the matter was that she was the strongest, human hybrid or otherwise.


    ***


    Redemption Society.


    After dinner, Tang San returned to his room to rest.


    The night outside was beautiful, with a bright moon and sparse stars. He had intended to return to the Redemption Society at night to visit his cultivation sanctuary, but he then decided to stay home and work to stabilize his cultivation level.


    The bloodline energy absorbed from the ninth-order Winged Tiger King was somewhat restless.


    The bloodline power of demonic beasts was far less pure than that of demons, and the ninth-order Winged Tiger King was already dead at that time, causing a significant decline in its bloodline power. Otherwise, Tang San, who was not even at the seventh order, could not have absorbed it.


    After being filtered through the vortex of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, only the purest part of the bloodline power was retained.


    He continued to purify this external energy by silently operating his energy vortex.


    The ninth order was basically touching the god level. Although the Winged Tiger was a demonic beast, this did not change the fact that he was on a higher level in terms of both quantity and quality of energy. Mobilizing this higher-level energy with the Mysterious Heaven Technique was somewhat tricky. Unfortunately, there was nothing Tang San could do; his still-developing body did not allow him to fully assimte the energy.


    After circting his energy for nineplete cycles, his internal state gradually stabilized. The Wind Tiger bloodline imprint flickered with a cyan light, indicating that it had reached the pinnacle of the sixth order and it was ready to enter the seventh at any moment. But until Tang San''s cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique broke through to the seventh order, it could not break this limit.


    Tang San''s control over the wind element also grew more solid. He graduallypressed the remaining part of the Winged Tiger King''s bloodline power, allowing it to gravitate around the Wind Tiger imprint.


    In his mind, Tang San recalled the immense power Mei Gongzi had disyed earlier. Spatial folding, spatial slicing, spatial constriction. She had almost mastered some of the most fundamental abilities of spatial mysteries. Although she had yet to reached the highest levels and was still a ways to go from the true essence of spatial mysteries, she was only thirteen years old! Compared to her previous life, she seemed even more talented in this life.


    Such bloodline power was strong, but Tang San did not intend to acquire it. Given his age and physical condition, it was difficult enough for him to withstand the breakthrough to the seventh order. He already possessed the Celestial Fox Vision, a first-tier bloodline power; integrating another first-tier one could be too much for his body to handle. This was something to consider for the future.


    For him, continuously enhancing the benefits of the Discerning Eye of Heaven was crucial. The characteristics of the Celestial Fox Vision could better assist him, and most importantly, it was constantly refining his spiritual power.


    Right now, his spiritual power wasparable to that of Zhang Haoxuan. The stronger the spiritual power, the more it helped nurture his divine consciousness, which was fundamental. Once his divine consciousness recovered to a certain extent, some abilities from his previous life could be regained.


    That day, when facing the lethal threat from Mei Gongzi, he felt that his divine consciousness had be much more stable. Even using his divine consciousness once would not cause it topletely dissipate.


    This discovery brought Tang San immense joy, as it meant that his divine consciousness was on the way to recovery. Although it was slow, as long as the trend was positive, it was an excellent sign.


    Thus, he had to his state, enhance his physical strength, and continue elevating his spiritual power. He aimed to enter the seventh order as soon as he could. The seventh order was a watershed; once he reached that level, the abilities he could use would also be more substantial.


    Zhang Haoxuan had left the Academy Town to sell the loot in another city. Before departing, he told Tang San that when he returned, he would allocate most of his resources to Tang San''s cultivation. By then, they could go to the best auction in Kali City to find suitable items for him.


    Of course, this was because Zhang Haoxuan didn''t know that the Kali Academy store had already opened its doors to Tang San...

 Chapter 194: Sweeper Tang Returns

    <h4>Chapter 194: Sweeper Tang Returns</h4>


    Early in the morning, before dawn had even broken, Tang San stepped out of his room. Alongside Du Bai, he went to the hillside outside the academy to cultivate the Purple Demon Eyes.


    "Little Tang, I feel like my spiritual power has improved again. The Purple Demon Eyes technique you taught me is really great!" said Du Bai, absorbing the purple aura that had just entered his eyes.


    Tang San smiled and nodded, "That''s because your Celestial Fox Vision naturally amplifies your sea of consciousness a lot. If you find the right way to cultivate spiritual power, these two things will actually enhance each other. I think when you fully turn your spiritual power liquid, that''ll be the time your Celestial Fox Vision advances to the next stage. Although your bloodline concentration is a bitcking, you can still push your cultivation forward with spiritual power. As long as you continue to cultivate your spiritual power, you should be able to reach the sixth order without too many problems."


    "What about the seventh order?" Du Bai quickly asked.


    Tang San replied, "That''s hard to say. We''ll have to see after you reach the sixth order. The seventh order is different because it allows you to be a real high-level being. For someone with a top-tier bloodline like yours, it��s probably going to be even more difficult. To ascend to the seventh order, you might need a stronger bloodline concentration, or maybe you��ll have to push your spiritual power to a level far beyond your current cultivation."


    Tang San''s previous experiences had deepened his understanding of the Demonic God Transformation. From Mei Gongzi''s transformations, he had seen that once bloodline power reached the seventh order, a qualitative change urred. The higher the bloodline tier, the more pronounced this transformation became.


    Just like the eighth-order Golden Lion-Dog, who had been able to y numerous Winged Tigers and even severely wound a ninth-order Winged Tiger King. In his perfect state and in one-on-onebat, he even had the potential to kill the Winged Tiger King.


    Mei Gongzi had an even higher bloodline tier, and she had used her seventh order power to instantly annihte four eighth-order Winged Tigers. This undoubtedly was the result of her bloodline undergoing some kind of transformation. The seventh order was clearly a challenging threshold to ovee.


    The higher the bloodline''s tier, the more challenging it was to make a breakthrough, but the stronger the power gained afterwards.


    In this respect, Wu Bingji had already reached the seventh order with his Ice Nymph Transformation, yet his bloodline��s strength was limited��it barely qualified as a third-tier bloodline.[1] Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation was second tier, and Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc Transformation was close to the second tier. The Golden Winged Roc bloodline, in a sense, was also a golden bloodline, since the roc n had no branches. However, Cheng Zicheng''s bloodline power had yet to exhibit any golden traits; it was uncertain if they would manifest after reaching the seventh order.


    Among the five, Du Bai undoubtedly faced the toughest challenge in advancing. His Celestial Fox Transformation belonged to the highest tier of bloodlines, even surpassing Mei Gongzi''s Peacock Transformation to an extent. Moreover, his own bloodline concentration was not high, making the ascent to the seventh order exceedingly difficult. Without Tang San, he likely couldn''t have even ovee the barrier to the fourth order.


    "This is so tough!" Du Bai said with a face full of reluctance.


    Tang San chuckled. "You''re trying to bite off more than you can chew. Have you forgotten that you couldn''t even break through to the fourth order before? Besides, as they say, when you get to the mountain, you��ll find a way to climb it. Focus on reaching the sixth order first. By then, you might just find an opportunity."


    Of course, he hoped that Du Bai could continue to enhance his Celestial Fox Transformation, and he would certainly do all he could to help. After all, only if Du Bai advanced could Tang San himself further develop his own Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    His bloodline evolution wasn''t just a matter of cultivation; it required absorbing higher-tier bloodlines to evolve��a trait determined by cultivation method. For example, if he wanted to break through to the seventh order now, he could do so by using the Wind Tiger Transformation. The bloodline power left by the ninth-order Winged Tiger King would make his breakthrough effortless.


    The reason Tang San chose not to break through at this time was twofold. First, his physical strength was still insufficient, and he worried that such a breakthrough might overstrain his body, leavingsting side effects. Another reason he had only recently realized was that breaking through to the seventh order using different Demonic God Transformations might well result inpletely different types of evolution. Although his situation differed from that of ordinary humans, he still hoped to make his breakthrough with a stronger Demonic God Transformation.


    He currently possessed six Demonic God Transformation imprints, allowing him to wield the powers of six transformations. Tang San even considered what it might be like if all six imprints broke through simultaneously. What state would that lead to? Perhaps taking such a step would result in a true transformation.


    Therefore, he was in no hurry. He continually umted and solidified his foundation, waiting for an opportunity for explosive growth.


    Zhang Haoxuan had previously said that he would give Tang San a portion of their recent earnings, which could be used to purchase items suitable for cultivation at the auction house. However, Tang San nned to buy extra items for hispanions to help them advance their cultivation more quickly. As they improved, his imprints would also enhance. He aimed to evolve as many Demonic God Transformation imprints as possible to the pinnacle of the sixth order before attempting a breakthrough. This way, he could explore what kind of evolution his bloodline would undergo when he attempted the seventh order.


    At the same time, he nned to use this period to continue nurturing his divine consciousness. From thest incident that had triggered his divine consciousness, it appeared to be somewhat recovered. This recovery was clearly rted to his Discerning Eye of Heaven and his liquid spiritual energy, and to Tang San��s joy, it urred faster than he had anticipated.


    "You''re right, let''s get to the sixth order first. I''ll check the storeter to see if there are any treasure nts that can improve spiritual power, and I��ll buy one to eat," Du Bai said, clenching his fist.


    The fourth order of the Celestial Fox Transformation was already showing significant effects. What about the fifth order? What kind of evolution would that bring?


    "Keep it up. I''m leaving now," Tang San said, having absorbed the purple aura for today.


    "Where are you going?"


    Tang San gave a slight smile and said, "I''m going back to Kali Academy to continue being Sweeper Tang."


    Du Bai''s mouth twitched. "Why would you do that? Isn''t that just wasting time that could be spent on cultivation? Do you really care about the little money you get from sweeping at Kali Academy?"


    Tang Sanughed. "You don''t understand. It''s not about the sweeping. Hurry up, give me a boost of fortune; I''m leaving."


    Du Bai, resigned and skillfully activated his Celestial Fox Vision, bestowing Tang San with a full-force fortune enhancement.


    With a white halo gradually integrating into his body, Tang San waved at him, headed down the mountain, and made his way to Kali Academy.


    His leave of absence was perfectly timed. Upon arriving at the academy, he collected brooms and other cleaning tools, feeling the rich spiritual energy of Kali Academy. Suddenly, Tang San felt a twinge of nervousness in his heart.


    Mei Gongzi now knew that he was Zhang Haoxuan''s disciple and also a member of the Redemption Society. Would she confront him if they met again?


    Despite his nervousness, there was also a sense of anticipation. He finally had a reason to try and get closer to her. Even just exchanging a few more words would be great!


    The image of Mei Gongzi, valiant and elegant as she held her peacock plume, resonated in his mind, warming Tang San''s heart.


    He continued to sweep the square in front of the main teaching building. As usual, while sweeping, he silently absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, circting the energy of his Mysterious Heaven Technique to nurture his body and divine consciousness.


    Unbeknownst to him, in the distance, behind a window of the main teaching building, stood a figure, her beautiful eyes intently watching Sweeper Tang at work.


    1. Yes, it seems that Wu Bingji broke through off-screen. We checked future chapters and he really is at the seventh order. ?

 Chapter 195: From Now On, Call Me Sister Mei

    <h4>Chapter 195: From Now On, Call Me Sister Mei</h4>


    Mei Gongzi stood silently by the window, gazing at the boy sweeping the za. Her eyes revealed a trace of contemtion.


    Since her return, she had been pondering a question.


    Why? Why had she suddenly hesitated that day?


    It was that day when she returned to where she had immobilized the four eighth-order Winged Tigers to collect her spoils. She had seen him there, and he had even voluntarily revealed his Redemption Society identity. Mei Gongzi did not believe an Orange ss member would know her secret identity, so she attacked him without hesitation.


    But for some reason, she felt a strong sense of foreboding just as she was about to unleash her power to kill him, or at least inject him with the power to sever space. It was as if something terrible would happen if she killed him.


    This feeling was unprecedented for her, but precisely for that reason, the memory of it was etched deeply in her mind.


    Zhang Haoxuan had arrived just in time. Yet even if he hadn''t, she felt that she wouldn''t have been able to kill this guy.


    Why was that? Thinking back to every time she saw him at the academy, and the way he looked at her, Mei Gongzi found it even stranger.


    This boy named Tang San looked at her differently from anyone else.


    Her mother looked at her with loving eyes, sometimes with a touch of heartache.


    The demon students looked at her with either disdain, ttery, or covetousness.


    But Tang San was different. When he looked at her, his eyes held a strange brilliance. They seemed to contain veryplex emotions.


    These emotions were hard to describe; there was joy, excitement, reminiscence, and... longing?


    When she first saw him in the milk tea shop, he looked at her somewhat dazedly.


    How could a ten-year-old have such a look in his eyes?


    She had seen that dazed look in her father''s eyes when he looked at her mother. But when Tang San looked at her, it was different. In his dazed eyes, there was also a strong sense of sorrow.


    Mei Gongzi hadn''t thought much about this kind of look before because she didn''t feel it had anything to do with her.


    But since Tang San appeared in the academy, and she often ran into him and felt the changes in his gaze, Mei Gongzi began to notice this boy.


    Especially this time, when she had tried to attack him but couldn''t bring herself to do it. It was even stranger.


    Mei Gongzi did not like this feeling. She never liked things that were beyond her control. If she had a choice, she would rather distance herself from or even eliminate this person who unsettled her.


    She bore too heavy a responsibility. She could not afford any mistakes, nor was she willing to make any.


    But this guy was Zhang Haoxuan''s disciple, so she couldn''t harm him. She couldn''t even drive him away. And today, when she saw him again as the sweeping Little Tang, for some reason, Mei Gongzi suddenly felt a sense of relief at seeing him again.


    He had returned, and that was quite good.


    Thinking this, Mei Gongzi''s body trembled slightly. Why did she feel that seeing him again was a good thing?


    While sweeping, Tang San gradually entered a state of forgetting both himself and his surroundings. The deeper his understanding of this ne, the more he could feel its power.


    This world was definitely a ce of great advantage for the demon and nymph ns.


    In his previous life, no one was born with innate knowledge, but in this ne, it seemed that every demon and nymph was born knowing.


    They didn''t need much effort; they could gain great power just through the evolution of their bloodlines.


    The levels in this ne were extremely high.


    Although he hadn''t seen truly top-tier powerhouses yet, he could imagine that the twelfth-order emperors, the peak existences in this ne, wouldn''t be much weaker than the God Kings in his former divine realm.


    What a powerful ne this was!


    Just then, he shivered involuntarily, stopped his broom, and turned to look in a certain direction.


    Mei Gongzi, wearing the Kali Academy uniform, was standing not far away, staring intently at him.


    Her face was still as cool as ever, no different from usual. But this time, Tang San could clearly feel that she wasn''t just passing by.


    Mei Gongzi paused for a moment when she saw Tang San turn to look at her.


    His eyes changed again, showing surprise and a bit of nervousness. Was he worried she would take revenge on him? The surprise seemed to gradually overshadow the nervousness.


    Mei Gongzi started walking toward Tang San.


    Their eyes met, and Mei Gongzi''s beautiful eyes sparkled. "Why are you sweeping here?"


    For you. Tang San almost answered in his mind instantly.


    "It''s a secret," Tang San said with a smile.


    Mei Gongzi frowned slightly. "What if I insist on knowing?"


    Seeing her suddenly act a bit spoiled, Tang San was momentarily stunned. This hint of coyness was quite different from her usual cold demeanor.


    Seeing his dazed look, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but feel a bit embarrassed and annoyed. "I''m talking to you!"


    "If you really want to know, I''ll tell you," Tang San said helplessly.


    "You''re so unprincipled?" Mei Gongzi remarked.


    "I..." Tang San was speechless. "Then I won''t tell you?"


    "You dare!" Mei Gongzi''s voice rose slightly.


    "So... should I tell you or not?" Tang San couldn''t help but find it amusing. This was the first time he had seen Mei Gongzi act this way.


    Mei Gongzi seemed to revert to her cold demeanor. She said calmly, "Just tell me."


    Tang San said, "The spiritual energy inside Kali Academy is dense, making it better for cultivation."


    "You��re cultivating while sweeping?" Mei Gongzi showed a thoughtful expression.


    She had indeed noticed something different about Tang San while observing him earlier. She could wield powerful spatial forces and even touch the core mysteries of space. Her observational skills were very keen, and her spiritual power was strong. As she watched Tang San sweep, it seemed to her as if he had merged with the yground. He was clearly just sweeping, yet it felt as if he had already be one with the area.


    She didn''t know that this feeling was called the unity of heaven and man.


    For ordinary people, achieving this unity was very difficult.


    But Tang San had recently absorbed his sixth bloodline imprint, which happened to make his rtionship with nts incredibly close. Coupled with his bit of divine consciousness and the insights from three lifetimes, achieving the unity of heaven and man was simply natural for him.


    "Yeah." Tang San nodded. He was indeed cultivating and wasn''t lying.


    "Do you have a mission?" Mei Gongzi asked further.


    Tang San shook his head. "No."


    "Deceiving a superior is a serious offense, understand?" Mei Gongzi said coldly.


    Tang San smiled wryly. "Yes, but I am not deceiving you.... Superior Mei Gongzi."


    Mei Gongzi''s lips twitched slightly. "From now on, call me Sister Mei."


    Sister Mei? Tang San was momentarily stunned, almost instantly recalling her appearance from his previous life. Back then, she used to have everyone call her Sister Xiao Wu.


    "Alright, Sister Mei." Tang San nodded honestly, but an unusual feeling surged like a tide within him. He resisted the urge to rush up and hug her. He didn''t dare to look at her again, fearing he couldn''t control his emotions.


    Seeing him suddenly lower his head, Mei Gongzi frowned slightly but said nothing more and turned to leave.


    Tang San only lifted his head again after her footsteps faded away.


    In the distance, Mei Gongzi was gradually walking away. Tang San''s tightly pressed lips slowly rxed.


    But at that moment, she suddenly turned and stared at him.


    Tang San was startled. The tears that had filled his eyes could no longer be controlled and instantly slid down his cheeks.

 Chapter 196: The Mayor Returns

    <h4>Chapter 196: The Mayor Returns</h4>


    Even from a distance, Mei Gongzi could still see clearly. She turned suddenly, just to see if he was doing something behind her back, but instead, she saw those eyes filled with deep emotions and tears that instantly slid down.


    <i>He...</i>


    Mei Gongzi felt her heart clench instantly, and she subconsciously clenched her hands. She felt her heartbeat skip a beat at that moment, and an indescribable pain surged through her.


    <i>What''s wrong with me? What''s happening to me?</i>


    Turning back around, she walked away quickly, her steps hurried.


    Watching her leave, Tang San hurriedly wiped the tears from his face. He shook his head helplessly. Even after all this time, he was unable to control his emotions before her.


    The following days suddenly returned to peace. During the day, Tang San swept the grounds and cultivated at Kali Academy. At night, he quietly sneaked into the academy store to continue improving his Blue Silver Emperor and nourishing his body by absorbing the spiritual energy of treasure nts.


    The days passed simply and ordinarily. He remained a minor figure in Kali Academy and encountered no more trouble.


    But for him, things were somewhat unusual because the number of times he saw Mei Gongzi inexplicably decreased. Even with the aid of the Celestial Fox Vision, it was the same.


    The Redemption Academy organized another training session, and the effects of outdoor training were much more evident this time. Everyone''s strength continued to improve.


    Du Bai''s spiritual power increased smoothly, gradually approaching the state of overflowing liquid spiritual power.


    Thanks to the gains from the first training session, Cheng Zicheng, Gu Li, and Wu Bingji''s strengths also improved rapidly.


    Thus, a month passed.


    Zhang Haoxuan finally returned.


    Tang San had just returned from his work at Kali Academy when he saw Zhang Haoxuan waiting there. Zhang Haoxuan waved him over, and they went to his room together.


    Tang San closed his door and said happily, "Master, you''re finally back."


    "How have you beentely? Any issues with your cultivation?"


    Tang San shook his head. "Nothing much. Everything is normal. I''m still umting."


    Zhang Haoxuan looked his disciple up and down. In the past month, Tang San seemed to have grown taller; he looked full of vitality and appeared slightly stronger. His overall energy and spirit had changed. Although the intensity of his bloodline aura fluctuations hadn''t increased by any measurable margin, Zhang Haoxuan could still sense that Tang San had made progress overall.


    In fact, during this month, Tang San''s Wind Tiger Transformation remained at the peak of the sixth order. He still had not absorbed the bloodline power of the Winged Tiger King, which he forcibly sealed using the Chrono Croc Transformation imprint.


    At the same time, his Blue Silver Emperor imprint had been cultivated to the peak of the sixth order, reaching the point where it could break through at any moment.


    His physical strength had also be tougher with the augmentation from absorbing those treasure nts. He had grown taller and more robust than normal children at the same age.


    Now, if he forcibly broke through to the seventh order, he could withstand it.


    Besides this, the Discerning Eye of Heaven had been cultivated to the peak of the fourth order, and the Golden Roc Transformation and Chrono Croc Transformation had both reached the peak of the fifth order.


    He was even slightly stronger than Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng. After all, cultivation within the same order was more about umtion, and with his frequent interactions with them, Tang San was naturally able to absorb and umte, naturally reaching his current state.


    In a sense, his cultivation had now reached a bottleneck.


    Tang San wasn''t anxious about this; cultivating the other four imprints to the peak of the sixth order wasn''t something he could aplish alone. He needed hispanions to improve as well.


    Since his imprints couldn''t be further improved and the Mysterious Heaven Technique had also reached a bottleneck, Tang San had recently prioritized cultivating his spiritual power. He began using some rare treasures from the academy store that enhanced spiritual power to improve his own spiritual cultivation.


    His method of cultivating spiritual power differed from Du Bai''s. Not only did he continuously umte more liquefied spiritual power, but he also constantly expanded his sea of consciousness.


    With that bit of divine consciousness present, his sea of consciousness was already muchrger than that of ordinary people. While spiritual power nourished the divine consciousness, the divine consciousness, in turn, continuously nurtured his sea of consciousness. After all, the sea of consciousness was essentially the home of the divine consciousness.


    Tang San, taking advantage of the situation, continuously expanded his sea of consciousness. The speed at which his spiritual power increased was much greaterpared to his bloodline power. With the presence of divine consciousness, his sea of consciousness effectively had no bottleneck. This was the greatest benefit brought by his former life as a God King.


    Right now, in terms of spiritual power alone, Tang San had already reached the level of a ninth-order demon powerhouse, and his sea of consciousness was muchrger than that of an ordinary ninth-order demon. With the nurturing of divine consciousness, he wouldn''t even face a bottleneck when breaking through to the god level in spiritual power.


    Therefore, even though they both possessed the Celestial Fox Vision and could use the Celestial Fox Transformation to enhance their fortune, with both being at the fourth order, Tang San could control his fortune much longer than Du Bai.


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and said, "You''ve done well. The transition from the sixth to the seventh order is a qualitative leap. The stronger the bloodline, the more difficult the breakthrough. As for your bloodline, frankly, I can''t tell if it��s strong or not. But you must be careful. You possess multiple Demonic God Transformation abilities, and the most important thing during the breakthrough is to avoid chaos. Be very careful."


    "Don''t worry, I will," Tang San nodded.


    "Master, I''ve noticed that different levels of bloodlines seem to have varying degrees of qualitative change after breaking through to the seventh order. Is that correct?" Tang San asked.


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and said, "Theoretically, that''s correct. You think so because you''ve seen how powerful Mei Gongzi is at the seventh order, right?"


    Tang San nodded.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "Don''tpare yourself to her; her situation is quite unique and cannot be replicated."


    "Hmm? Why?" Tang San asked curiously.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "Let me remind you again, her identity as a secret of Redemption must be strictly kept, even from your closestpanions. Mei Gongzi''s position in the organization is not just that of a Blue ss member. She holds the highest importance in the entire organization, surpassing even me and the chairman."


    "The chairman?"


    "Yes, the leader of our Redemption organization. Our organization has one chairman and four vice-chairmen. Only these five are Purple ss. Below that is the Blue ss. So now you understand why Mei Gongzi is Blue ss, right?"


    Tang San said, "Well...no. You still haven''t exined why her situation is unique and cannot be replicated."


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "It''s because her father is different from other demons. Or rather, her mother is too different. Her father, the Peacock Great Demon King, dotes on her and her mother. He used his own essence blood toy the foundation for Mei Gongzi, greatly enhancing her bloodline purity. That''s all I know."


    <i>Essence blood?!</i> Tang San was shocked. The essence blood of demons was extremely precious. Its extraction could generally only be performed by the individual themselves. Otherwise, even if they were killed, pure essence blood couldn''t be extracted. Using essence blood to enhance the bloodline purity of descendants was not something the demon n would do lightly, as extracting essence blood weakened one''s own bloodline origin.


    This was different from the essence blood Tang San used to attract the Winged Tiger King. Tang San''s cultivation was based on the Mysterious Heaven Technique, not his bloodline. The foundation of the demon n was their bloodline origin.


    Mei Gongzi and her Peacock Great Demon King father were indeed special. No wonder that, despite being a human hybrid, she waspletely different from other human vassals. Or rather, she couldn''t be considered a vassal at all.


    Her ability to awaken the Peacock Golden Crown was clearly rted to her father��s act of helping her enhance her bloodline purity.

 Chapter 197: The Kali City Grand Auction

    <h4>Chapter 197: The Kali City Grand Auction</h4>


    "Alright, enough about that. This time, because we hunted so many Winged Tigers, I had to travel through three cities to maximize the profits from their sale. It was a lucrative haul. I''ll take you to an auction to see for yourself," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    Tang San''s eyes lit up. "How much did you sell them for in total?"


    Zhang Haoxuan replied casually, "I converted it all into naturae coins, which are easier to use. A total of one thousand and twenty naturae coins."


    Tang San gasped in surprise, "That much?"


    Tang San didn''t know precisely how many Winged Tigers Zhang Haoxuan had hunted. He only knew there was a Winged Tiger King among them. Even if his teacher hadn''t hunted the adult Winged Tigers to extinction, he must have killed a significant number. No wonder it had taken him so long to return.


    Zhang Haoxuan exined, "Well, it��s mainly because even normal Winged Tigers are quite valuable, not to even mention a ninth-order king."


    Over a thousand naturae coins was a small fortune. Naturae coins had strong purchasing power, which Tang San knew well. Even among the demon ns, the usual currencies were aetherhorn coins and demonshard coins. Only the nobility used naturae coins. And now, Tang San��s team had a thousand naturae coins avable to them!


    "When are we going to the auction?" Tang San asked.


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "In six days, there will be a major auction in Kali City. It''s the highest level of auction, and it��s held only once every three months. I''ll take you there. Think about what items you want so we can target them specifically."


    "I don''t want anything for myself," Tang San said. "Master, let''s try to buy something for Du Bai, Zicheng, and Gu Li to enhance their cultivation and help them break through faster."


    "Hmm?" Zhang Haoxuan was taken aback, not expecting Tang San to say this.


    "Of course, we''ll also look around, and if there''s something I need, we''ll naturally buy it. But don''t forget, their cultivation improvement is equivalent to mine! I''ve already decided to wait until I elevate all my Demonic God Transformation bloodline imprints to the peak of the sixth order before I break through. It will be safer that way," Tang San said.


    "That makes sense. Your cultivation method is unique, and you must explore everything independently. Nothing is more important than safety; being overly cautious is not bad. Besides, you''re still young; there''s no need to rush. Reaching the peak of the sixth order at your age is already quite impressive. I support your idea," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    Even after Zhang Haoxuan left, Tang San was still inwardly shocked by the thousand naturae coins.


    Kali Academy''s store had many good items, but he couldn''t take anything, since his n was likely to fail if he alerted someone. Even borrowing their energy for cultivation had to be done carefully to avoid depleting resources.


    And now, he had over a thousand naturae coins��that was a tangible fortune! Investing this money in their cultivation would undoubtedly be immensely helpful.


    The idea of using money to enhance cultivation was quite appealing. His fellow disciples were indeed fortunate.


    The academy''s meals had significantly improved as ofte, often featuring demonic beast meat and bone soup. This was closely rted to the outdoors training and hunting of demonic beasts, resulting in an increased improvement rate for all academy students.


    Besides continuing his duties as a janitor, Tang San continued to craft his hidden weapons. Combining these with arrays and integrating the traits of the Demonic God Transformations, he developed many new ideas after his recent experiences.


    Different Demonic God Transformations matched with various hidden weapons would produce different effects.


    For instance, hidden weapons suitable for the Celestial Fox Transformation were those that had great power but only one shot. The main issue with such powerful one-shot weapons was that they were often easy to evade. However, with the boost of the Celestial Fox Vision''s luck, evasion became impossible. Combined, they could maximize the destructive power of these hidden weapons.


    The hidden weapons suitable for the Golden Roc Transformation, Chrono Croc Transformation, and Ice Nymph Transformation also varied.


    Based on this reasoning, Tang San continued to develop and improve the arrays he inscribed on the hidden weapons, as well as the weapons themselves, recently gaining some new insights.


    Mei Gongzi had been keeping to herselftely, and Tang San was somewhat anxious, not knowing what she was doing. They hadn''t spoken since their conversation a month ago.


    Six days passed in a blink.


    The Kali City grand auction, held once every three months, was one of the grandest events in Kali City. The prominent demon families of Kali City and the nobles from nearby main cities would participate.


    Different regional auctions had other focuses, as the sources of natural treasures varied.


    Kali City was near the coast and produced unique treasures from the so-called Endless Blue Sea. Therefore, attending the Kali City auction was the easiest way to acquire such treasures.


    The grand auction was held in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, thergest venue in Kali City.


    This arena was usually used for demon-beast fights, one of the greatest pleasures for the nobility, who gambled on these battles.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena could amodate ten thousand demons for viewing. Naturally, it was perfect for the auction. The more participants in the bidding, the higher the prices of the auction items tended to be.


    Whenever the grand auction was held, prices in Kali City soared, filling the coffers of the nobility who owned various industries.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena area was already bustling early in the morning. Arge number of demons with auction qualifications were converging here.


    Outside the arena, various shops and temporary stalls lined the streets, creating a somewhat chaotic scene. They sold food, auction catalogs, ves, and more.


    Tang San followed Zhang Haoxuan, walking carefully along the edge of the street.


    Today, only these two from the Redemption Society attended the auction.


    Humans, being low-status vassals, were usually not allowed to participate in auctions. Tang San didn''t know how Zhang Haoxuan had obtained their auction qualifications. They had disguised themselves as the most human-like of the ape demon ns.


    From afar, they saw the majestic Great Beast Fighting Arena. The colossal arena exuded a fierce and formidable aura, looking like an enormous beast crouching on the ground.


    Zhang Haoxuan whispered, "The beast fighting arena is the favorite entertainment spot for the demon ns. They gamble on demonic beasts fighting each other and participate in the battles themselves. The demon ns value martial prowess, that is and has always been the only criterion for status.


    ��Those who defeat strong opponents in the Great Beast Fighting Arena receive substantial rewards and higher status. As you know, nobility among the demon ns usuallyes from bloodline inheritance. Those with powerful bloodlines are born nobles. The only way for ordinary demons to be nobles is to participate and win in the beast fights. Winning ten consecutive battles in a main city-level arena like this grants noble status."


    Tang San''s interest piqued, "What about us, the human vassals? Can we participate in the beast fights to attain noble status?"


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "In theory, yes, but you would need to win a hundred consecutive battles."


    "A hundred battles?" Tang San''s mouth twitched at the thought.

 Chapter 198: The Perks of Becoming A Noble

    <h4>Chapter 198: The Perks of Bing A Noble</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and said, "So, it''s nearly impossible. You''ll face either mighty demonic beasts or demons seeking noble status themselves. Age and rank don''t matter here. You could face any opponent below the level of a god. Even if you''re already at the ninth order, you might still face multiple ninth-order powerhouses. The so-called consecutive victories mean no rest between matches. If you don''t reach ten victories by the time the arena closes for the day, it doesn''t count, and you have to start over. Winning ten consecutive battles like this is tough. I''m at the ninth order and I still don''t believe I can do it."


    Tang San furrowed his brow. "That does sound difficult. What are the benefits for a human vassal to be a noble?"


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "There are many benefits. First, you''re no longer a glorified ve and you can enjoy all the treatments of a demon noble. Your children will also no longer be vassals and they��ll be eligible to attend formal demon academies. However, as far as I know, this rule is just to lure human vassals to their deaths in the arena to entertain the demons. No human has ever gained noble status from the arena, while a good number have died trying. Now, hardly any human dares to risk their life in the arena."


    Tang San took a deep breath and said, "So if I can gain noble status in the arena, I could even attend Kali Academy?"


    Zhang Haoxuan looked startled, nced at Tang San, and said, "In theory, yes. Demons who gain noble titles from the arena are highly respected and revered as battle heroes by their kind. Although it''s rare, once it happens, they be sought after by all factions. But don''t do anything foolish. With your current strength, let alone ten matches, you��d be hard pressed to win even two or three against seventh-order demons, and what will you do if you meet an eight-order or ninth-order demon? While the arena battles aren''t always to the death, losing almost certainly means death if a human vassal faces a demon. There''s no option to surrender."


    Tang San nodded in response. "I understand. Don''t worry, I won''t take any reckless risks."


    "That''s good."


    They arrived at the arena entrance. It was unclear where Zhang Haoxuan had gotten the tickets, but they entered smoothly.


    Upon entering the arena, a faint scent of blood mixed with a heavy aura of killing filled the air, sending chills down the spine. It was evident how much ughter had taken ce in this arena.


    Just then, Tang San saw many demons already seated in the stands, most visibly excited, eagerly anticipating the day''s auction.


    Zhang Haoxuan led Tang San to their seats, finding a very inconspicuous spot in a corner.


    In front of each seat, there was a button. Pressing this button meant participating in the auction. After the auction, the participant would take the seat number from their seat to pay for and collect the auctioned items. Leaving the arena also required showing their seat number.


    Upon leaving, each demon participating in the auction had to have their seat number checked to see if they had sessfully bid for any items. If someone won an item but didn''t pay for it, the solution was simple: regardless of who it was, they would be thrown into the arena to fight ten matches.


    "If you manage ten consecutive wins, congrattions, you don''t have to buy it. But if you lose...well..." exined Zhang Haoxuan.


    Therefore, no one dared to participate in the auction carelessly, as it could be a path to death. A metal guard surrounded the button in front of the seat to prevent people in neighboring seats from maliciously pressing the action button, a situation that had urred before.


    When they sat down, they could see almost the entire arena from their position.


    It was indeed a vast venue. It was circr, and the rows of seats were closely connected. Below the stands, closest to the arena, was a circle of about a hundred private boxes. These boxes were reserved for nobles and required a hefty fee to use. They were a symbol of status.


    The arena itself was a mottled dark red. The ground seemed to be just that, normal dirt, and the dark red hue obviously came from the blood spilled there. It was clear how brutal the battles here were.


    Tang San turned to Zhang Haoxuan and asked, "Master, it seems there are many benefits to winning ten consecutive battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Does that include being absolved of a crime youmitted?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and said, "To some extent, yes. The Great Beast Arena is a form of punishment among the demon race. When members of the demon racemit serious crimes, yet not serious enough to threaten the rule of the demon race, they may be sentenced to fight in the Great Beast Arena. Surviving the arena absolves them of their crimes. However, most end up dead, so this punishment is nothing but a dyed death sentence for all but a select few. It seems like there''s a chance of survival, but it''s challenging."


    Tang San asked, "If they win, can they also gain nobility?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "Yes. Winning proves one''s strength. Not only will they be acquitted, but they can also obtain nobility status. It''s the survival of the fittest."


    The number of demons in the stands increased, and the Great Beast Fighting Arena, capable of amodating tens of thousands, quickly filled up, increasing the atmosphere.


    "The grand auction will soon begin. All bidders, please remain in your seats or face the consequences," a booming voice announced throughout the arena.


    By "facing the consequences," he meant the consequences of the trouble caused by pressing someone else��s auction button.


    The spectator area inside the arena quieted down. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered above the grand auction, dimming the light in the entire region.


    Tang San looked up, surprised that these weren''t real clouds but what looked like dark air streams converging, blocking the sun.


    "This is a kind of array designed to make everything in the arena more visible," Zhang Haoxuan exined.


    Just then, massive beams of light shone down from the highest point of the Great Beast Arena, dispelling the darkness and illuminating everything in minute detail.


    At the center of the Great Beast Fighting Arena, a majestic figure appeared, humanoid but over ten meters tall. Even in the vast space of the arena, it was strikingly prominent.


    This being had arge bald head and a single vertical eye. It had yellow-brown skin and four arms, and emitted a fierce aura. Its physique was robust and it was wearing a luxurious outfit that seemed to waste a great deal of fabric.


    It raised all four arms, waving in a circle to greet the spectators.


    Instantly, a series of cheers erupted from the stands, deafeningly loud. They all chanted the same name.


    "Yu Xi, Yu Xi, Yu Xi!"


    Zhang Haoxuan whispered, "This demon is quite famous. He''s a powerful member of the One-Eyed Demon race known as the Blood Butcher, with ninth-order strength. He was once punished for a serious crime and sent to the Great Beast Fighting Arena, where he won ten consecutive battles to clear his name and gained a noble title. Even more terrifying, this creature enjoys beast fighting so much that he refused to leave after winning ten battles. He then proceeded to participate in four more rounds and win all of them, so he got fifty consecutive victories. He''s the challenger with the greatest number of victories in the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    "He then joined the Great Beast Fighting Arena, and he��s now earning immense profits by guarding the final round. Basically, he appears as the final challenger whenever a demon wins nine consecutive fights. Since he took on this role, no one haspleted the beast fight. He holds great prestige in the city, and he once said that he aims to ascend to godhood through ughter."

 Chapter 199: Beast Fight

    <h4>Chapter 199: Beast Fight</h4>


    "Wee, everyone, to the grand arena for today''s auction," the voice of Yu Xi boomed through the venue, calming the waves of cheers.


    "Since we are in the grand arena, we must have an appetizer before the auction. Today''s experience will certainly be worth your while. Next, we will have three beast battles. There will be no betting on today''s fights, so feel free to cheer to your heart''s content," Yu Xi said with a boisterousugh.


    <i>Three beast battles?</i>


    Tang San looked towards Zhang Haoxuan, who shook his head. It seemed that he was unaware of such arrangements.


    "The first fight will be between demonic beasts. Let''s release the most ferocious, brutal Bloodthirsty War Bear and the most terrifying Giant Ao Demon Scorpion lurking in the shadows!"[1]


    All lights in the grand arena converged inward, focusing on the battlefield.


    Two intense beams of light fell on either side of the arena. Tang San then noticed the giant gates on both sides. And as the massive metal gates slowly rose, deep, terrifying roars emanated from within.


    A colossal figure burst out from one side in the next moment, even before the gates fully opened.


    A giant bear, over seven meters tall and with dark red fur, charged out. It stood on its hind legs, fiercely beating its chest. It sounded like a giant war drum. Its eyes turnedpletely blood-red, and a ferocious aura, filled with the scent of blood, erupted.


    The Bloodthirsty War Bear!


    On the other side, a giant scorpion with a deep purple carapace crawled out as the gate opened.


    It was also over five meters long, with a long stinger curling up from its tail. Its giant ws, spanning over two meters in length and one meter in width, emitted a chilling gleam. Anything caught between them seemed destined for death.


    Both creatures were demonic beasts, and from their aura, they appeared to be at the eighth order.


    After entering, the two beasts immediately noticed Yu Xi in the center of the arena. Barely pausing, they both charged toward him, filled with a wild frenzy.


    Yu Xiughed heartily, spreading out his four robust arms. As the two giant beasts approached, he clenched his fists and struck out.


    The air burst with a deep booming sound, and the Bloodthirsty War Bear and the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion were simultaneously sent flying, tumbling chaotically.


    Yu Xi snorted disdainfully. "Put on a good show. Only the winner can live."


    With these words, he then strode away. Only when he reached the arena''s edge did the two beasts climb back up, growling at each other but not daring to look in Yu Xi''s direction again.


    At the eighth order, these beasts were not truly intelligent, but they had an inkling about what Yu Xi meant, and they understood perfectly that they stood absolutely no chance against it.


    The Bloodthirsty War Bear was the first to move, charging toward the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion with heavy steps that thundered across the arena floor. Its eyes glowed a bloody red, and its already formidable body swelled even more, muscles bulging in a frenzy of bloodlust.


    In its bloodthirsty state, the Bloodthirsty War Bear''s defense, attack, and speed greatly increased, although its alreadycking intelligence significantly decreased. Its dark red fur bristled, carrying a terrifyingly fierce gust as it charged.


    Tang San silently assessed that the Bloodthirsty War Bear''s directbat strength was superior to a Winged Tiger of the same order.


    For a Winged Tiger to defeat it, it would first need to maintain the distance and use the Wind Astral for long-range attacks.


    At that moment, the Bloodthirsty War Bear let out a mad roar. A dark red halo surged outward from its body.


    The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion was immediately enveloped in the dark red light, gaining ayer of the same hue. Initially moving calmly and sidestepping to find an opportunity, it suddenly elerated and charged directly at the Bloodthirsty War Bear.


    <i>Huh? Its bloodthirsty ability can also affect the opponent</i>, thought Tang San.


    The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion was clearly influenced, itsbat desire surging.


    The Bloodthirsty War Bear''s innate bloodthirsty ability was not as straightforward as it seemed at first nce. It not only increased its strength but could also induce bloodlust in its opponent. The Demon Scorpion had not gone berserk, but pure bloodlust, while enhancing itsbat intent, also greatly affected its intelligence!


    <i>The abilities of demonic beasts are so bizarre and varied!</i>


    Almost instantly, the two collided. The Bloodthirsty War Bear lunged forward and its right front paw swelled up to double its size in mid-air, swiping directly toward the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion.


    The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion swung one of its giant ws to meet the bear''s paw while the other w opened wide, aiming for the Bloodthirsty War Bear''s neck.


    The Bloodthirsty War Bear was clearly superior in strength, and it smashed the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion''s w to the ground. At the same time, it leaned forward, striking the other w to the ground before it could sp its neck. Then, lowering its head, the bear rammed viciously into the head of the Demon Scorpion.


    In terms of strength, the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion was clearly at a disadvantage, overwhelmed by the Bloodthirsty War Bear''s fierce fighting style.


    But at that moment, something unexpected happened.


    A cold glint shed in the eyes of the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion. Its short legs suddenly exerted force, and the two ws pinned down by the bear''s paws suddenly detached from its body. The force of the pull also propelled the scorpion backward.


    The Bloodthirsty War Bear''s lunge hit nothing but air.


    <i>What just happened? Did the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion intentionally break off its ws?</i>


    As all the spectators watched in shock, a cold light flickered in the eyes of the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, and its long tail whipped down fiercely.


    The timing was perfect��just as the Bloodthirsty War Bear missed its target and mmed hard into the ground, unable to stop its momentum.


    With sickening squelch, the stinger of the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion viciously pierced one eye of the Bloodthirsty War Bear.


    The intense pain made the Bloodthirsty War Bear roar madly. One of its paws swiftly grabbed the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion''s tail. But at that moment, another strange scene unfolded. The two ws lying on the ground suddenly sprang up; one fiercely mped onto the bear''s neck, while the other severed the scorpion''s tail.


    A halo flickered in Tang San''s eyes. With the help of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, he barely saw that the severed pair of ws were connected by two tendon-like strands. They were not fully detached from the scorpion, and they were clearly still under its control.


    It was clear that the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion was not significantly affected by the bloodlust from the beginning but instead had set this trap for the Bloodthirsty War Bear in an instant.


    Having severed its tail, the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion used the w mped on the Bloodthirsty War Bear''s neck to pull itself onto the bear''s back. The other w was also retracted and smashed viciously onto the bear''s head, right at the eye that the stinger had pierced.


    With a bang, the mighty body of the Bloodthirsty War Bear stumbled, and as it tried to struggle, its body began to convulse violently.


    Scorpions were notoriously venomous, and that obviously held true for the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion. Moreover, having entered through the eye, this incredibly toxic venom was in the perfect ce to do massive damage.


    Tang San also noticed a detail: the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion''s w strength was considerable, but it couldn''t sever the Bloodthirsty War Bear''s neck; it simply mped on without breaking the skin. This showed the bear''s defense was solid. However, even the most muscr physique could not protect the eyes, and ultimately, it fell victim to the scorpion''s strategy.


    1. The Ao is a mythological sea turtle. It is said that once, the goddess N��wa, the creator of mankind, was fixing a tear in the sky. She chopped off Ao��s legs and used them as props for the sky. ?

 Chapter 200: I will fight!

    <h4>Chapter 200: I will fight!</h4>


    The disparity between them wasn''t all that significant in terms of sheerbat strength. However, the tactical prowess of the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion far surpassed that of the Bloodthirsty Battle Bear. In the end, the bear was defeated without fully exhibiting itsbat power.


    The tail of the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion kept swinging, and soon, a brand-new segment slowly grew back. Yet, it was evident that its aura had significantly diminished.


    The trembling Bloodthirsty Battle Bear gradually slumped to the ground, convulsing as it slowly sumbed to the venom. The agitated state elerated the spread of the deadly venom within it, hastening its demise.


    The stands erupted in a frenzied cheer. The process was brief, from the initial dominance of the Bloodthirsty Battle Bear to the dramatic turn of events where the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion counterattacked and won. However, the warlike demon race could discern what had transpired and naturally cheered for such abat spectacle.


    The colossal figure once again entered the arena.


    Yu Xi arrived in the center of the arena, and the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion retreated to one side, hissing as it watched him.


    Yu Xi grabbed the corpse of the Bloodthirsty Battle Bear and disdainfully said, ��Trash.�� With only the slightest exertion of his arms, he hurled the massive body of the bear over a hundred meters away, tossing it to the side of the arena.


    "The next match will be a battle of vassals, a contest between two human vassals. They bear the sin of betraying their masters and have been sentenced tobat in the Grand Beast Arena. This will be their first fight."


    While speaking, Yu Xi pointed at the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, which immediately understood and sprinted toward the already open gate at the side of the arena, quickly disappearing into the passageway.


    Then, two figures, much smaller than the previous demonic beasts, emerged from the passageways��unmistakably, two humans.


    Both appeared to be human males in their thirties. One was muscr with a bare upper body, while the other was shorter and leaner.


    "Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!" As soon as they made their appearance, a chorus of chants for killing rose from the stands."


    Seeing the two human vassals entering the arena for the beast fight, Tang San and Zhang Haoxuan almost simultaneously furrowed their brows.


    Undoubtedly, in the eyes of the demon race, there was no difference between human vassals and demonic beasts.


    With a fierce look in his one eye, Yu Xi let out a strangeugh. ��ughter! Kill the other, and you may survive. Today''s contest is singr; victory can be counted toward a streak. This is a special privilege granted to you on this special asion.��


    The two human vassals showed no emotion in response to his words, simply staring silently at him.


    Suddenly, they both moved��not toward each other, however, but toward Yu Xi.


    The muscr human''s body shimmered with light and his muscles instantly bulged, his height instantly stretching to four meters. His palms became extraordinarilyrge, and ws sprang from his fingers. He lunged straight for Yu Xi''s head, leaping forward in a sprint.


    Conversely, the slim man also elerated simultaneously, moving even faster. As he ran wildly, a pair of wings sprouted from his back, suddenly increasing his speed to the point where his figure seemed almost ghostly. Quickly overtaking his massive ��opponent,�� he reached behind Yu Xi instantly, his gray-brown ws lunging straight for Yu Xi''s neck.


    Next to Tang San, Zhang Haoxuan had already closed his eyes in anguish.


    Tang San could tell that the cultivation levels of these two human vassals were around the sixth order��yes, the sixth.


    This was very high for human vassals, and few among them got this far. But their opponent was at the ninth order... and it was the ninth-order Blood Butcher Yu Xi.


    Before one could even see how the Blood Butcher did it, two of his four arms, shimmering with an illusory light, had already grabbed the two figures lunging at him.


    The attacks of the two human vassals hit him square, but they only left a few white marks on the surface of his skin.


    And their bodies were already gripped in the Blood Butcher''srge hands.


    "I intended to let one of you live a few more days, but if you insist on courting death, then so be it," he said.


    Yu Xi put more strength in his grip, and amid agonizing screams, the bodies of the two human vassals were twisted andpressed in his palms.


    The burly man''s head was directly crushed, and the slender man''s entire torso was likewise turned into paste.


    Tang San''s gaze was fixed; he did not close his eyes. Having lived three lifetimes, he had witnessed everything life and death had to offer. Such a scene could not make him panic.


    The area was filled with cheers from the demon race, but Tang San''s heart was colder than ever.


    Both human vassals clearly knew they could not survive ten matches in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Their inevitable end was death. If they managed tost until the final round, their opponent would be Yu Xi. Moreover, being merely sixth order, what chance did they even have to reach the final round? They were simply waiting for death. In their numb eyes, there was no longer any desire to live.


    Yu Xi let out a bizarre cackle, casually tossing the two corpses aside and allowing their blood to flow freely.


    "Well, that''s it for the second match. We will proceed with the final beast fight before today''s auction begins. It will be the most interesting one. Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, return!"


    The gates reopened, and the previously departed Giant Ao Demon Scorpion returned, seemingly revitalized, perhaps by some medicine. Its dark purple coloration deepened, its massive pincers waving, exuding a fierce aura.


    Yu Xi''s eyes gleamed a ferocious light, "Next, the third beast fight, will also be today''s main event. One side will be the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion. The other will emerge from among you."


    At these words, the demons cheering suddenly quieted down. What did Yu Xi mean?


    "That''s right, one of you will be randomly selected to participate in the final beast fight against the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion. Victory means winning the scorpion as your prize <i>and</i> the opportunity to purchase any auction item at half its final price. Exciting, isn''t it? Hahaha!"


    <i>They''re going to choose one of the bidders to fight next?</i>


    For all bidders, this was unexpected. After silence, cheers and excited shouts began to erupt from the stands. The atmosphere quickly heated up again.


    The demon race revered battle and strength. They loved the excitement and quickly embraced such a thrilling prospect after their shock.


    With tens of thousands of demons present, the chances of being selected were minuscule. The powerful ones didn''t care, and the weaker ones didn''t believe they would be picked.


    "Those selected may refuse. But refusal means cowardice; leave this ce and lose your auction rights. We will continue to choose randomly until a brave soul dares to fight," Yu Xi''s words reassured all the demons. Being selected didn''t mean one had to fight; they could simply opt out of the auction.


    "Then, let us begin!" Dozens of light beams shone from all directions, sweeping the entire stands. However, these lights did not fall on the private boxes, indicating they were not included in the selection.


    Suddenly, the beams of light halted, with the majority disappearing, leaving only a single beam shining on the stands.


    The demon illuminated by the beam seemed bewildered. It was a leopard demon. Moments ago, it was cheering wildly, but upon being selected, its body stiffened.


    Then, it waved its hands frantically, "No, I can''t do it, I can''t. I can''t beat it."


    Instantly, a chorus of jeers erupted. Without needing to say anything, the leopard demon covered its face and fled in disgrace amidst the booing. Their kin deeply scorned such cowardice, but cowardice was better than death! It was only at the sixth order. Facing an eighth-order Giant Ao Demon Scorpion was no different from courting death, especially with no weapon other than speed.


    "Didn''t expect the first one chosen to be a coward, so let''s continue. Until we find a true warrior," the beam of light began to sweep again.


    Soon, all the beams narrowed to one, shining on a corner of the stands.


    A thin, monkey-like demon stood, seemingly weaker than the previous leopard demon. Immediately, the jeering started again.


    The monkey demon slowly stood up, facing the surrounding jeers. Despite hispanions'' tugging, he coldly dered, "I will fight!"


    As he shouted these three words, hispanion couldn''t help but roar in a low voice, "Are you mad?!?!"


    The one chosen by the beam was none other than Tang San!


    penguin��s thoughts: welp, whoever bet on two chapters,e and collect your prize. It��s the Darwin award.

 Chapter 201: Killing The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion

    <h4>Chapter 201: Killing The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion</h4>


    Tang San turned to his teacher beside him and smiled faintly. "Trust me."


    A green light emanated from his body as he spoke, lifting him into the air. The wind gathered around him, making him float lightly toward the arena.


    As he dered once more, "I ept the challenge," all the jeers turned into thunderous cheers.


    The demons didn''t care whether you could survive the fight or not, but they definitely appreciated the courage to fight; naturally, that was what they enjoyed seeing. The little ape demon in front of them was more appreciated than the leopard demon that had fled earlier.


    Tang San descended from the sky andnded gracefully on the blood-soaked ground. Only by entering it could one truly feel the vastness of this excellent beast-fighting stage. The arena and the surrounding stands had a height difference of thirty meters.


    The ten-meter-tall Yu Xi gave off an immensely oppressive feeling, even when contrasted against the massive scale of the arena. With its massive form, the giant scorpion beside him also radiated a sense of power.


    But in Tang San''s eyes, there was only coldness toward both of them.


    With his mocking cyclopean gaze, Yu Xi said, "In the beast fight, life and death are disregarded; this is the rule. Understand?"


    "Uh-huh," Tang San responded.


    "Alright, let''s not dy the uing auction. Begin!" Yu Xi bellowed, announcing the start of the final beast fight.


    Tang San''s gaze swept toward the corner, where two human vassalsy devoid of any signs of life.


    He took a deep, slow breath.


    The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion''s huge pincers suddenly smashed onto the ground. It swiftly lifted itself and charged straight toward Tang San.


    For it, winning ten consecutive battles was necessary not to entertain other demons or to bid for an item, but to survive. Although it was uncertain if it could pass the challenge of Yu Xi, winning each additional battle meant surviving longer.


    Tang San looked up at the massive creature charging him, his eyes turning cyan. Dense wind elemental energy rapidly flowed around his body. However, amidst the many powerful beings present, every single one could sense that the fluctuation of the bloodline aura emanating from him was merely at the peak of the sixth order, or maybe the early seventh order.


    Could a seventh-order demon defeat an eighth-order demonic beast? It was possible as long as the bloodline itself was strong enough. But in their eyes, Tang San was merely some kind of wind-attribute ape demon, not among those with such powerful bloodlines.


    Considering thebat intelligence disyed by the eighth-order Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, this was not something a mere wind ape demon could generally handle.


    Tang San moved, suddenly springing up. He was no longer the same as during his first journey outside, where killing a peak seventh-order Winged Tiger required help from hisrades and a massive amount of luck.


    Wind Astral exploded beneath his feet; his speed suddenly surged, and he darted at the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion like a green arrow.


    The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion obviously knew not to let him get close; its huge pincers suddenly pped together during its charge.


    This action resulted in a massive shockwave that swept outward just as Tang San was about to reach it.


    That was the eruption of an eighth-order energy st. If hit, Tang San would at the very least lose bnce and be blown away. And that moment would be the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion''s time to hunt.


    However, a streak of green light shot down from Tang San''s hand. Just as he was about to be swept away by the shockwave, he used the counterforce from below, suddenly floating upward. The shockwave passed beneath his feet.


    The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion''s tail stinger thrust forward, its icy sharpness aiming for Tang San. Even a strong Bloodthirsty War Bear couldn''tst long after being injected with its venom, so Tang San, with his small body, would die instantly if he was hit.


    But at that moment, Tang San swung his left hand, and a deep green light shed and disappeared.


    With a soft puff, the stinger was directly severed. Tang San''s body then sharply changed direction in mid-air, instantly descending toward the back of the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion thanks to the propulsion of the wind element.


    A deep-green wind de just like the one that had severed the tail stinger contracted again between his hands, and in the next instant, it transformed into a dark green light that fell instantly.


    Sensing a threat to its life, the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion''s body suddenly rolled to one side, disying agility entirely at odds with its massive size. Simultaneously, its giant pincers waved upward, emitting dense bloodline energy fluctuations as they spewed a purple light��given its energy, clearly some kind of Astral energy.


    With a puff, the dark green wind needle almost instantly prated the purple Astral energy, directly piercing the ground.


    With a loud boom, arge pit was sted into the ground, and this massive explosive force instantly caused dust to fly within the arena, obscuring most of the view.


    At that moment, when dust filled the air, Tang San''s actual attack began. In his eyes, a sh of purple light appeared and vanished as he activated the Purple Demon Eyes amplified by the Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion rolling to the side let out an odd scream as it instantly lost control of its body.


    It was just a beast, even though it was an eighth-order one and had developed some level of intelligence. The biggest problem for demonic beasts was their weak spiritual power. And now, it faced a being with spiritual power nurtured by a divine consciousness, already at the ninth order, and further bolstered by the Purple Demon Eyes and the Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    Let alone a mere scorpion, even Yu Xi himself would find such an impact challenging to withstand.


    In the next instant, two wind needles pierced into the eyes of the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, prating its brain and exploding instantly.


    The fierce wind swept through, scattering the dust.


    When the audience saw the arena again, Tang San was standing proudly on the back of the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, whichy on the ground, with a purplish-red liquid continuously oozing out from its head. It was clearly dead.


    From start to finish, the battle had been quick, not inferior in speed to the previous one between the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion and the Bloodthirsty War Bear.


    The loud cheers almost instantly resounded throughout the entire venue.


    Tang San represented the demons'' triumph over the beasts and was a chosen warrior in the eyes of the demons. Such courage and strength were what they revered.


    Yu Xi, at the edge of the arena, was also somewhat surprised. Due to the dust, he hadn''t seen how Tang San had killed the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion. But the result was clear, and the three beast fights were just a prelude to the auction anyway. He wouldn''t delve into it.


    Striding into the arena, he said, "You are our hero today. Tell me your name so that all races can cheer for you."


    Tang San jumped down from the back of the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, stored its corpse in his storage bag, and walked toward the arena''s edge, ignoring Yu Xi.


    "You''re not worthy to know my name," he said indifferently as he walked.


    Yu Xi was momentarily stunned, and a fierce light shed in his eye. "What did you say?"


    Tang San stopped, turned around, and faced him, "I said you''re not worthy! Do I need to say it louder?"


    "You''re seeking death!" The Blood Butcher''s eyes gleamed ferociously.


    "You''re the one seeking death. Sooner orter, I will kill you with my own hands," Tang San said coldly.


    Their voices were loud, and when the audience in the stands heard this ape demon, who had killed the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, daring to confront Yu Xi, they could not stop themselves from shouting.


    Just then, a deep voice suddenly echoed.


    "Enough."


    It didn''t seem loud, but it instantly overpowered the noise of the entire venue, silencing everything.


    Tang San also felt a heavy weight in his heart, a tremendous oppressive force making it difficult for him to breathe.


    <i>A god!</i> Without a doubt, this was the aura of a god-level powerhouse.


    "<i>Grrrr</i>��" Yu Xi groaned angrily at Tang San but did not attack him.

 Chapter 202: Crimson Fox Illusion

    <h4>Chapter 202: Crimson Fox Illusion</h4>


    Tang San walked to the arena''s edge, collecting the corpses of the eighth-order Bloodthirsty Battle Bear and the two human vassals that Yu Xi had flung away into his storage pouch. His storage pouch had limited capacity and was now quite cramped with these additions.


    Cheers and roars filled the stands. Some were cheering for him, while others were shouting for his opponent to tear him apart. However, these noisy voices gradually quieted down after the low shout of a God-level expert.


    Tang San leaped up, propelled by the Wind Astral, and returned to the stands. As he walked to his seat, the surrounding demons watched him with awe. A being capable of ying an eighth-order Giant Ao Demon Scorpion was not someone ordinary demons dared to offend.


    The Giant Ao Demon Scorpion was formidable among eighth-order demons, even capable of killing a Bloodthirsty Battle Bear, which testified to its strength. Yet, it had still fallen to Tang San in a matter of moments.


    Seeing Tang San silently return to his side and sit down, Zhang Haoxuan''s gaze couldn''t help but turn a bit strange.


    Zhang Haoxuan had never doubted Tang San''s strength, and he did believe that Tang San could defeat an eighth-order demon alone. However, that would require Tang San to use all or most of his various abilities. And how could he reveal his true capabilities in this grand stadium? If the demons found out that he could use multiple Demonic God Transformations, the next fight in the arena would be over who could dissect him first.


    When dust rose from the ground, Zhang Haoxuan''s heart leaped to his throat, knowing Tang San was going to use some abilities he didn''t want the demons in the stands to see. But could dust block the probing of a god-level expert''s divine consciousness?


    The battle ended, and the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion was in. Yet Tang San survived, and the god-level expert didn''t target him. This meant he hadn''t revealed the mysteries of the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    <i>How did he manage that?</i> Zhang Haoxuan was exceptionally curious.


    Tang San, of course, hadn''t exposed himself. With the mindset of someone who had lived three lifetimes, how could he recklessly act on impulse and put himself in a deadly situation?


    From beginning to end, he had only used the Wind Astral. There were wind-attribute ape demons, so that checked out. As for the spiritual power st he had used to knock out the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, that was not a type of Demonic God Transformation to begin with and was much more difficult to detect. In addition, some of the ape demons tended to have much greater spiritual power than other demons, so it wasn��t all <i>that </i>suspicious.


    The key to his victory was thebination of Purple Demon Eyes, the extremely condensed wind des, and his richbat experience. Obviously, thepressed wind elemental energy and his mighty spiritual power were closely rted, which made it fairly usible even under the scrutiny of a god-level expert.


    Zhang Haoxuan gave him a deep look but didn''t inquire further. The powerful demons in the audience had observed Tang San''s earlier performance, and asking something now would undoubtedly reveal a w.


    Tang San also appeared calm andposed, as if he had only done the most ordinary thing.


    Inside the grand colosseum, Yu Xi''s gaze followed Tang San back to his seat, his fierce eyes filled with undisguised murderous intent. Pointing at Tang San, it was as if he was saying he would not let him go.


    Yet Tang San sat there undisturbed as if he hadn''t seen it.


    ording to the Colosseum''s rules, opponents'' corpses were the victor''s spoils of war.


    However, his aim was not the corpses of the two powerful demons. In terms of value, these two demons were not as valuable as the Winged Tigers. His purpose was to take away the corpses of the two human vassals so they wouldn''t be food for demons. This was the only thing he could do for these two humans.


    His hatred for the demons in his heart undoubtedly increased a few notches, making Tang San''s heart toward the demon race even colder.


    Zhang Haoxuan gently patted his hand. A hint of mncholy shed in his eyes. Although he was a ninth-order, he dared not behave like Tang San. He didn''t dare to risk exposing himself. But Tang San did.


    Tang San turned his head to look at him and said nothing.


    "The prelude is over, so let our auction today officially begin," shouted Yu Xi, as if venting his inner anger.


    All the spotlights once again illuminated the Grand Colosseum as Yu Xi strode away. No one came to clean the bloodstains on the ground. This was part of the Grand Colosseum.


    A slender girl walked out.


    She wore a long rose-red dress, which made her somewhat blend in with the bloodstains on the ground in this vast arena. She gracefully walked to the center of the Colosseum.


    Without the long, fluffy tail behind her, this beautiful girl would not have looked much different from a human. She was from one of the Fox ns!


    Among the demon race, they are famous for their wisdom and spiritual power.


    The strongest among the Fox n were not the Golden Foxes, but the Celestial Foxes. The existence of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was what gave the Fox n a high status among all demons��after all, it was the third-ranked among all demons and nymphs in the Ancestral Court, and in a way, it was more important than the first-ranked one. Legend had it that the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor even controlled the fate of the entire Daemon Continent. Being observed once by its Celestial Fox Vision could determine one''s destiny.


    The Fox n rarely participated in directbat, but many powerful demon ns would hire strong members of the Fox n tomand their armies.


    The number of Celestial Foxes was scarce, while the numbers of other various branch Fox ns were notcking.


    ording to the rules of the demon and nymph races, the primary spouse had to be of the same race, especially for nobility, to ensure the purity of bloodline heritage. However, Fox n girls, renowned as the most beautiful beings in the demon race, were considered a great honor for any demon noble to take as concubines. Celestial Fox and Golden Fox females could never be concubines due to their own high status, but it was possible for some branch ns, particrly those less powerful and dependent on stronger races.


    The Fox n girl who walked into the Colosseum had a fiery red tail, a characteristic of the Crimson Fox n. There was also some red fur atop her ears. Her sizable red tail curved behind her, extending above her head, with its soft fur gently swaying, resembling a me burning behind her head. She was truly very beautiful.


    "Hello, everyone. I am Yuan Yinxin of the Crimson Fox n. Today, I will be the auctioneer for this grand auction. I hope the items today satisfy all bidders," she said while bowing slightly towards the four directions.


    The arena remained silent, adhering to the rules of the auction. Once the official auction starts, any rash noise from the stands would result in direct expulsion.


    After her greetings, Yuan Yinxin of the Crimson Fox n swayed, and her delicate body transformed into four figures, each smiling toward the four sides of the colosseum, saying, "I am very pleased to serve everyone today. Now, let us introduce the first auction item."


    <i>Illusion! </i>Tang San''s mind stirred. This ability clearly used spiritual power to produce realistic clones. At this moment, due to possibly being under the watch of god-level experts, he could not afford to activate his Discerning Eye of Heaven and figure out which one was the actual body. The demon race indeed possessed a myriad of bizarre abilities.


    Just then, a cart was pushed in by several strong demons. The cart wasrge, with a tform of about thirty square meters. On top of the tform was a square object, almost asrge as the tform itself, and it was covered with a ck cloth, obscuring the view.


    The cart quickly made its way to the center of the arena.


    Yuan Yinxin smiled and said, "The first auction item, I believe, will interest all males present. Rearing ves, especially human ves, has always been a fashion among various ns. Our first item up for bidding today is a total of eighteen human ves."

 Chapter 203: Young Human-Wolf Women

    <h4>Chapter 203: Young Human-Wolf Women</h4>


    <i>Human ves?</i>


    Tens of thousands of demon bidders couldn''t help but wonder, <i>Do human ves even have the right to be auctioned in this kind of major auction? Everybody has human ves, what��s so special about these?</i>


    "Please don''t be hasty. You will understand after I exin. These human ves were born to vassal families. However, the Demonic God Transformation they awoke is low-level, only at the first or second order, and it cannot grow further. Therefore, they were not recognized as vassals. Normally, such beings would be killed, as they don''t deserve to live. But due to their uniqueness, they were preserved.


    "Specifically, the bloodline of these eighteen ves originates from our Crimson Fox race, and they are all females."


    While speaking, she grabbed the ck cloth with her right hand and gave it a gentle shake. The fabric immediately slipped off, revealing therge metal cage underneath.


    Inside the cage, several human girls were curled up and huddled together. Their faces were filled with terror, yet they were incredibly beautiful. Their minimal clothing did little to cover their fair skin and slender figures. When the ck cloth was lifted, they simultaneously let out cries of shock, trembling as they crowded together.


    As he witnessed this scene where humans were auctioned off asmodities, Tang San''s fists clenched instantly. The fate of these human girls was easy to imagine if they ended up bought by demons.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s voice transmission immediately rang in his ear, "Don''t act rashly."


    The Crimson Fox girl, Yuan Yinxin, said with a sly smile, ��I believe everyone now understands their value. Though they are naturally not considered members of our n, they still have some measure of our Crimson Fox blood. This inheritance makes them more beautiful! In addition, they are all around sixteen years old, the prime of a human girl''s youth. Whoever buys them as ves or concubines would make an excellent investment. I''m sure you can tell that at first nce.��


    The eighteen human female ves with Crimson Fox lineage instantly heated the atmosphere in the auction hall. Although there wasn''t loud shouting like before, the buzz of discussions clearly showed that she was right��the interest was there.


    Each girl was beautiful in face and figure, and the Crimson Fox bloodline, faint though it was, promised even more beauty in their future. Such female humans, unable to attain the status of vassals and seen as rare and almost forbidden delights, were considered top-tier ves by the demon race. Many demons enjoyed collecting such female ves, which perfectly exined why these lowly mixed-blood creatures had been brought to the auction.


    Yuan Yinxin continued, "Everyone seems eager now, so I won��t hold it off anymore. Let��s start the auction! If you take a look at the light beam scale, you can see the current price of the items!"


    While speaking, Yuan Yinxin walked over to a cart, at the front of which was a round-shaped piece of ore.


    "The auction begins!"


    The ore immediately emitted a soft glow as she touched it, and a gentle light beam soared upward. It was a very peculiar light beam��not just a normal ray of light, but one interrupted at regr intervals by what looked like light nodes that marked it like length units on a ruler.


    Before they arrived, Zhang Haoxuan had informed Tang San that the standard currency used at the grand auction was naturae coins. Depending on the auction item, the unit of the bid would change.


    At this moment, the light beam was around a meter in height, and it had ten nodes representing ten naturae coins. When a bidding button was pressed, the light beam would grow by another node.


    The scales rapidly climbed upward as soon as the illusory light column appeared. In an instant, it surpassed fifteen nodes, meaning fifteen naturae coins.


    Typically, one single naturae coin could buy hundreds of ordinary human ves. However, for only these eighteen human ves, the price had soared to fifteen naturae coins!


    This was not actually surprising considering their lineage. The standard price for such ve girls with Crimson Fox blood was one naturae coin each, which demonstrated the desirability of this bloodline. For those who were unable to marry a true fox girl or get one as a concubine, owning such a fox-human hybrid ve was a highly sought-after alternative. Therefore, such ves were always in high demand in the market. The great nobles of the demon race disdained this practice, but it was the opposite for the middle ss.


    "Just fifteen naturae coins? Please be aware that these eighteen ves are the finest selections from hundreds of candidates. Moreover, each one is a virgin, retaining its original pure Yin energy. This is incredibly nourishing!"


    As soon as these words were spoken, the bid instantly exceeded twenty naturae coins and showed signs of climbing even higher.


    Tang San turned his head and nced at Zhang Haoxuan.


    Zhang Haoxuan gave him an inquiring look.


    Tang San pursed his lips and transmitted his voice: "Perhaps I have a way to enhance their bloodline power, allowing them to be vassals. The bloodline of the Crimson Fox n has spiritual abilities, and that��s exactly the area I know best. Besides, haven''t you told me before that the bloodline of the Celestial Fox n is superior to all other fox ns because it can stimte and amplify all other fox demon bloodlines?"


    Zhang Haoxuan sighed softly and transmitted back: "I am finallypletely reassured about you."


    "Hmm?" Tang San looked at him in confusion. "Because I am foolish?"


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head and said, "No, because of your kindness and sense of belonging to humanity."


    "I think you''ve forgotten, but I am even more human than you. I don''t even have the bloodline of a demon n at all."


    Zhang Haoxuan was stunned momentarily, then nodded vigorously, "Do what you wish to do."


    Tang San reached his hand into the metal sleeve before him.


    By now, the auction price had been raised to thirty naturae coins. Yes, not even a minute had passed and it was already more than double the market price. With that, however, the bidding also slowed down. It was several seconds before the light beam jumped up another notch.


    Surprisingly, the light beam didn��t stop there, but instead jumped up another four notches.


    Indeed��with no hesitation, Tang San had just pressed the button five times, increasing the bid by five naturae coins in one go.


    A whole thirty-five naturae coins to purchase a few human ves. This was a sky-high price.


    "Thirty-five coins once, thirty-five coins twice, sold! Congrattions to the lucky bidder! After the auction ends, please bring your number te to pay and collect your purchase~"


    Yuan Yinxin pped her hands, confirming the final transaction wasplete.


    Tang San''s gaze fell on the Crimson Fox n girls, his eyes twinkling as if he was contemting something.


    In any case, he was now the proud owner of no fewer than eighteen female human ves. Since they were the first auction item, the price was not all that high, but they had still sold for more than twice the market price, which was a good start for the auction considering that the original estimate was only twenty-five naturae coins.


    And this was just the opening appetizer of today''s auction, mainly to stir the blood of the male demons.


    The auction continued, and the second item turned out to be a custom suit of armor created by a master cksmith from Kali City. This master cksmith could only make ten sets of armor each year. The materials would be provided by the customer, but the armor would be made to fit them specifically, so it was well worth it. Typically, one would have to wait at least ten years to have such armor forged, but what they were bidding for in this auction was basically a queue slot that allowed the winner to request the armor right away.


    "Do demons also use weapons? That''s rare!" Tang San said.


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and said, "Some demons do use weapons. Ordinary weapons are of little use to them, as the demons skilled inbat consider their bodies the best weapons��and rightfully so. However, weapons and equipment created by such master cksmiths are made from very high-end materials and bring the user great power, so they are sought after even by high-level demons. They generallye with up to three types of item effects.��

 Chapter 204: Heavenly Fire Essence Iron

    <h4>Chapter 204: Heavenly Fire Essence Iron</h4>


    Tang San asked, "How would you rank the hidden weapons I crafted?"


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at him intently and replied, "I don''t know. Such weapons have never appeared in the history of the demon races. The arrays inscribed onto your weapons are something I��ve never even seen, far moreplex than any arrays used on this continent. Just considering the arrays alone, they must be very high-level. Of course, take that with a grain of salt. I am not a cksmith, much less an array master or a weapons manufacturer of any kind, so I wouldn��t know the details."


    Tang San nodded and said, "I understand. When you have time, can you please take me to see this master cksmith and learn about the kinds of weapons he creates?"


    "Sure, okay."


    While they were talking, the second auction item started and was eventually sold for fifty-two naturae coins. This went to show how precious a good suit of armor was, even for these demons with incredible physical prowess.


    "Next, please bring up our third auction item. This item is extremely precious, so the minimum bid increase will be set at ten naturae coins."


    A small cart covered with a red cloth was pushed in. Underneath the fabric, there appeared to be a weapon.


    The cart was pushed to the center of the venue. Yuan Yinxin raised her hand and pulled off the red cloth, revealing a hammer.


    The weapon was about two meters long, with a cylindrical hammer head. It resembled an erged version of a forging hammer, emanating an eerie glow. Even from a distance, one could sense its solidity and weight.


    "The master who crafted this warhammer named it Sky Shatterer. A substantial amount of precious metal, specifically molten iron found deep within the magma of an active volcano, was used to create it. It was hammered for one hundred and one days continuously in order to remove impurities. Additionally, it was quenched in the sacred ice water from the Ancestral Peak, giving it its final hardness. It has one effect: pulverization."


    While speaking, Yuan Yinxin casually picked up the warhammer and swung it effortlessly onto the cart.


    Instantly, the cart exploded with a loud bang, shattering into countless pieces.


    Witnessing this, Tang San''s eyes lit up. <i>Such a fine item!</i> <i>Molten iron your mom, that thing is Heavenly Fire Essence Iron!</i>


    Moreover, the core property of the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron wasn''t reflected in this warhammer. This meant that its craftsmanship was rough, failing to fully utilize the intrinsic value of the material thoroughly.


    Even in Tang San''s knowledge as a former God King, Heavenly Fire Essence Iron was ranked among the top ten rarest metals.


    Heavenly Fire Essence Iron required veryplex conditions to form. It only ever appeared in ces with ultra-high-temperature magma, absorbing the essence of fire for at least ten thousand years to gradually take shape. The magma''s temperature had to be maintained throughout; any eruption, reduction in temperature, or other change could destroy its structure, rendering the effort futile.


    Such ultra-high-temperature magma could only exist at the core of massive-size active volcanoes. How many of those could there be on any given? Of course, it could also appear inside a star, where temperatures were more than enough. But obviously, going below the surface of a star was not something just anyone could do. Thus, the fact that such a metal appeared on a normal, not a star, indicated how high the nar level of Fn was.


    Moreover, even with ess to a star, one had to delve deep inside to obtain a significant amount of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, a feat only possible for a God King.


    Tang San didn''t know if any true God King-level powers existed on the Daemon Continent. Theoretically, there should be none. If there were actual God Kings, Fn would have long since be a realm exclusively inhabited by gods rather than the mortals it now had.


    The appearance of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron greatly surprised Tang San. He could recognize it at a nce because he had seen his share of this fine metal in the Divine Realm, and the weapon of a primary god, the Fire God, was forged from Heavenly Fire Essence Iron.


    Could the value of such arge piece of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron be measured in currency? Although Tang San didn''t think he could fully utilize its properties with his current abilities, this metal was good enough to be forged into a divine artifact! The Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, referred to as "molten iron" by the demon n, was clearly wasted in their hands.


    Tang San turned to Zhang Haoxuan and gave him a firm nod.


    "Let the auction begin! The starting price is fifty naturae coins, and as I said earlier, the minimum bid is now ten naturae coins!"


    Yuan Yinxin thus started the formal auction.


    Many influential figures seemed to be interested in the Sky Shatterer, mainly due to its pulverization effect. Quickly, the price surpassed one hundred naturae coins, making it the highest-priced item so far. However, after reaching one hundred, the bidding pace slowed significantly.


    A hundred naturae coins was already a sky-high price for the middle-ss demon ns.


    At this moment, there seemed to be some movement in the private rooms of the nobility.


    "One hundred and twenty naturae coins going once! Thank you," said Yuan Yinxin, beaming with a smile. "Can we have more?"


    The Sky Shatterer had an internal price set at one hundred and twenty naturae coins, which meant the mission was already aplished.


    "One hundred and thirty!"


    "One hundred and forty!"


    The bidding continued. Soon, it climbed to one hundred and sixty. From the demon n''s perspective, this exceeded the intrinsic value of the Sky Shatterer. After all, it only had one effect. Though it was clearly effective and high-quality, it was still quite expensive.


    Zhang Haoxuan kept ncing at Tang San. Their reason for attending the auction was, from Zhang Haoxuan''s perspective, to acquire rare materials and treasures that could enhance Tang San''s cultivation. Actual power was one''s own. Nearly two hundred naturae coins could potentially buy a lot of valuable items!


    Tang San''s gaze, however, was resolute. Forget about one or two hundred coins, the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron was worth even one or two hundred <i>thousand</i>! Properly utilized, it could be a divine artifact in the future, perhaps even multiple divine artifacts. After all, the actual properties of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron didn��t require arge amount to be manifested.


    Thus, Tang San directly bid two hundred naturae coins.


    Finally, the bidding paused. But a few moments after, just as Yuan Yinxin was about to dere him the winner, a bid of two hundred and ten emerged.


    "Two hundred and fifty!" Tang San pressed four times without hesitation.


    Even Yuan Yinxin was visibly surprised at this number, but she quickly masked her surprise, understanding that a bidder had be fixated on this item. This was the only exnation for such a price.


    Tang San''s decisive bidding finally stopped the price from rising further.


    "Two hundred and fifty naturae coins going once, two hundred and fifty going twice... anyone else? Sold for two hundred and fifty naturae coins, congrattions to the bidder!" Yuan Yinxin did not hesitate much; she was delighted with the price, far higher than their initial estimate. As the main auctioneer, her sess came precisely from such excessive profits. Naturally, she was all smiles and quickly finalized the sale.


    Hearing the word "sold," Tang San''s expression finally rxed. The Heavenly Fire Essence Iron was his. With this piece of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, he didn��t even care if he couldn��t bid for other items in this auction. It was already a huge win! Moreover, because of the previous beast fight, he could purchase an item at half price, so it wasn��t that bad.


    "Don''t bid recklessly anymore; don''t forget our purpose here," Zhang Haoxuan reminded him. If he hadn''t been so confident in his young but mature-minded, miracle-creating disciple, he wouldn''t have allowed Tang San to act so recklessly.


    "Okay, I''ll listen to you." At this moment, Tang San was too delighted to even care about his grumpy master.

 Chapter 205: Golden Wood

    <h4>Chapter 205: Golden Wood</h4>


    The next dozen or so auction items were various weapons and equipment, all appearing to be finely crafted. However, in Tang San''s eyes, they could only be described as crudely made, a sheer waste of materials.


    Among them were several excellent materials, but since the value added by the forging was actually not bad, and these metals were not as rare as Heavenly Fire Essence Iron to begin with, Tang San did not bother to bid.


    Among them, a greatsword with three attribute enhancements sparked a heated bout of bidding, eventually selling for a high price of twelve hundred naturae coins. Of these three attributes, the most formidable was magic-breaking, capable of prating nearly all elemental defenses. Extremely powerful.


    The materials used were also exceptionally precious, including Moonsilver and Finegold. However, in Tang San''s view, the proportions used were problematic and did not fully utilize the capabilities of the materials. The array inscribed on the greatsword seemed decent.


    ording to the introduction, this greatsword was forged by a great master from the ancestral court and once belonged to a god-level warrior.


    The price of 1200 naturae coins was not high for this greatsword. Still, it was 1200 naturae coins, or 120 empyrean coins. There were not many who even owned such wealth, much less afford to spend it on a weapon.


    The highest denomination used on the continent, the amethystine coin, hardly ever appeared in the market. Also known as the Bloodline Crucible, it was used by god-level demons and nymphs for cultivation, so it was only technically a form of currency; practically, it was a natural treasure.


    Looking at the high price of the greatsword, Tang San felt a bit envious. He would have been willing to spend the money on it if he had that money. If the greatsword were in his hands, he would not use it directly but reforge it, melting it back into its original metals for other purposes.


    Moonsilver and Finegold, both extremely precious metals, were most valuable not for their direct use in making equipment but for their ability to improve other metals. Adding a small amount of either metal to other metals could significantly enhance their properties, making the resulting alloy even more powerful and effective than weapons made solely from Moonsilver and Finegold. In cooking terms, these metals were not the meat and vegetables, but rather the MSG added at the end for a vor boost.


    Unfortunately, they did not have enough money to bid on the greatsword.


    The more Tang San understood this world, the more he recognized specific issues in this world rich in resources. The crudeness of the forging was in stark contrast to the world''s vast resources, and the research into arrays was also very rudimentary. These problems, conversely, represented opportunities for Tang San.


    The auction continued with one hot item after the other, with the demon race showing an evident craving for powerful weapons and other pieces of equipment. Of course, pretty much all demons preferred weapons to any suit of armor. Even whenparing items of equal quality, the prices for weapons were noticeably higher than for armor, which made sense considering most demons�� aggressive fighting style.


    Tang San and the mayor didn''t make any more bids, as their purpose for attending the auction today wasn''t for weapons and equipment but for the heavenly materials and earthly treasures that were toeter.


    The auction of weapons and equipmentsted nearly two hours, with over forty pieces of high-quality gear being sold. Tang San had undoubtedly snagged a bargain with the Sky Piercing Hammer. He nned to reforge this hammer, not dismantle it for materials.


    The properties of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron differed from those of Moonsilver and Finegold. It was a main material for forging, and while even a small amount of it was enough to imbue an item with amazing properties, making something entirely from it would result in an item on apletely different level. That warhammer was decent at best, so now that it was in Tang San''s hands, he needed to reforge it, adding an array suitable for Heavenly Fire Essence Iron to unleash its potential fully.


    The young girl from the Crimson Fox n, Yuan Yinxin, continued to introduce item after item.


    Smiling, she looked toward the audience and said, "Next up for auction are some precious materials, as well as treasure nts and fruits we''ve collected in recent months. Don''t miss these great items, especially if you didn��t get your hands on the items we just sold! That only means you can spend your money on some of these precious items��some of them are extremely rare even at our grand auctions! Now, let''s bring out the first item~"


    As she spoke, a cart had already been pushed into the Great Beast Fighting Arena. It wasn''trge and was covered with a red cloth.


    When it was pushed next to Du Bai, she smiled and said, "Now, let me introduce this item for auction. Or rather, let''s have a look first. Let��s see if anyone here recognizes this item!"


    As she spoke, she flicked her hand, pulling away the red cloth to reveal the item beneath.


    It was a huge tray covered with a transparent dome, on whichy several strange items.


    They looked like tree branches lying randomly on the tray. What was strange was the faint golden radiance emanating from these branches. Despite the distance from the stands to the center of the arena and despite the fact that it was not bright by any standard, the golden radiance was still clearly visible.


    The golden radiance clearly showed that there was something extraordinary about these branches. But just as the Crimson Fox girl had expected, nobody jumped up to tell everyone what they were.


    The stands were abuzz with discussion.


    Du Bai smiled and said, "This item would be more recognizable in the Solstice Empire, among the nymph race. It''s more significant to them. This is the remnant limb of a god-level Great Nymph King of the Solstice Empire, who cultivated from an ancient tree and possessed a golden bloodline. This material is therefore called ''Golden Wood,'' and it''s quite literally a divine material. Even carrying it can nurture a trace of divinity, aiding a ninth-order warrior in breaking through to the tenth order. Although it''s just a remnant limb and not the main trunk, there''s still sixty-eight kilograms of it. Its value is incredible. The starting bid is one hundred naturae coins, and the minimum bid is ten coins. Let the bidding begin."


    <i>Golden Wood!</i>


    For both demon and nymph races, the status of the Golden Bloodline is unquestionable, a fact recognized by all races. However, as the auction for this pile of Golden Wood began, it was met with an unusualck of interest, marking the first lull in today''s grand auction.


    No one raised a bid!


    Somewhat surprised at the awkward atmosphere, Tang San quietly asked Zhang Haoxuan beside him, "Master, why is no one bidding?"


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "This thing is just for show, why bid? Golden Wood isn''t really useful; its so-called divinity is mostly symbolic. Neither the demon nor the nymph race truly believes in these. They rely on their strength to break through cultivation bottlenecks. Also, this Golden Wood is rare among the demons butmon among the nymphs. It might have attracted some interest if it was the main trunk, with a stronger trace of divinity. But these are just branches; apart from decoration, they''re not useful."


    When he heard his exnation, the corner of Tang San''s mouth couldn''t help but twitch. What did people mean when they called something a waste of resources? This was exactly it. He was genuinely grateful to havee to this auction with his master. Both the demon and nymph races were simply....


    No, he could not even find words to describe them. <i>Golden Wood is freaking useless?!</i>


    penguin��s thoughts: bro literally said those metals are the MSG of forging ??Uncle Roger would be proud

 Chapter 206: The Drifting Thoughts of the Ancient Golden Tree

    <h4>Chapter 206: The Drifting Thoughts of the Ancient Golden Tree</h4>


    In his previous life''s world, the Douluo, the most famous academy on the entire was known as Shrek Academy.


    And Shrek Academy was built around an Ancient Golden Tree��a legacy of Tang San himself.


    Relying on this Ancient Golden Tree, Shrek Academy remained the top power in that world for tens of millenia, its life energy helping nurture countless strong individuals.


    It was destroyed at one point, yet it had sprouted once more, reborn anew and growing together with the Blue Silver Emperor��originally Tang San''s mother in his previous lifetime. The Ancient Golden Tree eventually evolved into the Eternal Ancient Tree, the life core of the.


    And these pieces of golden wood in front of him were branches of the Ancient Golden Tree. Were these things everyday items in the Solstice Empire? Did they make furniture from it?!


    The Ancient Golden Tree was also known as the Tree of Life. Did that mean there were numerous Trees of Life in the Solstice Empire? No wonder the aura of life in this world was so rich!


    He was bing eager to visit the Solstice Empire to obtain some golden wood.


    "Does no one need it? Carved into ornaments, golden wood is precious. Exquisitely beautiful, lighter than precious metals, easier to wear, and can even help nurture one''s divinity!" The Crimson Fox n girl continued her efforts. But still, no one responded.


    "Well then, in that case..." Yuan Yinxin didn''t want to waste more time, as there were still many items to be auctioned. However, at that moment, she heard a sound and the light column appeared.


    "One hundred naturae coins, a bidder offers one hundred naturae coins. Indeed, there are connoisseurs!"


    Her face brightened with a rich smile. Someone had actually made a bid!


    These pieces of Golden Wood were offered as the first among natural treasures because it was not something highly regarded and they didn''t have high hopes for it. And yet, someone was going to buy it! It wasn''t a bidding war, but it was still better than nothing.


    However, that was the only bid made. Thus, this batch of Golden Wood weighing sixty-eight kilograms was sold at the base price.


    On the stands, Tang San let out a sigh of relief. Even with his steady disposition, he couldn''t help but show a bit of excitement on his face. Zhang Haoxuan, beside him, however, furrowed his brow.


    "Are you sure this thing is useful?" he whispered.


    Tang San silently nodded, choosing not to exin to his master. Some things could not be said out loud. But these Golden Wood pieces were more than just useful��they were <i>priceless</i> to Tang San right now. Their wide range of uses was something Zhang Haoxuan couldn''t even begin to imagine.


    For Tang San, their importance was even greater than that of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, and they were even rted to the most crucial aspect of his future growth.


    The second auction item, a treasure that could enhance bloodline strength, quickly reignited the bidding enthusiasm. However, Tang San wasn''t much interested in these items coveted by the demon races. To improve the strength of his Demonic God Transformation bloodline, he just needed to find a demon with more substantial bloodline power and directly absorb it.


    In addition, such treasures were avable in the stores of Kali Academy. Golden Wood, however, was not found in the academy''s stores, either because it was not valued or perhaps because Golden Wood rarely appeared in the Empyrean Dominion, the territory of the demon races.


    If it weren''t for the hope of finding more bargains, Tang San would have wanted to leave already. He was eager to return and work with his Heavenly Fire Essence Iron and Golden Wood. These two items would be of immense help to him.


    Sitting beside Tang San, Zhang Haoxuan could sense his joyful mood. He found himself increasingly unable to understand this disciple. With continuous growth, Tang San gradually made a profound impression on him.


    Thankfully, Tang San''s previous actions of risking himself and exposing some of his abilities to kill the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion and bring back the bodies of two human vassals reassured Zhang Haoxuan. Regardless of any secrets he might have, his heart was unquestionably in the right ce.


    Within the Redemption Society, the only one among the younger generation who couldpare with him was probably Mei Gongzi, the Blue ss Redeemer. Of course, that was only to Zhang Haoxuan. Mei Gongzi''s importance was almost unparalleled within the organization, and she was even considered the hope of the entire Redemption Society, far beyond the rtively unknown Tang San.


    The following auction items were all various treasures with different effects, but most were rted to enhancing bloodline strength. They targeted different races and they all fetched high prices.


    But Tang San remained unmoved, just silently waiting and observing.


    Most of these auction items were avable at the academy store. As the premier academy of Kali City, Kali Academy truly lived up to its reputation. Of course, he couldn''t yet use the valuable items in the academy, but they were there for his taking when the time came.


    "The next auction item is one that many of our ns will appreciate. It''s immensely beneficial for breaking through to the god level. As you well know, the biggest bottleneck for ninth-order warriors of all races and ns in advancing to the tenth order isn''t usually our bloodline power but the spiritual power that must evolve alongside it. Only when both are in harmony can we finally break through the bottleneck. Cultivating spiritual power, except for a few races, is a long and grueling road. Therefore, natural treasures that enhance spiritual power are increasingly precious. What we are about to auction next is such a rare treasure��twelve Purple Sun Fruits! They are a great supplement for one��s spiritual cultivation. The starting bid is three hundred naturae coins, and the minimum bid is ten coins!"


    A cart was pushed up, but the items on it weren''t clearly visible from the stands. Only a faint purple glow could be seen inside the protective shield.


    Tang San had to focus his eyes to see that they were twelve purple fruits, slightlyrger than a thumb, emitting a faint purple halo.


    This kind of fruit also existed in the Kali Academy store, but there were very few of them. Tang San had once tried to absorb a little of their effect, and indeed, they greatly assisted in enhancing spiritual power. Even just being exposed to their aura was quite helpful to him. However, his spiritual power was already at the ninth order, so unless he consumed them directly, the improvement was limited.


    Three hundred naturae coins was a sky-high price. This only made sense, however; as Yuan Yinxin mentioned, the treasure nts and other natural treasures that enhanced spiritual power were incredibly valuable. By contrast, the final prices of the previous auction items in the same category hadn''t even exceeded two hundred naturae coins.


    Tang San nodded to Zhang Haoxuan. "Master, this is the one."


    "Alright." Zhang Haoxuan didn''t ask further. He had already bid for the Golden Wood for Tang San; this wasn''t much different.


    "The bidding starts!"


    "Three hundred thirty, three hundred forty, three hundred fifty, three hundred sixty!" The bidding for the Purple Sun Fruits had just begun and immediately sparked a frenzy. Clearly, many among the demon races were eager for these treasures to enhance spiritual power.


    In almost no time, the bid surpassed four hundred naturae coins.


    Zhang Haoxuan turned to look at Tang San, finding the price incredibly high.


    Tang San nodded slightly and said, "It''s worth it. In fact, it''s worth even twice this. And don''t forget, we have a chance for a fifty percent discount."


    Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes lit up. Right! Tang San had won the beast fight, earning a fifty percent discount on one auction item. The higher the price, the more they saved. With that in mind, he immediately continued bidding.


    "Four hundred fifty, four hundred sixty..."


    After the bid surpassed five hundred, the increments'' pace slowed down.


    "Five hundred twenty once... Any more for five hundred twenty? Okay, five hundred thirty..." Yuan Yinxin kept calling out bids, continuously driving up the price of the Purple Sun Fruits.


    "Six hundred! Thank you, we have six hundred naturae coins going once... Can we have six hundred ten?"


    "Six hundred ten, six hundred ten now. Any more?"


    "Seven hundred! A generous bidder has jumped straight to seven hundred naturae coins, they are clearly determined to take these home! Are there any more bidders? This batch of Purple Sun Fruits is of excellent quality, in the best state, and picked at peak maturity for optimal effect. Twelve Purple Sun Fruits can significantly enhance spiritual power, and even set a solid foundation for ascending to the god level. The rarity of Purple Sun Fruits is well-known; their annual production on the entire continent doesn''t exceed a hundred. The appearance of twelve in one auction is extremely rare!"

 Chapter 207: Bidding For The Purple Sun Fruit

    <h4>Chapter 207: Bidding For The Purple Sun Fruit</h4>


    The auctioneer energetically promoted the item, but the price of seven hundred naturae coins evidently exceeded the expectations of most bidders. Clearly, it wasn''t the best item of the day. Ultimately, no one continued to bid.


    ��Seven hundred for the first call, seven hundred for the second, and the third...Sold!��


    The twelve Purple Sun Fruits were finally sold at a high price of seven hundred naturae coins. The sessful bidders, of course, were Tang San and his master Zhang Haoxuan.


    Without the fifty percent discount, they would have spent all their money by now. But with the discount applied to the Purple Sun Fruits, they still had over three hundred naturae coins left.


    Tang San smiled faintly, knowing that Purple Sun Fruits were excellent for enhancing spiritual power and nurturing the sea of consciousness. Not only could they be used by Du Bai to enhance his spiritual power and potentially help him advance to the fifth order, but Wu Bingji, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng also had needs in this area��especially Gu Li, whose Chrono Croc Transformation required a boost in spiritual power.


    Not long ago, Tang San had imparted the Purple Demon Eyes to them as well, and they were working hard, though their progress was far behind Du Bai''s. With the help of the Purple Sun Fruits, they could at least advance their Purple Demon Eyes to the first stage and enhance and stabilize their spiritual power. The money was well spent. Their improvement was also Tang San''s improvement. After all, except for Wu Bingji, the others hadn''t surpassed the fifth order.


    Tang San did not bid for any of the subsequent items. Although they still had over three hundred naturae coins left, it wasn''t enough to purchase those precious natural treasures. Besides, Tang San nned to save money to buy some other items and materials that he needed.


    With the improvement of his cultivation level, Tang San could do more and more things. And as he grew to understand this world better, he had a moreplete n for his future. It was unrealistic to expect his strength to reach the level where he could contend with god-level powerhouses in the short term. Therefore, he needed to improve himself quickly and possess strongerbat capabilities before his cultivation level increased. At the very least, he needed the ability to face ninth-order demons.


    The auction was intense, featuring many excellent natural treasures, some of which were unavable even in the Kali Academy store. But the prices were astonishingly high, leaving Tang San and Zhang Haoxuan as mere spectators.


    For example, a fruit called the Ascension Fruit made Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes turn somewhat red. It was used for breaking through to the god level. The breakthrough greatly enhanced the understanding of the world and caused the bloodline energy to overflow, significantly increasing the chances of breaking through.


    The final price for this item was ten thousand naturae coins. At this price, Tang San and his master could only watch.


    With the auction of the Ascension Fruit, the bidding entered its real climax. The final three items auctioned were something new to Tang San��three bloodline samples!


    The blood auction was a unique practice of the Empyrean Dominion. It was well known that besides continual cultivation, the simplest method to enhance one''s bloodline strength was to absorb and refine the blood of a higher-order member of the same n, or a higher-tier member of the same race. This process would cause one''s bloodline energy to overflow, pushing it to higher levels and even possibly improving the bloodline''s tier itself.


    The three bloodline samples auctioned this time included two golden bloodlines and one... even higher than golden!


    Only bloodlines that produced a Demon Emperor could be ssified above the golden level, so they were naturally incredibly rare.


    The appearance of these three bloodlines caused an uproar. The bidding became so intense that the powerful beings in the private rooms almost came to blows. It wasn''t until a cold snort echoed through the room, intimidating everyone, that the situation calmed down and the auction could proceed.


    The first golden bloodline auctioned was one Tang San was actually familiar with. It was the bloodline of the Golden Lion Dog, Song Junhou��the Golden Lion bloodline.


    The Golden Lion bloodline''s innate ability was the Golden Holy Fire, whose power Tang San had seen clearly. This Golden Lion bloodline sample came from a ninth-order Golden Lion, and there was a full kilogram of it. This was an unparalleled treasure for any lion demon, offering a chance to be a member of the Golden Lion n.


    The lion race was powerful among the demons, with various branches being extremely formidable. You can imagine how fierce thepetition was.


    Eventually, a god-level Lion King won the bid for nine thousand coins, but it was empyrean coins, not naturae coins. Nine thousand empyrean coins were equivalent to ny thousand naturae coins. Such an astronomical sum was only essible to noble ns.


    The second golden bloodline auctioned, which Tang San coveted the most, was the Golden Leopard bloodline, the golden bloodline of the leopard race.


    Tang San''s evolution of the Leopard sh imprint would naturally have to go in this direction. Obtaining the Golden Leopard bloodline would greatly enhance his Demonic God Transformation imprint, possibly even helping him break through to the seventh order.


    Of course, it was impossible for him to buy it. These golden bloodlines appeared exclusively for the god-level powerhouses to bid on. In fact, these items were their main target for attending the auction.


    Thepetition was just as fierce, and in the end, a leopard demon secured it for eight thousand Empyrean coins.


    Tang San learned at the final checkout that his fifty percent discount was only valid for items below one thousand naturae coins. He had been in fact somewhat puzzled as to why no powerful race had approached him for a partnership to avail of the discount, and that made it clear.


    The auction of thest type of blood was the grand finale of the entire auction.


    When this blood was brought forth, it was apanied by four powerful beings, each guarding a corner of the cart. All were god-level demons, exuding a solemn aura. Tang San could feel intense spatial fluctuations around them, as if the blood about to be disyed was isted in a separate space.


    Undoubtedly, these were the mighty ones of the Peacock Demon race. The presence of four god-level powerhouses for a single auction item highlighted its immense significance.


    Even Yuan Yinxin herself shivered slightly due to the importance of this item. She respectfully bowed to the four god-level powerhouses of the Peacock Demon race and slowly said, ��The next item is the grand finale of today��s auction. I urge you not to let yourselves ovee by excitement and cause amotion. The Lord of Kali City himself, the Great Demon King of the Peacock n, is honoring us with his presence today. He is among us to witness this historical bidding.��


    This statement was undoubtedly a warning. The Peacock Great Demon King was a top-tier eleventh-order demon with the purest and most elite bloodline. With such a figure overseeing the event, even beings of the same level wouldn��t dare to act rashly. The power of the Peacock Great Demon King was not something other Great Demon Kings could match.


    As expected, after Yuan Yinxin''s words, the venue quieted down significantly, and all eyes focused on the cart in the center.


    Yuan Yinxin carefully lifted the golden cover, revealing a spherical shield underneath.


    From inside the shield, a swirl of colorful lights instantly brightened the entire arena.


    When the colorful radiance appeared, all the demons, including Tang San, felt a sense of dizziness.


    This blood was indeed multicolored, looking exceptionally splendid and captivating. Around the multicolored blood, a faint halo of colors rippled. Its movement was mesmerizing, as if looking at it for too long would cause one''s soul to be absorbed into it.

 Chapter 208: The Clan Has No Emperor, The Emperor Has No City

    <h4>Chapter 208: The n Has No Emperor, The Emperor Has No City</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan was unfamiliar with the origin of this blood, but given that four god-level powerhouses personally guarded it, its value was undoubtedly immense.


    With utmost respect, the demon of the Red Fox tribe first bowed deeply to the blood that shimmered with a rainbow luster. She said reverently, "This bloodes from one of the supreme powerhouses of the demon races, the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor. We are extremely fortunate to have it appear in our auction. The tales of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor are well-known, so I need not borate further. This blood is not just ordinary blood; it contains a drop of the Demon Emperor''s blood essence, making it truly priceless. It''s not actually something thates from our Kali City store, but actually something sent to us from our ancestral home, just for this grand auction."


    <i>The bloodline of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor!</i>


    Tang San had indeede across legends of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor in texts and had heard about them from teachers at the Redemption Society. This being was an absolute legend among the demon races of the Empyrean Dominion.


    The Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor was also known as the Elemental Demon Emperor. In terms ofbat strength alone, this entity once ranked fifth among all in the Ancestral Court, including among the nymphs of the Solstice Empire��a true powerhouse among powerhouses.


    Unfortunately, the Seven-Colored Deer was a rather special case in that it was a unique being of its race��or a Solitary, as they were otherwise known. A Solitary was the only being of its bloodline, an unprecedented existence.


    Beings who qualified for the "Solitary" term were usually the result of mutations of powerful species, and these mutations were rather rare. Moreover, not all such mutations were strong; most of these beings were weak and faded into obscurity. However, when the mutation <i>did</i> have positive effects, it usually produced an absolutely formidable being.


    The Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor was precisely one such formidable being, a legendary representative of the Solitaries.


    Among the various demon races of the Empyrean Dominion, the Deer n was not considered strong; if anything, it was rather weak in terms ofbat power. That was until the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor appeared.


    Originally, the bloodline of this Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor was in fact the bloodline Tang San had absorbed back in the day��the bloodline of the Aetherhorn Deer. However, it possessed supreme talent and intelligence far beyond its already intelligent peers. Utilizing the Discerning Heart''s Gaze, it gradually found its path, evolving and allowing its bloodline to mutate in the ocean of elements. Eventually, it became a powerful being capable of controlling the seven elements of water, fire, earth, wind, light, darkness, and space. And with that, it ascended to the throne of Demon Emperor.


    With its ascension to the Demon Emperor, all Deer Demon ns, especially the Aetherhorn Deers, saw their status in the Empyrean Dominion rise significantly. The Aetherhorn Deers thus became as renowned as the royal n, the Golden Deer n.


    Regrettably, as the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor had a unique mutation, even its offspring could not inherit its powerful bloodline. Thus, the bloodline of the Rainbow Deer ended with it.


    The Fn, as Tang San had concluded, was not a true divine realm. Although it possessed vast energy and resources, itcked the immortal aura of a divine realm. Therefore, even the mightiest of Demon Emperors ultimately faced the end of their lifespan. Moreover, there was no true peace between the Empyrean Dominion and the Solstice Empire, and battles were frequent.


    With its overwhelming strength, the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor once led the Empyrean Dominion to overpower the Solstice Empire. However, it suffered grave injuries in a significant battle. As a Solitary with no one to carry on its bloodline, and due to being simply too powerful, itcked supporters in the Ancestral Court. Eventually, it fell, bing the most legendary history of all Deer Demon lineages.


    The legend of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor had always been the most sacred among the Deer Demon lineage. They believed that one day, a new Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor would emerge, and the nobility of the Aetherhorn Deer lineage would be proven once more. Unfortunately, history had only seen one Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor thus far.


    For this reason, this final main auction item was particrly precious. It was not just the bloodline of a Demon Emperor, but also, in a sense, the heritage of a legend. For the Deer Demon lineage, nothing could be of greater importance.


    Why had this blood been brought to Kali City for auction? There was a deeper meaning to it, rted to the fact that Kali City was near thergest gathering area of the Deer Demons.


    Without the presence of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor, the weaker Deer Demon lineage naturally couldn''t enter the core of the Empyrean Dominion. The Golden Deers, as well as the Aetherhorn Deers, all lived near Kali City.


    The Deer Demons''bat strength was not anything special. However, they did have something special about them, namely that they were among the few demon races skilled in management and administration. In other words... they were wealthy, and they brought others wealth as well!


    The Deer ns had good rtions with the Peacock Demons and were protected by the Demon King of the Peacock n. Although Kali City was located on the frontier, its wealth was very much in line with that of other major cities, and a lot of this wealth could be credited to the Deer Demon lineage.


    The Ancestral Court brought the blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor for auction with a clear objective: to earn a substantial fortune from the Deer Demons. And this was an open scheme that the Deer ns could not refuse.


    Even though it was well known that acquiring the bloodline of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor would not guarantee inheriting power, there was at least a slim chance. The Deer Demon ns were simply too eager for the emergence of a second Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor. Therefore, they were determined to secure this auction item.


    Moreover, the Deer Demons were not united. Both the Golden Deer Demons and the Aetherhorn Deer Demons were strong and wealthy, and naturally, both hoped this blood could at least produce a Demon King in their lineage. While the Aetherhorn Deer Demon was the most likely, the Golden Deer Demon, being royal, also had a chance of evolution. There were even legends that the original Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor was a hybrid of the Golden Deer Demon and the Aetherhorn Deer Demon, and that was actually what had led to itster evolution.


    The auction began and almost instantly became a fierce bidding war, soaring the price quickly.


    In the most prominent private room of Kali City''s Great Beast Arena, a man sat in the main seat. His appearance was not particrly handsome, just ordinary, and he was not particrly tall or short either. In fact, he looked like an average human male, especiallypared to the stunningly handsome men surrounding him.


    What truly set him apart from them, however, was his unique aura. His entire being seemed to exist between illusion and reality, giving off an unreal feeling.


    As the auction outside began and the price instantly shot up, the man''s brow furrowed in concern.


    If Tang San were here, he would have immediately noticed that the person sitting closest to this man was the one who haunted his dreams.


    Mei Gongzi appeared very calm and her head was slightly dropped in meditation, as if everything outside waspletely unrted to her.


    Wang Yan sat on the other side, asionally ncing at Mei Gongzi with aplicated look in his eyes. However, he did not even dare to breathe out of line.


    After all, the ordinary man in the main seat was none other than the Lord of Kali City and the leader of the Peacock Demon n, the Peacock Great Demon King.


    "Is the Ancestral Court envious of Kali City''s prosperity? To do this to me, it''s like pulling the rug out from under my feet," the Peacock Great Demon King said, his voice tinged with anger.


    The flourishing development of Kali City couldn''t be separated from the efforts of the Deer Demon ns. The city had grown increasingly prosperous over the years. Thus, the decision to auction the blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor came like a thunderbolt out of blue sky.


    However, this decision clearly reflected the will of the Demon Emperors of the Ancestral Court. Even he had no power to stop it. The ones who escorted the blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor were two Demon Kings of the same order as him, who were obviously there not only to protect the blood but also to observe him.


    Sensing the Peacock Great Demon King''s anger, no one around dared to speak.


    He narrowed his eyes, seemingly deep in thought for a few moments, and then suddenly turned his gaze to Mei Gongzi. "Little Mei, what do you think?"


    He did not seem to regard his daughter as a human, hybrid, halfblood, or anything else other than his daughter. His gaze softened noticeably when he looked at her.


    Mei Gongzi raised her head, looking at the Peacock Great Demon King. "Our n has a city but no emperor. Another n might have a new emperor...but no city."

 Chapter 209: Conspiracy?

    <h4>Chapter 209: Conspiracy?</h4>


    These simple words made the Peacock Great Demon King shiver slightly, and the many Peacock Demons present looked at their young princess of human blood with a mix of astonishment and fear.


    "Return." The Peacock Great Demon King suddenly stood up, and in the next instant, with a flicker of silver-blue light, he vanished into thin air.


    Mei Gongzi also stood up as if the astonishing words spoken earlier were not her own. She then leisurely walked out.


    Wang Yan was utterly bewildered. He did not understand the meaning of those words, and his gaze clearly showed that he was lost. He had to go back and ask his mother. In such public gatherings, ording to the customs of the Peacock Demons, females would not be present��which said something about Mei Gongzi being there.


    Meanwhile, the auction outside had reached a fever pitch.


    Three parties participated in the auction, each from a private room.


    "Five million! Five million empyrean coins!" The voice of the young girl from the Crimson Fox n, Yuan Yinxin, was trembling.


    Five million empyrean coins... This sum was equivalent to the yearly revenue of a major city. Not every major city could even afford spending this amount all at once.


    A deep voice emanated from one of the rooms. "Five million and one hundred thousand!"


    "Five hundred..." Just as another room was about to bid, the voice suddenly halted.


    "Guests in Room Six, what is your bid?" Yuan Yinxin quickly asked.


    The hoarse voice paused for a moment, then slowly announced,"We... withdraw..."


    Inside room 6, at that moment, several elderly figures with horns on their heads stood respectfully, and in front of them, there was a man who looked very much like a regr human male.


    The man''s gaze swept over them. He nodded silently, and the next moment, with a flicker of blue-silver light, he appeared in another room.


    In this room, a simr group of horned men��although their horns were tinged with a faint golden hue��were looking at each other, hesitant on whether to keep bidding.


    The leader, an elder of the Golden Deer n, suddenly had an image sh through his mind. The next moment, the flush of excitement on his face gradually faded, and he silently nodded, loudly announcing to the outside, "We also withdraw."


    The blue-silver figure flickered, then disappeared without a trace.


    "Five million and one hundred thousand. Is there a higher bid?" Yuan Yinxin said, somewhat surprised.


    The threepeting rooms had been numbers 3, 6, and 8. The sudden withdrawal of rooms 6 and 8 left only room 3, which had just bid 5.1 million.


    Yuan Yinxin''s mind went nk, and she blurted out subconsciously, "This is thest bloodline sample of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor. There is nothing more precious than this!"


    At that instant, her eyes with vertical pupils seemed soulless.


    However, there was still no sound from rooms 6 and 8.


    The whole ce was silent. Not a sound was heard as everyone awaited the final moment.


    "If you miss this opportunity, the bloodline of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor will no longer exist. Please make your choice carefully," Yuan Yinxin said again.


    However, no response echoed from either room 6 or room 8, and no new bid was made.


    As the painful silence continued, the price of 5.1 million empyrean coins seemed to be slowly carved into eternity by an invisible hand.


    In the stands, Zhang Haoxuan couldn''t help but be surprised. The bidding just now could be described as fierce, with each party refusing to yield, causing the price to soar. The sudden cessation of bidding at this moment was indeed strange.


    "Little Tang, what do you think? Why did those two suddenly stop bidding?" Zhang Haoxuan asked Tang San.


    Tang San frowned slightly, also puzzled. "It seems like a plot against room three."


    At first nce, it appeared that the bloodline of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor was a must-win for all three rooms. There had to be representatives of the Deer Demons among them. But could there be so many Deer Demon ns capable of producing this ridiculous amount of money?


    A thought shed through his mind; among the three, someone was deliberately raising the price. He didn''t know if it was room 3, 6, or 8, but it was definitely one of them. The simultaneous cessation of bidding by rooms 6 and 8 seemed like a trap for room 3.


    In which room were the Deer Demons, then?


    The auction came to a standstill, and Yuan Yinxin didn''t continue, just standing there dumbfounded.


    Just then, another cold snort echoed.


    Yuan Yinxin shivered as ifing back to her senses and said subconsciously, "Five million and one hundred thousand once, five million and one hundred thousand twice, five million and one hundred thousand thrice... Sold!"


    With a final gavel strike, the auction was concluded. Instantly, the entire venue erupted in excitement.


    Five million and one hundred thousand empyrean coins...that had to be the highest price ever fetched by an auctioned item not just in Kali City this year, but in the entire history of the entire Daemon Continent. And this record might not be broken for a long time.


    Tang San and Zhang Haoxuan stood up together. Their objective for the day was essentially achieved, especially for Tang San. It was time to retrieve the auctioned items.


    However, Tang San had an odd feeling in his heart. There was clearly more to the auction of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor''s blood than met the eye. The strange atmosphere at thest moment made the entire grand arena feel oppressive.


    The blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor was escorted away, and Tang San nced in that direction. Honestly, he was very interested in this bloodline. After all, it was a top-tier bloodline that controlled the seven elements. If it were toe into his possession, with the bloodline of a Demon Emperor, he could achieve immense heights.


    Of course, this was not something he could covet now, with who-knew-how-many god-level experts eyeing this bloodline.


    It was a pity; if he had already recovered his cultivation up to the god level, he could have actually tried to get his hands on this blood.


    The handover went smoothly, but among the items they auctioned this time, there was a troublesome set: the eighteen human vassals of the Crimson Fox n. How could Tang San parade these eighteen people through the streets? That would be too conspicuous.


    After cing the other auctioned items into the storage pouch and paying, they were left with over two hundred naturae coins.


    "You go back now. I''ll take care of these girls and settle them down. Return to the academy and wait for me," Zhang Haoxuan said to Tang San.


    In his mind, Tang San''s safety was paramount, so having him return first by himself was the safest option.


    "Okay." Tang San very much agreed. He did not stick around anymore and quickly left the grand arena with his mask on.


    The oppressive atmosphere in the grand arena had made him ufortable; it was a confrontation between god-level experts. He did not want to be involved in such matters; safety was indeed his priority as well.


    After leaving the grand arena, the feeling of oppression lessened significantly, and Tang San breathed a sigh of relief. The Discerning Eye of Heaven did not give him any sense of danger, so he hurried through the streets and alleys, speeding back to the Redemption Academy.


    Just as he arrived near Kali Academy and was about to ascend the hill, a figure not far ahead caught his attention.


    Tang San had already removed his mask and changed back into the uniform of a Kali Academy staff member, and was now looking utterly ordinary.


    However, when he saw this familiar figure, he had no choice but to stop.


    "Is it really you!" A pleasant voice sounded, and the person turned around to look at him. It was none other than Mei Gongzi, whom he had not seen much recently.


    Tang San was taken aback. "What are you talking about?"


    Mei Gongzi said calmly, "I''ve been following you back. There''s no need to y dumb."

 Chapter 210: Heavenly Fire Essence Iron Sky Shatterer

    <h4>Chapter 210: Heavenly Fire Essence Iron Sky Shatterer</h4>


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly, realizing why he hadn''t sensed anyone following him. Mei Gongzi harbored no ill will toward him; hence, the Discerning Eye of Heaven hadn''t alerted him. And so, he had been tracked back...


    "You were there too?" Tang San asked.


    "Mm-hmm." Mei Gongzi nodded.


    "The eighteen vassals from the Crimson Fox n. Did you buy them, or was it someone else?" Mei Gongzi asked indifferently.


    Tang San did not even have to think before directly betraying his master. "The mayor bought them. Saving even one human is worth it, right?"


    "I am honestly impressed that you could beat that eighth-order scorpion." Mei Gongzi slowly walked up to Tang San. She was older than Tang San and, as girls mature earlier, she was taller than the undisguised Tang San, looking down at him somewhat.


    "Mm-hmm." There was no point in denying it now that he had been recognized.


    "Are you really eleven years old?" Mei Gongzi asked again.


    Tang San nodded. "Yep, I am about that age."


    "You''re qualified to be my follower now. From now on, while you''re in the academy, be ready to follow mymands at any time. Understand? I''m a Blue ss Redeemer, and my orders are the organization''s top priority in Kali City."


    "Alright, Sister Mei," Tang San agreed almost without hesitation. Being her follower would mean more chances to be near her. Naturally, he wouldn''t refuse something like that.


    Before attending the auction today, he had used the Celestial Fox Vision to enhance his luck, and this time, it seemed to have paid off tremendously. Perhaps the power of the Celestial Fox Vision had evolved?


    "Mm, that''s it then," Mei Gongzi nced at him again, then vanished in a sh.


    The air still carried her faint, pleasant fragrance. Tang San''s lips curled upward. What a wonderful day!


    Returning to the Redemption Academy, he went straight to his room and closed the door.


    He needed to take stock of his gains from this venture.


    First, saving the eighteen human vassal girls of the Crimson Fox n went without saying. As long as he was able to, doing that was his responsibility as a human. At the same time, these eighteen girls possessed the Crimson Fox bloodline, weak though it was. The cloning ability showcased by Yuan Yinxin suggested that the Crimson Fox ns had exceptional innate abilities. If their bloodlines could be enhanced, they would certainly be able to earn a ce for themselves in the Redemption Society.


    What delighted Tang San even more were the other three auction items.


    Needless to say, the Purple Sun Fruit was crucial for the entire team''s growth.


    He could have broken through to the seventh order a while ago, and right now, he had the strength of the seventh order. However, he had been dying his breakthrough, hoping to enhance his other abilities to the same level before that.


    At present, it seemed unrealistic for the Discerning Eye of Heaven to reach the peak of the sixth order; it was just too difficult. The biggest challenge came from the Celestial Fox Vision. However, the Chrono Croc Transformation and Golden Roc Transformation had a chance as long as Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li''s cultivation reached the sixth order.


    The Blue Silver Emperor and Wind Tiger Transformation naturally had no issues, as they were both at the peak of the sixth order. As for the Leopard sh, upgrading to the sixth order was also not difficult. With his current cultivation, finding a sixth-order Leopard sh to enhance his bloodline was rather doable.


    His body was almost sufficiently nourished. In three months at most, he would have a physique strong enough to break through with no issues. At the same time, Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li could reach the sixth order, so waiting a little longer was not a problem at all.


    The Discerning Eye of Heaven was more troublesome. Even if Du Bai ate more Purple Sun Fruits, advancing one order was one thing, but two orders? No way. No matter how good the Purple Sun Fruit was or how much it enhanced spiritual power, the fact that the Celestial Fox bloodline was diluted was still the most significant issue.


    This thought led him to recall the recent blood auctions. If only the blood of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was up for auction...


    Of course, this was just wishful thinking. The Celestial Fox n never left their ancestral home and was, in a way, the most important existence in the entire Empyrean Dominion. They were protected by all the Demon Emperors, not to mention that they themselves had a Demon Emperor at the helm. Forget aboutying a hand on them, even harboring the thought of doing something like that could lead to being discovered.


    However, even though it was challenging to improve, there was no way Tang San could give up the Celestial Fox Vision. The more he used it, the more he understood its significant benefits.


    Luck is part of one''s strength.


    And if Tang San could actively control his luck rather than letting it control him, he could at the very least double his strength.


    In any case, he would break through once the other Demonic God Transformations were enhanced to the sixth order.


    When he reached the seventh order, his cultivation would undergo a qualitative change, and with all his Demonic God Transformation imprints evolving simultaneously, their cumtive effect would be even more significant. By then, he would have the strength to contend with ninth-order powerhouses, finally possessing the ability to protect himself.


    With his cultivation ns settled, Tang San took out Sky Shatterer and the pieces of Golden Wood.


    Sky Shatterer was hot to the touch but not scalding, and it emitted a faint, dark red glow. It was engraved with an array of runes that, to Tang San, seemed very intricate.


    He weighed it in his hand; the hammer was about thirty kilograms. Thirty kilograms of genuine Heavenly Fire Essence Iron!


    This would be a tremendous fortune even in the divine realm he once ruled over. After all, this material could be used even just by itself to forge divine artifacts.


    Looking at the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, Tang San couldn''t help but sigh. "Fortunately, you ended up in my hands, or else you would have just gathered dust. Sadly, with my current strength, I can only refine you simply for now. Only when my cultivation is higher, and I break through to the god level, I promise you I''ll refine you into a true divine artifact."


    If properly refined, this piece of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron could produce an amazing divine artifact. Of course, with Tang San''s abilities right now, "proper refinement" was nothing more than a pipe dream.


    Heavenly Fire Essence Iron was incredibly hard and its melting point was simply ridiculous; reforging it was impossible for him right now, as no mortal me could even soften it. It needed godly fire to forge, and as for properly refining it, there was only one way to do it: heart-refining, using divine consciousness to purify it and give it shape.


    Although Tang San had a trace of divine consciousness, it was too precious to use for something like this, so all he could do in that respect was wait until he became a god. But being unable to reforge it did not mean he could not improve it. Enhancing its existing array to add more effects was within the realm of possibility.


    To Tang San, Sky Shatterer was not just a weapon but also a forging hammer. Nothing was more suitable than Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, even if it seemed extravagant. The reason was that any other metal, unless it was a divine artifact imbued with divine consciousness, would soften under the heat of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron.


    Activating the Heavenly Fire was not that tricky, but it was painfully clear to Tang San that none of the demon race cksmiths had ever managed to do it.


    To ignite the high temperature within Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, a spiritual baptism was required��using spiritual power to draw out its heat from the inside out.


    This ignition was not physically setting it on fire, but rather stimting its high internal energy in order to produce a qualitative change. This change was reversible; without sufficient spiritual power to act as a catalyst, the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron would reveal only its surface characteristics. But once the spiritual power flowing through it was strong enough, the heat it unleashed would be simply terrifying.


    In other words, there was no possible material better for making a forging hammer. With it, Tang San had no need of a forge or smelting furnace; any and all metals would kneel before the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron. All he had to do was to control the temperature of Sky Shatterer by varying the output of his spiritual power.


    Once his spiritual power evolved into divine consciousness in the future, allowing him to heart-refine it, Sky Shatterer would transformpletely, bing an actual divine artifact.


    Indeed, this hammer was incredibly undervalued, by thousands of times. And Tang San suspected that it was not the only item sold for ridiculously low prices in the auctions of this world. If he visited some more auction houses, he could likely find more such overlooked treasures, unrecognized by demons and nymphs.

 Chapter 211: The Uniqueness of A Divine Artifact

    <h4>Chapter 211: The Uniqueness of A Divine Artifact</h4>


    Silently gathering his spiritual power, Tang San slowly infused it into Sky Shatterer. Instantly, he felt as if his spiritual power had entered a warm spring, and it was enveloped by a warmth that seemed to make it slowly turn brighter and more powerful.


    This was one of the characteristics of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron. Its intense heat could melt and burn everything around it, but it actually <i>nourished</i> spiritual power and could be controlled using spiritual power.


    The warm sensation gradually became scalding, yet it was still far from fierce. Tang San silently experienced the changes in his spiritual power, continuously infusing the hammer with it.


    The first spiritual fusion with the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron required a long time. Tang San estimated that at least seventy-two hours were needed toplete the fusion. This was why the secret of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron had remained undiscovered by the demon and nymph races.


    They had unquestionably used spiritual power to probe the material, but they would have never maintained such prolonged spiritual immersion. Even spiritual power at the level of divine consciousness required a long time, and therger the piece of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, the more time it needed.


    Molding the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron must have taken great effort from the demon race''s cksmiths, and it was unknown how they did it. What Tang San needed was this continuous immersion of spiritual power. Once the first spiritual fusion wasplete, the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron would recognize him as its master, and in the future, even if it fell into someone else''s hands, it could not be used. This was another rare feature of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron; once imbued with someone��s spiritual power, it could only be used by that one person. If the original master died, then the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron would be nothing more than a hard piece of metal.


    Tang San''s spiritual power had now wholly liquefied, and sustaining a consistent output for seventy-two hours to nurture the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron was no issue. Moreover, this was also a form of refinement of his spiritual power, which was highly beneficial. When he could sustain the heart-refinement, the effect that this piece of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron would bring him would be truly immense.


    Holding Sky Shatterer, Tang San sat cross-legged on the bed, silently infusing spiritual power and feeling the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron changes. Between breaths, he gradually entered a meditative state.


    After an unknown amount of time, when he awoke from his meditative state, he found another person in the room. He was startled; even with his spiritual sensitivity, he hadn''t noticed when this person had entered.


    However, he understood why in the next moment. At this time, he felt that his sea of consciousness had warmed up throughout. The original golden sea now had ayer of crimson. The liquid spiritual power continuously flowed out, infusing into Sky Shatterer in his hand, and then flowed back into his sea of spirituality.


    Furthermore, Sky Shatterer flickered with a red light, in perfect synchronization with his breathing. When he inhaled, the light on the hammer would dim, and when he exhaled, it would brighten. It was very peculiar.


    To Tang San''s surprise and delight, he discovered that the volume of spiritual power in his sea of consciousness had shrunk by more than one-third, even though the quantity was the same. This meant his spiritual power had be more concentrated, allowing his sea of consciousness to amodate more��a great boon indeed!


    He hadn''t anticipated that Heavenly Fire Essence Iron would have such a nourishing effect on his spiritual power. Perhaps it was because there was such arge amount of it? Moreover, his strand of divine consciousness seemed to have been nourished as well, which filled him with joy.


    "Master, you��re here." Tang San looked at Zhang Haoxuan, who was sitting at the table with his eyes closed, seemingly in meditation.


    The next moment, Zhang Haoxuan opened his eyes and looked at him, his gaze carrying a sense of relief. "You''re finally awake. I was really worried something had happened to you."


    "Have I been meditating for a long time?"


    Zhang Haoxuan''s mouth twitched slightly. "Seven days. What do you think?"


    "Seven days?" Tang San was astonished. In his opinion, it should have taken at most three days to fully cleanse the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron and infuse it with his spiritual power until saturation, and it shouldn''t have affected him doing other things; he just needed to keep the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron with him. He hadn''t expected to meditate for such a long time.


    "When I came back to look for you, I found you had already entered a deep meditative state. I was afraid that others might disturb you, so I stayed here to watch over you. I didn''t expect this deep meditation tost for seven whole days. Does this hammer have some special properties? At first, I didn''t feel much, but as time passed, I realized it seemed to have be a part of your body, and the way it lit up was synchronized with your breathing."


    Tang San nodded and said, "This metal is very peculiar. When I bought it, I was actually thinking that it would make a really good forging hammer. But now it��s clear that there''s a lot more to it. It has the effect of nurturing spiritual power, and during this meditation my spiritual power has grown a lot denser and purer."


    "A metal that nurtures spiritual power?" Zhang Haoxuan looked incredulous. "Let me see."


    Tang San passed Sky Shatterer to him.


    As the hammer left his hand, Tang San suddenly felt a sense of grievance emanating from it. <i>Emotion? Has this metal developed emotions? What happened during these seven days....</i>


    As Sky Shatterer fell into Zhang Haoxuan''s hands, he felt it weigh down suddenly, followed by an intense heat that almost made him let go of the handle. Thispletely shocked him��his Demonic God Transformation was of the fire attribute, after all, and as a ninth-order powerhouse, he was naturally extremely resistant to mes.


    He quickly mobilized his bloodline power and barely managed to hold on to it. He then looked up at Tang San with a face full of surprise. He hadn''t felt this temperature at all when the hammer was in Tang San''s hands.


    When Zhang Haoxuan tried to imbue it with his spiritual power, he was immediately repelled. His spiritual power could not prate the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron; instead, it was pushed back by a shield of intense heat. Sky Shatterer glowed red-hot, bursting with fiery intensity.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s whole body lit up with a red glow, as if even his spiritual power was about to be ignited.


    He quickly released his grip, and Sky Shatterer slipped from his hand. Tang San swiftly waved his right hand, using Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to snatch the hammer back.


    To Zhang Haoxuan��s shock, when Sky Shatterernded in Tang San��s hand, the redness instantly receded, and the hammer returned to its dark appearance.


    ��The weapon recognizing its master? Isn''t that a characteristic only divine artifacts possess?" Zhang Haoxuan''s jaw dropped, and he looked at Tang San with disbelief.


    Indeed, in his understanding, only legendary divine artifacts were able to recognize a master. The way Sky Shatterer behaved in Tang San''s hands and in his was worlds apart��not to mention that only divine artifacts were able to behave in any way. This clearly indicated that the hammer had in fact recognized a master.


    <i>Did this kid just buy a fucking divine artifact for that handful of coins?!?!</i>


    Tang San silently felt the changes in Sky Shatterer. Once back in his hands, it immediately conveyed a sense of joy and exhration, like a child returning to its father.


    This Heavenly Fire Essence Iron might be even more powerful than he had imagined! In his past life, Tang San had seen pieces of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron and artifacts made of it, but either they had already recognized a master or they were very small in size, quite different from this piece.


    <i>What an absolute treasure!</i>


    By infusing his spiritual power, he could manipte the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron''s internal power to some extent. Next, he needed to improve the arrays on it, which was bound to be a grueling task that required meticulous spiritual polishing. Right now, aside from the Heavenly Fire he triggered, Sky Shatterer only had its original pulverization ability.


    "It''s not a divine artifact, but it is indeed very wondrous. It seems my spiritual power can connect with it," Tang San said.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s head tilted to one side, as if he was questioning his own life choices. Could this boy be some kind of legendary Chosen One? Why had he been undergoing such rapid transformations ever since he arrived? It hadn''t been long, yet he had already made such ridiculous progress.

 Chapter 212: Distributing The Purple Sun Fruits

    <h4>Chapter 212: Distributing The Purple Sun Fruits</h4>


    "I''ve asked for leave on your behalf at Kali Academy. Do you still n to continue working there?" Zhang Haoxuan asked.


    Tang San hurriedly nodded, saying, "Of course, I must go. There''s plenty I can observe and learn there."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded in response, "Then go, but be careful. It''s good that you woke up. I''m going to rest now. Adjust your schedule."


    Since he started working at Kali Academy, Tang San had rarely attended sses at the Redemption Society. In this regard, Zhang Haoxuan had no problem covering for him; he was well aware that Tang San didn''t need most of the teachings here.


    Tang San said, "Master, let''s distribute that Purple Sun Fruit among everyone."


    "Eh? Didn��t you buy those for yourself?" Zhang Haoxuan asked in surprise.


    Tang San shook his head. "I''ll keep three for myself. The rest should go to Du Bai, Gu Li, Cheng Zicheng, and Wu Bingji. After all, the more of these things you eat, the less effective they are. And they need it more than I do, especially Du Bai. His spiritual power has been improving steadily. If he can make another breakthrough, he might ovee his bloodline bottleneck and progress further."


    Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes lit up. "Are you saying his Celestial Fox Transformation can break through again? So soon?"


    It had only been a few months since hisst breakthrough!


    Tang San nodded. "It''s possible, and he''s the one who needs the most improvement in spiritual power. So I would say that you should give five Purple Sun Fruits to him, two to Gu Li, and one to Brother Bingji and Zicheng. That should be good."


    Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng didn''t require anywhere near as much improvement in their spiritual power as Gu Li and Du Bai.


    After contemting for a moment, Zhang Haoxuan said, "Alright, we''ll do as you say."


    Tang San smiled and said, ��Actually, master, two fruits are enough for me. One would have been enough normally, but after the spiritual power refinement I��ve been through, I need a bit more nourishment. So I''ll take two; you should use the other one. You know you need spiritual power if you want to break through to the god level."


    "Hmm...fine." Zhang Haoxuan didn''t stand on ceremony with his disciple and simply took the eight Purple Sun Fruits handed over by Tang San. A slight smile appeared on his face before he left the room.


    The Purple Sun Fruit had the highest direct value among the items they had bought. Tang San giving away most of them was unexpected, but it also increased his teacher''s approval of him. Zhang Haoxuan hade to a realization: since Tang San could grow so rapidly, it was best to let him develop freely, without too many restrictions, allowing him to work on himself.


    After Zhang Haoxuan left, Tang San looked at Sky Shatterer with a hint of joy in his eyes. With this hammer, he finally could fully showcase his abilities.


    It had been seven days since hest visited Kali Academy. He wondered silently if Mei Gongzi had looked for him.


    Stepping out of his room, Tang San saw that it was already evening, so he just had dinner and returned to his room for quiet meditation. His spiritual power had just undergonepression and nurturing, so he focused on stabilizing it instead of hastily consuming the Purple Sun Fruit. This refinement had significantly enhanced his spiritual power, and it seemed that the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron also had a nurturing effect on his physique to some extent. He was now a little taller, and his muscles and meridians were more resilient. His bones and skin had improved as well. Actually, appearance-wise, he now seemed about the same age as Mei Gongzi.


    The following day, Tang San returned to Kali Academy. He first greeted Elder Mao, then quickly grabbed a broom and immersed himself in his work.


    Kali Academy was still the mostfortable ce around! The rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth nourished him, and Tang San silently felt his body absorbing this energy, gradually enhancing his energy vortex.


    His peak sixth-order cultivation had be even more consolidated. If not for his deliberate suppression, he could have broken through already. He hoped that Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng would reach the sixth order soon so that he could continue with this upward trend. The only regret was that Du Bai was unlikely to reach the sixth order anytime soon; whether he could reach the fifth order depended on the effect of the Purple Sun Fruit.


    As the sun rose overhead and the temperature increased, Tang San was about to go for lunch when suddenly, he felt a stirring in his heart and turned to look in a specific direction.


    Mei Gongzi stood there, dressed in Kali Academy''s uniform, watching him from a distance.


    Tang San paused suddenly, and seeing her filled him with happiness. Subconsciously, he quickened his steps and walked toward her.


    Mei Gongzi watched the boy approaching her with a hint of displeasure in her eyes.


    "What have you been doing these days? Why didn''t youe to work?" she asked, her tone tinged with mild anger.


    "Oh, I was in deep meditation, and before I knew it, several days had passed. That''s why I only came today. Did you miss me? Sorry!" Tang San hurriedly exined.


    Mei Gongzi huffed. "Who was waiting for you? And you didn''t even call me sister Mei."


    "Sister Mei, sorry." Tang San quicklyplied.


    Mei Gongzi''s expression softened. "How was your deep meditation?"


    Tang San replied, "There was some slight improvement."


    Mei Gongzi furrowed her brow as she looked at him. Indeed, it had been just seven days, yet he seemed to have grown taller and somehow...more pleasing to the eye?


    Even she didn''t understand why her usually calm demeanor had given way to irritation. Not having seen him for seven days had made her inexplicably restless.


    "Do you have ns tonight?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    "No, no ns," Tang San replied eagerly, excited. What could be more critical than something involving Mei Gongzi?


    "Thene with me tonight. I have something to tell you," Mei Gongzi said.


    "Okay," Tang San nodded.


    Mei Gongzi rolled her eyes at him and then turned away.


    <i>Her eyes are beautiful even when she rolls them at me! </i>Tang San thought to himself.


    But then he realized she hadn��t told him where to meet her tonight.


    Unsure of where to meet her, Tang San could only wait in the square after finishing his work. He didn''t have to wait long; before evening arrived, Mei Gongzi came over, dressed in a light blue gown.


    Her slender figure adorned by the long dress added to her delicate and graceful beauty, yet made her already cool aura seem even colder in a way. She was nearly fourteen now, and she stood tall and elegant. Her long hair was neatly draped behind her, and the curved bangs covered her smooth forehead. Her delicate, petite face mesmerized Tang San; she looked as if she had just stepped out of a painting.


    "What are you staring at? Let''s go."


    "Yes, sister Mei," Tang San quickly followed her.


    Mei Gongzi walked ahead, with Tang San silently following her, half a step behind.


    From this angle, he could see her more clearly. She was on the slender side, her neck and back very straight, adding to her noble bearing. Truly beautiful.


    "What are you looking at?" Mei Gongzi, feeling his intense gaze, suddenly stopped.


    Tang San nearly bumped into her side, stopping just in time. As Mei Gongzi turned around, they were now face to face, close enough for Tang San to smell her faint, delicate fragrance.


    Mei Gongzi instinctively stepped back and pushed him away, maintaining a distance.


    "Your waist is too thin. You should eat more," Tang San said earnestly.


    Mei Gongzi was initially stunned, then her face flushed with embarrassment. She pped him on the shoulder, making him stumble. "Get away from me."


    "Ouch!" Tang San cried in pain, stumbling a few steps to the side. He immediately realized that his words were impulsive. He had been all mesmerized and had just identally blurted out what he was actually thinking.

 Chapter 213: Sister Mei, I Am Sorry

    <h4>Chapter 213: Sister Mei, I Am Sorry</h4>


    ��Sister Mei, I was wrong. I meant no offense." He hurriedly chased after Mei Gongzi, who had turned and was walking away briskly.


    Mei Gongzi stopped again, and her eyes were shing fiercely as she looked at him. "Say that to me again, and I will kill you."


    "I was wrong." Tang San admitted humbly, but his heart was filled with warmth.


    No matter how she treated him, he was willingly devoted in his heart. In this life, he was determined to protect her well. In the previous life, she had done just too much for him, and his inability to protect her was an immense pain in his heart. Had he been unable to find her reincarnation, even with that fragment of divine consciousness searching for her, he would have chosen to keep searching until hisst shred of power vanished into nothingness.


    Yet the favor of the heavens allowed him to find her again. What could be more wonderful than this? Upon first seeing her, Tang San had found a new light in this world, which he had thought was filled with nothing but malice toward humanity.


    Seeing his sincere attitude, Mei Gongzi''s expression softened a bit. Subconsciously, she touched his waist before continuing to walk. Tang San hurried to follow, not daring to look too much, but he found himself irresistibly drawn to her, as if she was a ma.


    After leaving Kali Academy, Tang San followed Mei Gongzi into the city, walking toward the city center under her lead.


    Kali City was most lively in the evening, with bustling crowds on the streets and densely packed shops on either side. The food stalls and restaurants in particr were extraordinarily lively, and the mor of the crowd was apanied by the fragrance of food wafting through the air.


    Tang San closely followed Mei Gongzi, and when the crowd thickened, he instinctively used his body to shield her from the bustling crowds, ensuring no one got too close to her.


    Sensing his attentiveness, Mei Gongzi''s icy expression softened slightly.


    After hearing what Tang San said earlier, she was furious. Even Song Junhou had never dared to speak to her like that, so what was in this boy��s mind?


    Usually, she would have sent him away, never to see him again. But for some reason, despite her irritation, she hadn''t driven him away. It was his inexplicable emotions that were the source of her agitation. She had thought about this, but it was clear to her that she��d had no interactions with him before. So why did she feel differently about him?


    She had deliberately kept her distance, but seeing him kill the Giant Demon Scorpion and take away the bodies of the two human vassals, she had intended to retrieve and bury them. She hadn''t expected it to be him. The impact on Mei Gongzi was quite strong. In her eyes, he was just a child, the mayor''s disciple. Yet in front of her eyes, he had killed the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion��he had defeated an eighth-order demonic beast. She knew that few humans in the Redemption Society had such strength, and he was so young. No wonder he was an Orange-ss Redeemer.


    The task she had to fulfill was extremely challenging, and she needed someone. That was why she had thought to call him out today. But in their short interaction just now, something about him felt off, especially that phrase he said so naturally as if it was the kind of thing he often told her. Even now, as he shielded her from the crowd, everything seemed so natural, and evoked within her a strange sense of familiarity.


    They walked until they were near the central square, near Mei Gongzi''s milk tea shop. Only then did Mei Gongzi stop in front of a small restaurant. She nced at the closed milk tea shop before entering the restaurant with Tang San.


    The restaurant was small, with only six tables spanning less than eighty square meters. A narrow staircase led to the second floor.


    Mei Gongzi led Tang San upstairs to two private rooms. She took him into the one on the left.


    Upon closing the door, Tang San was surprised to find a small instion array that could block sound and aura within the room. This was obviously more than just a restaurant. He quickly realized that it was probably a hideout of the Redemption Society.


    When they entered, the first floor was empty of customers, with a "Closed" sign hanging at the entrance. So, in this ce, it was just him and Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi walked to the table and sat down, indicating for him to do the same.


    Tang San sat opposite her. This was the first time they were alone in a private space since he had met her. The unusual feeling made Tang San''s heart beat faster. It was almost like a date!


    "You''re Tang San, right?"


    "Um, yes." Tang San nodded.


    Mei Gongzi asked, "The day you fought the eighth-order Giant Ao Demon Scorpion, what was your Demonic God Transformation?"


    Tang San replied, ��Wind Wolf."[1]


    This was his publicly known Demonic God Transformation.


    "What is your cultivation order?" Mei Gongzi asked again.


    Tang San was a bit surprised. With her status as a Blue-ss Redeemer, couldn''t she just ask the mayor for this information? But obviously, she hadn''t asked the mayor about this.


    "I am at the peak of the sixth order, close to the seventh."


    Mei Gongzi''s expression darkened when she heard this. "A peak sixth-order defeating an eighth-order Giant Ao Demon Scorpion?"


    Tang San smiled wryly. "You can also defeat opponents above your order, right?"


    Mei Gongzi coldly said, "Tell me, do you have a second Demonic God Transformation?"


    Tang San was taken aback, not expecting Mei Gongzi to address the critical issue directly.


    Mei Gongzi''s gaze was piercing, not giving an inch.


    Tang San hesitated momentarily before saying, "Why do you ask? Doesn''t a person only have one Demonic God Transformation?"


    Mei Gongzi calmly said, "In principle yes, but some can have multiple Demonic God Transformations. They��re usually weak, though, because they have less of each bloodline. There are only a few exceptions. You are one of those exceptions, right? Otherwise, you can��t possibly tell me you killed the Giant Ao Demon Scorpion with that weak transformation."


    Tang San scratched his head, thinking that she seemed even more intelligent in this life. <i>Ah, Xiao Wu, I''m not saying you''re foolish! That''s not what I meant.</i>


    Mei Gongzi said, "As you probably noticed, I didn''t ask Mayor Zhang about it. Of course, I will keep it confidential. As a Blue-ss Redeemer, I have the authority to know. This rtes to the tasks I will assign you in the future. I need to know the true capabilities of my subordinates."


    If it weren''t for his identity as Asura, Tang San wouldn''t mind revealing everything to her. However, concealing some of his abilities to a certain extent would be more beneficial in protecting her. So, Tang San was pondering��if she insisted on knowing about his second Demonic God Transformation, which should he tell her?


    Seeing his silence, Mei Gongzi did not press further but simply watched him, waiting for his answer.


    Under her beautiful gaze, Tang San said, "No, really, there isn''t. The thing is, my spiritual power is a bit different from normal people��s, so I have a much better control of my Demonic God Transformation."


    He still didn''t reveal his multiple Demonic God Transformations. Asura had used the Leopard sh ability in front of Mei Gongzi. At the same time, the Golden Roc wings, Time Freeze, and Celestial Fox Vision were too powerful and far too simr to the abilities of a certain group of students from the Redemption Society, making them too suspicious to disclose. As for the Blue Silver Emperor, that was his trump card, which Asura would use in the future, so it wasn''t suitable to reveal. Therefore, he could only attribute his sess to his spiritual power.


    "Spiritual power anomaly?" Mei Gongzi looked at him, puzzled.


    Tang San nodded. He slowly raised his right hand, and a blue light surged within his palm. The next moment, a whirlwind formed in his hand.


    The rich wind elemental energypressed as it spun, quickly turning into a small, cyan-colored wind de. It was clearly made of wind energy, but itpletelycked the ethereal quality of the wind. Instead, it looked solid, like a piece of ss, as it quietlyy in Tang San��s hand.


    1. The raws here say ��Wind Tiger,�� but nobody apart from him and the mayor knows about that. As far as his official story is concerned, he has the Wind Wolf bloodline. ?

 Chapter 214: Mei Gongzi Changed Her Mind

    <h4>Chapter 214: Mei Gongzi Changed Her Mind</h4>


    Tang San''s fingers moved rhythmically, gently pinching the Wind de. Instantly, the de was furtherpressed, transforming into a tiny, dark-green needle. Despite its small size, Mei Gongzi could distinctly feel the intense energypressed within it.


    Tang San said, "This is what I used to kill the scorpion. My spiritual power is strong enough topress the wind elemental energy into this small form and keep it stable."


    "Your spiritual power is that strong?" Mei Gongzi''s eyes sparkled with a silvery light as she looked at Tang San.


    Suddenly, Tang San felt a surge of spiritual force heading straight at him.


    He looked at Mei Gongzi with clear, prating eyes, drawing his spiritual power inward.


    Invisible spiritual waves rumbled.


    The next moment, Mei Gongzi��s vision blurred momentarily as a fiery wave of spiritual intent rebounded instantly from Tang San, causing her to cry out in surprise. Her sea of consciousness churned from the impact, leaving her momentarily dazed; as her muscles instinctively rxed, she dropped to the side.


    "Be careful!" Tang San swiftly moved to her side, grabbing her arm.


    Her arm was slender and felt warm and soft in his grasp. Remembering previous experiences, Tang San quickly let go after steadying her. "Sister Mei, are you alright?"


    Mei Gongzi looked at him in astonishment. "Ninth-order spiritual power?"


    The Peacock Demons highly valued the cultivation of spiritual power. Her spiritual power was at the eighth order, and yet she had just made contact with Tang San''s when it was instantly repelled, even suffering a rebound effect. Although not strong, it was more than enough proof that Tang San''s spiritual power was above hers; nothing else could exin it. Moreover, it was clear that he had restrained himself to avoid hurting her.


    Cultivation at the peak of the sixth order, coupled with ninth-order spiritual power, was simply monstrous!


    Having ninth-order spiritual power naturally exined how he could kill an eighth-order demonic beast. With Mei Gongzi''s experience and the advantage of her bloodline, her insight was much higher than that of ordinary demons. She naturally understood the immense importance of strong spiritual power. She could defeat eighth-order powerhouses, not just thanks to her powerful bloodline, but also due to her great spiritual power, which allowed her to utilize her bloodline power better.


    The most crucial point was his age; he was younger than her and had incredible talent. The only pity was that his bloodline was somewhat weak; the Wind Wolf Transformation was merely a fourth-tier bloodline, and it was a matter of luck whether even the highest-level lineage could reach the third tier.


    Seeing Mei Gongzi''s astonishment, Tang San blinked naively and said, "I don��t know why it��s like this. My spiritual power has always been strong."


    "Hmm," Mei Gongzi nodded. She knew that the Demonic God Transformation had many peculiarities, and anything was possible. She was an exceptional existence herself, so she could more readily ept Tang San''s exnation.


    "Sister Mei, you said you wanted me to help you with something?" Tang San asked.


    Upon hearing his question, Mei Gongzi fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.


    Tang San couldn''t help but feel surprised. He could sense Mei Gongzi''s conflicted emotions, unsure of what she was pondering. This conflict seemed to have arisen after she tested him.


    When Mei Gongzi looked up at him again, there seemed to be a decision made in her heart. She said softly, "It''s nothing. You can go back. I just wanted to see your capabilities."


    Tang San furrowed his brows slightly, "Are you sure there��s nothing? If there��s anything you need me to do, just say it. I will do my best."


    Mei Gongzi��s voice raised slightly. "I said it''s nothing. You can go now."


    Tang San looked at her deeply but did not press further. After several encounters, he had begun to understand his wife''s character in this life. Unlike her carefree nature when they first met in their previous life, her current status as a member of the Redemption Society, and such a high-rank one at that, burdened her with many responsibilities that she had never known in their past life, so it was only natural for her personality to be different. It seemed that once she made up her mind, it was hard to change.


    "Well, alright then." Tang San stood up but did not hurry to leave, noticing that Mei Gongzi seemed hesitant.


    Mei Gongzi looked up at him and said, "Although the Wind Wolf Transformation is not a very powerful Demonic God Transformation, I have always believed that regardless of one''s bloodline, there is a chance to be a true powerhouse. Bloodlines can evolve as long as you be strong enough. You have an extraordinary spiritual power talent, so you should focus on that in the future. Cultivate well and work hard; you are a member of the Redemption Society and our hope for the future. You will understand more once you break through to the god level."


    "Hmm, thank you for the reminder, sister Mei," Tang San nodded.


    In that instant, he suddenly had a realization. Despite Mei Gongzi''s maturity far beyond her peers, she was still a thirteen-year-old girl. From her tone and her choice of words, Tang San could feel the reason for her change of mind: his talent. She didn''t want him to take risks. Seeing his extraordinary spiritual power talent, she decided it was better for him to cultivate rather than help her with any task.


    <i>But how silly of you! For me, what could be more important than helping you? Not to mention I want to be alive so I can enjoy being with you.</i>


    However, Tang San did not insist, as he felt that it would not be appropriate. Moreover, he was now well aware of why Mei Gongzi was a Blue-ss Redeemer and was clearly being nurtured as one of the Society��s future leaders.


    This had be clear to Tang San ever since he learned of Mei Gongzi''s identity and saw Wang Yan trying to abduct her. It was simple��they wanted her status as the heir to the Peacock Demon n.


    The fact that someone of mixed blood was able to be the rightful heir of a major demon n was absolutely mindblowing. Leaving aside Mei Gongzi��s own incredible talent, this was a unique chance for the entire Redemption Society. The Peacock Demon n controlled Kali City, one of the main cities of the demon race. With only a handful of major cities for both the demon and the nymph races, if Mei Gongzi could take over the Peacock Demon n and be the next Peacock Great Demon King, it would be an absolutely monumental event for the Redemption Society.


    Therefore, everything she was doing now had to be in preparation to inherit the throne in the future. Tang San could only imagine the difficulties she faced. There had to be tremendous resistance within the Peacock Demon n itself, as well as from the Ancestral Court and even the nobles of Kali City. For someone like her, with human blood, to aspire to inherit the throne....


    The contemtive look in Mei Gongzi''s eyes had vanished. She stood up and said to Tang San, "In theing period, there may be some incidents in Kali City, perhaps even unrest. You don''t need to know too much. Keep out of sight, spend more time cultivating in the academy when you��re free, and don''t go wandering into the city, let alone outside of it, understand?"


    "What''s going to happen?" Tang San asked.


    Mei Gongzi shook her head and said, "You don''t need to know for now. Knowing won''t be of any significance to you. Just remember what I said and do as I''ve told you. When it''s time for you to know, you will naturally find out. Go now."


    As she spoke, she waved her hand at him.


    "Okay." Tang San nodded, looking deeply at her beautiful face again, "Sister Mei, whenever it is and whatever it is, I am at yourmand."


    After saying this, Tang San then turned and left.


    Watching his departing figure, Mei Gongzi''s gaze softened, and her expression also became gentle, as if she had taken off a mask. She sat back down on her chair.


    Having observed him for a while now, she knew that he was extraordinary, and she felt rather peculiarly about him. What lingered in her mind were the scenes of their few encounters.


    She clearly remembered how Tang San looked at her during their first meeting. At that time, he was much thinner and still looked like a little child. However, the gaze in his eyes was moreplex than anything she''d ever seen, revealing countless emotions as he nced at her.

 Chapter 215: What Is She Trying To Do?

    <h4>Chapter 215: What Is She Trying To Do?</h4>


    Each subsequent meeting left a profound imprint on Mei Gongzi��s memory. For unfathomable reasons, she could not harbor any guard against him.


    Tang San��s rate of growth far exceeded her expectations.


    Of course, she was truly shocked when she confirmed that Tang San was the "ape demon" that had killed the scorpion. After all, it was an eighth-order demonic beast! How could it be possible? But the truth was the truth; he had indeed aplished it. He had grown strong enough to y an eighth-order powerhouse.


    This prompted Mei Gongzi to entertain a certain thought. After careful consideration, she wanted to seek his assistance.


    However, while testing him today, what ultimately made her give up was not Tang San''s strength, nor his ninth-order spiritual power but a particr thought in her heart; she did not want him to take risks.


    Indeed, such a thought appeared in her mind with no rhyme or reason, as if she couldn''t bear knowing that he was putting himself at risk.


    Therefore, she changed her mind at thest moment.


    <i>Tang San, what exactly are you? </i>Mei Gongzi murmured in her heart.


    ***


    After leaving the small inn, Tang San stood outside for a few moments, observing his surroundings.


    <i>Mei Gongzi must be up to something. She says she doesn''t need my help, but does that mean I shouldn''t get involved? Come on, let''s be serious. If Sweeper Tang can''t do it, it''s time for Asura to appear.</i>


    Turning into an alley, in no time, he changed his clothes, donned a mask, and slightly altered his physique using the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    After a long break, Asura was back on stage.


    As he stood in a shadowy corner with a view of the inn''s entrance, Tang San''s lips curled slightly. In truth, adopting the Asura identity was more convenient, as it allowed him to unleash his true power. There was no need for the Wind Tiger Transformation.


    <i>Whatever she intended to do, since she sought help, her task was indeed fraught with risk. From today onwards, I will guard her as best as I can.</i>


    Tang San''s recent cultivation had already reached a bottleneck. To advance further, he needed to wait for hispanions'' progression. He was in no hurry. And to him, nothing was more important than making sure Mei Gongzi was safe.


    The wait wasn''t long before Mei Gongzi exited the inn. She appeared normal, with no noteworthy changes, and proceeded along the street.


    Tang San followed her from a distance. Undoubtedly, Mei Gongzi was powerful, but in spiritual perception, Tang San was far stronger, so he wasn''t worried about being detected.


    The two proceeded, one following the other.


    About fifteen minutester, Mei Gongzi turned a corner, and to Tang San''s surprise, when he followed, she had vanished.


    It was like she had disappeared into thin air, leaving no trace.


    Tang San wasn''t worried; Mei Gongzi''s Peacock Transformation granted her control over space, making short-distance spatial teleportation simple for her. Her disappearance signified that she was about to take action.


    Tang San concealed himself in the shadows, silently releasing his spiritual power and sensing the spatial fluctuations in the air.


    After several significant enhancements to his spiritual power and nurturing from his core divine consciousness, Tang San had partially regained some of his abilities rted to spiritual perception. His spiritual power was still not at the god level, but the way he used it was worlds beyond the average ninth-order demon.


    Moreover, he could not be any more familiar with Mei Gongzi''s aura.


    Quickly, he sensed a faint spatial fluctuation appearing in one direction and then, almost immediately, in another.


    Tang San immediately sprang into action, activating Leopard sh. He followed silently and swiftly.


    By this time, the sky hadpletely darkened. Following the barely perceptible spatial fluctuations, he leaped and flickered across rooftops until the trace of spatial fluctuation disappeared into arge mansion.


    It was a vast estate upying arge area. Inside the mansion, a strong aura of bloodline energy was faintly perceptible. Undoubtedly, it was a noble demon''s residence, and judging by the size of the mansion, the owner''s status was likely very high.


    Tang San carefully crawled onto a higher rooftop. He noted that the spatial fluctuation had also paused about a hundred meters away.


    Crouching on the rooftop, he silently observed.


    Although it was night, the mansion was bustling with activity. It seemed the master was entertaining guests, as loud voices echoed from the main house.


    Most of the serving staff were human vassals, but Tang San quickly discovered who the mansion belonged to through his spiritual perception.


    The most prevalent race here was the bear n, with members towering at over four meters tall, and they all seemed to belong to the same n.


    The bear race had rtively few branches, and only four of them were considered truly powerful. One of these branches, the Titan Bear n, resided in Kali City and was an established noble n renowned for their robust physiques and formidable strength and defense.


    The Titan Bear lineage had a bloodline ability known as Titan Shield. In battle, they could stimte their energy to form a shield covering their entire body, integrating offense and defense, and incredibly formidable. An adult Titan Bear was at the seventh order at the very least.


    Titan Bears were a sub-golden bloodline, meaning that there was a trace of gold in their blood, which was what granted them such formidable abilities. Overall, their bloodline was categorized as peak third-tier.


    <i>What was Mei Gongzi doing here? Is she here to gather information? Or is she here for... bear hunting? Damn, whatever she ns to do, I would have cooperated. But isn''t she afraid of exposing her identity? After all, the bloodline of the Peacock Demon n isn''t easy to conceal!</i>


    Tang San waited silently, also observing the situation below.


    It seemed the Titan Bears didn''t have any god-level powerhouses here; otherwise, his Discerning Eye of Heaven would have detected a substantial threat. With no god-level opponents, the task was much more manageable. He silently activated the Celestial Fox Vision, bestowing luck upon himself.


    The Titan Bear demons entertained numerous guests in the main house, with over a dozen attendees indulging in hearty eating and drinking. Most of them belonged to other warrior ns, including the sh Leopard n, though there were no members of the Wind Wolf n. It seemed that the Titan Bears had some sort of rtionship with the sh Leopard n; otherwise, given the status of the sh Leopards in the demon hierarchy, they would have no business being here. Of course, it looked like they were only minor attendees at today''s banquet.


    Members of various other ns were present, too, and Tang San could even sense the presence of fox demons.


    Zhang Haoxuan arranged for the Crimson Fox girls he had acquired at the auction to stay temporarily in a separate location within Kali City, as their presence in the town near Kali Academy would have been too conspicuous. He was waiting for Tang San��s return to finalize their arrangements.


    The fox demons seemed quite popr among the demon races. At the day��s banquet, two female fox demons attended, and though their faces were not visible, their seats on either side of the host indicated their high status and the attitude of other ns towards the fox ns.


    The host, undoubtedly the mansion''s owner, was at the main seat. With just a slight use of his spiritual power, Tang San could feel the host''s incredibly dense and powerful energy, like a tangible wave of force, creating a mountain-like presence in his spiritually perceived world.


    This individual, while not a god just yet, was at least a peak ninth-order powerhouse.


    Tang San believed that Mei Gongzi''s cultivation was at the seventh order. The task of killing such a powerful individual would be nearly impossible for the two of them, especially since Mei Gongzi��s identity as a member of the Peacock Demon n would likely be exposed inbat. Therefore, Tang San guessed that her n was likely to gather intelligence.


    Tang San assessed things from a distance, while Mei Gongzi remained motionless in the shadows. She did not move or further investigate the mansion, instead staying hidden.

 Chapter 216: Time To Kill

    <h4>Chapter 216: Time To Kill</h4>


    As time ticked by, the banquet gradually moved from its climax to its end. The noise inside grew significantly louder, a clear sign of the increased drinking.


    <i>No, wait!</i>


    A thought struck Tang San. If Mei Gongzi were merely gathering information or seeking something within this mansion, she wouldn''t lurk in one spot. She would be moving around more within the mansion, which shouldn''t take this long!


    <i>It''s been more than an hour, but she hasn''t moved at all. Could it be that her target is actually...</i>


    Just then, the main doors of the mansion swung open. Amidst the noise, a group of somewhat staggering individuals emerged.


    Leading them was a Titan Bear towering over his other guests at over six meters tall. It was covered in dark golden fur, unashamedly disying its intense aura and vitality.


    Apanying it were several other Titan Bears, noticeably weaker in aura.


    Other demons were also present. Two fox demons stood out withrge tails, one red and the other pale blue, indicating their distinct fox demon lineages. Both were beautiful and had seductive demeanors. They apanied the strongest Titan Bear, chatting andughing.


    It was evident that the day''s banquet had greatly pleased these demons.


    The leading Titan Bearughed heartily, "If not for tomorrow''s affairs, we could drink all night. Let''s meet another day, after I''m done handling important matters. I dare not keep you two little foxes today. Otherwise, heh heh heh..."


    The other demonsughed along. Despite drinking quite a bit, it was clear that the leading Titan Bear remained sober, and it escorted the other demons to the gate before turning back.


    The other Titan Bears apanying him also bid their farewells and dispersed toward the deeper parts of the mansion.


    The leading Titan Bear let out a long breath, stretched its back, and headed toward the main house.


    Tang San felt a sudden chill run down his spine at that moment. His spiritual power instantly concentrated as he intently watched the Titan Bear.


    Streaks of silver light appeared in the air at the speed of lightning. As the Titan Bear entered the main house, those silver lights simply showed up behind it, out of thin air.


    The appearance of the silver lights was so sudden��without any visible origin or trajectory, merely a sh of silver��that the Titan Bear''s robust body just froze.


    A roar erupted instantaneously. Sixteen crossbow bolts had just embedded themselves halfway into the bear''s massive back.


    Dazzling dark golden light surged out, apanied by a series of hissing sounds. The crossbow bolts lodged in its back were instantly expelled, along with spurts of blood. This blood, tinged with silver and purple hues, looked extraordinarily eerie.


    A figure instantly shed to the side of the Titan Bear.


    The Titan Bear''s bloodline power activated and an energy shield protected it. Yet, its colossal body violently shook, clearly having sustained severe damage.


    The crossbow bolts contained the power of space and a potent poison that had infiltrated its blood. Sensing something amiss, the Titan Bear tried to expel the poison and the contaminated blood from within its body as it pushed out the bolts. However, the poison was incredibly insidious, and it had invaded the demon��s organs as soon as it entered the body. Though some of it was expelled with the blood, a strong sense of weakness followed.


    As the Titan Bear roared in anger, it suddenly felt an intense stabbing pain in its brain. Its roar was abruptly interrupted, and it stiffened once more.


    Meanwhile, the figure that had appeared at its side had already charged forward.


    The figure was d in ck garb, with a ck hood covering the head. It was impossible to tell who or what it was.


    There were no weapons in its hands, but these hands suddenly burst with intense white light and sharp ws emerged from the fingertips as it instantly grasped the throat of the Titan Bear.


    Dark-golden light flickered, creating sparks under the ws'' sharp tips. The Titan Bear''s greatest strength was its defense, which it still disyed even while ambushed and seriously wounded.


    However, at that moment, something strange happened. The attacking figure''s ws shimmered with a white-golden glow.


    A disgusting sound could be heard as the ws instantly prated the Titan Bear''s defense, tearing through its throat.


    Only then did the Titan Bear''s massive paws strike where the figure had been, but with a sh of silver light, the figure had already moved out of its attack range.


    The Titan Bear seemed to struggle to breathe as blood gushed out from its mouth. Its pupils were dted in disbelief and it looked at the figure as if wanting to say something, but only air and blood escaped from its ruptured throat.


    The figure didn''t pause; with another sh of silver light, they cut in again, their ws reaching for the Titan Bear once again.


    The life force of demons was powerful; even with its throat torn, the Titan Bear could still use its bloodline ability. But just as it was about to activate its Titan Shield again, a sense of weakness spread from within, and the dark-golden hue enveloping it instantly dimmed.


    The figure flickered behind the bear, and those sharp ws pierced through the back of its neck, instantly severing its spinal marrow. The thick fur offered no defense against the white-golden ws.


    Without hesitation, the figure kicked away from the demon''s back and soared away.


    With its throat and spine severed, the Titan Bear struggled no more, copsing to the ground.


    The half-roar it had earlier managed to emit alerted the other Titan Bears within the mansion. When the figure emerged from the main building, more than a dozen Titan Bears, none weak in cultivation, rushed toward the attacker. All of them shimmered with a dark golden light as they activated their Titan Shields and pounced at the attacker.


    The attacker did not seek battle but leaped up, heading straight to the rooftop of the main building. Instead of using the silver shing ability again, it fled swiftly.


    A piercing roar resounded through the entire mansion the next moment. They had discovered that their leader was lying on the ground dead.


    However, Titan Bears were not known for their speed. They couldn''t catch up with the fleeing figure, which maneuvered from rooftop to rooftop and quickly disappeared into the night.


    From the moment of attack to the end of the fight, it had only taken a couple of seconds. The entire process had been swift and smooth.


    ***


    <i>On the outskirts of Kali City.</i>


    The figure, shrouded in ck, dove into a forest before stopping. Just as they were about to remove the hood covering their head, they suddenly seemed to sense something and turned around abruptly.


    Not far behind the attacker, another figure, also d in ck but with a mask on the face, stood there, silently watching.


    "You?" The attacker��s hand, which had been pulling at the hood, stiffened instantly. But the partially removed hood revealed strands of white hair.


    The next instant, the attacker sprang up and charged at the person who had suddenly appeared.


    "Don��t attack, listen to me."


    Obviously, the masked figure was Tang San... or rather, Asura. A quick Leopard sh transported him twenty meters away, allowing him to evade the lunge.


    The attacker didn''t pursue but stared at him intensely, eyes not concealing the murderous intent within.


    "You were reckless; your n was not meticulous enough. How could you leave crucial evidence in the hands of the enemy?" Tang San said, opening his palms to reveal several ck crossbow bolts.

 Chapter 217: A Promise

    <h4>Chapter 217: A Promise</h4>


    Seeing these crossbow bolts, Mei Gongzi''s murderous aura finally began to subside a bit.


    "Have you been following me?" She narrowed her eyes, confident that her every action must have been observed.


    Tang San shook his head. "Following you? It��d be more urate to say I''ve been protecting you."


    Mei Gongzi''s gaze hardened. "Who are you, exactly?"


    Tang San smiled slightly, replying, "Who I am isn''t important. What matters is that we share the same goal. I will help you, and I bear no ill will. You can confirm this with Mayor Zhang. I''m not one of you, but I am a human like you, united in ourmon purpose."


    As he spoke, he slowly approached Mei Gongzi, extending the crossbow bolts to her.


    The recent assassination was undoubtedly a sess; the bolts from the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, enhanced with the spatial infusion array of the Peacock Demon n, struck the target before it could even activate its innate defense.


    The bolts wereced with a potent poison. Once inside the body, it was instantly transmitted throughout, especially to the internal organs, thanks to the spatial power, and it caused excruciating pain. This was key to the sess of the assassination. Mei Gongzi''s close-range attack prevented the target from purging the toxin, allowing her to seize the opportunity and deliver the fatal blow.


    Without a doubt, the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, enhanced with an array, was the most crucial element of the assassination. Even with her incredibly sharp ws, Mei Gongzi wouldn''t have been able to kill a ninth-order expert skilled in defense. Combining a surprise attack and a deadly weapon was crucial for sess. And this Godly Zhuge Crossbow had been provided by the man before her!


    Mei Gongzi''s gaze softened slightly. "What do you know?"


    Tang San shook his head, "I don''t know much, but I can make some guesses. Moreover, your actions were risky. You could have easily exposed yourself. Attacking someone that strong without a perfect n in ce can lead to all sorts of problems, especially others finding out your real identity. Even though you have a second Demonic God Transformation to conceal it, once you face a crisis that requires the use of spatial power, you won''t have a choice but to use it, and then, you will bepletely exposed."


    The murderous intent that had just dissipated surged back instantly, and Mei Gongzi''s eyes shone sharply. Ignoring the crossbow bolts Tang San offered, she swiftly lunged at him, her ws going straight for his throat.


    Tang San''s figure flickered as he activated Leopard sh. Simultaneously, vines began to snake out from the ground around them, growing wildly and formingyers of barriers in the air that blocked her advance.


    Silver light sparkled, and the space around them suddenly folded inyers. A blinding silver light erupted, and on Mei Gongzi''s forehead, the Peacock Crown emerged.


    Having a second bloodline was her greatest secret, and now, someone had found out, just like that. His words gave her a strong sense of crisis, as if all her secrets were already known to him.


    "Don''t worry, look, I also have more than one Demonic God Transformation, don''t I?" As he spoke, Tang San didn''t activate Leopard sh again because his Leopard sh was useless in the face of the blocked space. The vines were also being rapidly shredded by theyered spatial rifts.


    But then, a strange scene unfolded. No matter how formidable the spatial rifts were, they continuously grazed past Tang San but never managed to hit him. It was as if he had be an untargetable entity. Under his mask, Tang San''s eyes were emitting a dense white light.


    Theyered spatial rifts suddenly became stagnant and halted. Once these unpredictable spatial fluctuations paused, they became chaotic and could no longer be controlled.


    "You..." Mei Gongzi was taken aback. Her Peacock Plume was already in hand, and she pointed it at Tang San, yet she didn''t move.


    Tang San slowly walked toward her, and the spatial fissures before him vanished and disappeared.


    Mei Gongzi hadn''t used her full strength yet, but the abilities disyed by the man before her made her uncertain whether to attack.


    <i>Three kinds? Or four? How is it possible? How can he possess so many types of Demonic God Transformation?</i>


    In the demon ns, it wasn''t unheard of for someone to possess multiple Demonic God Transformations, but the more types one had, the more significant the bloodline conflict. Generally, having more than three types would deem one utterly useless and incapable of aplishing anything. Such beings were considered ''mixed blood'' among the demon ns; they held a status even lower than human vassals with one demonic bloodline, and they were abandoned by any n they appeared in.


    Yet, the man before her had just disyed three or four types of bloodline powers! Moreover, what was that ability that countered her spatial fluctuations and made him immune to the spatial rifts? It was clear that this bloodline��s tier was extremely high.


    Tang San slowly approached her again and handed her the crossbow bolts, "We are not enemies. I am here to help you."


    Mei Gongzi''s breathing elerated. An uncontroble situation was thest thing she wanted. She was well aware of her significant responsibilities within the organization, and even within the Redemption Society, few truly knew her situation. Yet this "familiar stranger" before her knew far too much!


    "I know your secrets, and I have also shown you mine. Let''s call it even," Tang San said with a smile, seemingly perceiving her thoughts.


    Mei Gongzi raised her hand and grabbed the crossbow bolts. "Why should I believe you?"


    Tang San shrugged. "Think back,st time I appeared, was it not also to help you? If I hadn''t dealt with that bear earlier, do you think it would have just waited for you to rip its throat out on your first attack? I just want to help you, or rather, help all of humanity."


    "Then take off your mask, let me see your face," Mei Gongzi said stubbornly.


    Tang San shook his head. ��That is the only thing I cannot do yet. If therees a day in the future when I can, I will let you see my face, I promise. But not now. I cannot reveal my identity. All I can tell you is, if there''s only one person in this world who doesn''t want to hurt you, then that person is me."


    Mei Gongzi was momentarily stunned, not expecting Tang San to say such things to her at this time.


    "I need to go. Before your next move, consider consulting with me. With my cooperation, it''ll be much safer for you." His figure flickered as he used Leopard sh again, and in the next instant, he appeared far away.


    "How do I find you?" Mei Gongzi called out to his figure, who disappeared into the darkness.


    "When you stand at the entrance of Kali Academy in the evening with a cup of milk tea, I''ll know you need me." After saying this, Tang San''s figure flickered again and vanished into the night.


    "Asura!" Mei Gongzi gazed toward the ce he had just left, pondering the words he had spoken earlier. She nced at the ck crossbow bolts in her hand, her eyes full of contemtion.


    She removed her hood, revealing her stunningly beautiful face and long hair as white as snow. Gradually, her hair changed color, returning to ck, and the white mark on her forehead faded away.


    What she didn''t know was that Tang San, deep inside, was just as shocked as she was.


    <i>She has two Demonic God Transformations. And that second Demonic God Transformation bloodline doesn��t seem inferior to that of the Peacock Demons! Where did she get those incredible tinum ws? It has to be at least a second-tier bloodline. No wonder she dared to assassinate the Titan Bear; this second bloodline conceals her identity!</i>

 Chapter 218: Finding A Place for the Eighteen Crimson Fox Girls

    <h4>Chapter 218: Finding A ce for the Eighteen Crimson Fox Girls</h4>


    These two Demonic God Transformations were just like the twin martial spirits Tang San had in his previous life!


    To gain Mei Gongzi''s trust and reduce her sense of danger, Tang San had used four abilities��the Discerning Eye of Heaven, Time Freeze, Blue Silver Emperor, and Leopard sh. Once she calmed down, she could draw her own conclusions.


    <i>Assassinating the Titan Bear must be rted to her grand scheme. This is the first target, but definitely not thest. </i>In any case, regardless of what Mei Gongzi did, Tang San needed to cooperate, filling in the gaps for her. As long as the opponent wasn��t at the god level, relying on the Godly Zhuge Crossbowbined with their powerful bloodline abilities, there shouldn''t be much of a problem.


    This night has genuinely been fascinating.


    Returning to the academy town, Tang San didn''t rush back to Redemption Society but instead went to Zhang Haoxuan''s residence. He knocked on the door a few times.


    "Master, it''s me."


    "Come in," came Zhang Haoxuan''s voice from inside the room.


    Tang San pushed the door open and entered.


    Zhang Haoxuan was dressed in simple leisure clothes, and he seemed to have been cultivating earlier, judging from the strong fluctuations of his aura.


    "It''s not easy to see you these days! Do you often go out at night?" Zhang Haoxuan asked, somewhat displeased.


    Tang San nodded, saying, "Sometimes, I go to Kali Academy to cultivate. As you know, the spiritual energy there is richer, making cultivation more effective."


    "You go to Kali Academy at night? How do you get in?" Zhang Haoxuan asked, surprised.


    Tang San shrugged. "I cracked their rm array."


    Hearing him speak so casually, Zhang Haoxuan couldn''t help but inhale sharply, "I''ve been meaning to ask, is your study of arrays also from the Mysterious Heaven Record? But I didn''t see it in the notes you gave me!"


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly as he said, "This part of the information was too important, so I didn''t write it down for you. It is indeed recorded in the Mysterious Heaven Record."


    He could only exin it this way.


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at him intently, not speaking for a long time.


    Tang San said helplessly, "Master, why are you looking at me like that?"


    Zhang Haoxuan exhaled deeply, "Now, I don''t know if I am your master or you are mine. It seems as if there��s nothing you can��t do. You effortlessly killed the Demon Scorpion. And the things you bid on, apart from the Purple Sun Fruit... I haven��t figured out the purpose of the others. You say that everything you do is for the sake of humanity. However, the mystery surrounding you makes me uneasy."


    Indeed, the more Zhang Haoxuan saw from Tang San, the more uneasy he became.


    Tang San said, "Master, I haven''t concealed much from you. Indeed, many of the abilities I have shown are inexplicable to you, but please believe me, everything I do is for humanity."


    "I do believe you. Otherwise, do you think I would indulge you this much?" Zhang Haoxuan said, somewhat gruffly.


    Tang San smiled. "Since you trust me, there''s no need for further questions. Have you tried to break through using the Purple Sun Fruit?"


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head, saying, "I''m not confident enough yet. Moreover, breaking through to the tenth tier is a big deal and it can''t be done here, or I will be discovered. I''ll wait until I''ve umted more cultivation. Now, tell me, what brings you here?"


    Tang San said, "We need to make arrangements for those eighteen girls from the Crimson Fox n."


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at him and asked, "How do you n to arrange their stay? They are human ves, not demons."


    "Their bloodline power is very weak and we can��t enhance it the normal way. I want to see if I can stimte their bloodline and help them increase their power. They could be great helpers in the future."


    "Stimte their bloodline?" Zhang Haoxuan shivered at the thought. He naturally knew how important this was.


    The demon n''s bloodline powers were not fixed. Through specific opportunities and cultivation, they could keep enhancing and strengthening their bloodlines, which could be seen as a process of bloodline evolution.


    Tang San saying that he could stimte bloodlines was an extraordinary promise. But how could this be achieved?


    The biggest source of trouble for human-demon hybrids in their cultivation process was the issue of bloodline strength. The strength of the bloodline was the hard ceiling of their power; if it wasn��t strong enough, they simply could not advance to higher levels.


    Tang San exined, "The strength of a bloodline is not only rted to its density, but also to some other factors. For example, Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision is closely linked to spiritual power. His breakthrough from third to fourth order wasn''t because his bloodline strength increased but because his spiritual power did. It stimted his bloodline, which led to the breakthrough. For most Demonic God Transformations, it seems that life force is the thing that can drive bloodline power higher. So if we provide substantial life force to these girls, their bloodline power might be stimted, which would allow it to awaken and evolve."


    "Alright, but how do we give them life energy? And would that life energy also be useful to us?" Zhang Haoxuan asked.


    Tang San replied, "I am fairly confident it will be useful for those below the god level. For those in the levels above, I��m not sure."


    "How can you do that?" Zhang Haoxuan asked incredulously, knowing that enhancing the life force of someone was an extraordinary feat.


    Tang San smiled. "You just said you��re not sure what I��m nning to do with some of the things I got at the auction. Well, that��s where the Golden Woodes in!"


    "Hmm?" Zhang Haoxuan was startled.


    "Master, I''ll need to trouble you. Find a safe ce in the Kali Mountains, somewhere with a rich life force, and arrange a ce for those girls to stay. Let��s keep it between the two of us for now. It must be a ce that demons or demonic beasts don''t usually pass through. The more hidden, the better. Then, just wait and see."


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "That won''t be difficult. The Kali Mountains are vast, and there are many secluded ces. Do you n to settle them there?"


    Tang San nodded. "It will also serve as a safehouse for our Redemption Society."


    "Alright, that''s good. Is there anything else you need?" Zhang Haoxuan asked.


    Tang San shook his head. "Nothing else. Once you find a suitable ce and settle them down, just let me know."


    "Okay."


    "Master, you should rest early. I''ll head back now," Tang San said with a smile.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "Don''t rush off; I was actually thinking of looking for you anyway. If I get you the materials, can you make more of those Godly Zhuge Crossbows you madest time?"


    Tang San nodded. "I can make them. But if they are exposed, it��s going to be really troublesome."


    Zhang Haoxuan said solemnly, "But they��re really powerful. I''ve tried them. The stronger the Demonic God Transformation used to operate them, the better the effect."


    "I am pretty sure they only work on enemies below the god level. Those above can handle the attack," Tang San emphasized.


    Today, Mei Gongzi''s stealth attack on the Titan Bear demon had already proved the power of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow. If not for the crossbow''s formation integrating the spatial power of the Peacock demon n, how could it have broken through the Titan Bear''s defense so easily? The bolts were basically teleporting, making them unavoidable.


    Zhang Haoxuan, being in the ninth order, definitely produced astonishing power when infusing his fire attribute into the crossbow bolts. However, dark gold feared fire, so if Zhang Haoxuan used it, the probability of damaging the crossbow would significantly increase.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "I want you to make some, not necessarily for immediate use. We can keep them for now just in case. If the academy faces a crisis in the future, we can use them then."

 Chapter 219: The Cave Behind The Waterfall

    <h4>Chapter 219: The Cave Behind The Waterfall</h4>


    "Alright." Tang San agreed without hesitation.


    "I will prepare the materials for you," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    "Then please prepare as much as you can. I''ll write you a listter," Tang San replied. He needed rare metals.


    With the hammer made of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, forging was now much easier than before. Naturally, making hidden weapons was not an issue.


    Mei Gongzi was now in a critical moment, and with an uncertain future ahead of them, preparing some powerful hidden weapons was a priority.


    Moreover, Mei Gongzi had seen him buy the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron Hammer as Tang San, so this hammer could not appear as a weapon in front of her. Thus, Tang San needed to forge a suitable weapon to enhance his strength. Thankfully, on this, resources were abundant.


    In the following days, life returned to normal. Sweeper Tang continued his daily routine of cultivation and work.


    Tang San asionally saw Mei Gongzi at the academy. She seemed no different from usual and didn''t pay him much attention. It appeared that she was also lying low after the TItan Bear incident.


    At Kali Academy, there were no reports of any movements from the Titan Bears after the death of their leader.


    About a weekter, Zhang Haoxuan approached Tang San upon his return to the Redemption Academy, informing him that the hideout in the Kail Mountains was ready.


    The next day was Tang San''s day off, so he didn''t have to work at Kali Academy. The two of them thus entered the Kali Mountain Range early in the morning.


    The "master and disciple" duo delved deep into the mountain range, under the umbre-like tree canopy, and continued northward, crossing several peaks until finally they reached a valley.


    This valley was in a hilly region, with steep terrain and sparse vegetation due to the abundance of rocky outcrops.


    Water could be faintly heard between the hills, and as the two of them walked, they reached a cliff with a small waterfall running down.


    Beneath the waterfall was a pool covering a few hundred square meters.


    The pool''s turquoise water was crystal clear, with some fish swimming freely.


    "This area rarely sees the presence of demonic beasts because it has very little vegetation and practically no treasure nts or anything. The northern part of Kali Mountain Range has always been known as a barrennd, so few demons venture here. I discovered this waterfall by chance, and behind it there��s a cave. I carved a passage through the back of the cave years ago so we could hide here if the Redemption Society ever needed it. I''ve brought your girls here. What do you think?" Zhang Haoxuan exined.


    Tang San smiled. "A scenic spot, it''s great!"


    While talking, they had already reached the side of the pool.


    "There are wild vegetables to gather here, and with the fish from the pool, it''s enough for their daily needs," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    "You''ve thought this through, master," Tang Sanplimented him.


    "Let me bring you inside." As he spoke, Zhang Haoxuan leaped up, waving his hands, creating a hot air current that blocked the waterfall''s flow and dispersed clouds of steam. Tang San also released wind elemental energy around him, supporting himself as he flew after Zhang Haoxuan.


    As the waterfall lifted, it revealed a cave behind it,rge enough for two people to walk through side by side. The cave appeared dark, obscuring the view inside.


    Both of them entered the cave. Zhang Haoxuan extended his left hand, and a me lit up, illuminating the surroundings.


    The cave was somewhat damp, but as they proceeded, the ground sloped upward, and after a few dozen meters, the dampness significantly reduced.


    Under Zhang Haoxuan''s lead, they kept moving inward. After about thirty or forty meters, they faintly heard voices inside.


    "Who''s there?" a frail voice asked.


    "It''s me," Zhang Haoxuan said. He continued upward with Tang San, turned a corner, and suddenly, their view brightened. Light shone from somewhere, illuminating the cavern ahead of them.


    The terrain here was at least fifty meters higher than the pool area. The cavern was cool and dry. The upward-sloping passage in the back, faintly lit, was probably the one Zhang Haoxuan mentioned he had dug.


    This cavernous space appeared spacious, about five or six hundred square meters wide and seven or eight meters high. Several mattresses wereid on one side of the t ground, and a dozen human girls were gathered together, looking rather frightened.


    Tang San had not paid much attention to them previously at the auction. Now, up close, he could see them more clearly.


    These ve girls with Crimson Fox bloodline were all around fourteen or fifteen, and they were really pretty. Their eyes, in particr, were exceptionally beautiful. Even though they were somewhat fearful and withdrawn, their eyes still sparkled, and they exhibited a certain charm beyond their young age��an unmistakable trait of the fox lineage. Without activating the Demonic God Transformation, they were indistinguishable from humans in all other aspects.


    Furthermore, the mixed blood of the fox demons and humans bestowed them with slender waists and long legs, their figures surpassing even their faces in beauty. This was a significant reason for their poprity at auctions.


    Tang San observed them, and they, in turn, scrutinized him. Upon seeing Zhang Haoxuan, they visibly rxed, and their expressions turned to curiosity when they saw Tang San standing behind Zhang Haoxuan.


    Although Tang San''s physique had developed beyond his years due to his cultivation and bodily refinement advancement, his appearance still retained a hint of youthfulness. At a nce, he seemed about the same age as the girls, though in reality, Tang San was only eleven years old.


    "Senior Zhang, hello." The leading girl bowed slightly to Zhang Haoxuan, and the other girls followed suit in greeting.


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled and said, "No need for formalities. Let me introduce you. This is the person I mentioned who bought you. He''s your master."


    While speaking, he pulled Tang San to stand in front of him.


    <i>Master? </i>Tang San was momentarily taken aback.


    The girls were also startled, but almost immediately, they were led to greet Tang San with soft voices, ��Master.��


    Although Tang San had lived three lifetimes, he was always faithful in love. Even though many women had shown interest in him in his previous life, his heart was solely devoted to his wife. Now, faced with eighteen human girls from the Crimson Fox n calling him master, he couldn''t help feeling awkward.


    "Master, this..."


    Zhang Haoxuan gave him a knowing look and transmitted a message, "Since you need to ensure their loyalty and they will inevitably learn some of your secrets, it''s essential to establish firm rules. This status is also the easiest for them to ept given their mindset right now. What happens in the future can be decidedter. For now, this is the best way to go about your ns."


    Hearing this, Tang San��s thoughts raced. Indeed, these girls, raised as ves from the Crimson Fox n, couldn''t change their mindset overnight. They needed education and a stable life to build confidence and establish new perspectives on life. It wasn''t something to rush.


    "No need for formalities. What are your names?" Tang San asked. After that brief moment of difort, he had regained hisposure.


    The leading girl said, ��My name is Red One, and they are Red Two, Red Three... all the way to Red Eighteen.��


    Tang San''s lips twitched.


    Nodding, he told the eighteen girls, ��From today on, you will follow mymands. I will show you the way to a better life, and we will ensure that you live with dignity. You will never be anyone��s ves or ythings.��

 Chapter 220: Spirit Summoning Array

    <h4>Chapter 220: Spirit Summoning Array</h4>


    Hearing his words, the eighteen young girls seemed bewildered, as if they didn''t quite grasp what he was saying.


    Tang San didn''t say much, knowing from personal experience what brainwashed human ves were like. Change would take time. But the priority was to take care of the most important matters first.


    "Master, let''s go outside the waterfall. You all cane with me," Tang San called out to the eighteen Crimson Fox girls.


    Returning to the waterfall, Zhang Haoxuan parted the water curtain with both hands. Tang San gathered the eighteen girls by his side, then enveloped them in a whirlwind, flinging them onto the shore. They panicked and shrieked as they flew, but with his exquisite control over the wind element, each Crimson Fox girl was ced lightly and safely on the bank.


    Then Tang San, along with Zhang Haoxuan, also went ashore.


    The girls'' gazes toward him changed instantly; their eyes widened at the miraculous maniption of the wind element. Although naive in the ways of the world, they naturally held a deep respect for the powerful. In addition, Tang San looked around their age, making him more approachable than the fearsome demons. Their fear diminished considerably, reced by a growing curiosity as they looked at him.


    Tang San told Zhang Haoxuan, "Master, I''ll begin now. I must not be disturbed. Please guard me."


    "Alright," Zhang Haoxuan nodded, curious about what Tang San was about to do.


    Tang San looked up towards the sun, then at the pond, and began walking around it. He walked with purpose, radiating spiritual power. His eyes shined with white light, characteristic of the Celestial Fox Transformation.


    The choice of location was crucial for his next task, as he sought to maximize his luck.


    After circling the outer rim of the pond twice, he finally stopped about five meters from the pond.


    He removed a golden branch from his storage bracelet and slowly began to draw something on the muddy ground. His movements were slow, yet entirely focused. Zhang Haoxuan could feel the intense fluctuations of Tang San''s spiritual power, which were so strong that even he was surprised.


    <i>Is the effect of the Purple Sun Fruit this good? This kid��s spiritual power might well be stronger than mine, </i>thought Zhang Haoxuan.


    Tang San drew with great seriousness. One after the other, crisscrossing lines appeared on the ground. Though simply etched in mud, the lines carried an air of mystery, almost as if he were painting an abstract piece of art.


    Zhang Haoxuan understood that Tang San was outlining a spirit-summoning array. He couldn''t help but move closer to watch, but when he did that, he found that he couldn''tprehend it. Even though it had no energy fluctuations, there was something about the array that felt both ominous and profound.


    Tang San continued without pause, each stroke enhancing theplexity of the array, expanding its scope. The Crimson Fox girls, patient and distant, watched with faces full of curiosity, even more clueless than the mayor about what Tang San was doing.


    An hourter, aplex pattern over five meters in diameter had been drawn on the shore of the small pond. It had many concentric patterns and intersecting lines, the meaning of which was unclear. But once fully lined, that mysterious aura Zhang Haoxuan felt became even more distinct.


    Golden light flickered behind Tang San, and a pair of massive wings unfolded��the Golden Roc Transformation. He gently pped his wings, lifting his body into the air. He didn''t use the wind element to float because drawing the array had considerably drained his spiritual power. Poor control of the wind element could destroy the array below, rendering all his efforts futile.


    He flew above the array''s center, took a deep breath, and slowly drove the piece of Golden Wood into the ground, burying it more than halfway. A faint golden color appeared on the surface of the wood, and the entire array, seemingly just lines in the mud, seemed to tremble slightly.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s lips. He could feel that the array he had drawn was wless.


    Subsequently, he took out another piece of Golden Wood and inserted it into the second position, followed by a third and a fourth.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes gradually widened in shock. Watching Tang San insert the pieces of Golden Wood into the array, he noticed that the lines seemed toe alive, resonating at the same frequency.


    During Tang San''s earlier drawing of the array, Zhang Haoxuan had already discerned some of its mysteries. Tang San''s spiritual power constantly remained over each line, infusing them with his energy, making these seemingly random lines function as a whole.


    As the pieces of Golden Wood were inserted, it was like adding the finishing touches to a painting, illuminating the entire array. Apanied by vibrations, the spiritual power within the array increased, and they began to resonate with energy fluctuations of the same frequency. These vibrations were not from the mud or the Golden Wood but felt like a dense fusion of the world''s elemental energy.


    This marvelous array was undoubtedly drawing the world''s spiritual energy and converging towards it.


    <i>Communicating with the heavens and earth!</i> This feature alone indicated the sess of Tang San''s array.


    The Golden Woods fell into the array one by one. With each additional piece, the gold color on the surface of the other pieces became more intense, appearing both strange and dazzling.


    Finally, thest piece of Golden Wood appeared in Tang San''s hand. His spiritual power surged instantly, and his eyes emitted a zing white light. He felt a peculiar sensation��it was the little bit of extra luck he needed right now.


    With a small thud, the Golden Wood in his hand fell to the ground, precisely inserted into its designated spot.


    A loud hum resounded, followed by a transparent golden halo rippling outward instantly.


    Every piece of Golden Wood began to tremble violently, causing ripples to spread across the pond''s surface.


    Tang San floated to the ground, his face somewhat pale. He deactivated the Golden Roc Transformation, but he could not be any more excited.


    "It''s done!"


    Each piece of Golden Wood emitted a soft golden halo, and the vibration gradually stabilized from the intensity. The gold on their surfaces began to flow downward, merging into the array below. As they passed Zhang Haoxuan and the Crimson Fox girls, the expanding golden halos didn''t seem to affect them but added an indescribable essence to the surroundings.


    Zhang Haoxuan, the one with the strongest perception around, noticed that the spiritual energy here seemed to grow richer with thepletion of the array. Initially subtle, it increased steadily and continuously over time. The spiritual energy didn''t disperse into the air but flowed toward the array, quietly disappearing into it.


    Tang San sat down on the spot, meditating to recover his previously expended energy.


    Zhang Haoxuan circled the array a few times, silently sensing its changes.


    This array did more thanmunicate with the heavens and earth; it absorbed the external spiritual energy. Even more peculiar was that the speed at which the spiritual energy was being absorbed gradually increased. The pieces of Golden Wood, now resembling ordinary branches, and the array below, with golden halos flowing through it intermittently, looked genuinely wondrous.

 Chapter 221: Golden Wood

    <h4>Chapter 221: Golden Wood</h4>


    Half an hourter, Tang San reopened his eyes, having regained his spirits.


    He stood up, approached the Crimson Fox girls, and asked, "Have you all learned meditation?"


    Red One, evidently the eldest of the eighteen girls, nodded slightly and said, "Yes, we have. Our n taught us, especially since we''ve all awakened our bloodlines. They told us that if we could rely on meditation to cultivate and break through, we might be vassals. Butter, it turned out that our bloodlines were too diluted, and..." She couldn''t help but tear up at this point.


    Tang San nodded and said, "It''s fine, it��s good enough that you''ve learned. From today onward, aside from eating and sleeping, try meditating within three meters of the circle I''ve drawn. This is the first task I am giving you. Remember one thing: you must not enter the circle or disturb anything inside it. Do you understand?"


    The Crimson Fox girls nodded in understanding.


    Zhang Haoxuan turned to Tang San, frowning slightly. "If you set up this array here, what will happen if a demonic beastes? They can''t stop a demonic beast if it wants to cause trouble."


    Tang San smiled slightly. "Don��t worry, there will be no animals or demonic beasts. This array naturally repels them." Golden Wood was bits of the Golden Tree, a supreme lifeform of the nt attribute. It naturally repelled all beasts, and Tang San had amplified this effect through the array. Therefore, it would not attract demonic beasts.


    "What is the purpose of this array? It doesn��t seem like it��s just meant for meditation."


    Tang San said, "It isn��t. I want to grow a tree. I believe that in a month at most, it will take root and sprout."


    Zhang Haoxuan was startled. "You want to grow this Golden Wood into a tree?"


    Tang San nodded.


    "What��s the use of it? I��ve never heard about it being anything special."


    Tang San smiled and said, "That''s because the demons do not understand its wonderful uses. Some nymphs probably know a bit about it, but only superficially. The most powerful aspect of the Golden Wood is its ability to gather life energy. As it grows, it will absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and convert it into life energy. These girls practicing around it will receive some life energy, which will benefit the awakening of their bloodlines."


    Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes lit up. "What about us? Can we benefit too?"


    "Not for now, it��s barely even started to grow. But if it grows into a towering tree, the life force it contains will be enough to nourish stronger beings, so it��ll help us as well."


    Zhang Haoxuan took a deep breath. "So... the main purpose of this array is to elerate its growth?"


    "Yes, the Spirit Summoning Array has the function of gathering spiritual energy. If I just nted these pieces of Golden Wood in the ground, they would grow, but it would take hundreds of years to reach a decent size. This Spirit Summoning Array is a kind of fertilizer for them, and the best part is that it uses the trees themselves as the core. The more they grow, the more energy they absorb, but the more they grow, the stronger the Spirit Summoning Array gets, which means it can absorb more spiritual energy and make them grow even faster."


    Zhang Haoxuan asked, "So, theoretically, your array should work on all treasure nts?"


    Tang San replied, "Yes, but most of them are way too conspicuous once they grow, so they��d be more trouble than help. Well, unless you can have some kind of mighty monster guard them."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded in understanding. "Can you sell this to the organization?"


    "Sell?" Tang San was momentarily startled.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "Well, we can''t just take it from you for nothing. You can make your demands. If anything, the organization will think it��s weird if they could get their hands on this kind of thing for free. No worries, I will cover for you."


    He had never reported Tang San''s actual situation, primarily to allow Tang San to grow better. But his disciple��s rate of growth had always exceeded his expectations.


    Tang San nodded. "Okay, I''ll make some adjustments, draw it for you, and then teach you how to set it up."


    Seeing his ready agreement, Zhang Haoxuan''s face immediately showed a smile. He patted his disciple��s shoulder. "I think I��m seeing the future more and more clearly."


    "Well, I think it��s a future to look forward to," Tang San responded with a smile.


    The Crimson Fox girls obediently followed Tang San''s instructions, practicing around the perimeter of the Spirit Summoning Array. The Golden Wood had just begun to absorb spiritual energy, so there was no life energy yet, but the spiritual energy gathered by the array also passed through them. This energy would increase as the Golden Wood grew. Although the growth rate was slowest at the start, it was most suitable for these Crimson Fox girls, who had only first or second-order cultivations, to absorb and stabilize their bloodline power.


    Tang San observed the girls meditating for a while. Their simple minds made it easy to enter a state of meditation. Zhang Haoxuan, however, decided to stay and guard for a while, wanting to observe the effects of the Spirit Summoning Array closely. He asked Tang San to go back first and draw a diagram of the array.


    After bidding farewell to Zhang Haoxuan, Tang San returned to the Redemption Academy to draw the array diagram, which was a simple task for him. By evening, he hadpleted the diagram. However, he wouldn''t go there today; Zhang Haoxuan had said it was fine if he returned within three days.


    He nned to continue his cultivation at Kali Academy in the evening. His spiritual power was gradually approaching the peak of the ninth order. Since his bloodline power couldn''t be enhanced immediately as he waited for hispanions, he intended to continue refining his spiritual power and nurturing his divine consciousness.


    Just as he stepped out, preparing to leave Redemption Academy, he ran into Wu Bingji.


    Seeing Tang San, Wu Bingji was momentarily stunned, then moved in front of Tang San to stop him from leaving.


    "Senior brother, how are you doing?" Tang San greeted him with a smile.


    "Looking for you, little brother! The teachers are almost forgetting that you''re a student here. Why aren''t you attending sses now?" Wu Bingji asked in a somewhat annoyed tone.


    Tang San scratched his head and exined, ��The mayor has been giving me individual guidancetely, and I have to work at Kali Academy during the day, so I spend less time at our academy."


    Wu Bingji said, "Thank you for the Purple Sun Fruits. The mayor has told us all about them. They��re amazing! My spiritual power has improved a lot, and it''s actually beginning to liquefy."


    Tang San smiled. "That��s the result of our efforts, not just mine. How has your cultivation been going recently, senior brother?"


    Upon hearing the mention of cultivation, Wu Bingji''s eyes lit up. "Heh, now that you ask, it''s going pretty well. With my increased spiritual power, controlling the ice element is much easier. I can now almost instantly condense ice needles and I��ve nearly mastered the two-stage eleration. Do you have any new techniques to teach me?"


    Tang San chuckled inwardly. As expected, this was Wu Bingji''s real reason for stopping him. After all, Zhang Haoxuan had already covered for him regarding the fact that he wasn��t attending sses.


    Tang San replied, "Now that you''ve mastered the ice needles and two-stage eleration, you can practice moreplex techniques."


    "Even moreplex?" Wu Bingji''s eyes shone brightly this time.


    Ever since he learned to control ice elemental energy, he had felt his strength improve by leaps and bounds, both in terms of cultivation level and when it came to hisprehension and application of the ice element. He could even hold his own to some extent against Teacher Guan if he used the ice needles and the two-stage eleration.


    Tang San nodded and said, "I''ll teach you a veryplex technique based on the ice needles. That��s one part, and the other is the two-stage eleration plus the ice explosion technique. If you master it, I don��t think anyone at your level will be able to beat you."


    "The heck are you waiting for then?!" Wu Bingji blurted out, but he then felt slightly embarrassed.

 Chapter 222: The Progress of His Friends

    <h4>Chapter 222: The Progress of His Friends</h4>


    Tang San smiled and said, "Well, you must strengthen your spiritual power, because this technique requires higher spiritual power. How are you progressing with the Purple Demon Eyes?"


    All team members were now cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes. Du Bai was progressing the fastest, as his bloodline was naturally the most adept at spiritual power. Wu Bingji also had decent spiritual power and had already started to work on it anyway.


    "At first, I was progressing pretty slowly, but the Purple Sun Fruit seems very beneficial for cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes. Recently, I''ve made a lot of progress. I can now project my spiritual power outside and use it to attack."


    "Good. Well, the technique is something I��ve shown you before, the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball. If you remember, I created two of them, but you should start with a single Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball."[1]


    The original Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball was a hidden metal weapon with extraordinary power. But with Wu Bingji''s Ice Nymph Transformation, Tang San devised a way to use the ice element instead. With that, the technique would be even more powerful and effective.


    "First, you need to condense ice needles and prepare them for the two-stage eleration. Initially, you can start with two ice needles and wrap them in an ice shell that you throw at the target. The shell will explode on contact, or you can detonate it yourself. However, if the explosion crushes the ice needles, it��s all useless. You have to make it so it pushes the needles forward, so the way you condense this shell is the most important thing. Then, the needles get a second burst of speed in midair, so the opponent will find it very difficult to dodge them. And finally, when the needles hit the target, you can make them explode."


    Listening to his theories, Wu Bingji was dumbfounded. "Can I really do something like that now? Wait, you��re able to do it using the wind element, right?"


    Tang San shrugged. "Well, that was just an imitation. I can��t <i>really</i> do it. Not yet, anyway. I��ll be able to do the proper technique when I reach the god level, probably. The wind element is too wild, so it��s hard to maintain stability. But the ice element is much more stable. I think you can do it now."


    Wu Bingji didn��t even know if he was supposed tough or cry. "What the hell now.... It took me so long even just to learn how to do that two-step eleration thing, and now you want me to add all this stuff? Is it even something I can control?"


    Tang San smiled and said, "If it was easy, everybody would do it. This is definitely one of the best hidden weapon techniques, so of course it��s challenging. So, let''s take it gradually, step by step. When you can put a few hundreds of ice needles within one cluster, it means you��ve mastered it.


    "Let me first teach you how to create the shell. You can start by clustering a small number of icicles, without the second eleration stage. Actually, the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball is meant to beunched in pairs. A single one won��t work if the target dodges and you can��t detonate it in time, it won��t work. With two, you can use the Moon-Chasing Meteor technique or Dragons ying with Pearl to make them collide independently."


    "Wait, what''s this about meteors and dragons again? I''m getting a bit dizzy," Wu Bingji said helplessly.


    "Take it slow. We''ll go step by step. I''ll first teach you how to refine the Ice Cluster, and you can start by mastering that," Tang San said and then began to exin the method of creating the ice cluster to Wu Bingji.


    Although Wu Bingji felt that the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball was a massive challenge, he listened very attentively. Slowly, without even realizing it, he entered a state ofprehension. By the time he understood the principles, Tang San had already left.


    However, Tang San did not leave the academy directly but went to look for his senior brothers and sisters.


    He had indeed been here a lot less recently, and since he��d just met his eldest senior brother anyway, he took the opportunity to check on the others'' cultivation progress.


    "Senior brother Du Bai," Tang San first went to Du Bai''s room.


    "Eh, Little Tang, you''re back? I haven��t seen you aroundtely." When Du Bai opened the door and saw him, he immediately hugged him.


    Tang San followed him into the room and closed the door.


    "How''s it going?" Tang San asked with a smile.


    Du Bai said excitedly, "The Purple Sun Fruit is amazing! My spiritual power has nowpletely liquified, and my entire sea of consciousness has expanded. Recently, my spiritual power has increased a lot, and it��s increasing so much every day that I can��t even believe it. Also... I can feel that my bloodline power is changing. It''s as if the spiritual power can filter my bloodline power and make it purer."


    Tang San nodded and said, "That''s the benefit of improving your spiritual power. Do you feel like you''re about to break through to the fifth order?"


    "Not yet. I''ve only eaten one Purple Sun Fruit. After I eat another one, I think I should have a good chance."


    Tang San''s eyes brightened, "That''s great. I��m looking forward to your breakthrough! Activate your Purple Demon Eyes, and let me see the strength of your spiritual power now."


    "Okay."


    Du Bai turned around, facing Tang San. His eyes instantly turned purple, and two streaks of purple lightning-like rays shed from his eyes.


    The almost-tangible purple light shot out more than a foot, cohesive and undispersed, almost inducing Tang San''s Discerning Eye of Heaven to activate on its own due to the strong spiritual fluctuations.


    As the light receded, Du Bai, brimming with joy, turned to Tang San. "How is it? How is it?"


    Tang San gave him a thumbs up. "Very good. In terms of spiritual power, you''re alreadyparable to an ordinary seventh-order demon. Once your Celestial Fox Vision breaks through to the fifth order, I think you��ll get another boost in spiritual power."


    <i>Damn, this is a top-tier bloodline for you! He��s just at the fourth order, yet his spiritual power has reached the seventh order.</i> Tang San��s own spiritual power was greater, of course, but Du Bai didn��t have the advantage of a divine consciousness nurturing it, so the development of his spiritual power to this extent had to be strictly rted to his Celestial Fox bloodline.


    "I''m getting more and more confident. And I think the greatest luck the Celestial Fox Vision has granted me is bringing you to my side! Hahaha!"


    Since the Celestial Fox Vision began to improve, the gloom in Du Bai''s heart gradually dissipated. Just at the fourth order of the Celestial Fox Vision, it already yed a significant role; naturally, it would only have a greater effect once it reached the fifth order.


    Tang San said, "No, meeting you all is my luck."


    Following Tang San��s cultivation method, Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision should have the opportunity to advance to the sixth order. However, the threshold from the sixth to the seventh order could not be driven solely by spiritual power.


    His spiritual power should reach the ninth order when he reached the sixth order. However, spiritual power alone couldn''t reach the higher level of divine consciousness. Thus, when his spiritual power hit that bottleneck, in order to continue enhancing the Celestial Fox Vision, he could only do his best to evolve his bloodline.


    This was a troublesome issue. It would only be possible if he could hunt a high-order member of the Celestial Foxes and use its blood. But the Celestial Foxes were children of fortune. Putting aside high-order members, even low-order members were ridiculously difficult to hunt.


    This was a major problem. He could only see if the Redemption Society could find a way to collect blood from the Celestial Foxes.


    Of course, he wouldn''t tell Du Bai these things now. For now, he had provided Du Bai with as many as five Purple Sun Fruits. If two could stimte him to advance to the fifth order of the Celestial Fox Vision, the other three were likely to bring him close to the sixth order, if not all the way across the threshold.


    Tang San wanted to break through to the seventh order after bringing all his Demonic God Transformations to the peak of the sixth order, so they could break through together. The possibility for the Discerning Eye of Heaven to break through seemed slim, but the other ones had a good chance.


    He had already prepared to rece the Leopard sh, and what to rece it with was unquestionable. The Peacock Demon would grant him the power to control space, not to mention that it was a far higher-tier bloodline than that of the sh Leopards.


    1. In the raws here, Tang San talks as if this is something entirely new, but the technique has already been mentioned in chapters 146-147, where he tells Wu Bingji that he must learn the ice needles and whatnot in preparation for learning this exact technique. He also demonstrates the technique, so this part has been amended to reflect that. ?

 Chapter 223: Mei Gongzi & Milk Tea

    <h4>Chapter 223: Mei Gongzi & Milk Tea</h4>


    Mei Gongzi was now at the seventh order, and it should be rtively easy for Tang San to siphon some bloodline power from his future wife. After all, he would have plenty of opportunities to do so while apanying Mei Gongzi on missions.


    The Blue Silver Emperor could also be elevated to the seventh order without issue. As for the others, the Discerning Eye of Heaven only needed to reach the fifth order. It would take it too long to reach the sixth order, and he needed to enhance his overall strength now, so he could only pursue thatter.


    Gu Li��s Chrono Croc Transformation was close enough to reaching the sixth order, as was the Golden Roc Transformation. Once Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng broke through to the sixth order, Tang San could prepare to make his breakthrough as well.


    Among his six Demonic God Transformations, the core was the Discerning Eye of Heaven, while the least important was the Leopard sh. He nned to rece Leopard sh with the Peacock Transformation, as the Peacock Demon n had a far superior bloodline. As for the Wind Tiger Transformation, he would not rece it for now, as it served to conceal his identity.


    Among the six Demonic God Transformations, three would reach a level where they could break through to the seventh order directly, two would be at the sixth order, and one at the fifth. At that point, he would be ready for an overall breakthrough to the seventh order.


    After bidding farewell to Du Bai, Tang San visited Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng in session. To his great surprise, Cheng Zicheng had alreadypleted her breakthrough to the sixth order, and the power of her Golden Roc Transformation had greatly increased. Gu Li was also not far from reaching the sixth order. Thanks to the effect of the Purple Sun Fruit, his spiritual power had elerated, allowing his understanding of the Chrono Croc Transformation to deepen significantly. When Du Bai broke into the fifth order, he would also have the opportunity to break through to the sixth order.


    After visiting his senior brothers and sisters, Tang San returned to Kali Academy under the cover of night, entering the academy''s store to continue his cultivation as usual.


    Two dayster, when Tang San returned to the pool beside the Kali Mountain Range, his eyes immediately shone with surprise.


    From afar, he could sense the changes in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The gentle spiritual energy was omnipresent in the air, but it slowly converged in one direction.


    Beside the pool, the Crimson Fox girls were meditating in a circle around it, and Zhang Haoxuan was also there sitting in meditation.


    The Golden Wood inserted in the Spirit Summoning Array seemed unchanged at a nce, but when Tang San looked closer, he could see that a subtle aura of life energy emanated from it.


    Thanks to the abilities of the Blue Silver Emperor, Tang San had the clearest perception of this. This aura was life force, and the fact that it radiated life force meant that these Golden Wood had actually taken root. His Spirit Summoning Array was quite effective.


    Of course, this was possible thanks to being on the Daemon Continent, where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was vibrant, especially within the Kali Mountain Range. The spiritual energy gathered by the Spirit Summoning Array naturally integrated with and sped up the growth of the Golden Wood. Even a few roots signified an early awakening for the Golden Wood, which showed that it would grow immensely in the future.


    Zhang Haoxuan opened his eyes and looked at Tang San with a somewhat unusual gaze.


    "Master," Tang San quickly approached him, respectfully saluting.


    "Amazing, truly amazing!" Zhang Haoxuan eximed.


    Over the past two days, he had been observing the operation of the Spirit Summoning Array. The more he observed, the more he became fascinated by it. This array with several interlockingyersmunicated with heaven and earth on its own, drawing in the spiritual energy and focusing it onto the Golden Wood.


    Within a few days, the rate of spiritual energy convergence had increased significantly, and he could also feel some changes in the Golden Wood.


    As the focal point of the array, the evolution of the Golden Wood would enhance the effect of the Spirit Summoning Array, which in turn would "fertilize" the wood and allow it to grow faster. This was simply marvelous.


    Tang San handed over the array diagram to Zhang Haoxuan.


    "Honestly, I''m not even sure if I should ept this diagram from you. It would be hard for the organization to find something worthy to exchange for it," Zhang Haoxuan said with a wry smile.


    Tang San smiled. "I didn''t intend to ask for anything in return."


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head, "That won''t do. This array is too precious. I can assure you that even the Ancestral Court might not have such an exquisite array. What do you want in exchange?"


    "If I have to choose something, I would like high-order Celestial Fox blood for senior brother Du Bai. Given his bloodline strength, the sixth order might be his limit. To advance further, he would need higher bloodline purity."


    "For Du Bai? But what about you..."


    Tang San smiled. "Heh, whether Du Bai gets it or I do, what��s the difference?"


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head with a bitter smile. "The blood of the Celestial Fox is probably the most precious among all demons. It''s almost impossible to obtain. The Celestial Foxes are very few in numbers, and they value their bloodline far more than you can imagine."


    "No rush. After all, Du Bai will take some time to reach the sixth order. Just mention it to the organization for now. If there''s a chance, give it a try."


    Zhang Haoxuan responded, "Okay, I''ll try itter. Exin the array to me. I��ll stay here with the diagram for the time being and try to learn the Spirit Summoning Array. Meanwhile, I''ll also watch the Golden Wood for you. These little girls are very obedient, they��re doing nothing but meditating except for eating and sleeping. I hope this Golden Wood can really help them evolve and be a support for you in the future."


    "Hmm..." Tang San thought that if he managed to train them, the only way to deal with them would be to send them to Mei Gongzi. Otherwise, if she saw that he had so many girls around him, and they were from the fox n, he could dere his pursuit of a wife a failure.


    ***


    Cultivation and sweeping, once again, became Tang San''s daily routine. After careful consideration, he also consumed the second Purple Sun Fruit. The effect was not as good as the first one, but it also brought his spiritual power closer to perfection.


    The greater his spiritual power, the better the nourishment for his divine consciousness. This was what he needed the most.


    In a blink of an eye, another two weeks passed.


    That evening, after finishing his day''s cleaning tasks, Tang San was preparing to report back to Old Mao when he saw Mei Gongziing out of the main school building.


    He had been seeing her regrly recently, every two or three days, but Mei Gongzi had not spoken to him or sought him out again, treating him as if he were a stranger.


    Tang San wasn''t ufortable with this; he understood that Mei Gongzi didn''t want to get too close to him to avoid causing him trouble. She wanted him to be able to grow without being noticed.


    Yet, when he saw Mei Gongzi today, he noticed she was holding a cup of milk tea.


    <i>Is it finally time?</i>


    Tang San silently returned to the school workers'' cottage, greeted Old Mao, and left his broom.


    Mei Gongzi, holding the milk tea, walked out of the Kali Academy gate and stood on one side, silently drinking her tea, her gaze randomly scanning the surroundings.


    It had been nearly twenty days since thest incident. The Titan Bear she had killed was the eldest son of the Titan Bear King. Naturally, after learning of this, the Titan Bear King had flown into a rage, causing amotion in Kali City for several days, searching everywhere for the murderer.


    The wounds on his son��s body showed w marks... <i>tiger</i> w marks. Given the Titan Bear''s defensive strength, there were naturally not many kinds of tiger demons capable of breaching the Titan Bear''s hide, much less its energy shield.


    Additionally, there were wounds on its back clearly caused by some kind of arrows or bolts, and upon analysis, it was also clear that the Titan Bear had been poisoned. In other words, it was an ambush.


    The murder of the Titan Bear King''s son in his own home greatly enraged and shocked the nobility of Kali City. For the past twenty days, there had been a thorough manhunt within the city. The tiger demon nobles, in particr, were put in a very precarious position.


    The tiger demons did not have a strong branch in Kali City, but they were one of the top-tier races among all demon races. After all, the tiger had always been known as the king of beasts. This incident even rmed the main lineage of the tiger demons, the Golden Tiger n, whose leader ordered a thorough investigation in another central city.


    The result of the thorough investigation, naturally, yielded no results.


    If Tang San had been aware of this information��obviously not publicized since it pertained to high-rank demon nobility, he could have easily deduced that the other one of Mei Gongzi''s Demonic God Transformations came from a tiger demon bloodline.

 Chapter 224: Making Plans

    <h4>Chapter 224: Making ns</h4>


    Suddenly, Mei Gongzi heard a faint voice in her ear. "Walk into the woods and go to the right."


    Her heart stirred, and holding her milk tea, she followed the instructions.


    In the forest, Asura stood d in ck, silently watching her.


    <i>He really came.</i> Curiosity flickered in Mei Gongzi''s heart. <i>How did he even know I was there holding the milk tea? Wait, does this mean hees here every evening?</i>


    "Let''s talk at your small inn. We''ll go separately." With these words, Asura turned and activated Leopard sh, disappearing swiftly.


    Mei Gongzi watched his departing figure for a moment, then returned to the main road and hurried on.


    Asura emerged from a dark corner just as she reached the small inn next to Kali za. Without a word, he followed her into the inn.


    They entered the room Mei Gongzi had once taken Tang San into and closed the door.


    "Have you been following me all this time?" Mei Gongzi''s gaze suddenly sharpened.


    "Do you not trust me?" Asura retorted.


    Their eyes met, and Mei Gongzi''s brow furrowed.


    Considering Asura''s previous actions, he seemed to be on her side. But what was the purpose of this stranger? If it weren''t for the fact that he was human, Mei Gongzi would have long since taken action against him, especially after he discovered her secretst time.


    Asura asked, "What''s the n this time?"


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath, suppressing the doubts in her heart, "The target is the Wind Wolf King. Peak ninth-order. There are no god-level Wind Wolves in Kali City right now, that''s confirmed."


    The Wind Wolves? Hearing this name, a slight tremor ran through Asura''s heart, for it was this exact demon n that he originally belonged to. He harbored a deep hatred for the Wind Wolves, as his mother in this world had perished at their hands. And back then, he was utterly powerless. He was bound to visit the Wind Wolves someday, and the priest from the Wind Wolf Town topped his kill list.


    "Good! Do you have a map?" Asura asked.


    "Yes." Mei Gongzi took out a leather map scroll and spread it on the table.


    "The Wind Wolves'' residence is nearby. Apart from the elder stationed at the Ancestral Court, there are no other god-level powerhouses in the entire n. Recently, they''ve frequently shed with the sh Leopard n, so targeting them would not easily reveal our identities."


    Asura looked at the map as Mei Gongzi spoke. "The day after tomorrow is the annual sacrificial ceremony of the Wind Wolves. They use human ves for blood sacrifices to their ancestors. The ceremony will be held at the altar behind their ancestral residence. The king and many Wind Wolf leaders will participate. That time is when the strongest members are at the ancestral residence. But ording to the Wind Wolves'' customs, there will be a celebratory feast after the sacrifice. I n to act at night, after that feast."


    Asura looked at the map, nodded, and said, "It''s a good idea. That is when they are most rxed, and many strong ones are present. Are you confident?"


    Mei Gongzi replied, "Stealth is one of my strongest points. I''ll find the right opportunity, strike urately, and immediately flee far away."


    The corner of Asura''s mouth twitched. "Just like that?"


    "What else?" Mei Gongzi looked at him. She had done the same thingst time and had indeed seeded. Of course, Asura had assisted her, but she hadn''t known that then and was confident in her skills.


    "Is that true stealth, though?" Asura said. "Whether sessful or not, the target shouldn''t discover you before, during, or after. Think of yourst attack on the Titan Bear leader, the fact that he was allowed to roar caused all our troubles. Otherwise, you could have assassinated him without anyone noticing, calmly destroyed all traces, and escaped without leaving any clues."


    "How is that possible?" Mei Gongzi frowned.


    The corner of Asura''s mouth twitched again. "Indeed, you��re still a young girl!"


    "What did you say?" Mei Gongzi''s brows shot up, her beautiful eyes widening.


    "<i>Cough</i>, nothing, nothing! I have a better way; would you like to hear it?" Asura quickly added.


    "Speak," Mei Gongzi said indifferently.


    "The feast will involve eating and drinking. We can start from there," Asura suggested. "If we can make them fall into a deep sleep, wouldn''t it make executing the n much easier?"


    "Are you suggesting poisoning?" Mei Gongzi was stunned. "How is that possible? Powerful demons have strong resistance to poison. They simply can''t be poisoned."


    "They can��t be poisoned by <i>ordinary</i> poisons. What we''ll use is not ordinary," Asura said calmly.


    Hearing these words, a chill rose from Mei Gongzi''s heart for some reason.


    "Define ''not ordinary,''" Mei Gongzi said.


    "How about we make a bet?" Asura proposed. "If I seed this time, then you''ll have to trust me in the future and stop being on guard all the time. How about it? Consider this my pledge of loyalty."


    "What do you mean by ''pledge of loyalty''?" Mei Gongzi asked, puzzled.


    "...A pledge of loyalty is like, when everyone is doing bad things together, I take the initiative to do something bad. You''ve tied me to your chariot and got something on me."


    "I haven''t done anything bad!" Mei Gongzi said coldly.


    "Right, right, no bad deeds. But we''re partners who act together, and partners should trust each other. Consider this as my way of gaining your trust." Asura sounded somewhat helpless; he could sense Mei Gongzi''s wariness towards him. This was even more pronounced than when she was around his true self, with whom she was clearly more rxed.


    "So, what''s your n of action?" Mei Gongzi inquired.


    "Poison the alcohol. The strong vor of the drinks can easily mask the taste of the poison. I''ll add something to the poison so it only takes effect veryte, once they''ve already consumed a lot of it, and its effects are longsting. We can''t use actual deadly poisons, those are too easy to detect, but using a sleeping drug shouldn��t be a problem. Once everybody is asleep, you can do whatever you want... and kill whoever you want."


    Mei Gongzi looked at him intently, "Then let''s try your method."


    "If this is sessful, you can be less guarded against me in the future," Asura said. "I''ll prove to you through my actions that I am a reliable partner."


    "Hmm," Mei Gongzi responded softly.


    "I''ll go first. I''ll go back and n in detail; let me borrow the map. We''ll meet here again the afternoon after next. We''ll start our action before evening."


    "Okay."


    Asura rolled up the map and left quickly. Mei Gongzi sat alone in the room, contemting the exchange she had just had with this mysterious individual.


    For her, Asura had be even more mysterious. He clearly had more than one Demonic God Transformation, and he used them effortlessly; she couldn''t see through his actual strength, as he had never fought at full power in front of her. However, he gave her a sense of danger, so he was definitely powerful . More importantly, the Godly Zhuge Crossbow that Asura had given her was incredibly useful. The array inscribed on it was ridiculouslyplex; she had tried to replicate it but failed.


    If it weren''t for the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, she couldn''t have killed the Titan Bearst time. And now he mentioned making poison; what exactly was it that he couldn''t do?


    From Asura''s somewhat helpless tone, she could feel no malice toward her. In addition, he seemed to know a couple of things about her. Could it be that the higher-ups of the Redemption Society had sent him? For a human of his strength, this was the only exnation that made sense. But he didn''t admit to being a member of the Redemption Society, which was very strange.

 Chapter 225: Mei Gongzi Is Resilient

    <h4>Chapter 225: Mei Gongzi Is Resilient</h4>


    Mei Gongzi looked at the figure before her, thinking that if Asura was truly the valuable ally he made himself to be, her ns would be much easier to execute.


    Recently, her cultivation had hit a bottleneck. After breaking through to the seventh order and undergoing a qualitative change, her progress was now hindered by the concentration of her bloodline power. Even with the support of numerous treasure nts and the likes, it had slowed significantly.


    She left the small inn and headed straight for the milk tea shop in Kali Square.


    The milk tea shop wasn''t bustling, with only Su Qin busily at work.


    "Mom," Mei Gongzi called out. Her eyes softened and her tone turned tender and slightly yful.


    "Back already? Come in," Su Qin beckoned to her.


    Mei Gongzi entered the shop from the side and casually picked up a cup of milk tea to drink, but Su Qin snatched it away, saying, "Drink less milk tea. Too much isn''t good for your health."


    "Okay," Mei Gongzi replied obediently, showing no trace of her identity as a nocturnal assassin in front of her mother.


    "Is Little Ling resting?" she inquired.


    "Yes. It hasn��t been all that busy these past few days, so I let her rest," Su Qin replied with a smile.


    "He showed up," Mei Gongzi said softly.


    A glint appeared in Su Qin''s eyes. "Asura?"


    "Yes," Mei Gongzi nodded and quietly recounted the previous events.


    Su Qin''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm... Do you think he can be trusted?"


    Mei Gongzi replied, "At least up to now, he has always been helping me, and I hope I can trust him."


    ��I have already asked the higher-ups about this person''s information but haven''t received a reply yet. But the mayor said that he can be trusted, right?�� Su Qin said.


    ��Yes. The mayor said so. Otherwise, I would have done something about him long ago. Mom, my cultivation has been incredibly slow recently. What should I do?�� Mei Gongzi frowned, evidently distressed.


    Su Qin said softly, ��This is normal. Once cultivation reaches the seventh order, it will slow down regardless of the bloodline. Moreover, you have a dual bloodline, so slowing down is normal. Has Wang Qing been looking for you recently?��


    ��Yes, he has approached me twice, asking about my progress. He seemed a bit anxious about thest auction. The Ancestral Court will probably not let it go... and neither will the new emperor.��


    Su Qin said gravely, ��This could be a huge crisis we are about to face, but at the same time, it''s an opportunity. Continue with the n for now. I will help you check on this Asura and see if he can be trusted.��


    ��Okay.�� Mei Gongzi nodded.


    Su Qin stretched her hand to pull her daughter into her arms and sighed softly. ��You''re not even fourteen years old, but you''ve already shouldered so much responsibility. Unfortunately, child, in this world, there is no ce for us to live freely. If we don''t struggle and go against the tide, we can only be ves. You are the hope of humanity, so you must bear this heavy burden. I will always be by your side, I��ll always protect you.��


    Mei Gongzi lifted her head to look at her mother, her smile radiant like flowers. ��Mom, I understand. You don''t need to worry about me. I am strong.��


    Looking at her daughter''s smile, Su Qin''s eyes turned somewhat red.


    Asura did not return to Kali Academy; instead, he transformed back into Tang San on the way and went directly to the Redemption Society Academy.


    The Wind Wolf n was a ce of profound memories for him, and the ancestral home of the Wind Wolf n was one ce he had to visit one way or another. He wondered if the old priest from Wind Wolf Town was in the ancestral home; if so, that would be ideal.


    It could be said that all his negative emotions toward the demon races originally stemmed from the Wind Wolf n.


    Thanks to his first life as an apprentice of the Tang Sect, as well as founding a new Tang Sect himself in his second life, hidden weapons and unique skills rted to them were not the only thing he knew; another major category he excelled at was poison.


    Aftering to this world, and especially after gaining ess to the shop of Kali Academy, Tang San was able to study in detail many rare treasure nts, and he had a good grasp of their properties.


    The nts and poisons in this world were naturally different from his previous life, but many of the basic principles were the same. For him, a veritable poison grandmaster, concocting poisons was extremely easy, even easier than inscribing arrays.


    After returning to his room and studying the map of the Wind Wolf n''s ancestral home, Tang San left his room and went to the Redemption Academy''s small shop.


    It was already past dinner time, and as soon as he entered, Tang San saw Mu Yunyu sitting inside, fiddling with something.


    "Sister Yu," Tang San greeted with a beaming smile.


    "Whoa, who is this? Isn''t this our busy little Tang San? It''s been a long time!" Mu Yunyu said, somewhat disgruntled.


    Indeed, she hadn''t seen Tang San much at all recently, let alone in ss. Although the mayor had spoken to them, the teachers were all still very concerned about Tang San. Since he teamed up with Wu Bingji, Du Bai, Cheng Zicheng, and Gu Li, their strength had elerated, now surpassing other students in the academy.


    The teachers were naturally curious about this. Some even wondered if they were the teachers or if this neer was the real teacher.


    The outdoors training expeditions of the Redemption Academy had be the norm, and indeed, the results were quite good, especially in terms of wilderness survival and practicalbat.


    Tang San was unfazed by Mu Yunyu''s attitude and walked in with a smile. "Sister Yu, I''m here to buy some things."


    Mu Yunyu looked him up and down, her eyes showing a hint of confusion. She noticed that Tang San''s energy fluctuations were very calm, almost like those of an ordinary person. Of course, there was no way he was a normal person; this feeling meant that she simply could not see through him.


    "What''s your current strength?" Mu Yunyu blurted out.


    Tang San replied, "Sixth order."


    Mu Yunyu''s mouth twitched. She remembered that Tang San had been only at the fourth order when he arrived. How long had it been? And now he was already at the sixth order?


    "That fast?"


    "My master taught me well," Tang San said with a smile.


    "So, we didn''t teach you well?" Mu Yunyu snorted.


    Tang San looked her up and down and said, "Sister Yu, have you recently encountered a bottleneck in your cultivation? Is it difficult to break through?"


    Mu Yunyu was startled. "How did you know?"


    Tang San exined, "I sensed that your bloodline energy is powerful, but there''s a blockage at your heart meridian. It seems like an injury, as if you tried to break through a bottleneck and failed."


    The surprise in Mu Yunyu''s eyes deepened. She had been at the seventh order for a long time and had already reached the peak of the seventh order. She had recently tried to break through to the eighth order but failed. Indeed, she had suffered a bacsh and only stabilized her injury with the help of several teachers. Now, she no longer dared to rush the process.


    The question was, how had Tang San figured it out?


    Tang San asked, "May I take your pulse?"


    "Sure." Mu Yunyu, being straightforward by nature, didn''t mind and extended her right hand to Tang San.


    Tang San held her wrist, silently feeling her bloodline energy fluctuations. At the same time, he activated his Mysterious Heaven Technique, letting his energy flow inside her and conducting a more detailed examination of her meridians.


    Mu Yunyu felt a warm, indescribablyfortable energy from Tang San''s hand circting in her body, noticeably alleviating the difort in her chest.


    "Thank you." Mu Yunyu''s attitude towards him softened noticeably.


    Tang San asked, "Sister Yu, when you usually cultivate, do you find it difficult when the bloodline power circtes to your lower abdomen?"


    Mu Yunyu nodded. "I was injured there when I was young."

 Chapter 226: Poisoning

    <h4>Chapter 226: Poisoning</h4>


    "The thing is, because of that injury, the flow of energy is blocked. You tried to solve this by cultivating more, but your hidden injury has never healed, and when you force it, like during a breakthrough, it causes problems. You can''t keep pushing your cultivation higher until this issue is resolved."


    Mu Yunyu suddenly became anxious. "What should I do then?"


    Tang San said, "The meridians affected by the old injury need to be nourished with warmth. Using fire-attribute bloodline energy is the best way to do it. It will get rid of the cold energy from the old injury and warm up your meridians. Once the stagnating bloodline energy starts moving properly, there will be no problem. I think my master is the most suitable to help you."


    Mu Yunyu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I see. Then I''ll ask the mayor for helpter. How do you know so much at such a young age?"


    Tang San smiled and replied, "Naturally, I was taught by Mayor Zhang.��


    <i>Heh, when you know too much, you have to let your teachers take some credit.</i>


    "Anyway, sister Yu, I would like to buy some herbs," Tang San said.


    "Mmm, choose them yourself."


    Tang San entered the store, picked out several herbs he had already decided on, paid for them, bid farewell to Mu Yunyu, and returned to his room to prepare his medicine.


    Using his Heavenly Fire Essence Iron for heating couldn''t be more convenient. And thus, Tang San began preparing the medicines of his previous lives�� Tang Sect for the first time since arriving in this world.


    Two days passed in the blink of an eye.


    After school, in the afternoon, Mei Gongzi returned to Kali Square. She had made all sorts of preparations. For her, Asura��s n was just a part of hers. If Asura failed, she would proceed with her own n.


    Whether it was the assassination of the leader of the Titan Bears or the attempt she was about to make on the Wind Wolf King, the reason was twofold. One was that these old nobles of Kali City supported the orthodox line of the Peacock Demon n, which hindered her most crucial n of inheriting the title of Demon King. The other reason was that these demon ns she attacked were consistentlymitting crimes against humans.


    Mei Gongzi''s second type of bloodline cultivation required the umtion of a murderous aura. Killing strong opponents, especially those above her level, was most beneficial for stimting her bloodline and enhancing her cultivation.


    She was not disappointed. Upon arriving at the entrance of the small inn, she spotted a familiar figure in the corner where she had seen himst time.


    The two entered the inn one after the other and arrived at the room they met in previously.


    Asura followed her into the room. This was his third visit, so he was familiar with the ce. s, his purpose here was not for a date; if it were, how wonderful that would be!


    He took out the map and handed it to Mei Gongzi.


    "Are you ready?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Asura nodded and said, "Yes, I am. We''ll start the operation shortly. You''ll hide at this location in the ancestral home." He spread out the map and pointed at a spot on it.


    "What can I do in the front yard?" Mei Gongzi asked, puzzled.


    Asura replied, "You don''t need to do anything. Just wait for my message. I''ll let you know if I run into trouble and need your assistance."


    Seeing the distrust in Mei Gongzi''s eyes, Asura said helplessly, "Trust me this once, and I''ll prove it with my actions."


    "Alright," Mei Gongzi nodded.


    Asura opened the window, looking at the sky, "Their sacrificial ceremony is at the moment the sun sets, right?" The time of the ceremony for the same n wouldn''t change easily.


    "Yes."


    "As the sun begins to set, we will begin," Asura took a deep breath and said.


    The bright sky gradually darkened as the sun slowly set in the west, the remnants of the sun blood-red. It was as if it echoed the blood sacrifice that was about to begin.


    Asura and Mei Gongzi were both silent. They knew they couldn''t stop the blood sacrifice without exposing themselves, which would ruin their n. All they could do was to avenge their kin.


    Asura clenched his fist subconsciously, involuntarily thinking back to that day when Wang Yanfeng had blocked his view, sparing him from witnessing the most brutal moment. It was on that day that his second goal in this world was set.


    "Let''s go," Asura whispered. In the next instant, he had already passed through the window, his figure flickering and vanishing into thin air.


    Mei Gongzi watched his departing figure for a moment. Her body shimmered with silver light, and then she, too, disappeared without a trace.


    The ancestral home of the Wind Wolf n was evenrger than the Titan Bears��. After all, this was the heart of the Wind Wolf n.


    Asura climbed up to the rooftop of the front yard from the side. From the backyard, regr roars and howls of wolves could be heard. Without a doubt, the sacrifice had already begun. Observing through the Discerning Eye of Heaven, he could see a faint blood glow emanating from the backyard.


    Asura''s figure flickered as he used Leopard sh to move inward. As it was an important day for the ceremony, the entire ancestral home of the Wind Wolf n was heavily guarded, with sentries every few steps.


    However, a closer look would reveal that almost none of the sentry Wind Wolves had a cultivation higher than the fifth order. The higher-order Wind Wolves were likely in the backyard, attending the grand sacrificial ceremony��the most important ritual of the Wind Wolf n each year.


    Theyout of the Wind Wolf n''s ancestral home was by now deeply imprinted in Tang San''s mind. Using Leopard sh and whatever hideouts he could find, he stealthily approached the central courtyard and soon arrived at the kitchen area.


    He quietly lifted a tile above the kitchen and looked down. Inside were all members of the pig demon vassal n, all busy with work, and not a human vassal in sight. The aroma of meat mixed with steam wafted upwards.


    The kitchen wasrge, with at least fifty pig demons hard at work preparing food for the celebration that was toe after the sacrifice.


    Using the Discerning Eye of Heaven, Tang San''s vision pierced through the steam, scanning the inside of the kitchen. Quickly, his gaze locked onto rows ofrge vats on the west side. The elemental fluctuations emanating from these vats indicated they contained not water but wine.


    In addition to the water element, these wine vats also emanated vague fire element fluctuation, a very distinct characteristic.


    Outside the kitchen, two fourth-order Wind Wolves stood guard. Naturally, Tang San had no intention of entering through the main door; instead, he carefully lifted more tiles. The steam from therge pots of meat cooking inside the kitchen obscured him from view, and as it was already evening, the pig demons below noticed nothing.


    Tang San slipped in, silentlynded on the beams, and used his Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to move along the beams without risking a slip-up. He crawled along the beams toward the west side, near the wine vats.


    The pig demons below were all busy and sweating profusely. For them, failing to prepare the food today meant bing the food tomorrow, so they did not dare to ck off.


    Activating Leopard sh, Tang San descended, coiled up in a corner, and remained motionless.


    Time passed in the wait. The sky outside gradually came toplete darkness.


    Suddenly, the kitchen door was flung open.


    "The celebration begins. Bring out the wine and meat," a wolf demon shouted from the doorway.


    "Alright, alright!" the leading pig demon in the kitchen quickly responded.


    They didn''t know that while all the pig demons'' attention was drawn to the doorway, a figure was rapidly flickering in front of the wine vats on the west side.


    Tang San swiftly poured the pre-prepared packets of medicine into the wine vats. The vats were only covered with simple lids, which he could manipte easily with Leopard sh and Controlling Crane. He added the medicine to dozens of vats in just a few seconds.


    With one final Leopard sh, Tang San passed directly through the roof tiles,nding on the kitchen roof.


    The continuous high-intensity use of Leopard sh left him slightly breathless, but his objective had been achieved.


    Carefully restoring the tiles to their original ce, Tang Sany prone on the kitchen roof, his gaze sweeping toward the backyard of the ancestral home.

 Chapter 227: Revenge

    <h4>Chapter 227: Revenge</h4>


    Intense fluctuations of vital energy were evident on that side, whererge tables had been set up for the strong leaders of the Wind Wolves.


    Tang San silently concealed his aura, making not the slightest sound. He continued to wait.


    The pig demons were busily carrying out pots of meat and sending them to the backyard, followed by jars of strong liquor.


    Having lived in the Wind Wolf n''s small town, Tang San was well aware of how fond these demons were of drinking. Thus, today''s n came naturally.


    The party became noticeably noisier; they were celebrating the most important day of the year, after all.


    Over a hundred tables filled the spacious backyard. Not far off, an altar held thirty-six corpses from which blood continuously dripped, flowing and soaking into the patterns on the altar''s surface, emitting a thick, metallic scent.


    This scent of blood not only didn��t disturb the party, but it even made the eyes of the Wind Wolves shine with a bloodthirsty light, almost as if they couldn''t wait to tear into those corpses.


    The tall and burly Wind Wolf King sat at the main table, which could amodate thirty. He had a humanoid body and a massive wolf head. From his forehead, clusters of cyan fur extended toward his back, showcasing the purity of his bloodline.


    Should he break through to the god level, the Wind Wolf King''s cyan fur would gain a hint of gold, indicating that his bloodline had reached a higher tier.


    However, for a bloodline like the Wind Wolves��, breaking through to the god level was not easy. The n''s Grand Elder was the only one who had reached this step and was now serving at the Ancestral Court.


    "Sit down, everyone. If you get this excited just from a little blood, what good are you?" the Wind Wolf King angrily rebuked his nsmen. They were constantly howling toward the altar where the bodiesy.


    Only then did the strong members of the Wind Wolf n quiet down and take their seats. The tables were alreadyden with steaming meat and only meat. Some Wind Wolves couldn''t wait and started grabbing and tearing into the meat.


    The Wind Wolf King frowned slightly, deeply dissatisfied with the situation. The Wind Wolves had always been a third-rate n, due to their fourth-tier bloodline, and since bing the Wind Wolf King, he had always wanted to lead the n to greater heights. However, due to their poor foundation, they could not even suppress the sh Leopard n.


    The Wind Wolf King let out a howl, grabbed the cup before him, and downed it in one gloomy gulp. "Eat, drink!"


    At a table not far from the main one sat a group of Wind Wolf demons who appeared much calmer than the strongmen of the Wind Wolf n. They were on the slimmer side, wore ornate robes unlike the attire of ordinary Wind Wolf demons, and held staves. These were the priests of the n.


    The wolf demons were primarily split into two branches: the War Wolves and the Wolf Priests, with the Wolf Priests holding a higher status. The position of Wind Wolf King was traditionally held by someone from the War Wolves branch, while the Grand Elder was chosen from the Wind Wolf Priests. This arrangement was not just within the Wind Wolf n, but almost universal among the wolf demons.


    The current Wind Wolf King was naturally also a War Wolf, just like his predecessors. However, he was one of the few with exceptionally high spiritual intelligence within the War Wolves, which was what had allowed him to cultivate to the peak of the ninth order. Unfortunately, he was well aware that breaking through to the god level was extremely difficult, possible only with unique opportunities, such as obtaining the blood of the Golden Wolf King. Of course, this was easier said than done.


    After that major battle with the sh Leopard n a while back, the upper echelons of the wolf ns reprimanded him. Were it not for the support of the high nobility of Kali City, his position as the Wind Wolf King would have been unstable. Despite harboring resentment toward the sh Leopard lineage, he dared not take further action, which was one of the sources of his ongoing displeasure.


    At this moment, seeing the Wind Wolf Kingmence, the wolf demons at each table began to feast with gusto. The aroma of meat and wine and the shouts of the wolf demons spread throughout the backyard.


    The wolf demons who could sit at the main table were all at least at the eighth order, with a few even at the ninth order.


    "Big brother, when will we take on those bastards from the sh Leopard n again?" asked a particrly burly Wind Wolf sitting next to the Wind Wolf King, downing a big gulp of wine.


    The Wind Wolf King also took a swig and replied, "Take on what now? The n is already very dissatisfied with us. We can only endure for now."


    Just then, a voice came from behind the Wind Wolf King, "If we can''t act openly, we can do it in secret, just like they ambushed our vige. If they can nder us for hunting sh Leopard cubs, why can''t <i>we</i> frame them with some charges?"


    The Wind Wolf King turned around. Standing behind him was a Wind Wolf Priest��if Tang San could see this scene, he would have immediately recognized this priest.


    The Wind Wolf King''s eyes shed fiercely, and he waved his hand. "Your hatred has clouded your judgment. What day is today? We''ll talk about thister."


    A hint of resentment shed in the priest''s eyes. She opened her mouth and said softly, "Wasn''t that your son?"


    The Wind Wolf King''s eyes instantly turned red, and he suddenly stood up, turned around, and kicked the Wind Wolf Priest to the ground. "Shut your mouth, piss off!"


    "Calm your anger, Wolf King. How can you act like this on the day of the Great Sacrifice?" At the table of the Wind Wolf Priests, the oldest among them raised his staff, and an invisible authority radiated from him, even seemingly blending with the bloody scent from the distant altar.


    Only then did the Wind Wolf King restrain himself, sit back down, and fiercely down arge cup of wine.


    The kicked Wind Wolf Priest got up, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and walked back to her table to sit quietly, showing no interest in the meat and wine.


    This incident did not dampen the spirits of the Wind Wolf demons; drinking heartily and eatingrge chunks of meat was an important tradition among most demon races. Especially with the scent of blood from the altar. That was when their spirits were at their highest.


    The sky had darkened entirely, yet the backyard was illuminated by the light of Wind Spirit Stones, revealing everything in detail. Large Wind Spirit Stones were gathered and activated by a crude array to release the wind element within, forming a green light. This made the backyard seem somewhat eerie, but with the rich wind element that the Wind Wolf n loved most, they were veryfortable like this.


    After three rounds of drinking, many Wind Wolf demons were somewhat drunk but still reluctant to put down their cups. For most races, alcohol was a luxury, expensive, and not always avable. The wine at the annual sacrifice ceremony was naturally much better than the inferior wine they usually had, so it was unsurprising that many were more than eager to indulge.


    Gradually, some of the members of the Wind Wolf n were sprawled over the tables, snoring away.


    The Wind Wolf King drank a great deal, and under the influence of alcohol, his inner turmoil was somewhat alleviated. However, the feeling of dizziness surged as well.


    Drinking was for the pursuit of the sensation of drunkenness, so on regr days, they never used their bloodline power to counteract the effects of alcohol. Otherwise, what would be the point of drinking?


    The Wind Wolf King stood up, intending to summon a pig demon to bring him more wine, when suddenly he swayed. A sudden bout of dizziness struck him, causing him to plop back into his seat.


    He shook his massive wolf head forcefully, a sh of confusion in his eyes immediately reced by alertness. Given his constitution, even if he got drunk, it shouldn''t be to the extent that he couldn''t control his own body!


    <i>Something��s off! </i>He immediately activated the bloodline power within his body, trying to expel the alcohol, and shouted, "Something''s wrong. There''s a problem."


    The surrounding wolf demons who had not yet sumbed to drunkenness instinctively looked in his direction. Rtively speaking, the Wind Wolf Priests were more restrained in their drinking, and they were still fine. Hearing the Wind Wolf King''s shout, they all stood up.

 Chapter 228: Is Asura God-Level?

    <h4>Chapter 228: Is Asura God-Level?</h4>


    However, just as they activated their bloodline power, attempting to counteract the alcohol, an even more intense bout of dizziness instantly overwhelmed them. The Wind Wolf King copsed onto the table. Those who stood up trying to dispel the alcohol, whether warriors or priests, disyed shock on their faces and, amidst a spinning world, fell to the ground one after another.


    For a time, snoring filled the air, and the entire backyard of the Wind Wolf n''s ancestral home was enveloped by a strange atmosphere.


    The only one left standing was the Wind Wolf Priest who had been kicked down by the Wind Wolf King before, as she was the only onepletely sober.


    Just then, a figure silentlynded behind her and a firm palm struck her in the back.


    With a thud, the Wind Wolf Priest stumbled forward, screamed in pain.


    She swiftly turned around, only to see a human man shrouded in ck, his face hidden behind a metallic mask.


    "You... who are you?"


    Asura looked at her silently, as if transported back to years past. His gaze then shifted to the distant altar adorned with corpses, and his eyes filled with anger and loathing.


    He yearned to save those innocent humans butcked the strength to do so. Revealing himself during the ritual would have only led to an onught by the Wind Wolf n''s numerous members.


    And now, the demon who had once ordered the killing of his mother in this life stood before him. Despite his steadfast resolve, he found it hard to control his emotions at this moment.


    His right hand rose and a Wind de formed in his palm, shaping into a wed hand and slowly reaching toward the Wind Wolf Priest.


    "No, no��" The Wind Wolf Priest roared in anger, but to her horror, she found herselfpletely immobilized. Even her voice froze.


    At that moment, a strange energy fluctuation appeared from the distant altar, bursting forth with a formidable will.


    But Asura, too, lifted his head; his eyes were white, with a hint of golden light flickering within.


    The will that had just risen from the altar immediately shrank back and dissipated, as if it had encountered something terrifying.


    The cyan w was already gripping the Wind Wolf Priest''s neck. The sharp, condensed Wind de pierced her skin bit by bit, allowing blood to flow freely.


    Asura swung his hand again and another Wind de flew out, also shaped like a w. It slowlynded on the priest��s chest, ripping it open and extracting her heart.


    The powerful life force of the demon race meant that the Wind Wolf Priest did not die immediately; instead, she looked at the man before him, filled with terror.


    A silver figure floated down from afar at that moment, arriving just in time to witness this bloody scene.


    When he sensed her approach, the Wind de ws holding the Wind Wolf Priest instantly dissipated, causing the body and heart to fall together simultaneously.


    With his head bowed, Asura silently mourned the souls that had once perished.


    "What are you doing?" Mei Gongzi demanded in a low voice.


    "It was still sober and needed to be eliminated. I''m making sure there are no witnesses," Asura said lightly.


    Mei Gongzi could clearly feel something off about his emotions. However, looking at the Wind Wolf n members who had all passed out in the backyard, her shock was too great to think of anything else.


    He had poisoned all the Wind Wolf n''s strongest members, meaning no one would know even if they killed everyone here. The Wind Wolf guards in the front yard had also been drinking and had all passed out.


    Asura turned to her and said, "Go ahead," pointing at the Wind Wolf King whoy on the table.


    The fingers of Mei Gongzi''s right hand turned into ws, tearing through the Wind Wolf King''s spine. The Wind Wolf King''s body convulsed violently, then turned still. With his spine severed andpletely paralyzed, the Wind Wolf King could do nothing to prevent her ws from tearing apart his throat.


    Mei Gongzi''s gaze swept over to the other Wind Wolf n''s strong members. Just as she was about to continue, Asura grabbed her shoulder.


    "Let''s go. The fewer traces we leave, the less likely we are to be discovered."


    Mei Gongzi looked towards the altar, lips pressed tightly together. <i>Those were humans, all humans!</i>


    "I want to remove them from the altar..." Mei Gongzi''s voice trembled slightly.


    "No." Asura shook his head. "That would reveal our identity as humans."


    "But..."


    "No buts. Once it''s revealed that humans took action, do you realize how many humans will suffer? There are other ways to give these victims peace... don��t worry about that."


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath, then, with a fierce grab, crushed the skull of a sleeping Wind Wolf demon beside her before turning away and swiftly departing.


    Asura quickly cleaned up the traces, ensuring no remnants of aura were left behind. After giving the altar one final look, he also rapidly left the ancestral home of the Wind Wolf n.


    Mei Gongzi returned to the small inn, only to find that Asura had not followed. There was still no sign of him after waiting a full quarter of an hour. Moreover, there was no rm raised outside. The Wind Wolf n''s situation would not be discovered anytime soon.


    Just then, there was a knock on the door.


    "Who is it?" Mei Gongzi stood up, instantly on guard.


    "Little Mei, it''s me," a pleasant voice came from outside.


    Mei Gongzi hurriedly went to open the door, and Su Qin walked in.


    "Where is he?" Mei Gongzi asked softly.


    "I followed him for a bit, but then I stopped. I think he noticed me early on," Su Qin said, frowning slightly.


    "He noticed you?" Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but express surprise.


    Su Qin nodded. "I followed behind you and then followed him when you left. This Asura... he''s no simple figure. I didn''t get too close, but as I approached, I vaguely saw wind element fluctuations around him, though it could also be due to the dense wind elements in the backyard of the Wind Wolf ancestral home.


    "However, I saw the ancestral home''s altar releasing the aura of the Wolf Ancestor, seemingly trying to protect the Wind Wolves. It wasn''t strong, but it was indeed a divine presence. At that moment, I felt a divine power burst from Asura, which scared off the Wolf Ancestor''s divinity. Though it wasn''t the true Wolf Ancestor, just a remnant soul''s consciousness, instincts don''t lie."


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback. "Are you saying Asura is a god?"


    "I don''t know. It''s possible, but it doesn��t feel like it, at least from his aura. But the divinity can''t be faked. It''s of a very high level indeed. I think that''s also why he noticed me. I didn''t follow further; he signaled in my direction when he was leaving, so I stopped for safety.


    "Also, the poison he used... I took a bit of the wine, but I couldn''t detect any poison. Also, I saw those Wind Wolves. They did not react at first, it only began to take effect after some time. And the more they used their bloodline power, the faster the effect. Very powerful. It seems I need to speak with Mayor Zhang. Asura''s identity is not simple."


    "Mom, let''s not ask," Mei Gongzi suddenly said.


    "Hmm?" Su Qin looked at her daughter.


    Mei Gongzi said, "I promised to trust him after he helped me kill the wolf demons. I intend to keep my word. Also, I can feel his deep hatred for the demon races, especially just now, when he killed that Wind Wolf Priest; his emotions were off. He''s human, and we share amon goal, which I think is enough. Whether or not he''s a god-level being, having him on our side is important. He wears a mask precisely because he doesn''t want to reveal his identity."


    Su Qin said, "But he knows too much about you; I''m ufortable with that."


    Mei Gongzi said, "If he had wanted to harm me, he had plenty of asions. I think it��s fine."

 Chapter 229: Is Du Bai Advancing?

    <h4>Chapter 229: Is Du Bai Advancing?</h4>


    Su Qin said, "Then let''s observe a bit longer. You should leave now before things escte and return to Kali Academy. That''s the safest ce. If this Asura contacts you again, let me know. If there''s a chance, try tomunicate with him."


    "Okay."


    Mei Gongzi did not dare to dy. Being too close to the ancestral home of the Wind Wolf n was not a good idea. The sooner she left, the less likely she was to expose herself.


    Asura silently disappeared into the Kali Mountains. He did not head straight back to the Redemption Academy, because he sensed someone tracking him. He did not know who it was, but he could feel that this person hade with Mei Gongzi. It was certainly someone from Mei Gongzi''s side��in other words, a member of the Redemption Society.


    He slightly revealed a hint of his divine consciousness, then sped up his departure. The aura of the other party quickly vanished, and it appeared that they had given up the pursuit.


    Despite this, to be cautious, he still chose to enter the Kali Mountains and inform his master. One reason was to discuss with his master how to respond if Mei Gongzi inquired about his identity, and the other was to ask him to return to Redemption Academy to help with Mu Yunyu''s treatment.


    Every so often, Asura silently stopped to check if he was being followed. With his ninth-order spiritual power, that bit of divine consciousness, and the Discerning Eye of Heaven''s premonition of danger, even a god-level cultivator would find it difficult to track him without being detected.


    After checking ten times over to confirm that no one was following him, he arrived at the pond where the Golden Wood was nted.


    The spiritual energy of heaven and earth had be somewhat richer, but given the short amount of time, the Golden Wood showed little change.


    Asura transformed back into the normal Tang San, then woke Mayor Zhang from meditation.


    ��Why have youe in the middle of the night?�� Zhang Haoxuan asked, puzzled, looking at him.


    Tang San did not hide anything from him and recounted how he had secretly helped Mei Gongzi assassinate a mighty demon n warrior.


    ��You reckless dumbass, who allowed you to get involved?�� Zhang Haoxuan barked upon hearing his story.


    ��I was worried she might leave loose ends and end up being discovered,�� Tang San exined.


    Zhang Haoxuan frowned deeply. ��Whether it��s you or her, to the organization, to all of humanity, you are the hope for the future. She has her mission, and you have yours. Do you understand? Staying alive is the most important thing for you. What if you were exposed? What if you encountered a god?��


    Tang San said, ��Today, I felt that someone secretly protected Mei Gongzi and even followed me for a while. They seemed to be a god-level cultivator. But then they stopped following me. Could it be the other Blue-ss member from our Kali City?��


    Zhang Haoxuan gave him a deep look. ��You are truly intelligent. But don��t let your intelligence lead you astray, understand? The time when you are most likely to fail is when you are most confident.��


    Tang San smiled bitterly. ��I understand. Master, if that Blue-ss Redeemer asks about me, I��ll have to trouble you to cover for me.��


    Zhang Haoxuan fell silent.


    After a long moment, he said, "You''re still young, and I understand why you��re unable to resist revealing your abilities. You need to hide them, and you need to hide them well. That''s also my fault; you usually act so maturely. I didn''t expect you to show your abilities before Mei Gongzi. What if she reports your actions to the Society? What if the Societyes to <i>me</i> for verification? Have you thought about that?"


    Tang San earnestly replied, "I believe Mei Gongzi ispletely trustworthy. I can guess that her goal is the position of Kali City''s lord. Everything she''s doing now should be in pursuit of this most important mission. I just wanted to help her."


    Zhang Haoxuan fell silent once again.


    This time, the silencested even longer.


    Tang San did not disturb him, knowing he couldn''t rely solely on himself for everything and he indeed needed assistance with these matters. His teammates from Redemption Academy were still too young andcking in ability. The mayor''s help was especially crucial for him at this stage.


    "Fine, it is what it is. I will exin it to the Society if needed. However, you must promise me that you will always take good care of yourself. I believe you are even more important than Mei Gongzi, understand?" Zhang Haoxuan said gravely.


    Tang San naturally understood his meaning, but it was also natural that to him, Mei Gongzi was the most important.


    "The recent two attacks should draw Kali City''s attention, and I''ll advise them to refrain from taking further action for now. You should stay put and focus on improving your cultivation. That''s the most important thing for you."


    "Okay."


    Tang San also mentioned Mu Yunyu''s situation, prompting Zhang Haoxuan to wake Red One from her meditation and inform her that he and Tang San were returning, instructing them to continue guarding this ce. Then, the two of them returned to Redemption Academy under the cover of night.


    Everything seemed to return to normal.


    Kali Academy was like a peaceful haven where outside influence did not reach, though Tang San did hear some students discussing the assassination of the Wind Wolf King.


    Mei Gongzi returned to her usual sses, and Sweeper Tang noticed that he was seeing her more often as days passed.


    Tang San did not know how Zhang Haoxuan exined things to the other Redemption Society members, but everything seemed to stabilize afterward.


    That was until a weekter.


    While Tang San was sweeping the square before the main teaching building, he suddenly saw Old Mao hurrying toward him. From a distance, Old Mao gestured to him.


    Tang San quickly ran over. "Old Mao, what''s wrong? Don''t worry."


    "Quick, go back to the town. The mayor sent someone with a message saying there''s an urgent matter for you," Old Mao said, somewhat out of breath.


    <i>An urgent matter?</i> Tang San''s heart tightened, and without dy, he bid farewell to Old Mao, left Kali Academy, and headed straight for Academy Town.


    Was there some kind of incident? Could it be that the officials of Kali City had discovered Redemption Academy?


    As soon as he entered the small town of the academy, he saw Zhang Haoxuan waiting there with an anxious expression. Zhang Haoxuan''s words immediately calmed him down.


    "Follow me quickly. Du Bai is about to make a breakthrough. But it seems there are some problems."


    <i>Problems? Is Du Bai breaking through to the fifth order?</i>


    Tang San didn''t ask any questions and immediately followed Zhang Haoxuan back to Redemption Academy.


    As he approached the academy, Tang San could distinctly feel a slight change in the spiritual power surrounding his forehead, as if something was pulling at him.


    When they arrived at Du Bai''s room, Tang San was startled by the scene before him.


    Du Bai was sitting cross-legged on the ground, shaking uncontrobly. Sweat was pouring out like water, and his clothes werepletely soaked through. His spiritual fluctuations were extremely violent and unstable.


    Several teachers were by his side. Si Ru was sitting behind him, his right hand pressed against Du Bai''s back, and he was slowly infusing his bloodline power into Du Bai''s body.


    Spiritual power could not be interfered with lightly, as it could easily lead to severe problems. Thus, all Si Ru could do was stabilize Du Bai''s bloodline fluctuations.


    Du Bai''s eyes were open, with white light continuously flowing and dissipating from his eyes. The vtile fluctuations seemed to pull at the luck around him. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth around the room was being stirred violently but was not entering his body.


    Mu Enqing and Mu Yunyu wore tense faces. Guan Longjiang was even pacing back and forth nearby. But facing Du Bai''s condition, they were all at a loss, unsure what to do.


    Seeing the mayor arrive with Tang San, Guan Longjiang quickly stepped forward, whispering to Zhang Haoxuan, "The situation isn''t good. His spiritual power is freaking unstable now. The child was too hasty. He shouldn''t have eaten that Purple Sun Fruit so quickly. It feels like he''s hit a bottleneck, and his spiritual power is too great and it��s trying to force a breakthrough. His bloodline power and spiritual power both surged at the same time and they seem to be resonating, and it looks like he can''t withstand it. What should we do?"

 Chapter 230: Assisting the Breakthrough

    <h4>Chapter 230: Assisting the Breakthrough</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan instinctively turned his head to look at Tang San.


    Tang San nced back at him, then gently nodded his head.


    Zhang Haoxuan immediately said, "In that case, it''s useless for all of us to be here; we are just getting anxious together. Let''s go outside; having Si Ru alone to help him will be enough. If there''s any news, let Tang San pass it on. We can also discuss our strategy."


    Guan Longjiang looked at Tang San with some confusion, but he was already being pulled out by Zhang Haoxuan.


    Mu Enqing and Mu Yunyu quickly followed suit.


    Mu Yunyu''splexion was rosy. Not only had her body significantly recovered, but she had finally broken through to the eighth order, and her aura had significantly increased.


    Watching them leave, Tang San came to Du Bai''s side, silently sensing his changes.


    He himself possessed the Discerning Eye of Heaven, which made him extremely sensitive to the perception of fate, elements, and spirit.


    Du Bai''s bloodline energy was constantly surging within him; his bloodline was in turmoil and it seemed to be undergoing bizarre changes. These changes seemed to result in the conversion of bloodline power into spiritual power, yet his sea of consciousness was already at capacity. The surplus spiritual power thus leaked out, shing with the spiritual power born within his bloodline, causing Du Bai immense pain.


    Realizing this, Tang San vaguely understood something.


    "Teacher Si, please stop for a moment," Tang San said softly.


    "Hmm?" Si Ru opened his eyes wide and looked at Tang San in confusion.


    Tang San spoke softly, "Teacher Si Ru, have you noticed that Du Bai''s spiritual power seems to be of two kinds?"


    "Two kinds?" Si Ru eximed in surprise, "How can a person have two kinds of spiritual power? It''s merely divided into two parts, that''s all. They..." He trailed off suddenly, his eyes revealing a trace of astonishment.


    He stimted his own divine consciousness to feel Du Bai��s spiritual power fluctuations, and to his surprise, he discovered that the spiritual power generated from Du Bai''s bloodline and the spiritual power in his sea of consciousness actually differed.


    The liquid spiritual power within the sea of consciousness was stable and vast, whereas the spiritual power born from his bloodline carried a somewhat ethereal and elusive feeling.


    "It seems to be a bit different." Si Ru said in surprise. He had been stabilizing Du Bai''s physical condition, calming his raging bloodline, and controlling the spiritual power born from the bloodline to prevent them from having too strong an impact on Du Bai''s sea of consciousness, allowing them only gradual contact with the sea of consciousness.


    "What should we do? His Celestial Fox Transformation is too unique, so there are no precedents to follow. This young man is just too damn hasty, and after consuming the Purple Sun Fruit, his spiritual power increased too quickly, causing the bloodline power in his body to surge as well."


    Tang San suggested, "Why not try to let themmunicate if they��re trying to? I think letting them merge might be actually what he needs to do to break through. It will put a lot of pressure on his sea of consciousness, though. Instead of protecting his body, you might try to protect his sea of consciousness and make sure it doesn��t copse because of all that spiritual power. The two types of spiritual power look like they��re trying to merge by themselves anyway."


    Si Ru''s method was wed from the start; he should have been stabilizing not Du Bai''s body but his sea of consciousness. Tang San exined this in a way he hoped would make sense to the teacher without making himself look ridiculous.


    Zhang Haoxuan had also returned from outside, just in time to hear Tang San''s words.


    "I think we can give it a try. The effect of the Celestial Fox Transformation is, after all, on the spiritual level. Evolution should also ur on the spiritual level. Si Ru, you use your divine consciousness to protect his sea of consciousness, and I''ll make sure his body stays in one piece. We''ll respond promptly to any changes."


    "Okay," Si Ru decided on the spot. Du Bai''s condition was not good at all, and his state of consciousness was precarious.


    Immediately, Zhang Haoxuan sat down in front of Du Bai, cing his right hand over his heart, silently sensing the changes in his body. Meanwhile, Si Ru''s eyes flickered with a faint golden light as he released the restriction on the spiritual energy born from the bloodline. Instead, he used his divine consciousness to protect Du Bai''s sea of consciousness.


    When he let go, a mighty surge of spiritual waves instantly burst forth from Du Bai''s body, creating a storm of consciousness that seemed to sweep the entire room. Even Tang San was left in a daze by the shock. A liquid-like white light flowed out from Du Bai''s eyes, causing him to let out a pain-filled roar.


    Tang San now understood why Si Ru had chosen to use his power to stabilize Du Bai''s body; the transformation was indeed too great, and the priority was first to suppress his current state. It had been the right call at that time.


    Using the Discerning Eye of Heaven, Tang San closely observed Du Bai, feeling his transformation. If Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Vision could break through to the fifth order, then Tang San would also have the possibility of breaking through, thuspleting the most crucial step before achieving a total cultivation breakthrough to the seventh order. Therefore, Du Bai''s transformation was likely a precursor to the changes Tang San himself would have to endure.


    Tang San could feel that after Si Ru released the seal, the long-suppressed spiritual energy in Du Bai''s bloodline instantly surged upward, fiercely storming into the sea of consciousness and shing with Du Bai''s original liquid spiritual power. The two powers repelled each other and merged at the same time, hence the overflow.


    The white light shed and disappeared; without hesitation, Tang San maximized the effect of the Celestial Fox Vision, bestowing a stroke of luck upon Du Bai.


    Instantly, the two types of spiritual forces circting within Du Bai''s mind became smoother. Their collisions decreased, and the speed of their integration increased. This caused Du Bai''s body to tremble even more violently, but the white liquid energy flowing from his eyes diminished.


    A different faint white light began to seep from the corners of his eyes, not dispersing far but settling around his body before slowly merging into his skin, turning it snow-white. At the same time, an indistinct white silhouette appeared above his head.


    It resembled a white fox, its profound eyes seemingly endless in depth, with deep blue halos flickering within. Behind it, nine massive white tails gently floated. Among them, one tail was solid, and the second was also beginning to solidify, changing from the base upward.


    Tang San''s heart shook, and he came to a realization. The Celestial Fox n seemed to be different from other demon ns.


    For other demon ns, a qualitative change urred at the fourth order, then at the seventh. However, this change seemed to start from the fifth order for the Celestial Fox n. Growing a second tail was undoubtedly a considerable transformation, far greater than whatever changes Du Bai had experienced while breaking through to the fourth order. Without a doubt, once Du Baipleted the breakthrough to the fifth order, his Celestial Fox Transformation might undergo major changes, possibly even resolving issues with his bloodline.


    The real advancement thus finally began. Thanks to the blessing of luck from Tang San''s Celestial Fox Vision, the most difficult part had passed.


    What Tang San, Si Ru, and Zhang Haoxuan did not know was that the Celestial Fox n''s realm advancement always required the assistance ofpanions. Controlling fate was quite literally an act against the heavens. Without the support ofpanions, a bacsh of fate during one''s breakthrough would lead to significant problems, making sess nearly impossible.


    Therefore, without Tang San''s arrival and the fortunate ability to cultivate the Celestial Fox Transformation through the Mysterious Heaven Technique, Du Bai would have never broken through to the fifth order in his lifetime, or would have perished during the attempt.


    Du Bai''s trembling gradually lessened, and the ethereal silhouette of the Celestial Fox above his head began to solidify. He radiated a soft white light, which enveloped his body like a saintly halo.

 Chapter 231: The Two-Tailed Celestial Fox

    <h4>Chapter 231: The Two-Tailed Celestial Fox</h4>


    Both Zhang Haoxuan and Si Ru, being nearby, could clearly sense the changes in his body and couldn''t help but admire them internally. This transformation was incredibly powerful. Despite their student just barely reaching the fifth order, his presence made these two formidable beings feel a sense of vastness and ethereality.


    This was the power of the Celestial Fox bloodline, ranked among the top three formidable existences of the entire Daemon Continent!


    Tang San wasn''t idle either; he sat down cross-legged, silently feeling the Celestial Fox Transformation energy dissipating into the air from Du Bai, drawing it into his body, quietly elevating the order of his own Celestial Fox Transformation. After all, that did nothing to affect Du Bai''s breakthrough, and letting this dispersing energy go to waste would be a shame.


    Two hourster, Zhang Haoxuan left Du Bai''s side as time ticked by. Du Bai''s condition had stabilized now, and a full breakthrough was only a matter of time.


    Another two hours passed, and Si Ru also ended his vigil. Du Bai''s sea of consciousness had turned into apletely white ocean. The bloodline and the spiritual power within the sea of consciousness fullymunicated, bridging their respective worlds. The two began to transform and merge, initiating the process of evolution.


    Si Ru approached Zhang Haoxuan and whispered, "It��s going to be a sessful breakthrough, isn��t it? A fifth-order Celestial Fox Transformation! That''s incredible."


    Zhang Haoxuan, with a smile, responded, "Indeed, indeed. We have gained yet more hope."


    Si Ru said, "Once he breaks through, we need to report this, right?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and replied, "Of course. But let''s wait a bit. You go rest ande backter to take over. We��ll go in turns."


    Si Ru nced at Tang San, who was sitting not far away and seemed to have entered a meditative state, sitting there motionless. "Aren''t we going to ask him to leave?"


    "Let him stay here," Zhang Haoxuan said without hesitation.


    A gleam shed in Si Ru''s eyes. "Old Zhang, have you noticed? Since this youngster, Tang San, arrived, many changes have urred in our academy, almost all rted to him. Just now, if it weren''t for his reminder, I would have made a mistake out of sheer concern for Du Bai. I keep feeling there''s something off about this kid."


    Zhang Haoxuan red at him. "Are you jealous because I have such a good disciple? Don''t even think about it; I won''t let you have him."


    "Who cares... I''m off," Si Ru said irritably before leaving the room.


    As he stepped outside and breathed in the fresh air, a hint of doubt shed in Si Ru''s eyes. Then he silently shook his head. Perhaps all of this was arranged by the organization, and if Tang San had any secrets, Zhang Haoxuan knew them but simply chose not to tell them.


    Once more, without his knowledge, Old Zhang was taking the me.


    Du Bai''s breakthroughsted three full days and nights, with Zhang Haoxuan and Si Ru taking turns guarding him. Meanwhile, Tang San continued cultivating in the room, silently absorbing the bloodline aura radiating from him.


    By the morning of the fourth day, Du Bai waspletely engulfed in white light, which formed a giant cocoon around his body. Above him, the second tail of the white fox had fully grown, and was now gently swaying alongside the first.


    Suddenly, he exhaled deeply, and the light around the cocoon suddenly contracted.


    Tang San, who was meditating, almost instantly opened his eyes and looked toward the cocoon. He could feel Du Bai''s dispersed energy suddenly being drawn back inside.


    The figure inside the cocoon became clear as well.


    Du Bai had changed; his hair sparkled with a faint silver glimmer, his figure was slimmer, and his appearance more refined and handsome, giving the impression of a youth transitioning into adulthood.


    His eyes were incredibly clear and transparent, with a hint of silver light flickering within, adding an ethereal quality to his entire being.


    A hint of confusion flowed from his eyes, and instinctively, his gaze turned toward Tang San, who was not far away.


    The moment he saw Tang San, his first feeling was one of closeness, a kinship that stemmed from deep within their bloodlines, as if no other presence in the world could rece this intimacy. It was as if Tang San was his true family, the most trustworthy brother he could have.


    This was caused during the bloodline evolution process. Though neither of them was aware, the one assisting in the breakthrough of a Celestial Fox would be the most important person in their life, with a bond formed between their bloodlines during the breakthrough. They were connected by fate itself.


    Tang San could also feel his change, and gradually, he felt a closer bond with Du Bai, as if his "senior brother" could be wholly trusted.


    <i>The Demonic God Transformation is truly miraculous! The more powerful the transformation, the more miraculous it is. None of the bloodlines capable of giving birth to a Demon Emperor are simple. This is only the fifth-order Celestial Fox Transformation, yet it feels as if it surpasses the Peacock Transformation in terms of its miraculous nature. Perhaps Mei Gongzi has not fully mastered the essence of the Peacock Transformation? Or maybe there might be some essence of it that I am unaware of...</i>


    "Did it happen? Am I at the fifth order now?" Du Bai pointed at his nose, his face filled with surprise and joy.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Tang San''s mouth as he gently nodded, "Congrattions, brother Du Bai."


    "It was you who helped me, right?"


    Tang San shook his head. "No, it was Master and Teacher Si Ru. They��ve been guarding you all this time, they were the ones who helped you remain stable and break through."


    "Is that so? But I don''t know why, I just feel like you did it. This breakthrough was different, it��s as if the whole world has changed."


    Tang San smiled and said, "Things really have changed, so you should experience the changes in the world as best as you can."


    Du Bai stood up, and so did Tang San. The smile on Du Bai''s face instantly became more intense, "I''ve broken through, aha, I''ve broken through, reached the fifth order, it''s fantastic. Everything is different now!"


    Tang San said, "Don''t rush to be happy. You need to make sure you know what happened with the Celestial Fox Transformation now that you reached the fifth order. See what��s improved and enhanced, and get to know your new abilities. I also feel that this breakthrough is extraordinary and different from the other times you advanced. Maybe if you study it carefully, you��ll find a solution for reaching even higher levels."


    "Uh-huh, I understand. It��s just that I''m starving; I just want to eat something now; I feel like I could eat a whole cow."


    Now that the danger had passed, it was clear that Du Bai''s yful nature had returned.


    Zhang Haoxuan, who had been watching, snorted. "Fine, fine, let''s go eat something. Also, don''t talk about the breakthrough; keep it a secret for now."


    Tang San looked at Du Bai''s physical changes and said wryly, "Master, it might not be easy for him to keep this a secret!"


    Du Bai''s yful personality was one thing, but the changes in his appearance would be hard to conceal.


    Through Du Bai''s transformation, Tang San suddenly realized that the strength of the Demonic God Transformation''s bloodline could change one''s appearance to some extent. The more powerful the bloodline, the more significant the change. This appeared to be rted to stronger demons bing more human-like.


    Reflecting on Mei Gongzi, Tang San suddenly felt rather strange. ]


    Upon meeting Mei Gongzi, his initial impression was that she had changed from his previous life, although not on a quintessential level. The essence was the same, but there were differences in appearance and temperament. Yet recently, she seemed to be more and more like the person she used to be. Was this rted to her breaking through the seventh order? And if so, did that mean that if she were to break through to the god level in the future, she would revert to exactly how she was in the previous life?


    Thinking of this, his heart couldn''t help but warm up. He remembered the changes he had gone through during the second awakening of his martial soul in his previous life. By the same logic, if he re-cultivated to godhood, he might revert to his original appearance. Indeed, he felt that he had been more handsome in his past life.

 Chapter 232: The Destiny that Pierces the Heavens and Earth

    <h4>Chapter 232: The Destiny that Pierces the Heavens and Earth</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at Du Bai. "You''re right. Since it can''t be hidden, let''s start with confinement. I''ll personally bring you your mealster."


    "Uh..." Previously in high spirits, Du Bai suddenly felt choked. "No, Mayor, please let me off. I can��t stay inside for too long, I��ll go crazy!"


    Zhang Haoxuan said irritably, "At least stay confined until you stop glowing. I''m off to rest now, Tang San. You keep an eye on him. Don''t go to Kali Academy for the next few days; just watch him."


    With that, the mayor turned and left.


    Du Bai looked pitifully at Tang San, who spread his hands and said, "This is my master''s order. I can''t disobey it. Also, you really do need time to get used to being at the fifth order."


    "Oh." Du Bai lowered his head, feeling a bit wronged. He looked at his skin, which faintly glowed, not feeling as excited for the moment.


    "How does it feel? Is there any difference from before?" Tang San asked curiously. For now, he wouldn''t absorb Du Bai''s bloodline power to aid his own advancement, at least not until Du Bai''s fifth-order cultivation stabilized.


    "It feels like I''mpletely different." Du Bai looked up at him again. "I can''t say what is different, but it feels different."


    Tang San nodded, "You''ve grown. You look a bit older, your vitality is much stronger than before, and your spiritual power is so concentrated I can almost touch it. I think your spiritual cultivation is around the peak of the seventh order right now. Think about it: you were around the beginning of the seventh order, and after this breakthrough, you��re nearly an entire order higher."


    His spiritual power was naturally much stronger, and having experienced Du Bai''s entire breakthrough process, he understands Du Bai even better than Du Bai himself.


    "During your breakthrough, your bloodline was going through a qualitative transformation, and your bloodline power was converted into spiritual power. That spiritual power first shed with the spiritual power in your sea of consciousness, then they started to merge. In the end, they fused into one. During this process, it seems that your Celestial Fox bloodline also went through some changes and actually purified itself. It''s as if your bloodline power was refined by your sea of consciousness. So basically you really went through aplete transformation, in both body and spirit. As expected of the Celestial Fox bloodline, it��s truly worthy of being a top-tier bloodline. At least until the seventh order, your cultivation speed probably won''t slow down."


    "Hahaha, that''s great! So I also have the potential to reach the seventh order!" Du Bai found his excitement again.


    Tang San said, "Don''t get too excited just yet. Did you know that a phantom of the Celestial Fox appeared above your head while you were transforming?"


    "I didn''t know!" Du Bai shook his head. He had been in aplete daze at that time, so he had no idea what his metamorphosis looked like from the outside.


    Tang San said, "The Celestial Fox has nine tails, right? Well, during the breakthrough, that Celestial Fox projection grew a second tail. So I guess you can now be called a Two-Tailed Celestial Fox. I think that with each future advancement, you��ll probably gain another tail, so if you get to the twelfth order, you��ll have nine tails. In other words... I actually suspect that your breakthroughs up to the fourth order were just a kind of preparation, and starting from this fifth-order breakthrough, you are really on the correct path of advancement. That means each breakthrough will be more and more difficult, but it also means every breakthrough will transform youpletely, so you don��t need to wait until the seventh order like ordinary bloodlines."


    "Is that so?" Du Bai stared at Tang San, feeling that everything he said made quite a bit of sense.


    Tang San''s analyses were based on his three lifetimes of experience. Even strong figures like Zhang Haoxuan and Si Ru couldn''t provide a more precise analysis than him.


    "What should I do then?" Du Bai asked in surprise.


    Tang San replied, "Well, for one, keep cultivating your spiritual power properly. Also, use the Celestial Fox Vision as often as you can, so your bloodline and spiritual power can fuse better. That way, you can use your spiritual power to push your bloodline power farther and farther. Once your spiritual power reaches the peak of the eighth order, maybe even the ninth order, you should be able to break through to the sixth order. As for whates after, well, let��s talk about that when you reach the sixth order."


    "Uh-huh. Okay." Du Bai nodded repeatedly.


    Tang San said, "You can try the Celestial Fox Vision now. See what''s different from before."


    "Okay!" Du Bai''s spirit was lifted, and as he took a deep breath, white light surged all over his body. Concentrating, he activated his bloodline power, and the white light swirling around him converged above his head, reforming the phantom of the Celestial Fox. This time, it didn��t have the nine ethereal tails, but only the two distinct tails that Du Bai had right now.


    The Celestial Fox''s deep blue eyes swept over, looking directly toward Tang San.


    Tang San immediately felt as though his body had be transparent. Under the gaze of the Celestial Fox, he had nowhere to hide.


    "AH��!!" At that moment, Du Bai suddenly screamed and fell to the ground. The Celestial Fox manifestation above his head disappeared as well.


    Tang San was startled and quickly dashed to his side. "What happened?"


    Du Bai was rolling on the ground with his hands covering his eyes, clearly in tremendous pain. Tang San quickly pulled his hands away to look closer and saw his eyes were full of bloody veins and tears were streaming out.


    The gentle energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique flowed into Du Bai. With Tang San''s continuous support, Du Bai''s pain gradually subsided, but his eyes remained red and swollen, and he was now afraid to open them.


    <i>What happened? Could this be a side effect of using the Celestial Fox Vision?</i>


    "Tang, Tang San. You, you, you..."


    "What''s wrong?" Tang San asked, puzzled.


    "You blinded my Celestial Fox Vision!" Du Bai''s voice trembled.


    Tang San was shocked. "What did you see?"


    "Golden light, golden light that pierces the heavens and the earth. That was you... and you were shining with golden light. Incredible golden aura."


    A sh of light sparked in Tang San''s eyes. "You saw a golden me?"


    Du Bai''s emotions gradually stabilized, and after a few moments, he nodded. "A golden you. Piercing the heavens and the earth. Just one nce, and I couldn''t bear it. My eyes hurt so much!"


    <i>Did he see my past life? No, that''s not right. The Celestial Fox Vision is an eye of destiny, but that doesn��t mean it can see the past or the future directly. What he saw must have been the destiny from my past life as a God King. This implies that the destiny of my past life exceeds what he can withstand. That must be what happened. The fifth-order Celestial Fox Vision can see others'' destinies. He probably was able to do that anyway but to a far lesser extent.</i>


    Tang San helped Du Bai sit up. "Senior brother Du Bai, stabilize yourself first. Use your spiritual power to ease the pain in your eyes, and practice the Purple Demon Eyes."


    Du Bai''s chest heaved slightly, his breathing a bit rapid, and he didn''t speak again.


    He just waved his hand, and Tang San quickly grabbed it.


    "Tang-Tang San, did I see something I shouldn''t have?" Du Bai said in a low voice.


    "No, what does that even mean? What you saw must be destiny. Perhaps my destiny is too great for your Celestial Fox Vision to handle, and you were just shocked. Once you''ve recovered, you can start by trying to look into the destinies of our ssmates."


    After a moment of silence, Du Bai said, "But then... why is your destiny so overbearing? It''s terrifying, you know? A golden light that pierces the heavens and the earth, as if it could illuminate the entire world."


    Tang San smiled wryly. "You are the one with the Celestial Fox Vision, and even you don''t know what''s going on. How should I know? But either way, it''s best if you don''t tell others about this. I don''t want to be treated like a test subject!"

 Chapter 233: Tang San, Its So Good to See You

    <h4>Chapter 233: Tang San, It''s So Good to See You</h4>


    "No worries, I''ll keep it a secret. I don''t know why, but after this breakthrough, I feel that you''re incredibly important to me, the most important person." Du Bai tightly held Tang San''s hand. "Extremely, extremely important."


    A twitch appeared at the corner of Tang San''s mouth as he tried to withdraw his hand, but Du Bai gripped it tightly.


    "How important exactly?"


    Du Bai said, "I can''t exin it well. It''s just a feeling. Thanks to the Celestial Fox Vision, I could always tell who I should get close to and who I shouldn��t. You are the most important to me, the closest person to me, closer than anyone else. I will treat you well and believe you will treat me well."


    <i>If it were Mei Gongzi saying this, it might be somewhat eptable</i>, Tang San thought, finally managing to pull his hand free.


    "Hey, hey, hey, don''t go! I can''t see. You have to take care of a blind person," Du Bai said, iling his arms.


    Tang San dodged to the side, irritably saying, "You should focus on your cultivation first and recover your eyesight before we talk."


    "Okay, okay. I''ll listen to you." Du Bai sat down cross-legged, cultivating his Purple Demon Eyes as Tang San had instructed to heal his eyes.


    It took him a whole hour to recover. His eyes were still red and swollen, but he could finally see again.


    Upon opening his eyes and seeing Tang San, he first said fondly, "Tang San, it''s so good to see you."


    Even with Tang San''s patience, he couldn''t help but burst out, "Piss off!"


    "Heh heh heh, I didn''t mean anything by it. Brother, this is brotherly affection," Du Bai said, scratching his head. "You''re so young, why are you thinking of weird things like that?"


    Tang San was left speechless. "It doesn''t hurt anymore? Don''t look at things you shouldn''t in the future. Anyway, it seems like you have the ability to see fate better now, right? How is it different from the past?"


    Du Bai thought momentarily and said, "Before, I could only feel things that would happen right away, but now it seems that I can see someone��s future. That is the overall destiny of an individual in the future. Wow, that means your destiny is incredibly promising! So strong. I haven''t seen others yet, but I''m sure you are the strongest. It almost blinded me."


    Tang San said, "Try not to use this ability too often. Knowing too much about others'' future isn''t good. It will change the way you act around them. Well, I guess it''s okay to use it to observe enemies. In any case, you have to be careful, because the bacsh might just terrify you if you meet someone with a great fate again. Also, fate is not set in stone. The future you see is just one possibility, who knows what might happen?"


    "Mm-hmm. You know so much. Tang San, you''re great. You''ve taught me so much," Du Bai said, blinking.


    Tang San replied indifferently, "I''d appreciate it more if you didn''t speak to me in that tone. The fifth order should have more than just this ability, right? What about enhancing fate?"


    Du Bai said with a hint of grievance, "Then you have to let me try it out slowly! It''s not something I can know right away. And there''s no one to teach me."


    "Stop trying for now; you should focus on recovering. I''ll go get you something to eat."


    "Tang San, you''re really kind."


    "You''re wee..." Tang San muttered to himself, then turned and walked away.


    He understood that Du Bai''s change in attitude toward him was likely due to the assistance he��d given him during the breakthrough.


    Over the next three days, the white glow on Du Bai finally began to recede, and his appearance returned to normal, though he still looked a little older. During these days, he also continued experimenting with using the Celestial Fox Vision, gradually discovering the wonders of the fifth order.


    One of the most significant changes was that his influence on the fate of the world around him had improved significantly. Using the Celestial Fox Vision, he could make an area of about ten square meters particrly lucky. Once he used this ability, the effect couldst for twenty-four hours. The area could be expanded, but therger the area, the weaker the effect. With his current cultivation level, any area over a hundred square meters would be unaffected. Of course, it could be imagined that at the sixth order, the ability to enhance the luck of an area would increase even more.


    This ability was practically the ultimate support ability. Imagine if someone were to cultivate within the range of his Celestial Fox Vision; they would just so happen to stumble upon priceless insights every so often, which was an insane advantage. However, this ability could only be used once daily, meaning it couldn''t simultaneously make multiple ces lucky.


    If it was used on an individual, the ability wasn��t all that different from before; it just increased their luck more than it used to before the breakthrough.


    In addition to this, there was a change in Du Bai himself��he no longer needed to bless himself with luck; rather, he had acquired a passive ability that attracted fate''s favor. The heavens naturally protected him, ensuring he was always under the auspices of fate. While it wasn''t the kind of good fortune that could turn everything around, Du Bai was now essentially in a state of constant good luck, to a far greater extent than before. This meant that this fresh Two-Tailed Celestial Fox now had some ability to protect himself.


    <i>Truly worthy of being one of the top three bloodlines of the Daemon Continent! This thing is incredible.</i>


    Tang San was immediately filled with anticipation for his own advancement to the fifth order of the Discerning Eye of Heaven. The effect of this ability on him would naturally be even greater. The Discerning Eye of Heaven would likely have an even greater evolutionary impact than the simple Celestial Fox Vision.


    Three dayster, the mayor finally allowed Du Bai to exit quarantine, and Tang San could return to Kali Academy to resume his role as Sweeper Tang.


    He wasn''t worried about Mei Gongzi taking any action during these days; having just killed the Wind Wolf King, there would need to be a period of rest. After all, Kali City was in a state of heightened alert. The authorities were conducting arge-scale search for the killer of the Wind Wolf King and the Titan Bear chief.


    Early in the morning, Tang San first greeted Old Mao, then grabbed a broom and headed to the front za of the main teaching building to begin his sweeping.


    Du Bai''s fifth-order state had stabilized over the past few days, and Tang San nned to begin absorbing his luck in a few days to enhance his own Celestial Fox Vision. He had Du Bai apply the luck enhancement to Wu Bingji''s room every day. He also arranged for Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li to cultivate there each night, sharing the luck.


    Tang San also tried cultivating in the area covered by this luck, and the benefits were clear. His cultivation became smoother, and the coordination between his various bloodlines improved.


    <i>No wonder the Celestial Fox n is revered among the demons. Cultivating under the luck charm cast by a powerful Celestial Fox yields twice the result with half the effort! This is no longer just a support ability; it��s literally defying the heavens. </i>


    However, Tang San also faintly sensed that such heaven-defying abilities ought to have inevitable repercussions. Everything had two sides; manipting luck as the Celestial Fox n did was bound to result in a bacsh. So then...what kind of bacsh would there be?


    The Redemption Society had no information on this; it was clearly a core secret of the Celestial Fox n. Tang San thought he had to find an opportunity to research this. In any case, since the Celestial Fox n were able to cultivate to the god level by default, it was likely that any severe bacsh would happen during that breakthrough, or maybeter.


    As Tang San swept the floor, pondering the Celestial Fox Vision, he was suddenly enveloped by a familiar sensation as he sensed a faint fragrance wafting through the air.


    "What have you been doing these past few days?" a cold voice followed.


    Tang San turned around, surprised and delighted to see Mei Gongzi standing right beside him.


    "Sister Mei!"


    When he saw her, a warmth rushed into his heart, and joy uncontrobly spilled out.


    Seeing his surprised expression, Mei Gongzi''s questioning tone softened considerably. "I''m asking you something."

 Chapter 234: A Joyful Day

    <h4>Chapter 234: A Joyful Day</h4>


    "Oh. A senior brother has been in secluded cultivation these past few days, and I have been looking after him," Tang San said.


    "Did you ask me for leave? You''ve disappeared without a trace." Mei Gongzi stood with her hands on her hips, speaking with a hint of yful anger.


    This rare disy of girlish coquettishness from her left Tang San somewhat dazed.


    Mei Gongzi seemed to realize her attitude was a bit off and quickly lowered her hands, her pretty face blushing with embarrassment.


    Tang San didn''t argue but meekly said, "Sister Mei, I was wrong."


    "Hmph. I''ll let it slide this time, but in the future, you must ask me for leave if you''re noting to work, got it?"


    "Okay, okay." Tang San quickly agreed.


    Mei Gongzi red at him and turned to leave. "Let''s go."


    Watching her increasingly captivating back, the corners of Tang San''s mouth curled up. <i>Was she worried about me?</i>


    As Mei Gongzi walked away, she couldn''t help but question herself. What was happening to her? Why did she fail to control her emotions when she saw this guy?


    Having not seen Tang San for a few days, she always felt something was missing, as if there was a void inside her. Today, she habitually went to the square, and seeing him sweeping there, she couldn''t help but run over.


    Tang San''s surprise upon seeing her was deeply imprinted in her mind. For some reason, her own emotions also swelled with joy. She just couldn''t help wanting to look after him.


    Seeing Mei Gongzi was the highlight of Tang San''s day. He felt as if the broom in his hands was lighter, and naturally, his mood was delightful.


    <i>Is she worried about me? Even though she doesn''t remember her past life now, she always feels closeness and familiarity with it. Otherwise, maybe I wouldn''t have recognized her at first sight.</i>


    Tang San didn��t have thevish wish for her to recall everything from their past lives. He was satisfied as long as she fell in love with him in this life, and they came together again. As for the stories of their past lives, he could slowly share them with her once they were together.


    After a day''s work, Tang San felt his mood was uplifted, and upon returning to the Redemption Society, he immediately received good news.


    Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li had both made breakthroughs. Perhaps it was due to the luck bestowed by Du Bai, but they both reached the sixth order on the same day. The Chrono Croc Transformation and Golden Roc Transformation evolved simultaneously. As for Wu Bingji, even though he was still far from the eighth order, his recent practice in the hidden weapon techniques taught by Tang San had been fruitful, and he was making continuous progress in elemental control. He was now the strongest among the students and was actually getting close to the teachers as well. Most importantly, he was still very young, which meant that he held great potential to reach the god level in the future.


    Indeed, it was a joyous day!


    Hispanions were advancing in ranks, and Tang San could start preparing for his own breakthrough to the seventh order.


    Perhaps the impact of killing the Wind Wolf King was just too significant in Kali City, but during the following month, Mei Gongzi made no further moves, and Tang San did not see her with her milk tea either.


    Over the month, through daily interaction with hispanions, Tang San had elevated another two Demonic God Transformations to the peak of the fifth order, and he was ready to break through at any moment.[1]


    However, one crucial preparation was still unfinished. Only uponpleting this task could he genuinely start on the path to advancement. His preparatory work was almost done.


    Early in the morning, Tang San arrived at Kali Academy. He picked up a broom, but instead of hurrying to clean the square, he ran to the path that people had to use to get to the main teaching building and waited quietly.


    Having spent so much time at Kali Academy, Tang San was very familiar with everything here, like the path he was guarding now, which was the route Mei Gongzi took to school.


    Streams of demon students passed, heading to the main teaching building for sses. And finally, Tang San saw the person he had been waiting for.


    From a distance, he saw Mei Gongzi walking alone. Perhaps because of that incident, Tang San had not seen Mei Gongzi with the Beauty and the Beast team members for a long time. The Golden Lion Dog could be seen asionally, but not by Mei Gongzi''s side, which made him feel a little smug.


    Tang San immediately picked up his broom and pretended to sweep the floor, approaching Mei Gongzi.


    As soon as he appeared, Mei Gongzi saw him and couldn''t help but look puzzled; she knew Tang San''s usual work area, but it did not include this area!


    Tang San approached her as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. As they were about to pass each other, he flicked his wrist, sending a small paper ball flying toward Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi instinctively caught it, and before she could say anything, Tang San had already brushed past her and walked away.


    Mei Gongzi was stunned but quickly pocketed the paper ball and continued toward the teaching building.


    This morning''s lesson was theoretical. Entering the ssroom, Mei Gongzi sat down at her desk. By then, many demon race students had already arrived, but since the ss hadn''t started yet, the ssroom was somewhat noisy.


    Mei Gongzi looked around, nced at her ssmates to see if anyone was watching her, and then quietly took out and unfolded the paper ball in her palm.


    The paper ball had a line written: "Tonight at the usual spot."


    The usual spot? The small inn? Mei Gongzi was taken aback. What did this guy want to meet her for? She flicked her wrist, and with a surge of spatial power in her palm, she turned the note into powder and readied herself for the ss.


    The day passed quickly. By evening, when Mei Gongzi walked out of the teaching building, that familiar figure was no longer in front of the usual za.


    She first returned to her dormitory to change her clothes before leaving the academy and heading toward Kali Square.


    The turmoil from thest time they killed the Wind Wolf King had finally passed. However, Kali City had recently been conducting various searches, enforcing a strict identity registration system for outsiders, and there were often random checks on the streets. The entire city was in a state of tension.


    Mei Gongzi came to the small inn, and upon arriving, she saw Tang San waiting at the entrance, sitting on the curb next to the inn.


    Seeing her, Tang San smiled and sprung toward Mei Gongzi. "Sister Mei, you��re here!"


    "Let''s talk inside." Mei Gongzi led the way into the inn.


    Tang San followed behind her. <i>Heh, a second date?</i>


    Today, Mei Gongzi wore simple clothes, all in light blue. Yet in Tang San��s eyes, her simplicity held a hint of transcendence.


    Mei Gongzi led him upstairs, closed the door, and activated the soundproofing array.


    "What did you want to see me for?" Mei Gongzi asked, puzzled.


    Tang San said, "Sister Mei, I have a question about cultivation."


    "A question about cultivation? Let''s hear it," Mei Gongzi replied.


    Tang San said, "As you know, my spiritual power has increased quite rapidly, and now that I''m already at the ninth order, there''s not much room for further improvement. Recently, I''ve been focusing on training my bloodline power. I can feel that my bloodline power is at the peak of the sixth order. I''m preparing to break through to the seventh order, but I seem unable to find the threshold for the breakthrough. The mayor, who is teaching me normally, hasn��t been around muchtely, so I was hoping you could give me some guidance."


    Mayor Zhang Haoxuan has indeed been away frequently. This was only normal considering that he was spending plenty of time "guarding" the Golden Wood��in reality, cultivating next to it��and studying the Spirit Summoning Array.


    Mei Gongzi said, "For most cultivators, the seventh order is a significant threshold. It marks the important division between the intermediate and the advanced levels. As for how important it is, that varies among bloodlines. Usually, for those in the third tier and below, the fourth and seventh orders are crucial. As for higher-tier bloodlines, every order means a major change.


    "Your Wind Wolf bloodline is a pretty ordinary bloodline. It��s normally around the fourth tier, but with diligent cultivation, it might be possible to advance it to the third tier. So the seventh order is very significant for you. Breaking through the seventh order means you can break through to the ninth order as long as you keep cultivating. The problem is that even demons often find themselves stuck right before the seventh order, let alone humans."


    1. The original says "peak of the sixth order," but this is inconsistent with future chapters, so we have corrected this here. ?

 Chapter 235: Turn Around!

    <h4>Chapter 235: Turn Around!</h4>


    "The biggest problem is that the power of our bloodline is not concentrated enough. After all, our demonic bloodline only ounts for half of our heritage, and inheriting a rich bloodline is really rare. Another reason is that there��s not enough stimtion to the bloodline. To ovee the threshold of the seventh order, you must umte power and achieve some kind of enlightenment, in such a way that your bloodline power boils to the limit. It''s best to break through in one go. How strong is your body? Can it withstand a burst of bloodline power?"


    Tang San said, "I don''t know either! I''ve been diligently cultivating. It should be okay, I guess. Maybe you could check for me?"


    Mei Gongzi nced at him, but when she looked into Tang San''s clear eyes, she saw nothing but a serene pond, with not a shred of ill intent. Well, he was only eleven after all. He was even younger than her, what could he possibly be intending?


    "Alright,e sit down." Mei Gongzi pointed to a chair beside her.


    Tang San quickly walked over to her. Once close, he could immediately smell the faint, refreshing fragrance emanating from Mei Gongzi, soothing his heart.


    Tang San sat down in front of her. At this moment, the two were so close that they could hear each other''s breathing.


    "Turn around, back toward me." Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but give his head a little smack.


    "Ouch, that hurts." Tang San quickly turned around.


    Seeing him turn around, Mei Gongzi secretly stuck out her tongue, not knowing why but feeling quite satisfied after hitting him.<i> </i>Why did she suddenly feel like teasing him?


    Mei Gongzi steadied her spirit. "Concentrate and rx. Let me check your bloodline."


    "Alright." Tang San settled into the chair, slightly rxing.


    Mei Gongzi raised her hands, cing them on his back. Slowly, she gathered her bloodline energy to probe into Tang San''s body.


    As soon as her bloodline energy entered Tang San''s body, she immediately felt a rich energy fluctuation, calm and stable, continuous and unending. Yet, there was no resistance to her energy; he waspletely open, allowing her to probe within.


    This could only be done if there was absolute trust. In other words, he had no guard against her. This discovery couldn''t help but make Mei Gongzi''s lips curve up slightly.


    She quickly felt that Tang San''s energy flowed smoothly, his bloodline was rich, and his physical condition was excellent. A momentter, however, she was surprised to find that, perhaps due to the constantly flowing energy inside Tang San''s body, her bloodline power was quickly consumed. She subconsciously gathered more of her bloodline power to probe. Since it was just a test, she dared not use too much spatial power to avoid harming Tang San.


    "Sister Mei, I''ll cycle my energy ording to my cultivation method. Can you help me take a look overall?" Tang San suddenly spoke.


    "Okay." Mei Gongzi was filled with curiosity at this moment because, through her probing, she found that the energy within Tang San was continuously flowing. Yet it seemed not to be the energy of the Wind Wolf bloodline, but a very calm energy, seemingly without any bloodline properties.


    When people with demon bloodlines underwent the Demonic God Transformation, the power and aura of their bloodlines always had distinct characteristics. Yet the energy within Tang San seemed to have no specific characteristics; it was a different form of energy from what Mei Gongzi knew, and she was curious about how this energy operated.


    Immediately, she controlled her bloodline power with her spiritual power, slowly starting to circte it following the flow of energy within Tang San''s body.


    The cultivation of bloodline power was centered around the heart, which pumped vast amounts of energy throughout the body. Duringbat, the heartbeat significantly elerated, thereby enhancing the bloodline''s power.


    However, the cirction of energy within Tang San''s body was not centered around the heart but followed a cyclical route through his meridians, seemingly absorbing energy from the outside world for enhancement. His meridians were nearly full of energy, and he appeared to have hit the peak of the sixth order. His energy was very rich and concentrated, and it showed signs ofpression. By all ounts, a breakthrough should naturally follow.


    Unknowingly, Mei Gongzi''s bloodline power followed the energy cirction within Tang San''s body for an entire cycle. She felt weakness several times and had to mobilize her bloodline power repeatedly. Thankfully, after reaching the seventh order, her bloodline power recovered exceptionally quickly, with the top-tier Peacock Demon bloodline allowing her to draw upon spatial power to replenish herself constantly.


    Afterpleting an entire cycle, Mei Gongzi fell into deep thought, but she continued her exploration.


    The route of energy cirction in Tang San was much moreplex than the typical Demonic God Transformation. It seemed to be a specialized cultivation technique. <i>Was it taught to him by Zhang Haoxuan? But there''s no mention of such a cultivation method within the organization! And this method doesn''t seem to mobilize bloodline power purely, so what is this energy inside him?</i>


    After pondering for a moment, she withdrew her hands. At that moment, her body shook slightly, and she was surprised to find that her bloodline power had been consumed by half. However, at her level, even without active cultivation, her bloodline power would automatically absorb space elemental energy from the air to recover.


    "Tang San, what kind of technique are you cultivating? Who taught you?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Tang San turned around, his face the very picture of innocence. "I don''t know what technique it is. I found a book when I was young, and after I learned to read, I started practicing the method described in it. And it turned out like this."


    "Did you practice this technique first and then awaken the Wind Wolf Transformation?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Tang San nodded. "You could say that."


    "Your technique is quite strange, and so is the energy it produces. Does this energy support you when you use the Wind Wolf Transformation?" Mei Gongzi continued.


    He nodded again. "Yes, that''s how it works.��


    Mei Gongzi frowned slightly and said, "From what I can sense about your body, you''re in excellent condition. Your spiritual power is vigorous, and your meridians are resilient. For your age, this is pretty much miraculous. Supporting a breakthrough to the seventh order should not be a problem. You don''t need to rush; as long as you continue cultivating, the energy will naturally break through when it overflows. There''s no way you��ll fail. This isn''t just the Wind Wolf Transformation; it''s unexpected! Does Mayor Zhang know about this cultivation method you''re practicing?"


    Tang San said, "He knows. But for some reason, no one else can practice this technique. My teacher has had others try, but it didn''t work. Right now, only I can do it."


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback. "That''s strange. If you don''t mind, tell me how to practice it?"


    "Of course!" Tang San said without hesitation.


    He felt no need to keep the secret from Mei Gongzi. After all, the Mysterious Heaven Technique required the practitioner to be a pure human without any Demonic God Transformation. Mei Gongzi, who already had two powerful Demonic God Transformations, could not possibly seed in cultivating it.


    Immediately, Tang San described the Mysterious Heaven Technique to Mei Gongzi. While speaking, he silently collected from his meridians the portion of the Peacock Demon bloodline power that Mei Gongzi had used to probe into his body. It was more than enough. This was the top-tier bloodline power!


    Although the Peacock Demons�� bloodline tier was not exactly as high as the Celestial Foxes��, it was nevertheless a top bloodline, and its overall power was incredible.


    This was Tang San''s final preparation for the breakthrough to the seventh order. Recing his sh Leopard bloodline with a Peacock Demon bloodline was a logical decision, and it alsopensated for the shortfall of not reaching the peak of the sixth order with the Celestial Fox imprint. When he broke through to the seventh order, having a top-tier bloodline as the lead would greatly help him. Obviously, he couldn''t reveal this Peacock Transformation in front of Mei Gongzi, but that was not a problem.

 Chapter 236: Secretly Learning the Peacock Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 236: Secretly Learning the Peacock Transformation</h4>


    Mei Gongzi listened intently as he exined the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Blessed with excellentprehension and memory from a young age, she quickly grasped its principles through Tang San''s exnation. Yet, upon attempting it herself, she found she couldn''t harness this technique.


    Cultivating using the Mysterious Heaven Technique involved absorbing the power of the heavens and the earth into one''s body and converting it into one��s own, gradually increasing it until it achieved a self-perpetuating and self-improving cycle. However, for Mei Gongzi, who possessed the Demonic God Transformation, the natural energy she absorbed automatically converted into bloodline power, leaving no opportunity to channel it otherwise. This was a key reason why humans with the Demonic God Transformation ability could not cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    "This technique is indeed quite fascinating. Unfortunately, it seems that those who have the Demonic God Transformation are unable to cultivate it. Well, in any case, it''s uncertain what the future holds, so be cautious in your cultivation. Do you understand? If you feel ready to break through to the seventh order, you can seek guidance from a teacher at the Redemption Society. If they''re unavable, notify me in advance, and I''ll apany you through the breakthrough. But we''ll need to find a quiet ce," Mei Gongzi advised Tang San.


    "Mm, thank you, Sister Mei, for resolving my doubts today," Tang San said, his face filled with gratitude.


    "Let''s head back; it''s gettingte." Mei Gongzi stood up, and Tang San quickly followed suit.


    His height had almost caught up to Mei Gongzi''s. She nced at him and saw his clear eyes looking back at her, causing her heartbeat to elerate slightly.


    ��We should part ways here. Be careful on your way back, don''t wander off, and head straight to the academy, alright?�� Mei Gongzi cautioned again.


    ��Okay, Sister Mei,�� Tang San responded.


    After leaving the inn, Mei Gongzi went her way, and Tang San watched her figure disappear at the end of the street before he quickened his pace and left in another direction.


    What Mei Gongzi didn''t know was that Tang San was not only nning to break through soon, but he was feeling a massive urgency. It was...well, it was much like the feeling of desperately needing to urinate. Absorbing Mei Gongzi''s bloodline power instantly saturated the energy within his body. He desperately used his spiritual power to suppress it, to prevent it from bursting forth.


    And he couldn��t just break through anywhere! Although breaking through to the seventh order wouldn��t cause too much of a disturbance for a generic bloodline, if he centered his breakthrough around the Peacock Demon bloodline, whatever manifestation it produced would almost certainly not be nice and peaceful. He had to find a safe ce.


    Just now, he had been unable to urge Mei Gongzi to leave, so he could only wait for her to take the initiative. Now that she was gone, he dared not dy any longer, rushing toward the direction of the Kali Mountains. The most suitable ce for his breakthrough was, of course, near the pieces of Golden Wood.


    Mei Gongzi, on the other hand, was not in a hurry. As she leisurely walked toward Kali Academy, she silently recalled the technique Tang San had described. This technique was indeed rather unique! Moreover, he had shared it with her without any reservations. This seemed to be the mark of a great destiny. His rapid increase in spiritual power might also be rted to this technique. In the future, she thought it would be worth observing the effects of his technique more closely. If it really proved to be as excellent as she thought, perhaps she could let her descendants try it as well.


    <i>Descendants? What am I thinking...</i>


    Mei Gongzi''s pretty face suddenly flushed red; thankfully, it was night, and no one noticed anything.


    Tang San was now sprinting with all his might. Having reached the less-popted periphery of the city, he no longer cared about alerting others. Applying the Celestial Fox Vision''s luck enhancement to himself, he moved forward at breakneck speed. Though asionally some demons turned their heads as he passed by, he finally managed to rush into the Kali Mountains unimpeded.


    Upon entering the Kali Mountains, golden light surged behind him as he instantly unleashed the Golden Roc Transformation. Two massive golden wings spread out from his back, pping rapidly. With the incredible speed of the Golden Roc, he headed straight for the location of the Golden Wood.


    If Cheng Zicheng were to see him now, she would realize that Tang San''s flying speed was even greater than hers. He was nothing more than a golden streak of light shing low in the mountains, like a meteor chasing the moon.


    The howling winds brushed against him. Tang San could clearly feel the bloodline within his body rapidly stirring. The six Demonic God Transformations and the recently introduced Peacock Demon bloodline energy were all restlessly surging, nearly overwhelming the suppression of his energy vortex.


    Fortunately, his spiritual power far exceeded his cultivation level, allowing him to barely suppress it with the spiritual power governed by divine consciousness.


    After holding back for so long, it was finally time to break through.


    The Golden Roc truly was the fastest of all demons. The powerful golden bloodline brought Tang San to the destination in no time at all.


    Golden light swirled, Tang San''s wings retracted, and he somersaulted in the air before gracefullynding close to the array.


    Zhang Haoxuan, who was cultivating next to the Spirit Summoning Array, almost instantly opened his eyes and looked up at him. His bloodline surged, ready to act at any moment. Upon recognizing Tang San, he retracted his aura and frowned, "Why are you in such a hurry? Eh..."


    As soon as he spoke, he immediately sensed something was off with Tang San, whose face was beet red and whose bloodline was restlessly surging throughout his body as if he was drunk.


    "Master, please, protect me," Tang San said as he plopped down next to the Spirit Summoning Array.


    Their conversation also woke up the meditating Crimson Fox girls, who couldn''t help but curiously look over at Tang San.


    After over a month of growth, the pieces of Golden Wood had fully taken root��now they could be called Golden Saplings. Compared to when they were nted, they had grown by at least five inches, and a distinct vitality was now overflowing from the Spirit Summoning Array.


    Although the growth still appeared slow, it was a positive reinforcement cycle. The more vigorous the life energy, the more natural qi the Spirit Summoning Array could attract, thus generating even more life energy. As long as this growth process continued unimpeded, these Golden Saplings would eventually grow into towering trees.


    As soon as Tang San settled down, his energy surged out like a storm. A white torrent of energy swept around him, and colorful lights burst forth from within him for a moment.


    "Step back!" Zhang Haoxuan hurried to Tang San''s side, urging the Crimson Fox girls to quickly move away to avoid being harmed by the energy released during Tang San''s breakthrough.


    He sat down beside Tang San, his gaze intently fixed on this disciple he hadn''t actually taught anything.


    This was the first time he was actually witnessing Tang San break through, and he wanted to see what kind of changes would ur during the breakthrough of someone whose cultivation method was so special.


    Tang San''s face showed signs of pain, and his body trembled continuously, but he remained firmly seated, stable as a mountain.


    In terms of mental fortitude, how could a child like Du Baipare to him?


    No matter how restless the energy inside his body, he maintained the steadiest mindset. The vortex of the Mysterious Heaven Technique operated slowly yet steadfastly, gradually guiding the six bloodline imprints.


    Then, he gradually released the suppression.


    His first task was to break through to the Mysterious Heaven Technique''s seventh order, expand the meridians throughout his body, enhance his physical endurance, and utilize some of the life energy from the Golden Saplings to nourish himself. Only then would he proceed with the breakthroughs of the various bloodline imprints he had.


    The three most crucial things he had to do in that respect were pushing the Blue Silver Emperor to the seventh order, pushing the Discerning Eye of Heaven to the fifth order, and creating a Peacock Transformation imprint to rece the Leopard sh��and then stabilizing the Peacock Transformation at the seventh order. As for the Wind Tiger Transformation reaching the seventh order, that was rtively easy. The Chrono Croc Transformation and Golden Roc Transformation were stable at the fifth order, and he could push them to the sixth. Future breakthroughs would follow one by one.


    Over the past month, he had secretly advanced the Golden Roc Transformation and Chrono Croc Transformation to the peak of the fifth order thanks to his colleagues�� breakthroughs. The Discerning Eye of Heaven was also at the peak of the fourth order; it was capable of reaching the fifth, but he had consciously chosen not to allow it.


    Once that breakthrough urred, he would inevitably lose control over his spiritual power for a while. The process of enhancing the Discerning Eye of Heaven involved intense collisions and fusions of spiritual power, which he had witnessed with Du Bai. How could he suppress his cultivation level once his spiritual power went out of control? Hence, he waited until today to go through aprehensive breakthrough.

 Chapter 237: Condensing a Soul Core

    <h4>Chapter 237: Condensing a Soul Core</h4>


    The Mysterious Heaven Technique��s vortex operated continuously and steadily within him as Tang San gradually suppressed the bloodline imprints inside his body. Meanwhile, the bottleneck began to loosen under the relentless surge of power, and the gateway to the seventh order slowly opened.


    Sitting beside Tang San, Zhang Haoxuan could distinctly feel the aura within his pupil; although not as vast in quantity as his own, this energy was circting endlessly, vibrant and somehow apparently inexhaustible.


    The spiritual energy of heaven and earth drawn by the Spirit Summoning Array was almost entirely absorbed by Tang San now. The nearby Golden Saplings also emitted a distinct golden halo, and the life energy that they generated was drawn to Tang San in what seemed like a very natural process.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    Zhang Haoxuan felt like something had exploded within his consciousness. In front of him, Tang San suddenly radiated bright white light; a dense halo enveloped his body, illuminating everything around him down to the finest detail.


    This white light rapidly swirled around his body, forming a white vortex. The funnel-shaped vortex spun swiftly, elerating the spiritual energy in the air toward him.


    The Spirit Summoning Array hadn��t been active for all that long, so the scale on which it operated hadn��t grown by much. At this moment, however, the speed of gathering spiritual energy significantly surged, as if Tang San himself had be a massive Spirit Summoning Array.


    A terrifying stream of energy flowed through the air, as Tang San''s aura began to undergo significant changes. His skeleton emitted soft crackling sounds, and though his entire body was shivering, his back was ever straighter.


    The fluctuation of his energy intensified, and his skin turned red due to the concentration of energy. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth swarmed into him, continuously pouring into his body, transforming it to be stronger and more resilient.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face as he sat there with his hands sped in front of his chest. He clearly felt his cultivation rising, despite the turmoil within his body. And with the breakthrough to the seventh order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, it felt as if his entire body was swelling��the state of his body was changing.


    The energy vortex outside sped up, reflecting the speed of the vortex inside. A speck of light began to coalesce within his dantian.


    The cultivation in this life differed from his previous one, yet many aspects converged, especially since he continued cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Although in this life, it was not the power of the martial soul but the bloodline power of the Demonic God Transformation, he still centered his practice around the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Under his control, the vortex sped up even more and the energy within it graduallypressed inward. At the same time, his energy circted throughout his body, nourishing his flesh, bones, and meridians.


    To withstand higher levels of the Demonic God Transformation, it was essential to ensure his body had the capacity to endure the sheer energy. Enhancing his physical strength was crucial, just as important as his capacity to control the bloodline imprints and the abilities they granted him.


    Just like the seventh order of the Demonic God Transformation, the seventh order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique also represented a significant threshold; only upon reaching this realm could the characteristic of endless vitality genuinely be manifested.


    As the energy continued topress inward, the spark of light at the center of the vortex shone brighter and brighter. Finally, as the dense energy around it converged into it, that light turned solid.


    It was a diamond-shaped crystal that was slowly rotating. Initially, it was only the size of a pinhead, but as Tang San absorbed more and more power from the outside, its volume gradually increased. As if finding an outlet, the surging energy within Tang San began to rush into it wildly.


    In his previous life, Tang San called this the soul core��the core formed by cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique. With this core, energy could flow endlessly within him and be ever-renewing. The soul core formed a cycle; it was able to generate energy on its own, but also continuously absorb energy from the surroundings, converting it into life energy and the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, continuously enhancing itself.


    After breaking through to the seventh order, Tang San would possess greater endurance inbat, and at the same time, his cultivation efforts would be doubly effective.


    At this moment, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth drawn from the outside world was being absorbed into his dantian at a ridiculous speed, slowly making the newly formed soul core more cohesive and stable.


    This process was crucial and had to be wless. It was the foundation for his future breakthrough to the god level.


    Tang Sanpleted this process with practiced ease. The soul core within his dantian gradually expanded to the size of a thumb before ceasing to grow anyrger. Then, it slowly became more translucent and, at the same time, more solid.


    The energy flow surrounding it also stabilized; energy continuously merged into it, but at the same time, it also emanated energy that joined the flow. A perfect cycle began to form.


    This cycle perpetuated itself, and thanks to it, Tang San��s cultivation could be autonomous. In other words, the soul core allowed him to cultivate even faster.


    Inside the dantian, around the soul core, several orbs of light had also emerged��his bloodline imprints. Each of these orbs represented a type of Demonic God Transformation, each a unique and powerful force. This power could merge into his bloodline, bing his own power as needed, and also represented the abilities that allowed him to blend in with this world.


    Tang San did not touch these orbs of light for now. The priority was to stabilize the soul core and reinforce his physique, enhancing his body''s capacity to endure. Only then would he enhance each of these bloodline imprints, aligning the advancement of his cultivation with each specific Demonic God Transformation.


    Today''s breakthrough could be regarded as the most important one since his arrival in this world. After this evolution, he could be said to have a certain self-protective ability, making it very difficult for someone below the level of a God King to kill him.


    While absorbing Mei Gongzi''s bloodline power, he had already anticipated that he might be unable to suppress it, since he was already nearing a breakthrough anyway.


    Sitting beside the Golden Saplings allowed him to leverage the Spirit Summoning Array to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth while also absorbing the life essence brought by the Golden Saplings to some extent. At the same time, however, his breakthrough assisted the Spirit Summoning Array in drawing in even more vast energy, reciprocally nourishing the saplings.


    The soul core gradually transitioned from an initial milky white to diamond-like rity, and the surrounding energy turned gentle. As it slightly vibrated and fluctuated, the energy flow throughout Tang San��s entire body elerated significantly.


    Ayer of white misty aura emanated from Tang San''s entire body, enveloping him.


    Zhang Haoxuan, who had been attentively observing, could naturally sense the energy bursting within Tang San. It was extremely pure and robust, and it emanated a bnced and peaceful aura. It was much more tranquil and richer than the usual Demonic God Transformation energy. Once the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was attracted, it naturally merged into it, bing a part of it. During the enhancement process, it induced changes, seemingly refining Tang San''s body.


    <i>Hmm.... This is a breakthrough to the seventh order, but it��s different from any other seventh-order breakthrough I��ve ever seen. The energy fluctuations are much stronger and denser than normal seventh-order bloodline fluctuations... In fact, they��re so powerful that they affect everything around him.</i>


    The Golden Saplings within the Spirit Summoning Array now had a faint golden halo enveloping them��it was a sign that the life energy within them was so rich that it was overflowing and dissipating in the surroundings.


    <i>This must be the energy produced using the Mysterious Heaven Technique; what a remarkable and powerful ability!</i>

 Chapter 238: Bridging Heaven and Earth

    <h4>Chapter 238: Bridging Heaven and Earth</h4>


    As time passed, Tang San''s aura became increasingly stable, and the energy output of his soul core gradually flowed out and formed arge white cocoon around him.


    The Crimson Fox girls watched from not too far away. They had little understanding of their nominal master. He was nothing more than a child in their eyes, yet he had drawn the Spirit Summoning Array. And the aura emanating from him at this moment was incredibly powerful.


    They had been cultivating around the Spirit Summoning Array for a while, influenced by the life essence of the Golden Saplings. Their bloodline was subtly evolving, and though they had not yet advanced, their spirits were vigorous and their vital energy abundant. Despite the solitude of mountain life, there was at least a sense of stability. Having spent some time together, they could feel that Zhang Haoxuan and Tang San meant no harm, and the fact that they were both humans certainly helped that impression.


    These girls, basically nk tes when it came to knowing the world, gradually feel a sense of belonging toward the two.


    Tang San''s breakthrough could be described aspletely natural, resulting from long-suppressed efforts. In recent days, he had been absorbing the energies of various treasure nts in the academy''s store, bolstering his vital energy and improving his physique. His physique now surpassed those of his peers, which meant that he had ovee the most significant obstacle in advancing his cultivation. At the same time, his spiritual power had been continuously increasing. After reaching the ninth order, interaction with his divine consciousness became much easier, nourishing the divine consciousness and being nourished by it in turn. While the total amount of his spiritual power had not changed much, it had begun a silent transformation��this time, it showed signs of starting to solidify.


    Only recently had the umtions from Tang San''s previous life begun to truly manifest. He had been able to reproduce some abilities from his past life, and now, he had also started to evolve his body toward the level of his previous one.


    The soul core within his dantian gradually stabilized, his energy vortex operated smoothly, and he absorbed a vast amount of spiritual energy of heaven and earth. And in this remote mountain forest... no one noticed his transformation.


    As a hint of dawn began to lighten the distant sky, Tang San suddenly took a deep breath. Instantly, the white currents swirling around his body were drawn into his mouth and nose, as if he was a whale drawing in water, and he once more appeared clear within the others�� sights.


    Zhang Haoxuan, who had spent the whole night staring at him, felt nothing but joy and relief. <i>Is this a sign of sess?</i>


    The Crimson Fox girls, who had nodded off by now, were startled awake and instinctively looked at Tang San.


    They witnessed a remarkable scene.


    At this moment, the distant sky was lit with the light of dawn, tinged with a faint purple hue. Tang San suddenly opened his eyes, and a deep purple light burst forth from the depths of his gaze.


    Suddenly, a surge of spiritual power burst forth from Tang San. Even Zhang Haoxuan felt his sea of consciousness was trembling��a ninth-order powerhouse like him was experiencing a sense of suppression! This was a clear sign that his spiritual power was being overwhelmed!


    <i>When did his spiritual power be so strong?</i>


    As Zhang Haoxuan was gaping in shock, the purple in Tang San''s eyes gradually turned into a gleaming white radiance. Following that, a white stream of energy burst forth from his body, condensing above his head into the form of a white fox.


    The fox had nine tails, one of which was solid.


    Zhang Haoxuan had seen this exact scene y out before! Wasn''t it when Du Bai broke through? Unlike Du Bai''s breakthrough, however, behind this Celestial Fox''s head was a ring of colored light, with nine different colors shimmering faintly. In the deep blue eyes of the Celestial Fox, there was an additional glint of gold, giving it an aura of wisdom.


    <i>A different Celestial Fox Transformation?</i> Zhang Haoxuan watched in stunned silence. Then, he felt all the spiritual power bursting forth from Tang San suddenly retract. In the next instant, an invisible spiritual storm erupted from Tang San, and the Celestial Fox phantom above his head expanded more than twice in size.


    The eyes of the Celestial Fox phantom shone brightly, gazing into the sky with pride, staring directly at the rising sun that was slowly emerging in the distance.


    Within Tang San''s sea of consciousness, his spiritual power began to boil as the Celestial Fox Transformation evolved. The golden sea churned violently, and the imprint of the Celestial Fox Transformation within his dantian rapidly expanded and grew, illuminating the entire dantian with its light.


    His energy vortex operated intensely, influenced by the luminous aura of the Celestial Fox imprint. The surging spiritual power within his bloodline climbed upward, pouring into the sea of consciousness and beginning to merge with the spiritual power there.


    In Tang San''s case, there was no collision of spiritual forces as there had been with Du Bai. This was because a strand of divine consciousness sat at the center of his sea of consciousness. The spiritual power born from stimting the Celestial Fox Transformation within his bloodline was simply not at the level where it could affect his sea of consciousness. The two began to merge almost immediately, initiating the evolution of the Celestial Fox imprint.


    The Celestial Fox bloodline was one of the highest-tier powers in this ne, butpleting its breakthrough at that moment was the easiest task for Tang San. With the strengthening of his spiritual power and divine consciousness, that trace of divine consciousness had expanded to more than twice its original size, and it was enough to easily cow the fifth-order Celestial Fox Transformation into submission.


    Within Tang San''s sea of consciousness, the shadow of the nine-tailed Celestial Fox flickered. However, with the pressure from the divine consciousness, it did not dare to rear its head. Instead, it meekly submitted to the illumination of the divine consciousness.


    The sea of consciousness churned and boiled. At the center of this sea, around that point of golden divine consciousness, numerous golden light motes began to flow in, gradually sketching outlines��these lines connected, drawing in more spiritual power, solidifying progressively into a golden, diamond-shaped crystal.


    Today, Tang San was consolidating not just the soul core but also the spirit core. He had not taken this step yet with his spiritual power; not because he couldn''t, but because the right moment had not arrived. Now, with the evolution of his body and the breakthrough of the Celestial Fox Transformation, he could draw upon even greater spiritual power. This allowed him to condense his spirit core in one go and allow it to be as solid as it could at this stage.


    The golden diamond-shaped crystal slowly solidified. It radiated soft blue light, which slowly condensed into a blue halo around it.


    Inside the sea of consciousness, this immense spiritual power converged into the spirit core, causing the sea of consciousness to gradually be more spacious. The spirit core continuously emitted ripples of golden light, like innumerable golden halos. As these golden halos spread out, like ripples on the surface of ake, Tang San''s sea of consciousness also expanded.


    Tang San closed his eyes again; the soul core in his dantian and the soul core within his sea of consciousness shone. A golden halo appeared on his forehead, and a white light emerged from his lower abdomen.


    The golden light flowed downward, along his chest and abdomen, connecting with the dantian. The two linked up, instantly bridging the gap between heaven and earth.


    Tang San shuddered, and his bones cracked. Within just a moment, his body seemed to have grown in size. A powerful aura surged out from within him. With the bridge between heaven and earth established, a second fox tail solidified instantly behind the phantom of the Celestial Fox above his head, a processpletely unlike the gradual growth experienced by Du Bai.


    The Celestial Fox''s eyes suddenly shone brightly with a deep blue light, and Tang San''s aura instantly dropped. The aura rising mightily like a growing wave vanished in an instant.


    Or rather... it was concealed.

 Chapter 239: The Fusion of Peacock Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 239: The Fusion of Peacock Transformation</h4>


    Both Tang San and Du Bai had the same Celestial Fox Transformation, but the control exhibited by Tang San was on apletely different level. Tang San didn��t need protection from anyone to achieve his breakthrough.


    At this moment, his Discerning Eye of Heaven officially evolved to the fifth order.


    Following the evolution of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, a burst of blue light erupted from his dantian the next moment. The Wind Tiger bloodline imprint was right at the peak of the sixth order, and it easily and immediately broke through the barrier and reached the seventh order.


    Once that was done, Tang San��s aura fell for a few moments as he connected with the bridge between heaven and earth.


    Then, a golden silhouette emerged behind him, its wings unfurling in a ze of gold as if roaring toward the heavens.


    With a wave of Zhang Haoxuan''s hand, a wall of fire rose, blocking the view of the Crimson Fox girls. He naturally sensed that Tang San was now pushing his various bloodline imprints to the next level. Even though these Crimson Fox girls might not fully understand what they were witnessing, it was better to prevent them from seeing too much.


    Meanwhile, Zhang Haoxuan himself stared intently at Tang San. He was well aware that what he was witnessing right now was an extraordinary scene, something that had never happened in the entire history of the Daemon Continent.


    The Golden Roc''s wings solidified gradually, a sharp aura piercing the sky and slicing through the vast expanse. The golden light slowly retracted as the Golden Roc Transformation reached the sixth order, further enhancing its speed.


    After the Golden Roc Transformation breakthrough, everything around Tang San seemed to slow down, as if time itself was bing viscous. Yet the next instant, everything around him seemed to elerate, and the rate at which he absorbed the natural essence of heaven and earth suddenly surged.


    The Golden Saplings beside Tang San grew at a speed visible to the naked eye; in just a moment, they were a whole inch taller.


    The silhouette of the Chrono Croc slowly emerged. Its body began to swell, its scales became increasingly thick, and it radiated a soft halo. In its eyes, light rotated clockwise to the left and counterclockwise on the right, and under its aura, it felt as if time became elusive and uncertain.


    A point of golden light shone on Tang San''s forehead, and the silhouette of the Chrono Croc suddenly elerated its evolution. Once its form stabilized, the Chrono Croc abruptly turned and flew back into Tang San''s forehead, disappearing without a trace.


    The Chrono Croc Transformation reached the sixth order as well, and with that, one more breakthrough wasplete.


    The breakthroughs of both the Golden Roc Transformation and the Chrono Croc Transformation were smooth, obviously because Tang San had already reached the seventh order of cultivation and had connected the bridge between heaven and earth, making his endurance much greater than before.


    The dual cores��soul core and spirit core��that resonated with each other allowed his endurance to soar. In an endurance match, it would now take a god-level being to oust him.


    By this point, the breakthrough process was more than halfway done. Four of the six bloodline imprints had achieved their breakthrough.


    The next moment, a cluster of yellow light was removed from the energy vortex in Tang San��s dantian; under his control, the sh Leopard bloodline imprint was pushed out and dissipated into the air.


    The eager silver light cluster instantly burst with brilliant light, and under Tang San''s guidance, it filled the empty position. As it took its ce, it illuminated not only Tang San''s entire dantian, but even the area on a five-meter radius around him.


    The proud cry of a bird followed, causing the aura around Tang San to fluctuate violently.


    Zhang Haoxuan watched in shock as silver light continuously flickered around Tang San''s body, followed by the emergence of spatial cracks in the void.


    It seemed that under Tang San''s careful control, these spatial cracks did not appear near the Golden Saplings. Still, they were bing more numerous and unstable, continuously slicing through the air and distorting space.


    <i>What the... This is... No way he did what I think he did....</i>


    On Tang San''s forehead, streaks of golden light began to emerge, seemingly containing the power of space. They constantly twisted and trembled as if they were about to tear his body apart. However, the brightest point of golden light at the center deterred these distorted spatial fluctuations from causing destructive effects.


    One by one, splendid peacock feathers slowly unfurled behind Tang San, blooming in full glory like a peacock''s wheel of light.


    <i>Peacock Transformation! He has even acquired the Peacock Transformation! He must��ve absorbed it from Mei Gongzi...</i>


    Zhang Haoxuan gulped hard. The spectacle in front of his eyes only served to reinforce his view of Tang San as an unfathomably deep pool.


    <i>Celestial Fox, Peacock Demon, Chrono Croc, Golden Roc��aren''t all of these top-tier existences? Especially the Celestial Fox and Peacock Demon, both bloodlines have produced Demon Emperors! What does it mean for all humanity when such bloodlines appear simultaneously in one human?</i>


    Zhang Haoxuan didn��t even notice that his breathing was bing heavier. His eyes brightened, seeing a real hope for humanity''s rise in Tang San. If previously his hope was but a personal fantasy, now, that fantasy was clearly beginning to turn into reality!


    <i>If Tang San can reach the god level in the future, what kind of power will he acquire?</i>


    The silver light fluctuated intensely and unstably as a battle for dominance began within Tang San''s dantian.


    Upon its appearance, the overwhelmingly strong silver light cluster instantly pressed towards the Discerning Eye of Heaven, attempting to seize the primary position.


    This phenomenon caused Tang San to feel a twinge in his heart��he remembered very well how the Celestial Fox bloodline imprint behaved after he integrated it. Now, it was happening all over again.


    As a proud first-tier bloodline, the Peacock Transformation was unwilling to sit below others, even other first-tier bloodlines. This was especially true since the Celestial Fox imprint was only at the fifth order, while the new Peacock imprint was at the seventh. How could a seventh-order Peacock Transformation allow a fifth-order Celestial Fox Transformation to surpass it?


    The two imprints immediately began to collide fiercely. This made the aura around Tang San be even more unstable.


    The peacock feathers behind his head gathered together, and a peacock silhouette slowly emerged. Opposite the peacock silhouette, the Two-Tailed Celestial Fox reappeared. Both sides took a hard stance against each other, neither giving an inch.


    The seventh-order Peacock Transformation was somewhat more assertive. Seven dazzlingly colorful feathers emittedyers of intense silver light, causing the silhouette of the Celestial Fox to start bing somewhat ethereal.


    However, the Celestial Fox Transformation was not to be outdone. It continuously drew spiritual energy from Tang San''s spirit core to replenish itself, refusing to relinquish its original position.


    While the Celestial Fox Transformation itself was not as high-order as the Peacock Transformation, Tang San''s spiritual power was at the level of a powerful ninth-order demon, and the Celestial Fox Transformation had yed a crucial role in forming the spirit core. Borrowing spiritual power was naturally effortless.


    Tang San''s body was in turmoil as the two sides faced off.


    Then... a faint blue halo suddenly emerged from the spot of golden light on Tang San''s forehead. A light blue human silhouette, holy and ethereal, appeared behind him, right between the seven-feathered peacock and the two-tailed fox.


    In that instant, Zhang Haoxuan''s body stiffened, and everything seemed to freeze around him.


    The silhouette rose its hands and ced them on the heads of the peacock and the fox. Both trembled slightly before turning into light and returning to Tang San''s body.


    Inside Tang San''s dantian, the two lights became docile again, with the Celestial Fox Transformation in the first position and the Peacock Transformation in the second. They were no longer fighting, and each was stable in its ce.


    On Tang San''s forehead, the point of golden light quickly connected the twisted patterns of light, forming them into a shape. It was the shape of a golden crown resting upon his brow.


    Yes, it was the Peacock Crown, symbolizing the most pure bloodline of the Peacock Demon lineage!


    The blue silhouette behind Tang San returned to his forehead and disappeared. Tang San''s aura surged again, and the shattered space and cracks around him quickly closed and dissipated.


    The integration of the seventh-order Peacock Demon imprint wasplete.


    Tang San had learned from his previous experience, and instead of letting them fight, he summoned a bit of his divine consciousness from the get-go. The result was that he intimidated the two major bloodlines into instant submission.


    <i>How could the divine consciousness of a God King be something that two bloodline remnants could contend with?</i>


    With that, the fifth imprint was taken care of, and right now, Tang San only had onest imprint left to evolve.


    In fact, due to his breakthrough to the seventh order, he had also gained an additional slot. However, he did not intend to fill this vacant slot immediately; he was reserving it for the future. If a suitable Demonic God Transformation arose, he could integrate it then and there to enhance his strength. Keeping a slot open was the best strategy.


    Strands of blue vines swiftly emerged from Tang San''s body, entwining with the Golden Saplings within the Spirit Summoning Array.


    A pale blue halo appeared around Tang San, instantly connecting him to the life essence of the Golden Saplings through the vines. At this moment, life energymunicated with life energy. The Spirit Summoning Array shone brightly, and the spiritual energy in the sky instantly became denser.


    The spiritual energy of heaven and earth began to converge in a funnel shape once more, this time flowing into the Golden Saplings in a massive stream.


    The Blue Silver Emperor was the sovereign of nts in Tang San��s previous life. In this life, although his Blue Silver Emperor could not yetpare to its former glory, he was carefully cultivating it in such a way that it had already acquired some of the old Blue Silver Emperor��s essence.


    The Golden Saplings had immense life energy and even more extraordinary potential. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth that they absorbed could be perfectly transformed into life energy, allowing them to grow and possess even greater vitality.


    At this moment, Tang San was using his Blue Silver Emperor to stimte the Golden Saplings. It was a virtuous circle��the Blue Silver Emperor had to absorb both life energy and a vast amount of spiritual energy of heaven and earth to replenish itself as it advanced. With the assistance of the Spirit Summoning Array, it was drawing in massive amounts of energy, which allowed it to nourish the Golden Saplings as well. At the same time, the life energy they generated nourished the Blue Silver Emperor.


    If he had done the same thing with just the pieces of Golden Wood, it would have been counterproductive, like trying to help nts grow by pulling them up. But with the Spirit Summoning Array present and the pieces of wood having grown roots by now, it was entirely feasible.


    Tang San''s Blue Silver Emperor emitted a blue-golden halo that grew brighter and brighter. The Golden Saplings grew at a ridiculous speed, sprouting branches that gradually began to intertwine as they climbed toward the heavens.


    The already vast life energy around them only grew vaster and denser.


    Finally, the Golden Saplings�� vitality was enough to allow them to evolve to the next level. Under Tang San��s careful guidance, the Golden Saplings slowly merged into a small tree.


    The Golden Tree was thus born, and it radiated every bit of the radiance that Tang San so well remembered.

 Chapter 240: Advancement Complete

    <h4>Chapter 240: Advancement Complete</h4>


    The newborn Golden Tree��s trunk was formed from the intertwining Golden Saplings. It had little branches slowly growing, as well as fresh and tender golden leaves.


    As the tree grew, a tremendous amount of spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged upon it, and it began to emit even more life energy.


    The immense life energy dissipated everywhere around it, quietly stimting the growth of other nts within the valley.


    Nourished by this life energy, Tang San''s Blue Silver Emperor advanced to the seventh order. This marked the breakthrough of thest Demonic God Transformation imprint.


    Tang San''s lips showed a faint smile as the bridge between heaven and earth was fully built, allowing his spiritual power and the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique to integrate fully. The six Demonic God Transformation imprints also gained an additionalyer of connection among them, as if an invisible chain linked them together.


    Tang San didn''t even need to experiment to learn how he had improved in controlling them. The most obvious improvement was that he no longer had the limitation of using only one Demonic God Transformation at a time; he could now deploy multiple transformations simultaneously. This was his most significant gain from this advancement.


    The Discerning Eye of Heaven was now at the fifth order; the Peacock Transformation at the seventh order; the Chrono Croc Transformation at the sixth order; the Golden Roc Transformation at the sixth order; the Blue Silver Emperor at the seventh order; finally, the Wind Tiger Transformation also at the seventh order.


    The evolution significantly boosted Tang San''s overall strength. Forming his spiritual core also made it easier for him to cultivate his divine consciousness, finally allowing him to use it to some extent without being in danger ofpletely depleting it.


    Tang San''s aura began to converge, and the Blue Silver Emperor vines wrapped around the Golden Tree quietly retracted.


    Just as Zhang Haoxuan returned to his senses, thinking that Tang San''s breakthrough wasplete, Tang San suddenly transformed.


    A point of white light sparkled on Tang San''s forehead, and in the next instant, starting from his head, he silently transformed into a white fox with two tails.


    Following that, feathers appeared, and with a sh of silver light, he transformed into a slender peacock with its feathers spread wide��a magnificently brilliant peacock, the king of all birds.


    Then came the Chrono Croc, the Golden Roc, the Wind Tiger, and finally, he was wrapped in countless blue-golden vines.


    With each transformation, he seemed to be a demon, and his aura underwent drastic changes.


    When he finally returned to his human form, Zhang Haoxuan was utterly stunned.


    Humans with demon bloodlines had impure bloodlines by default and thus could not fully transform into a demon''s appearance; they could only partially transform to perform a Demonic God Transformation.


    Yet Tang San''s transformation allowed him to take the true form of a demon. Moreover, his aura was simply indistinguishable from that of an actual demon, and he gave off a feeling of pure bloodline.


    "Master, don''t panic. This is a new ability I''ve awakened. Let��s call it the Demonic God True Form. With this ability, even if I infiltrate among the demon races, I won''t be exposed."


    Indeed, this was another change in Tang San after breaking through to the seventh order.


    In his previous life, once a martial soul was cultivated to the seventh order, the soul master could assume its true form, bing an avatar of the martial soul. Naturally, the inspiration for his Demonic God''s True Form came precisely from this ability, the Martial Soul True Body. By stimting a single Demonic God Transformation imprint with both cores simultaneously, he could temporarily allow the bloodline imprint to take over his body entirely, thus disying its true form state. This significantly enhanced the power of that particr Demonic God Transformation.


    "What panic? You��ve shown me so many things that I can��t even be surprised now," retorted Zhang Haoxuan. Indeed, seeing miracles every day makes them much less miraculous.


    The Tang San in front of him now looked fourteen or fifteen at the very least; he was no longer a young boy in any way except on paper. He was noticeably taller, almost reaching 1.8 meters. His figure was slender and he was not particrly muscr, but he seemed to have a steady and mature temperament. These changes in appearance were not quite enough to make him unrecognizable, but it was indeed obvious that he had changed.


    If Tang San were to look in a mirror, he would feel that he was bing more like himself... like his past life self. This was the influence of his divine consciousness. Despite reincarnation, he and Xiao Wu would always be affected by their past lives. After all, the imprints of their past lives were too strong.


    The Mei Gongzi of this life was even more beautiful, but a subtle transformation was also taking ce within her.


    Zhang Haoxuan examined his "disciple" from head to toe. "This time, you��ve really changed."


    "It''s indeed a pretty great change, and I''m capable of doing much more now," Tang San said with a smile. Havingpleted the breakthrough to the seventh order, he felt more confident.


    Turning his head toward the Golden Tree, he said, "A true Golden Tree was born, and it��s really growing now. Let the Crimson Fox girls continue to cultivate around it. I think it won''t be long before their bloodlines improve with all that life energy awakening their innate vitality."


    Zhang Haoxuan asked, "Have you thought about having them abandon their Demonic God Transformations to cultivate your Mysterious Heaven Technique?"


    Tang San shook his head. "That��s not possible. Even assuming they <i>could</i> give up the Demonic God Transformation, the Mysterious Heaven Technique needs to be cultivated from a very young age toy a solid foundation. Although it''s definitely superior, it also requires a long time to cultivate. Their bloodlines are not weak; they��re just impure and underdeveloped. We can take care of the development part with the life energy here. Later on, we can find some fox n bloodline samples to help them stimte their bloodlines and improve the purity. When that happens, they��ll grow much stronger."


    "Yeah, that works." Zhang Haoxuan looked at the Golden Tree, now as tall as a person, and inwardly admired it. Then, looking deeply at Tang San, he said, "Little Tang, I know there are things about you that I''m unaware of. But I keep telling myself I can fully trust you, because otherwise it��s going to be really bad. Can I really trust you?"


    Tang San smiled slightly. "Master, I feel the same way, and that��s why I''ve been so open with you. Otherwise, I could have kept all of this hidden. Please believe that, first and foremost, I am human and nothing but human, and everything I do is for the future of humanity. As for the secrets, yes, there are some, but now is not the time to reveal them. When the dayes that I am strong enough, I will tell you everything."


    Zhang Haoxuan waved his hand dismissively. "You don''t need to tell me everything. As long as you promise to strive for the rise of humanity, that''s enough for me. I will do my utmost to help you."


    Tang San''s breakthrough had a significant impact on him, especially since he felt that Tang San needed him less and less as time passed. Tang San showed an increasingly mature side, hardly resembling the teenager he looked like, let alone the child he was by age, which puzzled Zhang Haoxuan the most.


    "I promise," Tang San said earnestly.


    The two of them looked each other in the eye, and a smile appeared on Zhang Haoxuan''s face, "Alright, that settles it. I will apply with the organization to upgrade you to the Yellow ss. You have a good rtionship with Mei Gongzi now, right? With her vouching for you, there shouldn''t be any issues."


    A Yellow ss membership would actually bring Tang San at the same level as several academy teachers. For instance, Mu Enqing and Mu Yunyu were only Yellow ss themselves.


    By this time, the sky was already bright. The once-deste valley, now baptized by life energy, had be lush and verdant. The air was filled with a rich aura of life, and everything seemed to be getting better.


    Zhang Haoxuan dispelled the fire wall that shed with the beautiful scene, and the Crimson Fox girls unanimously turned their attention to Tang San, immediately noticing the stark difference in appearance.


    Tang San smiled. "Continue your cultivation around the Golden Tree. I believe you will soon feel its benefits. Master, will you stay here or are youing with me?"


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "I''ll go back with you. You''ve just made a massive breakthrough, and you lookpletely different. I can help exin things."


    "Alright, thank you, Master."


    The master and disciple duo soared into the air, heading toward Redemption Academy.

 Chapter 241: The Flying Caravan

    <h4>Chapter 241: The Flying Caravan</h4>


    Watching their departing figures, Red One sighed in relief, and Red Three whispered at her side, "Big sister, our master seems really amazing. When he made his breakthrough just now..."


    "Alright, don''t talk too much. Let''s not be too curious about our master''s abilities. We must cultivate, be stronger, and do our best to be able to support our master in the future. He saved us from hell and gave us a stable life; the least we can do is repay him with our loyalty."


    "Yes!" the Crimson Fox girls responded in unison, heading toward the golden tree to resume their cultivation.


    ***


    When Tang San returned to Academy Town, it was alreadyte. There was no point in going to work today, so he simply returned to his room to consolidate his cultivation.


    Having broken through to the seventh order, what he needed to do next was to prepare for his eventual breakthrough to godhood. Once he achieved godhood in this realm, many things would change. Naturally, the most difficult step for him was going to be this exact breakthrough.


    The Celestial Fox Vision could conceal his aura, making him appear part of this world. However, once he achieved godhood and his very essence reached a fundamentally different level, his identity as a foreigner could no longer be concealed. After all, he hade here with that bit of his original divine consciousness; only by relinquishing it could he truly blend into this world.


    But if he gave up his divine consciousness, he could never find his way back and reunite with his oldpanions and family. Thus, no matter what, he had to preserve his divine consciousness, and he had to cultivate in such a way that this divine consciousness could recover.


    ording to his understanding of this ne, even the highest level of existence was unlikely to match his previous level. However, the moment he achieved godhood, he would inevitably be rejected by the entire ne, which would be the time of greatest risk. Therefore, he had to thoroughly prepare before attempting to reach that realm.


    Of course, this was still far off. After reaching the seventh order, simply absorbing energy was far insufficient. He needed to continue umting experience and power. His body was still too young, and a body that hadn''t fully developed couldn''t just be forced to grow prematurely.


    He needed to continue refining himself. He was now at the seventh order, but he hadn''t managed to bring all his Demonic God Transformations up to the same level as his cultivation. This was a must when breaking through to godhood. Therefore, at this point, he couldn��t think about the eighth and ninth orders; he had other priorities.


    ***


    A caravan was flying through the air, moving from the central region of the Daemon Continent toward Kali City in the northeastern part of the continent.


    Yes, it was flying through the air. Snow-white pegasi drew the vehicles.


    The Pegasus n ranked among the foremost of the equine races. They were muchrger than ordinary horses, with body lengths exceeding four meters and shoulder heights over two and a half meters. Massive wings unfolded behind them, spanning over six meters. Although their flight speed couldn��tpare with avian demons, they were able to sustain flight while pulling or carrying heavy burdens.


    The Pegasi were not easily tamed; after all, they were not just ordinary animals but demons. Adult Pegasi had the strength of the sixth order, and the exceptional ones among them could surpass the seventh order. To use them as mounts, one had to be at least a ninth-order powerhouse; as for having them pull a carriage, that was something on apletely different level.


    Yet this airborne caravan consisted of not one but five carriages, four of which were each pulled by four Pegasi!


    Sturdy upright beams connected to the Pegasi, and the stabilizers at their rear kept the flying carriages steady.


    Moreover, the carriage in the very center was pulled by eight Pegasi, each of exceptionallyrge size, their pristine white wings edged with faint colors. These were the Celestial Steeds of the Pegasus n. Every Celestial Steed possessed eighth-order cultivation, and they had the purest bloodline of the Pegasus n.


    Riding in a flying carriage was something reserved for only the most esteemed of the demon ns, ording to the regtions of the Empyrean Dominion. One had to possess at least a golden bloodline and god-level cultivation to even qualify for flying vehicle travel.


    As for traveling in a carriage drawn by eight Celestial Steeds... that honor was reserved only for the Ancestral Council of Elders.


    The Ancestral Council of Eldersprises the Demon Emperors and Celestial Nymph Emperors.


    The flying carriage pulled by eight Celestial Steeds was enormous, spanning hundreds of square meters. Inside, the decor was luxurious, akin to a miniature pce.


    On the spacious soft couch, a person was loungingzily. He appeared human, looking no older than his twenties. He was tall and slender, with fair skin and a somewhat feminine appearance; he had delicate brows and phoenix eyes, and his elongated face carried a hint of softness. His ck hair was spread neatly over the couch.


    Two fox n maidservants attended to him; one carefully massaged his feet while the other fed him peeled fruit.


    He was draped in a white robe edged with silver and he was reclining on his side, supporting his head with one hand as he ate pieces of fruit.


    Before the couch, a man with emerald green feathers atop his head, whose aura was entirely concealed, was kneeling on one knee.


    "Your Majesty, after a thorough investigation of Kali City, I found no trace of the Ice Dragon Demon King''s aura, nor any sign of its followers. Its whereabouts remain unknown. There''s also no trace of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor''s bloodline aura."


    Listening to his subordinate''s report, the man on the couch slowly sat up, and the two fox n maidservants immediately stepped back to the side.


    "He''s hidden himself well! To think he''d dare make a move against the Ice Dragon. Very well, this greatly exceeds my expectations." The man��s voice was rather gentle and very pleasant to the ear, yet it contained an intangible chill, even though his face always maintained a gentle smile.


    "Unfortunately for him, he does not realize that when the heavens wish to condemn someone, any excuse will do. Let me meet this Peacock Demon King and see how much turmoil this tiny bird can stir. Issue the order to move faster; we must hurry there before the blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor is used up."


    The man with green feathers atop his head kneeling on the ground respectfully said, "I have already spread the message in Kali City that the blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor is lost property of the Ancestral Court and will be reimed by us. I believe no one would dare to use it rashly. After all, the bloodline of a Demon Emperor cannot be hidden unless masked by the Celestial Fox n. I trust that bunch of deer demonsck the courage."


    The majestic man waved his hand, speaking softly, "They are just waiting for the oue of this conflict. That bunch is quite wealthy, you see. Let''s find out if they''ve grown bold enough as well.[1] Go, tell them to move faster; I''m already growing impatient."


    "Yes, Your Majesty."


    As the subordinate left, a faint smile appeared at the corner of the man��s mouth, and his entire body became translucent and sparkling, giving off a dazzling and enchanting aura.


    "Wang Qing, I hope you won''t disappoint me. I have been waiting for this day for a long time."


    ***


    In the afternoon, Tang San returned to Kali Academy to continue his role as the janitor. It wasn''t because his seventh-order cultivation had fully stabilized, but rather that he was worried that if Mei Gongzi came looking for him and he wasn''t there, it would dy matters.


    To Tang San''s relief, as the day turned to evening and the sunset began to glow in the distance, he actually saw Mei Gongzi carrying a cup of milk tea toward the academy''s entrance.


    <i>Hmm? Is there something happening today?</i>


    As he was sweeping somewhere in a hidden corner, he could see Mei Gongzi, but she did not see him.


    Mei Gongzi had changed into a simple long dress, and her long hair was tied into a ponytail that hung down her back. She was holding a cup of milk tea, which may or may not have been made in her dorm, and quietly sipping from it outside the academy.


    She didn''t have to wait for long before a familiar voice reached her ears. "Meet me at the usual ce."


    Mei Gongzi''s expression remained unchanged. Her lips simply curved slightly upward as she turned to leave.


    1. The original phrase here literally means ��to consume a bear''s heart and a leopard''s gall.�� This is amon saying in Chinese, but here it sounds very funny given what��s been going on. ?

 Chapter 242: A New Objective

    <h4>Chapter 242: A New Objective</h4>


    About half an hourter, that small tavern had two familiar clients.


    Gazing at the masked Asura before her, Mei Gongzi''s eyes shimmered as she suddenly said, "Why not remove your mask? You shouldn''t have any reservations if you wish for me to trust you."


    Asura gently shook his head. "Having no reservations at all would be <i>less</i> safe for you. Who are we dealing with this time?"


    He changed the subject straight away. He could change his stature here and there, but altering his appearance was much more difficult. Given that she was already eyeing his real identity carefully, he feared Mei Gongzi would recognize him if he showed his face, even if he put on some kind of disguise.


    Mei Gongzi no longer dwelled on the mask and directly revealed her target. "sh Leopard King."


    Asura''s gaze flickered. "Are you aiming to stir up hatred between the Wind Wolf n and the sh Leopard n again?"


    He could immediately tell her purpose, given that he had done this himself once before, and it was clear that Mei Gongzi intended to take it further.


    As expected, Mei Gongzi nodded. "After the death of the Wind Wolf King, the city was in turmoil for a long time. The marks they found were left by tiger ws, but ws are ws in the end; unless they know something, how would they tell whether they belong to a tiger or a leopard? Actually, I deliberately made the traces smaller, so they��d be easier to mistake for the ws of a leopard demon. The enmity between the Wind Wolves and the sh Leopards has a long history, it��s a deep-rooted conflict. Although there''s no direct evidence, both sides have shed several times. If it weren''t for the suppression of other ns, which forced them to fight outside the city, I think the entire city would have been turned upside down."


    "In that case, the sh Leopard King will surely have tight defenses. The method we usedst time will definitely not work. Although the sh Leopard King may not necessarily be stronger than the Wind Wolf King, his innate abilities are much better when ites to survival."


    Mei Gongzi said, "That''s why I''ve decided to go for a direct kill this time. You might not know, but my Demonic God Transformation is especially effective against Leopard sh."


    Asura''s heart stirred; indeed, that was the case. Although sh Leopards did not fully harness the power of space the way Peacock Demons did, their innate ability utilized spatial fluctuations to a certain extent for propulsion, allowing for instant eleration. The spatial control of the Peacock Demon perfectly countered this. If sh Leopard King was only a ninth-tier, with Mei Gongzi''s current level of cultivation and bloodline suppression, killing him was not impossible.


    "But we must avoid detection of your using Peacock Transformation. This means either silencing witnesses or striking when sh Leopard King is alone. Given their current hostility with the Wind Wolf n, such an opportunity might be hard toe by."


    Mei Gongzi said, "There is a chance. Tomorrow night, leaders of all ns in Kali City are being summoned to the lord''s mansion for a meeting. After the meeting, they will each go their own way. To attend the meeting at the lord''s mansion, the sh Leopard King can only bring a handful of followers. I estimate at most eight. Though they are not weak, it will be much easier to strike there than at the sh Leopard''s ancestral home. I hope you can help me draw away his followers and give me a chance to strike. I need about five minutes. I''m confident."


    Asura pondered momentarily and said, "Let''s look at the map and n in detail. But I must remind you that we must prepare for failure in advance. If we fail, we must not reveal our identities."


    Mei Gongzi nodded and responded, "That''s also why I called you here. Since it''s an ambush on the road, we must be quick."


    Asura said, "Let me think."


    After pondering for a while, he asked, "If you''re in control, can you make it so that all members of the sh Leopard n, including the sh Leopard King, cannot use Leopard sh?"


    Mei Gongzi answered, "For a short time, yes. But I anticipate that sh Leopard King will bring eighth-order powerhouses. I can prevent them from using Leopard sh for up to thirty seconds. However, that will definitely reveal my Peacock Transformation. So, I n for you to draw away the other sh Leopards while I directly attack sh Leopard King''s carriage, sealing only him. That way, as long as I kill him, exposure won''t be a concern."


    Asura shook his head. "That''s difficult. Since they are guards, protecting sh Leopard King is their one and only responsibility; what could possibly make them go away from him? No, the best method is to eliminate the sh Leopard King and all his subordinates quickly, all in one go."


    "Is that possible? Are you confident?" Mei Gongzi looked at Asura with a piercing gaze. Even now, she still wasn��t sure of Asura''s actual cultivation level.


    Asura nodded and stated, "If we can be sure of the path they will take, I''m confident I can do it."


    "That''s no problem. I''ve already nned the location for our strike."


    Mei Gongzi spread out the map and pointed at a specific location on it.


    Asura examined the location closely and nodded slightly. "This ce is good, secluded enough. Then it''s settled. We''ll meet here at the agreed time tomorrow. I''ll go ahead and make some preparations. If the sh Leopard King''s convoy does indeed pass through here, we''ll eradicate them as quickly as possible. If they don''te this way, we''ll cancel the n and look for another opportunity. How does that sound?"


    "Good," Mei Gongzi replied. "What''s your n?"


    Asura smiled slightly. " I''ll prepare a little gift for them. I need to start the preparations now, or it won''t be done in time. I''ll take my leave." He stood up as he spoke.


    "Do you need my help?" Mei Gongzi also stood up.


    <i>I could use a hug,</i> Asura thought to himself, but shook his head outwardly. "See you tomorrow. We''ll go with the time you mentioned."


    "Mhm."


    Mei Gongzi didn''t see him off. Asura left the inn alone, slipping back into the Kali Mountain Range. After ensuring no one was following, he returned to Academy Town.


    Killing a group of eighth and ninth-tier powerhouses in a short amount of time sounded difficult. However, with sufficiently powerful hidden weapons prepared in advance, it could even be easier than the previous operation in the Wind Wolves�� ancestral home. Moreover, since his cultivation level had just advanced, he now had much more flexibility.


    Of course, it meant another sleepless night for him. Fortunately, with Sky Shatterer, forging anything was far, far more efficient.


    Tang San had his suspicions about the targets Mei Gongzi aimed to assassinate. Hunting these demon n powerhouses and stirring up internal strife within Kali City would weaken the opposition against her. Those she sought to assassinate were surely among those who would stand against her future position as the sessor of the Peacock Demon n.


    <i>Weakening these opposing forces would lessen the pressure on her future ascension to the throne. But I can��t understand why she��s in such a hurry to act. She��s barely fourteen or so. Could the Peacock Demon King be about to select an official sessor soon? Has he aged to such an extent?</i>


    Of course, he wouldn''t ask Mei Gongzi these questions, as they pertained to the highest-level secrets of the Redemption Society. All he needed to do was cooperate, as his feelings and trust towards Mei Gongzi were unconditional.


    <i>Kali City, Lord''s Mansion.</i>


    Kali City was home to hundreds of demon races, dozens of which were quite powerful. However, only twelve major ns had Kali City as their base.


    Among these twelve major ns, the Peacock Demons were undoubtedly the most powerful, and they naturally led the city.


    There were also eleven other major ns: the Aetherhorn Deers, the Golden Deers, the Golden Capricorns, the Golden Porcupines, the Diamond Bears, the Wind Wolves, the sh Leopards, the zing Lions, the Earth Elephants, the Crimson Foxes, and the White-Crested Falcons.


    These eleven major demon ns were subordinate to the Peacock Demon n but also helped govern Kali City alongside them. They were the core strength of Kali City, especially the Aetherhorn Deers and the three golden ns.


    These three golden ns were not particrly powerful among the races of the same tier, but they had golden bloodlines nevertheless. They were ns with god-level powerhouses, forming the core strength of Kali City.

 Chapter 243: The Meeting of the Clans in Kali City

    <h4>Chapter 243: The Meeting of the ns in Kali City</h4>


    The Peacock Great Demon King sat in the main seat, his noble aura entuated by a pale golden robe. Even though he was merely sitting there, not even frowning, he exuded a majestic presence thatmanded respect.


    The leaders of the twelve major ns arrived one after another. As they entered the hall and saw the Peacock Great Demon King waiting there, they all looked surprised, but they maintained their silence.


    When all twelve n leaders had taken their seats, the hall fell so quiet one could hear a pin drop, and the atmosphere grew noticeably tense.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes seemed to reflect deep thought until a man with crystal-clear milky white antlers sitting to his immediate left whispered something, bringing the Great Demon King''s focus back.


    "My fellow leaders," the Peacock Great Demon King said in a measured tone.


    The leaders of the various ns straightened up, their attention fixed on him.


    The Peacock Great Demon King continued, "Since I assumed the role of lord over Kali City more than seventy years ago, I have not allowed myself a single day of neglect. Yet, I have never managed to ascend to the emperor level, failing my ancestors.


    "However, I have always believed in diligent governance. Though Kali City may lie in a quiet corner, it has remained peaceful and tranquil. Since our n has been without an emperor, we have been stationed here, and now, three hundred years have passed, spanning three generations of demon kings. As you all know, even without an emperor, with our god-level cultivation, living beyond five hundred years should not pose any problem. So why is it that no demon king in my n has lived past one hundred?��


    As he spoke, he stood up, and a chilling aura of menace spread from him.


    "All your ns are under the protection of Kali City, as well as under the protection of my Peacock n. Lately, petty thieves have coveted our city, with both overt and covert attacks directed at Kali City, creating a climate of fear and suspicion. They aim to plunder our wealth and seize the verynds we live on."


    "A month ago, I received a message from the Ancestral Court about Ice Dragon Great Demon King, the one that brought the essence blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor to ce it in the auction. After the auction, the Ice Dragon vanished without a trace, not returning to the Ancestral Court. I was ordered to thoroughly investigate this matter and provide a report within a month.


    "The Ice Dragon Demon King is not only an eleventh-order powerhouse but also has a top-rate bloodline, not first-tier but certainly at the pinnacle of the second tier. Where could I possibly find him if he decided to disappear? As the month''s deadline arrived, I could only report the facts as they were. However, the Ancestral Court deemed our efforts insufficient and sent an envoy to investigate further. The envoy will soon arrive, and I have called you all here today to inform you of this matter and to decide together how we should respond to their visit."


    Hearing the Peacock Great Demon King''s words, the n leaders present couldn''t help but exchange nces. Some remainedposed, while others showed surprise. Yet, from the tone of the Peacock Great Demon King, they could naturally discern that the arriving envoy bore ill intentions!


    From the second seat on the right, a tall and muscr man with slightly spiraled horns atop his head said in a deep voice, "May I ask, my lord, who leads this envoy?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at him meaningfully and said, "Capricorn King, this envoy is none other than the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor."


    Upon hearing this, the expressions of all n leaders shifted.


    The Capricorn n leader was even more shocked, "How could it be him? He has be an emperor; why is he serving as an envoy?"


    With an unchanged expression, the Peacock Great Demon King replied, "This only shows how seriously the Ancestral Court takes this matter."


    The entire room fell silent, especially the older leaders of various ns, whose expressions were extremely solemn at this moment. Most knew the "deep rtionship" between the Peacock Demon n and Crystal Phoenix n.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King, seated at the first ce on the left, frowned and said, "My lord, I fear this crowned onees with ill intentions. We must be cautious in our response."


    The Peacock Great Demon King replied calmly, "Of course, I know hees with ill intentions. It would be weird if he came here to help me. Does any of you have a good n?"


    The leaders of the ns couldn''t help but fall silent.


    <i>The Phoenix Crystal, after all, is a Demon Emperor!</i>


    Within the demon races, only those of the twelfth order could be called Demon Emperors, followed by the eleventh-order Great Demon Kings and then the tenth-order Demon Kings. This was a presence beyond the divine.


    In the world of demons, the number of those at the level of Demon Emperor was exceedingly rare. Given the depth of the Peacock Demon n, if the Peacock lineage had a Demon Emperor, they would not simply be stationed here.


    At the grand auction, Mei Gongzi had stated, <i>Our n has no emperor, and a new emperor would have no city.</i>


    Although not all Demon Emperors had cities to guard, the way this was judged also depended on the aspirations of the Demon Emperors. The important point here was that in principle, only a Demon Emperor had the right to rule a city.


    The Peacock Demon n had been without an Emperor for three generations, and this newly ascended Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor did not have a city under his control. He was precisely the one Mei Gongzi was referring to at the time. Not to mention, the Crystal Phoenix n and the Peacock Demon n had a conflict going very far back into the past.


    The Peacock Demon n had been in a tough spot since long before the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor broke through to the level of Demon Emperor. As expected, it didn''t take long for the pressure toe. This was also why there were rumors about the Peacock Great Demon King considering a sessor.


    A Demon Emperor and a Demon King were onpletely different levels. The Crystal Phoenix n had also been without a Demon Emperor for several generations, fundamentally due to the conflict between it and the Peacock Demon n. shes between the generations had be customary, with casualties on both sides. This was also why three consecutive Peacock Great Demon Kings had not lived past a hundred.


    The Peacock Demon n and the Crystal Phoenix n engaged in a summit showdown every ten years, and there were three years left until the next one. In thest confrontation, the supreme n leaders of both the Peacock Demon and Crystal Phoenix ns had been gravely injured and eventually died. The current Peacock Great Demon King was the strongest in his n. Thus, even if the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor didn��te right now, he would still have to face this showdown in three years. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was an emperor, after all, so the oue of their fight was predictable.


    Knowing this, the n leaders had never expected that the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor would be unable to wait even these three years. He was seizing the opportunity toe forth, undoubtedly with hostile intentions!


    Taking a deep breath, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King slowly stood up. "The Peacock Demon n has blessed my Aetherhorn lineage for generations. As long as the Peacock Demon n exists, so do we. If they perish, we perish. Should the city lord have anymands, I swear to follow them unto death!"


    Hearing these words, all n leaders were shocked. It was unthinkable for the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King to make such a direct statement, especially when Kali City was about to face the arrival of a Demon Emperor.


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked deeply at him and nodded slowly, "Brother Yingjie, you are too kind."


    The words of the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King immediately put the leaders of the other ns present in a somewhat awkward position.


    To the right, the first to stand was the Golden Deer Demon King, who also stood up and said indifferently, "Our Golden Deer Demon lineage will brave any danger and hesitate at nothing!"


    The deer demons were not among the strongest of the demon races, but they were renowned for their wisdom, second only to the fox ns. There had even been a Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor once, marking the peak of the deer demons. However, since the fall of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor, the deer demons had fallen to a lower status. With the support of the Peacock Demon n, they had another chance��they were able to leverage their intelligence to make significant advancements inmerce. Thus, the two major deer demon ns had always been the strongest supporters of the Peacock Demon n.


    Even if they were set on protecting their own interests, they were well aware that without the protection of the Peacock Demon n, their wealth would immediately be coveted by all the powerful ns. Thus, now that they followed the Peacock Demon n, they could not stray anymore.


    "Without the Peacock Demon Emperor saving us in our times of need, our n would have ceased to exist long ago. We share both glory and loss. My n supports this," dered the Golden Capricorn Demon King, also rising from his seat.

 Chapter 244: Choosing Sides

    <h4>Chapter 244: Choosing Sides</h4>


    The Peacock Demon Emperor mentioned by the Golden Capricorn King was the one from seven hundred years ago, once hailed as the strongest existence in the history of the Peacock Demon n.


    ��You have our support." A muffled voice sounded beside the Golden Capricorn King, unmistakably belonging to a man of short and stout stature with dark golden short hair��the Golden Porcupine King.


    All three golden ns had now expressed their support.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s gaze swept over the leaders of the other groups.


    The Aetherhorn Deer demons and the three golden demon ns were pretty much tied to the Peacock Demon n; if the Peacock Demons fell, they all faced the possibility of extinction, so they naturally offered their unwavering support. The other seven ns, however, were not so deeply rooted; they were not golden ns, and they had the golden ns in their lineages to rely on.


    Among them, there were lion, tiger, leopard, and bear demons, strong races with a powerful figure at the forefront. Whoever ruled over Kali City would not affect them much.


    "Support we shall!" dered a man of enormous build with a long nose, seated second to the left, his voice deep and resonant.


    This was the Earth Elephant Demon King! The demon kings who spoke before were all beneath him when it came tobat power. The Earth Elephants were a mighty n. Apart from the Golden Mammoths, they were pretty much at the top of the elephant demon lineages. The biggest problem with the Golden Mammoth n was their scarcity; elephant demon ns supported them but did not live together.


    With that, four of the eleven races had already pledged their support.


    "We support you as well," dered a beautiful, petite woman seated at the far left, standing up and raising her hand.


    This was the White Falcon Demon King, whose lineage was considered among the weaker ones, and her support surprised even the Peacock Great Demon King.


    However, the voices of support ended there.


    A mighty Wind Wolf, serving as the acting leader in the Wind Wolf King''s stead, felt the gaze of the Peacock Demon King and said helplessly, "City Lord, as you know, our king was in, leaving our n in disarray. We must await the High Priest''s return; I cannot decide for our n in such grave matters."


    The Peacock Great Demon King smiled slightly, "No matter, I won''t insist. What about the others?"


    The Titan Bear King snorted, "This matter doesn''t concern our n."


    He had every reason to be pissed. His eldest son had been in, leaving him seething with nowhere to vent his rage. In addition, the bear race was formidable, and they were unafraid of the Peacock Great Demon King.


    The Peacock Great Demon King remained unfazed.


    The Crimson Fox King said softly, "City Lord, our n is frail."


    The me Lion Demon King said gravely, "City Lord, I believe there''s room for negotiation. We should seek mediation from the Ancestral Court. I will write to our great king, asking him to mediate at the Ancestral Court."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded in appreciation. "Thank you, me Lion King."


    With a wry smile, the sh Leopard King said, "I, too, am willing to write to our Golden Leopard king to mediate on behalf of the City Lord."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded. "Very well, thank you all for your contributions to Kali City. Let''s conclude today''s meeting here."


    The Golden Capricorn King paused before asking, "City Lord, shouldn��t we discuss how to respond?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King said, "This matter concerns only the Peacock lineage and the Crystal Phoenix lineage. I will handle it myself for the time being. I will inform you all if there is news."


    The leaders stood up, and those few races that hadn��t explicitly offered support hurried away, unwilling to linger.


    With a meaningful nce from the Peacock Great Demon King, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King and the kings of the three great Golden Demon races remained behind.


    "Brother Wang, this matter won''t be easy to handle! Has hee in person?" the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King asked gravely.


    The Peacock Great Demon King, Wang Qing, nodded. "As the proverb says, the visitor bears ill intent.[1] He is the one who orchestrated everything from the get-go. He knows well that we cannot overlook the essence blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor. This is an overt scheme against us, through which he can rightfully pressure us."


    The Golden Deer Demon King snorted, "If he dares toe, let him leave in defeat."


    Wang Qing sighed. "Theck of an Emperor in our n is our greatest issue. However, we must protect Kali City at any cost. It''s the foundation of my n, as well as yours. I will be relying on you more than ever once this is over."


    The four great Demon Kings nodded in agreement, and the Golden Porcupine Demon King said in a deep voice, "City Lord, do you need us to join forces..."


    The Peacock Great Demon King waved his hand. "No need. This is something I must face myself. After all, this is Kali City, not his domain. However, we must uniteter and work together to protect Kali City."


    The sh Leopard King and the Titan Bear King walked side by side at the front, with the other Demon Kings behind them. Given the deep-seated animosity between the Wind Wolf n and the sh Leopard n, the acting Wind Wolf King kept his distance. They were not easily reconciled despite the current tense situation.


    The me Lion Demon King had already left, as he was always proud and unwilling to walk with the other Demon Kings.


    The sh Leopard King whispered beside the Titan Bear King, "Bear King, do you think the Peacock Demon n can withstand this?"


    The Titan Bear King nced at him. "Withstand it how exactly?"


    The sh Leopard King said, "But... seeing those golden ns and the Aetherhorn Deers so confident in him, I''m a bit uneasy!"


    The Titan Bear King scoffed. "Do you think taking his side gives you a foundation? Don''t forget what he''s facing. No matter what, there''s a fundamental difference in strength. Even though you haven''t stepped into the god level, you should understand that the higher the order, the greater the gap between each. Demon Emperors are what they are because they''re in a league of their own. If you don''t want to die, stay away."


    "I''m afraid that if he does withstand it, there will be repercussions. Our sh Leopard n is not strong enough! Even our king��s n isn''t close to us." The sh Leopard lineage was not in any way important among leopard ns, or else they wouldn''t have settled in the remote Kali City.


    The Titan Bear King nced at him, seemingly unwilling to engage in further conversation.


    As they left the City Lord��s Mansion, the Titan Bear King said indifferently, "Take care of yourself."


    With that, he boarded his chariot, pulled by several war bears, and left.


    Watching his departing figure, a shadow passed through the sh Leopard King''s eyes. "Pah, what a character. He thinks he��s all that just because he has someone important in his n?" he grunted before boarding his chariot.


    The sh Leopard King''s chariot was pulled by four leopard demons, all of the sixth order, with four eighth-order sh Leopard demons guarding it on the sides.


    Since the assassination of the Wind Wolf King, he had be particrly cautious. There had been several conflicts between them. The Wind Wolf n always suspected the leopards were behind it, but although the sh Leopard King was quite pleased with the Wind Wolf King''s death, he knew it had nothing to do with him!


    Although Kali City appeared peaceful on the surface, the atmosphere was tense due to both internal conflicts and pressure from the Ancestral Court.


    The most frustrating thing for the sh Leopard King was that he was obviously not a descendant of the Peacock Great Demon King, and neither was he important in any other way, as he wascking a powerful background. In this regard, the sh Leopards were even inferior to the Wind Wolves.


    Faced with this suddenplication, his indecisive nature made him afraid to take sides easily. What if he chose wrongly? That could mean death.


    <i>But then, if the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor wins, what then? Would he hold the sh Leopard lineage in high regard? No, either way, I have to prepare for the worst. I can''t stay in the city any longer during these times. While Kali City has more resources, it��s going to be hard to ess them now. It''s better to stay away from trouble.</i>


    Thinking this, he made up his mind. Before the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor arrives, it would be wise to pack up and leave Kali City to avoid imminent trouble.


    1. This is half of a Chinese proverb: ���߲��ƣ����߲���. It literally means ��those whoe aren��t well-intentioned, those who are well-intentioned aren��ting,�� meaning that foreigners (or, at any rate, those not in your close circle) are probably your enemies. Simr to ��beware of Greeks bearing gifts.�� ?

 Chapter 245: The Perfect Assassination

    <h4>Chapter 245: The Perfect Assassination</h4>


    The carriage sped through the streets of Kali City, with the sh Leopard King silently meditating with his eyes closed.


    Leaving was necessary, but they couldn��t move the n altogether; reliable subordinates had to stay behind to monitor the situation. They would adapt as soon as the conflict had an oue.


    Deep down, there was a tinge of regret. Today''s meeting, hosted by the Peacock Great Demon King, seemed meaningless on the surface but offered their not-so-close rtionship a chance to improve. Once allied, they would be forever considered friends of the Peacock Demon''s lineage. Unfortunately, he ultimatelycked the courage.


    <i>Well, what''s done is done. We can only take one step at a time.</i>


    His heart contracted slightly at that moment, and a sudden oppressive feeling emerged. Although not yet a god-level being, he was a mere step away. He was a peak ninth-order powerhouse with spiritual power on the brink of transformation, which granted him a certain level of precognition when it came to danger.


    The sudden pressure startled him, and he shouted, "Stop the carriage!"


    The carriage was speeding; the leopard demons pulling it slowed down upon hismand, but inertia kept them moving forward.


    At this time, the carriage was on a narrow stretch of road, barely enough for two vehicles like theirs to travel side by side. It was the only road that led to the sh Leopard n''s ancestral home.


    A chilling light appeared in an instant. Dozens of cold glimmers, almost like lightning, shed out of thin air from the tops of the walls on both sides.


    The leopard demon pulling the carriage instinctively tried to dodge, and the four eighth-order leopard demons on both sides prepared to use Leopard sh to surge forward and confront the enemy on the wall tops. Meanwhile, the sh Leopard King inside the carriage was about to use Leopard sh to burst out, as his speed would be more effectively utilized in the open space.


    However, at that moment, they were shocked to discover that the space around them had be distorted. None of them could use Leopard sh, and their attempts had no effect. The distorted space forcibly locked their movements.


    This caused the leopard demons to feel as if they had misapplied their force, making them grunt in difort.


    The space around the sh Leopard King twisted violently as he mobilized his bloodline power to disperse the spatial distortions around him. By the time he did that, however, those dozens of cold glimmers had already reached them.


    They were crossbow bolts glowing with a faint white light, each of them clearly incredibly sharp.


    Unable to use Leopard sh, the leopard demons could only use their ws to catch the trajectories of those crossbow bolts. However, they believed that since the space around them was distorted, the same distortions should also affect the bolts and prevent them from reaching them.


    Contrary to their expectations, as the crossbow bolts neared, they seemed to move around the spatial distortions as if they had a mind of their own��or rather, the twisted space seemed to avoid them intentionally. The bolts pierced through the gaps in space.


    <i>Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft...</i>


    The leopard demons pulling the carriage were instantly turned into a pin cushion, as the powerful crossbow bolts were beyond what they could handle even with their physiques.


    Even the four eighth-order leopard demons suffered heavy injuries. They had activated their bloodline power to harden their fur and tried to block it with their ws. Yet, the bolts pierced their bodies from tricky angles, and their internal bloodline power paused at that instant, making them most vulnerable when hit by the bolts.


    The four eighth-order leopard demons roared in unison, falling to the ground together. They weren''t dead, but they were severely injured.


    At that moment, following those dozens of cold glimmers, three huge crossbow bolts arrived side by side. Each bolt was two meters long and thick as an arm, glowing white and gold. Their tips were razor sharp, and they seemed to distort the very light around them as they pierced through the air.


    The sh Leopard King was horrified to realize that he could not immediately break free from the spatial control. Who could lock space to counter his Leopard sh? He didn��t even need to use his brain to figure it out. Only the Peacock Demon n controlled the power of space like that!


    Unable to use Leopard sh and not daring to stay inside, he directly smashed through the side and burst out of the carriage.


    And when he charged out, those three huge crossbow bolts had already reached him.


    The evil whistle of the bolts made the sh Leopard King''s fur stand on end. <i>What are these things?!</i>


    Not daring to underestimate them, he almost instantly raised his ws. A yellow light blossomed around him as he fully mobilized his bloodline power.


    But in that instant, he suddenly felt his body stiffen. To his shock, there seemed to be a person riding on the bolt in the middle! The person was wearing a mask andunching what seemed to be a powerless palm strike at it. Under the pressure of this normal-looking palm, the bloodline power gathered by the sh Leopard King and everything around it seemed to pause instantly.


    This pause was deadly.


    The space around them twisted again instantly, continuing right after the previous spatial oppression had just shattered.


    This was abined oppression of time and space. Even though the sh Leopard King was a peak ninth-order being, he was suppressed for a moment. And that moment felt like an eternity.


    The three huge bolts did not tear the robust body of the sh Leopard King apart but they did pierce through his torso easily.


    A petite figure appeared behind him at the same time. Sharp ws gripped its carotid arteries from both sides, instantly tearing them apart. Blood spurted wildly.


    The bloodline power within the sh Leopard King surged explosively, instantly shattering the three huge bolts on his body. His ninth-order mighty bloodline power burst forth like a sweeping storm.


    Although he was fatally wounded, unlike the Wind Wolf King, he was not poisoned. With his peak ninth-order cultivation, he possessed an extremely formidable vitality. Even in death, he was determined tounch one final strike.


    However, at that moment, the person standing on the bolt��now on the ground in front of him��looked him in the eye. Two piercing purple beams shot from the person��s eyes into the sh Leopard King''s pupils, instantly sending him into mental shock. His sea of consciousness violently churned, and he could not control his energy.


    The massive holes in his chest, as well as his shredded neck arteries, gushed blood instantly. In a moment, at least one-third of his blood was ejected from his body, sttering everywhere.


    On cue, the person in front of him made a circr motion with his hand, and the blood seemed to be drawn to him as if by magic. The blood was funneled into arge bottle, not one drop missing.


    At the same time, the ws of the person behind severed the sh Leopard King''s spine, finally ending his life.


    The coboration between Asura and Mei Gongzi was wless.


    After killing the sh Leopard King and securing the bottle of blood, Asura did not pause for a moment. His figure flickered, swiftly breaking the necks of the four eighth-order leopard demons. He did not bother collecting the blood, however. He simply said, "Clean up the battlefield."


    Mei Gongzi also acted quickly, collecting the crossbow bolts that had pierced the sh Leopard King and hispanions. The two of them even took all the fragments of the enormous bolts that had exploded. Then, she swiftly fled from the scene.


    It took only a dozen breaths from theunch of the crossbow bolts to the end of the battle. It was a fatal strike followed by an instant retreat. Everything flowed as smoothly as clouds and water, and thus, a peak ninth-order powerhouse met an untimely end.


    Following Asura, Mei Gongzi observed him as he swiftly moved ahead, her beautiful eyes filled with continuous shes of fascination.

 Chapter 246: The Suspicions of Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 246: The Suspicions of Mei Gongzi</h4>


    Asura orchestrated the entire assault, and despite the many questions in Mei Gongzi��s heart, she had to admit that ying the sh Leopard King had been exhrating. The sh Leopard King could not strike back from start to finish, not even managing a single proper attack.


    That was a ninth-order peak expert; it was simply unbelievable. She even had a backup n in case they couldn''t go through with the assassination, but it was never needed. Everything was over in seconds.


    After weaving through streets and alleys to quickly leave the battlefield behind, Asura stopped at a street corner.


    "I''m off. Go clean these clothes quickly to avoid leaving any trace of aura, and then head back to the academy as soon as you can," he whispered to Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi grabbed his sleeve. "Wait, don''t leave just yet. I have something to ask you."


    "What?" Asura paused, puzzled.


    "How did you know it would burst out of the carriage from that side?" Mei Gongzi asked, puzzled. The three giant crossbows were all aimed in one direction, with no arrangements made for the other door of the carriage. This made no sense to her. How had he predicted something like that?


    Moreover, she couldn��t understand how those bolts had passed through her spatial blockade. The space in that area was warped, and any object entering that area would be affected.


    "Also, did you use the power of space to lock him in ce? Otherwise, howe he could not dodge, and why did he suddenly start bleeding at the end?"


    Asura chuckled lightly. "Isn''t the oue what you wanted? Alright, I''ll be off then. Safety first. The first t of an assassin is to kill instantly and make a quick escape. We''ll talk next time."


    With that, he leaped up and swiftly departed, not giving Mei Gongzi any chance to continue questioning him.


    Mei Gongzi stood, frowning slightly, and quickly shed the ck clothing to reveal the dress underneath, instantly transforming into a different person.


    The next moment, a figure emerged from the shadows. "He must have noticed me. He hurried off to avoid me. This person is formidable."


    Mei Gongzi looked to the side, to the figure with a veil over their face that seemed to be located in a different dimension. She said, "Is he really a god?"


    "It''s hard to say. I can''t judge. But it seems that whatever it is he wants to do aligns with our goals. I''ve asked Zhang Haoxuan, and even he isn''tpletely sure of Asura''s origins or intentions, but he is certain that Asura is a friend, not a foe."


    Mei Gongzi''s elegant brow furrowed. "Can I truly trust him?"


    "In assassinating the sh Leopard King, he simultaneously used time and spatial powers. Just this alone is something I''ve never seen in my life. No one has both abilities, even among the Great Demon Kings. Not to mention the formidable hidden weapons. The most terrifying part is that I suspect he has manipted fate itself. That''s why your spatial lock couldn''t stop those crossbow bolts. Combining luck, time, and space into one is simply too terrifying."


    "Luck? Celestial Fox Vision? This... this can''t be possible.... Could he be that person from the Redemption Society?" Mei Gongzi''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "No, there��s no way. The kid from the Redemption Society is far off. His cultivation level is too low, and his physique doesn''t match. Alright, let''s head back as well. The city will soon be in an uproar again."


    "Will it affect him?" Mei Gongzi whispered.


    "That''s not for us to worry about. In a way, we''ve helped him."


    "Mm."


    Their figures flickered, and they quickly left the scene.


    Asura once again delved into the Kali Mountains. He felt safe every time he was here. The luck that clung to him remained until he no longer sensed any hint of danger, prompting him to stop and quickly shed his attire.


    With a series of crackles, his bone structure changed a little, allowing him to regain his normal stature. Then, he removed his mask to reveal his true face.


    He let out a deep breath, and a faint smile appeared on his face.


    After his cultivation broke through to the seventh order, everything indeed changed. If he hadn''t reached the seventh order, killing the sh Leopard King would have been just a pipe dream. After all, he was a peak ninth-order powerhouse, and not just a mindless demonic beast either.


    His n was simple: toy a trap on the path they were sure the sh Leopard King would take. The giant crossbow and massive bolts were what he had worked on overnight. The bolts couldn''t be made entirely of ck gold; only the heads were. Since the shafts were wooden, they shattered. But that was unimportant.


    The luck granted by the fifth-order Celestial Fox Vision significantly increased the uracy of his Godly Zhuge Crossbows, making it unavoidable for even eighth-order demons to be heavily injured. As for the modified crossbow, it was obviously muchrger and therefore much more powerful. But it was not just that��there were two arrays inscribed on it instead of one, and that allowed the bolts to be imbued with the powers of both Celestial Fox Vision and Golden Roc Transformation simultaneously.


    The swiftness and sharpness of the Golden Roc Transformation and the increased luck of the Celestial Fox Vision could not be stopped, even by spatial lockdown.


    As for why those three giant bolts chose that direction, that was actually Tang San''s choice. After he boosted his luck using the Celestial Fox Vision, he had subconsciously picked the correct side of the carriage to target.


    In addition to the Celestial Fox Vision and the Golden Roc Transformation, Tang San also used Time Freeze, the ability of the Chrono Croc.


    He had used it once after teleporting on the crossbow bolt, and once more at the end of the fight. Even a peak ninth-order powerhouse like the sh Leopard King could do nothing against this absolute ability. Furthermore, just to be sure, he had also used the Peacock Demons�� ability to freeze space, which onlypounded with Mei Gongzi��s own spatial freeze.


    With such extensive control and finally adding the mental shock from the Purple Demon Eyes, the sh Leopard King was controlled at every single point of the assassination. Despite his mighty bloodline power, he had no chance to use it.


    The sh Leopard n was not skilled in defense, so what chance did he have to survive?


    This ambush could be described as perfect.


    It was the first time for Tang San to use his abilities simultaneously, and it was all thanks to the fact that he had reached the seventh order. The fact that he could imbue the crossbow bolts with two Demonic God Transformation abilities, as well as use Time Freeze and a spatial lock himself at the same time, was all because of that. Not to mention, now he had the support of both a soul core and a spirit core, which provided him with enough power to sustain all this without beingpletely drained.


    Being able to kill an enemy two and a half orders higher was something to be proud of. Although he and Mei Gongzi were not ordinary seventh-order cultivators, that difference was still massive! Seventh-order humans had killed a ninth-order demon, and not just any demon but one that was close to godhood! Not to mention, they had also killed four eighth-order sh Leopards, as well as those pulling the carriage. Even if someone imed it was Mei Gongzi''s doing, who would believe it?


    Aside from the wounds left by the crossbow bolts being a minor w that allowed the demon n to recognize them as the same group that assassinated the Titan Bear, the rest was wless.


    After disassembling the giant crossbow, Tang San quickly packed it for future use. Apart from those with terrifying defense, like the elephant ns, a shot from this weapon was nearly impossible for anyone below the god level to withstand.


    Tang San indeed felt that someone was watching from the shadows throughout the whole thing, but that presence didn''t feel threatening to him. With the judgment of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, he wasn''t rmed and understood that it was a contingency n arranged by Mei Gongzi. This wasn''t the first time he had felt this. Therefore, afterpleting the assassination, he quickly left, not wanting to be entangled by the other party.

 Chapter 247: Chaos Ensued

    <h4>Chapter 247: Chaos Ensued</h4>


    If it weren''t for Mei Gongzi, he wouldn''t have taken such a risk. However, he also believed that after this, Mei Gongzi''s trust in him would increase.


    Not long after the assassination, when the bodies of sh Leopard King and his entourage were discovered, the entire Kali City was immediately thrown into an uproar.


    The Peacock Great Demon King received the news immediately.


    Upon receiving the message, he was shocked. Another one dead?


    Previously, it was the Wind Wolf King and the eldest son of the Titan Bear King, and now it was the sh Leopard King. What made him most helpless was that this assassination urred right after the sh Leopard King left a meeting with him. It was impossible for him not to be suspected.


    sh Leopard King tactfully declined to support him and then died as soon as he left, which made the other ns wonder.


    "Reporting to the City Lord. The two Deer Kings have arrived."


    "Let them in," he said with a deep voice, massaging his temples.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King and the Golden Deer Demon King almost entered simultaneously.


    As the Golden Deer Demon King entered, he couldn''t help saying, "City Lord, sh Leopard King is dead. This... isn''t this a bit hasty?"


    Although the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King didn''t speak, his brow was also tightly furrowed.


    The Golden Deer Demon King continued, "Now is a time when the people''s hearts are unsettled within the city. City Lord, we shouldn''t have acted hastily; it will cause chaos. Moreover, it will draw suspicion onto you for the previous incidents!"


    "If I say it wasn''t me, would you believe me?" the Peacock Great Demon King said calmly.


    The Golden Deer Demon King was stunned momentarily and replied, "Not you? Then who has the power to eliminate the sh Leopard King silently? He was not far from reaching the god level, and he��d always hoped to lead his n to greater heights after breaking through, so he was ridiculously cautious. Although he wasn��t the strongest around, his strength was a notch above the Wind Wolf King''s. Frankly speaking, even if I and Aetherhorn wanted to kill him, it wouldn''t be easy."


    "We have examined the scene. Aetherhorn, you tell him."


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon nodded and said, "The scene was cleaned up very well... I��d say <i>professionally</i> even. There were hardly any residual elemental fluctuations in the air. It''s not easy to handle elemental fluctuations so cleanly. Moreover, from the condition of the sh Leopard King, I could deduce that there was no actual battle. His wounds were extremely severe. There was a huge prating wound in the chest, caused by a heavy weapon. His neck was torn open by ws. His neck arteries and the spine werepletely severed, and much of the blood from the body was also drained. Judging from the scene, he must have been killed quickly, in a single sh.


    "Even for a god-level Demon King, killing him so swiftly would be very difficult. After all, although the sh Leopard King was not a particrly powerful fighter, his ability to dodge and escape was top-notch. Such an inescapable, one-hit kill would likely require the strength of a Great Demon King."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded, then said, "You were here with me until just a little while ago. Considering the timing, do you think I could have done it?"


    The Golden Deer Demon chuckled bitterly. "We believe that <i>you</i> are not the culprit, but you''re not the only Great Demon King in the Peacock n. The news has already spread like wildfire. The entire city is beginning to chaos. The sh Leopard n is collecting their dead, and more are gathering there. If it''s not handled promptly, chaos might ensue. The Titan Bear, the ze Lion, and the Crimson Fox have also gone there. There''s a sense of mourning among them. If this matter isn''t handled well..."


    The Peacock Great Demon King shrugged and said indifferently, "Come, let''s go have a look."


    He stood up and strode outside. The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King and the Golden Deer Demon King quickly followed behind.


    Once outside the hall, the three took to the air, heading straight for the scene of the incident.


    Soon, from an aerial view, they could see several streets in an area filled with demons, with the sh Leopard demons being the most numerous amidst various loud and chaotic noises.


    The outer circle mainly consisted of onlookers, while the inner circle was primarily made up of sh Leopard demons. The formidable figures of the ze Lion and the Titan Bear were visible.


    The Peacock Great Demon King descended from the sky,nding on a wall beside the street.


    A tremendous aura burst forth from him, instantly quelling the surrounding noise, as numerous eyes focused on him.


    "The City Lord has arrived. Make way," the Aetherhorn Deer Demon Kingmanded in a deep voice.


    The sh Leopard ns''s elites looked toward the Peacock Great Demon King, their faces mostly showing anger and hatred. They were clearly aware that they had refused the mayor''s recruitment during the meeting.


    The sh Leopards showed no intention of making way.


    The Peacock Great Demon King descended from the sky, and without any visible movement, the surrounding area was forcefully cleared, as if a massive pressure was pushing everything away.


    Not just the sh Leopards, but even the ze Lion Demon King and the Titan Bear Demon King were sent flying, their expressions drastically changing.


    On a fifty-meter stretch of the narrow path, aside from the corpses on the ground, only the Peacock Great Demon King remained, followed by the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King and the Golden Deer Demon King.


    "City Lord, you��" a sh Leopard elite shouted fiercely. But in the next instant, he was already subdued and lying on the ground.


    "Kill those who pass judgment without understanding the situation!" the Peacock Great Demon King said indifferently, his gaze falling on the Titan Bear Demon King and the ze Lion Demon King.


    The bodies of the two Demon Kings trembled, and even with the ze Lion Demon King''s pride, he instinctively lowered his head.


    In fact, upon first seeing the sh Leopard King''s corpse, their initial reaction was shock, followed by a mix of astonishment and rage. And now, as the Peacock Great Demon King arrived, dominating the scene, a sense of trembling fear added to their feelings.


    The sh Leopard King''s death was tragic and happened too suddenly. They had been talking just moments before, yet now, he''d gone beyond reach. Without a divine consciousness, not even a sliver of lingering spirit could remain; he was well and truly dead.


    The Peacock Great Demon King squatted down to examine the sh Leopard King''s corpse. He scrutinized it, especially the several wounds, and even examined the sh Leopard King''s skull.


    Momentster, he stood up and turned to the Titan Bear Demon King, the ze Lion Demon King, and the temporary leader of the sh Leopard tribe. "Come over here."


    The Crimson Fox Demon King, who had been staying back, now approached and said in a low voice, "Let''s not be hasty. Let''s see what the City Lord has to say first."


    The Demon Kings gathered around the Peacock Great Demon King, who said indifferently, "I''ve just examined their bodies. The wounds were caused by powerful weapons piercing through them. They look identical to the wounds taken by the Titan Bear King��s son. It must be the same enemy. And this time, the enemy seems to be even stronger.


    "Though the traces have been cleanly erased, I can still sense some clues left in the air. There are spatial fluctuations that seem to be the result of space-attribute abilities."


    The surroundings burst into an uproar as soon as these words were spoken. The Peacock Demon n was undoubtedly the most proficient in spatial powers! Wasn''t this an inadvertent admission?


    "Silence." The Peacock Great Demon King''s cold voice instantly suppressed the entire scene again. The powerful bloodline pressure made the Demon Kings around him tremble intensely. They all knew the Peacock Great Demon King was strong, but they had no idea how powerful he could be.


    The Peacock Great Demon King said indifferently, "There are spatial fluctuations and other types of energy fluctuations. If I''m not mistaken, there are changes in fate and distortions in time. These remnants are very faint, but I can confirm their presence. Besides..."��he paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the Demon Kings present��"...a spiritual power user alsounched an attack on him. His sea of consciousness suffered a severe blow before his death.��

 Chapter 248: Peacock Blood Oath

    <h4>Chapter 248: Peacock Blood Oath</h4>


    The gazes of the demon kings instinctively turned toward the Aetherhorn Deer Demon. Among them, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon was by far the most advanced in spiritual cultivation.


    "Don''t look at me. How could it possibly be me? I''ve been with the Golden Deer the whole time," the Aetherhorn Deer Demon said with a face full of helplessness.


    The Peacock Great Demon King said indifferently, "I know what you''ve been suspecting. But do you think I, or my n''s elders, would join forces with Aetherhorn to deal with the sh Leopard King? Or is there someone within my city proficient in the attributes of time working together with someone skilled in the attributes of fate to control the situation?"


    He slowly raised his right hand as he spoke, calmly stating, "I swear an oath upon the blood of the Peacock that every word I have spoken is true. Should there be any falsehood, let my very blood punish me."


    A point of red light gathered at his fingertip, instantly drilling into his forehead and disappearing without a trace.


    A Blood Oath! This was the most formidable oath among the demon ns. Once made, if vited, the offender would indeed suffer a bacsh from their bloodline��not just loss of cultivation, but almost certain death as their bloodline power would abandon them.


    Witnessing the Peacock Great Demon King making a Blood Oath, the faces of the demon kings present changed.


    The Titan Bear King couldn''t help but say, "Then who could it be? Who killed my son and the Leopard?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King said indifferently, "That depends on who is your enemy or who opposes the entire Kali City. Moreover, someone who has powerful abilities controlling time, space, fate, and spirit. You surely don��t think I possess all these powers, do you? Or, is there any single race on the Daemon Continent with such capabilities?"


    "The Ancestral Court!" the Titan Bear King blurted out almost instantly. His voice was so loud that everyone around him heard his words.


    Whether it was space, time, or fate, these three abilities represented mighty races. The Peacock Demons were undoubtedly the best at spatial abilities, but they were not the only ones. In fact, the sh Leopard n themselves had a certain degree of spatial maniption ability. It could only be said that the Peacock Demons were the strongest in this regard.


    However, control over time and fate were entirely unique traits among all demon races.


    All demon races clearly understood this. The two races capable of that had a transcendent status, and their representatives lived within the Ancestral Court.


    Although the Peacock Great Demon King did not specify, the spection instantly shifted.


    The Peacock Great Demon King turned to the acting leader of the Leopard n, "Collect the bodies of the sh Leopard King and your kin. I will investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure his blood was not spilled in vain. However, I must warn you and all the races of Kali City to consider the purpose behind these murders. Think it through carefully."


    After these words, a sh of blue-silver light blinded everyone, and when it disappeared, he had vanished into thin air.


    The faces of the demon kings darkened, and the breath of the Titan Bear King became noticeably heavier.


    The ze Lion King''s eyes flickered fiercely as he muttered, "Are they plotting against us as well? What is the Ancestral Court trying to do?"


    The effect of a Blood Oath was absolute. They had absolutely no doubt that the words of the Peacock Great Demon King spoken under the Blood Oath were true to the best of his knowledge.


    The Chrono Croc and the Celestial Fox''s involvement in these serial killings, along with the impending arrival of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, inevitably led to a series of conclusions.


    After all, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s objective was well known to them. Framing the Peacock Great Demon King and causing disunity was not possible.


    The Crimson Fox Demon King lowered its head and said, "Now, truly, everyone is in danger. I shall take my leave first. s..." With a sigh, its figure turned blurry and silently disappeared like a mirage.


    "They are forcing our hand!" The Golden Deer Demon King''s eyes shone with anger as he turned to look at the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King.


    "We have no way back now," said the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King solemnly.


    ......


    Redemption Academy, located far from the city''s core, remained unaffected by the unrest. Everything seemed very peaceful. Kali Academy, sprawling beneath Academy Town, resembled a fortress shielding the small town against the storm, hiding away all unease.


    Having packed up his weapons in the Kali Mountains, Tang San returned to Academy Town.


    For some reason, he was constantly gued by unease.


    This ufortable feeling, a sense of foreboding he hadn''t felt in a long time, made him particrly cautious. His sense of impending danger was undoubtedly stronger than Du Bai''s original version, thanks to the divine consciousness supporting the Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    Reflecting carefully on every detail of the previous assassination, he was sure there were no oversights. All traces had been essentially erased. Even if some aura fluctuations remained, it wouldn''t matter, as the varied abilities he had used would be inevitably considered the work of a team. Moreover, no indications would lead anyone to suspect him or Mei Gongzi.


    Since there were no issues with the assassination process, then where did this sense of crisis originate from?


    From the courtyard, he could see the direction of Kali Academy, where everything appeared as usual, with no noticeable changes. His Discerning Eye of Heaven focused on the distant Kali City.


    Invisibly, a gloom seemed to spread within Kali City. Upon seeing this gloom, Tang San''s sense of crisis significantly intensified.


    Did the crisis originate from within Kali City? His intuition warned him not to enter Kali City again, as doing so could lead to danger.


    What did this mean? Was there danger within Kali City?


    Under normal circumstances, whatever dangers lurked in Kali City should have been of no concern to him, considering the entire membership of the Redemption Society here lived on the edge of the Kali Mountains, and students seldom ventured into Kali City.


    However, Mei Gongzi was in Kali City! It seemed like the danger was just beginning to emerge. It was uncertain whether it would continue to escte.


    Whenever it involved Mei Gongzi, Tang San couldn''t remain entirely calm.


    Without acting rashly, he continued to observe the direction of Kali City with his Discerning Eye of Heaven, especially the area from which the danger seemed to be emanating.


    ......


    Kali Square, Mei Gongzi''s milk tea shop.


    Su Qin smiled as she made milk tea and handed cup after cup to the customers.


    Today, the number of demons within Kali Square had increased dramatically, so the number of customersing to buy milk tea had subsequently increased as well.


    Whispers about the assassination of the sh Leopard King could be faintly heard, contributing to some unrest within the city.


    Besides her, Xiao Ling was also there inside the milk tea shop, helping her make milk tea and collect money.


    Su Qin always had a serene smile, and her mature charm was undeniable, even in her simple clothing. Time seemed to have left little mark on her, making her appear more like a sister than a mother when side-by-side with Mei Gongzi.


    Customers lined up to buy milk tea, and steaming cups were handed to them one by one.


    Whenever Su Qin faced a customer, she offered her smile along with the milk tea, giving them a feeling as refreshing as a spring breeze.


    The next customer approached the front of the milk tea shop. As Su Qin lowered her head to make the milk tea, she asked, "How many cups would you like?"


    "I''ll take them all," a voice replied, gentle yet deep, and filled with emotion.


    Su Qin shivered. Her movements involuntarily paused, causing some milk tea to spill from the cup. She didn��t immediately look up but instead seemed to freeze entirely.


    "I''ll take them all. Anything that''s yours, I want it all," the deep, gentle voice said again.


    Su Qin took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage, then slowly lifted her head.

 Chapter 249: I Am Here Because of You

    <h4>Chapter 249: I Am Here Because of You</h4>


    Before Su Qin stood a man with a slender figure, his handsome features softened by a gentle expression. A faint smile graced his face, yet his gaze was profoundly deep. Surrounding his body seemed to be ayer of crystalline light, bathing him in an aura of sanctity.


    His figure was draped in a silver-white robe, lending him an air of nobility. This starkly contrasted with Su Qin''s simple clothes and modest hairpin.


    Su Qin''s breathing was noticeably hurried, but the man effortlessly reached out, taking the milk tea she had just prepared, and took a light sip.


    "Itcks a bit of sweetness. I remember your milk tea used to be sweeter. Is it less sweet now because your life is missing me?" His voice remained gentle yet deep.


    At this moment, behind him, no single customer was left. For some reason, they had all vanished.


    "Why did youe here?" Su Qin''s voice was wooden and devoid of emotional fluctuations.


    "I came only for you." His voice was soft, and his gaze was tender and warm, as if he wanted to melt her heart.


    "Then you are toote," Su Qin said indifferently, her voice carrying a hint of coldness.


    The man chuckled and sipped on his tea again. His words were gentle, yet imbued with a hint of natural dominance."It''s never toote. I will take back everything that belongs to me, including you."


    "What am I? Property?" Su Qin asked ndly.


    "No, you''re not. You are the one I love, the only one I''ve loved," the man said softly.


    Su Qin''s lips curved into a smile full of sarcasm. "Please. The one you love most in your life is only yourself."


    The man''s body stiffened slightly, as did his facial expression, but it didn''tst long, and he quickly regained hisposure.


    "Perhaps. Who doesn''t love themselves the most? I must make myself good enough first to be better for you, right? I''ve arrived a bitte, but not toote. Su Qin, you don''t understand. In this world, without enough power, even what is gained can be lost. Only power is eternal. Power is what will allow me to protect you better. I told you to wait for me, and I''vee back. All the past concerns are gone with the wind, and I now have enough power to protect you. You will never suffer again, nor will anyone prevent you from returning to my side."


    Su Qin''s eyes were cold as she said, "What if I am unwilling?"


    The man paused, "No, you wouldn''t be unwilling. After all, we love each other so much. How could you be unwilling?"


    Su Qin said, "I am unwilling. And when I say no, it means no."


    "Is it because of him?" The man asked as wisps of steam faintly rose from the milk tea in his hand.


    Su Qin slightly lifted her chin, her simple cloth attire not making her presence any inferior to that of the finely dressed man before her. "Do you think anyone can dictate things to me? I am unwilling because I no longer love you. The moment you decided to leave, my heart turned cold. There''s no ce for you anymore. Yes, you''ve be powerful now, and you can certainly do as you please. But even if you have my body, it will be nothing but my body. I do not belong to you."


    Theposure and grace on the man''s face finally vanished. He gulped down the milk tea in one go, and despite his immense cultivation, he was trembling slightly at this moment.


    "No, no, it can''t be. You''ve always loved me; we were so in love at the beginning. We, we..."


    Just then, a pleasant voice rang out. "Mom?"


    Su Qin was visibly shocked as she turned her head toward the sound. Mei Gongzi, with a hint of surprise on his face, was walking toward them.


    "Why did youe back? Didn''t I tell you to go back to the academy?" Su Qin said.


    Mei Gongzi replied, "The road was closed, so I returned to keep youpany for a while."


    The finely dressed man''s gaze shifted subconsciously toward Mei Gongzi. Upon seeing her, the look in his eyes instantly changed.


    In a flicker, Su Qin silently moved in front of her daughter, using her body to shield her.


    The man''s voice trembled slightly. " Is this your daughter? Is she yours and his?"


    Mei Gongzi had also noticed something was off with her mother. In her memory, her mother had never used her abilities in front of others, but now...


    Moreover, she keenly observed that their surroundings had be empty. In the bustling Kali Square, this area alone had no passersby. There was only this one guest in front of them.


    "Yes." Su Qin said as she drew Mei Gongzi into her embrace.


    The man��s eyes reddened in an instant. He murmured to himself, "If I hadn''t left back then, our children would... would they also be this age now?"


    "Get out of here!" Su Qin suddenly roared. "You have no right to speak of children before me. Get out, far away from me! I never want to see you again!"


    Mei Gongzi, in her mother''s arms, was terrified. She had never seen her mother so furious, not even in the face of that person��s cold indifference. Yet, facing the man before them, her mother was angry, truly angry.


    <i>Who was he?</i>


    The man in fine clothes staggered back two steps, covering his cheeks with both hands, silent for a long time.


    Su Qin''s chest heaved violently, revealing her turmoil.


    Mei Gongzi dared not ask; she could only feel her mother''s trembling body and extremely agitated emotions.


    After a long moment, the man in fine clothes slowly lowered his hands, his voice filled with nothing but regret as he said, "I regret it, Qin��er.[1] What does it mean to win the whole world? Without you, this world has lost its light. But I won''t give up. I will prove my love to you and spend every moment of the future to make up for this."


    After saying this, he took two steps back and turned around. The instant he turned, his back straightened up again, as if the man previously trapped by emotions was not himself. He walked away withrge strides. A speck of purple light floated out andnded on the table of the milk tea shop.


    "This is for the milk tea, and the extra ispensation for disrupting your business."


    Everything in front of them seemed to be illusory for a moment. Mei Gongzi blinked, only to find that the man had disappeared. If not for her mother''s breathing bing more rapid, she might have thought that the man had never been there at all.


    "Mom, who was he?" Mei Gongzi asked softly.


    Su Qin muttered, "A bastard, just a bastard."


    "Ah?" Mei Gongzi was stunned, having never heard such words from her mother.


    She embraced her mother tightly. "Mom... are you okay?"


    "I''m fine, I''m fine." Su Qin''s emotions gradually calmed down, but soon, her pupils began to constrict. <i>He came... he actually came! But in that case...</i>


    "Little Mei, you can''t stay in the city anymore. Leave immediately and go back to Kali Academy. Take a detour, or if necessary, leave from outside the city. There''s going to be chaos in the city. Do note back without my notice."


    "Ah?" Mei Gongzi said, "What''s wrong, Mom?"


    "Don''t ask. Just do as I say." Su Qin was clearly agitated.


    "Okay, don''t worry. I''m leaving now."


    Not until her daughter was out of sight did Su Qin sit down. She stared nkly into the air, seemingly lost in her memories.


    Even though many years had passed, the scenes from the past still lingered in her mind.


    <i>He came, he actually came.</i>


    1. The suffix ��er�� is a diminutive marker, a form of endearment added to someone��s given name. ?

 Chapter 250: The Arrival of the Demon Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 250: The Arrival of the Demon Emperor</h4>


    At this moment, Su Qin''s mind was in turmoil. Always calm, she now found herself engulfed in a suffocating sensation, her heart in disarray.


    Mei Gongzi, intimately familiar with Kali City, skirted the sealed-off roads, circling around the city''s distant edge before heading toward Kali Academy.


    As she neared the academy, she suddenly noticed a figure standing not far from the entrance, looking in her direction.


    Upon seeing him, Mei Gongzi paused, unsure why a sudden sense of reassurance washed over her.


    Seeing her, he also let out a huge sigh of relief.


    Naturally, the figure waiting outside Kali Academy was Tang San.


    Because of that feeling of crisis and oppression, he silently looked around Kali City and then went to Kali Academy to look for Mei Gongzi. However, he couldn��t find her aura. Just as he was about to return to the city to search for her, she finally returned.


    The luck bestowed by the Celestial Fox Vision was remarkable, a case of wishful thinking made real!


    "Sister Mei." Tang San approached her proactively. Now, in the role of Tang San, he naturally couldn''t adopt the demeanor of Asura.


    "Why are you here?"


    Tang San replied, "It seemed like you left early this morning. I heard something happened in the city. I was worried about you, so I waited here."


    Mei Gongzi felt warmth in her heart. She said, "I''m fine. But something really happened in the city. Don''t go into the city these days, alright?"


    "Uh-huh, okay." Tang San quickly nodded in agreement.


    Mei Gongzi asked, "How has your cultivation been going recently? Any progress?"


    "Actually, yes. I am close to reaching the seventh order," Tang San said in a lowered voice.


    Mei Gongzi''s heart stirred/ "The seventh order is critical. Don''t focus solely on breakthroughs. It''s essential to umte a solid foundation for further improvement in the future."


    "Okay." Tang San nodded repeatedly.


    As they talked, they walked toward Kali Academy. Mei Gongzi nced back at Kali City, feeling uneasy about her mother. The man who appeared today gave her a strange feeling; even with her cultivation level, she couldn''t see through him. Clearly, that man had deep connections with her mother; otherwise, her mother wouldn''t have been so perturbed.


    The two walked back to Kali Academy together. Mei Gongzi said, "You''re still working, right? Go on with your work. By the way, the academy seems to be recruiting vassals for actualbat practice to fight against the students and enhance their realbat experience. You might consider this job. If you do well, there''s a chance to move beyond the vassal tier. Though you won��t be a noble, you could achieve the status of an ordinary demon, andpletely leave servitude behind."


    Tang San asked, "Then, what should I do to..."


    Mei Gongzi said, "You''ll need to participate in an assessment and then fight the students. If you��re under the age of twenty and you can win ten consecutive matches, you��ll be considered a promising seedling. If a race will take you in, you can request to be promoted to citizen status, so you��ll no longer be a ve or a vassal. This is a privilege of the academy. You have this opportunity since you''re almost at the seventh order, and yourbat experience ismendable. But first, you need the mayor toplete your identity documentation thoroughly, without any loopholes, and be able to withstand scrutiny."


    "Understood," Tang San nodded.


    "I''m going to rest now; you carry on," Mei Gongzi nodded to him and quickly left. After the assassination attempt and all that followed, she indeed felt weary.


    Watching her head toward the dormitory, Tang San finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that she was okay.


    Tang San didn''t particrly care about bing a citizen. It wasn''t anywhere on his list of concerns, but since Mei Gongzi had mentioned it, he would do it.


    When he looked into the distance toward Kali City once more, the gloom over the city seemed to have thickened.


    ***


    The Peacock Great Demon King sat silently in the main seat of the council hall. At this moment, he was the only one in the entire hall. Even the attendants had been dismissed.


    He silently pondered everything it had sensed before. He had sessfully directed all suspicions toward the Ancestral Court, but the fact of the matter was that he had distinctly felt the presence of the Peacock bloodline there. The spatial fluctuations were unique to the Peacock Demons; maybe others could mistake them for something else, but how could the Peacock Great Demon King possibly do that?


    Who could it be? Who would cause trouble and distract him at such a time?


    Just then, an urgent voice came from outside. "Reporting in!"


    A Peacock demon guard rushed into the hall and knelt on one knee.


    "Reporting to the City Lord, the Ancestral Court''s Pegasus caravan is about to arrive. A Pegasus rider hase ahead to notify you. Please prepare to receive them."


    The Pegasus caravan, a Demon Emperor''s mode of travel, represented the highest level of formality in terms of visits from the Ancestral Court. Even as the city lord, the Peacock Great Demon King��not a Demon Emperor himself��did not have the status to ride with such an escort.


    <i>What was inevitable has finally arrived, and so swiftly at that. How impatient he must be!</i>


    The Peacock Great Demon King stood up, expression cold as usual. "Convey mymand: open the gates of the lord''s mansion wide and have everyone there join me in weing the envoy."


    As he spoke, he strode outside.


    The entire lord''s mansion instantly became bustling. The high-ranking officials from the Peacock Demon n quickly gathered.


    The gates of the lord''s mansion were wide open, and a red carpet wasid out. The Peacock Great Demon King, dressed in splendid blue attire and apanied by his n members, walked with his head held high to the front of the mansion.


    It wasn''t long before his gaze sharply focused in one direction, where several flying chariots hade into view.


    All five chariots stood out, and the one in the center particrly so. The muscr Pegasi pulling them radiated a powerful aura. They pped their wings, trotting through the air as they brought the five chariots down from the sky directly toward the lord''s mansion.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s face remained calm. His gaze followed the chariots as theynded one after another on the ground, then glided forward, stopping precisely in front of the mansion.


    The doors of the two chariots in front and the two at the back opened first, and a dozen beings with strong auras descended. They were humanoid in appearance, but subtle features revealed that they belonged to different demon races.


    The most eye-catching was a man who alighted from thest chariot. He appeared to be in his twenties and had the weakest aura among all the demons who disembarked. However, the powerful beings who exited before him made way for him, allowing him to walk to the forefront and join them beside the door of the central, giant Pegasus chariot.


    Upon seeing this young man, the Peacock Great Demon King''s pupils slightly narrowed. He looked almost human, except for his white hair and the peculiar aura he radiated. A faint white glow could be seen shimmering within his eyes.


    This phenomenon represented something the Peacock Great Demon King understood all too well.


    The central Pegasus chariot''s door slowly opened, and the strong beings from the other four chariots that had descended earlier bowed to wee the neer.


    A man in splendid attire, delicate and gentle, descended from the chariot. If Mei Gongzi were here, she would certainly recognize him as the individual who had stirred her mother''s emotions at the milk tea shop.


    The Peacock Great Demon King remained where he was, while the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, who had descended from the chariot, looked over with a gentle gaze and a faint smile.


    Their eyes met, and both put on polite smiles.


    "Brother Wang, it''s been too long!" said the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.

 Chapter 251: Lin Ximo, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 251: Lin Ximo, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor</h4>


    The Peacock Great Demon King started moving toward the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    "Brother Ximo, you still look as splendid as ever, while I, on the other hand, have already aged," said the Peacock Great Demon King with a light smile.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor smiled in turn. "There''s no helping it. Bing a Demon Emperor involves a transformation, shedding the original formpletely. It gives me a somewhat human appearance.��


    The Peacock Great Demon King seemed not to care about the other''s boast. He made a weing gesture. "Please!"


    "Hmm." The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor did not return the gesture but directly strode towards the city lord��s mansion.


    The nsmen standing behind the Peacock Great Demon King all showed anger on their faces.


    From a status perspective, although the Crystal Phoenix in front of them was a Demon Emperor, he was just an elder in the Ancestral Court. Meanwhile, every city lord of the Empyrean Dominion held a very high status, equivalent to the elders. However, judging by the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s attitude, he clearly regarded the Peacock Great Demon King as a subordinate.


    Both parties entered the city lord��s mansion together. By now, the heads of the major ns within Kali City had already received the news. They were equally shocked; the arrival of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was too swift. The meeting had only been convened in the morning, and he had arrived by the afternoon.


    Two main seats were prepared in the hall of the mayor''s mansion. The Peacock Great Demon King invited the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor to sit together.


    Next to the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor stood that a young man with a head full of white hair, followed by other powerful figures.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s gaze fell on the young man with white hair, and he said indifferently, "If I''m not mistaken, this gentleman seems to be from the Celestial Fox n?"


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor turned his head to nce at the young man with white hair and smiled, "Indeed, Yu Yiran, you have yet to meet the Peacock Demon King." He seemed to deliberately omit the word "Great."


    The white-haired young man stood up, bowed slightly to the Peacock Great Demon King, and said, "I am honored to meet you, Peacock Great Demon King. Ie from the Celestial Fox n. I am Yu Yiran."


    Upon hearing this, the nobles of Kali City immediately became somewhat agitated. Their faces darkened, especially those of the n leaders who had witnessed the Blood Oath of the Peacock Great Demon King.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor naturally felt their change in emotion, "Oh? Is there a problem?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded to Yu Yiran in acknowledgment, then said, "Recently, there have been a number of murder cases within Kali City. Just this morning, the sh Leopard King was assassinated, leading to chaos in the city. I found traces of space, time, and fate maniption at the scene."


    "This can''t be!" Yu Yiran blurted out. "There are no members of my n within Kali City..." As he spoke, he clearly realized something, and his voice trailed off.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor nced at him, then turned to the mayor, the Peacock Great Demon King, and said, "This indeed requires a thorough investigation."


    The Peacock Great Demon King said indifferently, "Our n is adept with the power of space. The assassin who targeted the sh Leopard King seems to have employed a technique resembling a joint effort of our n, the Chrono Crocs, and the Celestial Foxes. It''s quite peculiar. It only happened this morning, and we are still investigating."


    At this moment, the leaders of the ns not originally aligned with the Peacock Demon n��the Titan Bears, sh Leopards, Wind Wolves, Crimson Foxes, and even ze Lions��had somewhat dark expressions.


    They were also not aligned with the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, as no one wished to invite trouble upon themselves.


    In the Empyrean Dominion, the most powerful bloodlines belonged to the dragon and phoenix races. There were always Demon Emperors among them, but due toplex branching, any given n could produce a Demon Emperor. Moreover, the true dragon and phoenix ns had very few descendants, and there were truly few races that they held in any kind of regard. Thus, these Demon Emperors typically did not have many vassals.


    This Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had only risen in the past decade and had only recently achieved the status of a Demon Emperor. The nobles of Kali City were only vaguely aware of him from the conflicts between the previous generation of the Crystal Phoenix n''s Great Demon King and the Peacock Great Demon King. They did not know much about this Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    The number of individuals in the Celestial Fox n was even scarcer. In addition, they were able to control fate and therefore held an exalted status, second only to the dragon and phoenix ns. Naturally, in a remote ce like Kali City, members of the Celestial Fox n had never appeared before.


    This was simply too much of a coincidence. The shLeopard King had just died, possibly at the hands of an assassin from the Celestial Fox n, and now a member of the Celestial Fox n had arrived with the Ancestral Court''s convoy. What did this imply?


    Given the Celestial Fox n''s prideful nature, would they be mere assassins? How could this be possible without an order from someone on an even higher level than themselves?


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor said, "I havee here on the orders of the Ancestral Court, in order to thoroughly investigate the disappearance of the Great Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor''s essence blood and the disappearance of the Ice Dragon Great Demon King. The deadline given by the Ancestral Court is tight, so I hope Brother Wang will cooperate fully to solve the case as soon as possible."


    The Peacock Great Demon King sighed. "Brother Ximo, this matter has also given me a headache. I wasn''t aware of the Ice Dragon Great Demon King''sst visit. I only knew that the essence blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor hade here. However, after the auction ended, the bidder didn''t even pay the handling fee; they just took away the essence blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor and disappeared. We are also investigating. After all, those transaction fees are not something to scoff at, even for the city��s coffers. Onlyter did I hear from the Ancestral Court that the essence blood of the Great Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor was brought to the auction by the Ice Dragon Great Demon King, who then bought it back himself. This made me feel that something was amiss. I really don''t understand the reason for its actions. We have tried our best to search for the Ice Dragon Great Demon King and demand an exnation. Yet, we have never found any trace of him."


    The smile on the soft-featured face of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor deepened. "No matter. I have brought a drop of the Dragon Emperor''s essence blood. With the drive of my divine consciousness, finding the whereabouts of the Ice Dragon Great Demon King should not be difficult. Everything will naturally be clear then."


    Upon hearing this, the Peacock Great Demon King''s pupils slightly contracted.


    The Dragon Emperor mentioned by the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was the current ruler of the Ancestral Court, the Great Elder. He was the most powerful being of the Ancestral Court, standing at the pinnacle even among Demon Emperors. Hisbat power was unmatched.


    As the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor spoke, he stood up, and an invisible aura of authority burst forth.


    "Hold on," the Peacock Great Demon King suddenly said in a deep voice.


    "Oh? Brother Wang, do you have any objections?" the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor asked knowingly.


    The Peacock Great Demon King said, "This ce is the city lord��s mansion, the dwelling of my n for generations. The aura of the Dragon Emperor''s essence blood is too powerful and may harm those present. How about I apany you to ascend and investigate?"


    The light in the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s eyes shifted, and he said softly, "That would be fine, of course. In this way, the scope of our investigation can be broader."


    The Peacock Great Demon King extended his hand, saying, "Please!"


    Two shes of light twinkled almost simultaneously, and in the next instant, both figures had vanished into thin air.


    Inside the hall, the high-ranking officials of Kali City looked at each other, their expressions grave.


    Kali City was the weakest in overall strength among the main cities. The main reason was that the Peacock Great Demon King had not reached the level of emperor, so there weren��t many powerful ns willing toe under his wing.


    Apart from the Peacock Great Demon King himself, the leaders of the other ns were, at best, at the level of Demon Kings. Only within the Peacock Demon n were two more Great Demon Kings, thanks to the foundation built up by the n over many years.


    In the case of the other main cities, the Demon Emperor ruling over them could have a full dozen Great Demon Kings under theirmand, and the ruling ns of various races had a stronghold there. This was important because even among demons of the same major race, different ns could have vastly different power and status.


    The sudden arrival of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, coupled with the assassination of the sh Leopard King, made the high-ranking officials of Kali City feel a distinct sense of danger, danger that spared none of them.

 Chapter 252: The True Phoenix Demon King

    <h4>Chapter 252: The True Phoenix Demon King</h4>


    Facing a Demon Emperor, they could feel the oppression emanating from the soul itself, making it no easy task to mobilize their bloodline power in front of such a sovereign. This was power, overwhelming power. In the face of absolute suppression, no amount of fighting spirit seemed to make any difference.


    The Celestial Fox youth seated to the right of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, slowly stood up. His gaze swept over the high-ranking officials of Kali City before him, and he said indifferently, "From this moment, the investigation into this matter hasmenced under the auspices of the Demon Emperor. Until the investigation concludes, none of you may leave this ce."


    The Golden Deer Demon King said coldly, "We are all leaders of our respective ns. The Demon Emperor''s investigation does not concern us. Who are you, and what right do you have to detain us?"


    The Celestial Fox youth smiled slightly, responding, "Who I am is unimportant. What matters is that I carry the Demon Emperor''s decree. Those who object are free to try and leave. The consequences will be apparent when the timees for reckoning."


    A cold light shed in the eyes of the Golden Deer Demon King, but he dared not act. The pressure exerted by a Demon Emperor was simply too formidable. He was at the true pinnacle of their kind, an existence they simply could not contend with.


    The implications of "future reckoning" were abundantly clear.


    Kali Citycked an emperor, and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, the new sovereign, had no city of his own. More importantly, this Demon Emperor had a mutated bloodline and had no direct descendants. This made him the perfect figure to pledge allegiance to��after all, when there were no bloodline descendants topete with, everyone had a chance to rise to prominence. Thus, upon his ascension, many powerful beings immediately flocked to his side.


    The leaders of various ns present were no fools; they naturally understood the real purpose behind the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s visit to Kali City. The investigation into the Ice Dragon Great Demon King incident was merely a pretext, the main goal being to overpower the Peacock Great Demon King and seize control of Kali City.


    The Crimson Fox Demon King acted as if nothing had happened, sitting there meekly without uttering a word. Even the leaders who supported the Great Peacock Demon King in previous meetings were unsure of what to do, so they opted to remain silent.


    The youth before them clearly wasn''t even in the god tier. Yet, he could act as the second-inmand among the powerful beings the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor brought because he was a descendant of the Celestial Fox n.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was regarded as a great sage and prophet, controlling the fate of the entire world. Naturally, any member of the Celestial Fox n was highly respected.


    Members of the Celestial Fox n were scarce, and regardless of which race they visited, they were treated as honored guests. However, due to their proud nature, they would only follow those with immensely strong destinies. Thus, the only way to truly gain the allegiance of a Celestial Fox was to be a Demon Emperor. Every Demon Emperor would have a Celestial Fox n member sent to assist and apany them.


    The Celestial Fox youth apanying the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had not yet reached godhood, but no one dared to underestimate him.


    The Celestial Fox turned to the powerful beings who hade with him and said indifferently, "I would ask Qi Yu and Ding Hao, our honored guests, to bring forth the direct bloodline members of the Peacock Demon n."


    Two middle-aged men stood up. They both had human forms, but what distinguished them was the color of their hair. Qi Yu''s hair was strikingly crimson, while Ding Hao''s was an eye-catching aqua.


    They had respectfully stood behind the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, and until now, they had not shown any sign of their bloodline power. But the moment they stood up, as the high-ranking officials of Kali City paled at the words of the Celestial Fox youth, a terrifying bloodline pressure suddenly burst forth from them.


    <i>True phoenixes! </i>The Golden Capricorn King inhaled sharply, hisplexion turning sour.


    Indeed, the aura bursting from these two guests indicated that they were from a true phoenix n. The immense pressure from their bloodline made the high-ranking officials of Kali City dare not move an inch.


    Great Demon Kings, these were two phoenix Great Demon Kings! Among the Great Demon Kings, they were of the highest echelon. In terms of individual strength and bloodline, they could be considered on par with the Peacock Great Demon King himself!


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was clearly well-prepared. The fact that he had brought along two Great Demon Kings made it clear that he intended to do things by force if that was required.


    The faces of the Kali City officials, who had been prepared to protest, now appeared pale. What could they say in the presence of two Great Demon Kings?


    Moreover, these two were not the only ones apanying the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. Among the dozen strong beings, aside from the two Great Demon Kings, the rest were demon kings, all at the tenth order.


    The aura of the two phoenixes surged immensely, spreading in ripples around them and throughout the entire mansion. The next moment, from behind the city lord''s mansion, two powerful auras also burst forth, directly countering the presence of the two true phoenix Great Demon Kings.


    Two shes of silver light appeared almost instantly, revealing the figures of two people, a man and a woman. Their faces looked young, but their silver hair and the depth of age in their eyes betrayed their true age.


    "It''s been a long time, Wang siblings," said Ding Hao with a smile.


    The two siblings of the Peacock Demon race responded indifferently, "So, you''ve pledged allegiance to Lin Ximo."


    Qi Yu said, "A wise bird chooses its tree to nest in. His Majesty has ascended to the Demon Emperor status and is, of our kin, naturally the most worthy of allegiance. If you''re willing, we can introduce you. Wang Han, Wang Yu, do you really intend to follow this path to its dark end?"


    The woman, Wang Yu, whose aura also indicated her status as a Great Demon King, coldly said, "Are you unaware of the enmity between my n and the Crystal Phoenix lineage? What''s the point of your cold words? This is the territory of the Peacock Demon race, and we won''t tolerate your wild behavior. State your intentions inly."


    Ding Hao said indifferently, "We are here on the orders of the Ancestral Court, apanying His Majesty, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, to thoroughly investigate the whereabouts of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor''s essence blood and the Ice Dragon Great Demon King''s lineage. The disappearance of the Ice Dragon Great Demon King has enraged the Dragon Emperor. This matter must be thoroughly investigated, and anyone daring to obstruct the investigation will be shown no mercy. We suspect this matter is rted to your Peacock Demon n. Now, bring all your n members here to wait for questioning. Refusal means defying the orders of the Ancestral Court."


    "Nonsense! What does the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor''s essence blood have to do with our n? We have no idea where the Ice Dragon Great Demon King is. You''re just looking for an excuse to use us," Wang Yu eximed. Her aura surged, causing the space around her to distort violently.


    Ding Hao and Qi Yu showed no fear, and their auras exploded in turn.


    Just then, a hazy white light spread out, and under the envelopment of this white glow, even the spatial powers released by Wang Yu, a Great Demon King, started to be strangely chaotic.


    Wang Han and Wang Yu''s expressions changed. "Celestial Fox Vision?"


    They were both senior Great Demon Kings, so in terms of cultivation, they did not fear Ding Hao and Qi Yu. Even if thetter two were of a true phoenix bloodline, it was still hard to say who would win or lose if they really fought. However, the moment the Celestial Fox Vision manifested, their hearts sank.

 Chapter 253: We Are Still Missing One

    <h4>Chapter 253: We Are Still Missing One</h4>


    The Celestial Fox Vision was foresight, control of fate, and the most potent support ability. They had no chance of victory with a Celestial Fox powerhouse supporting the other side. Even though this member of the Celestial Fox n wasn��t at the god level, it was all the same.


    They wouldn''t dare make a move against the young Celestial Fox. Among the demon and nymph ns, no power dared to strike at a Celestial Fox n member��not openly, at the very least. Once identified, the attacker would be a mortal enemy of the Celestial Fox n, and even if no one did anything, fate itself would be their enemy.


    Thus, when the power of destiny manifested, the aura of the two Great Demon Kings of the Peacock Demon n was immediately suppressed, and they lost any intention to engage.


    The young Celestial Fox smiled, saying, ��I greet the two seniors. I am Yu Yiran, of the younger generation of the Celestial Fox n. The Ancestral Court has personally arranged this investigation. Both you and we must follow the will of the Ancestral Court. Under the auspices of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, we are tasked to investigate this case. Before the case is concluded, we would trouble everyone to cooperate. Otherwise, we will have difficulty exining this back at the Ancestral Court.��


    Wang Yu was about to say something in response, but Wang Han was faster. ��Fine. We shall follow your words.��


    A faint silver light flickered over him, and the surrounding power of destiny almost instantly dissipated. His voice swiftly spread throughout the depths of the estate. ��All members of the Peacock Demon n,e to the council hall.��


    Yu Yiran''s expression subtly changed��the opponent''s divine consciousness had forcefully dispersed his control over destiny. Control over destiny wasn''t everything, and its effect was limited against those with divine consciousness. Thus, he couldn''t suppress the two Peacock Great Demon Kings with destiny. Of course, what the Peacock Great Demon Kings feared was not him attacking them, but rather supporting the two true phoenix Great Demon Kings, something they could not prevent.


    However, it was clear the Peacock Demon n still dared not openly defy the will of the Ancestral Court, choosing instead to cooperate, which slightly relieved Yu Yiran. Their visit this time couldn''t possibly strip the Peacock Demon n of control over Kali City. Their intention was merely to incriminate them��to pin a crime on the Peacock Great Demon King, then continue to manipte proceedings from within the Ancestral Court. To rally for the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. The power bnce between the Peacock Demon n leader and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor would eventually shift in favor of thetter.


    It didn''t take long for members of the Peacock demon n to gather in the hall. The Peacock demon n had a long heritage, but their numbers weren''t that high. It was an immutablew: powerful beings generally had problems conceiving.


    Those who arrived in the hall were all of the seventh order or above; naturally, those below the seventh order had no business being used of anything at that level.


    In total, over two hundred members of the Peacock Demon n at the seventh order or above filled the hall to the brim, their presence causing the spatial elemental fluctuations in the air to be significantly more intense.


    Yu Yiran also felt a surge of surprise in his heart. Despite the Peacock Demon n not having a Demon Emperor among their ranks, their foundational strength was undeniably profound! Among the many strong individuals of the Peacock n present, there were more than twenty at the Demon King level. Although there were only two Great Demon Kings, the siblings Wang Han and Wang Yu, the gathering of so many from the Peacock Demon n exerted an invisible yet overwhelmingly oppressive force.


    The gazes of the two true Phoenix Great Demon Kings also grew more solemn. After all, they were in the Peacock Demon n territory. Without the leadership of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, even they would not dare to strut around and ruffle others�� feathers.


    Wang Han stated calmly, "All members of our n above the seventh order are here. We hope to rify this matter quickly, and if it ultimately proves unrted to us, then we shall seek an exnation from the Ancestral Court."


    Yu Yiran responded, "Of course, and we appreciate everyone''s cooperation. However, I must ask one more question: are <i>all</i> nobles above the seventh order present here?"


    "Indeed," Wang Han replied lightly.


    A faint voice sounded, "One has not arrived."


    Wang Han swiftly turned, his gaze piercing through the crowd. Upon seeing who had spoken, his eyes immediately betrayed a sh of annoyance, and his expression soured.


    The speaker was none other than Wang Yan��indeed, the very same eldest legitimate son of the Peacock Great Demon King who had once led a capture attempt against Mei Gongzi only to return defeated.


    "Who else has not arrived?" Yu Yiran had already stepped forward, indifferent to the presence of many Great Demon Kings and Demon Kings. With the protection of the Celestial Fox n, he was not concerned about anyone daring to harm him. Moreover, with the blessing of fortune, it would be difficult for anyone to do that even if they tried.


    Wang Yan, feeling the varied gazes of his nspeople, was about to say something when a stunningly beautiful middle-aged woman beside him stated lightly, "There is a half-blood who is not present. She should be attending Kali Academy."


    As soon as she spoke, even Wang Han and Wang Yu found themselves unable toment. This was because she was the reigning matriarch of the Peacock Demon n, the legitimate wife of the Peacock Great Demon King.


    "May I ask who you are?" Yu Yiran inquired.


    "This is the queen of our Peacock Demon n," Wang Han said.


    "I greet Your Majesty," Yu Yiran said, bowing slightly in greeting. The matriarch of a n held a distinguished status indeed. This queen was not only stunningly beautiful, but her bloodline aura also emitted a sensation that was elusive to pinpoint, indicating her strength was at least at the tenth order.


    "You''vee to our doorstep to bully us, so spare us the false courtesies. We will naturallyply with the orders from the Ancestral Court, and will not leave any ws for you to find."


    Undoubtedly, the queen justified her son''s earlier statement in front of their nspeople. Regardless of her feelings, her son was still her son, and she could not stand idly by as he faced humiliation in front of others.


    "Could the queen perhaps summon this half-blood?" Yu Yiran asked with a smile.


    The Peacock Queen nced at her and responded lightly, "This half-blood has always been spoiled and arrogant and does not heed mymands. If you wish for her presence, you must summon her yourself."


    Yu Yiran''s gaze flickered, "In that case, I shall overstep my bounds."


    ***


    Above Kali City.


    Two figures appeared out of thin air.


    The sky had darkened, and the distant sun slowly set, signaling evening''s arrival.


    Two simrly slender figures faced the direction of the sunset, remaining silent for a long time.


    Finally, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, Lin Ximo, broke the silence. "Do you concede?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s lips curled in a hint of scorn. "Concede? You think you''ve won?"


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor shook his head, saying, "No, I was the one who lost before. As much as I hate to admit it, I now feel I lost back then. To seize that opportunity, I gave up the love of my life. Though most of our people would not see it as anything significant, they simply do not understand what love is. I have lived as if ants were gnawing away at my heart all these years. It was this hatred, this unwillingness, this excruciating pain that drove me to break through time and again. No matter how much pain I endured, it was never as intense as the torment in my heart. Only then could I break through the barriers and reach where I am today? If I were given another chance, to choose once more..."


    "What would you do? Would you give up that opportunity? Would you choose her?" The Peacock Great Demon King asked, looking sideways.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor gave a bitter smile and shook his head, "No, I would still make the same choice as before because both you and I carry the fate of our species. We both have the mission to rejuvenate our races. Since the mutual demise of my father and your father, my lineage was left with only seventeen members. If I cannot rise, it won''t be long before my line ceases to exist among the phoenix ns. For the fate of our race, personal feelings are no longer important."

 Chapter 254: Who Wins, Who Loses?

    <h4>Chapter 254: Who Wins, Who Loses?</h4>


    He paused for a few moments, and when he continued, his voice turned sharp. "But this doesn''t mean my heart isn''t in agony. Just the thought of the woman I cherish most being in your arms��do you understand the bone-deep pain that consumes me? Do you understand how much I loathe you?


    "My n elders kept advising me that I should not be hasty. I just advanced to the twelfth order and I have time. A true man can wait ten years to enact his revenge, they say. But I truly cannot wait. All I can think of is that each day I dy, she spends another day by your side. These thoughts suffocate me with pain."


    The Great Peacock Demon King listened silently, his mocking smile only growing deeper. "You im to have no regrets? Then why endure such pain? Your words are meaningless. It''s been fifteen years. Yes, nearly fifteen years. In fact, I should thank you. Had you not willingly stepped aside, I never would��ve had the opportunity. As the Great Peacock Demon King, I never imagined I could outlive my ancestors and see beyond a hundred years. And in my lifetime, thesest fifteen years have been my happiest and most joyous. Indeed, you''re right; most demons don''t understand what love is. But you do, and so do I. Thus, we both pursued our love. And in that regard, I''ve won."


    The Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor said coldly, "Are you deliberately trying to infuriate me?"


    The Great Peacock Demon King calmly retorted, "I''m merely stating a fact."


    The Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor sneered. "<i>Hmph</i>. Beforeing to you, I visited her. She has agreed to leave with me and be my empress, provided that I defeat you."


    The Great Peacock Demon King visibly shivered for an instant, but then...he startedughing. Turning around, heughed heartily right in the face of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, aughter so intense that it seemed like he was about to cry.


    The Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s eyes gleamed with a fierce coldness. "What are youughing at?"


    "I''mughing at the fact that you''ve stooped to fabricating lies for your own amusement. Are you even serious?"


    Theughter on the Great Peacock Demon King''s face gradually faded, and he pointed at his enemy. "I might have believed you if you said you kidnapped her or something. But that she forgave you? <i>You?</i> If I could believe that, then I wouldn''t deserve to be her husband. No one knows better than I how much she detests you. To say she hates you to the bone is an understatement. You think a mere im from you will earn her forgiveness? I believe that even in death, she wouldn''t forgive you. Her hatred for you is engraved in her heart."


    "You''re talking nonsense!" the Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor bellowed angrily. "Impossible, she loved me so much back then. Yes, I was wrong; I abandoned her for that opportunity. But she ran off with you. How is that fair to me? Shouldn''t she have waited for me? Had she been willing to wait, I would have naturally returned to her after seizing that opportunity. Even though I left without a word to her, is it fair that she couldn''t wait a few years for me? Are you saying she''s not at fault at all? When I acquired the opportunity and returned to the Ancestral Court, she had already be your consort. Am I the only one to me?"


    The Great Peacock Demon Kingughed, finding his mood unexpectedly lifted, "Right, the fault is yours alone. I would tell you the same if I weren''t her husband. You''re the one at fault. All that she has borne, all the pain she has suffered, how could you possibly understand? I know, but I won''t tell you. Guess as you will. What does it matter if you are a Demon Emperor when you can''t even protect the woman you love the most? What kind of emperor are you, then?"


    "You''re courting death!" The aura of Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor erupted suddenly, a crystal-like sheen spreading across his entire body. Large crystal formations gradually emerged throughout the surrounding space.


    "What, are you so embarrassed you can��t handle it?" the Great Peacock Demon King said scornfully.


    The Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor said coldly, "You know why I''m here today. There''s no need for empty words. If you can defeat me, all this affair is moot. But if you lose, everything here is mine."


    With a piercing gaze, the Great Peacock Demon King responded, "I have waited many years for this day, knowing it would inevitablye. Let our true powers be revealed. Show me if your strength as a Demon Emperor is enough to defeat me."


    The Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s eyes narrowed slightly, and the vast expanse of the sky around him turned into crystal. With a gesture, he transformed into a beam of crystal light, shooting off into the distance.


    In the eyes of the Great Peacock Demon King, a brilliant blue-silver light shone, mes erupting from behind, following the Crystal Phoenix in the same direction.


    Beneath themy Kali City. A battle in the skies above would undoubtedly devastate the city below, something neither the Great Peacock Demon King nor the Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor wished to see.


    Thus, they chose their battlefield to be the Kali Mountains.


    ***


    Kali Academy.


    Two figures descended from the sky,nding directly within the academy grounds.


    Immediately, rms red, and figures began to emerge from within Kali Academy.


    "Who dares to enter Kali Academy forcefully?" echoed an authoritative voice. A robust middle-aged man floated up from the center of Kali Academy, his body emitting a bright white light and his formidable aura seemingly illuminating the entire academy.


    Feeling the pressure of this aura, one of the figures who had justnded in the academy hurriedly said, "Director Li, it''s me, Wang Yan! An envoy from the Ancestral Court has arrived. Hurry and pay your respects!"


    Director Li��s eyes narrowed. Wasn''t this Wang Yan, the direct descendant of the city lord, who once studied at Kali Academy but was ultimately persuaded to leave due to his inadequacies?


    Beside Wang Yan stood a figure cloaked in a long robe as dark as ink, seemingly woven from ck feathers, emanating a rich aura of darkness that seemed even more sinister in the twilight.


    A god-level Demon King!


    "The Dark Raven n?" Director Linded in front of Wang Yan and the god-level powerhouse from the Dark Raven n.


    A hoarse voice emerged from the Dark Raven Demon King, "Indeed, I am an envoy from the Ancestral Court, Dai Yangning of the Dark Raven n. Are you the Radiant Tiger King, Li Si?"


    "Do you know me?" Li Si said coldly.


    "Of course, the fame of the Radiant Tiger King is well-known. You are the first Radiant Tiger King to have a fallout with his n," Dai Yangning, the Dark Raven Demon King, said lightly.


    Perhaps because light and darkness were inherently opposed, when he looked at the figure before him, Li Si��s heart was filled with disdain, "What brings you here this time?"


    Before Dai Yangning could speak, Wang Yan hurriedly said, "The Ancestral Court hase to investigate the whereabouts of the Ice Dragon Great Demon King. They request the gathering of our n members for the investigation. Mei Gongzi is at the seventh order and she is required to participate, so we came to fetch her."


    Li Si nced at him, not hiding the disdain in his heart, "Mei Gongzi is a student of the academy and cannot be involved in matters rted to the Ice Dragon Great Demon King. Please leave."


    The Dark Raven Demon King coldly said, "This is an order from the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. Do you dare defy themand of a Demon Emperor?"


    Li Si responded indifferently, "So what if I do? Had I not defied a Demon Emperor''smand, I wouldn''t have been expelled from my n. And that guy isn��t even my emperor. What are you to shout at me like that? Leave now, or I''ll turn you into a roast chicken. No, I can''t eat that; it would be disgusting. <i>Pah!</i>"


    As soon as these words were spoken, the light around the Dark Raven Demon King instantly dimmed, as if everything around was absorbed into the night instantly.


    Li Si snorted in disdain and his body instantly radiated intense light, like a sun suddenly appearing on the ground. The bright, zing light instantly dispelled the darkness.

 Chapter 255: Mei Gongzi Is Taken Away

    <h4>Chapter 255: Mei Gongzi Is Taken Away</h4>


    The Dark Raven Demon King grunted, instinctively stepping back. His eyes widened in shock, "The pinnacle of the tenth order!"


    Indeed, the cultivation disyed by Li Si had reached the upper limit of the Demon King level. One more step, and he would enter the realm of Great Demon King.


    The bloodline tier of the Radiant Tiger was not something the Dark Raven could match. The Dark Raven excelled in reconnaissance and assassination. In directbat, even three Dark Raven Demon Kings might not match a single Radiant Tiger Demon King, much less one at the peak of his order.


    "Enough!" Just then, an aged voice sounded, seeminglying from all directions. Its faint pressure made both darkness and light recede.


    "The decree of the Ancestral Court must not be defied. Let Little Mei go with them. There will be no harm," the aged voice echoed, carrying a somewhat ethereal tone.


    Hearing this voice, even the defiant Radiant Tiger King showed a hint of respect. "Understood."


    Themotion at the academy naturally reached Mei Gongzi''s ears. She had also noticed the changes in the sky earlier and understood that something significant had urred in the city, likely rted to the auction.


    Mei Gongzi slowly emerged from the building and approached the Dark Raven Demon King. Without a nce at Wang Yan, she nodded to the Dark Raven Demon King. "Let''s go."


    The Radiant Tiger King, Li Si, eyed the Dark Raven Demon King with a cold gaze. "If you harm a student of my academy, hmph!"


    All higher academies held a transcendent status among the demon ns, to the extent that even city lords could not directlymand an academy to act against its rules. Higher academies were directly governed by the Ancestral Court��meaning that the academy deans were, in a way, directly appointed by the Ancestral Court.


    Without a word, the Dark Raven Demon King turned and left. Just as the Radiant Tiger King, Li Si, disliked him, Dai Yangning equally detested this individual radiating an aura of light.


    Mei Gongzi followed Wang Yan and the Dark Raven Demon King.


    From the woods next to the main academic building, a figure quietly emerged, watching them leave with furrowed brows. The broom in his hand had turned to dust at some point.


    Tang San had not left the school yet. After parting with Mei Gongzi, he had remained at Kali Academy.


    The crisis the Discerning Eye of Heaven signaled,bined with the increasing gloom over Kali City, weighed heavily on his heart. He harbored an ominous premonition that lingered in his mind. Under such circumstances, how could he leave Mei Gongzi''s side easily?


    And indeed, when the Dark Raven Demon King and Wang Yan arrived together, he instantly realized something was amiss. As expected, Mei Gongzi was taken away.


    Only in matters concerning Mei Gongzi did Tang San find hisposure easily shaken. Thus, he had to consciously remind himself to face the situation calmly.


    This was the first time Tang San had seen the Radiant Tiger King, who served as both the Dean of Instruction and Vice-Principal of Kali Academy... and as it turned out, he had strength beyond Tang San��s expectations. Moreover, the aged voice from the shadows seemed to have even greater power, likely at the level of a Great Demon King. Truly, the academy was a ce of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!


    Tang San knew that if not for the concealment provided by his divine consciousness and the fortune from his Celestial Fox Transformation, he would have likely been detected by the powerful beings within the academy long ago. His cautiousness had not been in vain, and now he knew he had to be even more careful.


    Gazing in the direction Mei Gongzi had left, Tang San took a deep breath. At that moment, two streaks of light shing across the sky towards the Kali Mountains caught his attention.


    Both streaks of light shone brilliantly, each carrying an immensely powerful aura. Their terrifying and splendid momentum headed straight for the depths of the Kali Mountains.


    That was...


    From the conversation of the Dark Raven Demon King and what Mei Gongzi had mentioned to him about the Ancestral Court before their hunt for the sh Leopard King, Tang San surmised that it was probably the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor who had made a move.


    This level of Demon Emperor was a title given to twelfth-order demons and nymphs in this world,parable to a First ss God in the divine realm he once belonged to. The only difference is that they did not possess a god seat, so they were probably a little weaker. Yet, for the Daemon Continent and the entire of Fn, they were the apex of existence.


    <i>The Peacock Great Demon King is at the eleventh order, while the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor is at the twelfth. Are they about to engage in battle?</i>


    Tang San naturally wasn''t concerned about the lives of these two; his worry was whether Mei Gongzi would be alright.


    After a brief moment of thought, Tang San swiftly rose and sprinted in the direction the Dark Raven Demon King and Mei Gongzi had taken off.


    ***


    Once outside Kali Academy, the Dark Raven Demon King conjured a thick ck mist around himself, enveloping both Mei Gongzi and Wang Yan, and soared into the sky, heading straight back to the city lord''s mansion.


    At that moment, the Dark Raven Demon King suddenly felt a prickling sensation on his back, as if something had set its sights on him, and sensed a profoundly intense threat looming unseen.


    Instinctively, he controlled the ck clouds, elevating his alertness to the maximum. Could it be that the Radiant Tiger King, Li Si, sought to confront him after leaving Kali Academy?


    He was somewhat aware of Li Si''s personality; after all, themotion he had caused within the Radiant Tiger n was infamous, a well-known scandal. Li Si was indeed a fearless individual, and he was not afraid of trouble.


    At that very moment, Mei Gongzi suddenly moved without warning. Silver light burst forth from her body, and the peacock feathers on her back exploded, transforming into streaks of silver radiance that thrust at Dai Yangning.


    Dai Yangning had never imagined that this seemingly delicate and frail girl, appearing no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, would choose to strike at him at such a moment, much less that she would have such power. This was utterly inconceivable to him.


    Due to Wang Yan''s influence, he had already developed a disdainful view of the direct descendants of the Peacock Demon lineage. If Wang Yan, a legitimate descendant, was such a spineless worm, how could a mere half-blood girl be anything special?


    Yet, this very girl had suddenlyshed out,unching a surprise attack on him.


    Mei Gongzi''s sneak attack came abruptly and from close quarters, leaving even a god-level demon like Dai Yangning no time to dodge.


    Still, a tenth-order demon was not to be underestimated. In an instant, Dai Yangning''s body became ethereal, allowing the silver light to pierce through him as if entering a dense mist. The space around him seemed glued together, rendering it impossible for the energy to disperse. However, the dark mist enveloping Mei Gongzi and Wang Yan noticeably thinned.


    With a swift movement, Mei Gongzi teleported dozens of meters away. Her peacock feathers unfurled into wings, pping and carrying her tender body away at breakneck speed.


    "Scoundrel!" Dai Yangning''s eyes flickered with rage as he raised his right hand, reaching toward Mei Gongzi. Suddenly, from the void, arge hand formed from ck mist, endowed with a powerful suction force that pulled Mei Gongzi backward.


    Just then, a vine suddenly swept in, silently wrapping around Mei Gongzi''s slender waist. A fierce pull from the other end of the vine forcefully changed her direction, sending her flying off in a different direction.


    Simultaneously, bolts flew through the air, emitting a piercing screech. Glistening with a blinding silver light, these bolts seemed to flicker ethereally in mid-air.


    Their target was not Dai Yangning, however, but Wang Yan.


    These bolts were unlikely to do anything to a Demon King, but Wang Yan was quite far from being one.


    Empowered by space itself, the bolts almost instantly reached their target. Dai Yangning''s ck mist hand was about to pursue Mei Gongzi, but as he sensed the bolts, he had no choice but to give that up. The hand of ck mist flickered and then repositioned itself in front of Wang Yan.

 Chapter 256: Asuras Rescue

    <h4>Chapter 256: Asura''s Rescue</h4>


    <i>Boom, boom, boom, boom!</i>


    The crossbow bolts were all sted away, but the spatial force attached to them exploded one by one, throwing the surrounding space into chaos and snapping the lock it had on Mei Gongzi''s aura instantly. This ingenious design contained no god-tier power, yet it effectively halted the ck hand��s pursuit of Mei Gongzi, who had already fallen into the city below, quickly vanishing without a trace.


    Dai Yangning, clutching a pale-faced Wang Yan, swiftly activated his divine consciousness, searching in the direction Mei Gongzi had fled. However, Mei Gongzi seemed to have vanished into thin air, with no aura to be found.


    Tang San was the one pursuing them; the nagging feeling of danger that Dai Yangning had was because of him. Yet, even he hadn''t anticipated Mei Gongzi''s decisive action at this moment. When she suddenly broke free, Tang San had no choice but to act.


    As he whipped out the Blue Silver Emperor vines, he had already used Asura''s voice to transmit a message to Mei Gongzi, urging her to trust him and not struggle. Then, he forcibly pulled her to his side.


    A slight hint of his divine consciousness revealed itself, enveloping both of them before he ran off with Mei Gongzi.


    Although Dai Yangning also possessed divine consciousness due to being a god, in terms of quality, it was far inferior to Tang San''s. He wasn''t particrly adept at using his divine consciousness either, so finding their aura was far from easy.


    With his right hand gripping the vine wrapped around Mei Gongzi''s waist, Asura sped away with her. Mei Gongzi whispered, "Let me go."


    "No, you can''t leave my side, or he will detect you with his divine consciousness," Asura said, elerating even more.


    "Where are we going?" Mei Gongzi stopped trying to break free, understanding that Asura was right, but she couldn''t help but wonder how he was able to conceal their aura from divine consciousness detection. She hadn''t felt anything special about him!


    "To the Kali Mountains. The Peacock Great Demon King and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor seem to be about to sh there. The Kali Mountains have be a forbidden zone. Even the Dark Raven Demon King wouldn''t expect us to flee in this direction, so it should actually be the safest. Moreover, the collision between a Great Demon King and a Demon Emperor will cause all auras to be chaotic, making it difficult for anyone to detect your presence. Then, it all depends on the oue of their battle. If your father wins, everything will return to normal. If the Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor wins, you''ll have to flee with me, and going back won''t be an option."


    As she let her drag him ahead, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but be momentarily dazed by his rapid words. Could he really make such urate judgments in such a short time? He was indeed very smart to be able to make such precise decisions so quickly.


    The intent behind the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s arrival was clear: to overpower the Peacock Demon n, and the Ancestral Court evidently sanctioned his presence here.


    As a Demon Emperor, one required vast resources for sustenance. The resources of the Ancestral Court had long been divided, and securing a share was not easy. Most beings at the Demon Emperor level had their main cities. And as Mei Gongzi herselfmented not long ago, it just so happened that Kali Citycked a Demon Emperor.


    Kali City was in a remote area, and the Peacock Demon n, despite their past glory, had been without an emperor for three generations, making them an easy target.


    Using the investigation into the whereabouts of the Ice Dragon Great Demon King as a pretext was undoubtedly an overt scheme. The only way to resolve this crisis was to at least repel the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. Otherwise, the Peacock Demon n had no other option but topromise, lest they face the threat of annihtion.


    Although Asura was unaware of the past disputes between the Crystal Phoenix and Peacock lineages, it wasn��t that hard to draw these conclusions.


    <i>The battle between these two will determine the future course of action. Until their victory or defeat is decided, everything else is superfluous. The priority is to take Mei Gongzi to a safe ce and await the oue of this battle before making further judgments.</i>


    Their escapemenced near Kali City, at the foot of the Kali Mountains, making their entry into the mountains the logical choice. Familiar with the terrain, they deliberately avoided heading toward Academy Town to prevent any potential disaster from reaching it. Asura led Mei Gongzi into the mountains from the side.


    Upon entering the Kali Mountains, Mei Gongzi immediately felt a difference.


    A unique aura emanated from Asura, seemingly resonating with all the surrounding vegetation. This resonance enveloped them, and it almost seemed as if it had assimted them, blending in with the nts around them.


    Asura appeared to be receiving feedback from this resonance, which prevented his aura from depleting despite the rapid movement and instead gave him a sense of vitality.


    <i>What ability is this?</i> Mei Gongzi wondered in astonishment, finding him increasingly inscrutable.


    It was not just this ability. How had he found out she was in danger? Why had he appeared just in time toe to her aid? Was it possible that he had always been by her side? And if that was the case, was it surveince or protection?


    It took ten minutes before Asura slowed down; by then, they had crossed over a mountain peak and entered deeper into the Kali Mountains.


    The reason for slowing down was not that Asura deemed the area safe, but that the Kali Mountains seemed to have transformed into another world before them.


    Brilliant crystal light enveloped the mountain range, visible even from great distances.


    These beams of light, shimmering and sparkling, appeared to cover the sky with a crystal dome that made everything gleam dazzlingly under its brilliance.


    Beneath this canopy of crystal light, a cluster of radiant silver light shone.


    The Peacock Great Demon King and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor were finally about to make their move.


    Even from a great distance from the battlefield, Asura and Mei Gongzi still felt a shudder. It was a shudder stemming from their very flesh and blood��the immense pressure of higher-level beings, and they felt as if the sky was falling and the earth was sinking.


    At that moment, vigorous life force flowed from the vine wrapped around Mei Gongzi��s waist into her body. A warm sensation coursed through her, bringing her somefort.


    When she turned to look at Asura, she was surprised to find that he had already returned to normal. A mask obscured his face, but his exceptionally bright eyes reflected the light in the sky.


    A loud phoenix cry resounded, and in the sky, an enormous figure that obscured the sun emerged in the midst of the crystal light.


    From the ground, the figure with its wings spread appeared to stretch for thousands of kilometers, its entire body as if carved from crystal, with three long tail feathers presenting a golden hue, like golden crystals, casting a golden light upon the canopy of heaven.


    On the other side, silver light blossomed; peacock feathers covered the silver-haired man��s body andrge wings sprouted. The silver light twisted, and although not as massive as the golden light, this ethereal, twisting silver light managed to carve out its own space in the sky filled with gold.


    The phoenix and the peacock, high in the sky, seemed to be unting the beauty of the kings of all birds as they prepared to sh.


    ***


    At the Redemption Academy.


    Feeling the changes in the sky, the teachers and students had already gathered in the courtyard.


    Mayor Zhang Haoxuan arrived at the academy immediately, and Si Ru, with a grave expression, gazed into the sky. "It��s the Peacock Great Demon King. And his opponent... seems to be an even more terrifying entity."

 Chapter 257: The Battle at the Peak

    <h4>Chapter 257: The Battle at the Peak</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan spoke solemnly, "Everyone, gather around us, conceal your aura, and do not act rashly. This is not directed at us." The imposing force before them indicated that the Redemption Academy wasn''t the target. The Peacock Great Demon King was the one in trouble.


    Two mighty forces confronted each other in the sky, splitting it into gold and silver, with gold upying more than eighty percent and silver about twenty percent. Such was the gap. Even though he had only recently ascended to Demon Emperor, the cultivation level of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was beyond what the Peacock Great Demon King couldpare with.


    Yet, it was the Peacock Great Demon King who initiated the attack.


    With a p of his wings, from the circr patterns at the tips of his peacock feathers, beams of silver light shot out, merging into the air and turning into silver brilliance, causing space itself to split into countless ck lines slicing forward. Wherever it passed, the sparkling sky was littered with cracks.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor snorted coldly, and golden light shot out from his eyes. Beams of crystalline light burning like a sudden meteor shower met the dark spatial cracks head-on.


    When the crystalline light touched the cracks, it was like mending the heavens, filling in the gaps. The crystalline brilliance grew stronger as the cracks disappeared, continuously sealing the space and pressing toward the Peacock Great Demon King.


    This was the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor sealing all space with his formidable power. The bloodline talent of the Peacock Demon ny in spatial control, and when all space was sealed and confined, their power would undoubtedly decline to its lowest point.


    Above the head of the Peacock Great Demon King, a golden crown quietly lit up, shedding a pale golden glow that instantly boosted his aura. The peacock feathers on his back seemed to double in an instant. His eyes turned toward the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, and he let out a sharp cry.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    The entire sky instantly turned dark, as if the sun had copsed.


    All the crystalline light instantly disintegrated into countless fragments devoured by the darkness.


    Within that boundless ck, only the vast body of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor remained somewhat visible, but it seemed restrained by the sudden darkness, giving off a stiff feeling.


    "What a powerful Space Quake," Asura murmured to himself.


    He and Mei Gongzi were naturally watching this world-shattering battle. He had already stepped sideways when the fluctuation appeared, shielding Mei Gongzi. The terrifying spatial waves seemed poised to destroy the entire world. Both the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor and the Peacock Great Demon King tried to restrict their abilities, but despite this, the terrifying pressure still caused countless beings to freeze, paralyzed by fear.


    As Asura stood before her, shielding her from the pressure, Mei Gongzi felt as if his figure was growing taller.


    <i>Wait, did he say Space Quake? He''s not a member of the Peacock Demon n, why would he know that?</i>


    Indeed, the Peacock Great Demon King used his bloodline ability to cause space itself to quake above the entire Kali Mountain Range. The shaking space shattered, turning into a terrifying spatial vortex that forcefully sucked in the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. This was one of the Peacock Demon n''s signature abilities, a divine power only possessed by those at the tenth tier and above. Naturally, when the Peacock Great Demon King was using it, its power was simply terrifying.


    The Peacock Great Demon King turned into a stream of silver light, and with his peacock feathers bringing forth numerous dazzling colors, he almost instantly arrived before the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. The feathers flew out, aiming directly for the weak points of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    <i>Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!</i>


    A series of crisp sounds, like morning bells and evening drums, echoed throughout the entire Kali Mountain Range, and every being in every corner of Kali City could hear them.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, seemingly frozen in the sky and restrained by the spatial vortex, had nothing but mockery in his gaze. "Are you giving me a massage?"


    The pupils of the Peacock Great Demon King suddenly contracted, and the next instant, three golden, crystal-like phoenix tail feathers swept across, striking his massive body and sending him flying. He was enveloped in golden crystalline light, like a radiant cage!


    A point of crystalline light brightened on the forehead of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, and the next moment, the pitch-ck night sky lit up as if the sun had illuminated it, returning to brightness once again.


    He snorted. "Have you forgotten what my n excels at?"


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor spread his wings, bringing forth two massive swaths of crystalline light, spreading for kilometers like des that could split the heavens, charging directly toward the Peacock Great Demon King. And while he threw a verbal jab at his opponent, his attack did not pause for even a moment.


    The Peacock Great Demon King, who was being swept away by the golden crystalline light, suddenly halted. "What your n excels at? You mean hiding away?"


    His voice made it clear that he was entirely unaffected. And in the next moment, he vanished into thin air.


    The golden crystalline light enveloping the Peacock Great Demon King suddenly contracted inward, but it was now pressing on nothing. The two massive beams of crystalline light swept past, striking nothing but leaving behind a swath of crystals shards in the air.


    A hint of puzzlement shed in the eyes of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor; it had sealed all of the Peacock Great Demon King''s pathways to connect with space, so how could he still teleport away? How had he managed to do that?


    Even though there was supposed to be a vast gap between their cultivations, the suppression resulting from it was nowhere near what he had expected.


    In the next moment, the Peacock Great Demon King, who had vanished into thin air, reappeared above Kali City. Brilliant silver light painted the massive city below almost silver. The blinding silver radiance gathered behind him, shining like a silver sun, and the Peacock Great Demon King''s aura surged wildly. The gold on his forehead gleamed ever brighter, and the peacock feathers on his back were gilded with gold. Below, Kali City flickered with silver light, as if it was shifting in and out of reality.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s eyes widened, filled with disbelief. "A Demon Emperor''s aura? Impossible!"


    The Peacock Great Demon King responded indifferently, "Nothing is impossible. It��s just that you��re a fool, and you made foolish choices."


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s gaze darkened, but instead of attacking, he silently observed the Peacock Great Demon King''s aura increasing above Kali City.


    "I see. You''re borrowing your ancestors'' power. Using Kali City as the focal point, you''ve gathered the ancestral fortune to enhance your cultivation. You haven''t really reached the Demon Emperor level; it��s just a temporary boost granted by the ancestral fortune. I''m curious to see how long you can maintain it."


    As he spoke, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor pped his wings, transforming into a massive streak of light and rushing toward the Peacock Great Demon King.


    This battle left Mei Gongzi dazzled and enthralled. Without a doubt, such a high-level conflict was a rarity even across the entire Daemon Continent.


    Strange auras pulsed through the air, with powerful energy fluctuations circting. Each mighty aura was filled with an unparalleled force of nature. It was a sh between the mightiest of two great races, symbolizing this realm''s greatest heights of power.


    The battlefield instantly shifted from the Kali Mountain Range to the skies above Kali City.


    At this moment, Asura suddenly released the vines entwined around Mei Gongzi''s waist and said softly, as if speaking to himself, "The Peacock King cannot lose."


    "Hmm?" Mei Gongzi looked at him, puzzled.


    At that moment, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had already charged above Kali City in the sky, crashing into the vast expanse of silver light like aet.


    But in the next instant, theet appeared in the distant sky, teleported away, causing no harm to the Peacock Great Demon King.


    The pinnacle of teleportation��Star Shift!

 Chapter 258: Star Shift, Space Reversal

    <h4>Chapter 258: Star Shift, Space Reversal</h4>


    This was the true essence of Star Shift, a maneuver of Demon Emperor caliber. Even the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, with all his cultivation, was instantaneously teleported away, and all his power was useless to prevent that.


    Also, the dazzling golden light radiating from the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor seemed to conflict with itself.


    This was the special effect of this ability��using the opponent''s own power to counterattack. This was how spatial folding was supposed to be used.


    Star Shift, a reversal of space.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, with three phoenix tail feathers shimmering behind him, forcibly reabsorbed the rebounding force. Unfazed by the situation, he coldly stated, "I shall see how many times you can use Star Shift."


    In terms of bloodline tier, the Peacock Demon lineage, with its heritage from the Demon Emperor, actually ranked above the Crystal Phoenixes. However, despite being able to mobilize the power of ancestral fortune, the Peacock Great Demon King was not a true Demon Emperor and naturally had his limits when it came to such high-level abilities.


    "Then try me," the Peacock Great Demon King said lightly.


    A gold rose again the next instant, charging directly toward the Peacock Great Demon King with unabated force.


    Beneath, Kali City swayed gently, and all creatures within trembled in fear as a colossal battle between two mighty beings unfolded above. The Peacock Great Demon King daringly used the entire city and its beings as a shield and the city itself as the focal point to enhance his cultivation. This meant that should he fail to withstand the assault, the entirety of Kali City might be doomed to perish with him.


    <i>Buzz��</i>


    The teleportation activated again, and the gold was sent far away, with the spatial reversal''s rebound damage striking the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor anew.


    Inside Kali City, it was as if an earthquake had struck, with violent tremors shaking the city, causing some of the less-sturdy buildings to start copsing.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor wasn''t faring well either, suffering from the rebound damage of its own full-force strike and taking even longer to recover from it this time.


    A trickle of blood uncontrobly flowed from the corner of the Peacock Great Demon King''s mouth. After all, he was not a Demon Emperor, and wielding such power came with severe bacsh. Meanwhile, he had to withstand the onught of an actual Demon Emperor. Being able to endure this far was already a testament to his immensely profound strength.


    Mei Gongzi clenched her fists tightly, nervous. The Peacock Great Demon King could not lose; Asura''s words enlightened her instantly. Undoubtedly, should the Peacock Great Demon King fall, as a bearer of the Peacock lineage, she too might face annihtion, and the entirety of Kali City would likely share the same fate. It would be nothing short of a disaster for the humans living here. Such a defeat would devastate the ns the organization had been crafting for years.


    Yet, the Peacock Great Demon King seemed to be on the brink of copse!


    What to do? At this moment, was there anything that could reverse the tide?


    A sinister voice suddenly rang out, "I''ve found you."


    Mei Gongzi quickly turned around, only to see the sky filled with dark mist.


    The Dark Raven Demon King, Dai Yangning, had appeared silently, not far behind her and Asura.


    As Mei Gongzi and Asura fled, Dai Yangning, having neutralized the attack from the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, naturally did not hesitate to give chase immediately.


    However, his divine consciousness could not locate Asura and Mei Gongzi. Initially, he could not understand how that was possible, but after a few moments of calm consideration, he understood that they had likely fled toward the Kali Mountains. With two supreme beings shing there, the chaotic aura made it possible for them to hide from his senses.


    Thus, he pursued in that direction, but even after searching for a while, he could not find their aura.


    The battlefield in the sky shifted from the Kali Mountain Range back to Kali City, which the Peacock Great Demon King had sealed off with his formidable power tied to ancestral fortune.


    Just then, he suddenly detected Mei Gongzi''s aura and quickly gave chase.


    The Dark Raven Demon King had been initially wary of the masked man who helped Mei Gongzi escape. For some reason, he was unable to detect any trace of this man��s aura, and once Mei Gongzi fled with him, he could not detect her either.


    However, during their brief sh, he had realized that the masked man was just a young man around the seventh order, far from being a god. Mei Gongzi was also at the seventh order, so even if they had some trump cards, what could they do to him?


    Indeed, he had been surprised that a young girl barely in her teenage years had reached the seventh order, and even more surprised at how formidable her spatial power was. But even with that in mind, he was still a god-level Demon King. The difference in their bloodline power was simply massive, so if he was hell-bent on capturing her, there was no way she could flee.


    Mei Gongzi''s face turned grim, and her body was wrapped in flickering silver light, emitting a dazzling brilliance. A golden crown shone brilliantly on her forehead as she pushed her spatial powers to their limits. She certainly wouldn''t surrender without a fight. If the Peacock Great Demon King lost the battle above, then she, as his descendant, had little hope of being spared. All she could do was fight to the bitter end.


    "The Peacock Crown. I see... Are you his true heir?" The Dark Raven Demon King was shocked by the golden crown on her forehead. He finally understood why the girl had fled.


    He almost couldn��t believe that a mere human hybrid could awaken a golden crown when a supposedly pureblood descendant like Wang Yan couldn��t. However, the reality was right before its eyes; the girl before him had indeed awakened the Peacock Crown. This meant she could very well be the heir to the Peacock Great Demon King.


    After the initial shock, his surprise quickly turned to delight. Capturing the true heir of the Peacock Great Demon King would undoubtedly be a great achievement!


    Just then, Mei Gongzi took the initiative to attack. Her peacock plumes thrust out like lightning, with the force of space propelling her delicate body to appear before the Dark Raven Demon King instantly. Dazzling silver light burst forth, and all the spatial power instantly converged in front of her. The Peacock Crown shone brightly, and the ck mist rising from the Dark Raven Demon King was instantly teleported behind her.


    Star Shift!


    Although Mei Gongzi''s simplified version of Star Shift wasughably inferior to the Peacock Great Demon King��s, the fact of the matter was that she was capable of using the ability!


    Even though she was unsure how much Asura could assist her, she didn''t hesitate to give her all from the start. Facing a Demon King-level opponent, there could be no hesitation or reservation.


    This time, however, the Dark Raven Demon King was prepared. As a god-level powerhouse, he might be taken by surprise once, but not a second time.


    When Mei Gongzi revealed the Peacock Crown, the Dark Raven Demon King''s silhouette turned ethereal; the ck mist in front of him shifted behind Mei Gongzi, but the raven too became mist. The shifted mist returned inward, while the Dark Raven Demon King transformed into mist surged forward to confront Mei Gongzi''s assault, thus attacking her from both front and back.


    A cold snort echoed from within the mist, carrying the intimidation of divine consciousness, causing Mei Gongzi''s peacock plumes to pause suddenly.


    Despite Mei Gongzi''s level of cultivation, the powerful bloodline talent of the Peacock Demon race,bined with her control over the power of space, allowed her to handle even ninth-order opponents. But a god was a god, and there was a massive gap between the ninth tier and the tenth.


    Though she was surrounded by darkness on all sides, Mei Gongzi still maintained herposure. Her long hair instantly changed from peacock blue to white, and she revealed two small tiger fangs as a somewhat immature roar suddenly erupted from her mouth.


    "Roar����"


    Even with the Dark Raven Demon King''s high estimation of her and its preparedness, it was still caught off guard by this sudden transformation.


    This roar triggered a deep-seated fear within the Dark Raven Demon King; his body stiffened momentarily, and the ck mist dispersed slightly.


    Meanwhile, Mei Gongzi��s long white hair turned back to peacock blue, and with a sh of silver light, she escaped from the encircling ck mist, instantly shifting her position.


    "Dual bloodlines!"

 Chapter 259: Bloodline of the White Tiger Demon Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 259: Bloodline of the White Tiger Demon Emperor</h4>


    The Dark Raven Demon King''s face was a picture of shock. "A White Tiger! A dual Demon Emperor bloodline? How is that possible?"


    Indeed, the second bloodline of Mei Gongzi was none other than that of the White Tiger.


    Tiger demons had a Demon Emperor of their own, but it was neither a Golden Tiger nor a Radiant Tiger. It was the White Tiger Demon Emperor!


    The White Tiger originated from the Radiant Tiger n, a rare mutation of the Radiant Tiger''s bloodline. It was revered as a divine sublimation within the light. The White Tiger Demon Emperor ranked among the foremost of the current Demon Emperors,parable even to the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor in status.


    The Dark Raven Demon King was instantly intimidated, but this feelingsted only a moment as Mei Gongzi had already turned tail and ran. Her body shimmered with silver light, and after three flickers, she was already a hundred meters away.


    At this moment, behind them, Kali City once again trembled violently. The third sh between the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor and the Peacock Great Demon King in the sky had ended.


    Inside Kali City, the ground shook, the mountains swayed, and the silver light in the sky dimmed rapidly. The golden glow around the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor also faded considerably, with only two of its three phoenix tail feathers maintaining their golden hue. However, judging by the situation and aura, it was still faring much better than the Peacock Great Demon King.


    After ncing at the battle in the sky, the Dark Raven Demon King did not hesitate even for a moment. A ck phantom instantly flew out, chasing directly toward Mei Gongzi. Even though the spatial transmission was swift, the pursuit of a god-level flying demon was not something to be easily shaken off.


    Using the remnants of dark aura left on Mei Gongzi as a conduit, the Dark Raven Demon King appeared in the next moment right next to her.


    Darkness enveloped her, and Mei Gongzi felt her bloodline power shift, and her aura immediately dropped.


    Bloodsucking Ravens, the innate ability of the Dark Raven n. They could devour an enemy''s bloodline energy to replenish their own. Thus, the Dark Raven n was notoriously difficult to kill on the battlefield. The bloodline power they absorbed temporarily enhanced their own and increased their vitality.


    She was done for! Mei Gongzi realized that her techniques were feeble before a god-level powerhouse. At this moment, she was out of options. What puzzled her the most was why Asura, who had always synchronized mysteriously well with her since she began to act, had not moved from start to finish. She hadn''t even seen Asura''s figure while fleeing. Had he seen the futility and left first?


    Just then, she suddenly heard amanding voice in her ear.


    <i>SCRAM.</i>


    In an instant, her sea of consciousness turned nk, and Mei Gongzi felt a formidable spiritual power sweep over her.


    In the next moment, she knew nothing at all.


    The Dark Raven Demon King had wrapped Mei Gongzi in ck mist and was using it to leech her bloodline energy. However, the mist suddenly shivered as if struck by lightning, and the Dark Raven Demon King flew back in shock.


    A steady hand caught Mei Gongzi, who was about to fall, drawing her soft, delicate body into an embrace.


    He was still masked, still in his original attire, but he seemed different somehow.


    His eyes held a trace of indifference yet seemed to possess endless authority. He coldly observed Dai Yangning, the Dark Raven Demon King, as he leaped from the ck mist and resumed his human form.


    Dai Yangning''s face was filled with terror as he stared at the masked figure before him, "Who... who are you, exactly?"


    In that shout from earlier, he had felt an incredibly terrifying pressure, the pressure of a divine consciousness the likes of which he hadn��t even felt in the presence of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    As he recalled the White Tiger bloodline in Mei Gongzi, how could he not feel fear?


    "Do you think you could have found us if I hadn''t deliberately let you? Perhaps the fellow in the sky might have had a chance," Asura said coolly.


    "What do you mean..." Dai Yangning''s gaze was fixed on the figure before him. He exuded the aura of a seventh-order being and seemed to be human, but... what was with that fluctuation of divine consciousness just now?


    Asura cast a distant nce at the sky where the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was preparing a fourth assault, and Wang Qing, the Peacock Great Demon King, whose temporary elevation to Demon Emperor status was on the verge of copse.


    He sighed softly. "After all, we need more time! It falls upon me to buy that time."


    As he spoke, he turned eastward, and his eyes swiftly turned golden.


    "Come," Tang San uttered softly.


    A strange aura burst forth from him, manifesting as a pale blue halo.


    When the halo appeared, Dai Yangning, the Dark Raven Demon King, was horrified to find that the human before him had changedpletely. This pale blue halo seemed to exude a towering dignity, almost as if it looked down upon the world itself. Everything around seemed to distort instantly; even with his demon king-level cultivation, he could not move an inch.


    To the east of Kali City, hundreds of miles away,y a boundless sea. This sea covered most of the surface of the Fn, its horizon endless.


    Legend had it that numerous powerful sea tribes resided within this sea, among which there were beings strong enough to contend with Demon Emperors.


    But the legends were only legends, and no sea tribe had ever dared to attack the Daemon Continent; after all, demons and nymphs were the true rulers of this world.


    The legendary azure sea was known by a beautiful name: the Endless Blue Sea.


    Endless, boundless almost, this blue sea housed countless living beings within its vast expanse.


    The Endless Blue Sea was usually calm, and even the demons and nymphs living near its shores rarely ventured into its depths for food, for they genuinely knew the sea ns existed. Perhaps the overall power of the sea ns couldn''t match that of the demons and nymphs. Yet, the Endless Blue Sea was so vast that not even a Demon Emperor would readily leave thend to enter it, for no one knew what might they might encounter within this boundless blue.


    But at that very moment, upon the Endless Blue Sea, waves suddenly arose, churning seemingly without cause. Large swathes of vapor ascended into dark clouds in the sky, obscuring the sun, as the endless steam surged upward.


    Thousands upon thousands of sea creatures wandered to the surface, gazing into the sky, not knowing what had happened, yet feeling an instinctual fear and reverence that seemed to stem from their very souls.


    Within the increasingly dense dark clouds, a faint golden light flickered. Within thousands of miles near the Daemon Continent''s eastern coast, all sea ns were rmed, watching the changes in the sky with terror.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A fierce p of thunder, apanied by countless golden shes of lightning, shook the ocean.


    Whatever beings could dive immediately retreated beneath the sea''s surface, shivering uncontrobly.


    The dark clouds drifted, moving westward.


    <i>Kali City.</i>


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had a cruel smile at the corner of his mouth. With each attack against the Peacock Great Demon King''s Star Shift, he had to withstand a powerful bacsh. However, this also significantly drained his opponent��s strength.


    The Star Shift of the Peacock Demon lineage was powerful, such that even the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor could not harm the Peacock Great Demon King. No, the real damage to the Peacock Great Demon King came from the bacsh of calling upon his ancestral fortune.


    His body was bing increasingly weak, as invoking ancestral fortune required using his essence blood. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was confident that with two more strikes at the most, the Peacock Great Demon King would fall. Even if it meant the copse of the entire Kali City, it mattered little.

 Chapter 260: I Am the Sea God

    <h4>Chapter 260: I Am the Sea God</h4>


    The Peacock Great Demon King lifted his head, his gaze still filled with indifference, showing not the slightest intent to submit.


    "Give up and submit to me. Although you must die, I can ensure your people survive under my rule. Kali City will also remain unharmed. After all, this is where she lives; I do not wish to disrupt her way of life," the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor said coldly.


    "Do you think you have won? Even if we burn all our ancestral fortune, the Peacock n will never submit," the Peacock Great Demon King retorted in an equally cold tone. As he spoke, the Peacock Crown on his forehead, which had be somewhat ethereal, suddenly brightened again. Golden mes burst out from the crown, fueled by the crown itself.


    "Have you gone mad? Burning the Golden Crown is the same as burning your ancestral fortune. Not only will you die, but once your lineage loses all its ancestral fortune, you will all perish!" The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor hadn''t expected the Peacock Great Demon King to take such an extreme measure.


    "So what? Even if my entire n is annihted, you will live the rest of your life in regret. Let''s see whether I''ll drag you down with me or if you��ll barely cling to life. Even if you do, you��ll suffer endless agony in the future!"


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes seemed to grow crazier as the ancestral fortune burned.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s face darkened, understanding that even if he killed the Peacock Great Demon King in this state, he would surely be gravely wounded in the process.


    However, at this moment, he had no way out, and neither did the Peacock Great Demon King. Failing to stop the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor meant his death and the potential annihtion of the entire Peacock demon race.


    The fourth assault thusmenced.


    With dazzling crystalline brilliance, the enormous crystal phoenix dove straight for the peacock. The brilliant silver light also peaked again, and the burning Peacock Crown burst with golden radiance, causing Kali City to quake violently.


    At that moment, at the distant horizon, the clouds suddenly thickened. A massive pressure appeared, feeling as if it connected heaven and earth. A giant wall of clouds converged toward Kali City.


    As the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor dove toward the Peacock Great Demon King, both noticed the emergence of the clouds. The terrifying pressure weighed down on their hearts, and their first thoughts were, naturally, that the other��s reinforcements had arrived.


    But at this point, both sides were like arrows on fully-drawn bows, and they could not hold back even if they wanted to.


    The collision was instantaneous.


    Silver light erupted violently, and for once, Kali City faced no turmoil. The power of ancestral fortune, invoked at the cost of burning his own Golden Crown, allowed the Peacock Great Demon King to gain the upper hand for the first time. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was suddenly transported far away, and upon reappearing, his golden glow was greatly diminished. The gold of the second phoenix tail feather faded away, and even the gold on thest feather dimmed significantly. His aura weakened greatly.


    The cost to the Peacock Great Demon King was the copse of more than half of his Golden Crown, with the mes burning out almost entirely, his gaze dim and lifeless, and his life force plummeting rapidly.


    The strong within the city, whether they were of the Peacock Demon race or had followed the Great Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, all focused on this battle. No one had anticipated the Peacock Great Demon King would disy such tenacity. With Kali City as his support, he had managed not just to withstand the attacks, but even to injure the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor severely. By this point, he was undeniably at the end of his strength.


    But would the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperorunch a final strike? It was evident to all that even if he could win, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor would likely suffer irreversible, grave injuries.


    He had just condensed his third phoenix tail feather, and that made him the least powerful of all Demon Emperors. Even worse, having just ascended, his foundation was not yet stable. Should the golden light of his three tails extinguish, losing his foundation and possibly falling back to the level of Great Demon King was not out of the question.


    Yet at this moment, the shadowy clouds that had been distant a moment ago now loomed over Kali City. Under the immense, heaven-reaching pressure, light seemed distorted, as if sunbeams were reflected off the surface of waves. Within the clouds, enormous water tornadoes appeared with a terrifying momentum as if the clouds were about to crush the city.


    Meanwhile, within the Kali Mountains, Dai Yaning, the Dark Raven Demon King, was even more fearful and uncertain.


    The masked human male standing before him, holding Mei Gongzi in his arms, looked at him indifferently.


    But an overwhelming pressure washed over him, making the Dark Raven Demon King feel like he couldn''t move. This was the powerful oppressive force of a superior being, nearly forcing him to prostrate himself.


    He was a demon king, a god-level demon king! He had no reason to feel this way, even in the face of a Demon Emperor! Yet, his divine consciousness trembled uncontrobly. The human before him was nothing but a bug, yet he now appeared towering, eclipsing even the two mighty beings battling in the distant sky.


    <i>Who is he? What is he?!</i>


    Asura slowly floated toward Dai Yaning. The dark clouds in the distant sky grew increasingly intense, so the two great powers fighting in the air ceased their battle to face the clouds''ing. Only Dai Yaning could feel that the sky-covering clouds seemed to be the backdrop of this man before him.


    Asura slowly raised his hand, gently pressing it against his forehead. Instantly, a speck of golden light appeared, and in the next moment, the golden light spread across his entire body like gilded paint. An immense aura of majesty burst forth from him.


    Overwhelmed by intense fear, Dai Yaning could no longer control himself. ck mist erupted, and he instantly fled toward the distance, turning into a misty arrow in an attempt to escape with his fastest movement technique.


    However, he only moved when he found that everything around him had frozen. Even more terrifying was that his body, which had turned into mist, was forcibly recondensed. The golden figure reappeared before him at some unknown time as if he had never moved.


    This time, behind the golden figure, there was a faint, towering, illusory shadow, presented in water blue. It vaguely looked like a human holding a golden trident. The trident slowly pointed at him, and the rings of golden light it emitted rendered him immobile.


    A hand pressed against Dai Yaning''s forehead, and in the next instant, Dai Yaning felt his energy and even his divine consciousness pouring out instantly.


    At this very moment, in the distant sky amid the vast clouds, a water-blue figure also took shape��a gigantic apparition standing at a thousand meters tall, holding a golden trident, gazing at the Peacock Great Demon King and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor battling in the air.


    Both mighty beings felt they were facing a formidable enemy. They felt as if...someone who had the entire Endless Blue Sea backing them had suddenly appeared.


    <i>A powerhouse from the Endless Blue Sea? So there actually was such a formidable existence in the Endless Blue Sea?</i>


    The golden trident was slowly raised, then pointed from afar toward the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. At that moment, the heavily injured Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor felt a chill that made his hair stand on end.


    Was this the reinforcements called by the Peacock Great Demon King?


    A majestic voice resounded through the heavens, "Those who threaten the ocean shall die! I am the Sea God!"


    The golden trident pointed toward the Peacock Great Demon King as he spoke��and torrential rain poured down. Under the illumination of that gigantic blue figure, it seemed as though drynd had turned into an ocean. Light and shadows filled the sky, with countless sea tribe figures flickering in and out of view within the water curtain.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor and the Peacock Great Demon King exchanged nces, equally filled with bewilderment. Then, the clouds suddenly dispersed like rivers flowing into the sea, heading toward the ocean and vanishing instantly, leaving only trails of vibrant and splendid rainbows in the sky.

 Chapter 261: Mei Gongzi Awakens

    <h4>Chapter 261: Mei Gongzi Awakens</h4>


    Everything happened quickly and ended just as swiftly.


    If the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had been at his peak, he would undoubtedly have moved to probe this so-called Sea God''s sudden appearance. What was his rtion to Kali City?


    Actually, it seemed the presence was not directed at him but at his battle with the Peacock Great Demon King. So was the Sea God��s appearance a threat or something else? Could it be a deration that the Endless Blue Sea now had a master of its own?


    The silhouette��s aura was so powerful that the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor felt a pressure superior to his own, yet that silhouette was clearly nothing more than a projection of the true body.


    The Peacock Great Demon King was equally baffled, extinguishing the mes atop his Golden Crown while wondering when the sea ns had given rise to such a powerful entity.


    As the city closest to the sea, Kali City had some interactions with the creatures of the Endless Blue Sea, yet to the best of his knowledge, there had never been a Sea God there. There <i>was</i> no such god...right?


    Both mighty beings were perplexed, but the mes of their battle were gradually reced by rational thought, especially for the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    He had forsaken the woman he loved most and endured countless hardships to ascend to the Demon Emperor level. If he continued to fight, to challenge the depth of the Peacock demon n''s heritage with his strength alone, the losses might just outweigh the gains.


    Moreover, the Peacock Great Demon King''s injuries were far more severe than his own. Even assuming he would survive this ordeal��and even <i>that</i> was questionable��he could forget about ever bing a Demon Emperor.


    As for himself, he had all the time in the world. Once his cultivation stabilized, he would have plenty of opportunities to settle the score.


    The myriad crystal colors converged, and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor transformed back into a human form. His face, so beautiful it was almost feminine, was icy cold, and he eyed the Peacock Great Demon King with a sneer at the corner of his mouth. "Let''s end it here for today, but I will return. I will report your collusion with the sea ns to the Ancestral Court. You better be ready to exin."


    The Peacock Great Demon King said nothing more. The silver light enveloping Kali City quickly faded, and it transformed back into a human form, vanishing amidst shes of silver light.


    "We��re leaving!" The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperormanded coldly.


    From within Kali City, the Pegasus chariots soared, carrying the entire convoy high into the air. They flew far away with the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    "I will return!" The voice of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor echoed throughout Kali City, swirling around the milk tea shop near Kali Square.


    Within Kali City, it was only now that constrained breaths could be heard. Countless beings were justing to their senses. The feeling of a close brush with death filled every denizen with a profound dread.


    Inside the city lord��s mansion, silence reigned even more profoundly at this moment.


    Neither the Peacock Demon n nor the major races of Kali City cheered. All the Peacock Demons present were pale-faced, because the Peacock Great Demon King had drawn upon the ancestral fortune of the Peacock demon n in his battle against the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, and they were well aware that this fortune affected all of them.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had not fled in defeat but left for understandable reasons. But whether he was scared off or unwilling to resort to mutual destruction, he would undoubtedly return, and then... who could stop him then?


    With the ancestral fortune burned, no one knew how severe the Peacock Great Demon King''s injuries were.


    <i>And what do we do when the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperores back?</i>


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King took a deep breath and said, "Let today''s events end here. We must quickly pacify the people, repair the buildings, and assess the situation within the city. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor rashly attacked Kali City, disregarding the rules of the Ancestral Court and threatening the safety of all beings in the city. We must report this to the Ancestral Court."


    The demon kings nodded in agreement, though it was easier said than done.


    Despite its remoteness, Kali City was one of the main cities, continuing the demon race''s fortune. If the main city had been breached, countless lives would have been lost, something the Ancestral Court would never allow.


    However, since such a disaster had not urred, and the perpetrator was one of the Great Demon Kings, there would be a light punishment at most.


    But at the very least, actions must be taken to deter the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor from returning soon, giving Kali City a chance to breathe.


    Wang Han and Wang Yu exchanged nces and left in a sh of silver light. They needed to ascertain the Peacock Great Demon King''s condition immediately.


    Though they were all Great Demon Kings, the true pir of the n was still him!


    Kali City, Kali Square.


    The Mei Gongzi Milk Tea Shop had no customers; all the shops were empty now. Obviously, the apocalyptic scene had frightened everyone; who would dare to be outside at such a time?


    Su Qin stared nkly at the sky, yet the clear sky could not dispel the gloom in her heart.


    <i>He came back. He��s a Demon Emperor now. They fought against each other again, and both got injured. And when he said he��ll return again... he said it for me to hear. </i>


    At this moment, she did not know how she should feel. Perhaps, as a human, she was supposed to be happy that two major figures of the demon world were trying to kill each other. Yet, deep within her heart, the trace of excitement seemed to be there for an entirely different reason.


    She couldn''t help but recall that night, which she would never forget. He left, and it arrived.


    Kali Mountains.


    When Mei Gongzi woke up, she found herself lying in a hammock.


    The two ends of the hammock were tied to tworge trees. The hammock was made of bamboo, with thick bamboo split from one side and then divided into strips that were notpletely detached, allowing it to open up from the center. Large leaves wereid on top, making it stable andfortable and preventing ground moisture from reaching her.


    A piece of clothing covered her, and the fresh air mixed with the unique moisture of the mountains lingered at her nostrils.


    There was no difort in her body; instead, she felt more spirited and full of energy.


    "You''re awake," a familiar voice sounded.


    Mei Gongzi turned over and sat up. She saw the man wearing a mask.


    He had built a bonfire. It was alreadyte at night, but the fire drove away the mosquitoes and moisture, bringing warmth.


    Mei Gongzi looked around and didn''t see anyone else. Everything seemed very normal��just a normal campfire in the woods.


    "Where is the Dark Raven Demon King?" she asked.


    Asura smiled and said, "He fled. After you fainted, I tried to escape with you. He pursued us relentlessly. Just when he was about to catch us, the battle over at Kali City ended."


    "How are things?" Mei Gongzi asked nervously.


    Asura said, "It''s a case of mutual defeat. The Peacock Great Demon King''s injuries are more severe, affecting his very foundation, so the prognosis is not very good. However, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor is also not lightly wounded and he probably needs a long time to recover. At least for now, Kali City is safe."


    Mei Gongzi let out a sigh of relief, her beautiful eyes shimmering. She looked at Asura and said, "Thank you for saving me again."


    Asura smiled faintly and said, "Just good luck."


    "Howe you were there to save me at the right time? How did you know the Dark Raven Demon King took me away?" Mei Gongzi suddenly asked. This question had been on her mind from the first moment.


    Asura said, "You will know in the future, but I can''t tell you now."


    Mei Gongzi frowned slightly and jumped down from the hammock. "You''re very mysterious. I don''t like this mysterious behavior of yours."


    Asura said, "This is to protect myself." <i>And to protect you,</i> he added to himself.


    Mei Gongzi fell silent, staring nkly at the bonfire, lost in thought. After a long moment, she finally said in a deep voice, "I must return. Now that the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor has retreated, they will surelye looking for me."


    "Alright, I''ll take you there."


    Asura did not insist on her staying. He casually extinguished the bonfire in front of him. He apanied her until they were near Kali Academy, and he stopped there.


    "Go ahead. The academy should be safe for you," Asura said softly.


    "Mhm." Mei Gongzi nced at him, her eyes filled with aplex expression. The next instant, her figure flickered, heading toward Kali Academy.

 Chapter 262: For Her, Everything Is Worth It

    <h4>Chapter 262: For Her, Everything Is Worth It</h4>


    Watching Mei Gongzi leave, Asura''s lips slightly curved upward. His body only slightly swayed then, and his eyes noticeably dimmed.


    <i>Is it worth it? Of course, it is. For her, everything is worth it.</i>


    His steps were somewhat heavy as he headed toward the back mountain.


    This day was the most perilous one for him since arriving in this world. It was also the first time he had truly used his divine consciousness.


    The power of his divine consciousness was almostpletely drained, and he was barely able to keep himself together. His divine consciousness had slowly grown more substantial, yet it was now barely flickering like a candle in the wind.


    Even so, he had absolutely no regrets.


    Removing his mask, Asura transformed back into Tang San. Only upon returning to his room at Redemption Academy did he fully rx.


    His entire body copsed, his internal aura chaotic.


    Taking a deep breath, he barely managed to start circting his energy, regting his condition. Once he rxed from that tightly wound state, an overwhelming sense of fatigue made him want to fall into a deep sleep immediately, but he knew sleep was one thing he could not afford right now. If he slept now instead of actively recovering, his divine consciousness might truly be extinguished.


    Therefore, he could only force himself to stay awake, silently spinning his energy vortex, drawing on his soul and spirit core that weremunicating with each other, and nurturing himself.


    Facing a god-level Demon King, even a thousand tactics could not bridge the gap between realms.


    Thus, when the Dark Raven Demon King took Mei Gongzi away, he immediately resolved himself to use his divine consciousness if push came to shove. At that moment, he couldn''t fathom the dangers Mei Gongzi might face after being taken.


    Heter came to understand some of the situation, but even with those facts in mind, rescuing Mei Gongzi was undoubtedly the wisest course of action.


    Mei Gongzi''s own well-informed reasoning led her to the same conclusion, so she also chose to escape at the first opportunity.


    The Dark Raven Demon King couldn''t catch up. With the power of his divine consciousness and the Blue Silver Emperor, Tang San easily concealed both his and Mei Gongzi''s auras. He breathed a sigh of relief at that time, feeling that there was no need to use his divine consciousness after all. He would just sit back and watch the fight.


    However, heter understood that he couldn''t just watch. The battle between the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor and the Peacock Great Demon King threatened the entirety of Kali City.


    In the end, the Peacock Great Demon King was her father. Even if the fathers of all demons deserved to be killed, and their grandfathers too, he was still <i>her father</i>. And her mother was there in Kali City Square!


    In addition, judging from the situation, if Kali City fell into the hands of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, everything that Tang San had built here might well end up destroyed, an oue he wished to avoid before reaching godhood. Moreover, Mei Gongzi''s ultimate goal was to seed the Peacock Great Demon King and take control of the Peacock Demon race, securing a sanctuary and living space for humanity.


    Thus, from any perspective, the situation in Kali City must not be altered; the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor must not seed.


    That the Dark Raven Demon King then found them was no coincidence, but Tang San��s n. He deliberately lifted the concealment of his and Mei Gongzi''s auras, attracting their pursuer.


    By stirring that bit of divine consciousness, he could temporarily imbue himself with a trace of his aura from a previous life, but hecked the energy to sustain even that trace. Hence, luring the Dark Raven Demon King away from Kali City and making use of him was the best choice.


    The disy of the Sea God��s majesty, besides the divine consciousness Tang San expended, was also supported by the spiritual energy and bloodline energy of the Dark Raven Demon King.


    Tang San could easily suppress a god-level Demon King with his level of divine consciousness. The presence he projected in Kali City, then, became the best deterrent. And since he did it before either party was grievously injured or killed, it was sufficient to dispel any thoughts of continuing the battle.


    Of course, all this came at the cost of depleting his divine consciousness. In addition, the toll it took on his overall energy was immense. Had it not been for the constant tension of protecting Mei Gongzi, he might have copsed from exhaustion long ago.


    His divine consciousness might take a year or two to fully recover, and it required careful nurturing. Of course, devouring the god-level bloodline power of the Dark Raven Demon King also had its benefits, significantly enhancing his physical strength and pushing his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique to a much higher level, despite most of the energy being consumed in order to maintain the Sea God''s presence.


    Overall, the oue was favorable. From the Dark Raven Demon King, Tang San had acquired a storage bag, which undoubtedly contained many valuable items. However, he had no time to sort through them at the moment.


    ***


    The entirety of Kali City was restless.


    Beings of a Demon Emperor''s level hadn''t made a public appearance in many years; yet this time, not only had one of them acted, but he had also targeted Kali City, home to the Peacock Demon race that had guarded it for centuries. This naturally stirred a huge uproar in Kali City and would even have an unfathomable impact on the entire Empyrean Dominion.


    Most importantly, the oue of this battle was not a victory for the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. At least on the surface, both parties ended up in a mutually damaging stalemate. The fact that the lord of Kali City, the Peacock Great Demon King, managed to withstand an assault from a Demon Emperor made many of the city''s nobles reassess the strength of the Peacock Demon race.


    At the same time, the Ancestral Court would surely react. If the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had won this battle, coupled with the disappearance of the Ice Dragon Great Demon King, they could have used this as a cover to oppress andy many charges against the Peacock Demon race, thereby seizing Kali City in one fell swoop.


    However, the problem was that the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had <i>not</i> won this time, but rather suffered heavy injuries. What could they say about it now? Strength had always been paramount in the world of demons, and reason was on the side of the one with the bigger fist. Those without strength had no rights to reason with others.


    The Peacock Great Demon King, by burning his ancestral fortune, had managed to injure the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor severely, and the emergence of that terrifying phantom figure from the sea at the end would certainly make the Ancestral Court view Kali City in a new light.


    The changes in theing days were bound to be many. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor��s best opportunity to suppress Kali City had been right now, right after ascending to the twelfth tier. Missing this chance and failing to suppress his opponent made a second attempt much more difficult. After all, it wasn��t like the Peacock Demon n had no allies at all within the Ancestral Court. Once they demonstrated sufficient strength, they would naturally have a word to say in the matter.


    Thus, the great battle had ended, yet its true impact had only just begun. The ripples caused by this incident would reach far and wide, for who knew how long.


    ***


    <i>At Redemption Academy.</i>


    As the morning sun rose again at dawn, everything seemed to have returned to peace. Only the damaged buildings of Kali City still bore the remnants of yesterday''s earth-shattering battle.


    Du Bai stood on his rooftop, gazing into the distant east, silently cultivating his Celestial Fox Vision.


    His fifth-order Celestial Fox Vision made it seem as if he could peer into another world, allowing him to feel more and more the incredible traits of his top-tier bloodline. Even his entire demeanor appeared to have undergone a metamorphosis.


    He had grown more confident, and his aura had an ethereal quality. As long as he shut his mouth, he bore the appearance of a graceful and handsome young man, even with a hint of schrly elegance.


    A figure shed into existence beside him��none other than Tang San. Not far away, Gu Li, Cheng Zicheng, and Wu Bingji also made their way onto the next-door rooftop.


    Their entire team was cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes with notable results. Enhancing their spiritual power was immensely beneficial to their cultivations.

 Chapter 263: Redemption Academy Is Closed Off

    <h4>Chapter 263: Redemption Academy Is Closed Off</h4>


    Du Bai nced at Tang San and whispered, "Little Tang, you look pale. Did something happen? Were you frightened by yesterday��s great battle? I looked for you then, but you weren''t in your room. Where were you?"


    Tang San shook his head. "It''s nothing, I��m just feeling tired. I was at Kali Academy when it started, so it wasn��t that bad."


    Du Bai said with a longing look, "It was amazing, really amazing. Can demons be so powerful? And does that mean the Demonic God Transformation could also be that powerful? That��s the level I��m aiming for!"


    Tang San gave him a side nce and said, "Don''t get ahead of yourself. Let''s talk after you reach the seventh order."


    Du Bai excitedly said, "You have no idea how powerful I am now. You know I��ve been practicing influencing luck in a small area, right? Well, not only can I enhance my own luck more, but I can also bring <i>more</i> misfortune to others. <i>Hehehe</i>. It��s gonna be super useful when I want to prank someone!"


    Hearing his bragging, Tang San felt an urge to facepalm.


    <i>If the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor knew you were using the Celestial Fox Vision to prank people, I wonder if he��d smack you to death. No... he would definitely smack you to death.</i>


    Tang San naturally knew the effects of the fifth-order Celestial Fox Vision better than Du Bai himself, having experimented with it more than Du Bai had. Moreover, he had already used it to kill the Leopard sh King.


    After everyone finished cultivating their Purple Demon Eyes, they went to get breakfast, and as they ate, they received a notice from their teachers. All academy students were to gather for a meeting.


    After the meal, when Tang San and the others arrived in the outer courtyard, they found most people, including the mayor, Si Ru, Guan Longjiang, Mu Enqing, and Mu Yunyu, already gathered there.


    The five teachers stood in a row, each with a serious expression on their face.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s gaze swept across all the students'' faces, eventually pausing on Tang San. Seeing Tang San''s slightly paleplexion, he couldn''t help but frown, but right now, he had other priorities.


    Soon, all the students had assembled.


    Zhang Haoxuan took the initiative to speak, and his tone was grave. "Everyone must have seen the battle over Kali City yesterday. As far as we know, it was a confrontation between a newly ascended Demon Emperor from the Ancestral Court and the Peacock Demon n. In the end, both sides suffered losses, and the Great Peacock Demon King was likely more seriously injured. This has led to instability in Kali City''s political situation. No one is allowed to enter Kali City to avoid getting involved. This ban is provisionally set for three months. Everyone should stay within the academy to focus on their cultivation. All external practical training is temporarily canceled. We will rify the situation as soon as possible."


    He paused for a moment.


    "The Redemption Society was established for the rise of humanity, and you all saw the battle yesterday. It was a fight at the pinnacle of this world. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor is just a newly ascended Demon Emperor, the weakest in their ranks. Yet, even his level is still far, far out of our reach. Each of us is still in the midst of a long and arduous journey. We all must put in even more effort if we are to one day stand a chance against them, to fight for a glimmer of hope for humanity. Think of your past, think of our fellow humans, and then look at these powerful enemies. What excuse do we have not to try harder?"


    The students all remained silent. They had all seen the battle yesterday clearly. Beyond the intense shock, there was a profound sense of dread. That apocalyptic scene had been caused by just <i>two</i> demons. Forget about the students and Redemption Academy, even Kali City itself had nearly gotten destroyed because of their sh. Compared to such world-destroying power, what was their strength worth?


    The impact on Tang San''s team was especially significant. Recently, whether it was Wu Bingji, Gu Li, Cheng Zicheng, or Du Bai, their cultivation had improved greatly, which had naturally given birth to a bit of arrogance. But after witnessing yesterday''s battle, any pride in their hearts was instantly ttened. Compared to such terrifying power, what were they really worth?


    Zhang Haoxuan''s gaze swept over each student''s face once more, finally settling into calmness. He said in a deep voice, "That''s all for now. We''ll begin ss shortly. Tang San,e with me."


    "Yes," Tang San replied, and followed the swiftly departing Zhang Haoxuan.


    It wasn''t until then that the students rxed, exchanging looks with heavy hearts.


    Indeed, it wasn''t just the students who felt a sense of oppression; the teachers felt it too.


    In recent years, the Redemption Academy had developed smoothly, and the children had grown very quickly, especially Du Bai and Gu Li. Their powerful Demonic God Transformations had shown significant progress, giving them all hope.


    However, the battle yesterday had left them feeling cold. Could such a vast gap truly be bridged, let alone surpassed? And even if humanity gave rise to such a being, they could not forget that the demon and nymph races had at least a full dozen of them!


    Tang San silently followed Zhang Haoxuan all the way back to his residence in the academy''s small town.


    After closing the door, Zhang Haoxuan turned around, his gaze piercing as he looked at Tang San. "Where were you during the battle yesterday? I went to find you immediately, but you weren''t there. Don''t tell me you were at Kali Academy; I went there and even asked Old Mao, and you weren''t there."


    Tang San offered a wry smile, "I really was there at first. But then, Mei Sister was taken away by a Demon King from the Ancestral Court. I was worried about her, so I followed to check. Then, the battle erupted, and the overwhelming pressure immobilized me. I was trapped near the area between Kali City and the academy. It wasn''t until the battle ended that I could run back."


    Zhang Haoxuan, taking his word for it, said angrily, "Do you think you can just follow along in everything? That was a Demon King, a true god. Did you really think you could do something? Don��t be an idiot. Anyway, what happened to Mei Gongzi? Was she really taken away?"


    Tang San replied, "I saw from a distance that she ambushed that Demon King from the Ancestral Court and then ran away. It looked like someone was there to meet her. The Demon King couldn''t catch up with her."


    Zhang Haoxuan breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had thought of something, and nodded. "That''s good. Yesterday''s battle was very sudden. Be careful in theing days; the Ancestral Court might make another move." At this point, his voice softened. "Try to go out less. Stay and cultivate within the academy, and visit Kali Academy less often. I''ll inquire about Mei Gongzi''s situation and let you know if I hear anything."


    Tang San nodded obediently. "Thank you, Master."


    Zhang Haoxuan sighed softly, "To be honest, it��s not just the kids. Even I felt lost inside after witnessing yesterday''s battle. It seemed like we could never find the end of the darkness. The gap is just too big, too vast."


    Tang San said, "As long as the me of hope still burns, there is a future. Humanity''s greatest strength lies in creating miracles. Every bit of effort pushes humanity forward."


    Zhang Haoxuan tilted his head in befuddlement as he looked at his pupil. Those words didn��t seem like something a child could say.


    Tang San scratched his head. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Zhang Haoxuan rolled his eyes. "Sometimes, it feels as if you��re someone my age."


    Tang San almost rolled his eyes as well in response. <i>Do you think it��s easy for me to act like a kid all the time?! I was tens of thousands of years old when your great-grandfather was born!</i>


    "What do you think about what happened yesterday?" Zhang Haoxuan asked.


    Tang San replied, "A fight over resources, I suppose."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "ording to what we know, the Crystal Phoenixes and the Peacock Demons appear to be sworn enemies. Their feud over the title of King of Birds hassted for many years, and neither has managed to take the upper hand. In fact, it appears that the Peacock Demon n''s inability to produce a Demon Emperor is rted to this quarrel. The Crystal Phoenixes alsocked one, but surprisingly, this generation has actually produced a Demon Emperor, and he was really quick to look for trouble with the Peacock Demon n."

 Chapter 264: The Peacock Great Demon King and Su Qin

    <h4>Chapter 264: The Peacock Great Demon King and Su Qin</h4>


    "However, ording to our judgment, both sides have suffered severe injuries this time. Plus, the Peacock Demon n has finally managed to withstand the first wave. Theing period should be fairly stable. But this conflicts with our nning. In the future, whenever the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperores again, if the Peacock n cannot hold up, our years of nning..."


    At this point, Zhang Haoxuan couldn''t help but sigh.


    Tang San said, "What can we do about it? It��s not like we can control what they do. It all depends on how long the Peacock Great Demon King can hold on, and we really don��t know how badly he��s injured."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "Now, we can only take things one step at a time. I am more optimistic about your future than the organization''s original n. If you can reach godhood in the future, then you will bring true hope to humanity. You are the first person I believe has the potential to be a Great Demon King. Even more likely than Mei Gongzi."


    Tang San smiled. "Actually, if we��re talking about bing a Great Demon King, sister Mei will definitely get there faster than me."


    "Oh? You think so highly of her?" Zhang Haoxuan asked in surprise.


    "I do. She has great talent, and surely, she will also have great luck."


    Zhang Haoxuan��s eyes narrowed. "Listen here, you''d better limit your contact with her for now. That goes for your other identity as well."


    "Uh-huh." Tang San nomittally agreed, but how could he just ignore Mei Gongzi?


    ***


    <i>At the city lord''s mansion.</i>


    Within the dim and silent chamber, the Peacock Great Demon King sat cross-legged, hisplexion pale. The aura around him was clearly unstable, even decaying. Nearly half of his peacock blue hair had turned white, a lifeless shade of white.


    He let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.


    His dull eyes carried a hint of mockery, much like how he had looked at the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor before.


    "Looks like I''ve managed to hold on, haven''t I? Do you think you''ve won? You will always be the loser, always. That will never change."


    Muttering to himself, he stood up and walked to the wall, pressing his right hand against it.


    The wall silently opened, revealing a passage. The Peacock Great Demon King walked into the passage, his steps slightly unsteady.


    ***


    <i>On the Pegasus chariot.</i>


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor slowly opened his eyes, and the moment he awoke from his meditation, he was unable to hold back a mouthful of fresh blood. The blood sprayed out, turning into sparkling points of light that dissipated into the air.


    For someone of his cultivation level to be unable to control his injuries showed the severity of the damage.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s use of the Peacock Demon n��s supreme bloodline ability, Star Shift, had caused him to take horrendous damage, almost shaking his foundation.


    Lin Ximo, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, squinted as he looked through the chariot��s window into the distance. His gaze was filled with contemtion.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s decision to burn through his ancestral fortune in a desperate fight was within his expectations. Given the Peacock Demon n''s foundation, he hadn''t really expected to annihte the entire n. That was just wishful thinking. However, his n <i>did</i> include inflicting serious damage and eradicating the Peacock Great Demon King, his greatest adversary since many years back. While the n still had some Great Demon Kings, those not of the direct Demon Emperor bloodline were not a concern to him. It wouldn''t take long for him to retake Kali City and <i>her</i>.


    But to his surprise, the Peacock Great Demon King''s strength was far greater than he had imagined. Although he had not reached the level of a Demon Emperor, he was at the absolute pinnacle among Great Demon Kings. Moreover, by leveraging the power of his ancestral fortune, he had caused Lin Ximo injuries far more severe than thetter had anticipated.


    <i>And then... what��s the deal with that so-called Sea God who appeared from the Endless Blue Sea? He clearly is at the Demon Emperor level. Even though it was just a projection and not his true body, this is still tremendous news.</i>


    The Ancestral Court had explored the Endless Blue Sea, with several Demon Emperors conducting the explorations. The Endless Blue Sea was boundless and it was home to many sea ns, among which there were no few powerful beings. However, no presence at the Demon Emperor level had ever been detected. Moreover, the ocean was not a suitable habitat for most demon and nymph species��especially nymphs, who had a strong aversion to the sea. Thus, the demon races had no ns to venture into the ocean, especially since thend resources of the Daemon Continent were massive enough as they were.


    The emergence of this Sea God would undeniably shatter the Ancestral Court''s assessment of the Endless Blue Sea. The existence of a Demon Emperor changed everything. Moreover, it seemed to have a connection to Kali City. This matter had to be reported to the Ancestral Court. If a Demon Emperor had appeared in the Endless Blue Sea, then action would have to be taken. This could also be the best opportunity for Lin Ximo to continue exerting pressure on Kali City in the next step.


    <i>Wang Qing, you wait for me. I will return.</i>


    Lin Ximo was acutely aware that even though he had been severely injured this time, the Peacock Great Demon King would only be worse off. After all, he had burnt his own Peacock Golden Crown. This meant that he would never be able to be a Demon Emperor; there was not even a sliver of chance left. Burning his essence was equivalent to burning his lifespan. Even if he didn''t die right now, his cultivation would indeed decline, and in any case, there would be a significant loss in lifespan. The same old destiny of not living past a hundred years was undoubtedly awaiting this Peacock Great Demon King.


    Lin Ximo''s mood improved significantly. Now, he needed to consider how to proceed once he returned to the Ancestral Court to secure even more advantages for himself.


    ***


    Kali City, Kali Square.


    Dawn had broken, and Mei Gongzi''s Milk Tea Shop would usually be open for business at this hour. But today was an exception; the shop was firmly closed, and the window for selling milk tea remained shut.


    Su Qin silently gazed at the man before her, her expressionplex.


    The pallid Peacock Great Demon King was leaning weakly against the wall.


    "He''s been here looking for you, hasn''t he?"


    Su Qin silently nodded. "Mm-hmm."


    "Do you still hate him?" the Peacock Great Demon King sighed lightly, asking again.


    "What do you think?" Su Qin looked at him, her gaze turning colder.


    "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have asked that," the Peacock Great Demon King apologized.


    Su Qin shook her head. "He''s still arrogant and forever self-centered. His way of thinking is always the right one. It was my mistake to have trusted him back then."


    The Peacock Great Demon King sighed softly. "When you made your choice back then... even if you had your own goals in mind, I wish...oh, how I wish you��d chosen me regardless...."


    Su Qin said, "Everyone around you thinks you''re a brilliant Great Demon King, but little do they know you''re a fool through and through. You''re the silliest of all the demons I''ve ever met."


    The Peacock Great Demon Kingughed. "Yes! You''re not wrong; I am the silliest one. When I was young, my father always called me rebellious because whatever he told me to do, I would do the opposite. Despite having the best talent among my kin, I refused to cultivate it��no, I <i>deliberately</i> wasted it. The more he hit me and scolded me, the more I acted out. I used to think, why should you dictate my life? Why should I do something just because you told me to? Just because you gave birth to me? Does being born to you grant you the right to control everything about me, to arrange everything in my life? I was so rebellious back then that I dare not recall it now. I really did many foolish things.


    "Until one day, when I met you, I realized I was also at fault. You''re right; Lin Ximo is particrly self-centered, but how many among the demon races aren''t? I''m just as self-centered. I always thought I was right. But at that moment, for the first time, I recognized my mistake. The first time I saw you, I thought, ''So this is what beauty is.'' I had an idea of beauty for the first time in my heart. But when I tried to pursue you, Lin Ximo beat me almost to death.


    "Back then, I almost never cultivated at all, I just relied on the natural growth of my bloodline power. How could I be a match for him? Of course he beat me up. It was then that I first realized the truth in my father''s words, that strength is the foundation of everything.


    "For the first time in my life, I knew I needed strength. So, I began to work hard. No one knows this, but you are the only reason I ended up bing my father''s sessor, bing the Peacock Great Demon King. In reality, this isn''t what I wanted at all. If it hadn''t been for that bastard Lin Ximo, and if you had simply been with me from the start, I might still be the same spoiled brat."

 Chapter 265: I Might Die

    <h4>Chapter 265: I Might Die</h4>


    Su Qin shook her head. "That never would��ve happened. Whether I am with him or with you, my purpose was, is, and always will be to help humanity. I naturally need you to be stronger, have a higher status, and be able to help humans better. How could I agree to be with you when you weren��t strong?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King smiled bitterly. "Why do you always speak so inly about yourself?"


    Su Qin simply said. "It''s the truth."


    The Peacock Great Demon King sighed. "Yes! It''s precisely you, just like this, that I like. You''ve never hidden anything from us, yet even knowing your purpose, we still find ourselves helplessly falling in love with you."


    Su Qin calmly stated, "That''s because, in your subconscious, you''ve assumed that humans, even with your help, could not possibly rise."


    "It''s inevitable. After all,pared to us, humans are truly insignificant. Even if they inherit our bloodline power, they are still influenced by their human blood. Hybrids can never be top-tier powerhouses. But I understand you are striving to improve the condition of your people. I have no problem at all helping you; I can appreciate the beauty of humans, so naturally, I don''t have any aversion to them. In this respect, Lin Ximo is pretty much the same; at the very least, he doesn��t really care either way. That''s why you were with him in the beginning."


    As he spoke, his voice became gentler. Slowly rising, he approached Su Qin, gently caressing her cheek, which bore not a single mark of her years, and softly said, "In fact, I know... Compared to the pain you bear, ours is nothing. You epted him with a purpose in mind, but when you were with him, you loved him with all your heart. On the one hand, you strive for your race, and on the other, you love what to your people would seem like a cruel demon. The greatest burden is what you carry inside."


    "Can you stop talking?" Su Qin said coldly.


    The Peacock Great Demon King sighed lightly. "I��d rather you let me speak. Because if I don''t, I''m afraid I''ll never get the chance again. I am not far from death."


    Su Qin shivered violently, and she suddenly looked up at him.


    The Peacock Great Demon Kingughed, "Haha, I''m so happy to see your reaction. I can finally truly confirm that your heart is with me now. Do you know how happy I am? Not because I won against Lin Ximo, but because, atst, your heart is truly with me."


    "Was that a lie just now?" Su Qin pursed her lips, a sparkling light flickering in her gaze.


    The Peacock Great Demon King shook his head. "Not at all. You have always been so honest with me, so how could I possibly lie to you? What I said is all true. I burned my Golden Crown and ancestral fortune to deal with him. My essence is gravely damaged, and I really don��t have long to live."


    "You..." Su Qin trembled again.


    The Peacock Great Demon King smiled and said, "It''s nothing. Perhaps it''s the fate of our Peacock Demon n rulers, not to live past a hundred years. What can be done about that? Butpared to obtaining your love, these things don''t matter.


    "Death isn''t scary. What''s scary is not knowing why you��re dying. See, I was quite afraid of dying at Lin Ximo''s hands; that''s not the fate I wanted. He wants to kill me, and I specifically don''t want him to have that pleasure. As you can see, I am still rather rebellious, just like when I was young. But I can die for you. That''s what I''m willing to do. Luckily, that Sea God, however the hell he appeared, that Sea God who shouldn''t possibly exist, gave me a chance. And by the way... I wanted to ask you, was this so-called Sea God something created by your side? A phantom created by the Redemption Society? Lin Ximo might not be aware of it, as his heritage isn''t as deep as our Peacock Demon n��s, but I know for a fact there''s no such thing as a Sea God.


    "The vastness of the Endless Blue Sea far surpasses the Daemon Continent. Regarding the Endless Blue Sea, the Ancestral Court has conducted thorough investigations; actually, three generations of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor made sure to check what was going on there. On Fn, our Daemon Continent is the true core, the real seat of fate. Therefore, only our demon and nymph races could produce twelfth-order beings. The limit for the sea ns is the eleventh order. The sea ns should have their own seers who understand this, I presume that��s why they''ve never dared to bare their fangs at us. So, where does this so-called Sea Gode from?"


    Su Qin looked at him with narrowed eyes. "You''re going to die?"


    The Great Peacock Demon King''s seemingly endless chatter ceased. He looked deeply at her, lowered his head, and kissed her forehead. "Yes, I''m going to die. The burning of my essence is hastening the end of my life."


    Su Qin lowered her head. "Don''t die."


    The Peacock Great Demon King embraced her. "I''ve said. Death is not to be feared."


    "Are you being rebellious with me too?" Su Qin whispered.


    "No, I wouldn''t be rebellious with anyone other than that bastard, and certainly not with you. But having been the n leader for so many years, I''vee to understand many things. Moreover, I have yet to fulfill your dream! How can I expect you to love me wholeheartedly if I can''t even do that? I won''t be as foolish as Lin Ximo to hurt you after finally receiving your love? I want to make it impossible for you to love anyone else in this lifetime, to leave the deepest impression in your heart. Don''t worry, I won''t die yet, at least not until I''ve helped you achieve your dream."


    "You..."


    ***


    Tang San still went to Kali Academy because he couldn''t stop worrying about Mei Gongzi. Although he knew that the people of the Ancestral Court had left with the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, who could be sure that no hidden threats remained?


    So, he still came to Kali Academy. But he did not see Mei Gongzi, and obviously, he couldn''t ask anyone about her. He could only wait in silence.


    Mei Gongzi was nowhere to be seen for several days, as if she had vanished into thin air. This gradually instilled a sense of unease in Tang San''s heart. He applied fortunes to himself daily but still could not find Mei Gongzi.


    His cultivation and physical condition had essentially recovered, but his divine consciousness was considerably weaker. To return to its previous strength, his most conservative estimation was a year of continuous nurturing without using his divine consciousness again. Before reaching godhood, forcibly using his divine consciousness, especially in such a decisive manner, consumed too much of his energy.


    While waiting for Mei Gongzi, he also studied the bloodline of Dai Yangning, the Dark Raven Demon King.


    He had absorbed Dai Yingning��s bloodline energy in much the same way as he��d always done. Most of that energy had gone into powering his projection of the Sea God, but the bloodline imprint was still there.


    Due to the excessive energy consumption at the time, this bloodline imprint was not at the tenth order, even though he had absorbed the demon��s entire bloodline energy, but it was still at the ninth order. Moreover, its origin was ultimately a god-level being, so many divine aspects within the bloodline could still be felt.


    Dark Ravens, also known as Bloodsucking Ravens, had an innate ability to vaporize and drain blood. Wherever the Dark Raven Blood Mist passed, living beings were turned into blood sacrifices. It was a truly tyrannical talent. By devouring the blood of other life forms, they acquired the energy necessary for cultivation.


    Newborn Dark Ravens were only first order, but by drinking the blood of others, they could grow quickly. Among the demon races, the raven race was not all that powerful, and Dark Ravens were already at the peak of this race. There was no golden bloodline among the raven demons; weaker tribes did not have anything like that. In other words, the Dark Raven n was pretty much the royal lineage, and Dai Yangning, the Dark Raven Demon King, was among its most distinguished members.


    Having advanced to the seventh order, Tang San had a free slot for integrating another bloodline imprint. However, he wasn''t too fond of the Dark Raven bloodline. His Mysterious Heaven Technique could also absorb bloodline energy as well as a bloodline��s characteristics, so it was even better for him in that respect. The Dark Ravens'' ability to turn into mist in order to dodge physical attacks was objectively great, but it wasn''t particrly appealing for Tang San. After all, he already had the powerful spatial ability of the Peacock Transformation.


    However, just because he wasn��t interested in keeping the bloodline imprint permanently didn��t mean he wasn��t interested in researching it. This was the first bloodline imprint he had obtained from a god-level being, and it was very helpful for studying the overall bloodline characteristics of the demon races.

 Chapter 266: Farewell

    <h4>Chapter 266: Farewell</h4>


    Not until the fifth day after the great battle ended did Tang San finally see Mei Gongzi at Kali Academy.


    She looked somewhat thinner, and her eyes revealed weariness. When Tang San saw her, he kept sweeping the floor as usual, but Mei Gongzi actually walked straight toward him.


    "Come with me for a moment," Mei Gongzi said when she reached him, then walked towards a nearby grove.


    Tang San felt the whole world had be more colorful when he saw her, and his mood significantly lifted. Even his dim divine consciousness felt a bit more lively.


    He followed Mei Gongzi into the small grove.


    "Sister Mei." Tang San called out with a smile.


    Mei Gongzi turned to look at him and said, "I am leaving."


    The simple words almost instantly froze Tang San''s smile, and a strong sense of loss surged uncontrobly within him.


    "Where are you going?" he blurted out instinctively. And he nearly added, <i>I''ll go with you.</i>


    Mei Gongzi shook her head. "I will not be leaving Kali City, but I will enter seclusion and cultivate with my father. I don''t know how long it will take, but it will definitely be a while. I came to say goodbye to you."


    Upon hearing that she was only going into seclusion and not leaving Kali City, Tang San breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he remembered something.


    "How is your father? That day..."


    "He''s severely injured. Don''t ask too many questions; the more you know, the more danger you��re in. Focus on your cultivation, understand? When I return, I''ll be checking on you."


    As Mei Gongzi spoke, what echoed in her mind was the intense sense of loss he had shown just a moment ago.


    Tang San nodded; he had already guessed something. It wasn''t a bad thing for Mei Gongzi. However, reason could not ovee the turbulence of his feelings, and a strong sense of reluctance still lingered in his heart.


    "I''m leaving now. Work hard, and if I find you haven''t met the mark when I return, <i>hmph</i>!" Mei Gongzi red at him, then quickly walked toward the grove''s edge.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly; this was the first time they had been in the small grove together! The previous time in the Kali Mountains didn''t count; that was Asura, not himself.


    He quickly turned and followed her out. He did not know when he would see her again, so all he could do was use this chance to take a good look at her!


    Mei Gongzi was now close to the exit, but she felt his gaze. She stopped, looked back at him, and then waved her hand vigorously.


    Tang San hurriedly waved back. His lips moved silently, saying something to her without making a sound.


    Mei Gongzi seemed to understand it, and her hand paused momentarily, but then she quickly turned and continued walking away.


    <i>I''ll miss you,</i> Tang San silently repeated in his heart.


    Stepping out of the academy, Mei Gongzi took a deep breath of fresh air, but a heavy sense of oppression still couldn''t be shaken off her heart. <i>Was it because of him? Why is it that every time I see him, my emotions run wild?</i>


    She took a cup of milk tea from her storage space; it was actually just an empty cup, but she still held it in her hand. She stood silently at the academy''s entrance, waiting.


    However, today seemed different from usual; the waiting time was exceptionally long.


    It wasn''t until the sky gradually darkened, nearing evening, that a familiar voice finally sounded behind her.


    "Sorry I''mte."


    Asura, dressed in ck and wearing a mask as always, had appeared at some point in a far-out corner.


    Mei Gongzi suddenly turned around, and the instant she saw him, she felt a sense of relief.


    After they parted that day, she felt uneasy. Facing a god-level power like the Dark Raven Demon King, she was unable to resist and was about to fall into enemy hands. In the end, she was still saved by Asura. Did he have the power to contend with god-level beings? He wasn''t a god himself; of this, Mei Gongzi was certain. Yet, the result was that she was saved.


    After returning, her heart was full of doubts, but she couldn''t find any answers. Onlyter she heard from her mother about the oue of that great battle. Under the sudden deterrence of the Sea God, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor did not end up in a mutual defeat with the Great Peacock Demon King, but opted to leave instead.


    Where did this Sea Gode from? And was he truly a Demon Emperor?


    For some reason, upon hearing the words "Sea God," she felt a strong stirring in her heart.


    For some reason...she felt as if this Sea God was someone she knew.


    She had many spections. Among them was the guess that this person named Asura had something to do with the Sea God.


    There were only a few ways she could have been rescued. One was that Asura hid his true strength, and in reality he was capable of overpowering even someone as strong as the Dark Raven Demon King. Another possibility was that an influential figure was supporting him... maybe a god-level power stepping in at the crucial moment to defeat the Dark Raven Demon King and save them?


    Zhang Haoxuan had assured her multiple times that he was not an enemy, but then... who was behind him? Why couldn''t Zhang Haoxuan rify it? Her mother had also inquired before and received ambiguous answers. The only certainty was that this Asura was human and therefore an ally.


    Asura was looking at her too, and for some reason, Mei Gongzi felt a sense of familiarity in his gaze. Gone were his usual ease and confidence, reced by a particr emotion. It was simr to something she had seen before. In fact, she��d seen it not too long ago, in Tang San''s eyes.


    Asura had the stature of an adult, and his abilities were different from Tang San��s, naturally making it impossible for them to be the same person. Yet that look in his eyes...


    Indeed, Asura silently watched her as if to memorize every detail of her being. He had been watching her not just for a few moments now, but from the moment she stood outside the academy. He only appeared now because he wanted to look at her, not knowing how long it would take to see her again after this departure.


    "Why were you looking for me?" Asura asked in a low voice.


    Mei Gongzi said, "The hunting operation is paused for now. I will be away for a while. To cultivate in seclusion."


    "How long?"


    "I don''t know how long, but it will be a while."


    Asura silently nodded. "Are you here to say goodbye? Can''t youe out during your seclusion?"


    "No."


    Asura took a deep breath.


    "I understand. When you finish your seclusion, wait for me with milk tea at this exact spot. I promise that I will be here within three days."


    Mei Gongzi felt an inexplicable sense of relief, surprised to find herself somewhat worried that she might never see the person before her again after her seclusion. Perhaps it was because he had saved her that day, she thought.


    "Okay," Mei Gongzi nodded earnestly.


    Asura remained silent, just looking at her.


    She put the milk tea cup away in her hand, saying, "Then I must go."


    Asura''s heart suddenly fluttered, and he impulsively asked, "Can I have that milk tea cup?"


    Mei Gongzi paused, looking at him with a bit of wariness in her eyes. She fell silent for a moment but then shook her head. "Sorry, that won''t do. I''ve drunk from it."


    Asura''s lips pursed slightly. He knew just as well as she did that she hadn��t drunk anything from it. He had been watching her for hours, after all. Without a doubt, she still harbored wariness and suspicion towards this identity of his, and a sense of loss inevitably rose in his heart. However, he still wanted to look at her, so he didn��t take the initiative to leave.


    "Okay."


    "I must go now. See you after my seclusion."


    She waved her hand and quickly walked down the mountain as if she had suddenly remembered she had to be somewhere.

 Chapter 267: Tang Sans Sunshine

    <h4>Chapter 267: Tang San''s Sunshine</h4>


    Asura watched her departing figure, his heart filled with reluctance. He could onlyfort himself silently, knowing she had waited for him for several hours, at least acknowledging their connection. But with her departure, he didn''t know if it would be a month or two, or even a year or two before she returned.


    Regardless of the time, he resolved to wait here for her.


    That night, unusually, neither Asura nor Tang San engaged in cultivation.


    He justy in bed, staring at the ceiling, silently reminiscing about her voice and smile from past and present lives. Sometimes, a sweet smile would appear on his face, and at times, he felt so heartbroken he could barely breathe.


    That night, he was sleepless.


    In the early morning, with dark circles under his eyes, Tang San climbed onto the rooftop.


    "You''rete today!" Du Bai nced at him and said. Wu Bingji and the others had already begun practicing the Purple Demon Eyes.


    "Mmm, I didn''t sleep wellst night," Tang San said.


    "What''s with you? You��re always confident and sunny, I��ve never seen you not smiling. Now you look as if your girlfriend broke up with you, hahaha. Eh, just kidding. You''re just a kid. What breakup?" Du Baiughed heartily to himself.


    Tang San nced at him, wanting to kick him off the roof. "You''re the kid. Your whole family are kids! Anyway, when we��re done with this, give me a full dose of luck. I feel like my luck hasn''t been great recently,"


    "Sure!" Du Bai agreed without hesitation. To him, Tang San was his lucky charm; ever since Tang San had arrived, his Celestial Fox Vision had made leaps and bounds in progress.


    The fifth-order Celestial Fox Vision now had actual practical use, and his status within the team had correspondingly been elevated. The teachers treated him as a precious treasure to be guarded. Before the ban, he had to be apanied by at least one teacher to enter the city. All of this was thanks to Tang San. If it weren''t for the fact that Tang San often wasn''t around at night, he would have dearly wished to cultivate with him every day for even more effective progress.


    After the cultivation session, with luck bestowed by Du Bai, Tang San left the Redemption Academy and headed back to Kali Academy to continue his sweeping.


    Now, at the seventh order and having grasped the universal conditions of this world, studying at Redemption Academy held little meaning for him. The environment at Kali Academy was more suited for his cultivation and consolidation. More importantly, he could wait there every day for her return.


    Upon entering Kali Academy, the air immediately felt different. A richer aura of heaven and earth permeated every corner of the academy. Breathing in the familiar air on the fresh, moist morning, Tang San went to Old Mao''s cabin for his routine report.


    "Here you are!" Old Mao greeted him, his attitude having warmed considerablypared to their first meeting. Tang San was diligent and meticulous in his work, earning numerous praises from the academy''s management. Naturally, Old Mao shared in this honor. Any important cleaning task was entrusted to Tang San, and he did his job to a more than satisfactory standard.


    "Good morning, Old Mao," Tang San said with a forced smile.


    "Ah, good morning to you, too!"


    Tang San picked up his tools and said, "Old Mao, I''ll get to work."


    "Oh, wait a moment," the old man suddenly interjected. "I have something for you."


    "Something for me?"


    As Old Mao walked to his desk, picked something up, and turned towards Tang San, Tang San was taken aback.


    As Tang San saw what was in his palm, he couldn''t look away. Despite having lived three lifetimes, his vision blurred with a mist of tears in that instant.


    "A youngdy asked me to give this to you this morning. She''s a beautiful human," Old Mao said, handing the item to Tang San.


    Tang San took it, a cup still filled with warm milk tea��or rather, milk tea from the Mei Gongzi Tea Shop.


    The cup that Asura had failed to obtain yesterday, today was in Tang San��s hands.


    At that moment, his heart was filled with happiness, and all the misgivings and oppressive feelings of the night before were swept away.


    Tang San smiled, though his smile was tearful. In that instant, everything before him seemed bathed in sunlight.


    <i>Xiao Mei, Xiao Wu, thank you.</i>


    He drank the milk tea as if it carried the warmth of Mei Gongzi, soothing his heart and every cell within him.


    Then, he carefully put the cup away, a keepsake that would apany him until her return.


    Bathed in sunlight, he swept the ground. Everything seemed to be better. The core of his spirit became more transparent, and his soul core solidified even more. It was as if, at that moment, his fragile divine consciousness had been injected with a booster, clearly bursting with more vitality.


    <i>Sister Mei, I''m waiting for your return!</i>


    ***


    <i>The city lord''s mansion, in a quiet room.</i>


    The Peacock Great Demon King sat pale-faced in his chair, and Mei Gongzi stood before him.


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at his daughter, whose features were as beautiful as a painting, with aplex mix of emotions in his eyes.


    "You resemble your mother when she was young," said the Peacock Great Demon King.


    Mei Gongzi did not speak. She just looked at him. She was actually rather fond of this father of hers, as he had always treated her well. Despite the rest of the Peacock Demon n being hostile and antagonistic toward her, he had always been good to her.


    But her mother always warned her to be wary of all demons. To humans, all demons were enemies, beings that oppressed humanity. Thus, she had always harbored a sense of fear toward her father, and she didn��t spend much time around him.


    The one time that surprised her was when he announced that she would be one of the heirs.


    This decision caused a massive uproar within the Peacock Demon n, facing unanimous opposition from the entire n. Later, he overcame all objections, convened a meeting of the elders, and managed to persuade them. Ultimately, she became one of the heirs.


    "Well, in my heart, you are not as beautiful as your mother was when she was young. Perhaps their beloved is always the most beautiful in a lover''s eyes. As you grow older, you will surely be even more beautiful," the Peacock Great Demon King said, his usual majestic presence nowhere in sight.


    Mei Gongzi looked at his pale face. "Father, your health..."


    The Peacock Great Demon King shook his head, "I''m fine, not dying just yet. There are still many things I need to arrange. And apanying you in seclusion is of utmost importance. Have you made all the arrangements with the academy?"


    "Yes, I''ve taken a temporary leave," Mei Gongzi nodded. "How long will our seclusion be this time?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King said, "It depends on how long I can hold on and how quickly you can progress. It also depends on how much time the Ancestral Court will give us. I hope for as long a time as possible. Ten years should be about right."


    "Ten years?" Mei Gongzi''s pupils suddenly constricted. She was only fourteen this year; was she supposed to stay in this room until she was twenty-four?!


    "It probably won''t be that long. They won''t give us so much time. And I don''t know if my body can hold out for that long."


    "Is your injury that serious?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    "Yes. After all, that man is a Demon Emperor. How could I repel him without paying any price? He came too quickly, and I wasn''t fully prepared. During the battle that day, I was ready to die and drag him down with me or, at the very least, knock him back down to the Great Demon King level. Fortunately, that Sea God appeared out of nowhere. He bought us some time, quite a good amount of time actually, and that allows me to arrange some matters without rushing."

 Chapter 268: You Are My Successor

    <h4>Chapter 268: You Are My Sessor</h4>


    "Little Mei, I took you into seclusion this time without informing any of our kin. However, the moment you and I began this seclusion, you became the next Peacock Great Demon King."


    When the Peacock Great Demon King uttered these words, Mei Gongzi''s eyes instantly narrowed. This was the ultimate goal she and her mother had aimed for, and now, hearing it was about to be realized so suddenly and unexpectedly filled her with disbelief.


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at her meaningfully and said, "Therefore, whether for the sake of our Peacock Demon n or humans, you must strive hard. Only you can help our n take charge of Kali City and bring glory to our kind."


    Mei Gongzi''s breathing became slightly rapid. "Is it decided? But..."


    The Peacock Great Demon King waved his hand dismissively, "There are no ''buts.'' This decision was made a long time ago. I have been pushing in this direction for many years. Rest assured; since fate has granted me some time, I will arrange everything properly."


    Mei Gongzi slightly lowered her head. She offered no false modesty, as she could not afford to be modest. Despite being only fourteen years old, she was acutely aware of the heavy burden she carried on her shoulders.


    The Peacock Great Demon King said solemnly, "However, I need you to make a vow. You will be the Peacock Great Demon King as long as you live. No matter what contributions or help you provide to humans, you must not harm the interests of the Peacock Demon n. When you are about to leave this position, whether through death or abdication, the throne of the Peacock Demon n must be returned to our people."


    Mei Gongzi suddenly raised her head, her gaze carrying a hint of determination, "Did you figure it out from the beginning?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at her intensely and said, "Figure it out? No, there was nothing to figure out. Your mother never hid anything from me. She rified her intentions when she epted me, and I agreed. From our first day together, I knew she was the Saint Mother of the Redemption Society. In fact, it was precisely because I agreed to her terms and let you inherit the throne of the Peacock Great Demon King in the future that she was willing to be with me."


    Mei Gongzi was stunned; she had never heard this from her mother. She had always believed that her mother was the most important member of the Redemption Society, having infiltrated the high ranks of the demon race and willing to sacrifice herself for the organization. But the words of the Peacock Great Demon Kingpletely overturned her understanding.


    Seeing her shocked gaze, the Peacock Great Demon King gave a bitter smile and said, "Do you find it strange? How could there be such a foolish demon king? Let me tell you, not only do they exist, but there''s more than one��at least two. Honestly, you have no idea how charming your mother was in her youth. Her charm was so irresistible that I couldn''t refuse. I agreed to her request, and I am a man of my word. I <i>will</i> fulfill my promise."


    "At that time, I had only one thought: as long as she was willing to be with me, I would give up the whole world. I didn''t have much of a sense of belonging to my kind. So, I agreed. I thought I would do everything in my power to win her love. I would naturally have the chance as long as she was with me. I know more than you might imagine, my little Blue ss child."


    Mei Gongzi stared at him, dazed, as if only from this moment that she genuinely saw her father for who he was.


    The Peacock Great Demon King stood up, approached her, and gently patted her head. "Silly girl, don''t overthink. Just do what you want to do. The vow I asked you to make is also the most important thing I''ve done for our people. It''s also for the sake of our people''s legacy. In the future, you will understand why I made this choice. If not for this choice, perhaps our race might face the danger of extinction. I''m not a good person, but I bear no malice toward you and your mother; there is only love."


    Then, the voice of the Peacock Great Demon King became serious again. "Make your vow now."


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath, calming the storm within her heart, and looked at the Peacock Great Demon King with clear eyes. "Father, can I trust you?"


    "Yes."


    Mei Gongzi nodded and said, "I swear, if I inherit the throne of the Peacock Great Demon King in the future, throughout my life, I will never do anything to harm the Peacock Demon n. If I die or abdicate, I will first pass the throne to a member of the Peacock Demon n. Should I break this oath��"


    "That''s enough," the Peacock Great Demon King interrupted herst words. "You are very much like your mother and me. You might be young, but your word is your bond."


    Mei Gongzi looked at him, and he once again put his hand on her head. "Let''s go, I''ll take you to a ce. Starting today, I will teach you the secret techniques of the Peacock Demon n. When youe out of seclusion, it will be the moment for you to dance with the heavens and the earth."


    A silver light shone at their feet, quickly enveloping the father and daughter. Between the flickers of light, the two figures instantly vanished.


    ***


    Night fell.


    Kali Academy returned to peace. Within the tranquil academy, only the asional sounds of insects and birds echoed.


    Tang San was sitting cross-legged in the secret room of the academy''s store, absorbing the spiritual energy here to cultivate.


    Thanks to his soul and spirit cores, his cultivation speed increased every day, and his physical strength, nourished by the life energy of the treasure nts here, far exceeded that of his peers. He no longer appeared like a malnourished ten-year-old, but rather like a strong and fit young man of sixteen.


    Had the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor not retreated, he might have had to sweep the academy store clean and flee with Mei Gongzi. For now, at least, he could continue cultivating here for a short while longer. The locked vault of the store, filled with amazing herbs and fruits, greatly benefited his cultivation progress.


    Mei Gongzi''s cup of milk tea had awakened all his senses, filling his heart with emotion and resolve.


    All he had to do was wait for her return. Since she said she would return to check on his cultivation progress and seek Asura again, then she would return to do exactly that.


    Even though he couldn''t see her, knowing she was in Kali City was enough. She hadn''t gone far; she was still by his side.


    Meanwhile, he couldn��t just waste his time while she wasn��t around. Her seclusion with the Peacock Great Demon King was to enhance her strength. With her talent, she would undoubtedly be far stronger upon her return.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s willingness to take her into seclusion meant she was one step closer to inheriting the throne. The only issue was the threat from the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    To resolve all of this, the most direct method was to be strong enough to stand by her side, to acquire sufficient strength to protect her.


    Therefore, during her period of seclusion, Tang San''s most crucial task was naturally to enhance his own strength. If he could return to the god level and truly awaken his divine consciousness, thus recovering the various abilities from his previous life, he would have the power to face any enemy.


    Nurturing spiritual power and improving cultivation level. Preparing for the breakthrough to the god level.


    For Tang San, after the consolidation of the two cores, reaching the pinnacle of the ninth order was now simply a matter of time. All he had to do was elevate the bloodlines of hispanions so they could advance in cultivation, so he could benefit from it as well. The biggest issue, however, was breaking through to the god level.


    Ever since his understanding of this world deepened, he had contemted how to solve the problem of breaking through to the god level.


    He did not belong to that ne, and once his divine consciousness became powerful, truly stepping into the god level, he had tomunicate with that world. In other words, he would inevitably be affected by the ne.


    The nar ruler maintained the entire ne by instinct, and its purpose was to ensure the ne''s bnce and protection from external threats. Given that the Fn could give birth to beings of the twelfth order, First ss Gods, the strength of that ne could be imagined��it was not inferior to a proper divine realm. It was just that it hadn''t taken that step just yet.


    In the future, Fn''s growth was destined to be closely linked with the growth of the entire ne. Naturally, excluding any and all foreign elements was an important self-defense mechanism and thus inevitable.

 Chapter 269: Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 269: Cultivation</h4>


    Tang San was not just any ordinary divine being; he had once been a God King. So far, he had not encountered any God King in this ne, and he believed that no such beings existed here; had they existed this ne would have already be a realm of gods.


    Once he broke through and awakened the essence of a God King, then even if he started from a much lower level, it would surely rm the nar ruler. No nar ruler would permit the existence of a foreign God King; if controlled by such a being, the ne would no longer remain as it was. In order for the ne to be a divine realm, it had to give birth to a God King itself, and that God King��s power would then elevate the whole ne.


    Now, Tang San could deceive the nar ruler because he was simply too weak to be regarded as a threat. However, it would be a different story once his essence as a God King was exposed. The ne would spare no effort to eradicate him and it would certainly not allow him to ascend to godhood.


    Now, Tang San had reached the seventh order and thus had to start making thorough preparations for his eventual ascension to godhood. The energy required to be a god was immense, and he could not leave this before bing one. Therefore, to ascend, he had to find an opportunity within this ne.


    For this reason, he had to prepare multiple trump cards for himself, ensuring these cards were sufficient to support his ascension to godhood.


    Without bing a God King, how could he ascend with Mei Gongzi? How could he leave this world and return to his divine realm? Tang San had no other choice. Moreover, Mei Gongzi was not his only kin; reuniting with his entire family was his ultimate goal.


    Collecting his thoughts, Tang San returned to his cultivation.


    Inside him, in addition to the six stable bloodline imprints, a massive gray-ck bloodline imprint floated next to his soul core, kept from dispersing by the core''s pull. It was the god-level imprint the Dark Raven Demon King left to him.


    The bloodline of the Dark Raven Demon King was rather special to Tang San. Although it had fallen from the tenth order to the ninth, its origins were still divine; hence, it retained some unique god-level characteristics.


    Upon closer examination, Tang San realized that transformation was the fundamental aspect of the Dark Raven Demon King''s bloodline. The purpose of bloodsucking was to weaken the enemy and to strengthen oneself. All demons could do that to some extent, but they had to absorb bloodline energy from other demons of the same race. Naturally, the likelihood that the bloodline energy absorbed by a Dark Raven would be from a Dark Raven was rather slim. Therefore, the essence of its power was absorbing and transforming other bloodlines into its power while preserving as much of their original strength as possible.


    Tang San didn''t hold the Dark Raven Demon King''s bloodline in high regard, but he was interested in its transformative nature. As it was from this ne, it constituted one of the ne''sws, even if just amon one. In other words, it was perfectly allowed to exist within this ne. Checking its properties against the Mysterious Heaven Technique��s would allow Tang San to refine his Mysterious Heaven Technique and explore more secrets of this world.


    Tang San didn''t n to absorb this bloodline imprint, but he did n to delve into its mysteries and find a way to convert it for his use.


    ***


    After the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor retreated, Kali City seemed to have returned to normal. At least, that was the case for themon folk. The high-level machinations were of no concern to them as long as their lives and survival weren''t threatened. However, that astonishing battle still became the talk of the town, with rumors even spreading about the Peacock Great Demon King''s imminent or actual ascension to Emperor.


    But the Peacock Demon n was not at peace. After repelling the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, the major demon ns that had not stood with the Peacock Demons that day were almost immediately held ountable.


    The Wind Wolf and sh Leopard ns were directly expelled from Kali City. The Crimson Fox n, however, expressed its willingness to submit to the Peacock demons and remained.


    The Titan Bears chose to leave voluntarily, causing Kali City''s already weak overall strength to decline further. However, under these circumstances, Kali City was much more united than before. The reshuffling of power allowed those ns that supported the Peacock demons to expand and develop to varying degrees.


    The Peacock Great Demon King appeared on the fifth day after the battle ended and, at least outwardly, showed no changes. This undoubtedly proved to all the demon powerhouses that he was still alive and kicking. This was why he could quickly stabilize the situation and expel the dissenting parties.


    Compared to Kali City, Kali Academy appeared to have changed even less. Perhaps stimted by the astonishing battle, the students of Kali Academy had actually be more diligent in their cultivation.


    <i>Kali Mountains.</i>


    The growth rate of the Golden Tree by the pond had significantly elerated recently. Since the saplings had fused into an actual tree, its speed of absorbing the energy of heaven and earth had been increasing daily, and it was absorbing and digesting the energy drawn by the Spirit Summoning Array almost immediately.


    The Crimson Fox girls practicing daily around it had felt the benefits it brought.


    After absorbing the energy of heaven and earth, the Golden Tree would release its aura to attract more of heaven and earth''s energy, the effect gradually surpassing that of the Spirit Summoning Array. What it released was the very essence of life energy.


    This life essence lingered in the air, and the Crimson Fox girls immersed in it felt that they were achieving more in their cultivation with less effort. By now, seven Crimson Fox girls had their Crimson Fox Transformation advance from the first to the second order. Their overall level was slowly improving, and that gave them a glimpse of hope for the guture.


    Zhang Haoxuan woulde by from time to time, bringing food for them and observing the Golden Tree''s growth.


    The Golden Tree now had a diameter of nearly thirty centimeters, and its main trunk, made of braided strands of Golden Wood, became increasingly solid. It had by now grown to a height of three meters. The buds had turned into tender leaves, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth more efficiently and converting it for its use.


    Zhang Haoxuan could naturally feel the rich essence of life from the Golden Tree. He even considered whether to bring the students of the Redemption Society here to cultivate and absorb this life energy.


    Life energy was essential for any living being; it didn''t directly enhance bloodline power, but it did strengthen the body''s durability, allowing it to bear greater forces. At the same time, with the enhancement of one''s vitality, one��s own body naturally stimted the power of the bloodline, making the bloodline more likely to evolve. The lower the bloodline tier, the more significant the impact. The Crimson Fox girls were the clearest example of this. Within another month at most, they would all undoubtedly advance to the second order.


    Tang San visited far less frequently than Zhang Haoxuan. Previously, he had been apanying Mei Gongzi on hunting expeditions, and afterward, he needed to recuperate his divine consciousness. It wasn''t until the fifteenth day after the great battle that he again came to the vibrant Golden Tree.


    This time, he arrived in thepany of Zhang Haoxuan.


    Upon seeing Tang San, the Crimson Fox girls all stood up to greet him. "Hello, Master."


    After a period of not seeing him, their master seemed to have grown quite a bit in their eyes, his figure more upright and his gaze even deeper.


    Even though they all knew Zhang Haoxuan was much more powerful than Tang San, for some reason, they felt a mysterious dependency on Tang San. This feeling might be because Tang San initially chose to purchase them, or perhaps due to the magical changes brought by the Golden Tree. After all, they had witnessed firsthand how Tang San nted the Golden Wood, inscribed the Spirit Summoning Array, andter made the dead pieces of wood transform into a tree.

 Chapter 270: Chain Array

    <h4>Chapter 270: Chain Array</h4>


    Seeing Tang San again, they inexplicably felt a sense of joy. Yet, they didn''t dare to crowd around him; they just bowed, then stood aside.


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled and said, "The growth rate of this Golden Tree is beyond my expectations. Truly miraculous! The life essence it''s emitting is bing increasingly potent. Within a month, your girls should all be able to advance to the second order. It''s like turning decay into something magical. Our organization has tried to stimte bloodline evolution by enhancing vitality, but it��s never been this effective. How exactly did you do it?"


    "Using life energy to stimte bloodline evolution is the right choice. But the question is whether that life energy is pure. The purer the life energy, the more beneficial it is for bloodline evolution. That��s precisely the advantage of the Golden Tree. Now, do you still think these branches were a waste of money?"


    Zhang Haoxuan chuckled. "Are you holding a grudge? You have a point, though. I truly wish for it to grow quickly. However, I''m also afraid that its effects might be too good. If the life energy is too strong, it could cause unnecessary trouble."


    Tang San smirked. "I''m here today precisely to solve this problem. The Golden Tree has now entered a positive growth cycle. What we need to do is help it grow faster while also concealing its aura. This way, the life energy it produces won''t cause any trouble."


    Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes lit up. "Another array?"


    Tang San nodded.


    A strong sense of anticipation shone in Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes upon his confirmation. He had already thoroughly studied Tang San''s Spirit Summoning Array, and the more he studied, the more amazed he became. The connectivity, the understanding of the forces of nature, and the subtle changes within the array far surpassed whatever he knew about arrays. Seeing Tang San about to set up another array, how could he not be intrigued?


    "I''ll need your help, Master."


    Zhang Haoxuan asked, "No problem, what do I need to do?"


    Tang San said, "Today, I n to set up two arrays. One of them is an illusion array, whose main function is to conceal this valley. The Golden Tree will be the core of the illusion array. It can now generate plenty of life force, so it��s the focal point for the array. The other array is called the Sky Swallowing Array. I''ve just figured this array out, so we''ll need to test it to see how effective it is."


    "An array you came up with on your own? Are you a monster?" Zhang Haoxuan''s mouth twitched slightly.


    Tang San chuckled. "Can''t help it. I''m naturally gifted. You know that."


    "What good does knowing do me? I just can''t believe it. Let''s get started then," Zhang Haoxuan said helplessly.


    Tang San said, "We must set up the illusion array first. This way, when we test the Sky Swallowing Array, it won''t cause too much of a disturbance."


    "What do I need to do then?" Zhang Haoxuan asked.


    "You''ve mastered the Spirit Summoning Array, right?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "I should have no issues setting it up now."


    "Great, I need you to work with me to set up eighteen Spirit Summoning Arrays within this valley. I''ll choose the locations and determine the focal points. Also, I need you to fund the purchase of some items to set up the arrays. Without the Golden Wood as the core, we''ll need other things to assist. Here''s the list."


    Tang San handed Zhang Haoxuan a list he had already prepared.


    Zhang Haoxuan nced at the list, his mouth twitching slightly. "This will cost me a few dozen naturae coins at least!"


    Tang Sanughed. "Haha, out with the old, in with the new! Once you''ve mastered the Spirit Summoning Array, you can craft some array discs to sell. I guarantee you''ll make a fortune."


    "Array discs?" Zhang Haoxuan looked at him, puzzled.


    Tang San exined, "Basically, we can engrave Spirit Summoning Arrays onto pieces of special metals, creating portable arrays whose effects can be adjusted ording to our needs. Of course, the effects of these portable arrays will be a little inferior to those built on the ground, but they are still effective. Later, everyone in our academy can use these array discs in their dormitories to gather spiritual energy, so they can cultivate at the same speed as if they were at Kali Academy. Also, don��t you think this can be a great source of money? But I��d say we shouldn''t sell it here but let the organization handle the distribution. It''ll earn money for the organization and provide us with a safe and hassle-free share. We''ll only be responsible for production. This will be our unique secret technique, and you can im that you developed it. This will make our future funding more substantial, and we can afford to buy good things."


    Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes shone brightly. "I see, so you��re nning to sell the discs as well? The organization will benefit greatly from this."


    Tang San waved his hand and smiled, "The Spirit Summoning Array is just amon array, so there��s no problem selling it. When we make the discs, we can include a safety feature that ensures they can��t be dismantled or copied. As long as we��re the only ones who can produce it, we��ll have a steady stream of money. From now on, you will be the Array Master of the Redemption Society. In the future, we might even sell other things."


    Zhang Haoxuan took a deep breath, feeling his heartbeat quicken instantly. Of course, he knew the significant benefits that coulde from selling such array disks.


    To those nobles of the demon and nymph ns with high-tier bloodlines, this kind of implements were not worth much, as they had arrays simr to the Spirit Summoning Array in their estates. However, theirs were costly to make and could not be moved. The portability of these Spirit Summoning Array discs was just too convenient. Moreover, arrays that gathered spiritual energy of heaven and earth were almost never sold; only advanced academies and noble families could possess such arrays. The status of array masters among the demon and nymph ns was very high! The potential earnings from selling these portable discs were imaginable.


    Seeing his excited expression, Tang San said, "Master, I have a condition."


    "Speak," Zhang Haoxuan immediately responded.


    "First, the title of Array Master will be yours. You can''t tell anyone that I created the array. I don''t want to cause any unwanted attention. In particr, do not tell the Redemption Society."


    "That''s no problem. I''ll cover for you," Zhang Haoxuan agreed without hesitation.


    "Second, you can''t be stingy when it''s time to spend money. We must keep at least half the money earned from the array discs. I may need a lot of money to support my research and development in the future. You can''t give it all to the organization."


    "Of course. Without you, there would be no ie anyway. I''ll make it clear to the organization. Just say that the cost of producing these array discs is very high. As for the metal used in making the array discs, it would be best to find some that aren''t widely recognized," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    Tang San''s gaze shifted slightly. As expected of his master��what a shrewd salesman! This idea seemed to havee naturally to him. Moreover, he had clearly guessed that the materials for making the Spirit Summoning Array discs weren��t anything expensive.


    No wonder, since his previous Spirit Summoning Arrays were drawn directly onto the earth, hardly using any materials at all.


    Tang San said, "Third, let''s give it a year. We must save as much money as possible and then travel to the Ancestral Court. We''ll go there to find some good items to bring back."


    "You want to go to the Ancestral Court?" Zhang Haoxuan was taken aback.


    Tang San nodded. "The way I saw it in the auction in Kali City, there are just too many good items to buy, and many of the owners have no idea what they own. We''re not going to buy expensive items, but to find bargains. And, I also want to go to the Ancestral Court to learn what I can."

 Chapter 271: Planning for the Crimson Fox Girls

    <h4>Chapter 271: nning for the Crimson Fox Girls</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "Alright, I''ll do my best to save more money for you and manage it well."


    Tang San said, "For now, that will do. The really important point is keeping the entire thing a secret. Even if the entire organization puts pressure on you, you absolutely can��t tell the truth. Otherwise, we��ll have a lot of problems in the long run."


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "Okay. Then I''ll buy the materials now, and once I return, we can start setting up."


    Tang San nodded. "I''ll choose a good location first and wait for your return."


    Zhang Haoxuan hurried off.


    However, Tang San didn''t immediately choose a location to set up the formation. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the eighteen Crimson Fox girls.


    "Come here," Tang San beckoned them.


    Immediately, the Crimson Fox girls gathered around him, chirping andughing, bringing a fragrant breeze. Fox race women were known for their beauty and innate charm, a characteristicmon to all fox ns.


    The eighteen Crimson Fox girls surrounded him, each wearing a faint smile, and bowed to Tang San, saying, "How are you, Master?"


    Looking at them, Tang San''s gaze was exceptionally clear. He said, "I''ve heard some of you have already broken through to the second order. Who will show me your bloodline abilities?"


    The oldest, Red One, said, "Master, let me do it."


    As she spoke, a faint red light rose from her body; her jet-ck hair instantly turned dark red, and her long fox tail rose, emitting a faint red halo. Around her body, there was a somewhat ethereal feeling.


    Red One gently swayed her body, and the sense of ethereality instantly intensified.


    Tang San narrowed his eyes, sensing around with his spiritual power. "Refraction. Is this the effect of a second-tier bloodline ability?"


    Indeed, the Red One before him was not actually before him at all. She had refracted her image about a meter from her actual location, creating that sense of ethereality. It wasn''t powerful, but it was very practical. It could easily mislead an opponent, especially during ranged attacks. Of course, against Tang San''s formidable spiritual power, such tricks were futile.


    "Yes. Master, you��re amazing. You figured it out immediately!" Red One nodded in agreement.


    "Yes Master, you��re amazing! How did you figure it out?"


    "Master, you seem to have be more handsome, a bit different from thest time."


    "Master, you''ve grown taller."


    "Master, that Golden Tree is so magical; I''m about to evolve, too."


    With Zhang Haoxuan gone and Tang San looking young as he did, the Crimson Fox girls instantly became lively.


    "Everyone, quiet down." Tang San waved his hand, and an invisible pressure burst forth from him, instantly quieting the Crimson Fox girls.


    "I could see Red One''s change because my spiritual power is strong enough. Your illusion is useless in front of me, because I can lock onto your life energy signature with my spiritual power."


    Red One asked, somewhat confused, "Master, what does that mean?"


    Tang San said, "I''ll exin to you in detailter. I will be around a lot more these days as I set up the array. The most important ability of your Crimson Fox bloodline is the illusion, which gets better as your cultivation level increases. However, even though you can somewhat defend yourselves, your actualbat abilities are close to zero. I''ve thought about possibly enhancing your powertely, but that''s another discussion. Your foundation is really weak, especially regarding physical strength.


    "You need to improve your bodies, so you must continue cultivating next to the Golden Tree, absorbing its life energy to strengthen yourselves and solidify your foundation. As the life essence of the Golden Tree bes more concentrated, the benefits it brings to you will also increase. After cultivating for a year, your foundation should be solid. I''ll find a way to enhance your overall abilities further.


    "Now, you can also cultivate your mental abilities. Today, I will teach you a method called the Purple Demon Eyes. Starting tomorrow, every day before dawn, you must climb to the top of the nearby mountain and cultivate facing the rising sun. The climb will also serve as physical training and help you absorb more life energy."


    After spending days nurtured by the Golden Tree, the Crimson Fox girls had shown noticeable improvements in their health, and they were no longer as frail as when they first arrived. It was now time to enhance their new abilities. Their spiritual power and the illusion abilities of their Crimson Fox transformation were closely linked, so Tang San decided to teach them the Purple Demon Eyes. They would be essential assets to him in the future. Furthermore, once the Crimson Fox girls reached a certain level of cultivation, he nned to ask Zhang Haoxuan if they could join the Redemption Society to learn and better understand the world.


    Red One took the lead and said, "Thank you, Master."


    Tang San waved his hand and said, "You must study seriously. If you have any questions, ask me right away. No one should be left behind. You must also work hard for those who haven''t reached the second order."


    Immediately, he imparted the method of cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes to the girls and personally demonstrated the energy cirction pattern.


    Zhang Haoxuan returned with the materials needed to create the array in only half a day. Before his return, Tang San had already chosen the locations and roughly outlined the eighteen Spirit Summoning Arrays, but it was up to Zhang Haoxuan to do the actual execution. This was also an opportunity for the mayor to gain hands-on experience. Meanwhile, the Crimson Fox girls observed from the sidelines.


    These eighteen Spirit Summoning Arrays were the foundation of the Sky Swallowing Array designed by Tang San. Tang San went to the peaks surrounding the valley to set up a series of illusion arrays. These illusion arrays wouldter be connected to the Sky Swallowing Array within the valley, maintained by the energy provided by the array to form a cyclical system. The two types of arrays were interlocked, creating an integrated closed-loop system that would allow the array to exist for a long time.


    The magic of arraysy precisely in this: no matter howplex its structure, a single array typically produced only one effect. However, to truly harness the power of nature and even unleash immense might, it was necessary to have a design where different arrays interlocked with each other andplemented each other.


    Since purchasing the Crimson Fox girls, Tang San had also been considering how to arrange their future. Humans upied such a weak position in this world that changing anything through their own power would require producing a God King. And even if Tang San did be a God King, it was not guaranteed that he could change things on a fundamental level all by himself. Therefore, he also needed support, and he had to cultivate his own forces.


    With the Crimson Fox girls'' weak foundation and not particrly strong bloodlines, how could they be powerful on their own? After multiple discussions with Zhang Haoxuan about arrays, as well as his own research concluding that arrays in this world were rather primitive, Tang San decided to guide the Crimson Fox girls down this path. With his expertise in arrays, teaching them would be no issue.


    The Spirit Summoning Array, a rtively simple array, would be the starting point.


    Over the next week, Tang San came daily to set up arrays and guide the Crimson Fox girls in cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes and in array formation.


    To his satisfaction, the girls'' intelligence was not an issue; they could grasp the basics, and now it was just a matter of time. The Crimson Fox bloodline did not grant them much power, but their bloodline traits gave them a natural aptitude for spiritual power cultivation.


    After setting up the eighteen Spirit Summoning Arrays and through hands-on practice, Zhang Haoxuan had essentially mastered theyout of this array. Then, he learned about setting up illusion arrays from Tang San. And when it came to these illusion arrays, Tang San specifically guided the Crimson Fox girls because they were naturally adept at illusions. Combining their illusion abilities with such illusion arrays could greatly benefit them.

 Chapter 272: Activation of the Array

    <h4>Chapter 272: Activation of the Array</h4>


    Simultaneously, Tang San began to arrange a moreplex array around the ancient Golden Tree, focusing on the pivotal point of histest invention, the Sky Swallowing Array.


    Even Zhang Haoxuan felt overwhelmed when observing the intricate patterns and listening to Tang San''s exnations during the setup process.


    Understanding such aplex array was not something that could happen overnight. Thus, while setting up the main array, Tang San taught them the basic techniques he was using.


    The fundamental principles behind an array were rted to energy flow. The purpose of an array was to channel external energies through specific pathways to produce various effects. Theseplex pathways were typically unachievable within the human body, making it impossible for humans to harness such powers directly. However, tapping into the world''s natural forces through an array became feasible. Furthermore, arrays could be madepatible with various types of energies far more easily than humans, and there was nothing to fear even if they failed. It was fair to say their applications were limitless.


    In Tang San''s previous life, there had been little research on this aspect before his ascension to godhood��more specifically, before the world entered the era of firearms. Only after bing a god had he made significant progress through continuous research in the divine realm.


    The most notable feature of Fn was its abundant resources and the boundless vitality of heaven and earth, which made it an ideal environment for setting up arrays.


    It took a whole half month toplete the arrays'' setup.


    In these two weeks, the Golden Tree grew fifteen centimeters taller, and its life essence became even more vibrant.


    At the same time, Tang San taught his ��pupils�� consistently for these two weeks. Not only did the Crimson Fox girls benefit greatly, but even Zhang Haoxuan felt he had made significant progress in understanding arrays.


    "Alright, today we will activate the array. Our base will bepletely established once this Sky Swallowing Illusionary Chain Array is activated. Even Demon Emperors would find it difficult to see through the illusion. It would require an extremely powerful divine consciousness to do that."


    Theplex array around the Golden Tree was constructed using many valuable materials, primarily minerals. Zhang Haoxuan spared no expense, making several rounds of purchases to meet Tang San''s requirements.


    Tang San gazed at the Golden Tree, feeling its life essence, then looked down at the array on the ground. The inspiration for the Sky Swallowing Array was partly derived from the Dark Ravens�� bloodline ability of devouring energy. Combined with his understanding of arrays, he was reasonably confident in the array''s reliability after several small-scale experiments. However, he had to make sure that all arrays within and around the valley were perfectly connected. Once they all functioned in unison, the grand array would truly show its power.


    The Sky Swallowing Illusionary Chain Array was far moreplex than any arrays he had seen or set up in this lifetime.


    "Master, activate the Spirit Summoning Arrays."


    "Alright."


    The Crimson Fox girls didn''t yet have the ability to activate the arrays, so Zhang Haoxuan personally lit up the eighteen Spirit Summoning Arrays he had set up around the valley.


    As he infused his bloodline power into them, the Spirit Summoning Arrays began to emit a faint white glow.


    Seemingly stirred by the white luminescence, the air currents became noticeably stronger, showing that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was rapidly converging. It seemed as if the entire valley was a gaping maw, voraciously absorbing the spiritual energy from outside. The air within the valley underwent wondrous changes, seeming fresher and more invigorating to the spirit.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s eyes lit up immediately. The effect of a single Spirit Summoning Array didn''tpare to the one supported by the Golden Tree, but thebined effect of eighteen was much more substantial! Thinking of the array disc Tang San had mentioned, his heart surged with excitement.


    Tang San instructed Zhang Haoxuan to light these Spirit Summoning Arrays while he flew to the mountain peak to activate the thirty-six illusion arrays he had set up.


    The first array produced a white haze, and as more and more arrays were activated, that haze slowly turned into a thick mist.


    Once all thirty-six illusion arrays were activated, from below in the valley, one could see that the valley was enveloped by a ring of mist, and it appeared ethereal and drifting, incredibly peculiar.


    Tang San flew back into the valley. He immediately felt that the spiritual energy had be richer, to the point where even the Crimson Fox girls with low cultivation felt a dizzying intoxication. He couldn''t help but smile, knowing the basic arrays were functioning correctly. It was time to link them together to activate the grand Sky Swallowing Illusionary Chain Array.


    As he approached the Golden Tree, Tang San''s eyes shone brightly. The flicker of divine consciousness in his mind, much weaker than before, also sparkled. The array''s focal point, right in front of him, began to emit a faint glow under the influence of his spiritual power, and the Golden Tree instantly brightened, the gold radiance emanating from it turning richer.


    Centered around the Golden Tree, within a thirty-meter diameter, a dense array of patterns filled the area. A pale golden halo rose upward, emitting an incredibly wondrous aura.


    The entire array did not activate immediately; rather, it felt like a bud waiting to bloom.


    Zhang Haoxuan watched nervously from the side. Thanks to Tang San''s previous exnation, he understood that this moment was crucial. Linking so many arrays together was incredibly difficult; activating the array''s focal point at just the right moment and instantly connecting all the sub-arrays was an essential step.


    This was due to the fact that the flow of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, as well as the array��s energy fluctuations, were all centered on the focal point. If there was a problem during the connection, all previous efforts could be wasted. Not only would the energy used to activate the array be wasted, but even the basic arrays could be damaged. Also, if the connection was not adequately established, the array might produce specific effects but not achieve a cohesive whole.


    He doubted his ability to instantlyplete all the connections, as it required full mastery of the array changes. Naturally, he understood why Tang San did not entrust this critical task to him but chose to undertake the final activation himself.


    The fog above the valley grew denser, and the spiritual energy within the valley became more abundant.


    Tang San waited patiently, but after a quarter of an hour, both Zhang Haoxuan and the Crimson Fox girls couldn''t help but be anxious. Of course, at such a moment, no one dared to disturb him.


    Suddenly, Tang San''s eyes opened wide, glittering with golden light. And from within the center of the Sky Swallowing Illusionary Chain Array, a golden light surged skyward.


    The spiritual energy of heaven and earth around the valley was suddenly drawn in even more intensely; all the Spirit Summoning Arrays burst out with intense white light, erupting like eighteen geysers of light.


    The fog, ten times denser than before, burst out around the top of the valley, making the light within the valley much dimmer. The golden light pir that shot into the sky was the only light source, casting everything in gold.


    A bizarre hum filled the air. To Zhang Haoxuan and the Crimson Fox girls, everything around them seemed to transform magically. It was as if they had arrived in another illusory world, where everything around them was distorted, elusive, unreal even. Ten times denser than before, spiritual energy surged toward them, washing over them.


    Zhang Haoxuan was alright, even though his body emanated a faint red mist, but the Crimson Fox girls immediately copsed to the ground as if intoxicated. The spiritual energy was too dense, and it exceeded what their bodies could withstand.

 Chapter 273: The Sky Swallowing Illusory Chain Array

    <h4>Chapter 273: The Sky Swallowing Illusory Chain Array</h4>


    But this sensationsted only for a moment. The Golden Tree suddenly burst forth with a sh of incredible brilliance in the next instant, drawing a massive amount of spiritual energy toward the array that spanned thirty meters in diameter around it.


    In that instant, the dense fog in the sky seemed to be shaken. It parted slightly, and above the entire valley, directly above the Golden Tree, a hole about a hundred meters in diameter appeared, allowing sunlight to pour down directly onto the Golden Tree.


    The soft golden light was now mixed with iridescent hues, and everything around it seemed to be imbued with magic.


    At this moment, what was once merely a green valley seemed to have transformed into a magical world. Within the valley, the vibrant vegetation dripped with even more vitality, and at its very heart, the Golden Tree stood proudly by thekeside. A column of golden light shone down upon it as if the sun itself was intent on flooding it with light, illuminating the area within thirty meters of the golden tree. This column of light connected heaven and earth, as if it was the pir supporting the sky.


    Then, the dense golden light spread out, turning into a faint golden glow that covered the entire valley. Conversely, the vast amount of spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the valley surged into the array, and the incredibly dense spiritual energy that the Crimson Fox girls found unbearable became much thinner. Yet, the light of the Golden Tree became even brighter, and it burst forth with an incredibly rich aura of life.


    The eighteen Spirit Summoning Arrays that initially looked like fountains of white light now turned into a pale gold. They no longer seemed to be drawing in any energy. However, upon closer inspection, it was clear they had merged into one, fueling the golden array patterns beneath the Golden Tree.


    Tang San closed his eyes, silently sensing the state of the Golden Tree.


    The golden pir of light visible within the valley waspletely invisible from the outside. All that could be seen was the mountain range shrouded in clouds and dense fog, with the mist continually spreading outward, covering an even wider area.


    The illusory array concealed the valley and the state of the world''s spiritual energy being absorbed. This was crucial to prevent the valley from attracting the attention of powerful beings.


    The spiritual energy of heaven and earth would silently disappear upon contact with the dense fog. The area covered by the fog was absorbing the energy, channeling it into the Sky Swallowing Illusionary Chain Array and then into the Golden Tree, nourishing it.


    The longer the thirty-six illusionary arrays operated, therger the area enveloped by the fog would be. The mist on the outskirts wouldn''t be as dense, but the effect of absorbing the world''s energy wouldn''t diminish. Tang San couldn''t yet draw the spiritual energy from the entire Kali Mountain Range. Still, as the array gradually expanded, it would eventually cover at least a hundred miles. With such rich spiritual energy, especially considering the already dense spiritual energy on Fn, nourishing the Golden Tree and pushing it to evolve posed no problem.


    Witnessing the golden pir of light in the sky and the surrounding fog tinted a pale gold. Zhang Haoxuan was filled with awe at this moment.


    He knew that even god-level powerhouses couldn''t achieve one percent of what Tang San had just done!


    The spiritual energy within the entire valley was no longer as dense as when the array was first activated. However, the valley''s overall vitality was rising continuously. The Golden Tree absorbed a vast amount of energy to elerate its growth and naturally radiated dense, splendid life essence. And as it grew, this life energy would only be even more intense.


    Bathed in this life essence, he feltfort throughout his body.


    Gazing at Tang San''s silhouette, Zhang Haoxuan unwittingly felt a sense of reverence. From recognizing what the Golden Wood was in that auction, all the way to creating such a space... Could a child aplish such wonders?


    Zhang Haoxuan was somewhat afraid to think further, and at the same time, he didn''t want to. As long as he could be sure that everything Tang San did was for humanity, he would fully support his "pupil." Compared to the demons and nymphs, humans were far too weak. He didn''t want his doubts to shatter this hope.


    Tang San''s unreserved disy of his capabilities naturally showed that he trusted his so-called master just as much as Zhang Haoxuan trusted him. Perhaps this was the savior bestowed upon humanity by the heavens!


    At this moment, Tang San''s status in his heart had risen as high as anything could be.


    After carefully sensing and inspecting the array, Tang San took a deep breath, then turned to Zhang Haoxuan, nodding. "It''s ready. Now, anyone entering the illusionary array will be guided around the boundary and out another way, and they��ll never pass through our valley. I didn''t set up a killing array within it, as that would bring unnecessary trouble. Also, you can only see the entire fog from here; from the outside, it��s a lot less. It��s pretty normal to see fog in the mountains, so this should be fine. As long as no powerful beings specifically scrutinize it orunch arge-scale attack on the area of our array, it won''t be discovered."


    Zhang Haoxuan let out a deep breath in turn. "Astonishing, truly astonishing! It was only when you linked the arrays that I could truly appreciate the intricacies of this chain array. Each part interlocks andplements the others. It''s amazing. Such an array can only be described as a miracle."


    Tang San smiled slightly. "I am still weak right now. If I was powerful enough, I could even draw in the spiritual energy from the entire mountain range. Well, let''s take it slowly, I guess."


    Then, he turned to the Crimson Fox girls, who by now had woken up from their stupor. "You all must dedicate at least two hours each day to studying the array. Next time Ie, there will be a test. Within a month, you must at least master the basic Spirit Summoning Array. It is the foundation of all arrays because it can gather the energy other arrays need. Mastering arrays will allow you to defend yourselves better, and even attack in kind if need be. If webine that with your abilities, you have a good direction to work toward."


    The Crimson Fox girls all bowed to Tang San in gratitude. "Yes, Master. Thank you, Master."


    If initially they recognized him as their master simply because he had purchased them, now, after half a month of being together, they truly admired him wholeheartedly. Tang San not only guided their cultivation but also nned their future direction and showed them the wonders of arrays, which seemed like the profound mysteries of the universe. Being with him felt like opening the door to another world, and most importantly, they saw the light of hope.


    Tang San didn''t teach them how to leave, deciding it was best for them to stay put for now, as they could not protect themselves. He crafted two array discs that allowed the user to easily navigate through the illusionary array, one for himself and one for Zhang Haoxuan, before they returned to Academy Town.


    In the following period, he began working with Zhang Haoxuan on crafting Spirit Summoning Array discs. Initially, Zhang Haoxuan could only assist him, but after a month, Zhang Haoxuan was able to start making them on his own.


    Tang San''s life also became more regr. He no longer went to the Kali Academy shop for cultivation, but to his Golden Valley. The growth rate of the Golden Tree elerated noticeably, and every time he went there, he found the ce more and more rich in life energy.


    At the same time, Tang San had Zhang Haoxuan gather as many exotic flower and herb seeds as possible and nt them in the valley. With the rich life essence emitted by the Golden Tree, any vegetation here would grow at an elerated rate.


    The Crimson Fox girls were only too eager to learn about arrays, and Tang San guided them once he was done with his own cultivation.


    He and Zhang Haoxuan had discussed whether or not to inform others in the academy about Golden Valley, but Zhang Haoxuan immediately vetoed the idea.


    The chain array here was simply too marvelous; it was best to keep it a secret as much as possible. And two people could only keep a secret if one was dead.


    The most crucial secret was not the Golden Valley itself, but Tang San''s capabilities. Tang San was the real hope for redemption, potentially the true savior of humanity in the future. Nothing was more important than his safety.


    Naturally, Tang San understood his well-meaning intentions and readily agreed.

 Chapter 274: One Year

    <h4>Chapter 274: One Year</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan then got busy, and the primary reason was the Spirit Summoning Array!


    He submitted a Spirit Summoning Array disc to the Redemption Society and quickly received a reply from the organization. Just as Tang San had surmised, the benefits of the Spirit Summoning Array were immense. A small, portable array for cultivation was truly miraculous and usable anywhere. Moreover, the richer the ce''s spiritual energy, the better its effects.


    The demand for the Spirit Summoning Array was assured, and with the impressivework they had, the Redemption Society began to sell it. It was foreseeable that the Spirit Summoning Array would bring massive wealth, which was obviously a desirable oue for the Redemption Society.


    As for this, Tang San was unconcerned; his most important task now was improving his own cultivation.


    Life energy assisted the human body immensely, both physically and mentally. The brain nourished by life energy would, in turn, nourish the sea of consciousness. As he cultivated in the Golden Valley, Tang San''s divine consciousness recovered faster than he had initially anticipated.


    Time passed day by day. While cultivating, Tang San most looked forward to Mei Gongzi''s return. However, contrary to his wishes, there was no news of Mei Gongzi, nor any trace of where she could be.


    Whenever he missed her, Tang San would take out the milk tea cup she had given him, finding sce in the item as he thought of her.


    In the blink of an eye, a year passed, and Tang San was now twelve.


    His previously depleted divine consciousness had fully recovered throughout the year, and now even surpassed its former state. His cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique had also sessfully advanced to the pinnacle of the seventh order, and that was only because he deliberately suppressed it as he focused more on restoring his divine consciousness and nourishing his body.


    The Golden Valley was now brimming with various treasure nts. Under the influence of the rich life energy, any such natural treasures that arrived here grew at ten to a hundred times their normal rate. Zhang Haoxuan brought the ripe fruits to Redemption Academy and sold them to the students at low prices, allowing everyone to benefit from the Golden Valley''s bounty.


    Zhang Haoxuan himself had well and truly advanced to the pinnacle of the ninth order, both in spiritual power and bloodline power, and he was just one step shy from breaking through to the god level. On Tang San''s advice, he continued to umte power. The more he umted, the greater his chances of a sessful breakthrough.


    The choice of location for the breakthrough was also crucial. Humans breaking through to the god level without being the vassals of a powerful demon or nymph n was prohibited. Therefore, his breakthrough had to be done in secret.


    The disturbance caused by breaking through to the god level was quite significant. It could spell disaster if it rmed the god-level powers of the demon race. Zhang Haoxuan had not yet decided on the location for his breakthrough.


    Over the past year, the most significant gain had note from advancements in cultivation but rather from the sales of the Spirit Summoning Array discs. Once the Spirit Summoning Array hit the market, its price instantly skyrocketed. This item was useless to Demon Kings and the likes; however, the benefits of carrying a Spirit Summoning Array disc were evident for most demons and nymphs, who were not at the god level. It quickly became a desirable treasure among the nobility.


    Had it not been necessary to limit the number of units sold to keep the price from falling, Zhang Haoxuan could have produced hundreds of them in a year without a problem.


    Even so, this endeavor had brought them a substantial amount of wealth. The Redemption Society had made a hefty profit, and Zhang Haoxuan had received praise more than once for his contribution.


    Tang San sat cross-legged beneath a golden tree in meditation, the Mysterious Heaven Technique''s energy flowing through him like a mighty river. Though he was only twelve, his physique had grown to that of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old. His appearance had also be more handsome, and he now resembled his past-life self quite a bit. He knew that this was an effect of his divine consciousness, and once he returned to the god level, his appearance would likely be identical to his previous life��s.


    In this regard, although Mei Gongzi had reincarnated without the memories of her previous life, she seemed to undergo a simr transformation. During their time together, Tang San noticed she looked and acted more and more like Xiao Wu.


    A year had passed, and Mei Gongzi had not returned. Meanwhile, Kali City had be very peaceful. At least as far as Tang San knew, there was no news about the Ancestral Court targeting Kali City. Everything seemed to have calmed down, as if the Ancestral Court was unaware of the battle between the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor and the Peacock Great Demon King. Of course, Tang San was not privy to the amount of scheming happening in the shadows, so who knew what was going on behind the scenes.


    After a year of growth, the golden tree had reached a height of ten meters. Spurred on by the Sky Swallowing Illusionary Chain Array, it grew lush and leafy, emitting an incredibly rich life essence.


    The Crimson Fox girls benefitted the most from it. Each of them grew increasingly strong, healthy, and attractive; they were all in the prime of their sixteen or seventeen years of age, and they were at their most radiant under the nourishment of life energy.


    Thanks to this rich life energy, the six most talented Crimson Fox girls had now reached the fourth order, while the rest had reached the third order.


    Tang San was delighted by their progress in the study of arrays. The girls gathered daily not for any other purpose but to research and discuss knowledge about arrays.


    Eager not to fall behind their peers, everyone worked hard. In a virtuous cycle, their insights into arrays actually surpassed those of the always-busy Zhang Haoxuan. They had also gained the ability to inscribe the Spirit Summoning Array. Tang San now let them try to simplify various arrays and inscribe them on array discs and various items. He estimated that they could start helping him inscribe arrays on hidden weapons in no more than half a year.


    To him, the eighteen Crimson Fox girls were indeed his people. And since he had never intended to keep them in this valley forever, Tang San spared no effort guiding them. In addition to the Purple Demon Eyes, he also taught them the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to increase their ability to protect themselves.


    In the mist, a red figure silently approached, the glowing arrow on the array disc in their hand disappearing as they did. It was Zhang Haoxuan returning.


    "Mayor, good day!" The Crimson Fox girls stood up one after another, respectfully greeting Zhang Haoxuan.


    Initially, they had intended to call Zhang Haoxuan Grandmaster, as, in a sense, they were Tang San''s disciples. However, Zhang Haoxuan firmly refused, feeling somewhat ashamed because the knowledge he imparted to Tang San was far less than what Tang San had taught him. Thus, he asked the girls to address him simply as Mayor.


    Tang San also awakened from his meditation and stood up, saying, "Master, you''re here!"


    "Mmhm," Zhang Haoxuan nodded.


    Seeing that they had things to discuss, Red One led the girls away to a distance.


    Zhang Haoxuan extended his hand to Tang San. A light flickered on the back of his hand, and a pale blue pattern emerged.


    Tang San was taken aback, but then he smiled and cupped his fist. "Congrattions, Master, on being promoted to a Blue ss Redeemer."


    Indeed, Zhang Haoxuan''s Redemption rune had turned blue. This meant that he was only second to the Purple ss leadership.


    Zhang Haoxuan gave a wry smile. "What''s there to congratte? This is all because of the Spirit Summoning Array. Also, the organization invited me to visit the headquarters. Not only that, but they��d like me to stay there."


    "Ah?" Tang San paused, then understood why the Redemption Society would want to do this. The profits of the Spirit Summoning Array were astonishing, and having Zhang Haoxuan at the headquarters would undoubtedly make things safer... and more controble.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "I will visit the headquarters, but I refused the transfer."

 Chapter 275: Tang Sans Advice

    <h4>Chapter 275: Tang San''s Advice</h4>


    Upon hearing Zhang Haoxuan''s words, Tang San felt a warmth in his heart, understanding that Zhang Haoxuan''s refusal to transfer was for his sake. In fact, if he had gone to the headquarters, he would likely have be a true high-ranking member. The array of the Spirit Summoning Array was not veryplex, and simr arrays existed in this world. However, to be able to inscribe a functional array on a small metal disc was beyond this world''s knowledge of arrays. This alone had great significance for humanity��s development, bringing the wealth necessary for the Redemption Society''s advancement.


    With this skill, Zhang Haoxuan''s importance to the Redemption Society was evident. Being a Blue Redeemer already counted as top brass. After all, how many true Purple Redeemers were there?


    "It''s better not to go. If you went back, sharing the profits wouldn''t be easy anymore. You can tell the headquarters that you��re working to develop the academy and help Mei Gongzi rise to a higher position," Tang San said with a smile.


    Zhang Haoxuan nced at him and said, "Do you know about Mei Gongzi going into seclusion with the Peacock Great Demon King?"


    "Mhm. She told me before she left. I don''t know how long this seclusion will take," Tang San said helplessly.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "It will definitely not be short. ording to our information, the Peacock Great Demon King''s decision to take her into seclusion likely involves imparting the Peacock Demon n''s secret techniques, truly intending to pass on the position of the n leader to her. Her cultivation level is far from sufficient to inherit the position of n leader. At the very least, she would need to reach the god level to be able to suppress those pure-blooded n members. Think about how long it would take her to progress from the seventh order to the god-level. Even with the Peacock Great Demon King''s guidance, I estimate it would take at least ten or eight years."


    "Ah? Ten or eight years?" Tang San''s mouth twitched, a chill running through his heart, but he quickly shook his head and said, "No, it cannot possibly take that long. The Peacock Great Demon King must have been seriously injured in thest great battle; who knows if he can hold on for so long. Moreover, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor probably won''t wait that long, either."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and said, "In any case, we can only take one step at a time now. The thing I��m worried about is, even if she seeds in ascending to the position, how will she stand against the oppression of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor and the Ancestral Court? The level of a Demon Emperor and a Great Demon King is not the same, and she cannot possibly reach the level of strength the Peacock Great Demon King has. If the Peacock Demon n is suppressed or even annihted, all our efforts thus far will be in vain."


    Tang San said, "We don''t need to be so pessimistic; we''ll do our best to help her. Master, do we have enough money to participate in an auction at the Ancestral Court?"


    "We do now. But there''s an issue if you want to participate. My status was raised years ago through my rtionship with Kali Academy. But you are still considered a vassal, and only nobles can participate in the high-level activities at the Ancestral Court, among which the auctions there. You need to be a noble if you want to participate there."


    Tang San''s heart stirred. "Actually, I remember you mentioned something during our participation in the Kali City grand auction. In the Kali City arena, if you can achieve consecutive victories, there''s a chance to obtain noble status?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "Yes, but it''s very dangerous, even brutal. Hardly anyone can endure more than one battle, let alone the number they need to be nobles."


    "I should be fine. It seems this is the only path avable to us now."


    Zhang Haoxuan thought momentarily and said, "Given your abilities, you might be able to aplish it. However, you must not expose your other bloodline powers or your Mysterious Heaven Technique. Think it through."


    "No worries, I am pretty confident. My cultivation has gotten very far in the past year."


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled. "I do feel quite reassured about you. You��re far more mature than everybody else your age. Alright, go ahead and do what you must. I also need to prepare. I''ll return to the headquarters to report in and see if I can request some assistance."


    Tang San was taken aback. "Can you no longer suppress your cultivation? Are you about to break through?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "I must thank you for the life essence of this Golden Tree. As you know, the Demonic God Transformation inherited by us humans cannotpare to the original demon races, because our bloodlines cannot possibly be that pure. Under these circumstances, achieving godhood is extremely difficult for us. Only a very few with very pure bloodlines have this possibility. I thought I would be stuck at the ninth order for my entire life, and I��d never have the chance to touch the threshold of that world. However, after learning about arrays from you and being nourished by the life energy of the Golden Tree, my deficiencies were unexpectedlypensated for, and now I have an opportunity. Over half a year ago, I reached the critical point, but I umted more, as you suggested, and my foundation is as solid as it can be. Over this half year, the life energy from the Golden Tree has be even richer, and my level of life has also increased as I cultivated here. Now, I''m almost unable to suppress it any longer."


    At this point, even someone asposed as the mayor couldn''t help but reveal a look of joy. Bing a god was the most crucial transformation and evolution for any being. No matter how powerful a race was, there was no innate path to godhood; active cultivation was required to ovee this immense hurdle. Naturally, the stronger a bloodline was, the stronger the person would be once they became a god, but even for the highest-tier races, achieving godhood was not easy; it required effort from all aspects and even a considerable amount of luck.


    Once the breakthrough was sessful, not only would their strength undergo a qualitative leap and their bloodline power greatly enhance, but more importantly, their lifespan would significantly increase. If untroubled by disasters or injuries, they could live for at least three to five hundred years, depending on their bloodline. The lifespans of nymphs were even longer.


    Who wouldn''t want to attain a longer life, not to mention the tremendous leap in strength? If they were willing to cooperate with a demon or nymph ns, even humans would achieve a respectable status, effectively counting themselves among the higher echelons of society.


    For the Redemption Society, weing a god-level powerhouse would undoubtedly allow it to make a greater contribution to humanity''s evolution. A new god was an asset of strategic importance.


    "Master, I have a suggestion for you," Tang San suddenly said to Zhang Haoxuan.


    "What suggestion?" Zhang Haoxuan looked at him, puzzled.


    Tang San said, "I suggest youplete your breakthrough before going to the headquarters to report. Don''t think about seeking the organization''s help."


    "Why? How would I find a ce on my own? You don''t know what it��s like to break through; without sufficient protection, I could easily be discovered. The demons and nymphs do not wish to see humans be gods."


    Tang San said, "Hear me out. If this happened a year ago, seeking the organization''s protection would be no problem, since the Redemption Society only hopes to have more god-level people. But now, the benefits of the Spirit Summoning Array are just too significant, and the organization would surely want to keep as much of the benefits as possible. Actually, if they could secure all the benefits, it would greatly help the organization. Considering everything from a human perspective, the organization would act ordingly. At such a time, if you ask the organization for help and they ask you to hand over the method of creating the Spirit Summoning Array disks, would you do it or not?"


    Zhang Haoxuan was startled. "Really? Our Redemption Society has always been fair and just."


    Tang San didn''t argue further, simply saying, "But there''s at least a possibility, right?"


    Zhang Haoxuan was silent but eventually nodded, conceding to Tang San''s point.


    "Since there''s such a possibility, we should avoid it to prevent you from facing awkward incidents. This is very important. As for having a ce for your breakthrough... <i>hehe</i>, I think we can sort that out. I''ve been thinking about a suitable location for your breakthrough and I actually have a good ce in mind."


    Zhang Haoxuan was taken aback. "Where?"


    Tang San smiled slightly and pointed toward the northeast. "The sea!"

 Chapter 276: Becoming a God in the Endless Blue Sea?

    <h4>Chapter 276: Bing a God in the Endless Blue Sea?</h4>


    "The sea?" The surprise on Zhang Haoxuan''s face grew even more intense. "How could that be? The Endless Blue Sea teems with marine life, including many formidable beings. If I rashly attempt to break through to the god level at sea, what if the anomalies attract the attention of sea beings?"


    Tang San replied, "The Endless Blue Sea does have many sea beings, but the powerful ones live in the deep sea. We don''t have to go that far; just away from the shore will do. Our Kali City has god-level beings, and there is a significant distance from here to the coast. We''ll only venture a certain distance into the Endless Blue Sea, where encountering formidable marine creatures is unlikely. I''ll protect you. And what will they think once you break through to be a god on the high seas, even if our side detects the anomaly in Kali City? Their first thought would likely be that a marine creature has ascended to godhood. Would they rashly investigate? Perhaps they would have before, but given the deterrence of the Sea God, I believe that with the current situation in Kali City, they wouldn''t investigate now. If anything, they��d grow more convinced of the existence of that Sea God."


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at Tang San suspiciously and said, "You talk about that Sea God as if you have some connection to him. Aren''t you afraid that if there is a Sea God, he might swallow both your master and you whole?"


    Tang San smiled faintly. "You''re not wrong. That Sea God really does have a bit of a connection to me."


    "Ah? You..." Zhang Haoxuan stepped back in shock.


    Tang San quickly waved his hands, saying, "Don''t misunderstand. When I say there''s a connection, I mean I��m connected to him just like I��m connected to the fog in this valley."


    "You mean that Sea God from before was conjured by you using an array? But what about that pressure? That was genuinely the pressure of a Demon Emperor!" Zhang Haoxuan''s face was filled with disbelief.


    Tang San shrugged, "That''s the marvel of the array. Using a series of chained arrays makes it possible to temporarily create that kind of pressure. It was done by harnessing the power of nature, using a vast amount of water elemental energy. If you don''t believe me, I can set up another one for you."


    "Hell no, do you want to scare Kali City to death?!"


    Zhang Haoxuan, of course, couldn''t let him do it again. Without the existence of the Sky Swallowing Illusionary Chain Array, he wouldn''t have believed that Tang San could achieve such a feat. But having witnessed the wonders and essence of this chain array himself and personally benefiting from the growth of the Golden Tree, he couldn''t help but believe.


    He looked at Tang San, his face showing a mix of wonder and fear. "Is there anything you can''t do?"


    Tang San chuckled, "There are still many things I can''t do."


    He couldn''t help but recall various memories from his past life, his greatest regret undoubtedly being his failure to protect his most loved one.


    He breathed deeply to steady his emotions and said, "Anyway, please consider my proposal. Make more preparations in the meantime. I''ll first head to the Great Beast Fighting Arena to im my noble status. Once you''ve decided, we can visit the Endless Blue Sea."


    "Hmm, alright, let me think about it." Zhang Haoxuan did not disagree immediately, but neither did he rush to agree; he needed to consider it. He was still not quite ready to give up on the headquarters.


    After all, the headquarters had more experience safeguarding humans on their path to godhood. It was much safer there than anywhere else...except he couldn��t help but take into ount Tang San��s warning.


    Tang San gave the Crimson Fox girls some cultivation instructions and then returned to Redemption Academy with Zhang Haoxuan.


    Over the past year, not only had he been making progress, but hispanions had as well. With the help of various spirit herbs and fruits grown in the Golden Valley, all students at Redemption Academy had made progress to varying degrees.


    Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation was still at the fifth order, but his spiritual power was long sinceparable to that of an eighth-order powerhouse. This naturally pushed forward his cultivation, and breaking through to the sixth order was just a matter of time. The seventh order, however, was a matter of concern.


    Wu Bingji''s progress was even faster. He had broken through to the eighth order and officially transitioned from student to assistant instructor. Due to Tang San''s low profile over the past year, Wu Bingji was recognized as the top among the students.


    Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc Transformation had progressed rapidly, and she was nearing the peak of the seventh order, second only to Wu Bingji. Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation was more troublesome; he was still at the sixth order, although steadily improving. Advancing further to the seventh order would mark a significant transformation, something Tang San was very much looking forward to.


    The reason Tang San nned to visit the Ancestral Court had multiple purposes: to investigate the situation of the Ancestral Court was one, and to look for opportunities or cop bargains was another. His motivation for doing so wasn''t for himself; he had a detailed n for his cultivation, and with the assistance of the Golden Tree, he wouldn''t face any issues before reaching the peak of the ninth order. What he truly desired was to elerate the growth of hispanions. Their growth was his, especially in the Celestial Fox Transformation and Chrono Croc Transformation.


    While the other students did not advance as rapidly as the members of their small team, especially in terms of bloodline differences, many still reached above the sixth order. The Redemption Academy continued to enroll students, expanding its scale to nearly double what it was when Tang San first arrived.


    However, most of these new students had little impression of Tang San, as he seldom appeared within the academy. His time spent in the Redemption Society was even less than the time he spent as Sweeper Tang at Kali Academy.


    Upon returning to Redemption Academy, Tang San did not linger but went straight to the Great Beast Fighting Arena. To achieve a noble title in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, he first needed to understand the rules.


    Zhang Haoxuan had told himst time that winning ten consecutive matches would suffice for the demon race, but it would require winning a hundred sessive matches for human vassals.


    Not to mention whether winning a hundred consecutive matches was even feasible, just the time it would require made it a ridiculous hurdle. Even if he was capable of fighting a hundred times in a row, scheduling so many matches at the Great Beast Fighting Arena alone was aplete nightmare.


    He wanted to see if any shortcut could allow him to quickly achieve his goal of bing a noble.


    Tang San first checked on hispanions. The academy''s ban had been lifted half a year ago, so they were free to leave now, but Gu Li was in closed-door cultivation, striving to break through to the seventh order. Cheng Zicheng was not there, reportedly having gone to buy things in the city. Wu Bingji and Du Bai were free, so Tang San simply invited them to apany him to the Great Beast Fighting Arena for a visit.


    "Little Tang, you''re always so mysterious; one can hardly see you these days! You used to be here in the evenings, but nowadays, you don''t evene back at night. Are you living at Kali Academy?" asked Wu Bingji.


    Du Bai looked at Tang San with a mix of reproach and longing, "Exactly, you don''te back to apany me in cultivation. Without yourpany, when will I be able to break through to the sixth order?"


    Tang San nced at him irritably. "To break through to the sixth order, you must put in some effort. I can''t just make some Celestial Fox bloodline power pop into existence! I spend more time living at Kali Academy. The spiritual energy there is more abundant, so I can cultivate faster."


    Wu Bingji also ignored Du Bai, asking, "What do you want to do at the Great Beast Fighting Arena?"


    Tang San replied, "I want to participate in the Great Beast Fighting Arenabat to obtain a noble title. Afterward, I n to visit the Ancestral Court with my master to see if there are any opportunities."


    "To the Ancestral Court?" Wu Bingji and Du Bai eximed in unison, their eyes lighting up immediately.


    The Ancestral Cour was the most revered existence on the entire Daemon Continent. The most powerful beings of the demon and nymph races resided there. It was also sait to house the core spiritual veins of the entire Daemon Continent, making it a sacred ce for all demon and nymph ns.

 Chapter 277: The Cruel Team Battle

    <h4>Chapter 277: The Cruel Team Battle</h4>


    For human vassals, entering the Ancestral Court was no easy task, let alone searching for fortunes within.


    Tang San nodded. "I n to look over there."


    "Take me with you!" Du Bai didn''t hesitate to wrap his arm around Tang San''s, attempting to lean his head on his shoulder.


    Tang San pushed his head away, "Step aside. What would you do there?"


    Du Bai coughed and said, "If possible, could you talk to the mayor about taking me along?"


    "Senior brother, you want to go too?" Tang San looked at him in surprise.


    Du Bai said irritably, "Who wouldn''t want to visit the Ancestral Court? It''s a ce we''ve all dreamed of since we were young. We''ve always heard stories about it, they say it��s filled with countless strong beings and treasures. I also heard that demon and nymph ns can elevate their bloodline tiers if they enter the Ancestral Court."


    Tang San said, "Legends are just legends, after all. Besides, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is likely to be there. Aren''t you afraid of being discovered?"


    Du Bai shrugged. "Why would someone like that notice a small fry like me? Don''t worry, it''ll be fine. You have to take me with you!"


    Tang San helplessly said, "It''s not something I can decide. Also, with just the status of a human vassal, it''s not easy to enter the Ancestral Court."


    "Then let''s fight in the Great Beast Fighting Arena together!" Du Bai said excitedly.


    "Get lost!" Tang San and Wu Bingji said in unison.


    Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation absolutely couldn''t be exposed. Fight in the Great Beast Fighting Arena? If it was discovered that he had the Celestial Fox bloodline, it would spell huge trouble.


    Yet, Du Bai was tempted. "I could give it a try."


    Tang San was beginning to regret bringing them along; he truly hadn''t anticipated the Ancestral Court''s attraction to be this immense. He could only try to pacify them for now.


    "Let''s first check out the rules at the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Even I am not entirely sure I can do it."


    Kali City had already returned to its former prosperity, the traces of the battle from a year ago long since vanished.


    When they passed Mei Gongzi''s milk tea shop in the center of Kali City, Tang San saw that the shop was open, and Mei Gongzi''s mother was at the counter.


    "Wait for me," Tang San told Du Bai and rushed to the milk tea shop. There weren''t many people in line, so it was quickly his turn.


    "Auntie, I''d like three milk teas," Tang San said to Su Qin.


    Su Qin saw him and was slightly stunned, "You are..."


    Tang San smiled slightly. "It''s me, Auntie. My name is Tang San. I''m a friend of Mei Gongzi."


    "It''s you! You''ve grown a lot taller!"


    She was secretly astonished. In her memory, Tang San was still a child, but now, he appeared as a radiant young man, around seventeen years old, tall and straight, and handsome. Most striking was his mysterious yet solid aura that even she found impressive.


    Tang San said, "Maybe I''ve just grown up. Auntie, Mei Gongzi hasn''t been to school for a year now. When will she be back?"


    Su Qin shook her head, "I don''t know either. She went on a study tour."


    "Oh, I see. Here, Auntie, let me pay."


    Tang San was about to pay, but Su Qin stopped him.


    "For a few cups of milk tea, no need for money. Take them and enjoy!"


    Tang San hesitated for a moment but still epted the milk tea. "Then, thank you."


    There was no need to be polite with his future mother-inw. However, he felt a bit regretful for not being able to get any news about Mei Gongzi.


    With the milk tea in hand, Tang San rejoined Du Bai and Wu Bingji and continued toward the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    As she watched their departing figures, a flicker of light crossed Su Qin''s eyes, "This child is growing up fast! He''s the mayor''s disciple, so he must be quite young, even younger than Mei. He''s developing quite quickly."


    Tang San shared the milk tea with hispanions.


    It wasn''t their first time drinking milk tea from Mei Gongzi''s shop. Enjoying the familiar taste, Du Bai eximed, "This is really good. It''s a pity we can''te to the city often, or I''d want to drink this every day."


    As Tang San silently drank his milk tea, savoring the mild taste mixed with the fragrance of milk, he couldn''t help but think of a certain graceful figure. He truly missed her.


    <i>Pleasee back soon.</i>


    Upon approaching the Great Beast Fighting Arena, the distant, majestic structure sprawled through the city like a colossal beast. Even from afar, they felt an ominous aura, as if the air itself whispered bloody tales.


    Too many creatures had ended here, their departing malevolence lingering long after their demise.


    The trio neared the Great Beast Fighting Arena and quickly located the registration area, not within the arena itself but in an adjacent house. They found it bustling, with many waiting to register. However, humans were few, and the vast majority were of the demon ns.


    In any case, three humans amidst the crowd hardly drew the attention of the demon folk.


    Tang San asked Du Bai and Wu Bingji to wait for him while he queued up, simultaneously lending an ear to the demons'' discussions and their exchanges with the arena staff. Just as he expected, everything here revolved around money.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena derived its ie from ticket sales and gambling, so it naturally needed thrilling battles to make profit. Thus, participants weren''t limited to ves, vassals, and demonic beasts��anyone capable ofbat could be arranged to fight, provided they offered some spectacle.


    Even ordinary folk coulde to watch the matches and engage in betting, making it a widely enjoyed entertainment. Nobles, in particr, relished the thrills found here.


    Where did the participants in the beast battlese from? There were demonic beasts caught in the mountains and ves, but there were even more demons and humans that registered voluntarily.


    The demon ns were inherentlybative, with strength being the most important criterion for status��that was one reason. The other and most crucial reason was money. The Great Beast Fighting Arena rules were simple: defeat your opponent to earn a mary reward. The more consecutive victories you achieved, the more money you earned. Simrly, challenging opponents with many consecutive wins offered more money but also posed greater risks.


    Therefore, many demons who believed in their strength saw the Great Beast Fighting Arena as a money-making gig. For the truly powerful, earning money here was not too difficult. However, the likelihood of encountering formidable opponents was also high. Achieving a noble title through continuous victories was exceedingly rare. Once you amassed enough consecutive wins, you were bound to face a powerful adversary��that was an unwritten rule of the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    Then, Tang San discovered that the Great Beast Fighting Arena offered one-on-one duels and team battles.


    Compared to duels, team battles were far more brutal. If one side conceded in a duel, the match could end. This meant you had a chance to surrender before your opponent killed you or the arena staff could save you, allowing you to survive. However, team battles were extremely ruthless; a match wouldn''t end until all members of one side were dead. Hence, team battles were more popr among spectators for their absolute bloodshed.


    However, due to such rules, fewer demons registered for team battles, resulting in fewer battles than duels.


    Then there were the spectacle fights, arranged officially by the Great Beast Fighting Arena. These typically pitted powerful beasts against ves or vassals, using bloody scenes to stimte the audience''s senses. The vast majority of ves and vassals had no chance of surviving. ves primarily participated in these battles. If a ve managed to survive three such fights, they were eligible to be vassals, and this was the most direct way for a ve to leave their status behind. Therefore, ves thrown into these battles fought desperately. Unfortunately, in most cases, the beasts they were up against were just too formidable.

 Chapter 278: A Bloody Spectacle

    <h4>Chapter 278: A Bloody Spectacle</h4>


    Without a doubt, this was a ce of utter cruelty, so brutal that it could be described in no other terms. Yet, it was also and brimming with opportunities. These so-called chances luredpetitors, who then offered up their blood and even their lives for others�� entertainment.


    As he listened in, Tang San found out something rather important. If a team secured ten consecutive victories, all surviving members would be elevated to nobility, regardless of race, and treated without discrimination. This was far more efficient than winning a hundred solo matches as a vassal.


    The group battle required a minimum of three people for registration.


    The number of participants registered determined the number of opponents they would face.


    Tang San stepped from the line without finalizing his team''s arrangement or registering. His departure causedughter to ripple around him, with cries of "coward" and the like beingmon. But for those who came here to register for thepetition, such reactions were to be expected. Though they came here to register and earn money in a moment of impulsiveness, many lost their nerve upon arrival, a scene all toomon.


    Approaching Wu Bingji and Du Bai, Tang San pointed at the registration desk and said, "There are two ways to attain nobility: win a hundred consecutive matches in solo battles or ten in group battles. A group battle only ends when one side is dead. At the very least, all opponents must be incapacitated, but in most cases, it ends with eliminating one side."


    "You mean we should enter the group battle," Wu Bingji suggested.


    "Let''s do it," Du Bai eximed, pumping his fist.


    "Beat it, what''s it to you?" Tang San replied irritably.


    "Of course, you should take me! If worsees to worst, I won''t use my bloodline power. Can''t I just lie down and pretend I��m dead?" Du Bai said, putting on a wronged face.


    "How can you say such shameless words with such conviction?" Wu Bingji asked, clearly annoyed.


    Du Bai chuckled, "It''s because I trust you guys! I believe you''re enough. Let''s call Gu Li and Zicheng. The five of us are enough. It''s perfect for a group battle. Then we can head to the Ancestral Court together. It''ll be great!"


    "Little Tang, I think it''s a good idea, too," Wu Bingji said, eyes gleaming with eagerness.


    Tang San smiled wryly. "It��s too risky, and the teachers won''t agree to it."


    "Is it that you don''t trust your strength, or you don''t trust ours? I''ve mastered the Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball," Wu Bingji''s fighting spirit was well-founded. Over the past year, his diligent cultivation had elevated him to the eighth order, and his control over the ice element had also advanced significantly. He was quite confident in his current abilities.


    "Let''s go back and discuss it. We should consult with our teachers," Tang San said.


    Of course, he was inclined toward the group battles, considering that it would save him a massive lot of time.


    Except for Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation, which couldn''t be exposed, revealing the abilities of his otherpanions wasn''t such a big deal. Those who registered topete voluntarily and weren''t part of the Great Beast Fighting Arenas were allowed to wear masks to conceal their real identities during thepetition.


    "Let''s go!" Fully intent on iming the win by doing nothing at all, Du Bai led the way out, even more proactive than Tang San and Wu Bingji.


    Upon returning to the Redemption Academy, Tang San went straight to Zhang Haoxuan, while Wu Bingji sought out his own master, Guan Longjiang. Participating in the Great Beast Fighting Arenas required the teachers'' approval.


    "Do you have confidence?" Zhang Haoxuan asked Tang San.


    "If I don��t reveal any of my abilities, about eighty percent. If I reveal some of them, then it''s over ny percent. And if I go full throttle, ny-nine percent. As for bringing everyone back safely, I can guarantee that," Tang San said.


    Great Beast Fighting Arenas did not allow the presence of god-level warriors, as decreed by the Ancestral Court. At his current level, Tang San had nothing to fear from opponents below the god level.


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded, "But this is a matter of great importance. You are too important to the academy and the organization. Although I oversee the entire academy, it''s not something I can decide on my own. You''ll still need to find a way to convince the other teachers."


    "I do have an idea. See if it might work," Tang San said, whispering a few words in Zhang Haoxuan''s ear.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s expression instantly became animated, then slightly bizarre, "I think it''s feasible! Just like that. Hahaha. You guys must give it your all!"


    Tang San couldn''t help but smile.


    By the time he and Zhang Haoxuan returned to the Redemption Academy, they saw Guan Longjiang waiting grimly as soon as they entered.


    Upon seeing Tang San, his face darkened even more. "Tang San, have you lost your mind?"


    "Old Guan, don''t be angry. Please, calm down," Zhang Haoxuan quickly said.


    "Calm? How can I stay calm? Your precious disciple is about to lead our core members to their deaths, and you''re asking me to stay calm? Is this what you taught him?" Guan Longjiang said, barely holding back the urge to curse out loud, his voice thick with anger.


    Wu Bingji peeked out from afar, his somewhat disheveled appearance making it clear he had been scolded.


    It was more than a scolding. When he returned and proposed their idea to Guan Longjiang, he was berated harshly.


    "Do you not know what the Great Beast Fighting Arena is? Huh?" Guan Longjiang pointed at Zhang Haoxuan''s nose, his anger surging. "That ce is not just a den of filth; it is filled with bloodshed. They will never allow what they consider lower races to be nobles. And individual fights are one thing, but group battles are to the death. Do you want to ruin the great situation we''ve spent so many years building? Your disciple hardly ever shows up, and now, when he does, he brings us this mess. If he wants to die, let him go alone. Don''t let him drag the academy down with him."


    "Enough!" Zhang Haoxuan said irritably, "Just calm down and listen to me."


    Guan Longjiang''s raised voice drew the attention of other teachers and students. Mu Enqing was the first toe forward and try to smooth things over.


    "Old Guan, don''t be so hot-tempered. What''s going on?"


    Guan Longjiang''s lips buzzed as he reported the situation to him through voice transmission.


    "What? Have they gone mad?" Mu Enqing was taken aback, his gaze turning somewhat unfriendly toward Tang San.


    "Can you listen to me?" Zhang Haoxuan''s expression darkened, and the mayor''s authority burst forth.


    Si Ru, leisurely justing out of his room, didn''t approach; instead, he watched the drama unfold with a detached interest.


    "Speak then. Did you instigate this?" Guan Longjiang still couldn''t calm down.


    "Of course not. But I don��t think it��s unfeasible. You all understand how important noble status is. If humans could attain noble status the way demons do, many things would be much easier. But the ways for us to get that status are extremely limited, and fighting in the Great Beast Fighting Arena is the most direct method. If we are strong enough, then we might bet on this, no?"


    "Nonsense! Are you trying to send them to their deaths?" Guan Longjiang retorted.


    "Why are you so impulsive today? Don''t rush, hear me out," Zhang Haoxuan said. "They want to participate in the group battles, and I was against it too at first. As you said, it''s dangerous, and they are our core disciples. However, Tang San told me that if they could prove their strength, I should allow them topete. In other words, they believe they are confident in facing the Great Beast Fighting Arena''s group battles."


    "How will they prove it?" Mu Enqing asked.

 Chapter 279: Challenging the Teachers

    <h4>Chapter 279: Challenging the Teachers</h4>


    With a hint of resignation, Zhang Haoxuan turned his head to look at Tang San, who stepped forward and said, "The five of us, with brother Du Bai not directly participating in the battle, challenge Teacher Guan, Teacher Mu, and Teacher Yu. All three of you are formidable opponents. If we win, does that mean we qualify topete?"


    Guan Longjiangughed incredulously. "You want to challenge us?"


    Tang San nodded.


    It would be four against three, but all three were teachers. Guan Longjiang had recently advanced to the ninth order, Mu Enqing was at the peak of the eighth order, and Mu Yunyu was in the mid-eighth order. Although they couldn''tpare to Si Ru or Zhang Haoxuan, all three teachers were seasoned fighters.


    "It seems life never pped you down, I guess! Fine then, challenge epted!" Guan Longjiang agreed without hesitation, filled with righteous indignation. He failed to notice the amused smile ying at the corners of Zhang Haoxuan''s mouth.


    Judging the strength of Tang San and hispanions seemed straightforward to him.


    Wu Bingji was naturally the strongest among them. His eighth-order strength was not weak, already on par with a teacher''s. However, his time at the eighth order was rtively short, andpared to the experienced teachers, he was likely inferior in all aspects.


    Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li had grown stronger, but Gu Li was still at the sixth order, and Cheng Zicheng at the seventh. Although their Demonic God Transformations were incredibly powerful, the gap in cultivation was significant.


    As for Tang San, he was also at the seventh order, not yet having reached the eighth.


    Guan Longjiang alone could quickly deal with these youngsters, so having Mu Enqing and Mu Yunyu fight together with him seemed overkill. How could Tang San and hispanions stand a chance?


    "Teacher, we''ll discuss our tactics now. Is that okay?" Tang San smiled.


    "Alright." Guan Longjiang''s anger hadn''t subsided. He turned and walked toward Zhang Haoxuan, whispering something to him. Seeing his angry face and the asional nces cast his way. Tang San understood it was not praise, but most likely criticism directed at him.


    Tang San told Wu Bingji, "Senior brother, could you please bring back sister Zicheng and brother Gu Li, tell them about the situation, and get them to work with us?"


    Wu Bingjiughed. "There��s no way they��ll say no. We''ve all been feeling pent-uptely. It''s been long since we''ve been out or had a real battle. Everyone feels like they''ve made significant progress but they had no opportunity to test their skills. This is perfect. If you''re confident, so are we."


    Tang San smiled and nodded, and Wu Bingji quickly left to do as asked.


    Du Bai looked dejected. "So, I''m not participating?"


    Tang San chuckled. "You''re just not entering the fray. When did I say you couldn''t participate? Do you need to be on the field to use your luck? Can''t you use it before the battle?"


    "Right!" Du Bai''s eyes lit up, his face instantly showing excitement. "But what aboutter, in the arena fights? If I don''t enter the battle, I won''t get a noble title."


    "By then, of course, you''ll enter the battle. I''ll tell you what to doter. Trust me, you��ll y a big part," Tang San said.


    "It''s decided then! You''re always the best to me," Du Bai spread his arms for a hug, only to be pushed away by Tang San.


    It didn''t take long for Wu Bingji to bring back Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng. They were already on their way back and happened to meet on the mountain path.


    Seeing the excitement in Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li''s eyes, Tang San understood he didn''t need to persuade them further.


    "How are we going to fight?" Cheng Zicheng said eagerly, rubbing her hands together.


    "We four against the three teachers should stand a good chance. Senior brother, you know Teacher Guan the best. Can you handle him?" Tang San asked.


    Wu Bingji nodded. "It should be possible for me to hold him back. For a short time, definitely no problem. However, now that he��s at the ninth order, he''s much stronger than me in terms of bloodline power, so there��s no way I can win."


    "It won''t take long for us toe to your aid. Brother Gu, you''re responsible for facing Teacher Mu. Use the Chaotic Wind Hammer Technique and your Chrono Croc Transformation to hold him off for at least fifteen seconds. Do you have confidence?"


    Gu Li responded without hesitation, "I''m able to do thirty-six strikes of the Chaotic Wind Hammer, and my Chrono Croc Transformation can now both pause time and elerate it. Do you need to ask if I''m confident? Hehehe. I''ll give the teacher a surprise."


    Tang San turned to Cheng Zicheng, "Sister Zicheng, you take the air. I''ll take the front. Within ten seconds, we''ll take down Teacher Yu. Then assist brother Gu, and finally, support brother Bingji."


    "Okay," Cheng Zicheng agreed, smiling.


    Seeing their spirits so high, Tang San couldn''t help but chuckle.


    He stepped forward from the group to Guan Longjiang. "Teacher Guan, we''re ready. We can start at any time."


    "Hmm." Guan Longjiang red at him, then turned to look at Zhang Haoxuan, who appeared utterly unfazed.


    "Come on, let��s do it."


    Soon, in the courtyard of the Redemption Academy, both sides took their positions.


    On one side were the four led by Tang San, and on the other, the three teachers: Guan Longjiang, Mu Enqing, and Mu Yunyu.


    Above Du Bai''s head, the white phantom of the Celestial Fox shimmered, its two tails bing more substantial. Four beams of white light fell directly onto Tang San and his teammates, and Du Bai chuckled as he stepped aside. Luck was with them!


    Guan Longjiang merely nced at him but said nothing. After all, as a teacher, he had his dignity to maintain.


    All the students of Redemption Academy were watching, especially the ones who had recently enrolled, their faces full of curiosity.


    <i>Are students challenging teachers? Are the seniors really that powerful?</i>


    Si Ru stood next to Zhang Haoxuan, asking in a low voice, "How do you see this match going?"


    "No chance," Zhang Haoxuan sighed softly.


    Si Ru was startled. "Then why did you let them... no, wait, are you talking about the kids or the teachers?!"


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled slightly. "I��m talking about whoever you��ll witness getting pped down by life in about a minute."


    "Are you that confident?" Si Ru understood what the mayor meant, but that only made him more surprised.


    Zhang Haoxuan remained silent, smiling, but he thought to himself that if Tang San did not conceal his abilities, perhaps he alone could...


    This was also why he had no objections to Tang San participating in the beast arenapetitions. He had seen too much wonder in this young man, and yet even he only had a vague idea of Tang San''s strength. At the very least, in terms of spiritual power, Tang San was likely above him, even though he was at the very peak of the ninth order.


    "What a pity..." Si Ru couldn''t help butugh. It was unfortunate that he was at the god level; otherwise, even he felt the urge to join the fray and test himself.


    "Ready!" Zhang Haoxuan shouted. He was the one acting as a referee. With him and Si Ru by their side, there was no need to fear any mishaps during the fight.


    Almost simultaneously, both sides unleashed their Demonic God Transformations.


    A blue light surrounded Tang San, but his body did not significantly change.


    Wu Bingji, however, was enveloped in white light with rising ice fog. His eyes had turned entirely ice-blue, and his body floated off the ground as if carried by the ice fog; this was his Ice Nymph Transformation.


    Cheng Zicheng blew a clear whistle, and golden wings suddenly unfolded behind her. Her eyes sparkled with golden light, and her entire being instantly emanated a sharp aura. The Golden Roc Transformation!


    Gu Li''s transformation was the most dramatic; his stature instantly became more robust, covered in thick scales, and a long tail whipped the air behind him. The space around him was visibly distorted, as if he was in the middle of a mirage. It was the Chrono Croc Transformation!


    The three teachers on the opposite side also transformed.

 Chapter 280: The Water Nymph, Mighty Ape, and Blue Luan

    <h4>Chapter 280: The Water Nymph, Mighty Ape, and Blue Luan</h4>


    Guan Longjiang stood at the forefront, and his form suddenly gained an odd sense of fluidity. A pale blue halo enveloped him as if everything around brimmed with the breath of life, blue streams of energy pulsing like living beings, rising and falling. This was the Water Nymph Transformation, which granted him mastery over the water element.


    Obviously it was this Demonic God Transformation that had led him to be Wu Bingji��s master, as ice and water shared the same origin.


    The oppressive aura of a ninth-order powerhouse washed over everyone, akin to the immense pressure faced in the depths of the sea, causing the weaker ones to feel a profound sense of suffocation.


    Behind him, Mu Enqing''s figure increased in size and exploded with a formidable aura, disying a bloodline power Tang San was somewhat familiar with. His towering form, over four meters tall, was packed to the brim with muscles that undoubtedly gave him a titanic amount of explosive strength. This was the transformation granted by the Mighty Ape bloodline, the Mighty Ape Transformation!


    Next to him, Mu Yunyu''s form suddenly became light and ethereal, as if weightless. Gentle light and shadow flickered on her, bursting with an odd blue glow. Streams of light flowed, her body erupted in blue light, and a pair of wings unfolded behind her. This was her Blue Luan Transformation.


    Among the three teachers, Mu Yunyu''s Blue Luan Transformation was the highest bloodline tier��the Blue Luan was close to a second-tier bloodline. However, due to the dilution of Mu Yunyu''s bloodline, her advancement had somewhat slowed down now.


    The aura erupting from the three teachers was simply formidable; with one of them at the ninth order and two at the eighth, their powerful presence instantly diminished Tang San''s team morale.


    However, it waspletely a different sight to the students of the Redemption Society. After the four senior brothers unleashed the Demonic God Transformation, they could withstand this intense pressure and stand their ground against the teachers, which was nothing short of astonishing.


    Keep in mind, these were teachers! What level of cultivation did the four senior brothers possess?


    The icy blue light around Wu Bingji suddenly solidified. In the next instant, he raised his right hand and pointed at Guan Longjiang. As students, taking the initiative to attack was a sign of respect for their teachers.


    A speck of icy blue light shot out instantly toward Guan Longjiang, manifesting as an icicle.


    This one was significantlyrgerpared to the icicles Wu Bingji normally formed during his cultivation.


    Guan Longjiang snorted coldly, and with a sweep of his right hand, a column of water burst forth, rushing toward Wu Bingji and the other three.


    With a thunderous yell, Gu Li charged forward, heading straight for the water column, while Cheng Zicheng, with wings pping behind her, soared into the air, enveloped in dazzling golden light.


    Tang San stepped forward, seemingly oblivious to the water column. wind des burst forth from him like water from a geyser, shooting toward the sky in all directions.


    The icicle instantly pierced the water column with a soft ssh, startling Guan Longjiang. Despite being hit squarely by the water column he released, the icicle not only didn''t slow down but dramatically increased in speed, reaching him almost instantly.


    What shocked him even more was what followed. As he instinctively formed a water shield for defense, the icicle exploded into many hair-like ice fments that directly pierced the water shield he had formed.


    Guan Longjiang was a seasoned powerhouse. Unperturbed by the situation, he made the water in the shield swirl rapidly, intending to grind the ice needles to nothing. However, the ice needles suddenly melted, and the temperature around them dropped instantly. The intense cold immediately froze the swirling water shield!


    <i>Since when can he control his power like this?</i>


    Guan Longjiang was taken aback. The next moment, he sensed danger, and a water column surged from beneath his feet, pushing his body diagonally backward. His water shield��well, now his ice shield��burst into a shower of ice, scattering in the air.


    The st shook Guan Longjiang violently. Meanwhile, the water column he had shot at his opponents had dissipated, having escaped his control.


    As if anticipating this oue, Gu Li had been charging forward with enormous strides, unafraid by the iing water column. As soon as it dissipated, he made a pirouette, and the "meteor hammer" at the end of his tail swung at Mu Enqing.


    Mu Enqing threw a punch, his terrifying force causing a sonic boom in the air. However, right at that moment, everything around him seemed to freeze momentarily, causing his punch to halt abruptly. Naturally, this significantly reduced the force of his attack. When his fist finally collided with the tail hammer, its power had diminished considerably.


    The tail hammer swung back, and Gu Li spun with it,unching a second hammer blow almost immediately.


    Moreover, the speed of this second blow was twice as high, as if time itself had sped up!


    Momentum is proportional with mass and velocity. And while the tail hammer was the same tail hammer, its speed increased so suddenly that Mu Enqing was caught off guard and forced to raise his arms defensively, only to find that the blow was also far more powerful than he��d imagined.


    The sh between them unfolded in an instant.


    Cheng Zicheng soared into the air and spun like a golden top, unleashing the Golden Wing Wind-Splitting sh from above as she dove for Mu Yunyu.


    Simultaneously, dozens of wind des swept out, converging toward Mu Yunyu.


    Mu Yunyu pped her wings and emitted a clear, musical bird call. The sound was strangely captivating,forting, and delightful; the listeners�� hearts were soothed, as if they were hearing the most beautiful sound in the world. This caused Tang San and the others to hesitate momentarily in their actions.


    <i>Crowd control!</i>


    Tang San immediately realized this, his eyes shing. The wind des originally aimed at Mu Yunyu exploded, emitting sharp screeches that cut off her melodious voice.


    The Blue Luan was known for having the most beautiful voice among birds, and it was a sub-species of phoenix. It was said that the Blue Luan could transform into a true phoenix if it could undergo rebirth through fire.


    Besides the powerful capability of her blue mes, her singing voice could captivate souls and disturb the mind.


    The screeches from Tang San''s wind des could only block the song for a moment, but that moment was enough. The Golden Wing Wind-Splitting sh had arrived.


    Mu Yunyu leaped up, her wings bursting with dazzling light mes. The aqua-blue mes swept upward, directly confronting the Golden Wing Wind-Splitting sh.


    But in the next instant, the golden light cleaved a deep valley into her scorching sea of blue mes; unperturbed, the force of the sh descended upon her, though the gold now bore scorched marks.


    Mu Yunyu''s blue mes burst outward, and her figure vanished. Meanwhile, the surrounding mes coalesced into her likeness, and four Mu Yunyus appeared instead!


    Cheng Zicheng, naturally, had some understanding of Teacher Yu''s abilities. She hovered in the air where Mu Yunyu had been, her wings sending out des of golden light that swept toward the surrounding figures of Mu Yunyu.


    Simultaneously, Tang San''s wind des arrived, executing a pincer attack from both sides.


    Mu Yunyu''s blue mes exploded once more, soaring into the sky. The blue fire simultaneously burned the wind des and the golden des, with many blue mes reconverging in the air to form Mu Yunyu''s figure anew.


    Cheng Zicheng''s feet touched the ground, and her figure leaped up again,unching the Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh from below, slicing toward Mu Yunyu.


    Mu Yunyu''s gaze sharpened. The pressure from her students, especially from Cheng Zicheng, exceeded her expectations. The formidable attack power made her feel somewhat overwhelmed.


    She knew Cheng Zicheng had advanced to the seventh order, yet she hadn''t expected a student who could only use her Golden Roc Transformation to fly to possess such formidable offensive power.


    A melodious bird call emanated from Mu Yunyu, with a ripple of blue spreading from above her head. Feathers sprouted from her back as she used Blue Luan''s Cry again with all her might. She intended to take control of the entire battlefield.


    However, the pleasant bird call ceased almost as soon as it had begun.


    Two streaks of purple-gold light appeared within Mu Yunyu''s field of view.

 Chapter 281: Well, Whos Being Schooled Now?

    <h4>Chapter 281: Well, Who''s Being Schooled Now?</h4>


    The overpowering aura of purple and gold filled her vision instantly as if a heavy hammer had struck her sea of consciousness. Her body violently trembled, and her melodious voice was stuck in her throat. She faltered; the blue mes around her body disintegrated, and even her Demonic God Transformation became unstable.


    Si Ru��s eyes widened instantly. He saw the two beams of purple-gold light, over a foot long, bursting from Tang San��s eyes.


    <i>Such tremendous spiritual power!</i>


    The Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh had already reached Mu Yunyu. Without the protection of the blue mes and her transformation, Teacher Yu was on the verge of being cleaved by the golden wings!


    However, Cheng Zicheng��s figure spun and transformed. With a p of her wings, she lightly sidestepped Mu Yunyu in a sh of golden light. The next moment, she was behind Mu Yunyu, wrapping her arms around the teacher. Then, with a twist of her waist, she flung Mu Yunyu, who was still trying to get herself together, toward Zhang Haoxuan.


    Simultaneously, therge number of wind des that Tang San had conjured for the second time had already found their target in Mu Enqing.


    Although Mu Enqing was engaged in battle with Gu Li, he kept an eye on the overall situation. When the cry of the Blue Luan rang out, he thought the battle was already decided. However, in the next instant, the tide of battle shifted unexpectedly.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to rescue her; it was simply that Gu Li was too formidable an opponent. His Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer made each swing of his tail hammer heavier than thest. Moreover, the sixth-order Chrono Croc Transformation was quite a piece of work; with the flow of time speeding up and slowing down unpredictably, he was really struggling to cope. Mu Enqing''s Mighty Ape Transformation felt utterly ineffective, as he had the strength but couldn''t utilize it. He was forced to rely solely on his superior defense to withstand Gu Li''s relentless assault.


    He knew that Gu Li''s tactic of using Chrono Croc Transformationbined with continuous attacks was based on a temporary burst of power that couldn''tst for too long.


    However, within this brief window, Mu Yunyu had already been removed from the battlefield.


    On the other hand, Guan Longjiang was even more shocked. The reason was simple: facing the disciple he had personally trained, he was being overwhelmed.


    Yes, Wu Bingji was not just entangling Guan Longjiang but suppressing him.


    Icicles, it was the icicles. Those bizarre and random icicles that randomly elerated in midair, exploded, shattered into shards that could prate anything, and most importantly, could beunched as a Soul-Chasing Cluster Ball. Those icicles made the difference.


    Moreover, the ice attribute ultimately overcame the water attribute at this time. Whenever Guan Longjiang attempted a counterattack, Wu Bingji��s icicles would freeze his attacks, at least partially. Then came Ice Explosion. Setting aside whether the ice explosion could injure him, the fact that it disrupted Guan Longjiang''s offensive rhythm was incredibly irritating for him.


    Amid the sessive ice explosions and the icicles capable of piercing even his ninth-order defense, Guan Longjiang felt utterly flustered.


    The swift defeat of Mu Yunyu made Guan Longjiang''s heart sink, and for the first time, he started harboring the thought that he might lose.


    And in the next instant, that thought became a reality.


    Gu Li''s burst of powersted longer than Mu Enqing had anticipated. A year of practicing the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer inbination with his Chrono Croc Transformation had significantly improved his strength. Although he had not yet broken through to the seventh tier, Gu Li could now fully unleash the power of his second-tier bloodline.


    Furthermore, wind des wereing from all directions and the Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh from behind.


    The wind des from Tang San and the Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh from Cheng Zicheng were formidable abilities capable of breaking through all defenses!


    Mu Enqing couldn''t hold out long under such a siege. Within three seconds, he was staggered by a hammer blow from Gu Li, and then all three attacks were upon his vital points.


    Tang San''s eyes flickered with purple and gold light as he turned to look in Guan Longjiang''s direction.


    Guan Longjiang''s head instantly throbbed with pain. The water elemental energy gathered around him dissipated, and the cold light of the icicles closed in.


    <i>The battle was over!</i>


    From start to finish, itsted less than a minute. A group battle less than a minute long.


    Even Du Bai wasining, noting that the effects of the good luck he had bestowed were hardly observable before the battle ended.


    Mu Yunyu had by now regained consciousness. Her face was pale due to the impact on her sea of consciousness, but her eyes held more disbelief than anything else.


    Tang San was one thing; she had always held him in high regard, not to mention that she��d broken through to the eighth order with his assistance. However, what she hadn''t anticipated was Cheng Zicheng��s strength. Despite being an order higher in power, she wasn��t sure she could win against this student one-on-one if it came down to a fight. The explosive power of Cheng Zicheng��s Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh posed a significant threat to her.


    Mu Enqing, looking surprised, gave Gu Li a thumbs-up. "Not bad! Your tail hammer is impressive, and it makes up for the weaknesses of your Chrono Croc Transformation. You''ve made significant progress."


    Gu Li, with a grin, scratched his head. After more than a year of effort, he was truly seeing the fruits of hisbor.


    Guan Longjiang''s face darkened as a confident, ill-reputed middle-aged man approached him. "Oh my, Teacher Guan! What happened? You look as if life pped you down!"


    "Get lost!" Guan Longjiang shoved Zhang Haoxuan away and turned to leave. He had lost, indeed lost, and he needed a moment to calm down.


    The most concerning fact was that it wasn��t a <i>team</i> that had defeated them. No, Tang San and his teammates hadn��t coordinated to any spectacr level. Their tactics were as simple as they could be.


    The real reason for their defeat was that he and Mu Enqing were simply overwhelmed. Yes, they were suppressed for that brief period, giving Tang San and Cheng Zicheng a two-on-one advantage.


    Even worse, in this battle, Tang San hadn��t demonstrated much of his physical strength or bloodline abilities; instead, he had simply relied on his overwhelmingly powerful spiritual force, surpassing that of the three teachers, to crush them, securing victory quickly.


    The cooperation on both sides of the battle wasn��t all that significant; for the most part, it was a contest of brute strength. At first nce, Tang San��s side appeared to win because it had more people. But was this really so?


    In a one-on-one scenario, could Guan Longjiang defeat Wu Bingji? If he were to be honest with himself... he didn��t know. They hadplementary attributes, and in this fight, his disciple��s finesse actually seemed to surpass his.


    No one knew how long Gu Li couldst in a head-on fight, but they all knew his Demonic God Transformation, Chrono Croc, was by no means the king of directbat. The fact that he could hold off the teacher, Mu Enqing, even with a bloodline disadvantage, proved a lot.


    What Tang San deployed seemed to be just ordinary wind des, with no trace of any extraordinary control over the wind element. However, the teachers knew that Tang San had taught Wu Bingji some aspects regarding control over the ice element. So, what about Tang San himself?


    Had he growncent and regressed? Impossible. If that was the case, what about his peak ninth-tier spiritual power and the ability tounch direct attacks at the opponent��s spirit? Both Mu Yunyu and Guan Longjiang had a powerful sea of consciousness��one owing to her spiritual abilities, and one to being a ninth-tier powerhouse��yet neither could withstand the impact of his spiritual attack.


    The strength of these young ones was no longer as they remembered; everything about them now demanded a fresh perspective.


    "Let him be. It''s just hard to ept for the moment," Zhang Haoxuan said, holding back hisughter.


    Si Ru looked at him, his eyelid twitching. "You''re too damn wicked. You must have known this would happen. You can��t be bullying little Guan like that, OK? And also... yeah, I seriously regret it. Why did I let little Tang be taken under your wing?"


    Zhang Haoxuan finally couldn''t hold back and burst into loudughter. "It''s toote for regrets. Hahaha!"


    At this moment, the way the other students of the Redemption Society looked at Tang San and his threepanions had changed entirely. This was especially the case for their eldest senior brother Wu Bingji, who had matched the ninth-order Teacher Guan in a head-on battle without falling short!


    The crux of this battle was indeed Tang San; however, the new students werepletely unable to tell. Only those senior students who already had some understanding of his abilities could discern some clues.

 Chapter 282: Stirring Things Up

    <h4>Chapter 282: Stirring Things Up</h4>


    Tang San approached Zhang Haoxuan and said, "Master, are we allowed to go to the Great Beast Fighting Arena now?"


    "I represent the academy in giving consent. However, you must be extremely careful. You cannot reveal anything out of ce, understood? Also, another thing... you know that the Great Beast Fighting Arena is not a kind ce. You��ve seen it. There, you cannot afford to be kind either, you get me? Being kind to your enemy is being cruel to yourself."


    Tang San nodded firmly. "I understand, Master. Don''t worry."


    "Good, then make sure they understand that too. Go and train together. You haven��t fought together for quite a while. Now that everyone''s strength has increased, you need to familiarize yourselves with each other and practice coordination more. In team battles, cooperation is vital."


    Tang San nodded again in agreement.


    Zhang Haoxuan didn''t bother to offer guidance regarding their cooperation; he fully trusted that Tang San''s efforts wouldn''t be inferior to his own and might even be better.


    <i>They can go on their own. Tang San has never let me down. With this lineup plus Tang San''s hidden strength, they should be able to face any opponent in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. After all, there are no god-level opponents there.</i>


    ***


    This battle had a significant impact on the Redemption Academy, affecting both teachers and students alike.


    Guan Longjiang returned to his room, gradually calming his emotions. Though losing in front of arge audience was somewhat embarrassing, he had to admit to his pupils�� excellence. Even the strength of his own direct disciple had be somewhat iprehensible to him.


    And Tang San, once again, came into his view.


    Over the past year, Zhang Haoxuan had kept Tang San out of the Redemption Academy under the guise of personal tutoring. Thus, even as the director of education, he was unaware of what Tang San had been doing.


    Tang San''s strength seemed to have made a qualitative leap from today''s events. His Demonic God Transformation remained at the seventh order, but it definitely reached the pinnacle of the seventh order, and he was only a hair��s breadth from the eighth. This rate of growth was swift.


    Although his appearance had changed significantly, the fact of the matter was that Tang San was only twelve. He was barely in his early teens, and yet he possessed such incredible power!


    Even more terrifying was that his spiritual power had definitely reached the ninth order, and he had somehow found a unique method to use it.


    Guan Longjiang knew that Wu Bingji and others were practicing a method to enhance spiritual power that Tang San had taught them. In his view, it must have been passed down by Zhang Haoxuan��in other words, it originated from the headquarters. Zhang Haoxuan hadn''t mentioned this to him, and it wasn''t his ce to ask. These youngsters'' spiritual power now appeared far greater than he had imagined. Given time, wouldn''t they all have the potential to reach the tenth tier?


    "Hey, how are you feeling?" The door was pushed open, and Zhang Haoxuan walked in from outside.


    "Are you here to mock me?" Guan Longjiang said irritably.


    Zhang Haoxuanughed. "We''re brothers, why would I mock you? Not to mention... if I were to be honest... even I might not have won if I were in your ce today."


    "So humble?" Guan Longjiang nced at him, aware that Zhang Haoxuan''s cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the ninth order. His progress had been notably fast in the past year, and he was clearly close to achieving <i>that</i> level.


    Guan Longjiang was also striving and making efforts, but talent was what it was. He knew that the likelihood of breaking through to the god level in his lifetime was slim.


    "You should feel proud. After all, these are disciples we''ve taught. A student surpassing the master is exactly our ideal, no?"


    "The Great Beast Fighting Arena is still too risky," Guan Longjiang said, frowning.


    "That��s true, but do you remember what happened when Tang San asked us to let the kids go out and experience life? Truebat elerates their growth. Let them go forth and improve. If they never take any risks, when will we ever be able to save our people from dire straits?"


    Guan Longjiang sighed lightly. "Perhaps you''re right. I have indeed been too cautious. These children truly gave me a great surprise today. I''m really curious, how did you manage to teach Tang San? He''s so young!"


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled slightly. "I didn''t teach him all that much. It can only be said that he has a unique talent. Perhaps this is heaven''s favor toward us humans."


    Guan Longjiang looked at him with surprise. "Do you think of him that highly?"


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "In any case, his future achievements will surpass ours. I have that much confidence. Given more time, he will surely shine even brighter."


    "I can only hope so. Anyway, speaking of surpassing things, howe your bloodline fluctuations often spill out now? Are you losing control? Have you mentioned this to the headquarters?"


    "I have. I just sent a letter to the headquarters and I am waiting for a reply now."


    Guan Longjiang eximed, "I envy you! You''re about to touch that world. I thought you��d be like me, gazing at that world but unable to get there."


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled faintly. "It''s possible, brother. It really is."


    "You''ve been in good spiritstely. Is it because you''re about to make a breakthrough?"


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head, "Yes and no. It''s mainly because we might have a way out. Even if there are dangers in the future, we can preserve these sparks of hope."


    "Oh?"


    "Don''t ask too much; I can''t tell you now. Let''s wait until after I''ve made my breakthrough. Ah, right, let me ask you something."


    "What is it?"


    "How does it feel to be trounced by your own pupil? Hahaha, loseeeeeeer!"


    With a burst ofughter, Zhang Haoxuan swiftly left, leaving Guan Longjiang fuming and his face turning green.


    <i>That brat Wu Bingji dares to suppress me. Alright, kid, you just fuckin wait!</i>


    ***


    Unaware that he was about to be the target of someone''s venting, Wu Bingji was with Tang San and the others.


    "Elder brother, your control over the ice needles just now was incredible. You even managed to fight Teacher Guan," Cheng Zicheng said with stars in her eyes.


    Wu Bingji smiled widely. "Finally, a year''s effort has not been in vain. After practicing Little Tang''s Purple Demon Eyes, I''ve improved my fine control of the ice element."


    Tang San said, "This is just the result of your efforts, eldest brother. Anyway, since we''ve decided to go to the Great Beast Fighting Arena, just as Master said, we need to practice coordination. If we win ten matches in a row, we can be nobility. Then, we can go to the Ancestral Court with my master to have a look."


    Everyone''s eyes lit up, and Wu Bingji said, "You arrange it, and we''ll all listen to you."


    They clearly knew that they would not have improved so much in a single year, or ever, without Tang San''s help.


    Tang San said, "We''ll gather to practice our coordination in theing week."


    "Oh, by the way, do you mean Du Bai should also participate? There��s no way he can use his Celestial Fox Transformation inbat," Gu Li reminded him.


    "It''s okay. Luck enhancement can be done before the battle; as for during the battle... hehe, there are other methods. Don��t worry. I''ll help brother Du Bai assume another identity."


    He then turned to Du Bai. "Brother Du Bai, your spiritual power is sufficient now. I''ll give you a few things to use in coordination with us."


    "Hidden weapons?" Du Bai asked curiously.


    Tang San shook his head. "Hidden weapons cannot be revealed in the Great Beast Fighting Arena."


    He had used hidden weapons to assist Mei Gongzi in assassinating several strong opponents. Although a year had passed, they couldn''t be exposed to avoid unnecessary trouble.


    He took out three metal discs from his storage bag and handed them to Du Bai.

 Chapter 283: Team Battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena

    <h4>Chapter 283: Team Battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena</h4>


    Each metal disc was the size of a palm. The three were made from different metals, each emitting a distinct luster.


    As soon as Du Bai picked them up, he felt as if there was energy flowing within them, which was quite peculiar. Upon closer inspection, he saw that each metal disc was engraved with different, intricate patterns with a mysterious charm.


    ��What are these?��


    Tang San exined, "These are array discs. Each one can deploy a specific array. So, in battle, you can use these discs to deploy arrays and support us from the rear. However, you must conceal the discs and make sure nobody sees them during the deployment. To everyone else, it should appear like you''re an array master who can directly cast arrays. Do you understand what I mean?"


    "I''ve heard of array discs before. I think our teachers mentioned that someone created a very precious Spirit Summoning Array disc that was small enough to carry and could generate a Spirit Summoning Array to aid in cultivation. They said it was pretty amazing, but also incredibly expensive."


    Tang San did not borate but smiled and said, "These three are different. A master of arrays made them, and their effects are even more profound. Brother Du Bai, I will exin how to use themter. For now, let''s practice some tactics. Based on our individual Demonic God Transformation traits, we can cooperate in many ways. If we can work together properly, this is not going to be a problem."


    At that moment, Tang San started demonstrating methods of cooperation to everyone. Even in his previous life, this was his forte��this was what he used throughout his life until he became truly powerful. This was also the reason he had confidence in team battles.


    Obtaining the noble status was crucial, as the ss system in the Daemon Continent was very strict and being of a higher ss made many things easier to handle.


    Everything Tang San was doing now was for two reasons: to enhance hispanions'' strength, and to prepare himself for a breakthrough to the god level. Whether it was helping Zhang Haoxuan make a breakthrough or heading to the Ancestral Court, it was all to seek opportunities for this.


    Everyone had made significant progress, and their Demonic God Transformations had improved along with their strength. Even with the changes in their abilities, they quickly harmonized with each other after a bit of practice. After all, they had fought together before, so it was not difficult for Tang San to put together some tactics and have everyone execute them.


    Du Bai began using the array discs. Although he was a beginner, the devices were just too simple and suitable for him��they were activated by bloodline power and then controlled with spiritual power. Due to the consumption of various treasure nts, along with the influence of his Celestial Fox bloodline, Du Bai''s spiritual power had now reached the ninth order, making him no less potent than Wu Bingji in terms of spiritual power even though he was three orders below in cultivation. Thus, controlling a few array discs was naturally easy for him.


    The Celestial Fox Transformation''s fortune enhancement and the array discs'' power proved quite effective. It took only three days for him to master it, especially with Tang San directing from the center.


    Wu Bingji became the team''s spearhead. Tang San handled long-range attacks, while aerial assaults were naturally Cheng Zicheng''s responsibility. Gu Li supported Wu Bingji, and their offense was improved by control.[1]


    For their team, control was the most vital asset. Time maniption, fortune enhancement, array discs, and Wu Bingji��s ice abilities could all exert considerable control. Not to mention Tang San''s hidden abilities.


    Another characteristic was their spiritual power, which generally exceeded their cultivation level. This was a key factor in their victory over Guan Longjiang and the other two teachers. With mighty spiritual power as their support, they could unleash 120% of their strength. For instance, it wasn��t just Tang San who could use the Purple Demon Eyes. The other four could as well, though their power varied. Du Bai was the strongest in this regard aside from Tang San, and this ability also served as his most crucial means of self-preservation.


    Guan Longjiang didn''t sulk for long. While Tang San and the others were harmonizing their techniques, he watched from the sidelines, observing the true capabilities of these children.


    The matter of the array discs was not hidden from him. Tang San''s exnation was simple: he had gotten them from his master. Where had the mayor gotten them? He didn''t know.


    ming things on his master was undoubtedly the best approach.


    Guan Longjiang had gone specifically to look for Zhang Haoxuan, but he couldn''t find him and didn''t know where he had gone.


    Naturally, Zhang Haoxuan had gone to the Golden Valley to absorb life energy and prepare for his breakthrough. A sufficiently powerful life force would y a crucial role during his breakthrough.


    After practicing until dusk, Wu Bingji asked Tang San, "Are we almost ready?"


    Tang San nodded and said, "We''re pretty much set. Let''s register for thepetition tomorrow. We''ll stay in the city during thepetition to avoid unnecessary trouble."


    "Okay." Wu Bingji nodded. He understood Tang San''s point; once they won a team battle, they would surely attract attention from all quarters. Returning to Redemption Academy daily could quickly bring trouble.


    "Let''s rest, rest, I''m exhausted." Du Bai flopped down on the ground, wiping non-existent sweat from his forehead.


    Gu Li snorted. "You were just standing there. What''s there to be tired about?"


    "Hehe, it''s mentally exhausting," Du Bai chuckled. "As the brain of the entire team, can you imagine how much spiritual power I''ve used?"


    "Do you even understand the concept of shame? You call yourself the brain with that face? I''d say you''re more like the dandruff," Cheng Zicheng mercilessly teased.


    "Pfft, even if I''m dandruff, I''m Tang San''s dandruff. Right, Little Tang? Ah, why am I not a girl? If I were, I''d definitely pursue Little Tang and be his wife."


    Seeing Tang San''s face darken, Du Bai quickly scrambled up and ran off,ughing loudly.


    Gu Li nudged Tang San. "Be careful, okay? You''re still young. Don''t let him influence you to change your preferences."


    "Shut up," Tang San said, pushing him away irritably. "Let''s rest. We''ll register tomorrow."


    The following day, the five gathered again with their bags packed and met Teacher Guan just before they left.


    Guan Longjiang looked at the five, especially his pupil Wu Bingji, with unconceble worry and deep reluctance.


    "Have you thought this through? It''s not toote to back out," Guan Longjiang said gravely.


    All five nodded almost simultaneously. Wu Bingji said, "Don''t worry, Master. We will secure victory as soon as possible and then return. Trust us, we are confident. A fledgling must jump off the tree if it wants to learn how to fly. Consider this an important test for us."


    "Yeah, you��ll jump off the tree and right into the tiger��s mouth! You must understand this: if you lose, the price is your life," said Guan Longjiang.


    He had witnessed team battles in the arena before, and he was well aware that they were almost without exception fatal for the losers. Anyone daring to participate in a team battle was a desperado; these were individuals gambling with their lives. Moreover, the overall strength required for a team battle was several notches higher than that for individualbat, as nobody without confidence would participate in such a fight. Therefore, they would unquestionably face fierce battles at every turn.


    "Teacher Guan, I will ensure everyone returns safely," Tang San said earnestly.


    Du Bai nodded. "That''s right. No need to pray for our good fortune; luck is on our side."


    "Go, just go. Don''t make me angry now." Guan Longjiang waved them off.


    The five of them bowed to him and then turned to leave.


    Watching their departing figures, Guan Longjiang stamped his foot. "That Zhang Haoxuan, to think he hasn''t returned even now. Really..."


    Mu Yunyu''s voice came from behind. "When did you be so indecisive? You know, it seems that you care too much and it��s affecting your judgment."


    Guan Longjiang turned to look at her. "How am I being indecisive? You��re telling me I shouldn��t be worried? You know exactly what the team battles in the beast arena entail."


    1. Reminder that this refers to basically CC skills rather than elemental control. ?

 Chapter 284: The Invincible Shrek Squad

    <h4>Chapter 284: The Invincible Shrek Squad</h4>


    Mu Yunyu approached him and said, "But they''ve already shown enough strength to handle themselves, haven''t they? I have confidence in Tang San. He''s always been mysterious, but you must admit he has never disappointed us. The mayor''s absence is probably due to his confidence in him."


    Guan Longjiang said, "But he won''t say what''s happening with Tang San. I don''t know how he teaches them. And I don''t know where those array discs came from. Did headquarters give them? Those are very precious! Having them makes us targets. I''m worried they''ll run into trouble outside. Should we ask Old Si to follow and protect them secretly?"


    Mu Yunyu replied, "That won''t be necessary. The security in Kali City is guaranteed. A few array discs aren''t worth the intervention of a god. And with opponents below the tenth tier, I don��t really think they need any help. At least Bingji has already shown the capability to face ninth-order opponents. He''s only eighteen and look how strong he is! Breaking through to the god level in the future should be no problem. You should be proud to have taught such disciples. They''re right;bat with life and death at stake will elerate their growth."


    Guan Longjiang smiled wryly. "In our academy, these few youngsters already make up half of our foundation! What if..."


    "No what ifs," Mu Yunyu said with a huff. "Just wait for their victorious return. We''re about to have noble disciples. And once they be nobles, they might even attend Kali Academy. Have you thought about that? Except for Bingji, the others are of the right age too."


    Guan Longjiang felt a flicker of excitement; Mu Yunyu was right! Kali Academy only epted noble offspring with specific age and talent requirements. If they achieved noble status through the Great Beast Fighting Arena and their age was suitable, then even as humans, Kali Academy would have no problem epting them.


    While Guan Longjiang was apprehensive, Tang San and his fourpanions had already entered Kali City, making their way toward the Great Beast Fighting Arena with practiced ease.


    Instead of registering directly, however, they first looked for a hotel near the Great Beast Fighting Arena to stay in.


    Guan Longjiang was worried that some other people would look for trouble with the team and Redemption Academy, and Tang San naturally took that into consideration as well. Therefore, they chose a decent hotel with hundreds of rooms, one of thergest hotels in Kali City. The cost of amodation was quite steep; one night was fifty demonshard coins. However, it was well worth it.


    Tang San and his group booked three rooms. He shared one with Du Bai, Gu Li shared another with Wu Bingji, and the only girl, obviously, had a room to herself.


    "Isn''t this a bit too expensive?" Wu Bingjimented after they had checked into the hotel and put down their things.


    Not only was the price high, but given their status as human vassals, they were basically subjected to an interrogation before they could check in. Hotels of this caliber rarely hosted human vassals.


    "Eh, I think it''s worth the money," Tang San said. The rooms were not cheap, but they were indeed excellent. The finest Tang San had stayed in since arriving in this world.


    Each room was sixty square meters and had a private bathroom and various toiletries. The air was fresh, the beds soft andfortable, and through therge windows, one could see the Great Beast Fighting Arena not far away.


    Things were not as financially tight as when Tang San first visited the arena. He didn''t know the exact amount they had earned through selling array discs, but he had a rough idea of the scale. Staying at this hotel was just a drop in the ocean.


    "Eldest brother, as long as we keep winning, we won��t have to worry about anything. Each person gets a naturae coin for the first victory. After that, the earnings stack with each win. If we win more than five rounds, we can even get a share of the ticket and betting profits," Du Bai exined as he calcted, fingers tapping together.


    He had always been a money-lover, especially sensitive to financial matters, and had already done the calctions long ago. Just one win was enough; five naturae coins would make their expenses herepletely negligible.


    "Let''s do it then. Since we''re here, we might as wellmit. Shall we go register now?" Wu Bingji said.


    Tang San nodded. "Let''s go."


    After just a five-minute walk, the five were at the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Tang San, Wu Bingji, and Du Bai had been here before, so they were already familiar with the ce and they knew what to do.


    The registration area was as crowded as ever, with a line formed for those wishing to sign up. However, Tang San and his group did not head to the back of the queue but instead made their way to the counter from the side.


    "Oi, do you not know what a queue is?"


    A thick arm belonging to an elephant demon blocked their way. Towering at five meters, the bulky elephant demon was among thergest of those queued for registration.


    "We don''t need to queue," Tang San said lightly.


    "You don��t need to? What nonsense! Off with you, minor vassals," the elephant demon said as it swung itsrge hand toward Tang San.


    Wu Bingji stepped forward, shielding Tang San. He, too, swiped out with his hand. Just as their disproportionate hands were about to meet, Wu Bingji''s palm merely brushed against the elephant demon''s arm as he quickly dodged to the side, clearly having no intention of matching the demon''s strength.


    However, the arm he touched instantly turned rigid and was covered by a whiteyer of frost.


    The elephant demon was taken aback. Tang San and hispanions appeared young, and it naturally did not consider such young human vassals signing up for the beast fights to be of any significance. How could it anticipate the formidable power of the ice element that Wu Bingji could unleash?


    "No starting trouble here!" a deep voice echoed as a towering figure rose from behind the registration counter.


    It stood about eight feet tall, its body was covered in ck fur, and its eyes were a terrifying blood red. Its powerful aura instantly filled the registration area with a murderous air. It was a Bloodthirsty Devil Ape, a genuinely fearsome presence.


    Tang San said, "We are not the ones starting trouble. This guy here is blocking our way."


    "Ever heard of lining up?" the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape said coldly.


    Tang San responded, "ording to the rules, those registering for team battles have priority, no?"


    "Team battle?" The Bloodthirsty Devil Ape and the elephant demon were momentarily taken aback. Indeed, ording to the Great Beast Fighting Arena''s rules, those registering for team battles did not have to wait in line with the others.


    The elephant demon''s arm had regained mobility by now, and it suddenly burst intoughter, then stepped aside. "Well then! Go ahead and register! No worries, I won��t stop you. I��ll be right there to watch you die, hahaha!"


    The surrounding demons roared withughter. A few human vassals daring to register for a team battle was nothing short of seeking death. They were practically delivering themselves on a tter. In their eyes, Tang San and his fourpanions were already dead.


    Faced with the intimidating aura of the surrounding demons, Du Bai''s face paled, Cheng Zicheng''s eyes burned with anger, Gu Li clenched his fists, and Wu Bingji''s expression was ice cold. Only Tang San remained unfazed, walking straight to the counter.


    "We''re signing up for a five-person team battle," Tang San dered to the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape.


    The Bloodthirsty Devil Ape tossed a form their way, ��Fill out the registration form. Once you''ve signed up, you have topete in at least three matches before you can withdraw. Otherwise, you will be executed. Do you understand? These are the rules.��


    "Understood." Tang San took the form and started filling it out.


    When he reached the section for the team''s name, he paused slightly, as if reminiscing something, before finally writing down a name.


    Even Wu Bingji and the others were puzzled by the name he wrote, and they couldn��t help but notice that Tang San himself also had a strange expression on his face.


    Du Bai couldn''t help but ask, "Shrek Squad? Little Tang, what does that mean?"


    Tang San smiled faintly and replied, "It means ''invincible,'' it��s an ancient term."


    Indeed, in his heart, Shrek symbolized being invincible.

 Chapter 285: Mockery

    <h4>Chapter 285: Mockery</h4>


    "Invincible, hahaha!" The elephant demon burst intoughter once more. "You sure you don��t mean imbecile? Hahahaha, boy, I��d really like to meet someone like you in the arena!"


    Tang San handed the filled-out form to the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape, then turned and stepped toward the elephant demon.


    The elephant demon was taken aback for a moment, looking down at Tang San, who was not even the size of its leg, and said in a booming voice, "What? Kid, you want to fight?"


    Tang San shook his head and said, "What''s the point of fighting here? You think we''re some kind of clowns, huh? Well, if you''re that great, how about you sign up for the team battle? Might as well start off the team battles fighting against us. Do you dare?"


    As soon as these words were spoken, the demonsughing loudly suddenly fell silent, their gazes unanimously turning toward the elephant demon.


    The elephant demon hesitated for a moment, not agreeing immediately.


    Yes, it hesitated.


    It wasn��t necessarily that it didn��t dare to face Tang San and his fourpanions, but ording to the rules of the team battle, those who signed up had to fight at least three matches.


    A few human vassals were not much of a concern, but as everyone knew, those daring enough to sign up for the Great Beast Fighting Arena''s team battles were incredibly fierce. Much less had to be said about those who survived a match or two. In other words, the potentially deadly opponents it might face in the following two matches concerned it. In team battles, surrender was not an option; they would only live if the winner was kind enough to spare them. Unfortunately, that was almost unheard of.


    Tang San''s challenge had frozen it in its tracks. After all, no one wanted to go to certain death. Even the most belligerent demons felt the same.


    Tang San, however, had no intention of letting it go. "Oh, so you don��t dare. Pathetic. We may be weak human vassals, true. But we''ve already submitted our application for the team battle; at least we''re not afraid to die. You''re big, and the elephant demon race is mighty. Sadly, your body might be massive but your courage is the size of a mouse. Maybe you��re not really from the elephant race and you��re actually an oversized mouse demon? To think you consider yourself qualified to face us in the arena, <i>pff</i>."


    "Damn you, go and die." Enraged and humiliated, the elephant demon threw a punch at Tang San.


    At that moment, arge hand covered in ck fur suddenly appeared and caught the elephant demon''s fist. Its figure was not as prominent as the elephant demon''s, but the explosion power within that instant was incredibly astonishing.


    The one who had intervened was none other than the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape behind the counter.


    "Are those big ears just for show? I said, no fighting here," the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape said coldly, looking at the elephant demon.


    The elephant demon''s anger was immediately extinguished. Just as it was about to say something, it heard the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape continue, "And he''s right. Regardless of strength, at least he has the courage to enter the Great Beast Fighting Arena''s team battle. Do you dare? If not, then shut up and stop wasting people��s time."


    With these words, the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape shoved the elephant demon away, making it stagger.


    The gazes of the demons surrounding them instantly changed as they looked at the elephant demon.


    Demons were naturally belligerent and therefore revered brave warriors. From their point of view, the elephant demon in front of them had been pushed to a situation where it had to ept the challenge. Otherwise, it no longer had the right mix in the beast-fighting circles. A demon who was scared by a few human vassals could never hold its head high again.


    "Fine, I ept the challenge. Even on my own, I can tear you apart. I''ll sign up for the team battle. Wait here, I''ll call my brothers." Saying this, the elephant demon turned and walked away.


    A chorus of hisses apanied it.


    The demons'' disdainful reaction was only natural��the elephant should have signed up directly before going to find teammates. Actually, even if it was willing to fight, it might be unable to find four teammates. Even though the prize money was substantial, the team battles were ultimately too risky.


    The Bloodthirsty Devil Ape''s gaze turned to Tang San and his group. "Report in tomorrow morning for your first match."


    Although the number of teams participating in the team battle was much lower than the number of fighters in individual fights, there were still some. Once a team signed up for the team battle, the first match was usually scheduled for the next day. These were the rules.


    "Okay." Tang San agreed, turning around with hispanions. As they walked out of the auction house, no demons even thought of mocking them anymore. No one was foolish; none of them wanted to be the next elephant demon. How would they respond to Tang San''s challenge?


    "That was so satisfying." Du Bai couldn''t help but p as soon as they stepped outside, "Did you see that? The elephant demon looked like he swallowed a fly. Little Tang, you were awesome!"


    Tang San said, "That guy isn��t very easy to handle; the elephant race has strong defenses. It takes some serious power to get past that. But they��re not the sharpest tools in the shed, and if it forms a team on the fly, it''s most likely to be all elephant demons. They might have strong defenses, but with a poor team structure like that, and especially without someone who��s able to fly, I don��t think we��ll have any problems."


    Wu Bingji asked, "You��re saying they will be our first opponents?"


    Tang San smiled and said, "You know demons as well as I do, and this is exactly what they��d do. It verbally agreed earlier, and if it doesn''t show up in the end, the Great Beast Fighting Arena might even look for it to hold it ountable. Also, being an elephant demon, it probably has some confidence that it won��t die. So yeah, I think that it will participate and most likely be our opponent tomorrow. As far as I can tell, its strength should be at the peak of the seventh order, not quite at the eighth yet."


    Tang San had actually intentionally provoked the other side, precisely because he understood the perils of team battles. Only the most ferocious would partake in suchbat. With ten matches, having a weaker opponent in any game was beneficial. He tactically chose a first opponent who seemed challenging but was actually rather easy to deal with.


    "Let��s think of the tactics for our first match strategy considering that the opponent��s team will beposed of elephant demons," Tang San said confidently.


    "Breaking through their defense won''t be easy," Gu Li said, somewhat worried.


    Tang San smiled. "That will depend on our eldest senior brother."


    Wu Bingji''s eyes lit up, and he instantly understood Tang San''s meaning. "As long as you can create enough opportunities for me, it should be possible."


    Tang San nodded. "There will be opportunities."


    Actualbat was crucial for hispanions'' training, especially in a life-or-death battle. Before arriving, he had decided to minimize his involvement unless necessary: one reason was not to reveal his strength, and the other was to allow hispanions to grow faster through such training. The more they grew, the more he could grow.


    They nned to rest early at night to ensure they were in their best condition, so for now, they would just go through their tactics, eat, and then rx.


    Although they had faced powerful demonic beasts in actualbat, that encounter had been idental, and a teacher had appeared to help them. However, they could only rely on themselves in this team battle. In other words, this would be their first real life-or-death battle. It was impossible to say they weren''t nervous��except for Tang San, of course.


    So, despite going to bed early, when he woke up, Tang San saw Du Bai sitting on his bed with dark circles under his eyes.


    "Little Tang, what should I do if I can''t sleep? Will it affect today''s match?" Du Bai''s voice was slightly trembling. After all, he was still a teenager.


    Tang San stood up, walked over to him, and patted his shoulder.


    "With our level of cultivation, going without sleep for a day is nothing. Just follow the tactics and it��ll be fine." He didn''t bother to offer his teammate much reassurance; Du Bai had to face his own challenges, otherwise, how could he expect to grow?


    As expected, apart from Wu Bingji, who seemed slightly better, Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li looked rather pale, clearly having rested poorly during the night.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Let''s go have breakfast. After eating, we''ll head out."


    Wu Bingji looked worriedly at the other three, but he hesitated to speak. He nced at Tang San with a questioning look. But Tang San acted as if he hadn''t noticed and headed straight for the dining hall.

 Chapter 286: Failure to Cultivate Mental Fortitude

    <h4>Chapter 286: Failure to Cultivate Mental Fortitude</h4>


    For the other four, breakfast felt like they were chewing wax. Only Tang San relished his meal. The hotel was high-end, and indeed, the food was quite a bit better than average. Though it couldn''tpare to his previous life, it still was an improvement.


    After Tang San had his fill, he put down his utensils and looked at the other four. "Do you all worry so much? Are you afraid of dying or failing?"


    Gu Li scratched his head, saying, "Not really. But for some reason, I''m just a bit nervous."


    "This is something we must go through. But one thing I must remind you of is that since we have already signed up, there is no turning back. We can only move forward and crush our opponents. Otherwise, there will be no future for us. The more you worry, the closer you are to death because it affects your state of mind. If you don''t give it your all, you''re dead. In this life-and-death battle, there''s no choice but to fight with all you have."


    Gu Li was stunned momentarily, but Wu Bingji''s gaze instantly sharpened, and Cheng Zicheng murmured, "Yeah! We''ve already signed up. It''s toote for regrets now."


    "Unless we run away?" Du Bai tentatively said.


    Tang San indifferently said, "You can choose to run away, but then, you''ll never be able to lift your head again in this lifetime, whether among humans or among demons. Do you remember what you were thinking when you first came here? What did you want to do?"


    ��I want to be useful. I want to be someone who can stand alongside everyone without holding them back,�� Du Bai said with a hint of shame.


    Tang San looked at him with a fiery gaze and said, ��Right. Well, if you choose to run now, I won''t stop you. You can go.��


    ��I... I won��t leave,�� Du Bai dered through gritted teeth.


    ��Then if you��re not leaving, brace yourself. Don��t forget, it won��t be your turn to die unless all of us die first. What do we do if even you act so cowardly when you��re all the way at the back?��


    Du Bai''s face instantly turned beet red. ��I''m not cowardly, I''m not afraid. Let��s fight them, let��s fight them all.��


    Gu Li''s gaze also began to firm up. What Tang San had said to Du Bai... wasn��t it meant for them?


    Cheng Zicheng took a deep breath. ��Let��s do it. We��ll eat elephant trunk tonight, I heard it��s quite nourishing.��


    With that, Tang San couldn��t help butugh, and so did Wu Bingji. Du Bai nced at her. ��I didn��t expect you to have such a strong taste, Zicheng!��


    ��Buzz off,�� Cheng Zicheng retorted without any good humor.


    The atmosphere, which had been somewhat solemn, immediately lightened a bit, but Tang San could tell that the worries in their hearts had notpletely vanished. This was normal; they were all young and had never experienced anything like this. It was understandable that they had mental hurdles. This was also why he had deliberately provoked that elephant demon yesterday��it was to ensure that the first opponent was within a controble range for his team.


    This tension escted again as they arrived at the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    Wu Bingji, Du Bai, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng could faintly sense that the scent of blood had grown thicker. They even wondered if this bloodiness would eventually be a part of them.


    Back at the registration desk, they once more encountered the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape from the day before.


    "Not bad, you didn''t run away."


    The Bloodthirsty Devil Ape''s gaze swept over Tang San and hispanions. "ording to the rules, team fighters who have registered cannot leave the Great Beast Fighting Arena before the end of the first three fights. The moment you step into the arena today is when it truly begins. Not running away proves you have courage."


    Tang San looked at him and asked, "Why didn''t you hold us here yesterday? Shouldn''t we have been detained right after registering? Otherwise, wouldn''t all your arrangements be in vain if we just ran away?"


    The Bloodthirsty Devil Ape coldly said, "That was yourst chance to live. Team fighters have the opportunity to reconsider before the first fight begins. Of course, that��s assuming we don��t catch youter. Those who choose to run away after registering will be put on a wanted list. Once you��re captured, you will be ves of the Great Beast Fighting Arena."


    Tang San found this rule peculiar. <i>Is it an actual way out or is it just the Great Beast Fighting Arena''s method of ensnaring ves?</i>


    "Follow me." The Bloodthirsty Devil Ape said no more and turned to walk into the depths of the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    As they walked inside, the stench of blood instantly became even more overpowering. In the dimly lit corridor, the atmosphere was incredibly oppressive.


    Tang San could feel Du Bai''s heartbeat elerating behind him.


    Perhaps his words from the morning had an effect; the four teammates said nothing, merely following silently behind him. There was no turning back once they entered the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    At the end of the lengthy corridor, there was a room constructed entirely of stone, with numerous dark red stains. There, the scent of blood was even more intense.


    "Wait here. A staff member will guide you to the arena before the match begins," the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape said indifferently before leaving.


    The heavy iron door closed, giving them a distinct sensation of being locked in a cage.


    <i>Huff, huff, huff!</i>


    Du Bai��s breathing became noticeably more rapid.


    "Brave, brave, brave!" Du Bai muttered nonstop.


    "You can bestow good fortune on us now," Tang San said.


    "Ah? Oh, oh, okay." Du Bai finally turned around, hurriedly getting up.


    When he tried to unleash his bloodline power, however, his mind suddenly went nk, and he failed to release it on his first attempt.


    Tang San said dryly, "Any mistake on the battlefield could lead to the death of arade or your own."


    "I''m sorry, I..." Du Bai bit his lip and suddenly pped himself twice, harshly. Then he took a deep breath of the blood-filled air, clenched his teeth, and activated the Celestial Fox Transformation.


    The phantom image of a two-tailed celestial fox formed above his head. Streaks of white light descended andnded on each of the five.


    Perhaps influenced by the fortification of their fate, Wu Bingji, Cheng Zicheng, and Gu Li immediately felt a lot better.


    White light flickered in Du Bai''s eyes, and the next instant, his expression suddenly rxed. "I��m a goddamn idiot! How could I forget that I can sense fortune and misfortune?"


    "What do you mean?" Gu Li asked.


    Du Bai spread his hands and said, "Can''t you tell when you look at my face? Obviously, we''re in no danger! I''m such an idiot! I even forgot my innate ability. Let''s crush them, cheer up!"


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly, suddenly feeling that the Celestial Fox Transformation might not be entirely beneficial. He had hoped to use this opportunity to strengthen everyone''s mental fortitude. Unfortunately, with Du Bai''s words, it was clear that Wu Bingji, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng were much more rxed now.


    Although the foresight from the fifth-order Celestial Fox Transformation wasn��t entirely urate, whenever it concerned Du Bai''s own safety, it was perfectly reliable. He did not even feel a hint of danger because of Tang San��s presence! Considering his hidden abilities, such a team battle indeed posed no risk.


    Indeed, it left one speechless!


    Wu Bingji chuckled softly, saying, "The feeling just now was quite tense but also thrilling. Thinking about it now, it doesn��t seem all that bad."


    Cheng Zicheng rolled her eyes. "It was really thrilling. But my hands are cold, big brother Wu. Feel them."


    With these words, she took the initiative to grab Wu Bingji''s hands.


    "Eh, big brother Wu, howe your hands are even colder than mine?"


    "<i>Cough, cough</i>, I''m in my Ice Nymph Transformation state! Isn''t it normal for them to be cold?"


    "But you didn''t activate your Demonic God Transformation, did you?" Cheng Zicheng asked, puzzled.


    "Do you have to be so blunt, Zicheng? I��m starting to doubt that you actually like big brother Wu."


    Du Bai''s sharp tongue was back to normal.


    "Get lost!"

 Chapter 287: The First Battle

    <h4>Chapter 287: The First Battle</h4>


    "Maybe you should touch my hand too. It''s quite cool. You want to do aparison?" Du Bai suggested, slipping behind Tang San as he spoke.


    The corner of Tang San''s mouth twitched. <i>Shouldn''t you all be a bit more nervous than this? Really...</i>


    He harbored thoughts of kicking Du Bai out of the team.


    <i>Whatever, forget it. If we can''t foster mental toughness, let''s build confidence through battle.</i>


    At that moment, the iron door was pushed open. An ape demon walked in, announcing, "Let''s go, it��s time for the match."


    The next moment, it noticed the smiles still on the faces of Tang San and his fourpanions, and it couldn''t help but be surprised.


    Which team wouldn''t look gloomy and stressed before their first group battle? Many failed to perform on the battlefield precisely because of this. Some were clearly stronger than their opponents, yet they ended up losing and dying because they got intimidated by their opponent''s presence.


    Strength wasn''t the only factor determining victory in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Mental fortitude, strength, tactics, skills, and determination were crucial.


    Here unfolded the bloodiest, most brutal, and most authentic battles. It was a ce even more perilous than a battlefield. There was a chance to flee on a battlefield, but there was no turning back in the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    But can one truly ensure safety through the judgment of fate? It''s not entirely the case. After all, Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation was only at the fifth order, not powerful enough to stir the heavens and earth.


    Fortunately, his judgments based on the Celestial Fox Vision were somewhat urate, provided that no one interfered with fate itself. Thus, apart from Tang San, the others were quick to ce their trust in this judgment at this moment, which immediately caused a shift in their mindset. This trust served as a kind of psychological support for them.


    Indeed, the luck brought by the Celestial Fox Transformation was one thing, but the boost in confidence was truly significant.


    "Let''s go!" Du Bai gestured grandly as if he were the leader and headed out first.


    Gu Li quickly grabbed his clothes, pulling him back, while Tang San and Wu Bingji,ughing, walked out ahead.


    Wu Bingji led the way, followed by Tang San, Cheng Zicheng, Gu Li, and Du Bai. Guided by the staff, surrounded by the thick scent of blood, they strode toward the battlefield they were about to face. With Tang San��s reminder, they put on masks, a necessary precaution to conceal their identities.


    With a squeak and creak, the gate in front of them was slowly raised, and as the dim light became brighter, the five instinctively squinted their eyes.


    The slightly chilly air mixed with an even more pungent scent of blood rushed toward them, followed by a deafening noise.


    <i>This... This is the Great Beast Fighting Arena!</i>


    Wu Bingji was dazed for a moment, but when Tang San nudged him, he came to his senses and strode forward.


    Thanks to everyone''s cultivation of the Purple Demon Eyes, their vision quickly adjusted.


    Tang San had been here before and had even fought in this arena, but his feeling this time was quite different from hisst visit.


    On the ground were many mottled traces of not-yet-dried blood and scattered chunks of flesh. The stands around were packed to capacity. The Great Beast Fighting Arena was always bustling, no matter when.


    Even though it was still morning, the cost of tickets for the Great Beast Fighting Arena varied at different times of the day, with morning being the cheapest and evening the most expensive. ordingly, the most exciting matches were generally held at night, while for those short of money yet seeking thrills, choosing to watch the beast fights in the morning was more than appropriate.


    As neers participating in a team battle, the Shrek Squad was scheduled topete in the morning today. If they won, the subsequent matches would be held in the evening. Such was the prestige of team battles.


    "The team battle is about to begin. Let us go and savor the scent of bloodshed. Let''s see the lineup of the two rookie teams participating in today''s team battle." A massive sound wave swept through thementator''s voice at the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    "Oh, oh, oh, what do we have here? These are humans, actual human vassals! They look so tender and delicious. It''s hard to imagine what kind of courage brought them here, I��m wondering if they are about to wet their pants. It��s been a long time since we''ve seen a human team voluntarily participate in a team battle. It looks like today''s match will end quickly! Come on, everyone, ce your bets! How long will this matchst? I think maybe just one minute will decide the oue, hahaha."


    The betting in the Great Beast Fighting Arena was quite peculiar, but it was all for the sake of fairness and to prevent maniption. In team battles, bets were not ced on the match''s oue but on how long the match wouldst. For individual matches, bets were ced on the winner and loser.


    In team battles, no team dared throw the match unless they wished for death, making the duration of the match the most interesting factor to bet on. Individual match oues were somewhat fairer and less susceptible to maniption.


    The odds varied at different times. Bets were generally ced right before each match began, and for some famous participants, bets could be ced at any time until the moment the match started.


    "Let''s take a look at the other team now," the host''s voice rang out again.


    When Tang San and his team entered, their opponents had not yet appeared. In the Great Beast Fighting Arena, it was customary for the stronger team to enterst to create a sense of pressure and visual impact. In other words, Tang San''s Shrek Squad was not favored to win.


    On the other side, the massive gates slowly rose, and towering figures strode out one after another.


    Compared to Tang San and his team''s human statures, their opponents were colossi. The ground seemed to quake as they entered the arena.


    Leading the way was a demon standing over eight meters tall. It had an incredibly robust physique and a long trunk hanging in front of it like a massive hammer. With every step it took, the earth trembled under its astonishing weight.


    Elephant demons!


    Simrly, elephant demons followed it, none of them less than five meters tall. Each one was a mighty being.


    "Wow, what do I see? This is a team of elephant demons. Could it be that our Great Beast Fighting Arena is about to witness another team aiming for a ten-match winning streak? The leader of this team seems to be a high-ranking member of the elephant demon race. Their height grows with their cultivation, and this one must have already reached the ninth order. The human team probably can''t even poke a hole in their hides! I strongly suggest that everyone bet on the next minute! Oh wait, the one-minute pool has already sold out. This match seems just too uneven. The odds for the one-minute pool have reached ten to one. Why do I feel sad for the Great Beast Fighting Arena? It looks like a lot of money will be lost today."


    Typically, nobody bet on the one-minute pool, but this time, the difference between the two teams in this match was just too vast. The one-minute, three-minute, and five-minute pools were all full. Bets for more than five minutes were almost non-existent.


    However, Tang San and his team felt differently. The opponent was precisely as they had anticipated��a teamposed entirely of elephant demons. The very elephant demon that had provoked them the day before was among them. Its face now bore a cruel look as it stared at them.


    When strategizing, they had anticipated that if the opponent were to participate, they would surely bring in strong fighters. After all, this was the most brutal kind of battle in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. For the elephant demons to survive three fights, they needed substantial strength, and the elephant demon from the day before was only at the seventh order in terms of cultivation.

 Chapter 288: The Battle Begins

    <h4>Chapter 288: The Battle Begins</h4>


    A ninth-order elephant demon had one of the strongest defenses below the god level. Its strongest points were its physical strength and tough defense.


    The cultivation level and stature of elephant demons were directly proportional. From a simple nce, it was evident that among the five elephant demons opposite them, aside from the ninth-order one, there were also two eighth-order and two seventh-order ones. This was indeed a formidable lineup, especially since elephant demons were inherently a powerful race. At the same cultivation level, the strength of a mighty race was iparable to that of a weaker one.


    On Tang San''s side, there was one eighth-order, two seventh-order, one sixth-order, and one fifth-order member. When registering, it was necessary to dere one''s order, so the opposition knew their strength. Moreover, they were humans.


    "Proceed with the original n once the battle begins," said Tang San.


    The announcer''s excited voice rose again from the stands. "I believe everyone can''t wait any longer! So, let''s get ready for the countdown. Combatant, prepare! The team battle is about to begin!"


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena did not have any referees, nor did it need any. The victor lived and the loser died, and anything was allowed.


    Wu Bingji took a step forward, and Gu Li followed. The two stood shoulder to shoulder. Tang San was behind them, while Cheng Zicheng unleashed her Golden Roc Transformation, golden wings spreading from her back. With a gentle p, she was already in the air.


    Du Bai stood at the back, a metallic array disc already in his right hand.


    In the roar, the forms of the five elephant demons across from them swelled again, their skin turning to an iron-gray color, revealing a thick, callousedyer. Trunks whipping through the air shifted to all fours, taking on the massive form of colossal elephants, ready to charge at any moment.


    "The match begins! Aaand... countdown!" With a loud shout from the stands, the brutal team battle of the Great Beast Fighting Arena finallymenced.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The five elephant demonsunched their attack almost simultaneously; led by the ninth-order elephant demon, they thundered forward in a frenzied stampede.


    They had all heard the bell marking the start of the countdown��one minute until the first milestone. Their hatred for the humans before them was almost palpable. Who would willingly participate in a team battle with a high chance of death if not cornered? The ninth-order elephant demon, the uncle of the seventh-order elephant demon, had no choice but to join the fight to save its nephew''s life.


    All they wanted was to trample these human ants into the ground as quickly as they could!


    On the Shrek Squad''s side, Cheng Zicheng quickly took to the skies. The others remained where they stood, each unleashing their Demonic God Transformation.


    Wu Bingji was surrounded by a frosty blue glow, and his eyes turned a deep ice blue. Tang San was enveloped in a verdant light. Gu Li underwent the most noticeable change, with a long tail dragging behind him and scales emerging to protect his body. Du Bai was the only one without any visible change, but the array disc in his hand had already lit up.


    A ring of white light appeared beneath the feet of the four, rising to cloak them in a luminous white sheen. Their auras all slightly increased in intensity, with a noticeable change in their bloodline power. Since Cheng Zicheng had already flown into the sky, she was not within the array and thus did not receive this enhancement.


    The appearance of the white array beneath their feet brought a brief stillness to the mor in the stands.


    <i>What is that?</i> was the thought in the minds of most spectators as they observed the rising white light. Meanwhile, true powerhouses could feel the aura of Tang San and hispanions rising.


    This was the Spirit Elevation Array! Unlike the Spirit Gathering Array used for cultivation, this was designed to rapidly absorb spiritual energy from the air and supply it to beings within its range, enhancing their overall capabilities, especially energy-rted abilities.


    The function of this array could increase Tang San and his team''s overall bloodline power by ten percent. It might not sound like much, but depending on the base level of the user, it could make quite a significant difference. Moreover, the controller of the array disc was Du Bai, who had a ninth-order spiritual power level and was fully capable of maximizing the Spirit Elevation Array''s potential.


    To participate in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, one had to dere their level of cultivation and their bloodline tier, or the tier of their Demonic God Transformation. It was not required to say anything about spiritual power, as there was no clear standard for its assessment. However, this was exactly where the Shrek Squad distinguished itself. When it came to spiritual power, Tang San stood at the pinnacle of the ninth order, Du Bai was at the ninth order, and the eldest senior brother, Wu Bingji, had also crossed the threshold of the ninth order. Cheng Zicheng''s spiritual power was at the eighth order, and that of Gu Li was in the middle of the eighth order.


    This was the true source of their confidence.


    The emergence of the Spirit Elevation Array left the five oing elephant demons momentarily bewildered, naturally unable to recognize what it was. But in that instant, they and the spectators in the stands felt a strange sensation��these humans that seemed likembs to the ughter perhaps had something special about them.


    The distance between them rapidly closed, and the leading ninth-order elephant demon raised its trunk, issuing a shrill cry. While running, it suddenly lifted its forelimbs, preparing to stomp on the ground.


    The elephant demon''s bloodline talent, War Stomp!


    This was a terrifying method of attack; the shockwave produced by War Stomp could cause an effect akin to an earthquake,unching a semi-circr shockwave forward. Its range was wide, and its explosive force was immense. On an enormous battlefield, it often had an outstanding effect.


    Of course, it was ineffective against opponents in the air.


    The War Stomp unleashed by a ninth-order elephant demon was beyond what Tang San and his teammates could withstand. All of them would be sent flying by the force of the impact.


    But at that moment, Tang San��s squad made their move.


    A swath of icy blue spread out, and simultaneously, two bursts of green light soared upward.


    Time seemed to pause for an instant.


    All these abilities were directed at the ninth-order elephant demon. Furthermore, a golden light descended from the sky, spinning rapidly as it collided with the elephant demon.


    Tang San was naturally aware of the elephant demon race��s best ability, so he naturally incorporated this knowledge into their tactics.


    The two bursts of green light were two tornadoes, appearing right beneath the front limbs of the rearing ninth-order elephant demon, pushing upward.


    These tornadoes formed purely of wind elemental energy could not have stopped the elephant demon''s stomp under normal circumstances. Tang San''s cultivation was not quite there yet, and even the wind elemental energy itself was insufficient. However, with the addition of a Time Freeze, it was a different story.


    The Time Freeze from the Chrono Croc Transformation caused the elephant demon''s massive form to pause. Though it had been charging forward at high speed, its body halted, but its momentum continued. The stomp it was preparing to do at full power was thus disrupted due to its time stagnating. Additionally, the wind element tornado acted like a cushion, causing the fierce and powerful forelimbs of the demon to slow down significantly as they dropped down. With that, War Stomp was renderedpletely ineffective.


    Simultaneously, a golden light cleaved through the air, and the rampaging elephant demon let out a pain-filled roar. Its trunk had been sliced off!


    The sharpness of the Golden Roc Transformation was unquestionable, and the elephant demon had no chance of dodging it while it was under the effect of Time Freeze.


    When its forelimbs hit the ground, the intense pain caused it to lose control over itself, and because of its momentum pushing it forward, its bnce waspromised.


    At that moment, the ce where its forelimbs fell just happened to be a patch of solid ice.


    Obviously, the ice patch cracked instantly. After all, the ninth-order elephant demon''s body was enormous, and its weight was staggering. Yet that one moment touching the ice was enough, and its massive form slid sideways.


    All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Before the other four elephant demons could react, the ninth-order elephant demon had already been sent flying, and the anticipated War Stomp did not ur.


    The massive ninth-order elephant demon had acted like a barrier, shielding itspanions behind it. When it slid aside, the other four elephant demons were left to face Tang San and hispanions by themselves.

 Chapter 289: The Second Array Disc

    <h4>Chapter 289: The Second Array Disc</h4>


    Eight icy glimmers almost instantly appeared before them, and before they could even process what was going on, their bodies froze instantly. It was Time Freeze again!


    Eight thunderous sts filled the air as the fast-moving icicles exploded midair, elerating a second time. Eight shes of blue light reached the eyes of the elephant demons almost instantly.


    That was the actual target. Under the effect of Time Freeze, they couldn''t even blink, and their most vulnerable spot was exposed.


    The icicles instantly struck four elephant demons in the brain, and they exploded just after piercing into their brains.


    No matter how tough one��s flesh, the internals are always vulnerable. In particr, the brain is not just the most important organ but also the most sensitive.


    The four elephant demons instantly lost their bnce, and in the next moment, when Time Freeze ended, they simply rolled forward because of their momentum. Meanwhile, the ninth-order elephant demon that had slid far away had not yet gotten up.


    Four elephant demons, dead!


    These were two eighth-order and two seventh-order elephant demons, known for their defensive power!


    At this moment, the arena was silent as a grave, and even Wu Bingji himself was somewhat stunned. <i>Did... Did I really do this?!</i>


    The icicles were condensed to the maximum and elerated twice, but even he had not expected them to reach such a ridiculous level of power.


    Almost subconsciously, he turned to look at Tang San.


    Tang San hadid out the strategy to stop the first wave of attacks and target the elephant demons'' eyes with icicles.


    Breaching the defenses of the elephant demon race with their abilities was no easy task.


    Yet, even the strongest defense has its ws. The eyes are always vulnerable, aren''t they?


    The entire point of these condensed icicles was breaking through defenses. With the massive size of the elephant demons, evading Wu Bingji''s high-speed icicles under the time control of the Chrono Croc Transformation and the luck enhancement of the Celestial Fox Transformation was nearly impossible. Their seemingly invincible bodies were of no significance in Tang San''s eyes.


    Cheng Zicheng''s role as she flew in the air was simply to put pressure on them, while the real killers were Wu Bingji and Gu Li.


    However, this scene was truly shocking. As the eight icicles did their job, four elephant demons instantly perished, their brains shattered before they could even let out a cry of agony.


    Wu Bingji had painstakingly practiced controlling the icicles for over a year. Under Tang San''s guidance, he had been diligently cultivating, and his control over his spiritual power had been continuously improving.


    That day when he blocked Teacher Guan was just a trial. Today was the moment his icicles truly demonstrated their formidable power.


    Against Guan Longjiang, he had to hold back to avoid genuinely injuring his teacher. But there was no need for such restraint against these elephant demons. The icicles elerated a second time and, coupled with Ice Explosion, instantly obliterated the opponents. Only now did Wu Bingji trulyprehend the terrifying nature of the ability Tang San had taught him.


    Tang San gave a slight smile and said, "Fear not the man who practiced ten thousand techniques, but the man who practiced one technique ten thousand times. Eldest brother, you achieved elementary control of your icicles."


    In his eyes, this was only considered the elementary level.


    Of course, this was the judgment of a God King.


    By then, the ninth-order elephant demon had gotten up, and when it saw all four of its kin sprawled on the ground, it even forgot its own pain.


    It was unable to believe its eyes. It hadn''t even seen how its fourpanions had died.


    In that instant, what rose in the heart of the ninth-order elephant demon was not rage but a thorough chill.


    <i>What happened? What exactly happened? How was I pushed away? How did they die?!</i>


    Fear and confusion made it dare notunch another attack.


    By this time, the minute clock had ticked away.


    To win a bet within a minute, the battle basically had to end upon the first confrontation. Indeed, today''s spectators believed that a single War Stomp from the elephant demons would crush the humans opposing them.


    And then, after a brief silence, the stands of the Great Beast Fighting Arena burst into an uproar.


    Voices of disbelief, angry cursing, and excitement rose and fell in waves.


    "My God! What did I just see? Why have four of our elephant demon team fallen? Why? How did they fall? How did these humans do it? It''s incredible, truly incredible. I must regretfully inform all the guests who bet on the one-minute mark that a minute has already passed," the announcer shouted in shock.


    The ninth-order elephant demon gasped heavily, with fresh blood dripping from its lost trunk.


    Opposite it, all five opponents had already turned their attention toward it.


    It knew well that the opponents would not let it go. This was not just a battle, but the most brutal kind of battle in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, the team battle!


    <i>No, the strongest of them is only eighth-order. Kill them, kill them all!</i>


    The eyes of the ninth-order elephant demon suddenly turned blood-red as it charged again. A radiant aura burst forth from its body and a gray light emerged from its hide, indicating that it was using another one of its bloodline abilities, Elephant Armor.


    Previously, they had underestimated Tang San and his team, so they hadn''t even activated Elephant Armor as they charged. Of course, even if it had been activated, it would have at most protected its trunk from being severed, which would��ve had no impact on the subsequent events. Even the defense of Elephant Armor couldn''t withstand Wu Bingji��s elerated icicles, and grievous injury was inevitable. An eighth-order elephant demon deploying Elephant Armor might only suffer the loss of an eyeball or two rather than having its brain pierced, but the final oue would hardly be any better. Such was the might of thepressed icicles.


    Blocks of solid ice formed on the inevitable path of the ninth-order elephant demon, with Cheng Zicheng in the air, her Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh striking down upon the elephant demon''s most vulnerable spot, its nape. Each strike was heavier than thest, causing the quivering Elephant Armor to burst forth with more and more gray light.


    Watching the ninth-order elephant demon stumble toward them like a crazed beast, Wu Bingji couldn''t help but recall Tang San''s words from yesterday when he was devising their strategy.


    <i>"The elephant demons'' strengths and weaknesses are both easy to understand. They possess immense strength and formidable physical defenses, and their terrifying power can disrupt an entire battlefield. However, they also have some fatal ws: they don��t have any solid offense, and they are the farthest thing from versatile. Below the god level, elephant demons rely on War Stomp and Elephant Armor. If we can restrain their War Stomp, we''ve essentially won. And control is what we excel at."</i>


    Now, it seemed just as Tang San had said, though Wu Bingji hadn''t anticipated his own icicle attacks to be so formidable. He had directly annihted four elephant demons and thereby secured their victory.


    At Tang San''s signal, Wu Bingji didn''t continue with his icicle attacks but instead used blocks of solid ice to influence the direction of the ninth-order elephant demon''s advance, with Cheng Zicheng continuously harassing it from the air. Though they hardly breached its defense, they made the ninth-order elephant demon increasingly irritable.


    With a roar, the Elephant Armor on the ninth-order elephant demon suddenly red like mes spurred by bellows. It leaped forward fiercely, preparing to unleash its War Stomp with all its might from dozens of meters away from Tang San and his group.


    A trapped beast could still put up a fight.


    It was burning its own bloodline. In this state, the effect of all control skills on it would greatly diminish.


    "Brother Du Bai," Tang San called out sternly.


    With a flick of his wrist, Du Bai produced another array disc, and a golden array emerged under their feet, enveloping all four of them. Cheng Zicheng, already in the air, pped her wings to ascend even higher.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The ninth-order elephant demon finally managed to execute its strongest attack to its heart''s content.

 Chapter 290: Victory

    <h4>Chapter 290: Victory</h4>


    A terrifying roar made the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena tremble momentarily as a formidable shockwave, like a tidal wave, surged toward Tang San and his threepanions.


    But just then, with a sh of golden light, the seemingly lethal shockwave hit nothing but air as Tang San and hispanions vanished.


    When they reappeared, they were already behind the ninth-order elephant demon. Tang San and Wu Bingji leaped up simultaneously, pouncing at the elephant demon.


    Carried by the wind, Tang San was the first to reach the elephant demon''s back. The wind de in his hand instantly stabbed down.


    The ninth-order elephant demon had just unleashed a powerful attack, so its defense was naturally at its weakest. Tang San''s target was the spot that Cheng Zicheng had repeatedly attacked with her Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh.


    Meanwhile, Wu Bingji also leaped up,unching two icicles directly at the elephant demon''s eyes. Simultaneously, Gu Li deployed Time Freeze, causing the elephant demon''s body to stiffen. It barely managed to close its eyes in time.


    But how could its eyelids possibly withstand Wu Bingji''s strike? The icicles prated and exploded, instantly shattering its eyeballs. Meanwhile, a tremendous suction force from behind began devouring its bloodline power.


    The intense pain,bined with the loss of its bloodline power, caused its defenses to weaken instantly. The wind de stabbed into the nerve center at the back of its neck, causing the powerful ninth-order elephant demon to copse on the ground, clearly not long for this world.


    Tang San did not hurry to stand up. What the spectators saw was that he was driving the wind de deeper. What he was actually doing was absorbing as much as he could of the elephant demon��s bloodline power before it died.


    The robust bloodline power surged into his body, causing his cultivation to increase dramatically, almost breaking through the peak of the seventh order. He managed to sustain it only through his powerful spiritual control, preventing himself from making a breakthrough right then and there.


    After quite a while, the ninth-order elephant demon finally ceased to twitch and died!


    By this time, just a bit over five minutes had passed. All participants who had ced bets on one, three, and five minutes had lost, and the Great Beast Fighting Arena had made good money.


    Tang San and Wu Bingji stood on the back of the ninth-order elephant demon, and Cheng Zicheng appeared out of thin air beside them. By this time, the stands were already filled with curses. Nobody who lost a bet would be happy.


    "A miracle! I can��t think of any other word to describe it! I don''t even know how they did it, but a win is a win. Let''s congratte the Shrek Squad for their first victory in teambat. This is truly one of the most incredible victories I''ve ever seen achieved by human vassals! Let''s look forward to their next team battle."


    When the five members of the Shrek Squad finally exited the Great Beast Fighting Arena and returned to the blood-scented corridor, Tang San could hear his fourpanions'' heavy breathing, even sensing the cold sweat breaking out on their backs.


    They had won, and the victory had seemed rtively smooth at a nce. Yet, the fight had been quite intense for these youngsters.


    Tang San removed the mask from his face. He didn''t say anything orfort them, as this was an essential part of their growth. If humanity wished to rise and secure its own space for survival, it needed to double its efforts. Humans could not afford to be sheltered flowers; in this world, humanity was still too weak and in dire need of strong and resolute individuals.


    Returning to the room where they had awaited their battle, the other four removed their masks.


    Their gazes unanimously fell on Tang San.


    "We won! We actually won! To y demons in broad daylight is just too thrilling!" Du Bai''s voice, though somewhat shaky, couldn''t hide his evident excitement.


    Wu Bingji looked deeply at Tang San, "Little Tang, no, Tang San, thank you."


    The thing he was thankful for, of course, was the icicles. Without Tang San''s guidance, he knew he would never have been able to master the ice element to such an extent. The icicles were just one manifestation; his overall control of the ice element had far surpassed what a normal ice bloodline could achieve.


    Tang San smiled and said, "This is the result of your efforts. But let''s not rx. Remember, we essentially arranged today''s opponent. Our next opponent will be someone who has also won in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. The teams that dare to participate in battles are all ferocious. We can''t afford to be careless for a moment, or it could mean our end."


    "Right, let''s all do our best together." Wu Bingji nodded.


    Gu Li said, "It''s a pity I didn''t get to use my hammer technique today. I really wanted to smash their elephant heads!"


    Du Bai disdainfully retorted, "You''re dreaming. If you faced them head-on, you''d be sent flying. Can your strength evenpare to theirs?"


    Gu Li huffed. Obviously, that remark had hit the bullseye. "If I am able to reach the eighteenth strike, then it''s hard to say."


    He was not yet at the seventh order, so in terms of strength, he really couldn''tpare with an elephant demon. However, his role in today''s fight was significant. The Chrono Croc Transformation, powered by his now-sufficient spiritual strength, worked wonders. Wu Bingji''s icicles could not have been so effective without his control.


    The door opened with a squeak, drawing the attention of all five.


    It was the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape that entered. The look it gave them had noticeably changed.


    "I didn''t expect you to actually win this one. You indeed have some foundations. Golden Roc and Chrono Crocodile, huh? Even human vassals can possess such bloodline power now. It''s quite admirable. Come with me. You cannot leave the Great Beast Fighting Arena until the next two matches are over."


    Hearing this, Wu Bingji couldn''t help but say, "Hello, it''s like this: we''ve booked rooms in a hotel outside. Can we go back to cancel the reservation first?"


    He didn''t want to waste the money on the room! Wouldn''t that be a waste if they weren''t going to stay?


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape said indifferently, "It''s a rule that you cannot leave the Great Beast Fighting Arena until the three matches are concluded. Your ignorance of the rules is your own problem, not mine. Besides, what''s a few days'' rent? If you can win all three matches, the money you''ll take away will be much more than that. And if you don��t, well, you won��t worry about rent again."


    Wu Bingji wanted to say something, but Tang San stopped him. He had no choice but to let it go, silently calcting in his heart how much they would lose on the room rent for those days.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena was indeed vast. Under the guidance of the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, they were allocated several rooms on the second floor of the arena. Each had their room; though not as nice as the hotels outside, the amodations were still eptable. Food was provided for free, but they were not allowed to leave the lodging area until the three matches were concluded, except to participate in their fights. There were powerful individuals tasked with guarding them. Of course, gathering andmunicating with each other was no issue.


    They had little to settle in with, as they hadn''t brought anything along; their belongings were still in the inn. So, they simply gathered together to strategize.


    Tang San could clearly sense hispanions'' excited mood.


    They had won the first match, and it had taken them just over five minutes from start to finish. The formidable team of elephant demons, including a ninth-order one, had been defeated. This left them with a sense of disbelief even now.


    But the undeniable truthy before them, so they had no choice but to believe it. Unknowingly, they had be able to contend with demons at their own levels and even higher.

 Chapter 291: The Bloodbath Squadron

    <h4>Chapter 291: The Bloodbath Squadron</h4>


    Without a doubt, all of this was due to Tang San. Since his arrival, everyone''s level had improved at breakneck speed thanks to his teachings.


    Today''s swift victory couldrgely be credited to Wu Bingji''s icicles, but weren''t his techniques a product of Tang San��s brain?


    Gu Li''s mastery over Chrono Croc Transformation was far better than before; he was now able to manipte time as if it were an extension of his own limb and he was able to use both Time Freeze and Time eleration repeatedly. This was also due to the support of his formidable spiritual energy��thanks to the spirit fruit granted to him by Tang San and the Purple Demon Eyes also taught by Tang San.


    Therefore, when everyone gathered together, their excited gazes naturally converged on Tang San.


    "Today''s win was no surprise. The Elephant Demons really shine in mass battles. Going one-on-one isn��t their thing; they��re much too strong to fight directly, but with their straightforward fighting style and their clumsiness, they��re not that hard to deal with. Especially since spiritual power is our strongest point, but their weakest."


    At this point, Tang San''s expression grew serious. "But we need to be cautious about when and who we''ll face next. This time, we have no idea. We must win two more matches to leave this ce. The opponents we face next will definitely be tougher, so we must prepare thoroughly.


    "In this fight, we revealed our Spirit Elevation Array and the short-range teleportation array disc. We shouldn''t waste time wondering if our next opponents will know about them. Let''s assume they do. So, we need to prepare ordingly."


    Wu Bingji nodded. "Tang San, you take the lead; we''ll follow your n."


    Tang San said, "In thisst battle, even if our next opponents were watching, it would have been hard for them to discern our true strength. Gu Li didn��t use the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer, and Cheng Zicheng didn��t use the Golden Wing sh at full strength either. Eldest brother��s icicles probably left quite the impression, but understanding how that technique works is easier said than done.


    "Let''s have you lead the attack regardless of who we face next, eldest brother. If the enemy proves too strong, I''ll assist with wind des from the sidelines and keep harassing them. Du Bai, make sure you''re ready for multiple teleportations with the array disc; keep your spiritual power high and make sure not to waste it."


    "No problem," Du Bai nodded.


    Today''s victory had undoubtedly boosted their confidence. In their exhrated state, their prior fears had noticeably diminished. The harshness of the Great Beast Fighting Arena seemed less daunting now. Whatever the opponent, they had much more confidence in themselves.


    Although they might be outmatched in terms of cultivation, their advantagey in the high quality of their bloodlines. The enhanced luck of the Celestial Fox Transformation, the extreme speed of the Golden Roc Transformation, the time control of the Chrono Croc Transformation, and the versatile ice elements of the Ice Spirit Transformation,bined with Tang San, the stabilizingpass of their team, made them formidable. All five possessed spiritual power at least at the eighth order, with three even at the ninth. Overall, their strength was undeniable.


    Once they had calmed down, everyone''s minds moved much more smoothly. And so, they realized that in today''s battle, Tang San had barely made a move, using only his whirlwind to influence the War Stomp and execute the final killer blow.


    Yet they all knew that Tang San was the strongest among them!


    Even when Tang San first arrived at the academy, he could fight Wu Bingji, the most senior disciple, to a draw. Even back then, his control of the wind element was outstanding.


    With Wu Bingji being so proficient in controlling the ice element, Tang San, who had taught him these techniques, could only be better. No one knew the extent of Tang San''s strength, but given hisposed demeanor and the oue of today''s battle, his power was likely beyond their imagination.


    Thus, the members of the Shrek Squad had now settled into a stable mindset.


    "For now, let''s rest up, adjust our condition, and be ready to fight again at any moment," they decided.


    Through meditation and rest, their heightened emotions faded, and the panic before the first group battle silently disappeared. This quick victory had built substantial confidence, and with their minds now clear, they looked forward to the next group battle with anticipation.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena didn''t keep them waiting long. The next morning, they received news that their second group battle would ur that evening. This meant that they��d drawn enough attention for their fight to take ce during the best time of the day.


    Evenings were not like mornings; even though the arena was always crowded, during the day, most spectators weremon folk, attracted by the cheaper tickets and less significant matches. However, in the evening, the audience at the Great Beast Fighting Arena changed��the Kali City nobility arrived. Not only were the tickets expensive, but the betting stakes were also much higher, making these hours the arena''s most crucial source of ie.


    The operator behind the Great Beast Fighting Arena was none other than the city lord��s mansion; the arena was an essential source of revenue that any major city needed to control.


    Competing in the evening meant that the Shrek Squad had more time to rest, and the food provided by the Great Beast Fighting Arena was quite good. Although the cooking was mediocre, the meals mainly consisted of various demon beast meats, which were abundant here, and they had the best nutritional value.


    After an early dinner, the five teammates made sure they were in top shape and quietly awaited their turn to enter the arena.


    They could faintly hear the raucous noise from within the Great Beast Fighting Arena as dusk fell. The wait was longer than expected before the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape reappeared before them.


    "Let''s go. Your match is about to start," said the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, expressionless.


    Tang San stepped forward with a smile, "Can we know who our opponents are tonight?"


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape nced at him and said, "You really need to check out the rules here. Don''t ask questions you shouldn''t. Once you''re at the arena, you''ll find out right away who your opponent is."


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena ced great emphasis on unpredictability, as it was precisely the bets on random opponents that maximized profits for the arena.


    Thus, before each match began, all participants were kept unaware of their opponents. The previous match was an exception due to Tang San challenging the elephant demon; with it being their first team battle, things were fairly predictable. However, this second match clearly wouldn''t offer them such an opportunity.


    Tang San asked no further questions. The five of them simply followed the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape back to the previous waiting room, waiting for the match to begin.


    They did not wait for long, however; at the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape''s signal, they once again entered the corridor filled with the scent of blood.


    The gates opened, and a deafening uproar rushed toward them, many times louder than the first time. They could even feel the surging blood energy from the stands, erupting from the countless demon roars. The fiery energy of the spectators seemed to bring the atmosphere of the Great Beast Fighting Arena to a boiling point!


    Wu Bingji led the way, with Tang San close behind, followed by Cheng Zicheng, Gu Li, and Du Bai.


    As the five entered the arena, the announcer''s high-pitched voice rang out, "Entering now, our human Shrek Squad. Yes, you heard that right! This team isposed of human vassals! Undoubtedly, they''re here not just for the money, but more importantly, to achieve noble status by winning ten consecutive battles. Humans with such dreams have appeared before, and you all know very well how they usually end up. Dreams are always there, but how many can fulfill them? So tell me everyone, what do you think? Can they truly be nobles?"

 Chapter 292: Elemental Stripping

    <h4>Chapter 292: Elemental Stripping</h4>


    Laughter erupted instantly throughout the stands, creating an immense, intangible pressure that caused the Shrek Squad��s expressions to change. A hint of anger appeared on their faces.


    "Let''s prove it to them with our actions. No need to get angry," Tang San''s voice rang out, calming the group.


    The host swiftly changed his tone, "Hey, I must inform you that the Shrek Squad has already won a match! Just yesterday, they defeated a team entirelyposed of elephant demons, and they immediately annihted their opponents. Those who watched yesterday''s match might remember them. So, let us see if they can create another miracle today. And now, please wee the Bloodbath Squadron. The familiar Bloodbath is back!"


    With the host''s high-spirited announcement, the gate on the other side slowly opened. The team that appearedst was generally considered more likely to win, and a team called the Bloodbath Squadron was unlikely to be an easy opponent.


    Tang San��s eyes narrowed as he intently watched the opposite side.


    "Cyclops!" Wu Bingji took a deep breath, instantly identifying the species of their opponent.


    Cyclops were a type of demon, humanoid in appearance but not human. Naturally fierce and solitary, these simple-minded, physically robust creatures mostly lived in the wild, preying on demonic beasts, thus never forming aplete society. They were outside the hierarchy of the Empyrean Dominion but they were known to possess formidable individualbat abilities, capable of tearing apart demonic beasts with their bare hands.


    Judging by stature and aura, the Cyclops before them was at least at the eighth order. Simple-minded yet with extraordinarybat talent, an eight-order Cyclops could hold its own even against ninth-order warriors. Additionally, it had a powerful innate ability: spiritual immunity. Spiritual attacks were simply ineffective against them, rendering the Shrek Squad''s advantage in spiritual power almost useless against it. It was as if itcked a sea of consciousness or its sea of consciousness was fossilized.


    Following the Cyclops was a fox demon covered in blood-red fur, a species well-known to Tang San��the Crimson Fox.


    This young member of the Crimson Fox n had eyes tinged with red, devoid of its species�� usual charm and instead exuding a cold ferocity. It stood silently behind the Cyclops. In each hand, he held a dagger that gleamed with a chilling light.


    Three demons of the same species followed the Crimson Fox, causing Tang San to frown slightly upon seeing them. These three demons were deer, not particrly skilled inbat. Their pristine white antlers identified them as Aetherhorn Deers.


    Tang San had once absorbed bloodline power from an Aetherhorn Deer, which then became part of his Discerning Eye. After merging with the Celestial Fox Transformation to produce the Discerning Eye of Heaven, it became an auxiliary ability supporting the Celestial Fox Vision.


    He knew well that the Aetherhorn Deer��s Discerning Heart��s Gaze could see through elemental changes. In stark contrast to the Cyclops, this species possessed significant spiritual capabilities and was considered one of the most intelligent races.


    Theposition of the opposing five was quite interesting. The young Crimson Fox likely served as an assassin. The Cyclops, undoubtedly, was the frontal assault type. And the three Aetherhorn Deers behind him were probably specialists in the spiritual realm.


    <i>We''re being targeted! </i>Tang San felt this distinctly.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena had specifically chosen this opponent based on their observation of the first match. The Shrek Squad��s strong capabilities in terms of spiritual power had not gone unnoticed by their foes.


    Tang San turned to Du Bai behind him and said, "Brother Du Bai, be carefulter. They might target you. Those three Aetherhorn Deers probably have great spiritual power and they might use spiritual attacks. I''ll protect you during the fight. No matter what happens, don''t move without my signal. Just stay put and maintain the Spirit Elevation Array, got it?"


    "Okay," Du Bai responded. His pulse rose at the mention of being targeted, but he still felt the match held no real danger. Before the battle, he had already cast a luck-enhancing spell on everyone.


    "Eldest brother, the Cyclops'' single eye can produce shockwave-like attacks. Be careful. Sister Zicheng, attack those three Aetherhorn Deers from the air. The Cyclops and the Crimson Fox are for me and eldest brother to deal with. Brother Gu Li, stay back and be ready to support us. Let''s first observe their tactics."


    The opposing team was named the Bloodbath Squadron, so they were clearly no easy opponents. Observing first was crucial given their unfamiliar tactics.


    As both teams entered the arena, the host announced, "This is the Bloodbath Squadron''s third match. They''ve overwhelmed their opponents with unstoppable force in the previous two matches. So, let''s guess how long this fight willst. In my estimation, the Shrek Squad might notst more than five minutes. Alright, both sides prepare. Our esteemed guests can start cing their bets on today''s match duration now."


    The five members of the Bloodbath Squadron had already formed their positions across the arena.


    The young Crimson Fox leaped up and perched on the Cyclops''s shoulder, while the three Aetherhorn Deers stood behind, not in a line but in a triangle. Their antlers faintly shimmered with light.


    Tang San narrowed his eyes, sensing the air around him, and murmured softly, "It''s either spiritual disruption or a spiritual storm, everyone be cautious."


    The betting time was one minute, which quickly passed. With the host''s signal, the second battle for the Shrek Squad officially began.


    On the side of the enemies, the surrounding light visibly distorted, and the antlers of the three Aetherhorn Deers simultaneously burst with brilliant light. The next moment, Wu Bingji''s face changed. "I can''t sense the presence of the ice element anymore."


    Tang San immediately realized he hadn''t fully guessed the opponents'' intentions, but he hadn��t been that far off either.


    The Aetherhorn Deers utilized the Discerning Eye of Heaven. With their power, roughly at the eighth order, they achieved a temporary stripping of elemental energy. This was a form of disruption. And it was not only Wu Bingji; Tang San also could no longer sense the wind element.


    Together, the three Aetherhorn Deers managed to strip all forms of elemental energy from the air. Although it was unclear how long they could sustain this, it was enough to throw off the Shrek Squad. Wu Bingji��s most powerful ice-based attacks were simply unusable without ess to his element.


    The Cyclops charged forward with mighty strides, swinging its mace. Each step caused the ground beneath to tremble.


    The Spirit Elevation Array, activated by Du Bai, sparked to life, but the opponents'' unexpected Elemental Stripping caught them off guard.


    Gu Li stepped forward and did a pirouette, swinging the tail hammer behind him. Having reached the peak of the sixth order, his tail stretched about two and a half meters long and had a threatening bulge at the end that made it look very much like a club. However, he still looked rather diminutivepared to the towering Cyclops facing him.

 Chapter 293: Spiritual Storm

    <h4>Chapter 293: Spiritual Storm</h4>


    But at that moment, he resolutely stepped forward. The eldest brother could not use his ice element, which left Gu Li as the only one who could face the opponent directly.


    Tang San hesitated for a moment, but in the end decided against doing something. Such team battles were the best training for hispanions. Facing formidable enemies was the best way to unleash everyone''s potential, so he didn''t intervene.


    Cheng Zicheng''s wings pped behind her as she swiftly ascended. Ignoring the frontal assault of the Cyclops and the young Crimson Fox, she turned into a streak of golden light, heading straight for the three Aetherhorn Deers in the back, hoping to disrupt the Elemental Stripping.


    The Aetherhorn Deers were not adept atbat; attacking them would break their coborative Elemental Stripping and allow Wu Bingji and Tang San to regain theirbat strength, giving them a chance to fight.


    The Cyclops suddenly looked up, and from its single eye, a beam of light shot out, heading straight to intercept Cheng Zicheng.


    At the same time, the young Crimson Fox on its shoulder finally moved. Illusions flickered around him, and it fiercely leaped from the Cyclops''s shoulder. The illusions underwent bizarre transformations, each acting like a stepping stone, allowing the final illusion''s speed to reach its maximum. It was about to catch up to Cheng Zicheng in the air!


    <i>What incredible speed!</i>


    Although Cheng Zicheng wasn��t moving at her absolute fastest, the Golden Roc��s flight was still as fast as lightning. The fact that the other could catch up in an instant, almost as fast as the shockwave shot from the Cyclops''s eye, showed just how fast the young Crimson Fox was.


    At the same time, the three Aetherhorn Deers looked up together. The Elemental Stripping suddenly ceased; instead, Cheng Zicheng felt a moment of dizziness, her gaze bing vacant.


    Spiritual Storm!


    This was a widespread eruption of spiritual power. She suddenly stopped as she was in the air, her mind falling into a brief lull.


    Meanwhile, the shockwave from the Cyclops behind her and the young Crimson Fox had almost instantly arrived.


    This was an impressive tactic. Assuming the opponents didn''t know Tang San and his team''s capabilities before the match, this strategy had to be devised just based on a brief observation of Shrek Squad��s Demonic God Transformations, indicating how formidable the Bloodbath Squad��s skills were.


    Undoubtedly, it was a strategymanded by the Aetherhorn Deers. They had noted Cheng Zicheng''s flying ability and considered her their greatest trap; thus, they had set up this trap to eliminate her. Using the strength of the entire squad, they moved to get rid of her in one go.


    Meanwhile, Tang San and Wu Bingji regained their ability to control elemental energy. However, since the area had previously been stripped of all these energies, they would take some time to replenish. Thus, although the ability itself had ceased, the elemental energies in the air were still thin.


    As the young Crimson Fox turned to pounce, Tang San had already signaled Du Bai and the array disc for teleportation was ready.


    The opponent''s Elemental Stripping did not affect space and time; these attributes were beyond the abilities of the Aetherhorn Deers.


    However, Tang San did not have Du Bai activate it immediately. Faced with such immense pressure, he wanted to see how Cheng Zicheng could handle it.


    Indeed, the opponent cast a Spiritual Storm to disrupt her flight, but Cheng Zicheng was blessed by the Celestial Fox��s luck and practiced the Purple Demon Eyes herself. Her spiritual power was not weak by any means, and the spiritual impact of the Purple Demon Eyes was even more formidable than the Spiritual Storm. After all, thetter was an area attack, while the former had a single target.


    Just as the Cyclops��s shockwave was about to hit Cheng Zicheng from behind, she suddenly plummeted uncontrobly, seemingly affected by the Spiritual Storm. The shockwave swiftly passed by her head, missing herpletely.


    If this was not an intentional action taken by Cheng Zicheng, then it was the luck brought by the Celestial Fox Vision that had taken effect.


    However, the young Crimson Fox pursuing her in the air, far from being startled, was delighted and quickly plummeted downward to catch her, its twin short des aiming straight for Cheng Zicheng��s back.


    At that moment, Tang San waved his hand sharply, and Du Bai activated the space teleportation array disc.


    In a flicker of light, Du Bai, along with Tang San, Wu Bingji, and Gu Li, almost simultaneously appeared beside the three Aetherhorn Deers.


    The three Aetherhorn Deers were greatly surprised; obviously, they had no prior knowledge of the Shrek Squad''s capabilities.


    It seemed that the Great Beast Fighting Arena was very fair in this regard.


    Without hesitation, the three Aetherhorn Deers reacted swiftly, switching from Spiritual Storm to Elemental Stripping, quickly stripping away the energy of various elements in the air. They knew that humans whose Demonic God Transformation was less noticeable physically were generally skilled in elemental control. Thus, only Gu Li''s transformation made them wary.


    At the same time, the three Aetherhorn Deers leaped up, maintaining the Elemental Stripping as they attempted to flee.


    Deer demons'' running speed was obviously exceptional; their quick maneuvering on the ground allowed them to even dodge a sh Leopard pursuing them.


    But since the Shrek Squad had decided to make a move, they were determined to make that move count.


    Time seemed to freeze instantly, and the three Aetherhorn Deers paused in midair, right in the middle of their leap.


    In the next instant, Gu Li''s tail hammer smashed hard into one of the Aetherhorn Deers. The eighth-order deer demon barely had time to lower its head and try to block with its antlers, but in the next moment, it was brutally sent flying, letting out a scream.


    The effect of Elemental Stripping rapidly weakened.


    Wu Bingji acted at that moment; true, there was no ice elemental energy in the air right now, but he was still an eighth-order powerhouse. His eighth-order bloodline power was still there, and the energy contained in his own bloodline power was naturally still there as well.


    He quickly bit his fingertip and a blood arrow shot out, coalescing into the shape of an icicle in midair. Given the close range and his irritation at being suppressed, this attack held Wu Bingji��s full force.


    The highlypressed icicle pierced through the forehead of another Aetherhorn Deer almost instantly; the next moment, the head of this deer demon exploded.


    Two of the three Aetherhorn Deers were now incapacitated, and the effect of Elemental Stripping disappeared.


    Meanwhile, Tang San''s focus was no longer here. After the teleportation, the opponents had no good way to respond; some random eighth-order Aetherhorn Deers had no chance in closebat against the Chrono Croc Transformation and the Ice Nymph Transformation. His attention was in the air, on Cheng Zicheng.


    Just as the young Crimson Fox''s twin des were about to strike Cheng Zicheng, her spread wings suddenly snapped shut. As she elerated in her descent, she used the sharp edges of her golden wings to block the des, with the crisp sound of metal striking metal.


    In the next moment, Cheng Zicheng��s plummeting form began to spin rapidly. She used the airflow generated by her spin to pause sharply in midair, unleashing the Golden Wing Wind-Splitting sh!


    The two shed in a series of collisions in the air, the young Crimson Fox attacking ferociously, continuously creating illusionary figures around it. However, Cheng Zicheng��s movement was wless; as she spun, her sharp wings shed out relentlessly, each strike heavier than thest. They shed intensely, neither able to ovee the other for the moment.


    Meanwhile, the Cyclops finally reacted. Because it was at a distance, it bellowed furiously, and with a forceful swing of its arms, hurled its massive mace at Tang San and his team. Simultaneously, its single eye released another shockwave, this time aimed at Gu Li.

 Chapter 294: Headshot Maniac, Wu Bingji

    <h4>Chapter 294: Headshot Maniac, Wu Bingji</h4>


    Having in his foe, Wu Bingji was once more free to use ice elemental energy, and though there wasn��t much of it, it came just at the right time for him to reveal his fiercebat skills.


    An icicle formed in his hand, and he immediately threw it at the remaining enemy. Simultaneously, he turned to face the Cyclops. The ice elemental energy quickly coalesced into a wall, blocking the Cyclops''s shockwave.


    The ice wall exploded when the shockwave hit. Though the shockwave carried a potent force, all of it dispersed upon the explosion.


    Meanwhile, a whirlwind arose silently to meet the trajectory of the flying mace. It wasn''t very strong, yet it was just enough to alter the mace''s trajectory, sending it directly toward the Aetherhorn Deer previously struck by Gu Li��s tail hammer.


    The Aetherhorn Deer was smashed into a pulp before it could even scream, blood spraying everywhere. It was clear that there was no surviving that strike.


    Thest Aetherhorn Deer couldn''t escape Wu Bingji''s elerated icicle either, and it was pierced through the forehead��a fatal headshot.


    Thus, all three Aetherhorn Deers were gone.


    By now, the stands were in an uproar.


    The confrontation had been brief, yet three powerful psychics, three eight-order Aetherhorn Deers, had quickly met their end. Undoubtedly, the array disc yed a crucial role, granting the Shrek Squad an opportunity to close in and catching the opponents off guard.


    The Bloodbath Squad��s tactics were perfectly sound on paper: they first targeted the flying opponent, aiming to quickly neutralize her before suppressing the others. However, they hadn''t anticipated the existence of a teleportation array disc, and that had ultimately led to their defeat.


    It wasn''t that their tactics were wed, but the short-range teleportation array disc was truly logic-defying.


    Cheng Zicheng, in the air, continued to fight the Crimson Fox youth, while the Cyclops roared in anger. Seeing its threerades dead, the immensely strong creature''s single eye reddened, and it charged toward Tang San and hispanions with heavy strides.


    Wu Bingji''s gaze was icy cold. With Elemental Stripping no longer active, the various elemental energies in the air had recovered just enough. A slender ice needle formed in his palm, significantlyrger than the previous ones.


    In the next instant, the ice needle burst forth from his flicking hand, leaving an icy mist trail in the air and yet making no sound.


    The Cyclops tried to block it with his broad palm, but the ice needle exploded in mid-air. Its tip shot forward, elerating again and this time emitting a piercing screech as it tore through the air.


    With a soft sound, the Cyclops��s palm was pierced, and so was its only eye. The next moment, a rumbling noise came from within its skull.


    Indeed, its skull was very hard, but that did not apply to the contents of the skull.


    Blood and flesh spurted from its eyes, nose, and mouth. Propelled by its forward momentum, the giant body crashed to the ground with a massive thud.


    Du Bai''s mouth twitched. "Eldest brother, I guess your nickname is going to be ''Headshot Maniac'' from now on, huh?"


    Just then, a scream echoed from above. The Crimson Fox was fiercely struck on the shoulder by a golden wing, the de slicing deep into its chest. Its illusory figure solidified as it crashed hard onto the ground.


    One-on-one, it wasn''t easy for Cheng Zicheng, who was at the seventh-order, to defeat an eighth-order opponent. But having a Chrono Crocodile on her side certainly helped!


    Gu Li slightly controlled the flow of time, not by weakening the opponent but by elerating Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Wind sh. The sudden change in speed caused the Crimson Fox youth to misjudge, leading to its immediate demise.


    Tang San went over to "check" on the bodies of the three Aetherhorn Deers before returning to hispanions.


    Three minutes!


    The entire battle, from start to finish, had taken only three minutes.


    The stands were now in an uproar.


    The officialmentator had bet on five minutes, but that was simply a reference value and nothing more. After all, group battles were always brutal and almost always prolonged, with both sides giving their all for the sake of survival. Given that both teams had previously won matches, most spectators would have expected at least ten minutes to decide the oue. Who could have imagined it would be over so quickly?


    Moreover, who could have expected these seemingly weaker humans to annihte the formidable Bloodbath Squadron in just three minutes?


    The Bloodbath Squadron had performed in two previous battles that many spectators had seen. The three Aetherhorn Deers employed unpredictable control tactics based on spiritual power, leaving their opponents disoriented and unable to use their full strength. Yet today, two had ended with their brains shredded by icicles and one crushed by its own ally��s mace into a meat patty.


    It wasn��t that they weren��t strong; the opponent��s sudden mass teleportation was just too unexpected.


    Spectators who had watched the Shrek Squad''s first match remembered the teleportation; thest battle was also won through the same means. This battle was no different, and the Aetherhorn Deers fell prey to the same tactic.


    However, what left the deepest impression wasn''t the teleportation but the visual impact of Wu Bingji��s headshots. The icicles sting brains to bits were gruesome, but this was exactly what the demon race audience wanted to see.


    Five opponents and three headshots, one of them a Cyclops. For a moment, almost all the spectators�� attention was on Wu Bingji. His formidable icicles left a deep impression on them.


    Throughout the fight, all Tang San had done was unleash a whirlwind at the appropriate time and then make sure that the three Aetherhorn Deers were well and truly dead. Du Bai, at least, had activated a teleportation array; he seemed to be of little use otherwise.


    The battle ended!


    "Shrek Squad wins! They��ve achieved two consecutive victories in group battles!"


    Wu Bingji sighed. Unbeknownst to the audience, his back was soaked with cold sweat.


    When the enemy used Elemental Stripping, making him unable to sense the presence of ice elemental energy, he felt true panic. Since he had acquired the Ice Nymph Transformation, he had never encountered such a situation.


    It was Tang San who telepathically told him he could use his bloodline power; although it was not as handy as controlling ice, using his own blood still allowed him tounch attacks, which somewhat stabilized his mindset.


    It appeared they had won easily within three minutes, but in such a life-or-death struggle, a single mistake could mean total defeat. The only thing that kept him somewhat stable was having Tang San behind him.


    He knew Tang San surpassed him in elemental control. However, with Elemental Stripping in effect, even Tang San couldn''t use his own wind element, which made Wu Bingji''s fear escte. For a moment, he had truly believed they might lose the match. Losing would mean no mercy from the opponents, much like they also had no mercy for their own opponents.


    Tang San patted Wu Bingji on the shoulder. "Let''s go."


    Wu Bingji nodded back at him, and the five of them headed toward the arena''s exit.


    The arena was now noisy, mostly with angry voices��after all, most of them had lost their bets.


    "Headshot, headshot, headshot!" It seemed to echo the nickname Du Bai had given Wu Bingji earlier. Many demons also started chanting his brand new nickname: Headshot Maniac.


    Wu Bingji''s face soured visibly. He thought of himself as a refined and gentle person; how had he be known as the Headshot Maniac? Should he not detonate the icicles next time? But without the explosion, given the demons'' incredible vitality, they might just survive, like a centipede that wouldn��t die even when it was cut into pieces.


    Du Bai, stifling augh, said, "Big brother, Headshot Maniac is quite good. It has an intimidating ring to it, doesn''t it?"


    Wu Bingji red at him. "I''ll blow up your brain."


    "Exactly, blow his head off. I support you, eldest brother!" Cheng Zicheng, shaking the blood from her wings in disgust, immediately voiced her support.

 Chapter 295: Coveting the Array Disc

    <h4>Chapter 295: Coveting the Array Disc</h4>


    When they emerged from the tunnel, the thrill of the previous day''s victory was absent. The suppression they felt at the beginning of the match had indeed left the entire team feeling both stunned and fearful. The opponents who could appear in the Great Beast Fighting Arena''s team battles were indeed extraordinary!


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape appeared before them again, silently leading them back to their quarters. Just one more victory, and they would regain their freedom, no longer forced to stay in the arena while awaiting the call to battle. Moreover, after three matches, participation would no longer bepulsory. They could return topete whenever they wished, and their team''s record would be maintained.


    In fact, only by winning three consecutive battles could they truly enjoy their earnings.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape did not leave immediately after escorting them back to their resting area.


    "There''s something I want to ask you," it said.


    "What is it?" Tang San asked.


    "Would you sell that array disc of yours?" the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape inquired.


    "N��" Du Bai blurted out, about to refuse, but Tang San interrupted him with a gesture.


    "What are you offering?" Tang San asked.


    "Information about your next opponents," the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape replied.


    Tang San immediatelyughed and responded, ��Is that all? If that is all, we will not be taking up the offer.��


    A cruel smile crept across the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape''s lips. "You must understand, even the best things are only useful if you''re alive to use them. You won��t be able to use your array disk if you are dead."


    Tang San said coolly, "ording to the rules of the Great Beast Fighting Arena, information about the match cannot be revealed in advance. You''re breaking the rules."


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape shook its head. "Not really. If both parties agree, we can reveal the information to both sides simultaneously. That wouldn''t be breaking the rules."


    Tang San asked, "Then what''s in it for us?"


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape replied, "The arrangement. We decide what kind of opponents you will face."


    The meaning was clear: if Tang San and his team didn''t agree to hand over the array disc, their next opponents would likely be terrifying. After all, the third match was thestpulsory battle.


    "You can hand it over after the third match," the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape offered. It was clear what that meant. If they agreed, their opponents would be weaker, and that could even ensure their victory in the third match.


    Tang San replied indifferently, "We can hand over the disc, but our condition is that we win all ten matches and gain noble status."


    "That''s impossible," the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape said without hesitation. "We can''t do something that severely vites the rules. Once you win six matches in a row, your following matches will be overseen by the higher-ups. Your opponents will also be teams that have won more than six matches. No one can ensure your victory."


    Tang San said, "Then there''s no point in further discussion. We can''t hand it over. If we can survive and ultimately win, what price do you think this array disc could fetch?"


    A glint shed in the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape''s eyes. "You had better not regret this."


    Tang San replied, "There''s no question of regret. Even if we lose the third match and die here, we will destroy the array disc before we die. Trust me when I tell you we can do that. So you''d better not try anything. If we live, there''s still a chance for you to get the array disc. If we die, we��ll first make sure you can��t."[1]


    Hearing this, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape snorted coldly and turned away, evidently not expecting this young human to be so difficult to deal with.


    "Will they target us?" Wu Bingji asked quietly.


    Tang San exined, "They already did. The abilities of the three Aetherhorn Deer Demons affected us significantly, but their tactics were wed. If they used the Spiritual Storm instead of Elemental Stripping to suppress us continuously, it would��ve been difficult for us to activate the array disk, so it would��ve been tough to win. That means they didn''t know about our array disc. It seems the management of the arena dare not easily break the rules of the Great Beast Fighting Arena. The targeting is probably because they discriminate against us humans and they wanted to see the effects of our array disc. We must have been marked from the first match."


    "Being targeted isn''t good!" Wu Bingji said worriedly.


    Tang San smiled slightly. "No worries. As long as we keep winning, none of this will be a problem. Senior brother, before the third match, let''s develop a new tactic that can adapt to any change."


    "Hmm?" Wu Bingji paused, looking puzzled at him.


    "You''ll see soon. Let''s stay in the same room tonight and practice it," Tang San said.


    As soon as he spoke, Du Bai, who was standing beside them, said with a look of grievance, "Little Tang, don''t you need me anymore? Are you going to abandon me just like that?"


    Tang San ignored him and walked out with Wu Bingji, leaving Du Bai feeling deserted.


    Gu Li looked at Du Bai with a strange expression and asked curiously, "You don''t actually have feelings for him, do you?"


    Du Bai red at him contemptuously before replying, "You don''t understand. Being with Little Tang always makes me feel secure; even my cultivation speed increases. Where else would you find such a good brother? Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself."


    "Whatever..." Gu Li did not continue the conversation.


    Tang San hadn''t considered whether they would be targeted in the third match. It did not matter to him even if they were truly targeted. As the saying goes, if an armyes, send a general to stop it; if a floodes, build an earthen dam[2]


    As long as there wasn''t a god-level fighter among the opponents, he was confident he could handle it with his current abilities.


    The bloodline power absorbed from the three Aetherhorn Deer Demons aided his cultivation of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, enhancing his sensitivity to elements. This was quite remarkable. The Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor had reached such a level of cultivation through a strong sensitivity to elements. Witnessing the abilities of these Aetherhorn Deer Demons today had certainly impacted Tang San��s way of thinking.


    Could he, once a God King, not achieve what the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor had done? But perhaps it would require the bloodline of more, higher-orderAetherhorn Deer Demons. Of course, the best scenario would be to obtain the essence blood of the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor. Currently, its whereabouts were unknown.


    The victory in the second match had finally earned the Shrek Squad a name in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Defeating the Bloodbath Squad in three minutes, using the array disc, headshots��these had all be topics of avid discussion among the spectating demons.


    When Guan Longjiang returned to the Redemption Society Academy, his face was somewhat pale. He had also purchased a ticket to watch the match today, having missed the first.


    When he saw from the stands that Wu Bingji and Tang San were restrained, unable to use their elemental abilities, his heart leaped to his throat. But then, witnessing theireback, seeing Wu Bingji execute each formidable opponent with headshots left him inexplicably shocked. He had to reassess himself��perhaps this disciple of his had indeed surpassed him inbat ability. Since Tang San''s arrival at the academy, Wu Bingji''s strength had improved by leaps and bounds, and he was already taking up the mantle among the younger generation.


    After three matches, the Shrek Squad could choose whether to continuepeting and when to resume. He needed to have a serious talk with them about not continuing. The noble status really wasn��t that important. They had already proven themselves in the team battles, and their capabilities could be immensely beneficial to the Redemption Society in the future.


    Having made up his mind, Guan Longjiang decided to speak with Zhang Haoxuan. Naturally, he would need to convince the mayor first. Otherwise, Tang San wouldn''t listen to him.


    To Guan Longjiang''s frustration, when he arrived at Zhang Haoxuan''s residence, the mayor was not there, and nobody knew where he had gone. But considering that Zhang Haoxuan was on the verge of breaking through to the god level, Guan Longjiang was left without recourse.


    1. The original here is ��ʯ���, literally ��jade and stone will burn together.�� In other words, mutual destruction, or taking a loss to ensure the other party also suffers a loss. ?


    2. The original is ����������ˮ������, a Chinese idiom that means to respond to different situations with appropriate measures. ?

 Chapter 296: Bloodshed Team

    <h4>Chapter 296: Bloodshed Team</h4>


    Where did the array disce from? Did the mayor provide it? Did ite from the organization? This was what Guan Longjiang was wondering about. He had never heard of such a thing before! Wasn''t it too reckless to entrust such a crucial item to the youngsters for the team battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena?


    This was also why he needed to talk to Zhang Haoxuan. If this item fell into the hands of the demon races, it would be unretrievable!


    But no matter how anxious he was, he couldn��t do anything about it. Zhang Haoxuan was nowhere to be found, and he couldn''t meet the Shrek Squad since they were inside the Great Beast Fighting Arena. There was nothing he could do.


    The five members of the Shrek Squad were unaware that while Wu Bingji��s moniker of "Headshot Maniac" hadn��t exactly caught on among the public, their team was nowmonly called the "Headshot Squad" by many demons.


    With headshots in two consecutive battles, their way of fighting was thrilling to the demons! This human squad had just gained some notoriety.


    Betting for their third battle in the Great Beast Fighting Arena had already started. There was considerable enthusiasm for the bets.


    None of these were of Tang San��s concern. Their third match was not scheduled for the third day as expected; there was instead a two-day dy.


    Tang San was not in a hurry, but Wu Bingji was quite distressed over the hotel room bill outside! Each additional day meant extra expenses. He had grumbled countless times, wishing they had canceled the room before they came to the arena for the matches.


    But now there was no way out, so the senior brother eagerly awaited the third match. Once it was over, he wanted to check out of the hotel quickly.


    They now fully understood the rules of the team battle. After the third match, they just needed to set a time for the fourth match, and then they could return to the Redemption Academy.


    Finally, the eagerly awaited third match arrived.


    It was still the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape who arrived, but today, its expression seemed much gentler. It was even sporting a slight smile on its ape face.


    "Everyone, get ready. Your third battle will begin shortly. Rest assured, our Great Beast Fighting Arena is fair. So, your opponents are chosen randomly and they are also here for their third match. I hope you can continue your efforts and achieve even greater results."


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape seemed a lot more talkative today.


    "Please lead the way," Tang San said.


    Tang San and his fourpanions were taken to the waiting room that carried the stench of blood.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, observing their calm demeanor, said, "It''s like this: today, many people havee to watch your match, and many bets have been ced. If it��s not too much trouble, you could drag out the match a bit longer; there''s no need to end it too quickly."


    Tang San nced at him and said, "In a battle of life and death, should we be worried about the duration of the match?"


    Although rebuffed, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape didn''t lose its temper this time; it simply shrugged and said, "It''s just a suggestion. But I think you understand that the more money you can make for the Great Beast Fighting Arena, the more important you are to us. There will always be some benefits."


    Tang San replied, "Understood. We need to prepare. Please leave us for now."


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, having gotten no amusement from the interaction, said nothing more and turned to leave.


    Tang San turned his head to signal Du Bai, then put on that familiar mask..


    Du Bai''s eyes surged with white light. Since the match was on short notice, there hadn''t been time to use Celestial Fox Transformation to enhance everyone''s fortunes.


    With fortune on their side, all five felt their condition improving.


    "This match will likely bring strong opponents, so be ready. Eldest brother, just like we rehearsed, wait for my signal to act," Tang San reminded.


    "Hmm? Will the opponents be strong? Considering that Bloodthirsty Demon Ape''s attitude just now..."


    "That was to mislead us. Since betting started and we''ve performed well in the first two matches, our opponents will be strong this time. They''ll likely target our transport array disc specifically. Just be cautious," said Tang San.


    "Okay!"


    All five were masked and ready for battle when the waiting room door opened again.


    With the Headshot Maniac, no, eldest brother Wu Bingji leading the way and the other four following, they entered the now-familiar Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena was packed today, as team battles always drew a crowd. The demons were particrly keen on bloody team fights.


    As Tang San had predicted, the Shrek Squad was the first to enter the arena. This meant the judgment of the odds was more favorable to their opponents.


    Of course, it had been the same the previous two times, yet they had won each time.


    "Let''s see, our Headshot Squad has arrived. Wait, that��s not what they��re called, right? Whatever, ''Headshot Squad'' suits them best. Today, let''s see if they can decimate their opponents or if they will be torn apart. Please wee the Headshot Squad''s opponents today, the Bloodshed Team."


    The opposite gate slowly opened!


    All eyes were fixed on that gate.


    Five figures stood side by side, slowlying into view of the Shrek Squad.


    Surprisingly, the five members of the Bloodshed Team were of the same species. Seeing their appearances, a look of surprise emerged among the Shrek Squad.


    "Leopard demons? sh Leopards?" Du Bai blurted out.


    Indeed, all five opponents were leopard demons. Each was robust and sleek in form, appearing precisely like sh Leopards.


    "That one in the middle isn''t a sh Leopard," Tang San said.


    The five leopard demons indeed looked simr, but the one in the middle was significantly more robust. Its fur patterns were different, resembling coins, and each spot was precisely arranged, unlike the more chaotic patterns on the Leopard sh.


    "Golden Coin Leopard? A golden bloodline!" Wu Bingji said gravely. [1]


    Indeed, the one in the center was a Golden Coin Leopard. While it was difficult to gauge its cultivation order, the fact that a demon with a golden bloodline was participating in the Great Beast Fighting Arena''s team battle was surprising enough.


    The five leopard demons stepped out together, with the Golden Coin Leopard slightly ahead of the four sh Leopards. Their movements were agile, yet an intangible sense of pressure emanated from them.


    Leopard demons were best known for their speed and bursts of power. As Tang San had anticipated, their opponents had been designated as a countermeasure to their transport array disc. Given the leopard demons'' speed, was teleportation any use?


    However, at this moment, Tang San smirked. <i>Solid n, guys. I hope it works out for you!</i>


    The most important thing when designing measures that targeted an opponent specifically was to understand them first. But did the Great Beast Fighting Arena really understand them? As for the leopard demon with the golden bloodline, perhaps consuming its bloodline forter use would be helpful.


    Now that he had a spirit core, Tang San could encapste the bloodline energies he absorbed in a shell created with his mighty spiritual power. Unlike in the past, they would not gradually dissipate as long as his body could contain them, ensuring they remained intact for longer. For instance, the bloodline of the ninth-order elephant demon he had absorbed the other day was preserved.


    In addition to his regr cultivation practices, he was also researching these bloodline powers, exploring whether he could transform them to a certain extent and then bestow them upon hispanions, enhancing their strengths.


    He wouldn''t mind having a ninth-order demon with a golden bloodline as his research subject. Of course, such a demon was bound to be a formidable opponent. Ordinary sh Leopards could rival teleportation in speed; undoubtedly, the strength of this golden bloodline Golden Coin Leopard would be extraordinary.


    1. All the other golden bloodline ns are just Golden Something. In this case, ��Ǯ�� literally means Golden Coin Leopard (or in a practical sense Money Leopard); it��s a generic name for leopards due to their spots that look like coins. There��s also an Inte-age pun based on this��the word is homonymous with ��entering the wallet.�� ?

 Chapter 297: The Mighty Golden Coin Leopard

    <h4>Chapter 297: The Mighty Golden Coin Leopard</h4>


    Tang San turned to Gu Li and said, ��Senior brother Gu Li, keep an eye on that Golden Coin Leopard and slow down its time flow so it can��t charge at us. Senior brother Du Bai, when the match starts, go to the back immediately and prioritize the control of the array disc. Senior brother Wu, as nned, start gathering your power.��


    "Okay!" everyone responded in unison.


    White light flickered in Wu Bingji''s eyes as he rapidly gathered dense ice elemental energy while Tang San was surrounded by swirling blue light behind him.


    "Let the battle begin!" With the announcer''s high-pitched call, the fight started!


    The Bloodshed Team charged forth immediately. The Golden Coin Leopard vanished instantly, and when it reappeared, it was already right in front of Wu Bingji, its sharp ws striking directly at his head. Its terrifying bloodline power formed golden w shadows as if wanting to rip the entire world apart.


    It was too fast! The might of the golden bloodline meant that the Golden Coin Leopard was not limited by distance like ordinary sh Leopards, it could move further. Its eyes glinted coldly, and its entire body seemingly radiated a bloody scent. Its striking ws swiftly tore through the air��so swiftly that Gu Li��s Time Freeze couldn��t lock it down in time.


    However, Wu Bingji''s figure vanished before the w shadows, almost instantly disappearing into thin air.


    Wu Bingji could even feel the chilling cold of the w shadow, the terrifying and sharp force almost tearing his body apart. But at the critical moment, he managed to dodge it.


    Well, rather, he was spirited away. This was not just the ability to teleport; it also included aponent of luck granted by the Celestial Fox Transformation. Otherwise, if the teleportation was a moment slower, he might have been killed by the opponent��s attack.


    In the corner of the stands, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape smirked. As good as the teleportation array disc was, could it reallypare to the inherent teleportation ability of the leopard demons? Especially that of the Golden COin Leopard. Could their array activation be faster than the leopard demon utilizing its bloodline ability?


    These leopard demons'' speed was incredible; just as the Golden Coin Leopard missed its swipe, the remaining sh Leopards appeared in front of it.


    Just as the Golden Coin Leopard was about to chase after the Shrek Squad, who had repositioned themselves at the back due to the array disc, its movement suddenly paused. The Time Freeze effect of the Chrono Croc Transformation finally took hold.


    Simultaneously, on the Shrek Squad''s side, a burst of ice mist suddenly erupted from Wu Bingji. The ice mist shot out in front of him like a flood, swiftly enveloping an area over ten meters in diameter and rendering the five leopard demons unable to pinpoint their exact position.


    The Golden Coin Leopard, however, did not hesitate even slightly; after that brief disturbance caused by Time Freeze, it vanished into thin air once again.


    When it reappeared, it was three meters above and in front of the ice mist. A pair of leopard ws swung downward, followed by swift golden w shadows. Terrifying golden light shredded through the ice mist like a meat grinder. The four sh Leopards quickly dispersed, pouncing toward other directions; should the array disc teleport their enemies again in their direction, they would be able to attack immediately.


    The ice mist surged and shifted under the attack of the golden ws, yet it felt as though they didn��t hit anything solid. The Golden Coin Leopard stopped in midair, then naturally fell toward the expanding ice mist below..


    The ninth-order Golden Coin Leopard naturally would not allow itself to fall into peril; its figure flickered and suddenly appeared ten meters away, observing the ice mist ahead.


    Meanwhile, Tang San and his fourrades did not teleport again.


    During this brief time, the ice mist expanded in range, and the surrounding air became colder. As if it was stimted by the Golden Coin Leopard��s round of attacks, it rapidly increased to over thirty meters in diameter.


    The dense ice mist churned as it spread, bringing about an intense chill. Inside the ice mist, a faint blue light flickered��it was wind elemental energy, which was behind the mist��s quick expansion.


    The ice mist swept directly toward the Golden Coin Leopard, as if intending to engulf itpletely.


    The Golden Coin Leopard did not charge into the ice mist; it was well aware that doing so could pose a danger. It had certainly heard rumors about the Headshot Squad. It held a particr dread for Wu Bingji��s icicle attack, and it did not believe that its own head was any harder than those of Shrek''s previous opponents. It was, however, confident in its ability to teleport.


    The ice mist continued to expand during this brief lull, and from the viewpoint of the stands, it could be seen beginning to spin rapidly as it grew in radius.


    At this moment, the spectators in the stands responded with a chorus of boos. There were even many voices shouting in anger.


    The reason for their anger was simple. Both the Headshot Squad and the Bloodshed Team were renowned for their swift victories in battle!


    The rapid assaults of the Bloodshed Team and the swift strikes of the Headshot Squad had ended their previous matches in no more than five minutes. Thus, when cing their bets today, everyone naturally bet on the fight ending quickly.


    Who could have anticipated that the battle would turn out like this? They could do nothing but watch as the ice mist continuously rotated and expanded without any signs of either sideunching an attack.


    With such dys, how long would this fightst? The spectators who had bet on the match ending in three minutes were already losing.


    Even the announcer was at a loss for words at this point.


    The five leopard demons stopped dispersing and slowly circled around, continuously trying to probe the opponents�� positions with long-range attacks into the ice mist.


    However, as the ice mist swirled and even showed signs of snowkes flying, their attacks disappeared without a trace upon entering the mist, making it impossible to determine their opponents'' positions.


    Uncertainty shed in the Golden Coin Leopard''s eyes. The rapidly spinning vortex had covered nearly one-third of the arena in just a few minutes of the standoff. Their enemies were all inside it, while outside, leopard demons had less and less room for maneuver. What would happen if their opponents could expand this icy mist to engulf the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena?


    The previously confident ninth-order Golden Coin Leopard��s gaze became grave. It knew it could not wait any longer, as doing so might lead to defeat.


    With this thought, it let out a roar toward the sky, causing the bodies of the other four eighth-order sh Leopards to tense up instantly.


    The next moment, the ninth-order Golden Coin Leopard was the first to charge into the icy whirlwind; in an instant it disappeared directly into the vortex. The four eighth-order sh Leopards followed closely, diving in with their Leopard sh in an attempt to prevent their opponents from locking onto their specific positions for an attack.


    Did Tang San need to lock onto their specific locations? The answer, of course, was... no!


    Before today''s battle began, Tang San had already surmised that this third match would likely target their team''s strengths��the most important being, of course, the teleportation array disc. With the flexibility the teleportation array disc provided, they were nearly invincible against ordinary opponents. So, how could they be defeated? That would require countering their array disc. To counteract teleportation, speed was essential. Without speed, their opponents would be dominated by the teleportation array discbined with the long-range icicle attacks.

 Chapter 298: Snowstorm

    <h4>Chapter 298: Snowstorm</h4>


    So, for the past two days, Tang San and Wu Bingji had been refining an area attack they had previously explored. It utilized both ice and wind elements. It was called Snowstorm!


    Contrary to what everyone expected, it was not Wu Bingji but Tang San who led Snowstorm. This was something neither the audience nor their opponents could have anticipated.


    Wu Bingji needed to continuously release his ice elemental energy, generating snow. Some of the snowkes would then condense into de-like power, while the rest was left to Tang San and his peak ninth-order spiritual cultivation.


    At that moment, Tang San stood at the center of the vortex, arms spread wide, with a faint golden light flickering in his eyes and a green glow swirling around his body. The enemies and even his allies couldn''t see his current form.


    With the cover of the ice mist, he could finally make his move. Under hismand, wind elemental energy surged like rivers flowing into the sea, merging with the ice energy. Together, they drove the rapidly forming ice and snow to spin faster and faster, turning it into a massive vortex.


    Tang San was in no hurry; the longer it took, the higher the concentration of ice and wind he and Wu Bingji could gather. With his spiritual power, controlling these elemental forces was no issue. However, condensing the elemental energy took time. Fortunately, since their opponents were unaware of this ability, they would surely take time to observe, giving them ample opportunity.


    By the time the ninth-order Golden Coin Leopard could no longer restrain itself and charged in, it was already toote.


    Five opponents teleported into the snowstorm simultaneously. Tang San didn''t need to look to lock onto their positions instantly.


    As soon as it entered the snowstorm, the Golden Coin Leopard immediately struck out with its ws, producing countless w shadows in an attempt to locate the enemy, as well as stabilize itself in the middle of the storm.


    In its view, the strongest member of the Shrek Squad should be Wu Bingji, whose strength was at the peak of the eighth order at most. While his control of the ice element was indeed clever, he had not yet reached the ninth order, which was why the leopard dared to attack.


    However, once it truly entered the snowstorm, it immediately realized its mistake. The swiftly spinning gale made it hard for it to stay steady. It had to constantlyunch attacks to disrupt the wind just to be able to stay standing.


    Leopards were not known for their physical strength. They were indeed fast when they attacked, but facing something like this snowstorm, they could only struggle.


    And at that moment, the Golden Coin Leopard heard a scream from one of itspanions.


    <i>Well, they aren''t very smart, are they?</i>


    Tang San''s lips curled up slightly in amusement. What did these demons even think? Their brains couldn''t be too developed. They had given Tang San and Wu Bingji so much time to execute abined attack, and they still dared to enter?


    Though the oue wouldn''t have changed either way, the best course of action would have been to seek refuge in a corner. Even if Tang San could expand the snowstorm to cover the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena, such a vast area would surely result in ws in control. But the snowstorm was at its peak right now, both in scope and power.


    Snowstormbined ice and wind, and they��d had more than enough time to bring it up to full power. Even if the opponent was a ninth-order demon, it made no difference whatsoever.


    In just a few seconds, the Golden Coin Leopard was struggling to withstand the assault of the snowstorm. No longer able to focus on attacking, it quickly teleported away, nning to flee the battlefield and regain its bearings outside.


    The teleportation was sessful. However, when it reappeared, the Golden Coin Leopard was still amidst the snowstorm! The fierce wind blew, and the snowkes, like razor des, sliced at its body.


    It had to attack with all its might just to withstand the snowstorm and avoid being engulfed..


    A massive figure suddenly charged at it the next moment, and the Golden Coin Leopard instinctively swiped with its ws. A scream rang out as its ws instantly tore apart the enemy.


    To the Golden Coin Leopard��s astonishment, it turned out to be a sh Leopard!


    The blood of itspanion instantly stained the surrounding snowstorm red, but the next instant, it was gone, leaving not even a scent of blood behind.


    The Golden Coin Leopard finally panicked. It fixated on a direction and continuously teleported, desperate to escape this area and avoid further entanglement.


    But how could Tang San possibly let it escape?


    The wildly spinning snowstorm had already disoriented the Golden Coin Leopard. Coupled with some mental maniption and luck on their side, it had no chance of breaking free.


    The audience could see the rapidly spinning snowstorm moving across the arena, swaying from side to side. Neither of the teams were visible within it.


    <i>What kind of ability is this? This is not amon bloodline talent. Abination of ice and wind? And how can they control it like this?</i>


    At this point, both the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape and the host of the Great Beast Fighting Arena were utterly stunned, not understanding what was happening.


    Even after more than a dozen attempts at teleporting, the Golden Coin Leopard still couldn''t escape the snowstorm, and the cold and the fierce winds rapidly depleted its bloodline power. Desperation began to show in its eyes. It had never imagined that its opponent would be so formidable. Such a method of fighting was unheard of.


    But in this world, there is no medicine for regret. Its previous opponents had no chance to retaliate before it, and now, the same situation was happening to the Golden Coin Leopard��it couldn''t even locate its adversaries. By now, it had realized that there must be a ninth-order powerhouse in the enemy''s ranks, likely the one who stood behind the Headshot Maniac��the one skilled with the wind element.


    At this point, thoughts were useless. This was a bloody group battle, and the opponents were not likely to let it go. Its bloodline power was rapidly depleting, and its attack strength had begun to weaken. Sharp des of ice and wind grazed its fur, gradually slicing through its skin, bringing stinging pain and cold into its body.


    "Damn it!" roared the Golden Coin Leopard inwardly. The next instant, its body red up with gold, and a blinding golden ze erupted. That was the golden me, a sign of its golden bloodline igniting. This instantly elevated its bloodline power to the peak, melting all the nearby ice and snow.


    "Don''t let me find you in the outside world!" spat the Golden Coin Leopard, its eyes filled with venom. In the next instant, the golden mes abruptly copsed inward. Its entire body began to turn translucent.


    Just then, a cold voice sounded in its ear.


    "Thinking of leaving? Too bad."


    The next instant, the Golden Coin Leopard saw a figure and a pair of eyes shimmering with purplish-gold light.


    A beam of purplish-gold light shot forth, instantly piercing into its eyes. Its sea of consciousness felt as if it had been pierced through, and the intense pain made the Golden Coin Leopard lose control of its bloodline power. The burning golden mes instantly copsed.


    The next moment, a human was standing before it.


    Arge hand struck down on its head, and a gale-like suction force surged instantly, wildly absorbing the golden bloodline power it had stimted to the maximum and which was still burning.


    The spiritual power of leopard demons was inherently weak. Faced with the full-force attack of the Purple Demon Eyes at the ninth order, the Golden Coin Leopard��s sea of consciousness was nearly shattered.

 Chapter 299: The Third Victory

    <h4>Chapter 299: The Third Victory</h4>


    A yful smirk yed at the corners of Tang San''s lips as he realized why the Golden Coin Leopard, possessing a golden bloodline, dared to participate in the bloody team battle. It wasn��t that it wasn''t afraid to die, but rather, its golden bloodline granted it the ability for long-distance teleportation. In the face of a deadly crisis, it could burn its golden bloodline to teleport swiftly from the battlefield and even escape the Great Beast Fighting Arena, thus avoiding death altogether.


    Unfortunately, it encountered him��indeed, a stroke of bad luck!


    The Golden Coin Leopard was already incredibly exhausted after being worn down by the snowstorm for so long. Then, it was hit by such a powerful st of spiritual power. Tang San had already devoured much of its bloodline power when it regained some semnce of awareness from the excruciating pain. It no longer had the strength to teleport over long distances.


    "You, you are a devil..." the Golden Coin Leopard''s voice trembled,den with intense fear.


    "Perhaps I am. To creatures like you." Tang San nodded at it as he rapidly circted his Mysterious Heaven Technique, swiftly devouring the power of its golden bloodline and severing the Golden Coin Leopard''sst thread of life.


    On the battlefield, the snowstorm gradually subsided. Yet, the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena fell eerily silent.


    The fight had nowsted over twenty minutes. The Bloodshed Team had been missing for more than fifteen minutes within the snowstorm.


    As the blizzard gradually cleared, the five figures of the Shrek Squad reappeared before all the spectators. The leopard demons had vanished. More precisely, four had disappeared; under the slicing of the blizzard, the four Leopard sh demons had been obliterated, merely adding a freshyer to the already dark red ground.


    Only one was still there��the Golden Coin Leopardy on the ground, head blown to bits.


    The Headshot Squad lived up to their name.


    Wu Bingji still stood at the forefront. His mask covered most of his face, so he looked perfectly expressionless.


    Only he knew that he hadn��t done much during the fight, and he didn��t quite understand how Tang San had done it. He had just followed Tang San��s n, continuously releasing snow and ice.


    It was a battle of technique, and they won. The Bloodshed Team was annihted, and even the demon with the golden bloodline could not escape the fate of having its head sted to pieces.


    Most of the bettors lost their wagers in this fight. But the next moment, shouts rose like a mountainous tsunami, reverberating throughout the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    "Headshot Squad! Headshot Squad! Headshot Squad!"


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly; he had intended to intimidate the Great Beast Fighting Arena by head-shotting opponents, so he had finally blown up the head of the Golden Coin Leopard. However, he hadn''t hoped for the spectators to keep calling them the Headshot Squad. After all, it was the Shrek Squad that he cherished. But now, it seemed the name "Headshot" was bing more memorable.


    Triple victory! A human squad, three consecutive victories!


    At this moment, Tang San felt his blood surging as the Mysterious Heaven Technique operated at high speed. Having devoured the bloodline powers of a ninth-order elephant demon and the ninth-order Golden Coin Leopard, he was now struggling to contain the power inside him. He would need to break through to the eighth order after returning today; otherwise, his meridians wouldn''t withstand such vast energy. Moreover, he wasn''t ready to give up the bloodline energy gained from these two bloodline powers because he wanted to research it further.


    "Unexpectedly, our Headshot Squad��oh, no, the Shrek Squad has won again. They are a human team! Who can stop their path forward? Let''s all look forward to their fourth match. They must win ten consecutive matches if they want to obtain noble status. I believe their next battle will be even more exciting."


    Meanwhile, inside the arena, the Shrek Squad, led by Wu Bingji, was heading toward the exit. Waiting for them was the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, with aplex expression on its face.


    The three matches had ended, and today, they could finally leave the Great Beast Fighting Arena and return!


    "Congrattions on your victory again," the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape said dryly.


    "Hand over the money. We''re leaving," Wu Bingji said coldly. His heart bled for the money still being spent on the hotel. Fortunately, they had made a fair amount of money after three matches.


    "Alright, no problem, but I''m not sure when you''lle for the fourth match..."


    "The fourth match?" Tang san snorted. "We''ll see how we feel and get back to you."


    The previous three matches had been significant training for the entire team. However, Tang San also noticed some issues within the team. In addition, the opponents they would face next would only be stronger.


    Today, a golden bloodline had appeared, and who could say if an opponent with a first-tier bloodline might appearter? Or multiple ninth-order warriors? Could they handle it the way they were now? Even if they could, he would inevitably have to reveal more of his abilities that had been kept hidden till now.


    Therefore, after these three matches, they had to leave the arena, discuss and summarize their experience, and improve their strength and teamwork. There was no rush for the fourth match.


    "Well, it is your right to choose when to participate in the next match." Despite its disappointment, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape''s attitude had significantly changed. Having killed the Golden Coin Leopard, the Shrek Squad forced it to take them seriously.


    Each of the three opposing teams was designated to target the Shrek Squad. Moreover, each time, they faced a different type of opponent. Yet, no matter what they were up against, they were always able to emerge victorious, which was truly astonishing.


    The rewards for the team battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena were very high. The first victoryted each person one naturae coin, the second two coins, the third three coins, and so on.


    Although not thereward wasn��t exactly multiplied, after these three matches, the team still earned thirty naturae coins. This was considered a substantial amount even for demons. There would be even more if they continued their winning streak in subsequent matches.


    Led by the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, the five of them changed clothes, removed their masks, and quietly left the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    After confirming with Tang San that they would not ask for another match immediately, Wu Bingji''s first task was naturally to check out of the hotel.


    Although the room cost was painful, the gain this time was ultimately far greater. For now, all team funds were kept with Wu Bingji, which made the budget-conscious senior brother feel much morefortable.


    "What do we do now?" Wu Bingji asked Tang San. "Back to the academy?"


    Tang San shook his head, saying, "We''re likely being watched now, so let''s not head back to the academy. We''ll head into the mountains instead."


    "Okay." Wu Bingji and the others naturally had no objections to Tang San''s decision.


    The fact that a team of humans had won three consecutive battles in the bloody team fights, naturally drew the attention of the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    First, they needed to shake off anyone who might be following them in secret.


    The five of them walked through the bustling city streets, with Tang San deliberately purchasing some food supplies before they headed along the edge of the city into the Kali Mountains. Upon entering the Kali Mountains, Tang San silently expanded his spiritual power, using the aura of the Blue Silver Emperor to mask their presence amidst the vegetation-covered forest. They moved swiftly through the forest, constantly changing direction, until the Discerning Eye of Heaven could no longer detect any threats, and only then did they slow their pace.


    "We should have lost them," Tang San gradually slowed down.


    By then, the sky was gradually brightening; dawn was approaching.


    "Should we find a ce to rest?" Du Bai, though pulled along by the rest, was still panting. They had been moving continuously since the battle ended, and he was genuinely tired.


    "Yeah, let''s find a ce to rest. Follow me," Tang San said as he confidently continued walking in a particr direction.

 Chapter 300: Welcome to Golden Valley

    <h4>Chapter 300: Wee to Golden Valley</h4>


    Du Bai, helpless as he was, had no choice but to follow. Fortunately, Wu Bingji was there to drag him him, ensuring he wasn''t left behind.


    They walked for over an hour. Du Bai was so tired he could barely stand it, and a white fog loomed ahead.


    Tang San said, "Stick close to me, don''t stray beyond five meters from my side."


    As he spoke, a small array disc appeared in his hand. The array disc, activated by his Mysterious Heaven Technique, emitted a faint halo, and a strange scene unfolded as the fog ahead miraculously parted to reveal a path.


    "What is this..." The other four exchanged shocked nces; even the weary Du Bai widened his eyes in astonishment.


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "This is the secret base my master set up for us. Let''s go."


    Indeed, the ce he had brought them was none other than Golden Valley.


    Comrades who had faced life and death together were trustworthy, and they could only grow stronger here.


    Under Tang San''s lead, the other four followed closely behind, moving in sync as they entered the dense fog.


    The surrounding fog was so thick that even spiritual power couldn''t prate beyond ten meters; it was as if they had entered another world. But trusting Tang San, they did not ask questions and simply followed him.


    When the fog finally cleared and everything before them brightened again, a look of awe appeared in everyone''s eyes.


    The morning sun shone down through the center of the fog overhead like a golden pir of light descending into the valley.


    That beam of golden light illuminated a golden tree beside whichy a clearke, its surface glittering under the same golden illumination.


    Inside the valley, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was so rich it felt almost viscous, and exotic flowers and nts covered the ground. The faint fragrance of nts was so refreshing that it seemed to sweep away the fatigue of a night''s travel instantly.


    Compared to the outside world, this ce felt like a paradise. Not only was it breathtakingly beautiful, but it also filled them with an indescribable sense of wonder.


    For Wu Bingji, Gu Li, Du Bai, and Cheng Zicheng, everything before them seemed like a miracle. The thick fog overhead was also tinted gold by the sunlight, yet it remained undispersed, with only the central beam of sunlight brilliantly vivid.


    "Is this... Is this a divine realm?" Du Bai murmured to himself.


    Tang San smiled slightly, turned to the four, and said, "Wee to Golden Valley. This is a secret base established by my master for our organization."


    Every time something unexinable happened that involved Tang San, Mayor Zhang Haoxuan was there to take the me.


    At that moment, the mayor was sitting under the Golden Tree, cultivating. His presence fully corroborated Tang San''s statement, leaving no room for doubt among the group.


    "Wow! The Redemption Society has such an amazing ce?" Du Bai could hardly believe his eyes. "Is that over there a Purple Sun Fruit? Do we have them here too? What''s that? It smells amazing!"


    "Can you not act like a bumpkin?" Cheng Zicheng kicked him lightly, then turned to ask Tang San, "Can we eat anything we find here?"


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly as he said, "Let''s go talk to the mayor first."


    Zhang Haoxuan had opened his eyes from meditation, and Tang San could feel the fluctuations in his master''s bloodline power. It seemed stable, but there was a sense of a volcano on the brink of erupting, clearly indicating that he was getting closer to a breakthrough he could hardly control.


    "Master, we''ve won the first three matches. I''ve brought everyone here to rest," Tang San winked at Zhang Haoxuan.


    "Good, then rest here. Tang San,e with me," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    "Okay." Tang San signaled the others to rest under the Golden Tree while he followed Zhang Haoxuan to the side.


    "The organization responded. They were quite diplomatic, saying they hope I return to take a position rather than stay here. They didn''t mention helping me with my breakthrough. Clearly, they will only help if I agree to return. What a disappointment!" Zhang Haoxuan''s expression turned more forlorn. He had done so much for the organization, including sharing half of the profits from the array disc, so he had not expected such treatment.


    Tang San said, "That''s nothing unexpected. They''re just too eager to have full control over the array disc. After all, we did take half of the profits. They''ve seen the immense benefits of the disc. So, even if you have to go back to report, you should first advance to god-level. Once you reach that point, no one will be able to shake your position."


    Zhang Haoxuan hesitated, then asked, "Can we really do it on the sea?"


    Tang San gave a slight smile, pointing at the Golden Tree. "Did you really think I could grow a piece of Golden Wood into a Golden Tree at first?"


    Zhang Haoxuanughed too. "Why do I feel like I''ve boarded a pirate ship?"


    Tang Sanughed and said, "Not only have you boarded it, but you have to make it look like a legitimate vessel."


    "Alright, I trust you. So, when do we act?"


    "Wait for me to break through to the eighth order. Once I''ve broken through, I''ll have more certainty."


    "I''m afraid I can''t wait that long. I''m increasingly unable to control my own power. I''m trying topress it, but there''s only so muchpression possible. I don''t dare to be reckless, in case I don''tpress it well enough and it erupts, that would be trouble."


    Tang San reassured him, "Don''t worry, I''ll be quick."


    "How quick is quick?" Zhang Haoxuan curiously asked. Breaking through to the eighth order wasn''t as difficult as the ninth, but it wasn��t something that could be done just like that.


    Tang San said, "Tonight."


    "Tonight?" Zhang Haoxuan''s mouth twitched wildly, and he almost wanted to ask if Tang San was joking, but looking into Tang San''s clear eyes, it was obvious he was serious.


    "Don''t rush things or force growth," Zhang Haoxuan said urgently.


    "Don''t worry, teacher. Haven''t I always been reliable? Steadiness first!" Tang San said cheerfully.


    "Alright then, it''s up to you. I''ll be waiting. If you break through, I''ll protect you."


    "Okay, good. Let the senior brothers also stay here and cultivate for now. The recentpetition has stirred them, and it should spur their cultivation, especially since this ce is more suited for it. After I break through, I''ll help you with yours."


    "Good!"


    Just then, a voice full of surprise sounded. "Master, master, you''re here!"


    From the direction of the cave, figures dashed over the water and swiftly made their way to the shore.


    Light and graceful figures soared over theke, shimmering with golden ripples, creating a truly beautiful scene.


    Wu Bingji, Cheng Zicheng, Du Bai, and Gu Li stood by the Golden Tree, dumbfounded. What was happening? Where had all these beautiful womene from?


    The three young men, in particr, were ck-jawed.


    These were all human girls, each stunningly beautiful, with creamyplexions. They all appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, in the prime of youth.


    Among the three, Wu Bingji was already considered an adult, while Gu Li and Du Bai, though younger, had passed the age of youthful naivety.


    Although there were some female students at the Redemption Society, they were few in number, and even fewer were notably attractive. The sudden appearance of eighteen Crimson Fox girls was a massive visual shock to them.


    "Is this... Is this a fairy realm? Have we reached a fairy realm, or perhaps the legendary divine realm?" Du Bai muttered to himself.


    Indeed! The wondrous scenes before them, coupled with the sudden appearance of these fairy-like beings, left them unable to think of any exnation other than a fairy realm.


    Then, they watched as the eighteen girls approached Tang San, respectfully bowed before him, and called out, "Master!"

 Chapter 301: Breakthrough

    <h4>Chapter 301: Breakthrough</h4>


    Upon reflecting on the wonders brought by Tang San, their expressions toward him underwent a drastic change.


    Tang San''s gaze swept over the young girls, sensing the vibrant life force emanating from them. Their cultivation had improved, and training in the Golden Valley had indeed doubled their results.


    "Not bad, everyone has improved. Keep it up."


    Red One said with a smile, "Everyone''s working hard. Our goal is to be able to help you in the future, Master!"


    Red Eighteen also interjected, "Master, this ce is really great, but it''s a bit lonely. When will you take us out to y?"


    She was the youngest, about the same age as Tang San, but she was also the most daring.


    Tang San replied, "Wait a bit longer. When all of you have reached the fourth order, I''ll consider taking you out. So you need to work even harder."


    Red One''s eyes lit up. "Can we really go out?"


    Tang San said, "Of course. Even though I bought you, you are all free. If you truly wish to leave one day, no one will stop you. But for now, it''s impossible, as you don''t yet have the strength to protect yourselves. So you need to keep working hard."


    "Thank you, Master." Red One was excited. "Being able to go out asionally is enough; we won''t leave you. Everything we have is because of you."


    Tang San simply smiled and said nothing.


    "Little Tang, oh, I mean, Brother Tang, aren''t you going to introduce us?" A hesitant voice came from behind, and without looking back, Tang San knew who it was.


    "Master and I rescued these girls from a major auction. They were originally ves of the Crimson Fox n. Because their appearances were too striking and could cause unnecessary trouble in the city, my teacher and I brought them here to live. This is Red One, and the rest follow in order of age, up to Red Eighteen."


    Tang San turned and introduced the Crimson Fox girls to the approaching Wu Bingji, Du Bai, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng.


    "Little Tang, is this the Divine Realm? I really think, could you be the reincarnation of a god? This ce is just too wonderful." Du Bai rubbed his hands together, his gaze sweeping over the Crimson Fox girls, unable to hide his excitement.


    In his heart, Tang San thought, <i>Well, you��re close enough. Not a god, but a God King.</i>


    "You''re overthinking it, go rest now. Everyone else, go and cultivate."


    Thetter sentence was naturally addressed to the Crimson Fox girls.


    Du Bai had nned to go forward and introduce himself to the girls, but Wu Bingji hooked his arm around his neck and walked him back to the Golden Tree.


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head with a hint of helplessness and said to Tang San, "Go ahead and break through, I''ll protect you."


    "Alright."


    Inside Tang San, his energy surged violently. Indeed, it was time for a breakthrough.


    He also moved to the other side of the Golden Tree, sat down cross-legged on the spot, and began to enter a meditative state, focusing on the rich life energy from the tree


    He had taken a full year to go from the initial seventh order to the peak of the seventh order, consistently suppressing his cultivation. His spiritual power had fully recovered, and with his energy devouring ability, his cultivation could go as fast as he wanted. If he wished, he could even attempt to elevate his cultivation to the peak of the ninth order within the year and try to break through to the god level.


    Of course, he wouldn''t do that, as rushing things could cause many issues and potentially destabilize his foundation. Especially since this world was different from his previous one, with many naturalws differing. Thus, despite having been in this world for a number of years already, he was still exploring some aspects.


    Over the past year, he continuouslypressed his cultivation, refined his spiritual power, and nurtured his divine consciousness. He focused more of his energy on cultivating his divine consciousness. After reaching the peak of the seventh order in his Mysterious Heaven Technique, he constantlypressed and solidified his power. He also refrained from randomly absorbing energy from others. With different bloodline purities, the effects of absorption varied, and without a particrly powerful bloodline, it wasn''t worth absorbing anymore.


    Moreover, breaking through to the god level in this world was not an easy feat and required much more preparation.


    After absorbing the bloodline power of a ninth-order elephant demon and a ninth-order leopard demon one after the other, however, his cultivation could no longer be suppressed. He had to advance, and he had to do it now.


    Tang San now possessed six types of Demonic God Transformations including the Discerning Eye of Heaven and the Peacock Transformation��two top-tier bloodline powers��and also the Golden Roc, Chrono Croc, Blue Silver Emperor, and Wind Tiger.


    Among them, the Discerning Eye of Heaven was still at the fifth order, as the main bloodline in it was the Celestial Fox bloodline. In other words, without Du Bai''s evolution, he could hardly further develop the Discerning Eye of Heaven. The bloodline power of the Aetherhorn Deers he absorbed a few days ago only served to consolidate the Discerning Eye of Heaven imprint and significantly enhance its elemental sensitivity.


    The Peacock Transformation was at the seventh order, since that was Mei Gongzi��s cultivation when Tang San absorbed her energy. Thus, the strongest bloodline imprint Tang San had was that of the Peacock Transformation.


    The Golden Roc Transformation was at the seventh order, the Chrono Croc Transformation at the sixth, and both the Blue Silver Emperor and Wind Tiger Transformation were at the seventh order.


    Once he advanced to the eighth order, only the bloodline powers of the Blue Silver Emperor and Wind Tiger Transformation could potentially break through along with him. The rest still required hispanions to continue with their own breakthroughs before they could be elevated.


    Rtively speaking, his divine consciousness was continuously nurtured and steadily recovering. The recovery wasn''t too fast, but it was very stable, and that was what mattered. To reach the god level once more, the most important thing was his divine consciousness. Before reaching the peak of the ninth order, he needed to find a way to restore his divine consciousness to the state it was in when he first reached the god level, to stand a greater chance.


    As his soul core revolved, the life essence around nourished his body, and the cultivation that Tang San had been suppressing exploded instantly. His body radiated light, and everything around him suddenly brightened. He was absorbing a great amount of life energy from his surroundings, giving him an almost translucent appearance.


    On the other side, the members of the Shrek Squad, who had just started to rest and had not yet entered a meditative state, immediately felt what was going on.


    Du Bai''s eyes lit up, murmuring to himself, "A breakthrough? Eighth order? Little Tang reached the eighth order too?"


    His face was, unsurprisingly, full of envy.


    Wu Bingji was the first to reach the eighth order, but when Tang San first arrived at Redemption Academy, Wu Bingji was already at the sixth order, while Tang San was only at the fourth order. And now, Tang San was about to catch up to their senior brother, reaching the eighth order as well. How could that not make the others greatly envious?


    Eighth order, that was the eighth order! Among the teachers, Mu Yunyu and Mu Enqing were only at the eighth order themselves. Tang San now possessed the same level of power as his teachers. Moreover, his true capabilities were certainly not as simple as they appeared on the surface.


    Wu Bingji felt this most profoundly. In yesterday''s battle, he clearly sensed that the snowstorm had been almost entirely under Tang San��s control, with very little input from Wu Bingji. He had studied with Tang San for just two days, after all; how could he possibly have learned such a powerfulbination skill that required controlling not only his own power but also that of others? At the time, Tang San had told him to just freely release ice elemental energy and condense ice and snow, and to leave the rest to him.


    In fact, Tang San single-handedly managed the entire battlefield, and from Wu Bingji��s perspective, he alone was enough to defeat the Bloodshed Team. Tang San had always been reluctant to reveal too much of his abilities, so Wu Bingji still did not know what his real strength was. Now that he had also broken through to the eighth order, without a doubt, he was the true top powerhouse among the students of the Redemption Academy.

 Chapter 302: Eighth Order Tang San

    <h4>Chapter 302: Eighth Order Tang San</h4>


    As he broke through, everything fell into ce naturally. His meridians began to expand, washed over by energy as mighty as a raging river. The soul core and spirit core within his body also expanded. While the changes to the spirit core did not amount to much, since it was already at the peak of the ninth order, his soul core expanded quite a lot, enhancing Tang San''s capacity to store the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Massive waves of energy swirled around him as his soul core absorbed life force to nourish itself.


    At this moment, Tang San seemed to possess the air of a young adult, even though he was not even fourteen yet. The aura around him flowed incessantly, continually elevating. He showed none of the difficulties typically associated with such breakthroughs.


    Zhang Haoxuan stood not far behind him, silently watching his disciple effortlessly break through to the eighth order, at a loss for words.


    <i>Thirteen years old! An eighth-order human at thirteen! </i>


    This was unprecedented in the Redemption Society��s history. Even Mei Gongzi with her talent hadn''t achieved this! But Tang San had achieved just that, and Zhang was increasingly convinced that Tang San was the savior, the messiah bestowed upon humanity by the heavens.


    After a sessful breakthrough, Tang San hesitated briefly before integrating the bloodline imprint of the ninth-order elephant demon. He did not choose the Golden Coin Leopard bloodline imprint, as the teleportation ability it granted was too simr to what the Peacock Transformation imprint offered him.


    While they were suppressed by the Shrek Squad during the battle, elephant demons were still mighty beings, and the War Stomp, if used well, could be terrifyingly powerful. More importantly, the bloodline power of the elephant demon would greatly benefit Tang San''s physical strength. Of course, he kept a spot open, a chance to integrate a potentially more powerful bloodline.


    When Tang San reopened his eyes, it was already noon. He hadpleted his breakthrough overnight.


    From this moment on, Tang San was at the eighth order!


    At this time, the other four members of the Shrek Squad were still meditating, the recent days of tension and continuous battles having taken a significant toll on their bodies and minds.


    Zhang Haoxuan felt the vigorous fluctuations of energy within Tang San and asked, "You call this a breakthrough?"


    "Uh?" Tang San looked at his teacher, puzzled.


    Zhang Haoxuan, somewhat helplessly, said, "I mean, your breakthrough was just too easy. If every human could cultivate as simply as you, that would be just..."


    Tang San chuckled and replied, "That''s the benefit of slow umtion and instant release I held back from breaking through and kept building up strength, so when I did break through, everything fell into ce naturally. You''ll probably feel the same when you reach the god level."


    "Shall we go now?" Zhang Haoxuan said.


    Tang San shook his head. "No rush, just get ready. For now, keep absorbing life energy under the Golden Tree. Don''t worry about anything else, just focus on absorbing as much as you can."


    "What if I absorb too much? I feel like I might lose control and break through at any moment. If I break through here, it could cause big trouble." A breakthrough to the god level was a significant event; once he broke through here, concealing the existence of the Golden Valley would be impossible.


    Tang San reassured him, "That won''t happen. I''ll keep guard and prevent you from breaking through easily. Trust me. Once you''ve absorbed enough life energy, we''ll head straight to the sea."


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at him deeply for a long moment, then finally nodded, gritting his teeth. "Okay."


    His excellent disciple had never let him down before, and he trusted that this time would be no exception.


    Zhang Haoxuan sat cross-legged under the Golden Tree and began to meditate, absorbing the life essence emitted by the tree.


    Tang San stood beside him. His advancement in cultivation made him more sensitive to energy and gave him greater control.


    As Zhang Haoxuan had said, his bloodline power within was now surging powerfully, and although he was trying his best to suppress it, it indeed felt uncontroble.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Tang San''s mouth. Human strength alone couldn''t suppress it, but divine power could. Zhang Haoxuan breaking through to the god level wasn''t a big issue, given the many years he had been umting and refining his strength. This was further enhanced by a year of nourishment from the Golden Tree''s life energy.


    The greatest benefit of the Golden Tree wasn''t actually the quantity of life energy it provided, but its quality. Filtered through the tree, the spiritual energy of this world condensed into an exceptionally pure life energy. In this world, where the spiritual energy was incredibly dense, the life energy condensed was naturally pure. This was also why the Crimson Fox girls could continue to improve even with their diluted bloodline.


    Tang San had also brought the members of the Shrek Squad here to elevate their life forces, particrly for Du Bai, Cheng Zicheng, and Gu Li. The greatest obstacle to advancing was the dilution of their bloodline. High-level, high-purity life energy was key to stimting their bloodline powers further. While it couldn''t match the effects of immersing in high-order blood of the same lineage, it was still a valid method. It would not be an easy task for Du Bai to break through to the sixth order under normal conditions, but here, it was possible.


    Before heading to the Ancestral Court, Tang San aimed to help hispanions advance as much as possible��at the very least, Du Bai to the sixth order and Gu Li to the seventh order, which would allow his Chrono Croc Transformation to enter a new stage of evolution. The sixth order of Chrono Croc Transformation allowed Tang San to use Time eleration in addition to Time Freeze. By reaching the seventh order, he might just gain the time reversal he so desired!


    Meanwhile, the fifth order of the Celestial Fox Transformation could control fortune in a small area, and the sixth order would likelye with increased control over fortune. This was equally important to him.


    As Tang San pondered, he noticed that there was a change in his master��s state.


    After more than a year of consistently absorbing life energy, Zhang Haoxuan had now finally unleashed the power hidden deep within his bloodline and surpassed the peak of the ninth order..


    A faint golden shimmer passed through Tang San''s eyes as an invisible pressure quietly emanated from his head. It was the aura of divine consciousness, but under Tang San''s control, its manifestation was very subtle. This faint fluctuation of divine consciousnessnded on Zhang Haoxuan, instantly calming the surging bloodline power within him and suppressing the spiritual power in his sea of consciousness.


    Zhang Haoxuan, who was feeling painfully swollen due to excessive energy intake, immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Though he was in a state of meditation and unaware of the outside world, he vaguely understood that the changes in his body were somehow rted to Tang San.


    Thus, he began to umte life energy once more.


    After their first meditation session, the other four members of the Shrek Squad felt the great benefits of cultivating in the Golden Valley. The rich life force was even better than any natural treasure, greatly aiding their cultivation. Hence, they chose to continue training in the valley.


    Tang San remained by Zhang Haoxuan''s side, and whenever there was a hint of his energy bing uncontroble, Tang San would channel a bit of his divine consciousness to help suppress it. As a result, the life energy umted within Zhang Haoxuan grew increasingly abundant, and the sense of fullness in his body intensified.


    Finally, after three days, when Zhang Haoxuan felt that he was truly stuffed to the absolute limit. He opened his eyes, as if something had been awakened within him.


    The first person he saw was Tang San.

 Chapter 303: Sea God

    <h4>Chapter 303: Sea God</h4>


    "Master, let''s go. Eldest brother, you guys should keep cultivating here."


    Tang San greeted Wu Bingji and the rest, then headed out of the valley with Zhang Haoxuan.


    Zhang Haoxuan felt a nagging prickling sensation throughout his body. He was like an inted balloon on the verge of exploding.


    Once out of the valley, golden light flickered behind Tang San as a pair of huge golden wings unfolded from his back.


    "Master, climb on my back. I will carry you." Tang San said.


    At such a time, Zhang Haoxuan naturally did not stand on ceremony and immediately climbed onto Tang San''s back.


    Tang San''s wings pped. Driven by the eighth-order power of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, the Golden Roc Transformation made him faster than ever; within moments, they were far from Golden Valley, heading northeast.


    The Golden Roc was the fastest among all flying demons, and stories said that it could traverse ny thousand li in one stretch, its golden form darting through the sky like a shooting star.


    Zhang Haoxuan concentrated inwardly, struggling to contain the explosive energy within his body. He couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    There were already some god-level powerhouses in the Redemption Society, like Si Ru. He had naturally inquired in detail about how Si Ru had broken through years ago. But to his knowledge, absolutely no one had ever reached the state he was in before a breakthrough. Getting himself blown up like a balloon, what was this all about?


    Despite his condition, Zhang Haoxuan felt a sense of amusement. While his present state was certainly not ideal, it seemed he didn''t need to prepare much for his breakthrough, nor did he need to exert effort to stimte his energy. It felt as though he was constipated, and with just a little rxation, everything would burst forth immediately.


    Tang San''s flight was swift, and it wasn''t long before Zhang Haoxuan heard the sound of the waves.


    "Tang San, be careful. The Endless Blue Sea is swarming with sea demons," Zhang Haoxuan hastily warned.


    How could he ever know what Tang San felt inside when he saw the boundless sea?


    Before him stretched an endless expanse of azure, and the deep, inscrutable blue in the distance slowly turned pale and transparent closer to the shore, the clear waters revealing the fine sand beneath. A gentle sea breeze wafted by, carrying the distinctive scent and moisture of the sea.


    Seagulls asionally flew across the sky, their cries clear and melodious. The depths seemed filled with endless mysteries. Rich water elemental energy permeated the air, and Tang San could vaguely feel the vast life energy surging from within the sea��an unmistakable sign of the countless marine lives gathered together.


    <i>The sea...</i>


    This was the sea of this world!


    Although he had been here for over a decade, this was his first time seeing its sea, and everything here moved him profoundly.


    Tang San took a deep breath and reassured, "Don''t worry, Master."


    His wings pped once more, propelling him and Zhang Haoxuan away from the shore.


    A point of golden light appeared on Tang San��s forehead. It was not bright, but it allowed Tang San to sense everything below him.


    Strangely, where Tang San passed, the tumultuous sea became calm, as if not even a single wave dared to rise.


    Deep in the Endless Blue Sea, sea demons subconsciously lifted their heads, sensing something that brought them a strange joy stemming from somewhere deep within their souls. It was as if the Endless Blue Sea had suddenly gained a special charm, filling each of them with heartfelt delight.


    The next moment, a multitude of sea creatures began surging toward the surface, swimming swiftly with joy and anticipation.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Tang San''s lips.


    Memories of his previous life flooded his mind. He vividly remembered undergoing nine difficult trials and finally standing in the temple, grasping the golden trident that symbolized dominion over the sea. The moment he drew the trident, he imed his godly seat.


    Indeed! In his past life, he was a God King, and his godly seat was that of the Sea God! He was Sea God Tang San!


    In this life, the bit of divine consciousness he still had was a remnant of the Sea God. In other words, the Sea God still existed, in a sense. And even though he was in another world, the sea itself was the same, as familiar as ever. Here, he could clearly feel his divine consciousness bing ever so active, so exhrated. In this ce, the nourishment of his divine consciousness was noticeably elerating. Even if he used some of his divine power here, it would quickly replenish. The sea itself was his home ground, the world he was meant to dominate. This was why he had insisted on bringing Zhang Haoxuan here for his breakthrough��because here, he could fully protect his master.


    Zhang Haoxuan suddenly felt something strange; the sound of the waves had disappeared. The scent of the sea was still there, but... why had everything be so calm?


    <i>What''s going on?</i>


    He instinctively peered over Tang San''s shoulder, and then he witnessed a scene he would never forget.


    The calm sea was like ake��s surface, not a single ripple to be seen. And on that tranquil surface, a dense array of various heads poked out of the water.


    These were various types of fish, sea turtles, seals, and walruses, some small and somerge. An enormous army of marine creatures stretched as far as the eye could see. At this moment, they all peered above the surface, silently watching them... or rather, watching Tang San.


    A drop of cold sweat trickled down Zhang Haoxuan''s forehead.


    Tang San seemed to sense his master''s nervousness, and in the next instant, he threw back his head and let out a long howl. Simultaneously, the golden light on his forehead shone brightly.


    A golden halo expanded rapidly from his forehead, and his howl carried far across the sea. Immediately, the dense mass of sea demons that had surfaced plunged back into the sea, and the vast expanse of water turnedpletely still. At the same time, however, a rich essence of life quickly converged toward Tang San.


    "Master, let''s begin," Tang San said to Zhang Haoxuan.


    Zhang Haoxuan had a very peculiar expression on his face. "You... are you a sea demon?"


    Tang San responded helplessly, "You''re overthinking it. I am just a human, one hundred percent pure human. Haven''t you checked before? It''s just that I have an affinity with the sea. There''s no time to exin now. You should focus on your breakthrough first. Once you''ve broken through, I''ll exin everything while we return."


    "Hmm..."


    Zhang Haoxuan let go of Tang San��s shoulders and took some distance. This was indeed not the time for discussions.


    His short hair suddenly turned fiery red as rich fire elemental energy burst forth from within him. The bloodline of the ze Lion surged within him, causing his body to instantly increase in size. Supported by the power of his bloodline, he floated in midair. mes roared around his body, and his eyes also turned a deep red. The powerful energy that had been suppressed within him now burst forth freely.


    Tang San pped his golden wings, flying to a distance, and silently watched Zhang Haoxuan''s transformation.


    Helping Zhang Haoxuan ascend to the god level was also crucial for him; this was a vital moment for understanding this world. Only by gaining a deeper understanding could he attempt tomunicate with this ne and find a way to achieve his own divinity.


    Zhang Haoxuan took a deep breath and roared toward the sky. Instantly, golden-red mes surged upward, searing half the sky, which seemed to twist and warp.

 Chapter 304: The Tribulations of Zhang Haoxuans Ascension

    <h4>Chapter 304: The Tribtions of Zhang Haoxuan''s Ascension</h4>


    In an instant, the sky darkened, heavy with clouds, as if the heavens were about to copse.


    It was time for the Divine Ascension Tribtion.


    It was something every being aspiring to the god level had to face. This was why Zhang Haoxuan could not undergo his tribtion within the Kali Mountains; if he was too close to Kali City, powerful beings would surelye to investigate. He had no one to back him, so if someone interfered, his breakthrough might well fail.


    The clouds in the sky thickened, adding an invisible pressure between heaven and earth that made breathing somewhat difficult. Even Tang San was forced to descend near the sea and conceal his divine consciousness.


    He certainly did not want to be recognized by the ne as a foreign element and be struck down.


    The golden-red mes on Zhang Haoxuan burned ever more fiercely, and within him, his bloodline underwent a profound transformation amidst the zing fire.


    A terrifying aura rose from the intense mes, tingeing the dark clouds above with shades of red.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A muffled thunderp sounded, and the world around them changed.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s short hair stood on end, his eyes wild with frenzy. He spread his arms wide, and behind him, the immense silhouette of a red lion appeared, letting out a silent roar toward the heavens.


    The ze Lions ranked high among third-tier bloodlines, but they did not reach the second tier. Therefore, under normal circumstances, it would not be easy for Zhang Haoxuan to ascend to the god level. At this moment, however, his cultivation was at the absolute pinnacle of the ninth order, and he had so much energy he literally could not contain it.


    Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed, and a speck of golden light shone on the forehead of the immense ze lion. It illuminated Zhang Haoxuan, rendering all his mes golden.


    This was somewhat reminiscent of the Golden Holy Fire Tang San had once seen on the Golden Lion Dog during Mei Gongzi��s expedition to hunt Winged Tigers. However, the characteristics of this fire were different. From the golden mes enveloping Zhang Haoxuan, Tang San could feel an intensity, an unmatched ferocity.


    The seawater below began to warm up. The golden mes permeated Zhang Haoxuan��s body, making him look entirely golden. This was why all beings aspired to godhood��ascension equated to a metamorphosis of the bloodline, providing a substantial boost to those of lower bloodline tiers.


    Of course, even when someone with a second-tier bloodline broke through to the tenth order, their bloodline could not be a first-tier bloodline. A first-tier bloodline was entirely a matter of innate gift, either they had it or they didn��t.


    However, during the transformation of a third-tier bloodline, if the power was sufficient, it could evolve to possess capabilities at the level of a second-tier bloodline. Zhang Haoxuan''s transformation into gold was such a metamorphosis. His path to godhood had opened, and he was transformingpletely. With such a long period of umted power, he was able to choose the most advantageous method for his breakthrough.


    Just then, the clouds in the sky slowly turned dark red, and in the next instant, a terrifying bolt of crimson lightning descended from the sky, striking Zhang Haoxuan.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Zhang Haoxuan shuddered violently, but the giant lion shadow behind him suddenly turned golden, spewing a burst of golden mes that shone upon him, turning his charred body back to gold.


    The ascension to the god level in this realm was a transformation, and it was also a form of tempering. Through the baptism of heavenly lightning and the evolution of one''s bloodline, one reached another level of existence. Obviously, this transformation was not easy, and the pain endured was also quite significant. It was no wonder that one could reach godhood even without inheriting a godly seat.


    Tang San silently assessed this in his mind.


    In his world, genuinely bing a god required a godly seat��a legacy handed down from god to god that granted control over a domain. In this realm, however, it was all about refining oneself to reach the god level. This was, of course, logical; this necked a divine realm altogether, so there was no such thing as a godly seat to begin with.


    The gods of this realm and the true deities Tang San knew from the divine realm of his original world were different. However, one thing was clear: gods who sessfully cultivated in this realm definitely possessed physical strength far surpassing those in Tang San''s original world.


    Tang San could also faintly sense that the heavenly lightning formed from the ne''s energy harbored ill will toward him. Although he had concealed his divine consciousnesspletely, he still felt a numbing sensation when Zhang Haoxuan was struck, as if he also was about to be targeted at any moment. His spirit core pulsed incessantly, seemingly on the verge of breaking through. Tang San desperately used his divine consciousness to suppress it, to avoid being triggered.


    It almost seemed as if the heavenly lightning was deliberately tempting him!


    Despite his current cultivation being at the eighth order and spiritual power at the ninth order, he could genuinely die if he tried to break through, even with the protection of his divine consciousness. If the ne confirmed that he was an alien, the lightning striking him would be far more severe than what Zhang Haoxuan experienced; it would be less of a trial coupled with tempering and more of an attack with intent to kill.


    Thus, Tang San wasying low, hoping that the heavenly lightning would ignore him. At the same time, as Zhang Haoxuan was struck, Tang San silently observed the changes in the lightning, particrly the will emanating from it, which was directly rted to the will of the nar ruler.


    He most needed to determine whether the nar ruler was an instinctual being or one with consciousness and perhaps even superior intelligence. He would need to employ different strategies to deal with these different scenarios.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Once again, a bolt of crimson lightning struck from the sky, hitting Zhang Haoxuan hard and nearly casting him into the sea.


    "Awesome!" Zhang Haoxuan roared as the golden mes on his body intensified once more. The robust life force umted within him evolved and rapidly replenished his energy.


    Although the lightning brought terrifying force, it also tempered his physique and his sea of consciousness, evolving every bit of him to another level. Zhang Haoxuan was well-prepared for this; he simply continued to release his own power to withstand the tribtion.


    The benefits of his long and careful preparation became apparent at this time. After enduring the tribtion of lightning twice in session, he began to feel changes in his body, and he was still far from his limit.


    The reason he had intended to ask the Redemption Society for help was that those tribtions typically needed to be guarded by others; in critical moments, god-level beings might intervene to help share the burden to ensure a safe ascension. Although this would reduce the intensity of the tribtion and result in an iplete tempering, any kind of tempering was better than dying.


    This was also why the Redemption Society did not press Zhang Haoxuan too hard. They were sure that if Zhang Haoxuan wanted to ascend to the god level, he would need the protection of the organization. The tribtion would be extremely dangerous without at least two gods to help.


    They did not expect him to be so bold. Zhang Haoxuan had been at the peak of the ninth order for a long time, and in the past year he had umted more than enough. This was why he dared to attempt the tribtion directly. He knew that if he could sessfully undergo the tribtion all by himself, the benefits would be far greater. Complete tempering would grant him more power after ascension and even the possibility of further advancements in the future.

 Chapter 305: Teacher, Im Sorry!

    <h4>Chapter 305: Teacher, I''m Sorry!</h4>


    Bolt after bolt of lightning fell, striking Zhang Haoxuan down as he soared through the air again and again. Behind him, the fiery red lion''s silhouette gradually solidified and began transforming into gold��a certain sign of progress.


    However, Zhang Haoxuan''s own exhaustion was considerable. He now understood why Tang San had insisted he absorb life energy for three additional days as best as he could. During this tribtion, the life energy from the Golden Tree allowed him to recover rapidly, healing his injuries. But as thunderbolts struck, this pure life energy was rapidly depleting, causing Zhang Haoxuan''s gut to tighten. It was his first time facing such an ordeal, and he had no idea how long the lightning tribtion wouldst. The sky remained dark, with no sign of the tribtion abating.


    <i>Boom</i>!


    Another massive bolt of lightning crashed down, smashing Zhang Haoxuan down. He barely managed to stop before he hit the surface, yet a feeling of emptiness began to emerge inside him. Was his umtion still insufficient?


    Zhang Haoxuan furrowed his brow. Just then, to his surprise, he noticed the sky brightening slightly, suggesting the lightning tribtion might weaken.


    Tang San''s voice came through then, "Teacher, when you get struck again, let yourself fall into the sea, and I''ll help replenish your energy."


    Zhang Haoxuan couldn''t speak at that moment, but hearing this, he felt greatly reassured.


    Indeed, when the next bolt of lightning struck, it was noticeably smaller than before.


    With a loud boom Zhang Haoxuan was struck from the sky and fell into the sea. The storm clouds in the sky also dispersed a bit more.


    As Zhang Haoxuan fell into the sea, his high body temperature instantly caused arge swath of mist to rise. However, the next instant, he felt a massive surge of energy from the sea rushing into his body, swiftly replenishing his. Although he naturally resisted the water element due to his fire attributed bloodline, the influx of energy filled him and refreshed him


    <i>Oh, this must be working, right?</i>


    Zhang Haoxuan naturally felt in high spirits, greatly relieved.


    But in the next instant, he tensed up. A foreboding feeling suddenly emerged in his mind. Although he hadn''t fully be a god yet, he could be considered a demi-god, and his spiritual power had developed some features of divine consciousness, making his premonitions of danger much more urate.


    <i>What''s going on? Is there a problem?</i>


    The mist before his eyes rose at that moment, so he couldn''t see what was happening outside.


    Meanwhile, Tang San was staring in shock.


    When Zhang Haoxuan fell into the sea, Tang San had triggered the life energy within it to replenish his teacher.


    But in the moment he did that, it seemed his presence was sensed, and invisibly, a certain will seemed to sweep through the area.


    Tang San almost instantly closed off his divine consciousness, letting his body sink into the deep sea. However, in the sky, the tribtion clouds that had been dispersing became dense again and seemed to double in size.


    Feeling the crisis, Zhang Haoxuan burst out of the sea and left the thick mist just in time to see three massive blood-red lightning bolts, as thick as water barrels,ing straight at him.


    Before, the tribtion lightning bolts hade one by one, but this time, there were three of them at once and they were even more powerful than before!


    The culprit, who was sinking deep into the sea, was muttering in his heart, <i>Master, I''m sorry!</i>


    Tang San indeed had good intentions when he used his divine consciousness to guide the energy in the sea to replenish Zhang Haoxuan. However, the problem was that he did this during Zhang Haoxuan''s tribtion. The ne''s power was focused on this area, and his otherworldly presence was immediately detected. Although Tang San immediately closed off his divine consciousness, the ne''s power still struck down.


    Facing the three massive bolts of lightning, Zhang Haoxuan didn''t hesitate for a moment before plunging back into the sea. Surging mes rose, attempting to block the descent of the lightning.


    A streak of white light burst from beneath the water at that moment, illuminating him and causing the three massive bolts to deviate slightly. They didn''t hit him directly, but the energy fluctuations around them still sted Zhang Haoxuan away. The sea around him was instantly vaporized, and the lightning left a crater over a thousand square meters in size on the bottom of the sea.


    Zhang Haoxuan felt his mind go nk at that moment, as if his entire spirit and emotions hadpletely vanished in an instant.


    Unknown to him, a vine had silently wrapped around his ankle and just as the lightning rampaged wildly, it had pulled him sideways into the water.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s tribtion was in fact already over. The three massive bolts that followed were not aimed at him but at the "alien" that the ne had detected. The alienpletely vanished under the lightning''s assault, and the clouds in the sky lingered for a while before quietly starting to disperse.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched as he looked at the unconscious Zhang Haoxuan before him, speechless.


    While he was using his divine consciousness to mobilize the life energy in the sea to aid Zhang Haoxuan''s recovery, he also intended to test the ne''s reaction by revealing a minute amount of his divine consciousness. Clearly, the ne had a stronger repulsion against him than he had anticipated.


    And this was the result of merely revealing a sliver of his consciousness. What if he were to undergo his own tribtion? Wouldn''t the entire ne''s power be directed against him? That would be a major problem!


    If he couldn''t resolve this issue, reaching the ninth order would be his limit. More importantly, once his strength reached a certain level, he would automatically begin absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to replenish himself, and his cultivation would silently and slowly increase. Unless he crippled his own powers, he would inevitably have to face a heavenly tribtion one day. That was the most troubling issue.


    This probe made Tang San fully aware of how intensely the ne repelled foreign elements. Under these circumstances, undergoing a tribtion was utterly impossible. He needed to think carefully about what to do next.


    However, having once been a God-King and understanding the mysteries of the universe, Tang San could somewhatprehend why the ruler of the Fn would reject him so strongly.


    Setting aside whether the nar ruler acted on instinct or had actual intelligence, at the most superficial level, the resources of Fn were extremely abundant and vast, far more so than on any other Tang San knew. Otherwise, it could not give rise to beings like the Demon Emperors or Nymph Emperors, entities that rivaled First ss Gods back in Tang San��s world.


    Upon reaching such a level of energy, the future development of Fn would inevitably evolve into a divine realm, and this was one reason it naturally repelled Tang San. Outsiders would immediately covet a with such rich resources. Once controlled by a powerful external force, the ne''s energy would be exploited, and the divine realm established would be led not by the nar ruler here but by another entity.


    In other words, the ne instinctively tried to avoid bing a juicy piece of meat consumed by an outsider. Tang San believed that the ne allowed for so many powerful beings to exist precisely in order to defend against such an invasion.

 Chapter 306: Golden Crimson Flames

    <h4>Chapter 306: Golden Crimson mes</h4>


    With that in mind, if he wanted to attain divinity here and regain his status of God King, he had to devise a strategy..


    Zhang Haoxuan was naturally going to survive. He had been blessed by the Celestial Fox Vision and with Tang San''s timely rescue, he had been able to cross his tribtion. Although he was affected by the three lightning bolts just now, his divinity had only deepened, as if he had undergone a further baptism. While he was injured, he would eventually emerge stronger.


    However, at this moment, Tang San did not dare to utilize the life energy from the sea to replenish his master��s energy, as activating his divine consciousness was too dangerous. The tribtion clouds had yet topletely disperse, so caution was paramount.


    Therefore, he could only drag Zhang Haoxuan, swiftly swimming underwater back in the direction they hade from. He did not dare to surface.


    The marine creatures in the sea watched from afar, not approaching. Tang Sanhad retracted his divine consciousness, but he still emitted a familiar andforting aura. In addition, this part of the sea was shallow and close to the Daemon Continent, so there were no particrly powerful marine creatures present.


    Swimming was much slower than flying, and although Tang San''s speed in the sea was quite fast, it still took a considerable amount of time before he finally managed to drag Zhang Haoxuan ashore.


    Lying on the beach, listening to the echoing sound of the waves, Tang San was so exhausted that he did not even want to lift his fingers. After all, he was still only at the eighth order, and even with the vitality of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, he could still get tired.


    Zhang Haoxuan remained unconscious, but his body instinctively absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to replenish itself. He was overly exhausted and needed ample time to recover. The best course would be to return to Golden Valley to recuperate, but Tang San was physically drained and needed to rest first.


    At this moment, his mind was exceptionally clear. He recalled the entire process of Zhang Haoxuan breaking through to the god level. It was nothing more than the power of the ne testing him.


    In Tang San''s perception, this tribtion was much simpler than those he had faced in the Douluo Continent. When he was ascending to godhood, he had faced countless difficulties and challenges far beyond the scope of a heavenly tribtion. Of course, this was also rted to the high status of his godly seat. Ultimately, after great efforts, he had be a god, a part of the divine realm.


    In Tang San''s view, bing a god in this realm, or at least reaching that level of cultivation, was actually easy.


    In this ne, once a being reached the peak of the ninth order and triggered a tribtion, the chances of surviving the tribtion were actually quite high. Zhang Haoxuan was human, and humans'' physiques were significantly inferior to those of demons. Even so, with sufficient umtion and preparation, even without Tang San here today, he still would��ve had an eighty percent chance to pass the tribtion.


    This meant that the nar ruler supported the advancement of the ne��s beings, not only to protect the ne but also to facilitate its evolution.


    If this ne truly wished to ascend to the level of a divine realm, the most crucial aspect was a transformative breakthrough. Simply put, it required the emergence of a God King, like Tang San himself, or like his grandson Tang Xuanyu on Heavenly Dragon and Heavenly Horse. Thetter had be a God King and ultimately the new Dragon God, establishing a divine realm with the twins as a foundation.


    Purely from an energy level perspective, even the twinsbined could notpare to Fn, yet they had been able to advance and be a divine realm. Thus, the possibility of Fn achieving this was even greater. Moreover it would not be just any ordinary divine realm.


    So why had it not achieved this over so many years? What was the reason? It seemed there were some underlying issues on this ne. Otherwise, with such vast resources, there should have been no reason for it not to advance.


    Various thoughts wandered through Tang San''s mind; he knew he needed to understand all this to have a chance of transcending the tribtion and bing a god.


    Bing a god was essential for him, not just for a longer life, but also to regain his former strength. Only then could he take his wife back to their world and reunite with his family and friends.


    After resting for two hours, Tang San had fully recovered his strength. No longer feeling the oppressive force from the ne, he once again activated the Golden Roc Transformation, flying back to Golden Valley with Zhang Haoxuan.


    When Zhang Haoxuan awoke from his deep sleep, the first things he felt were warmth and vitality. A rich life energy enveloped him, giving him a cozy feeling all over. Though he felt a bit too weak to exert any strength, he was veryfortable.


    "Did I get struck dead?" Zhang Haoxuan mumbled bewilderedly.


    "Master, you''re very much alive," a familiar voice responded.


    Zhang Haoxuan steadied himself and then saw Tang San and the others from the Shrek Squad around him.


    He blinked, looked down at himself subconsciously, and saw that he was wearing a clean set of clothes, presumably changed by Tang San. More importantly, he seemed different.


    "Did I... Did I seed?" Zhang Haoxuan asked Tang San directly.


    Tang San nodded with a smile.


    At this moment, the mayor finally came to full consciousness, the excitement in his eyes undeniable. He had seeded, yes, he had truly seeded! He had ascended to the god level.


    He immediately got up, sat cross-legged, and silently felt the changes in his body.


    A faint golden halo instantly radiated from him, enhancing the warmth around him. His skin also took on a light golden hue, carrying a divine aura, which made the eyes of the Shrek Squad''s members burn with fervor.


    Ascending to godhood symbolized power, longevity, and the future. Even humans who became gods were highly sought after, should they choose to ally with powerful ns. For any demon or nymph n, a god-level powerhouse was greatly needed, as it added to the n''s heritage.


    Zhang Haoxuan had achieved the god level, which was quite a stimulus for them! Wu Bingji, in particr, was already at the eighth order, and he was getting closer and closer to that level. If the mayor could do it, so could he!


    Behind Zhang Haoxuan, a golden light gradually coalesced, transforming into a lion entirely engulfed in brilliant golden mes, very much like a Golden Lion.


    However, unlike Tang San''s "romantic rival," the Golden Lion Dog, the golden mes around Zhang Haoxuan were tinged with crimson. They were not the Golden Holy Fire of the Golden Lion n but a different type of me that also possessed a special property like those granted by a golden bloodline.


    The characteristic of the Golden Holy Fire was its ability to devour an enemy''s power and convert it into its own. On the other hand, the golden-crimson me that Zhang Haoxuan produced seemed to focus on pure heat, and they felt hot enough to even incinerate spiritual power.


    Now that he had reached the tenth order, Zhang Haoxuan��s bloodline had also evolved, and it was now at the second tier. Although there was still a gap between it and the pure bloodline of the Golden Lion n, it still made him stronger than the average lion demon who had reached the god level.


    This was directly rted to Zhang Haoxuan''s gradual buildup and enduring an extraordinarily powerful tribtion he should not have faced.


    "The mayor has reached the god level! That''s awesome; I can''t wait till I get there too," Du Bai said enviously as he gazed at Zhang Haoxuan.


    Gu Li scoffed and said, "Have some self-awareness. Even if I became a god right here and now, you still couldn''t make it."

 Chapter 307: Returning to the Great Beast Fighting Arena

    <h4>Chapter 307: Returning to the Great Beast Fighting Arena</h4>


    Du Bai, for once, did not argue.


    He sighed and said, "Yeah, I know!"


    He knew he possessed the greatest talent; the effects of the Celestial Fox Vision were undeniably powerful, at the very highest tier of bloodline powers.


    Yet precisely because of this, advancing the Celestial Fox Transformation was extremely challenging. He was not a demon, and his bloodline was naturally diluted. Cultivating to the seventh order was already a daunting task; he didn��t even want to think about what he needed to do to reach the tenth.


    Tang San patted Du Bai on the shoulder,forting him. "Take it one step at a time; don''t rush things."


    Du Bai nodded. "Mm-hmm. Cultivating here feels great with all this life energy nourishing me. I feel like my bloodline power is starting to stir."


    It wasn''t just him; Wu Bingji, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng also felt that cultivating in Golden Valley was beneficial. The dense life energy had an excellent nurturing effect on their bloodline powers. They understood that this life energy yed a crucial role in Zhang Haoxuan''s breakthrough.


    Tang San''s array continuously absorbed the spiritual energy from the Kali Mountain Range. The most impressive part of this array was that the Golden Tree at its core received the greatest nourishment. As the tree grew, it in turn enhanced the whole array, enabling it to draw spiritual energy from even farther away and creating a virtuous cycle. Therefore, not only was the Golden Tree growing, but its growth rate was consistently increasing. Given some time, it could easily grow into a towering tree. The life energy it emitted was immensely beneficial to all living beings.


    Tang San said, "While we��re preparing for the next group battles, let''s all cultivate here. Brother Du Bai, your goal is to break through to the sixth order during this time. And brother Gu Li, you should aim for the seventh order."


    "Yeah, I''ll do my best," Gu Li said confidently, pumping his fist. He was already at the peak of the sixth order, and just like Du Bai, he faced the challenge of insufficient bloodline concentration. But here, nourished by the life energy of the Golden Tree, he could feel himself nearing that threshold.


    The seventh order was also a tough challenge for him, but once he broke through, it would be a qualitative leap in his power. His control over time would significantly improve.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s meditation hadsted for two full days, and he needed to further stabilize his realm and heal his wounds. Even with the life energy from the Golden Tree, the injuries he had sustained during his tribtion required time to heal.


    Havingpleted his breakthrough to the eighth order, Tang San and hispanions, now fully rested, naturally nned to return to the Great Beast Fighting Arena to continue their battles.


    They were seven group battles away from bing nobles.


    What they didn''t know was that after theirst battle, as a team with three consecutive victories, their Shrek "Headshot" Squad had already gained some fame. Besides their strength, their human identity was a significant reason for their fame.


    Though Kali City was predominantly demon-inhabited, humans were the main vassal race. Hearing that a team of humans had won three group battles stirred significant excitement among them. Almost blindly, they became fans of the Shrek Headshot Squad.


    As a result, the Great Beast Fighting Arena got numerous inquiries daily from people who wanted to watch the matches of the Shrek Squad. Although human vassals couldn''tpete with demons in terms of wealth, there were still some among them who held higher status. Particrly among some of the gentler demon ns, the intelligence of humans was highly valued.


    Compared to demons, the human vassals were significantly oppressed, most living under continuous repression, and hence had a greater need to express their emotions. Yet, in a world dominated by demons, where could they freely express themselves? A single misstep could mean death, forcing them to live cautiously every day.


    Thus, when they learned that a human team had not only managed to defeat three teams of demons in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, but also marked their victories with resounding headshots, nothing could be more thrilling and exhrating for the human vassals. The audacious act of killing the demons that oppressed them felt truly satisfying.


    Consequently, even though the ticket prices were high, they were still eager to witness firsthand how their fellow humans overcame the powerful demons at the arena. It brought them a strong thrill and yearning��yearning for humans to rise.


    Even Tang San hadn''t anticipated this.


    Thus, when the Shrek Squad returned to the Great Beast Fighting Arena, they were immediately received warmly.


    It was still the same Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, but its attitude had greatly changed. "Wee back. Are you ready to take on the next challenge?"


    This time, it spoke of a "challenge," unlike before, when it seemed to see them as already dead.


    "When can it be arranged?" Wu Bingji asked.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape immediately replied, "It can be arranged right away. You��ll get a match tonight at the earliest. And just so you know, the tickets for your match are incredibly popr. Many of your fellow humans want to see your battle. It seems like they want to cheer you on."


    Hearing this, Wu Bingji paused, then turned to look at Tang San and his otherpanions. In that moment, a fiery light ignited in the eyes of him and the others.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape watched with a cold gaze, clearly noting the emotional shift among them. This was exactly why it had made that statement��to incite the squad to engage in more battles.


    For the Great Beast Fighting Arena, who won or lost was not important; what mattered was how to seize profits. A heated match, one that sparked discussions or even controversy, allowed for more betting opportunities.


    For example, it had been approved that, starting with the next match, bets would be ced on whether humans or demons would win.


    This type of racial rivalry betting carried the most passion, yet previously, humans had never had such an opportunity to see fellow humans go up against demons. Although human vassals were overall poor, they wererge in number! And demons would never bet on humans in such matchups. Naturally, the odds for humans would be higher. Thus, as long as the Shrek Squad kept winning, the Great Beast Fighting Arena would rake in huge profits. And if they lost, the arena would suffer no loss, as they merely took a cut from the bets. The more people bet, the more the arena earned.


    "Then please arrange that for us. Can we stay here before the match?" Wu Bingji asked. He didn''t want to spend more money on hotels, even though they had quite a bit of money now.


    "Of course, of course."


    After arranging amodations for the Shrek Squad, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape immediately went to set up the match.


    However, their battle ended up scheduled not for that evening but for the following. The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape exined that the organizers of theGreat Beast Fighting Arena needed time to prepare.


    The Shrek Squad residing within the Great Beast Fighting Arena did not know that news of their uing match had spread throughout Kali City almost immediately. And this news excited the human vassals.

 Chapter 308: Strength in Unity, the Dawn of Mankind

    <h4>Chapter 308: Strength in Unity, the Dawn of Mankind</h4>


    The betting windows at the Great Beast Fighting Arena were opened for battle duration bets and��in an extremely unusual disy��win-lose bets between humans and demons.


    Most human vassals couldn''t afford tickets to watch the matches, but they could certainly ce bets! Even if it was just one demonshard coin at a time, the amounts became quite significant when the bets started mounting in volume.


    Due to this match, Kali City saw a surge in betting that hadn''t been seen for a long time. Numerous human vassals flocked to the betting stations of the Great Beast Fighting Arena, cing their money on the Shrek Squad. The arena even extensively promoted the Shrek Squad��s past three fights, and there was a hint of deliberately highlighting the defeated demon squads. This naturally stirred more excitement among the humans and considerable discontent among the demons who were keen followers of the arena battles. The betting amounts soared.


    Tang San and his fourpanions were resting in their room, strategizing and adjusting their condition.


    The following day, they met the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape again. The ape told them that their victories had caused quite a sensation. This meant that if they won again, they would not only receive the guaranteed prize but also a cut from the bets that were ced, as well as from the ticket revenue.


    Their cut was one-thousandth in the fourth match, and with each consecutive victory, the cut would increase by five percent. This was the victor''s reward. Usually, this was a bonus only granted after six sessive victories, but due to their unique situation, it began with this match. After all, if humans could achieve ten consecutive wins and earn nobility status, it would be an incredibly stimting prospect for all human vassals.


    While the cut was just a mere thousandth, given the enormous total bet amount, it represented a significant figure.


    Of course, the biggest earner was still the Great Beast Fighting Arena, which charged a handling fee of ten percent of all bets.


    Wu Bingji and the others didn��t have a clear concept of the significance of these numbers, as they were unaware of the scale of the betting. However, Tang San knew that this could turn out to be a significant source of ie for them. Of course, that was contingent on winning the match. A defeat would mean certain death, and then there would be nothing to discuss.


    He also realized that the uing matches would likely not be easy to handle!


    As night fell, not only were the lights bright within the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Outside, it was also crowded with people.


    Guan Longjiang stood far off on the roof of a tall building. From his position, he could overlook the general situation around the arena.


    His eyes moistened when he saw the throngs of human vassals, many d in patched garments, surging toward the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    <i>What do humans need most? Hope, yes, that��s what they need most.</i>


    Living in a world dominated by demons and nymphs was like enduring an endless, sunless darkness and the cold of an eternal winter night.


    Had humans been creatures of low intelligence, perhaps the feeling wouldn��t be as pronounced. But precisely because they had that very intelligence the demons and nymphs loved to exploit, they yearned all the more to see the dawn.


    The Redemption Society had thus been established. However, the enemy they faced was overwhelmingly powerful. The formidable might of the demons and nymphs left humans without even a chance to breathe. Reduced to mere vassals, they could only gain some strength through the shameful reliance on bloodline inheritances from demons and nymphs.


    Life was exceedingly hard for humans in this world. While the humans with vassal status had better living conditionspared to ves, all of them carried a burden of shame. Their very existence meant that their mothers had endured the assault of a demon, and at the same time most of their mothers had been killed by demons once their bloodlines were confirmed. This deep-seated hatred meant human vassals could never truly align themselves with the demons or nymphs.


    Of course, these two powerful races did not need human allegiance; to them, humans were dispensable.


    And now, amidst this endless darkness and cold, a group of humans known as the Shrek Squad had brought a spark of me.


    Could this single spark start a prairie fire?


    That remained to be seen.


    The streets around the Great Beast Fighting Arena were filled with humans, except for the pathways cleared by the guards. They murmured and prayed, hoping for victory for their squad. Bound by their humanity, they harbored no doubts as they stood united with the Shrek Squad. Even knowing they might lose their savings and face massive disappointment, they still chose to bet in support.


    The human vassals did not bet on the duration of the battle but on the oue. Despite their poverty, in this moment, they were united as one!


    Guan Longjiang slowly sat down on the rooftop, tears ready to overflow from his eyes at the sight.


    <i>What a sight... What an unprecedented sight! Never before in human history were we this united. This unity is the true hope of humanity!</i>


    He had never imagined that the very thing he had vehemently opposed would evolve into this. Yet he deeply felt the me hidden within human hearts, the me of resistance against oppression.


    Although humans were still far from being a match for the demons and nymphs, at least they were not entirely submissive at heart. Given the chance, a real chance, humans could unite and stand as one.


    Taking a deep breath, Guan Longjiang''s expression gradually rxed. He clenched his fists subconsciously and murmured. "Go for it, kids. Perhaps, you''re about to perform a miracle. And whether you win or lose, the light of dawn you brought will not be extinguished. The rise of humanity has begun!"


    The match was about to start, and the Shrek Squad was once again brought into the waiting room.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, surprisingly, did not leave immediately but stared at them with a strange look.


    "Is there something else?" Wu Bingji asked.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape chuckled, "Nothing much, but I think it''s better to tell you something before you go in. Now, thousands of human vassals have gathered outside the Great Beast Fighting Arena, probably praying for your victory. Most of them have also bet on the oue of this match, all betting on you. You have no idea of your status now in the hearts of the human vassals of Kali City. It seems like they see hope in you."


    Upon hearing these words, the five members of the Shrek Squad were visibly shaken. Tang San''s gaze changed instantly. As clever as he was, he almost instantly grasped the key significance. A surge of indescribable excitement rose within him, stemming from one realization: humanity was not numb!


    For a race, the true horror was not envement but numbness. A numb poption was one without any chance of a better future. What did this gathering prove? It proved that within them burned an ember ready to turn into a ze at any moment.


    Across the Daemon Continent, there were many, many humans. If they could truly stand united, they would be a formidable force!


    Tang San showed no outward sign of his thoughts, but he understood that the Shrek Squad''s uing battle was no longer just for themselves. It was also to let the humans of Kali City truly see the dawn��a dawn that woulde from humanity itself.

 Chapter 309: The Earth Demon Ox and the Red-Crowned Crane

    <h4>Chapter 309: The Earth Demon Ox and the Red-Crowned Crane</h4>


    Bloodthirsty Demon Ape chuckled. "So, you''d better win, otherwise there''ll be a lot of disappointed humans! It''s about time, let''s go."


    As a demon, it didn''t realize how significant this event was for humans. After all, demons had always looked down upon the seemingly weak humans and would never expect them to harbor any spirit of resistance.


    Wu Bingji''s gaze was cold and resolute, and the four people following him each experienced different emotions. However, they all shared one burning sentiment: a sense of duty!


    The massive gate in front of them slowly opened, and a roar was heard. It sounded like abination of a mountain copsing and a tsunami striking the shore. This time, as Tang San and his friends saw the light outside, they also saw the gate of the Great Beast Fighting Arena opposite them opening at the same time.


    Yes, this time they were not making an early appearance, but were entering the arena simultaneously with their opponents. This also signified the arena''s recognition of their strength.


    "Let''s do this!" Wu Bingji clenched his fist and swung it powerfully.


    "Let''s do this!" the squad shouted in unison, then strode out into the arena with confidence.


    Cheers, restless noises, curses, and roars rose from the stands like a wave.


    The majority of the spectators in the stands were still demons. However, in an inconspicuous corner, a group of nearly a hundred humans, dressed somewhat more brightly, caught Tang San''s eye.


    They were also shouting something, but their voices werepletely drowned out by the demons'' roars. With his Purple Demon Eyes, Tang San could faintly make out their lips moving. "Go Shrek! Go humans!"


    He took a deep breath, a long-lost bitterness swirling in his heart as he said to himself,<i>Go humans!</i>


    At that moment, their opponents had also entered the arena.


    Unlike the previous fight where they faced opponents of the same race, this time, their five opponents were from different races.


    Leading the way were two burly male demons, each over three meters tall, with exceptionally broad shoulders and a pair of thick ck horns on their heads. Their skin was dark and rough, and their muscles looked like braided steel. They wore metal helmets but were bare-chested, and each held a weapon resembling a wooden post, engraved with blood-red markings.


    It didn��t take much thought for Tang San to identify their race: these were bovine demons, and their weapons were known as Totem Poles. These were powerful weapons blessed by their race through years of rituals. Judging by their stature and the Totem Poles they wielded, these two bovine demons were surely the backbone of their race, the Earth Demon Oxen!


    This n was heralded as one of the eight mightiest warrior ns of the Empyrean Dominion.


    The other seven were all ns belonging to powerful races. Meanwhile, the bovine demons were not considered strong, but the Earth Demon Oxen were an exception. They possessed the strength and resilience of their kind as well as formidable defenses, and they were fearless inbat. The Totem Poles in their hands symbolized the pinnacle of their lineage''s might.


    Bovine demons did not possess a golden bloodline; their rulers were the Totem Priests. The Earth Demon Oxen obeyed only themands of these priests. Armed with their Totem Poles, they were a terrifying presence on the battlefield.


    Only those Earth Demon Oxen of the seventh order or higher were eligible to wield a Totem Pole. The two oxen before the Shrek Squad were likely around the eighth order. Their gazes were cold, and their auras heavy. The Totem Poles in their hands emanated a bloody scent, as if containing a mysterious power.


    It was because of the Earth Demon Oxen that the other bovine demons could hold their ground in the Empyrean Dominion and avoid bing a vassal race like the pig demons.


    Fifty thousand Earth Demon Oxen warriors represented the true backbone of their race, possessing the strength to confront any mighty n head-on.


    Behind the two Earth Demon Oxen warriors, a tall, slender male walked in the center. It looked very human-like, and its lean figure was outlined by a white suit. Its white hair had a streak of red. Its eyes were narrow and flickered with cold light. It held a long sword in its hand, not an ordinary weapon but one empowered by an array and exuding a chilling aura.


    Was this a Red-Crowned Crane?


    Red-Crowned Cranes were one of the noblest races, one led by a Demon Emperor.Theys possessed high intelligence and a natural talent for wielding weapons, particrly swords. In fact, the Demon Emperor of the Red-Crowned Crane lineage was also known as the Sword Saint Demon Emperor.


    Although few in number, nearly all Red-Crowned Cranes were formidable. The one in the arena right now was definitely at the ninth order.


    Just looking at these three, one could imagine that Tang San and hispanions were up against carefully selected opponents once more today.


    Following the Red-Crowned Crane, there were two fox demons. These were unlike any Tang San had ever seen. One was male and one female, both with gray hair and tails, and upon closer inspection, one could notice the strange deep blue tips of their grayish-white fur.


    <i>Are they... Blue Foxes? They��re masters of spiritual power and have amazing support abilities!</i>


    Tang San''s gaze swept over the five opponents. This battle would not be easy! The toughest to deal with was the Red-Crowned Crane, a quasi-first-tier bloodline at the ninth order.


    Even among those of the ninth order, differences in bloodline tiers resulted in vast disparities in strength. The Red-Crowned Cranes were considered quasi-first-tier because the Sword Saint Demon Emperor that led the n was ranked lower among the Demon Emperors, and the emperor status involved more than just bloodline power.


    The reason few registered for the team battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, aside from the near-certain death for the losers, was that only the truly strong dared to sign up. Without top-tier strength, who would risk their life? Moreover, those who did were often desperados, the type who valued money over life, willing to gamble it all in the team battle.


    Though not perfect, the opponent''s teambination was obviously potent. The Red-Crowned Crane was likely their strongest, while the Earth Demon Oxen wielding the Totem Poles for both attack and defense were also extremely formidable. The two Blue Foxes'' support abilities could not be underestimated either, and together, they undoubtedly enhanced the team''s overall strength.


    Tang San murmured, ��Senior brother, I��ll take on the Red-Crowned Crane. The rest are up to you.��


    Wu Bingji turned to him. "Should we go with Snowstorm? "


    He, too, had noted the strength of their opponents.


    Tang San shook his head and said, ��The Earth Demon Oxen��s Totem Poles might have some dispelling abilities. Snowstorm might not affect them much. Plus, they have support. Use your icicles against the Earth Demon Oxen. They know we have a teleportation array disc and probably won��t stray far from those two Blue Fox demons. The Red-Crowned Crane will probably be the main offense. I��ll hold off the Red-Crowned Crane while you guys attack from a distance. If we take down the Red-Crowned Crane, the other four won��t be much of a problem. Brother Gu Li, and sister Cheng Zicheng, try to disrupt the Blue Foxes'' support abilities.��


    ��Got it!�� Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng nodded in agreement.


    The tactical setup didn''t take long, and soon, the announcer��s familiar, high-pitched voice filled the stands.


    ��Today��s battle promises to be a spectacle. Will the Shrek Squad continue their streak of decisive victories, or will the Sword Demon Squad advance? Let��s wait and see. The betting for the battle��s duration is now open. The match will start momentarily!��


    The wait was longer than expected, leading both teams to eye each other intently. The Red-Crowned Crane��s gaze was locked onto Wu Bingji, clearly identifying him as the core of his team from the information they had gathered. With his eighth-order cultivation and continuous defeating of ninth-order opponents, his icicles had left a deep impression in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Indeed, the Shrek Squad��s reputation for decisive victories was almost entirely due to him.

 Chapter 310: Fusion

    <h4>Chapter 310: Fusion</h4>


    "Let the battle... begin!"


    Atst, with the announcer''s loud call, the fourth team battle of the Shrek Squad officiallymenced.


    Both sides'' auras surged instantaneously. Leading the charge, the two Earth Demon Oxen raised their Totem Poles high and charged toward the Shrek Squad.


    Following them closely were the two Blue Fox Demons, their steps light and tails swishing quickly as they advanced. It was evident from the blue gleam in their eyes that they were activating their bloodline abilities.


    The Red-Crowned Crane, however, remained unmoved. Suddenly, a pair of pristine wings unfurled behind it.


    Obviously, the Red-Crowned Crane could fly! The unassuming longsword in its handspletely lost its sheen, turning dark. The demon fixed its chilling gaze on Wu Bingji, giving him the unnerving sensation of a thorn in his back.


    On the Shrek Squad''s side, Cheng Zicheng spread her wings and soared into the sky at the same time. The others also unleashed their own Demonic God Transformations.


    Wu Bingji raised a hand, and two icicles shot toward the two Earth Demon Oxen.


    Not caught off guard, the Earth Demon Oxen smashed their Totem Poles against the ground as they charged.


    Apanied by two booming sounds, the runes on the Totem Poles burst into dazzling light, sending a shockwave over a vast area. The two icicles exploded abruptly, ejecting forwards a second time, almost instantly burrowing into the midst of the shockwave. However, at that moment, the Totem Poles suddenly erged, blocking the path of the icicles. The icicles lost their luster, a sign that the ice elemental energy supporting them was weakening, and they were shattered in the next instant.


    Just as Tang San had anticipated, these Totem Poles indeed possessed the ability to disperse energy. This was not limited to scattering the elemental energy in the air; it also scattered various negative effects and energy-based attacks as well. It wasn''t as thorough as elemental stripping, but it was quite remarkable in its ability to block attacks instantly within a certain range.


    Then, two beams of light lit up from the hands of the Blue Foxes behind the Earth Demon Oxen, and two streaks of blue lightnded on the oxen. Suddenly, the bodies of the Earth Demon Oxen expanded, and they let out a deep bellow, their eyes instantly turning blood red.


    Bloodthirst!


    The three-meter-tall Earth Demon Oxen grew further to over four meters. The Totem Poles in their hands were raised high, then crashed down a second time. With an ear-splitting roar, the resulting shockwave surged toward the Shrek Squad like an avnche.


    A halo appeared beneath the feet of the Shrek Squad; in an instant, they had vanished into thin air, leaving only the shockwave sweeping past where they had once stood.


    Almost immediately, Wu Bingji fired two icicles from his hands again, this time at the Blue Foxes.


    But just then, a figure swooped down almost instantaneously, unleashing a sharp de of sword energy that it burst forth like a cold star, heading straight for Wu Bingji.


    Before the sword even reached him, Wu Bingji felt as though he had already been pierced, his whole body shivering with a sudden chill.


    Time Freeze!


    The diving figure paused mid-air, and just then, another figure silently positioned itself in front of Wu Bingji. It was Tang San!


    Before anyone noticed, Tang San had already summoned a warhammer in his hand, the Sky Shatterer!


    He spun around, swinging the hammer directly at his opponent.


    There was a crisp sound, and Tang San''s body shook violently. His Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer was interrupted, but the diving figure was also sent flying backward, flipping in the air and stabilizing himself with wings unfurled.


    The two icicles were flying toward the Blue Foxes when suddenly, a bizarre scene unfolded. The figures of the two Blue Foxes turned ethereal and, with a fierce leap forward, they merged into two Earth Demon Oxen, causing two blue lights to shine above their heads.


    The Totem Poles shook the ground, and under the burst of power, the icicles shattered.


    <i>Fusion?</i>


    Under the fusion with the Blue Foxes, the bloodthirsty crimson in the eyes of the Earth Demon Oxen was instantly reced by blue. The madness had faded away, yet their formidable strength remained intact.


    Witnessing this, the members of the Shrek Squad realized that today''s battle would be troublesome. The Great Beast Fighting Arena had not just chosen a powerful squad to face them, but also learned from the previous errors and picked a more appropriate opponent for the Shrek Squad��s abilities.


    The "Sword" in the Sword Demon Squad��s name referred to the Red-Crowned Crane, while the "Demon" wasn��t just the Earth Demon Oxen, but their fusion with the Blue Foxes.


    After the Earth Demon Oxen swung down their Totem Poles with ground-shaking might, their bodies surged with blue light, and their speed increased dramatically as they charged at the Shrek Squad with the power of andslide. With each step forward, their aura grew stronger, and the pressure intensified. In their fused state, the two Earth Demon Oxen clearly possessed strength nearing the ninth order, with no weakness in either physical or spiritual power.


    Tang San''s brow furrowed. The sword energy of the Red-Crowned Crane was not easily blocked. Having parried one strike, he could distinctly feel the intense prative nature of the opponent''s sword energy as its sharp aura threatened to wreak havoc inside him. He knew that in order to win today, he would need to bring his true skills to the forefront.


    With an indifferent expression, the Red-Crowned Crane shed forward again, not trying to circumvent Tang San. In its hands, the dark longsword conjured a myriad of sword lights, heading straight for Tang San. Meanwhile, Wu Bingji, along with Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng, faced the two Earth Demon Oxen.


    The true test of the team battle seemed to have finally arrived with this fight.


    Wu Bingji''s expression was solemn. Ice formed under his feet, creating a frost path that spread out horizontally. He had used this ability during his first sparring session with Tang San; his control over the ice element was greater while on the frost path, and he could move swiftly.


    As he practiced condensing ice needles, it wasn��t just his ability to create icicles that had improved��his mastery over the ice element had also grown exponentially, enabling him to perform once unimaginable feats.


    Gu Li did not use his tail hammer to strike the opponents. After all, he was only at the sixth order; no matter how refined his Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer was, it couldn��t allow his sixth-order physique to sh with someone close to the ninth order. Instead, his eyes shimmered, and a pale yellow halo rose, suddenly elerating Wu Bingji''s movement.


    Du Bai quickly ran to the side. The array disc required a cooldown period after each use before it could teleport again; it couldn��t be used continuously. He naturally needed to keep his distance as he did not have directbat abilities.


    In the sky, Cheng Zicheng''s delicate body spun rapidly, like a golden wheel whirling at high speed, as her Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh gathered momentum for a powerful attack.


    The two Earth Demon Oxen and Wu Bingji were charging straight at each other.Suddenly, the Earth Demon Oxen��s steps paused, and this pause caused the shockwave in front of them to disperse somewhat.


    It was the Chrono Croc Transformation ability, Time Freeze!


    At the same time, Wu Bingji quickly sidestepped, a spear of ice already formed in his hand.


    The ice spear shot out like lightning, tracing a beautiful arc through the air.


    The Earth Demon Oxen almost immediately regained their ability to move. Bolstered by the Blue Foxs, their mental defenses were very strong, and Time Freeze could only stop them for a very brief moment.


    The Earth Demon Ox on the left swung its Totem Pole at the ice spear.


    But it was toote; the ice spear had already detonated in mid-air, the explosion propelling it forward with even greater speed.


    Second eleration!

 Chapter 311: Crisis of the Shrek Squad

    <h4>Chapter 311: Crisis of the Shrek Squad</h4>


    The light on the Totem Pole burst forth, scattering the elemental energy once more. But this time, the icicle was not so easily destroyed.


    Affected by the energy dispersing property of the Totem Pole, the light radiating from the icicle dimmed slightly, but in the next instant, it still struck the Earth Demon Ox.


    Suddenly, a blue energy barrier appeared on the Earth Demon Ox��s skin. The icicle exploded, and the Earth Demon Ox stiffened, halting in ce. However, the icicle only immobilized it and could not pierce through.


    It was the Blue Fox Shield!


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zicheng, who had been spinning and gathering strength in the air, instantly descended from the sky, charging straight toward the halted Earth Demon Ox.


    Gu Li''s Time Freeze was activated again, causing the other Earth Demon Ox to pause while he quickly retreated. He was supporting Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng and needed to maintain a reasonable distance.


    Wu Bingji had stepped onto the icy path and already shifted back again; with a sweep of his right hand, an ice wall was erected in front of the second Earth Demon Ox.


    The ice wall exploded instantly, not shattered by the opponent, but deliberately detonated by Wu Bingji for maximum impact. The shockwave before the Earth Demon Oxrgely dissipated, and the demon paused once more. Its unstoppable-looking charge had been interrupted.


    On their side, a full-scale battle of three against four had broken out, while on the other side, Tang San was engaged inbat with the Red-Crowned Crane.


    The ability of the longsword in the hands of the Red-Crowned Crane was pure pration. This sword was not crafted by any master artisan, but transformed from the crane��s long beak.


    In other words, the sword of the Red-Crowned Crane was one with itself, and it was constantly tempered as the crane demon cultivated. Every thrust was incredibly fast and carried an aura of overwhelming power that seemed to be able to pierce all defenses with a single strike.


    However, the crane demon did not fare well in its first sh with Tang San. Sky Shatterer''s inherent pulverization ability made it quite ufortable.


    This ability was not quite enough to directly damage its sword, but the vibrations it caused actually disrupted its sword energy and weakened its attack.


    But the second attack was different; it was incredibly fast, and the sword energy beams swiftly covered Tang San. Clearly, the Red-Crowned Crane was not going for a direct sh; rather, it was trying to strike Tang San from a distance.


    Tang San��s silhouette, however, suddenly became elusive as the sword beams neared him. His movements createdyers of ovepping images that disoriented the Red-Crowned Crane. With that, the sword beams pierced nothing but empty space.


    <i>Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!</i>


    Then, Tang San did a pirouette, using the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer to swing the heavy hammer directly at the Red-Crowned Crane.


    A blue light shimmered on the surface of Sky Shatterer as Tang San unleashed a Wind Astral that covered the area.


    Hisses filled the air as the Wind Astral was pierced by sword energy. The Red-Crowned Crane nimbly dodged, evading Tang San''s Sky Shatterer. At the same time, due to being bolstered by the wind element, Tang San''s Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track was incredibly fast, not allowing the sword energy to get close. Thus, they quickly became entangled in battle.


    The Red-Crowned Crane was shocked. It wouldn''t have mattered much if it were just the opponent''s speed. But the key was the opponent''s miraculous movement technique, which made it impossible for its sword intent to lock onto him.


    The Red-Crowned Crane''s prowessy in its sword;its sword intent, energy, and aura were incredibly strong. It would break any ability of the opponent with its sword��that was the way of its lineage. But an opponent it couldn''t lock onto, coupled with the extraordinary power of that heavy hammer, made it feel at a loss for how to proceed. It was truly reluctant to sh head-on with Tang San.


    In the view of the Red-Crowned Crane, Tang San was skilled but weak, and the much greater threat was the opponent using icicles. However, it was now forced to reevaluate the situation.


    The audience in the stands also noticed the strange situation. Tang San, who had been unremarkable in the earlier group battles, now disyed amazing closebat skills. He was now stubbornly engaging the Red-Crowned Crane, which was known for its own closebat mastery, without seeming to be at a disadvantage. How could this not be astonishing?


    However, the situation of the others in the Shrek Squad was not as good. The Earth Demon Oxen, possessed by a Blue Fox each, were proving to be quite troublesome.


    The ice did not affect the Earth Demon Ox that Cheng Zicheng attacked for long. It swung its Totem Pole with the sheer force of a tornado sting through the air. Each heavy collision sent Cheng Zicheng flying, and although her Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh left marks on the Totem Pole, the bacsh on her was even greater. After three consecutive collisions, she had to fly up to get herself together, and her wings trembled. If she used the same attack once more, she could end up unable to fly anymore.


    After breaking through the ice wall, the other Earth Demon Ox, though affected by Wu Bingji''s various ice-based skills, continued to charge forward steadily. Relying on its formidable defense and terrifying power, it moved toward Gu Li. Wu Bingji was fast and had control of the ice element, but Gu Li was not as quick!


    What was even more terrifying was that the bodies of these two Earth Demon Oxen kept growingrger amid battle, seemingly under the effect of a progressive enhancement ability. Their strength was bing increasingly fearsome, and they were inching ever closer to the ninth order.


    At such a time, the weakness of the Shrek Squad became evident��theycked someone who could stand against the enemy head-on. Wu Bingji didn''t have enough time to build up power to show off his full control over the ice element. He had to constantly use various ice walls and shields to slow the enemy''s advance.


    Gu Li''s Time Freeze was powerful, but the gap in cultivation limited his control over the opponent. Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh was sharp, yet facing the formidable Totem Pole, she could only use her speed advantage to harass her opponent. She was barely managing to hold back one Earth Demon Ox. That was the most her seventh-order cultivation could achieve.


    The Earth Demon Ox was getting closer to Gu Li, and the continuous use of Time Freeze was draining his spiritual power considerably. His mind raced, constantly devising strategies, but he knew all too well that his tail hammer stood no chance against their Totem Poles.


    Meanwhile, Du Bai, watching from afar, could only fret as he dared not enter the battlefield, with neither the Spirit Elevation Array nor the teleportation array avable to use. He had already bestowed his luck enhancement on hispanions earlier, and now he could only watch helplessly as they fell into peril.


    He began to doubt himself. His premonition had clearly indicated that today''s match would be without risk. Yet, the situation was rapidly deteriorating before his eyes.


    Although Tang San entangled his opponent using the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, the opponent''s sword energy was bing increasingly fierce. Being able to withstand such a ninth-order powerhouse, Tang San had already demonstrated great strength. What more could be asked of him?


    <i>What should I do? What can I do?</i>


    Du Bai''s heart trembled incessantly. The Celestial Fox Transformation was regarded as a top-tier bloodline, yet with his meager fifth-order cultivation, he found himself utterly powerless now. It was just like when they faced the Winged Tiger: he could only helplessly watch hispanions in distress.


    Tang San''s situation was indeed bing increasingly dire. The Red-Crowned Crane''s sword energy beams crisscrossed menacingly. Although it feared his Sky Shatterer, its pervasive sword energy beams were causing the space he had for his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to shrink. Even the fragmented bits of sword energy, if they prated his body, could cause harmful effects inside him. The sword energy seemed almost alive and it attacked him relentlessly, each blow lingering in the air for at least two seconds. Even worse, the energy beams were multiplying, and Tang San felt as if more and more opponents were besieging him.


    This Red-Crowned Crane was indeed formidable! The reason it was unwilling to sh directly with him was not that it was afraid, but rather to stall for time, as its squad mates were clearly gaining the upper hand on the other side of the battlefield.


    Was Tang San really out of options against his opponent?


    Of course not.

 Chapter 312: Bloodline Burning

    <h4>Chapter 312: Bloodline Burning</h4>


    Du Bai''s premonition was not wrong; if Tang San went all out, he could naturally win this battle all by himself. However, faced with such a situation, Tang San did not rush to unleash his power. Instead, he hoped hispanions would truly forge themselves under this pressure. In the Great Beast Fighting Arena, they faced real life-or-death threats.


    In the face of death, one can either cower in fear or burst forth with all one��s might!


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Gu Li finally met head-on with the Earth Demon Ox. Despite the hindrance of the ice shield and the effect of Time Freeze, the Totem Pole finally arrived. And the moment Gu Li��s tail hammer collided with the opponent''s weapon, he was unsurprisingly sted into the air.


    The scales on the surface of the tail hammer cracked, clearly dented, and Gu Li was thrown onto the ground. Although his defense wasmendable, the impact was simply too severe. Blood spurted from his mouth, a sign of internal injuries.


    Seeing Gu Li being sted away, Wu Bingji felt a rush of blood to his head and roared in anger. The aura of the ice element around him surged. His figure flickered, and like lightning, he charged toward the Earth Demon Ox, aiming his ice spear directly at the opponent��s waist.


    The corner of the Earth Demon Ox''s mouth revealed a cold smirk. It had been waiting for this, as it most enjoyed closebat.


    The Totem Pole in its hand smashed toward the ground like lightning, and with a dull thud, the ground cracked open. The terrifying shockwave flung Wu Bingji into the air, and what was more horrifying was the dispersing effect it had, which significantly weakened the ice fog around Wu Bingji''s body.


    The Earth Demon Ox used the recoil force to bring his Totem Pole up and swing horizontally, aiming directly for Wu Bingji��s midsection. Given Wu Bingji''sck of defensive capabilities, a hit would almost certainly be fatal.


    But just then, a streak of golden light swiftly dove down and scooped up the soaring Wu Bingji��it was Cheng Zicheng.


    Seeing herpanions in danger, she immediately abandoned her own opponent toe to their aid.


    However, the other Earth Demon Ox had no intention of pursuing her; instead, it charged directly toward Gu Li, who was lying on the ground in the distance.


    With the Blue Foxes''s empowerment, the Earth Demon Oxen handled the battle with extreme precision. Any reduction in their opponents'' numbers virtually guaranteed their defeat in such group fights. Gu Li, who possessed the Chrono Croc Transformation, was particrly troublesome; thus, they decided to eliminate him first.


    Held aloft by Cheng Zicheng, Wu Bingji quickly regained hisposure. His eyes sparkled with a cold light; he knew that their team might copse without a breakthrough, and he would have to watch as each of hispanions fell in battle.


    A purple-golden light flickered in his eyes, elevating his spiritual power to its peak.


    "Chengzi, let go of me. Move away."


    Hearing this, Cheng Zicheng released her hold. She could feel that Wu Bingji had changed somehow in that instant.


    A sudden burst of icy blue light exploded from Wu Bingji. The dazzling icy blue halo instantly blossomed, seeming to drop the temperature of the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena at that moment.


    As the team captain and the eldest brother to all, Wu Bingji had only one mission: to ensure that his junior brothers and sisters would survive and return.


    His spiritual power burned, and his bloodline power boiled. The ice elemental energy surrounding him churned wildly, and Wu Bingji suddenly floated in mid-air, supported by this energy.


    He swung his right hand, and a beam of icy blue light descended from the sky and struck not the opponent but Gu Li.


    Instantly, solid ice enveloped the area, forming what looked like an ice coffin around Gu Li. The next moment, Wu Bingji was sent flying by the Earth Demon Oxen. The ice coffin cracked but remarkably did not shatter, a testament to the ice''s resilience.


    A blue me also rose from Wu Bingji in that instant��his bloodline power was ignited! He was fighting desperately now. The burning of his bloodline power would significantly increase his strength temporarily. On the other hand, he would suffer severe aftereffects, and if the burningsted too long, his bloodline power might even dry up and cause him to die.


    But at that moment, he could no longer concern himself with the consequences. All he thought about was defeating his opponents.


    Burning one''s bloodline power was not something just anyone could achieve; only those with powerful bloodlines had the foundation, and they also needed sufficiently strong spiritual power to stimte the bloodline power to that extent.


    Faced with a life-or-death crisis, as he saw hispanions about to be in by the enemy, Wu Bingji finally resorted to this ability. An ice spear suddenly formed in his hand, as clear and bright as a piece of blue crystal. His burning bloodline power crazily surged into the spear.


    When the ice spear appeared, the two Earth Demon Oxen on the ground looked up at him almost simultaneously. Even the Red-Crowned Crane, who was busy dealing with Tang San, momentarily paused its attacks as it felt a strong sense of danger emanating from above.


    The burning icy blue mes looked ever so magnificent in the air.


    It was a disy of determination and, even more so, of true do-or-die resolution.


    Wu Bingji was powering the ice spear in his hand with his own life.


    "Eldest brother!!!"


    Cheng Zicheng, who was closest to him, could feel the life force rapidly draining from Wu Bingji.


    Ever since she first met Wu Bingji, she had been deeply attracted to him. He always smiled gently and cared for every one of his junior brothers and sisters. He helped them with their problems and guided them in cultivation. He was in every way a true big brother to all the students and was admired by everyone for his strength and willingness to help; everyone liked him.


    The naive girl didn''t know the exact moment that her heart had silently pledged itself to him, but as she grew older, her affection deepened.


    She once heard Teacher Mu Yunyu say that fondness was like a gentle love, and love was like a deep fondness. She wasn''t sure if her fondness was deep enough, but she always knew that being with him made her especially happy.


    Now, as she felt Wu Bingji''s life force draining away and sensed the impending aura of death in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, the love in her heart seemed to explode, igniting her soul.


    On the ground, blue light flickered in the eyes of two Earth Demon Oxen��clearly a sign of the Blue Foxes enhancing their intelligence. They instantly sensed the immense threat that Wu Bingji posed right now. They suddenly ran toward each other, one Earth Demon Ox hoisting its Totem Pole horizontally while the other leaped andnded on it.


    With all its might, the Earth Demon Ox on the ground flung the immense body of the other upward, hurling it straight at Wu Bingji, who was about ten meters above the ground. At the same time, the one being flung used a stomping ability tounch itself upward at top speed. The Totem Pole in its hand zed with light, ready to unleash its power. Its aim was simple: interrupting Wu Bingji''s attack and knocking him down from the sky.


    "AAAHHH!!!"


    Just then, a scream erupted, and immediately after, the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena lit up as if a small sun had suddenly appeared in the sky. The blinding golden light forced all the spectators to focus on it.


    The golden stream of light, spinning like a tornado of falling meteors, collided instantly with the soaring Earth Demon Ox.


    Amid a fierce roar, the Totem Pole in the Earth Demon Ox''s hand was brutally shed in half, and its sturdy chest burst with blood as its massive body plummeted to the ground.


    The golden figure was also flung away, crashing into the distance.


    Just then, a bright azure light descended from the sky, chasing after the falling Earth Demon Ox and vanishing in a sh, as if piercing through heaven and earth.

 Chapter 313: The Chunk of Metal Meets The Chunk of Flesh

    <h4>Chapter 313: The Chunk of Metal Meets The Chunk of Flesh</h4>


    The mighty body of the Earth Demon Ox momentarily froze in the sky, a bizarre scene unfolding around it. Attached to it was a male Blue Fox, who seemed to be trying to separate from the Earth Demon Ox. But no sooner had it begun to detach than both their bodies turned into blue ice sculptures, plummeting from the sky and crashing fiercely onto the ground.


    The blue mes around on Wu Bingji flickered out almostpletely as he, too, fell from the sky, having exerted all his strength in that strike.


    From a distance, Cheng Zicheng abruptly paused in mid-air before finallynding. The brief halt in time saved her from further injury from the fall, but her golden wings had vanished, and her arms hung limply at her sides, indicating she was utterly drained of the strength to fight. Her face was pale, and blood trickled from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.


    <i>Roar��</i>


    The eyes of the other Earth Demon Ox, which had initially been blue, instantly turned red. It acutely sensed the disappearance of itspanion''s aura, and naturally, the Blue Fox inside it also felt the presence of its kin vanishing. Wu Bingji''s spear had instantly annihted the duo.


    Sword Demon Squad, two down.


    The Earth Demon Ox strode forward with its thick legs, madly charging toward the soon-tond Wu Bingji. But a swiftly spinning figure emitting a piercing screech suddenly blocked its path.


    The figure spinning at high speed was radiating intense bloodline fluctuations, and it seemed as if everything around him was distorting.


    The Earth Demon Ox raised its Totem Pole horizontally, ignoring its opponent and continued to charge forward.


    "Freeze!", a voice bellowed angrily. The Earth Demon Ox charging forward suddenly came to an absolute halt.


    The rapidly spinning figure had already charged up.The next instant, it was as if the distorted light around him shattered to pieces. The tail hammer, having spun countless times, smashed fiercely onto the hefty Earth Demon Ox, whipping it into the air and toward the "ice sculptures" on the ground.


    "Burst!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The ice sculptures suddenly exploded just as the Earth Demon Ox plummeted toward them. The violent st made the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena quake.


    The Earth Demon Ox was sted dozens of meters away by the blow. It crashed hard onto the ground, and a blue figure was flung out from its body.


    The rapidly spinning figure also fell to the ground. Gu Li��s face was pale as he fell into unconsciousness. He had nearly blown apart his own sea of consciousness in the effort to freeze time and set up Wu Bingji''s final Ice Burst.


    Wu Bingji, too, had copsed to the ground; though he had burned his bloodline power, he had notpletely exhausted it. However, he looked as if he had aged a decade, and hecked even the strength to stand.


    A light flickered, and Du Bai teleported to their side, quickly activating the Spirit Elevation Array to replenish their depleted energy.


    No one had expected the battle to turn out this way; the previously overwhelmed Shrek Squad had suddenly unleashed their power, managing to kill an Earth Demon Ox and a Blue Fox and severely injuring another pair. However, this all-out effort had left three of them powerless and injured to varying degrees.


    A piercing cry came from afar as the sword energy swirling around Tang San erupted violently. The Red-Crowned Crane was unable to hold back any longer after witnessing its teammates'' deaths. Its dark longsword struck like lightning toward Tang San, letting out a flurry of energy beams. Not only that, but all the energy in the air seemed to converge on the sword instantly, significantly enhancing its dark glow and carrying unstoppable sword energy straight toward Tang San''s chest.


    The constricting cage of sword energy made it nearly impossible for Tang San to dodge; the powerful sword energy seemed like it was going to pierce right through him.


    The spinning form of Tang San grew stiff under the influence of the sword energy, rendering him unable to execute the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer any longer.


    The refined swordsmanship of the Red-Crowned Crane actually countered the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer to some extent; the power-oriented hammer technique was at a disadvantage against the prating sword aura.


    As the sword thrust toward him, it seemed that Tang San couldn��t pull Sky Shatterer back in time to block


    The ck longsword was about to pierce him.


    ��No, Little Tang, no!�� Du Bai yelled out. His eyes swirled with white light, his emotions instantly turning frantic. From his eyes shot a violet-gold light, the power of the Purple Demon Eyes.


    However, the mental shock of the Purple Demon Eyes had a limited range of effect, diminishing with distance. At that moment, Du Bai had just teleported next to Wu Bingji and Gu Li, far from Tang San��s battlefield.


    A full burst of spiritual power only caused the Red-Crowned Crane to stiffen for a moment, but the longsword in its hand still reached right in front of Tang San.


    In that instant, whether it was Du Bai, Wu Bingji, or the faltering Cheng Zicheng, their eyes widened and their pupils shrank.


    Was Tang San going to die? Only they knew that Tang San was the true heart of their group! Without Tang San, they wouldn''t even have the courage to stand here, let alone the strength. If Tang San were to fall, then today, they were almost certainly doomed!


    Although they also fought fiercely and did their share, Tang San had just advanced to the eighth order of cultivation, yet he was single-handedly holding back a ninth-order Red-Crowned Crane. He was the most crucial part of the team.


    Just as all the spectators thought this brutal team battle was about to end, time seemed to slow down. A strong, white hand unexpectedly appeared in front of the dark longsword, seizing the de.


    The determined, unstoppable aura of the hand paused midair, its motion and stillness strikingly abrupt. Yet, the white hand was so steady, as if cast from bronze and iron, preventing the longsword from advancing even an inch further.


    <i>How is that possible?</i> That was everyone''s first thought. But the face of the Red-Crowned Crane revealed a cruel smile. All the sword energy previously absorbed and stored in the dark longsword exploded in that instant, crazily surging into Tang San''s body.


    The Red-Crowned Crane was confident that even a god-level fighter would be severely injured if struck by so much of its sword energy, let alone this opponent who was not even at the ninth order.


    However, it was suddenly astonished to see that the other party was also smiling��yes, there was a mocking smile on Tang San��s face. Then it was horrified to discover that all the sword energy it had released had vanished as if sinking into the ocean. After entering Tang San��s body, it had simply disappeared.


    <i>Not good!</i>


    Its first reaction was to withdraw its longsword, but at such a moment, who would allow it to do that?


    A massive hammer fell from the sky, whistling through the air with ferocious momentum.


    "No way!" the Red-Crowned Crane shrieked. It wanted to just let go of its sword and retreat, but at that moment, a strong suction force suddenly came from its sword. It felt the bloodline power within its body suddenly drain, as if it were being absorbed by the sword, and it was unable to break free immediately.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Sky Shatterer was made of metal, and the head of the Red-Crowned Crane was, after all, made of flesh.


    <i>What happens when a chunk of metal meets a chunk of flesh?</i>


    Thus, the Shrek Squad added another ghost to their roster of headshots.

 Chapter 314: A Victory for Humanity

    <h4>Chapter 314: A Victory for Humanity</h4>


    The head of the Red-Crowned Crane exploded like a smashed watermelon, yet not a speck of blood touched Tang San, as Wind Astral burst forth from him.


    He now firmly grasped the dark longsword that had fallen into his hands.


    In that instant, the arena fell silent. Even the Earth Demon Ox and the female Blue Fox , who had just managed to stagger to their feet, were struck dumb.


    <i>A counter-kill? He actually pulled off a counter-kill? How did he manage that? How is this possible?</i>


    This was the collective thought of pretty much all the spectators. Even Du Bai, who had just exhausted himself using the Purple Demon Eyes, was gaping. Wu Bingji blinked in shock, and Cheng Zicheng copsed to the ground, gasping for breath.


    The counter-kill looked simple; Tang San��s only actions were to grab the iing sword with one hand and then smash the opponent��s head with his hammer. The fight was over just like that!


    But was it really that simple?


    The hand that grasped the sword was reinforced by the Mysterious Jade Hands, and the Peacock Demon bloodline��s teleportation power dissolved the sword energy that tried to prate his body. Under the exquisite control of Tang San��s spiritual power, the overwhelming sword energy was teleported outside his body, rendered harmless.


    The formidable force carried by that sword was neutralized by the seventh bloodline imprint within him, the one he had gotten from the ninth-order elephant demon. This was followed by the Mysterious Heaven Technique, which prevented the enemy from leaving and absorbed its energy. Finally, one strike from that monstrously heavy hammer had put an end to the matter.


    In that brief moment, Tang San employed a multitude of abilities to achieve that instantaneous counter-kill. What seemed like a simple act was actually abination of his true capabilities.


    He had to not only kill his opponent but also do so in a way that all the spectators could notprehend. The Red-Crowned Crane with a quasi-first-tier bloodline thus fell then and there. Even its bloodline power was absorbed by Tang San and preserved within him.


    Tang San lifted his head and looked at the Earth Demon Ox and the female Blue Fox who had just risen. He slowly began walking toward them.


    Tang San was very satisfied with the oue of today''s group battle. At the brink of life and death, his allies had unleashed their full potential. This was the true trial and the real improvement. It was the best motivation for them to keep moving forward. And he himself was the guarantor of the whole team''s safety. Had his friends faced a life-or-death crisis, he would have erupted earlier. The worst-case scenario would be revealing his ability to teleport. But with the array disc in ce, it was unlikely that his bloodline abilities would be suspected. Of course, it would be best if such situations did not ur, as that was not what Tang San wished to see.


    Hispanions did not disappoint him, whether it was Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh, Wu Bingji''s Ice Spear, or Gu Li''s Time Freeze. They had all unleashed the strongest abilities of their bloodlines. With lesser cultivation, they had ovee stronger foes and defeated an Earth Demon Ox.


    Although the other Earth Demon Ox and Blue Fox were still alive, they too were severely wounded. It was time to wrap things up.


    <i>Roar��</i>


    With the fusion ended and facing the immense pressure of Tang San, the now-less-sharp-witted Earth Demon Ox charged at Tang San, brandishing a Totem Pole.


    As he advanced, Tang San flipped the dark longsword in his hand, grasping the hilt. Hammer in one hand, sword in the other, he met his opponent head-on.


    The Blue Fox shouted something urgently, but the Earth Demon Ox didn''t hear her. The Totem Pole was already hurtling toward Tang San.


    Sky Shatterer was at the ready!


    <i>Boom��</i>


    It was a sh of the titans. Tang San needed to justify his ability to have in the Red-Crowned Crane to the audience. And that justification was simple: unparalleled power!


    <i>BOOM!!!</i>


    After a thunderous boom, Tang San took half a step back, while the Earth Demon Ox staggered back seven or eight steps, copsing onto the ground.


    The power of an elephant demon was superior to that of an Earth Demon Ox to begin with. Now that the bovine demon was injured and its back was shredded open by the ice explosion earlier, it was at the end of its tether.


    One end of the totem pole in its hand shattered. Though the pole was thick, itcked the resilience of the dark sword, and it was unable to withstand the pulverizing force of the hammer.


    Tang San swiftly swung Sky Shatterer, and at the same time, a wind de flew toward the Blue Fox in the distance.


    "No, you can''t kill me, I��" the female Blue Fox Demon screamed. But the wind de instantly silenced her cries.


    Sky Shatterer directly smashed the head of the Earth Demon Ox. Along with the Red-Crowned Crane, that made it a triple kill for Tang San!


    The battle was over!


    At that moment, in the small section of humans on the stands, a thunderous cheer erupted.


    The human vassals were almost hysterical, shouting and venting their excitement. They had won! The Shrek Squad had once again defeated a formidable foe, and they had won again! Humanity had triumphed, defeating the demons. The human team��the Shrek Headshot Squad��was victorious!


    The various demons in the audience had mixed expressions��some cursed the Shrek Squad, others admired their abilities.


    Astute observers were not surprised by the match''s oue; the end had been foreseeable once Tang San had defeated the Red-Crowned Crane. It was clear to all that in this battle, whichever side imed the first kill would determine the oue.


    The Earth Demon Ox and the Blue Fox, facing the four members of the Shrek Squad, had ended up both significantly wounded. Even so, considering that the remaining Earth Demon Ox could still fight, they still seemed to have a slight upper hand.


    Regrettably, the Red-Crowned Crane on the other side had suddenly fallen, defeated in a sh by what appeared to be a mere burst of Tang San��s sheer power, thus ending the battle.


    The Shrek Squad undoubtedly paid a greater price this time than previous battles. At the same time, Tang San, who had previously kept a low profile, emerged in the public eye. Wu Bingji was severely restrained, but fortunately, Tang San intervened against the Sword Saint��s descendant, the Red-Crowned Crane, enabling the Shrek Squad to triumph ultimately.


    Tang San came over to his friends, picked up Gu Li, and had Du Bai help Wu Bingji up. Together, they approached Cheng Zicheng.


    Cheng Zicheng struggled to her feet. When she saw the noticeably aged Wu Bingji, her eyes reddened "Eldest brother..."


    Wu Bingji gave a faint smile, weakly saying, "I''m alright."


    Tang San nodded. "You��ll be fine. Let''s go."


    At this moment, the spectator stands had be utterly chaotic. Only the cheers of the human vassals continued unabated.


    The next instant, it seemed the audience outside the arena had also learned the oue; cheers for humanity suddenly resounded around the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    Today, humanity won, defeating a formidable foe. The Shrek Squad triumphed once again. The battle was tough, but the oue was a victory for humanity. An unprecedented sense of relief appeared almost simultaneously in the hearts of every human vassal who received the news.


    This was the first time in their lives they felt such exhration, the first time their hearts were so filled with joy. They truly seemed to see the dawn of hope. Humanity won! It was proof that humans could defeat the demons!


    Both of Cheng Zicheng''s arms were fractured. Her left forearm broke into three pieces, and her right upper arm into two. This was the result of their full-force effort.


    Gu Li wasatose from the mental exhaustion and had also sustained significant concussive injuries. Wu Bingji''s condition was the most severe, with a serious depletion of his life force. The burning of his bloodline power was so intense that it had damaged his very essence.

 Chapter 315: Regrouping and Rest

    <h4>Chapter 315: Regrouping and Rest</h4>


    Du Bai''s eyes were red; although they had won the battle, he felt horrible at this moment. He wasn''t injured, but during this battle of life and death, he felt as though he had done nothing. All he could do was watch helplessly as hispanions risked their lives fighting tooth and nail with a powerful enemy.


    They didn''t linger in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, not even stopping to collect their prize money. After changing their clothes, Tang San quickly led his friends away from the arena.


    Cheng Zicheng and Gu Li could wait a bit, but Wu Bingji''s condition could not afford any dy. They needed to restore his health as soon as possible; otherwise, there would besting consequences.


    The five of them walked out of the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Du Bai supported Wu Bingji, while Tang San carried Gu Li on his back. Cheng Zicheng could walk on her own, though her arms were in bandages and splints


    As they left the arena, they were met with earth-shattering cheers. An unknown number of human vassals gathered around the arena, their cheers rising in waves.


    "Shrek, Shrek, Shrek!"


    Listening to the thunderous shouts, the Shrek Squad looked around and saw face after face flushed with excitement.


    Color slowly returned to Wu Bingji''s pale face, and even the intense feeling of weakness seemed to diminish slightly.


    Du Bai''s face flushed as red as the faces of the cheering crowd, his fists clenched in excitement.


    Cheng Zicheng initially looked bewildered, but her eyes slowly moistened, and her delicate body started to tremble slightly.


    They had truly won. Not only that, but��in the hearts of the humans around them��it was humanity itself that had triumphed!


    This was the highest consecutive victory count in human history for team battles. On this very night, within Kali City, a me in the hearts of humanity was ignited by the Shrek Squad.


    Wu Bingji took a deep breath. Despite his poor physical condition, at that moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of happiness and pride.


    Tang San smiled as he listened to the cheers; he genuinely smiled. This was what he wanted to see! It was unity, the unity of humanity.


    <i>When a group truly wants to rise, what matters most isn''t ability or strength, but unity. Only when all hearts feel as one can there be a real possibility of rising.</i>


    In this world, humanity was frail, yet he believed that as long as humans could unite, one day, no oppression in the world could stop their rise.


    That night, countless human vassals wereughing and crying!


    With practiced ease, the group slipped into the Kali Mountains. Tang San used his divine consciousness and the Discerning Eye of Heaven to shield their auras. He handed Gu Li over to Du Bai, while he himself carried Wu Bingji on his back and led the way back to Golden Valley.


    He had allowed Wu Bingji to burn his own bloodline power because they had the vast life energy of Golden Valley as a backup; under the nourishment of that life energy, the life force Wu Bingji had consumed could be restored.


    "Eldestbrother, do you feel it?" Tang San asked, carrying Wu Bingji and moving swiftly through the mountains.


    "Mm-hmm." Wu Bingji nodded.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Maybe, we are the hope for humanity''s future. When our kind truly sees the first light of hope, we will unite like never before. In the future, there will be no more ves, no more vassals."


    "Little Tang, thank you. Your arrival changed everything," Wu Bingji said softly. "I will suggest to our teacher that you take over my position as eldest brother. If possible,e to the academy and guide the younger students. With your leadership, our academy will rise faster, and humanity will see hope sooner."


    Wu Bingji was well aware that without Tang San''s guidance, he would not have achieved what he had today. He had long admitted in his heart that what Tang San taught him and hispanions was even better than the education from the academy��s teachers. Even the god-level instructor Si Ru couldn''tpare with Tang San in this respect.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Eldestbrother, you can''t shirk your responsibilities."


    Wu Bingji gave a bitter smile and said, "Of course, I won''t. It''s just that after this, I don''t know how much my cultivation will drop. I..."


    "You''re overthinking it. With the Golden Tree, the life force you lost can be replenished. Moreover, burning bloodline power isn��t necessarily all bad. In the short term, your cultivation will indeed decrease, but the burning process itself is also a form of tempering. Our Demonic God Transformationes from demon heritage, so impurities are inevitable. What you burned today were mostly these impurities. The real essence is what remains. As they say, you have to break it down to build it back up. When you manage to regain the cultivation you��ve lost, you��ll see yourself be a lot stronger. It��s a way of purifying your bloodline by using its own power."


    Wu Bingji was stunned. ��Are you serious?��


    Tang San chuckled ��What else?��


    Wu Bingji smiled bitterly. ��Honestly, I��m finding it harder and harder to read you. Were you holding back today? I didn��t quite catch how you defeated that Red-Crowned Crane. I thought we were done for.��


    Tang San didn��t answer his question directly, but said, ��No matter how powerful an individual is, they can''t decide everything. The strength of a team is what truly matters. Like our Redemption Societypared to all of humanity. Just the efforts of the Redemption Society aren��t enough to change the human condition. Only when all humanity unites, with one heart and mind, can we break free from our fate.��


    Wu Bingji said, "The mayor trusts you so much, and you''ve always been helping everyone. I have no reason not to trust you. Actually, many times when I''m with you, I feel like it''s not me who should be your senior brother, but rather you should be mine."


    Tang San smiled, "That can''t be, you''re the eldest brother after all!"


    Wu Bingji suddenly said, "Right, since I''m not seriously hurt, why didn��t we wait to collect our prize money before leaving! Think about it, our reward today must be substantial. Just the basic rewards alone would add up to several naturae coins each, and that''s quite a lot of naturae coins! Not to mention the share from the betting."


    Tang San��s lips twitched as the eldest brother''s love for money resurfaced. He had beenmenting hisck of a future, but as soon as he heard he was fine, he immediately focused on what was most important to him.


    "It''s toote for that. The Great Beast Fighting Arena needs time to process the earnings; they can��t give us our cut so quickly. Although your condition isn''t too bad, it''s still important to stabilize your life force first. Otherwise, I wouldn��t have taken you away first. Don''t worry, we won��t be shortchanged. The Great Beast Fighting Arena counts on us to be their cash cow. After today''s battle, we can probably negotiate the price the next time we fight since our poprity has increased."


    "Right. Once I��m better, let��s go get our money. This moneyes so fast, it''s a bit overwhelming. But Tang San, today��s battle really was a wake-up call for me. The demons are still much stronger than us. If there were one or two more at the ninth order among our five opponents, we would have been in big trouble. Are we continuing with the ten team battles?"


    Tang San replied, ��No rush. Everyone should have gained some insights this time. Let��s first stabilize our cultivation and see how things stand. For the next match, we��ll make the Great Beast Fighting Arena tell us in advance about our opponents before we decide. The toughest moments have passed. We probably won��t have real problems until the final matches, because that wouldn��t be in the arena��s best interest.��.

 Chapter 316: Seventh Order Chrono Croc Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 316: Seventh Order Chrono Croc Transformation</h4>


    Wu Bingji was somewhat confused by his words but grasped a bit of the meaning.


    Tang San quickly took him back to the Golden Valley and settled him next to the Golden Tree to absorb life energy and replenish his spent life force. Wu Bingji didn''t rush to resume cultivation but focused solely on recovery


    Then, along with Zhang Haoxuan, Tang San left again to meet the other three members.


    The Golden Valley remained tranquil and brimming with life. For the time being, Tang San wasn��t concerned about how much their battle had affected Kali City. He needed to stay with hispanions, hoping that this opportunity to push their potential would lead to breakthroughs.


    After hearing Tang San''s ount of the team battle and the human popce''s reaction, Zhang Haoxuan could no longer stay in the Golden Valley to continue his cultivation and hurried back to Academy Town. There were too many matters that needed his attention.


    Of course, human unity was good, but being overtly unified and too prominent could easily lead to suppression from the demons, even in the absence of the Peacock Great Demon King. The Redemption Society could not allow such a scenario to unfold; he needed to return to oversee the whole situation and quickly implement some measures.


    The fourth match in the Great Beast Fighting Arena proved immensely challenging for the Shrek Squad, excluding Tang San. Whether it was the outburst of power or the mental stress, all were significantly impacted. Tang San could feel that his four teammates had noticeably matured and transformed after this battle, not just in strength, but also in mindset.


    Only in the face of life and death does one��s potential truly emerge. Wu Bingji and the others hadn''t realized it yet, but their mental maturity had already surpassed their peers and was still rapidly developing. Even Du Bai, previously known for his impulsiveness, had gained a measure of stability.


    Gu Li slept for a day, then woke up and immediately began to meditate. He quickly entered a state of deep meditation, clearly having gained some insights for his cultivation.


    Du Bai also began his own meditation and did not emerge for three days. Tang San could subtly sense some changes in him. Tang San cultivated daily by his side, silently using his own aura to influence Du Bai, protecting him as he meditated. He understood Du Bai''s determination: this time, he wouldn��t stop until he advanced to the sixth order. With the life energy of the Golden Tree, there was no need to worry about hunger.


    Wu Bingji''s cultivation ultimately regressed. After replenishing his life energy, his vitality and appearance returned to their original states, but his cultivation had fallen from the upper eighth order to the seventh��a drop of more than an entire order. That was the price of burning his bloodline.


    However, it was as Tang San had predicted: although his cultivation had dropped, Wu Bingji was surprised to find that he seemed much more refined as a whole, his sensitivity and control over the ice element had changed, and everything seemed clearer. So he was not in a hurry; nourished by the abundant life energy here, he could rebuild his cultivation. With his previous experience, returning to the eighth order was just a matter of time.


    Cheng Zicheng was the fastest to see results; she soon reached the upper seventh order, and she was not far from the peak.


    In addition, during her explosive performance in the arena, she had also developed a new battle technique, the one she had used to sever the Totem Pole. It was now aptly named the Golden Wing Meteor sh.


    This was abination of the Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh and her own speed, a full-force strikeunched in an almost sacrificial manner.


    The primary issue with the Golden Wing Meteor sh was its tendency to recoil and injure Cheng Zicheng, so Tang San advised her to temper her physique diligently.


    The higher the speed, the greater the attack power, but the more toughness required. If the user couldn''t withstand it, then even the strongest attack was meaningless, as harming the enemy meant harming oneself.


    Cheng Zicheng deeply understood this; as she recovered from her fractures, she simultaneously tempered her body with the power of her bloodline.


    Tang San also had his gains this time, primarily the ck sword. It was formed from the long beak of a ninth-order Red-Crowned Crane.


    The sword was thin and over a meter long, with the hilt making up twenty centimeters of that length. Though it was not made of metal, the slender de was extremely sharp and durable, as it had been tempered by the Red-Crowned Crane from the moment of its birth all the way until it reached the ninth order. Most notably, when bloodline power was infused into it, it naturally transformed into sharp sword energy.


    Tang San was not a swordsman, but that didn''t mean he didn''t understand swordsmanship. In terms of sheer power, this weapon far surpassed Sky Shatterer. Of course, that was because the potential of Sky Shatterer had yet to be realized.


    While guarding hispanions as they cultivated, Tang San also yed with the ck sword, recalling his studies in the divine realm and working on a sword technique.


    As his divine consciousness gradually recovered, memories of his past life became clearer. The peak ninth-order spiritual power continuously nourished his consciousness, making his actual power far exceed the eighth order that he appeared to possess.


    Why did the ninth-order Red-Crowned Crane have no chance to retaliate against him? That was because Tang San himself possessed two first-tier bloodlines, along with several other high-tier ones, plus the vision and experience of a God King. How could a random Red-Crowned Cranepare to that?


    It was just that Tang San wouldn''t easily go all out.


    Zhang Haoxuan returned to the Golden Valley after being away for half a month, bringing news from the outside.


    After their previous battle, the Shrek Squad had be famous, quickly achieving idol status among the human vassals. The Great Beast Fighting Arena had made a fortune from that battle. However, the officials did not intend to suppress humans because of this. The reason was simple: to the officials, such a battle was trivial. They just thought it was foolish humans entertaining themselves. Compared to the demons, humans were still too weak.


    No storm was stirred up, which was the best scenario, meaning the Shrek Squad''s future fights could continue without significant interference.


    And Zhang Haoxuan discovered a pleasant surprise��Gu Li had made a breakthrough, sessfully entering the seventh order. The seventh order of Chrono Croc Transformation!


    The seventh order was a transformative stage. Gu Li, now at the seventh order, had gained a third time-rted ability, just as Tang San had hoped: apart from Time Freeze and Time eleration, he could now use Time Reversal! Additionally, during his transformation, his physical strength increased significantly, and his tail hammer nearly doubled in size. With that, his overall power increased dramatically.


    Following the evolution path of the Chrono Croc, if he could reach the god level in the future, his tail hammer could even be refined into a real hammer.


    Tang San, who had always been by his side and was influenced by Gu Li''s bloodline aura, naturally advanced to the seventh order in his own Chrono Croc Transformation as well.


    The only concern for Zhang Haoxuan was that Du Bai was still in seclusion. A full half month had passed, and he had not yet finished his meditation.


    The Shrek Squad''s overall strength had significantly improved. After this period of recuperation, Wu Bingji''s cultivation was at the peak of the seventh order. Cheng Zicheng was also approaching the peak of the seventh order, Gu Li had just entered the seventh order, Du Bai was meditating to prepare for a breakthrough, and of course, Tang San, now the foremost in cultivation, had reached the eighth order.


    Indeed, though it was idental, Tang San had be the member of the team with the highest cultivation.


    "Tang San, have you thought about when you''ll head to the Ancestral Court?" Zhang Haoxuan asked Tang San with a smile. Ever since his breakthrough to the god level, he had been in a great mood. Additionally, the Shrek Squad''s four victories in team battles had noticeably increased the cohesion among the human vassals in Kali City, and everything was progressing in a positive direction. At the very least, the Redemption Society had not achieved such results in other main cities.

 Chapter 317: Mid-Range Teleportation Array

    <h4>Chapter 317: Mid-Range Teleportation Array</h4>


    The news from Kali City had already been ryed back to the Redemption Society��s headquarters. The headquarters no longer urged him to return for debriefing, as Zhang Haoxuan had the best reason: he had to stabilize the situation in Kali City.


    The organization knew that this Shrek Squad belonged to the Redemption Academy, and naturally, everyone praised them. Zhang Haoxuan took the opportunity to report to the headquarters, iming that the profits from selling array discs were used to purchase materials for training the students, and that was what had led to such achievements.


    They continued to make and sell array discs. Of course, they only sold Spirit Summoning Array discs; teleportation array discs could not be sold casually, and Zhang Haoxuan would not do that.


    "I originally nned to go as soon as possible," said Tang San. "But now it seems the team battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena are more challenging than I expected. They also benefit everyone''s growth, so I don''t feel in a hurry anymore. After each battle, we can train together to improve and then go when we''ve made progress. It might take longer, but the benefits will be greater. Save some money, and we��ll go afterpleting ten matches."


    "Okay." Zhang Haoxuan nodded, then rubbed his hands together nervously and said, "About the array disc thing, um, when will you teach me how to make the teleportation array disc? That��s a really useful thing!"


    Tang San smiled and said, "I was just about to talk to you about this. There''s no rush for the teleportation array disc. We have another matter that I think we can start preparing for."


    "What is it?" Zhang Haoxuan asked curiously.


    Tang San said, "Now that you��ve also reached godhood like Teacher Si Ru, we can try something. Because of our participation in team battles, the likelihood of our academy being exposed will increase. For safety, I think we should set up a teleportation array so that in the event of a crisis, we can teleport everyone from the Redemption Academy to Golden Valley. It would be a contingency n."


    Zhang Haoxuan stared at him in shock, "Wait, what did you say? A teleportation array? A long-distance teleportation array?"


    Tang San nodded. "Well, to be precise, it should be considered mid-range. It��s not really long-distance."


    Zhang Haoxuan swallowed hard and asked in an urgent tone, "Can it really be done?"


    The vitality here grew richer by the day, and the Golden Tree thrived. Cultivating here was incredibly efficient; without the Golden Tree, he had no idea how long it would have taken him to break through to godhood. If they could have a teleportation array connecting to the Redemption Academy, it would solve a significant problem, addressing all their worries!


    Tang San nodded and said, "It should be possible. You can think of this teleportation array as arge teleportation array disc. However, it will require a lot of resources and some experiments."


    "No problem. As long as we have the resources, we''ll spend whatever it takes."


    Zhang Haoxuan fully understood what such a teleportation array would mean.


    The chained arrays in Golden Valley worked perfectly. Even as a god-level being, when he tried to enter without an array disc, it felt like entering abyrinth��after a few twists and turns, he ended up on the other side, unable to find the valley even though he knew it was there. If they could have a teleportation array to bring the entire academy��s staff and students here at any time, it would be a perfect contingency measure for the Redemption Academy.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Alright, I''ll give you a listter. Once we get this teleportation array set up, you''ll probably understand how to make the teleportation array discs."


    "Don��t wait, write down everything now. I''ll start preparing immediately; the sooner, the better!" Zhang Haoxuan��s face was full of urgency and anticipation. He was no longer concerned with where Tang San got all these magical arrays. This idea was too much for his head to handle. Anyway, everything Tang San did was for the sake of humanity. He had already adopted a see-no-evil stance and even began treating Tang San as an equal rather than as his disciple.


    When Tang San helped him break through to godhood in the ocean, he already understood that Tang San had more secrets than he had imagined. But there was one thing he was certain of: Tang San was human, and his heart was on the side of humanity. Otherwise, he wouldn��t have done so many things.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face. Without dy, he quickly wrote a long list detailing all the required items for Zhang Haoxuan.


    The mayor left immediately, eager to start on the teleportation array.


    After Zhang Haoxuan left, Tang San''s smile faded. After years of effort, he finally stabilized in this world. His foundation would be secure once the teleportation array was set up, giving the Redemption Academy a retreat.


    Since they��d only ever use the teleportation array to reach Golden Valley, even if students were captured and interrogated in the future, they wouldn''t know the exact location. Once this waspleted, he could go to the Ancestral Court with peace of mind.


    The only thing out of his control now was how long Mei Gongzi''s seclusion wouldst.


    It had been over a year since Mei Gongzi started her seclusion. He constantly missed her, yet he couldn''t find her. Now, he could only hope she would finish her seclusion soon.


    As Tang San was lost in thoughts of her, he suddenly sensed something and turned his gaze toward the Golden Tree.


    At that moment, a faint white halo rose gently, and Tang San''s eyes filled with surprise. Silver light shimmered around him, and in the next instant, he was beside Du Bai.


    White light emanated from Du Bai, swirling and gradually condensing into the form of a two-tailed Celestial Fox.


    The Celestial Fox made of light became more solid, with faint blue halos emanating from its eyes. A strange sensation lingered in Tang San''s heart, and Golden Valley seemed to have gained something extra.


    This was a sign of the gathering of fortune. Du Bai was about to break through.


    The intense external stimuli,bined with the life energy of the Golden Tree, finally helped Du Bai reach sufficient bloodline power. As his bloodline power surged, a pained expression gradually appeared on Du Bai''s face.


    His spiritual power began to fluctuate violently, and he was clearly being affected by the power of fortune.


    Fortunately, he had cultivated the Purple Demon Eyes, raising his spiritual power to the ninth order. Otherwise, the most dangerous moment in the evolution of the Celestial Fox Transformation would be the breakthrough itself. When Celestial Fox n members broke through, they always had much stronger elders guarding them.


    Naturally, Tang San fulfilled that role for Du Bai''s guard. However, he did not rush to help the young man. It was best for Du Bai toplete the breakthrough by relying on his own strength. He would interfere as little as possible, not even aiding in enhancing his fortune.


    With the vast life energy of the Golden Tree as a safeguard, if he still couldn''t break through on his own, then breaking through to the seventh orderter would be a massive challenge.


    Du Bai began to tremble slightly as the light above his head solidified. Fortune''s power violently impacted his spiritual power, and his bloodline was boiling. The power of fortune was like steam generated by the boiling bloodline, surging upward uncontrobly.


    "Focus inward, let it sway," Tang San''s deep voice sounded in Du Bai''s ear.


    Hearing his voice, Du Bai immediately settled down. Subconsciously, he believed that with Tang San by his side, everything would be fine. His emotions calmed down at once.

 Chapter 318: Sixth-Order Celestial Fox Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 318: Sixth-Order Celestial Fox Transformation</h4>


    Seeing this, Tang San was a little taken aback. His understanding of the Celestial Fox Transformation wasn''t particrly deep, since it was a power unlike anything else he��d seen before. However, Du Bai''s stability was certainly a good sign.


    Above Du Bai''s head, behind the Celestial Fox, a third tail gradually appeared, as if an illusion was slowly materializing. The surrounding power of fortune visibly began to increase.


    The Celestial Fox Transformation differed from other Demonic God Transformations; each order was a qualitative leap. Although it wasn''t clear yet what abilities the sixth-order Celestial Fox Transformation would bring, it was certain that after advancing to the sixth order, Du Bai''s strength would increase significantly. His control over fortune would be greatly enhanced. Of course, his improvement meant a corresponding improvement for Tang San as well.


    White light surged continuously, and the fluctuations of fortune within the Golden Valley became increasingly intense. Even the Golden Tree seemed affected by the changes in the power of fortune emanating from him. Its bark radiated a bright golden aura, and a gentle life energy wrapped around Du Bai. Whenever his body needed it, it would flow into him effortlessly.


    Every creature desired fortune, and the Golden Tree was no exception. This was also the strength of the Celestial Fox n. Wherever they existed, someone was there to protect them. No one wanted to harm the Celestial Fox n and incur misfortune; instead, they hoped for luck to follow them.


    Such was the case here as well.


    The life aura within the valley noticeably began to rise. Thanks to the senses granted by the Blue Silver Emperor, Tang San could feel that the vegetation throughout the valley had an affinity for Du Bai, almost as if it was feeling affection, and all of it wanted to protect Du Bai.


    <i>The Celestial Fox Transformation is fantastic!</i>


    Wu Bingji, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng, who had been meditating, all opened their eyes one after another. When they noticed Du Bai breaking through, they held their breath, silently praying for him.


    The light in Wu Bingji''s eyes was the brightest. The team was growing and getting stronger almost every day, and as their eldest brother, he couldn��t be happier.


    After burning his bloodline power during thest battle, his cultivation level had dropped, but as Tang San said, his bloodline was indeed purified. And the fact that he survived that ordeal unscathed was all thanks to the Golden Tree! Without the life energy here replenishing the one he had lost, bloodline purification would have been useless. He would have aged rapidly and, due to theck of life force, he might never have been able to restore his cultivation.


    He already felt he wasn��t far from returning to the eighth order. The purer bloodline power also allowed him to enhance his control over the ice element even further.


    Meanwhile, with the rich life energy surrounding him and his mental state much more stable, Du Bai''s breakthrough process this time was smoother than when he broke through to the fifth order. While the power of fortune surged and billowed, his spiritual power remained steady. The third tail of the Celestial Fox gradually took shape in the sky.


    Tang San''s Celestial Fox Transformation power was also affected. He could sense subtle changes in his own Discerning Eye of Heaven. Of course, he wouldn��t break through now; he still needed to absorb and umte more. But this was very helpful for his understanding of the Celestial Fox Transformation��s evolution.


    Gradually, Tang San began to gain some insight. He had an inkling about the ability that the Celestial Fox Transformation had at the sixth order.


    A strange scene then unfolded. The three-tailed Celestial Fox quivered slightly, and the third tail suddenly solidified. At that instant, a dark cloud suddenly formed above Du Bai''s head, swiftly descending to envelop him. In the next moment, the third tail turned ck.


    Everyone around immediately felt an extremely ufortable sensation taking over, and even the life energy around Du Bai instantly retreated.


    After quite a while, the ckyer gradually faded; Du Bai��s appearance returned to normal, and the tail turned white as well.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly; he could now fully confirm it.


    The sixth-order ability of the Celestial Fox Transformation was indeed the control of misfortune.


    The Celestial Fox Transformation controlled fortune, so it only made sense that it could not only bestow luck but also strip it away. The third tail had precisely that effect.


    Du Bai had been able to do this to some extent before, but now, he was in full control of it, and just like he could enhance people��s abilities normally, he could now make them weaker.


    Misfortune could be considered a curse, and when this curse was cast on an opponent, the effects were imaginable. With Du Bai''s level of spiritual power, a bout of misfortune cast on an opponent would indeed have a noticeable impact on the battlefield.


    The light and shadow of the Celestial Fox solidified; the breakthrough was thuspleted and the stabilization process began.


    Tang San sat beside Du Bai, crossed his legs, and started meditating. He quietly felt the changes in Du Bai and absorbed the Celestial Fox Transformation��s aura emanating from him, preparing for his own future breakthrough to the sixth order.


    The more he interacted with the Celestial Fox Transformation, the more he felt its peculiarities. What would happen if the Celestial Fox Transformation was cultivated to the twelfth order and produced the full nine tails? The fortune controlled at that time might have influenced the entire Fn. He wanted to meet the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor! Of course, that would have to wait until he was strong enough. He didn''t want to be seen by the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor now, as thetter might be able to discern something regarding Tang San��s origin.


    An hourter, Du Bai took a long breath and finally opened his eyes.


    After so many days of secluded cultivation, although nourished by life energy, he had still lost some weight. However, his eyes sparkled brightly, and his entire demeanor had transformed again, adding a touch of ethereal grace.


    He instinctively nced at Tang San, who was meditating beside him, and a smile appeared on his face. He muttered to himself, "Finally, it��s done. Finally! Sixth order. I��m at the sixth order! I can feel it. The Celestial Fox Transformation only truly begins at the sixth order. I can now control both fortune and misfortune. Everything is different now."


    Tang San opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Du Bai. "You need to practice controlling it more. The higher the level of fortune control, the greater the risk. In this world, fortune is always bnced. If you bestow luck in one ce, misfortune will appear elsewhere. When your cultivation was lower, this wasn��t very obvious. But as your strength increases, you need to be more and more cautious."


    Du Bai blinked. "Is that so?"


    Tang San nodded. "Of course it is. It''s impossible to have only luck. If you could be a hundred percent lucky every single day, the world would have changed long ago. Do you know why the Celestial Foxes are so few in number and why they don��t act rashly? It��s to prevent misfortune and having their own abilities bacsh on themselves. You said it yourself: you��re now at the sixth order and you can control misfortune as well, which means your Celestial Fox Transformation is now the real deal. You must be careful with it."


    Du Bai said with a cheeky grin, "Alright, alright. I��ll be careful. But as long as you��re by my side, I don��t need to worry about this stuff. Haha!"


    He was naturally very happy now, having just broken through to the sixth order, something he never would��ve dared to even dream of.


    Before Tang San arrived, he had been nothing but a waste of air. Yet in such a short time, he had reached the sixth order. To him, Tang San was practically his god of luck.


    Tang San said helplessly, "You need to keep what I said in mind."


    "Yes, yes," Du Bai said, pretending to be serious.


    However, his understanding wasn��t entirely wrong. If Tang San was by his side to support him, the bacsh issue wouldn��t be a significant problem.


    Du Bai''s breakthrough was undoubtedly great news for the Shrek Squad. Compared to theirst team battle, their overall strength had improved again.

 Chapter 319: The Power of Misfortune

    <h4>Chapter 319: The Power of Misfortune</h4>


    Du Bai eagerly said, "Hey Little Tang, when are we returning to the Great Beast Fighting Arena? I can��t wait to cast misfortune on our opponents. Give them misfortune and keep the luck for us. How wonderful is that? Let them see how powerful I am."


    Tang San replied, "You��re overthinking it. Don''t you think people will notice if you control fortune on the battlefield? You think there aren��t any god-level experts among the spectators? Can you hide your control over misfortune?"


    "Well..."


    Tang San said solemnly, " As we defeat more opponents, we��ll attract even more attention. Senior brother Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation and senior sister Cheng Zicheng��s Golden Roc Transformation are eye-catching enough, but your Celestial Fox Transformation is different. Among first-tier bloodlines, others might just draw interest, but if your Celestial Fox Transformation is discovered, you might be captured and sent straight to the Ancestral Court. So you can never use it in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Understand?"


    Seeing Tang San��s serious expression, Du Bai deted like a punctured balloon, his earlier excitement dwindling sharply. With a bitter smile, he said, "But I want to help everyone! You don��t know how hard it is for me to watch you guys in trouble and not be able to help. I hate not being able to do anything for you."


    Tang San shook his head and said, "No, you��ve been helping us all along. The luck you bestow on us works every moment, helping all of us. Without it, our injuries might be more severe, or someone might even die. Don��t underestimate yourself. You��re part of the team, and a very important part."


    "Really?" Du Bai instantly brightened up again.


    "What bullshit," Gu Li said grumpily from the side. "You��re only at the sixth order, and you��re already showing off."


    Du Bai raised an eyebrow, a strange smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. Light and shadow flickered behind him, the phantom of the Celestial Fox appeared, and the third tail suddenly turned ck.


    "What are you doing?" Gu Li eximed in surprise. He instinctively tried to use Time Freeze, but it was toote.


    The ck fox tail swayed lightly, and it was clear that Time Freeze could not supersede it. Only after the tail swayed did Du Bai finally freeze.


    Gu Li immediately felt that something was off.


    He instinctively sat down cross-legged.


    <i>Misfortune, huh? I��ll just sit still, won��t that be fine? If I don��t do anything, how bad can it be? At worst, I won��t cultivate. It��s not like I''ll get injured just sitting here, right?</i>


    Just as he was thinking this, something seemed to fall from the sky. Startled, Gu Li instantly activated his Chrono Croc Transformation, sweeping upward with his tail.


    With a quiet plop, a strong odor instantly spread.


    The collision didn��t result in a shockwave, but it did result in a wave of nondescript goo covering Gu Li. It was some kind of giant bird''s droppings.


    "Oh,e on!" Gu Li shouted and ran toward theke.


    "Hey, hey, we still need to drink thatke water," Cheng Zicheng couldn��t help but shout.


    Wu Bingji raised his hand, drawing a stream ofke water to wash over Gu Li. But he had the Ice Nymph Transformation, not the Water Nymph Transformation, so theke water he drew quickly dropped in temperature.


    Gu Li shivered under the icy water.


    "Du Bai, I''ll get you for this," he growled, charging angrily at Du Bai.


    But just then, a vine somehow appeared under his feet. With a thud, the furious Gu Li tripped and fell face-first into the dirt.


    Du Bai blinked, quickly cast a luck spell on himself, and hid behind Tang San.


    Gu Li struggled to get up and was about to charge at Du Bai again when he suddenly felt his bloodline power stagnate. He staggered; clearly, the misfortune was still clinging to him. Hesitating for a moment, he decided against advancing any further.


    "You little brat, get rid of this now." Shivering from the icy water and with bird droppings still clinging to him, he was as embarrassed as he could be.


    Du Bai poked his head from behind Tang San��s shoulder, grinning smugly. "Now you know the price of crossing the Son of Fortune."


    Gu Li ground his teeth in frustration but didn��t dare move, genuinely fearing that something worse might happen to him.


    Watching the scene unfold, Wu Bingji was shocked. Du Bai��s control over fortune was stronger than he had imagined. Gu Li, after all, had a second-tier bloodline and a cultivation level higher than Du Bai��s, yet under Du Bai��s control of misfortune, he seemed almost defenseless. What would this mean on the battlefield?


    The powerful effect of the Celestial Fox Transformation gradually became evident as Du Bai��s cultivation improved. As Tang San had said, Du Bai was bing an increasingly important part of the team.


    With a sh of white light, Gu Li felt as if something unpleasant had left his body, and he heaved a sigh of relief.


    "Huh, that��s strange," Du Bai said thoughtfully, stepping out from behind Tang San.


    "How did you know, Little Tang? What you said earlier, I think I felt something," Du Bai muttered.


    "What did you feel?" Tang San asked.


    Du Bai said, "I feel like I can control a special power. After I gave Gu Li some misfortune, this special power seemed to increase. It seems like fortune. There��s something like a cloud in my sea of consciousness, and it��s growing. A cloud of fortune?"


    Tang San��s eyebrows raised slightly. "A materialization of fortune?"


    Du Bai nodded. "Seems like it. So the sixth order is not just about controlling misfortune. There have been some changes in the overall fortune itself. It seems there really is a bnce between fortune and misfortune, like you said. The more misfortune I release, the more of these clouds of fortune there are. I wonder if I can use these clouds to bestow stronger luck than before. I need to test this more."


    Gu Li��s mouth twitched as he said, "Get away from us, and don��t test it on us."


    Du Bai chuckled and said, "Well, that depends on how you treat me."


    Tang San pondered for a moment and said, "Senior brother Du Bai, when you��re experimenting, you can start from a few aspects. First, see if the luck bestowed through this cloud of fortune is different from before. Second, check if this luck can be targeted at specific events. Also, observe if there��s any traceable sign during the process or if it��spletely intangible. Lastly, see if you can stop the light effects when you use your ability. If you can do it without any visible manifestation, that��ll be great."


    "Got it. I��ll work on it. It��s different fromst time, though. There��s been a qualitative change this time, and it��s pretty major."


    Tang San nodded slightly and said, "The Celestial Fox Transformation seems to be different from other Demonic God Transformations. It seems that rather than the fourth, seventh, and tenth order, you get a qualitative change at three, six, and nine tails. But you still need to be cautious. The stronger your ability to change fortune, the higher the risk of bacsh, and if you do get bacsh, it could be very severe. You shouldn��t let your cloud of fortune depletepletely. Otherwise, you might run into big trouble."


    "Understood." Du Bai nodded thoughtfully.


    After listening to Du Bai��s exnation, Tang San felt a bit eager. Du Bai��s breakthrough meant that he could acquire his own third tail soon enough and personally experience the mysteries within.

 Chapter 320: Missing Her

    <h4>Chapter 320: Missing Her</h4>


    It seemed that starting from the third tail, there was a limitation on the abilities of the Celestial Fox Transformation. However, this limitation was in fact the mark of a truly powerful ability, and the narrower the application of this ability, the more powerful it would be.


    Three dayster, Wu Bingji''s cultivation finally returned to the eighth order, faster than expected. The breakthrough process was smooth and effortless. ording to Wu Bingji, if bloodline burning could achieve such purification effects, he would be willing to burn it a few more times.


    However, Tang San rejected this idea. Although the Golden Tree could replenish life force, burning one''s bloodline still harmed the essence of cultivation. Doing it once was fine, with slow recovery, but burning the essence continuously in a short period would not be easy to recover from. Moreover, the purity level he had achieved this time was quite good for now.


    Tang San suggested that when he reached the ninth order in the future, he could consider another purification in preparation for breaking through to the god level.


    However, Wu Bingji''s Ice Nymph Transformation was not an especially powerful bloodline, so after reaching the eighth order, his cultivation progress began to slow down. Cultivating in the Golden Valley would yield twice the result with half the effort, but it still required time to umte enough to reach the ninth order.


    Even so, he was undoubtedly a genius among the students of the Redemption Academy. He wasn��t even twenty years old, yet he had already reached the eighth order. Among his peers in the organization, only Tang San had the same cultivation. Of course, Tang San was much younger, making him even more extraordinary.


    The four team battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena had benefited the entire Shrek Squad.


    Wu Bingji''s cultivation remained at the eighth order, but thanks to igniting his bloodline power, his Ice Nymph Transformation had undergone a metamorphosis, and the purity and strength of his bloodline had increased.


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zicheng was close to the peak of the seventh order, even though she was two years younger than Wu Bingji. Gu Li had also advanced to the seventh order, and the Chrono Croc Transformation had experienced a qualitative leap.


    Of course, the most important advancement was Du Bai''s.


    As for Tang San himself, the advancements of hispanions were equivalent to his own. He had elevated his Chrono Croc Transformation to the seventh order. After absorbing enough Celestial Fox aura from Du Bai, he elevated his Discerning Eye of Heaven to the sixth order. What Du Bai had, he also possessed. He was still at the eighth order overall, but his strength had reached a higher level.


    "Shall we try the fifth match?" Wu Bingji suggested. "We haven''t collected our prize fromst time."


    As expected, he never forgot the important things in life.!


    "I think we can." Tang San nodded with a smile. Hispanions'' overall strength had increased, and getting some practice would allow them to stabilize their cultivation, as well as provide motivation and stimulus for further improvement.


    "I''ll make a trip to the Great Beast Fighting Arena. We must put forward some demands for our next match this time," Tang San said with a smile.


    After four team battles, the Shrek Squad was no longer seen as cannon fodder by the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Their human identity caused their poprity to soar rapidly, and thest time, the arena was packed, making it a lot of money. Making some demands was naturally reasonable.


    "Alright."


    Zhang Haoxuan had not returned yet. The list Tang San had given him included some very valuable items that were hard to purchase, so he hadn''t gathered them all yet. His eagerness for the teleportation array even made him travel to other cities to look for materials. Thus, Tang San didn��t wait for him and went back to Kali City by himself.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena, as always, was filled with an atmosphere of death and bloodshed. Tang San entered quietly, concealing his face behind a hood and mask.


    He only needed to mention the Shrek Squad''s name and show the relevant proof. Soon, the familiar Bloodthirsty Demon Ape appeared in front of him again.


    "You''vee. Are you ready for the fifth match? How are your team members recovering?" the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape asked, seemingly concerned.


    Of course, its concern wasn''t how well they were feeling, but how well they could fight..


    "If your teammates aren��t in fighting shape, recing one or two is also allowed," the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape added. In its view, the Shrek Squad had suffered severe injuriesst time, with only two members rtively unscathed, while the other three were seriously wounded.


    Tang San said, "No need to rece anyone; our injuries have mostly healed. We''vee this time to prepare for the fifth match. But first, we must collect our prize from thest match."


    With so much pestering from Wu Bingji, Tang San wouldn��t forget about something like this.


    Upon hearing that he was here to continuepeting, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape''s eyes immediately lit up. "The prize is not an issue. When are you nning topete again?"


    Thest match was one of the Great Beast Fighting Arena''s most profitable events in recent years. The participation of many human vassals brought in a lot of extra ie, greatly pleasing the arena''s higher-ups.


    The demons naturally looked down on humans, but they had to admit that humans wererge in number. Such victories in the Great Beast Fighting Arena were very stimting for humans, making the human vassals more excited and interested in the arena''spetitions. Therefore, the arena''s officials were even considering matching the Shrek Squad with weaker opponents to let them hold on for a few more matches, thereby extracting more profit.


    Tang San said, "In three days. But we have a request: I need to know some information about our opponents in advance so we can prepare better. I don''t believe that our previous opponents knew nothing about us."


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape nced at him and said, "That goes against the rules."


    Tang San calmly replied, "Aren''t you the ones setting the rules? Thest battle caused us heavy losses. The prize money you gave us might not even cover the resources we used for treatment. If we can''t know anything about our opponents in advance, we are considering quitting. After all, the risk is just too great."


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape gave him a deep look, somewhat believing Tang San''s words. After all, during thest match, one of them had burned his bloodline, another fractured both her arms, and a third exhausted his spiritual power. None of these things were easy to treat.


    "Let''s do it this way. Rules still need to be followed, so I can''t reveal the specifics about your opponents. But the day before the match, I can tell you what race they��re from. That''s the bottom line. Only if you win more than six matches will you qualify to know some details about your opponents in advance. This is a special privilege for teams with more than six victories."


    "Agreed," Tang San said immediately. Knowing their opponents'' race would allow them to make corresponding preparations. For him, not having these details wasn''t a big deal, but for hispanions, having the information to analyze and prepare tactics was beneficial for their growth.


    Having agreed on the time for their next battle, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape led Tang San to collect the rewards from thest one.


    ording to the rules, each participant could receive a fixed reward of four naturae coins for victory in the fourth match. This meant the fixed reward for the five of them was twenty naturae coins. However, Tang San collected no less than fifty naturae coins! The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape kindly informed him that this was their revenue share from tickets and bets; it should have been twenty-nine naturae coins plus some spare change, but the arena had generously rounded it up to thirty.


    These naturae coins had very strong purchasing power. Undoubtedly, the eldest brother would be pretty satisfied with such a reward.

 Chapter 321: Mei Gongzis Bloodline

    <h4>Chapter 321: Mei Gongzi''s Bloodline</h4>


    By participating in team battles, they had already umted a considerable fortune, which they could spend in the Ancestral Court.


    After leaving the Great Beast Fighting Arena, Tang San did not hurry back to the Golden Valley but went to the center of Kali City to buy a cup of milk tea.


    Whenever he had time, he woulde to buy a cup of milk tea. Even though he couldn''t see Mei Gongzi, seeing Su Qin there reassured him. At least it proved that Mei Gongzi had not left and nothing significant had changed.


    Su Qin had a deep impression of Tang San. Seeing hime to buy milk tea again, she smiled and said, "You seem to have grown taller again. You should be around thirteen, right? You already look like a young man."


    Tang San took the milk tea and smiled, "Thank you, Auntie."


    "Yes, go back early. Stay safe," Su Qin advised, not saying much more.


    "Alright. Goodbye, Auntie," Tang San replied respectfully, holding the warm milk tea. He drank it while leaving Kali za.


    He would think of Mei Gongzi whenever he tasted the milk tea. He still cherished the cup she gave him before her seclusion because it had her fingerprints and traces of her energy.


    He missed her so much!


    Tang San took a big sip of the milk tea, trying to control his emotions.


    Before she returned, he needed toy a solid foundation, strive to reach the ninth order, and further regenerate his divine consciousness. Even if he couldn''t break through to godhood, he needed to achieve truebat power at that level. When she was out of seclusion, she might start her fight for inheritance rights. At that time, she would need his help the most.


    Somewhere in Kali City, in a quiet room.


    Sitting cross-legged on the stone bed, Mei Gongzi slowly opened her eyes, a hint of pale silver light shing in her beautiful eyes.


    She had spent more than a year in seclusion here, rarely seeing the sun, and her skin was even paler.


    Opposite her, the Peacock Great Demon King was also meditating cross-legged. At least on the surface, his condition did not seem to have worsened.


    Sensing Mei Gongzi awaken, the Peacock Great Demon King slowly opened his eyes. "How do you feel?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded and said, "I''ve made some progress, and my cultivation is stable now."


    "Yes, the eighth order is significant for us. It will give you the true ability to integrate into space, and the progress of Star Shift can also be further deepened. Little Mei, starting today, I will teach you a new ability. This is a secret technique of our n that even I cannot master."


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback. "You can��t?"


    "To be precise, no male can master it. Do you know when thest Demon Emperor appeared in our n?" asked the Peacock Great Demon King.


    "Wasn''t it three generations ago?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded. "Do you know the gender of this ancestor?"


    Mei Gongzi said tly, "I wasn''t allowed to study in the n school, so how would I know?"


    "That ancestor was female. For a Demon Emperor to emerge in our Peacock Demon n, it must be a female."


    Mei Gongzi was stunned. "Aren��t the male peacock''s tail plumes the most beautiful? Few females even possess that kind of peacock feathers."


    The Peacock Great Demon King shook its head and said, "That''s how the outside world understands it. But in reality, only females can truly unleash the peak power of our n''s bloodline. And within you flows the bloodline of this female ancestor. When you were very young, I imnted the essence blood of this ancestor in you. That''s why you could awaken the Peacock Gold Crown at such a young age and be recognized by me as one of the heirs. Well, this ''one of the heirs'' talk is just what I say to the other n members. As far as I��m concerned, you��re not just ''one of,'' but ''the.'' There��s nobody else."


    Mei Gongzi was stunned. She never expected that the Peacock Great Demon King had imnted ancestral blood in her. She had no memory of this at all! The bloodline of the ancestral Peacock Great Demon Emperor?


    No wonder she had never felt the issues caused by a diluted bloodline that human vassals invariably experienced during cultivation. The bloodline power of the ancestral Peacock Demon Emperor flowed within her, and this talent came from that.


    The Peacock Great Demon King continued, "After this seclusion, I might have to face that fellow. Moreover, I am already half burned out. The future of the Peacock Demon n is entrusted to you. I have only one request: you can cleanse those who oppose you, but you must ensure the continuation of the Peacock Demon n''s bloodline. I won''t oppose it even if you want to support and protect humans. But the Peacock Demon n''s bloodline must continue. Can you promise me that?"


    Mei Gongzi looked at her father before her, remained silent momentarily, and then nodded.


    The Peacock Great Demon King smiled. "Good! Although I know you prefer to see yourself as human, the blood of the Peacock Demon n flows in you. I believe that in the future, you will certainly be the new Peacock Demon Emperor. When you were young, I took you to the Ancestral Court and asked the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor to peer into your future. Do you know what the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said to me then?"


    Mei Gongzi shook her head.


    The Peacock Great Demon King said, "His Majesty told me you have great fortune. Moreover, he had never seen such fortune on any demon n member. He couldn''t see your future clearly, nor your achievements. He said he had only seen such a situation once or twice, and those he observed were above him. In other words, the future he saw for you is above him. And he ranks third in the Ancestral Court."


    Mei Gongzi''s beautiful eyes widened slightly. She had always thought she was talented and worked hard, but she had never imagined that she could reach the level of a Demon Emperor.


    The Peacock Great Demon King smiled and said, "So, never underestimate yourself. In the future, I believe you will surely be the new Peacock Demon Emperor and lead our Peacock n to new heights. It was precisely because of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s evaluation that I decided to make you my heir."


    "But no matter how great your fortune, you still have to walk the path step by step, and your strength must be built through continuous umtion. I will teach you the secret technique of our Peacock Demon n that only females can cultivate. This is the true path to bing a Demon Emperor. You must follow this path to seed."


    "Okay." Mei Gongzi nodded again. The Peacock Great Demon King''s words today had profoundly impacted her. She needed time to digest them, but no matter what, the primary purpose of this seclusion was to improve her cultivation.


    "Take a rest first; I''ll go make preparations. We''ll start shortly."


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s figure flickered as he left the secret chamber. A thoughtful look appeared in Mei Gongzi''s eyes.


    Gradually, she became a little lost in thought.


    She should have been in seclusion for a little over a year. She wondered what the outside world was like now. Over this year, her strength had improved significantly in all aspects.


    She wondered if Asura was still waiting for her at Kali Academy. And also Little Tang.


    When she thought of Little Tang, an unmistakable figure appeared in Mei Gongzi''s mind. She found it strange herself; she didn''t know why, but every time Mei Gongzi saw Tang San, she naturally felt a kind of affection that seemed toe from the depths of her being. When she was with him, she felt unconditional trust, a sense of closeness she had only felt with her mother. Not even the "father" who had been meticulously teaching her had ever made her feel such familial warmth.


    She wondered how Little Tang was doing now, whether he was still sweeping the grounds at Kali Academy. She had no idea how much longer her seclusion wouldst.


    At that moment, she heard the Peacock Great Demon King''s voice in her ear. "Little Mei,e on."


    "Okay!" With a sh of silver light, Mei Gongzi also vanished into thin air.

 Chapter 322: The Infernal Tiger Squad

    <h4>Chapter 322: The Infernal Tiger Squad</h4>


    The news that the Shrek Squad would fight again quickly spread throughout Kali City, especially among the human neighborhoods.


    In thest battle, the Shrek Squad had surprisingly defeated the Sword Demon Squad, which was beyond everyone''s expectations. More importantly, the Shrek Squad disyed strength that exceeded the imaginations of many spectators. However, they also suffered heavy injuries in that battle. Had they recovered in just over half a month? Were they ready to fight again?


    This was good news for humans. Regardless of how the fifth battle turned out, the fact that they scheduled it proved that the Shrek Squad was in fighting shape.


    Thanks to the deliberate promotion on behalf of the arena, the hype for this team battle quickly turned it into a grand event. However, the arena chose to keep the identity of the Shrek Squad''s opponents strictly confidential.


    The betting pool opened ahead of time for win-loss bets. Upon hearing this news, Wu Bingji wanted to participate in the betting, but Tang San stopped him. There was to be no gambling in the Shrek Squad.


    Tang San had his reasons. He didn''t want hispanions to get into the habit of making money through gambling. Such habits could lead to addiction. Moreover, if they ced bets, the amounts would be significant, quickly attracting the attention of the Great Beast Fighting Arena officials. Winning once would lead to a second time andrger bets. They might face the arena''s retaliation if they couldn''t control their desires to win more money. They aimed to obtain noble status, not seek wealth and adventure here.


    Tang San sessfully persuaded Wu Bingji. Before they left, he even left all his naturae coins in the Golden Valley, instructing the Crimson Fox girls to give the money to the mayor if they didn''t return.


    Although everyone felt it was a bit ominous, they let him do it.


    Returning to the Great Beast Fighting Arena, the Shrek Squad entered discreetly as usual. They had somewhat gotten used to this ce filled with the stench of blood.


    Wu Bingji, Cheng Zicheng, and Gu Li, who had been severely injured, still felt a bit apprehensive, especially when recalling the scenes from thest battle.


    The previous night, Tang San had brought back news, informing them about the races of their opponents that day.


    That fifth battle would not be easy.


    Their opponents that day were from a powerful n. The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape had given Tang San a single word regarding the race information: tigers!


    All five opponents were tigers.


    The tiger was the king of beasts, and among the demon ns, the tiger demons were naturally mighty. The White Tiger Demon Emperor had always been one of the top powerhouses among the demon ns, ruling over all tiger demons. There were also the formidable members of the Golden Tiger lineage.


    In addition, the Tiger n had many branches, and all of them were strong. Even the weakest tiger demon ns had bloodlines no lower than the third tier.


    Of course, even in a teamposed of five tigers, the likelihood of there being a tiger demon with a golden bloodline was very low. Golden Tigers considered themselves high nobility and wouldn''t participate in such matches at the Great Beast Fighting Arena. They were nothing more than spectators.


    But there was no doubt their opponents would be powerful, likely more powerful than the previous Sword Demon Squad. With this in mind, Tang San made some tactical arrangements.


    When they arrived at the Great Beast Fighting Arena, it was not yet evening and it was still very bright outside, but the streets were already crowded... with humans, specifically.


    Their fellow humans eagerly anticipated this match, and the discussions they overheard while passing by were almost all about the Shrek Squad. The Shrek Squad was now practically the pride of humanity.


    This was both motivation and pressure.


    "Senior brother Du Bai, you can use the third array disc today." Tang San said to Du Bai.


    Du Bai''s eyes lit up. Tang San had never let him use the third array disc before, and in the previous battle, it wouldn''t have been practical anyway. The Spirit Elevation Array would be unusable once the third array disc was used due to inevitable conflicts.


    "No problem."


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    The host was already warming up the crowd.


    "Today, it''s another full house. Many of our esteemed guests are here to see the Shrek Squad and whether they can continue their streak. This team has been creating miracles! Just when we think they can''tpete against stronger opponents, they always manage to crush their foes and move forward, often using explosive tactics. So, who will they be facing today? I can tell you that this team has won five battles already and hasn''t appeared in our arena for some time.


    "Actually, they have been staying in the arena for the past three days, so they also don''t know who their opponents are today. But I believe this team will be a tough challenge for the Shrek Squad. In the face of absolute strength, all tactics are nothing more than paper tigers![1]


    "The betting is still open until thest moment before the match starts. Those who like to bet on battle duration can start now. Today''s duration bet is in three-minute units. I''ll share a little secret with you: I bet on the match ending within six minutes. <i>Hehe</i>. So, dear guests, you might want to consider how to ce your bets."


    The audience immediately burst intoughter upon hearing the host''s words. "Bet on the opposite, and you''ll get a vi by the sea."[2]


    The host scoffed. "What''s so great about the sea? Do you want to eat sea monsters every day? My choices are always solid."


    Laughter erupted again. Clearly, the host didn''t have a good reputation in this regard.


    "Alright, alright, don��t say I didn��t warn you! The final countdown to the match starts now!"


    Thest ten minutes of betting time quickly passed, signaling that the team battle was about to begin.


    Two massive gates slowly rose, and the five members of the Shrek Squad soon came into view again. Although they all wore masks, their figures and overall appearance still clearly showed that the Shrek Squad had not changed members; it was still the original five. Moreover, they seemed to have fully recovered from their injuries.


    The Shrek Squad''s Headshot Captain, who had burned his bloodline, stood at the forefront. It seemed that the life force he had previously consumed had been restored.


    Of course, some treasures and remedies could restore life force and strengthen the body, but their prices were extremely high. This was why Tang San''s im to the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape that they had spent a lot of money on recovery was believable.


    For the humans who came to watch, seeing theplete Shrek Squad excited them greatly. There were one-third more spectatorspared to the previous match.


    However, when the audience''s eyes focused on the other gate, they couldn''t help but gasp.


    The Shrek Squad''s opponents were five males, each over two and a half meters tall, with solid builds and fierce auras.


    Their most prominent feature was therge �� [3] character on their foreheads.


    Their hair was ck, the �� character on their foreheads was ck, and their exposed arms had ck fur with yellow-brown stripes.


    They were Infernal Tigers! A branch of the tiger race with quasi-second-tier bloodlines!


    These tigers, also known as Dark Infernal Tigers, were a somewhat solitary n within the tiger race. They had violent temperaments, excelled in controlling the darkness element, and possessed formidable strength. They were the opposites of the Golden Tiger lineage, which excelled in light attributes, and even more so the White Tiger lineage. Of course, without a Demon Emperor in their n, they could neverpete with thetter.


    However, this did not mean that Infernal Tigers were weak. On the contrary, they were truly formidable evenpared to their tiger peers. Although their bloodline power was not as great as the Golden Tigers��, it was not far off. This was why it was ssified as quasi-second-tier.


    1. "Paper tigers" is a loan trantion from the Chinesenguage from the term ֽ�ϻ�. The term refers to something or someone that ims or appears to be powerful or threatening but is ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge. ?


    2. This is a modern Chinese saying (�������򣬱�������) originating from the consecutive losses of popr teams during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It refers to cing bets on the less popr option and winning in abundance. ?


    3. The Chinese character with three horizontal lines connected by a central vertical line �� (wang), meaning "king." The tiger is considered the king of animals in Chinese culture due to the stripes on its forehead that seemingly resemble the �� character. ?

 Chapter 323 Spirit Fusion Array

    <h4>Chapter 323 Spirit Fusion Array</h4>


    Due to their violent temperament, Infernal Tigers frequently appeared in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. They were generally oppressed by the Golden Tigers, and they were not considered nobility. This made them discontent and consequently even more ferocious.


    Today, the Shrek Squad was set to face such an Infernal Tiger squad��one ninth-order and four eighth-order Infernal Tigers.


    They had dark purple eyes, cold and cruel. They looked at the five members of the Shrek Squad, who were much smaller in stature, with a predatory gaze.


    "See that? See that? Now you know why I said you should bet on the six-minute mark. It''s because today, the Shrek Squad will face the incredibly ruthless, brutal, and formidable kings of beasts��the Infernal Tiger Squad. I believe the Infernal Tiger Squad can win within six minutes. No amount of skill can stand a chance against such overwhelming strength. The field abilities of the Infernal Tiger Squadpletely counter the Shrek Squad. I bet on the Infernal Tiger Squad."


    The human spectators held their breath.


    The host had a point: Infernal Tigers were truly, truly strong. Among these five Infernal Tigers, there was even a ninth-order one. They had achieved five consecutive victories, brutally tearing apart their opponents each time. They were notorious and were considered very likely to win ten sessive victories. No one expected the Shrek Squad to face such opponents in their fifth match.


    However, they did not notice the expressions of the Shrek Squad members.


    Of course, the masks obscured their faces, making it hard to see their expressions. The distance made their eyes even harder to discern.


    At this moment, Wu Bingji, Gu Li, Du Bai, and Cheng Zicheng were looking at Tang San with astonishment and bewilderment.


    The reason was simple. Just yesterday, when they learned their opponents would be tiger demons, Tang San analyzed the situation and told them that their opponents would likely be Infernal Tigers. And even if there were some members from different ns, Infernal Tigers would be the main force. Thus, the tactics they��d discussed the day before were primarily meant for dealing with precisely these Infernal Tigers.


    And now, the situation on the other side proved Tang San''s words.


    Were Infernal Tigers easy to deal with? Of course not. Not only did they possess powerful physical abilities, but all their attacks were imbued with the darkness element and had great corrosive power. Moreover, they were formidable on the mental level, capable of using various darkness-rted skills, and their mid-range attacks were also quite terrifying. Especially with a ninth-order leader, it could be said that this squad had practically no weaknesses.


    If not for the fact that the Infernal Tiger lineagecked a Demon Emperor, it was uncertain who the true ruler of the tiger demons would be. As for why they couldn��t produce a Demon Emperor, that was simply because Infernal Tigers were less intelligent than the Golden Tiger lineage.


    The host''s high-pitched voice rang out. "Both squads, prepare!"


    On the Shrek Squad''s side, Du Bai took out an array disc and quickly activated it. Unlike the other two arrays, this one had a visible manifestation. Instantly, a faint golden light spread on the ground, transforming into an array of patterns that emitted golden rays. The eyes of the five members of the Shrek Squad brightened.


    The five of them stood in a line: Wu Bingji in the front, Tang San in second position, Du Bai third, Gu Li fourth, and Cheng Zicheng at the back. They appeared as a unified whole.


    At the same time, on the opposite side, ck currents rose from the five Infernal Tigers, creating a dense ck cloud above their heads. The terrifying aura spread through the air, and under therge ck canopy, the darkness element in the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena instantly became more concentrated.


    The Darkness Domain!


    This was a special ability unique to the Infernal Tigers. Within the domain, the concentration of the darkness element increased. The degree of this increment naturally depended on the user��s cultivation. At this moment, the Darkness Domain cast by five Infernal Tigers at the eighth order and above increased the concentration of the darkness element around them by at least thirty percent.


    More importantly, within the Darkness Domain, the overallbat power of the Infernal Tigers would increase significantly. This was the truly terrifying part. The only issue was that the Darkness Domain''s coverage was limited, only a thirty-meter radius around the Infernal Tiger casting it. Of course, maintaining the domain also consumed arge amount of their bloodline power.


    If one encountered an Infernal Tiger casting a Darkness Domain in the outside world, the first reaction should be to flee the battlefield. Fighting an Infernal Tiger within its Darkness Domain was no different from seeking death. But the limited space in the Great Beast Fighting Arena was perfect for the Infernal Tigers'' Darkness Domain. This was the reason the Infernal Tiger Squad was hailed as one of the teams most likely to achieve a ten-win streak. Their Darkness Domain made them almost invincible in the arena.


    As the ck aura surged, the Shrek Squad appeared insignificant under the massive pressure, like a looming dark cloud. Only the golden patterns provided by the array discs beneath them and the previously unseen formation they adopted appeared somewhat peculiar.


    "Begin!" the announcer shouted, dering the start of the match.


    The five Infernal Tigers of the Infernal Tiger Squad simultaneously let out a long roar toward the sky.


    The thrilling tiger roars echoed throughout the Great Beast Fighting Arena, causing spectators with lesser bloodlines to feel weak. This was the oppressive power of the King of Beasts.


    The five Infernal Tigers, shrouded in the Darkness Domain, charged straight toward the Shrek Squad. The terrifying aura rose instantly, and within the dense cloud of darkness element, ayer of purple-ck light rippled around their bodies.


    "Unite!" Tang San shouted in a deep voice.


    In an instant, halos of different colors rose from the five members of the Shrek Squad. Wu Bingji''s was white, Tang San''s was green, Du Bai''s was white, Gu Li''s was a faint, twisted white, and Cheng Zicheng''s was golden.


    The energy fluctuations brought by five different bloodlines surged forward, converging into Wu Bingji.


    The originally white halo around Wu Bingji instantly turned ice blue. His eyes gleamed with blue light, and his pupils appeared like two blue crystals. His aura also surged dramatically.


    At this moment, Wu Bingji felt the energy transmitted from behind him undergo a particr transformation and filtration,pletely integrating into his bloodline. The vast bloodline power surged like a mighty river, instantly boosting his cultivation. Not only that, but his spiritual power also became immediately apparent and strong, and his perception surged. He even felt as if he had reached a unique critical point, sensing the call of another world.


    This was the power of the third array disc, the Spirit Fusion Array!


    This was the power of the five of them merged into one!


    They waited until this battle to use this array disc because Du Bai and Gu Li''s cultivation was a bit weaker previously, making it difficult for them to integrate with their higher-level teammates. This significantly increased the chances of the Spirit Fusion Array failing.


    This time, with everyone''s cultivation levels improved and Wu Bingji''s bloodline refined, they could better integrate their energy into the array disc.


    And thus, the Spirit Fusion Array made its debut on the battlefield.


    Under the effect of this array, the five people''s powers werebined into one. It was not a perfect integration, but even so, most of their bloodline power was poured into Wu Bingji.


    If Tang San were to lead the Spirit Fusion Array, it would undoubtedly be a different story. However, he believed that Wu Bingji, who had considerably improved his control over the ice element as ofte, could handle it well enough. More importantly, for Wu Bingji, this was a perfect training opportunity.

 Chapter 324: Summoning the Dark Infernal Tiger?

    <h4>Chapter 324: Summoning the Dark Infernal Tiger?</h4>


    Under the effect of the Spirit Fusion Array, Wu Bingji''s cultivation had reached the absolute peak of the ninth order, not just in terms of bloodline power but also spiritual power. This was even with Tang San holding back; otherwise, his spiritual power alone would have been enough to propel Wu Bingji all the way to the peak of the ninth order.


    An ice-blue halo suddenly burst forth from Wu Bingji, making the Great Beast Fighting Arena, already filled with the darkness element, cold and unweing as well. The ice element in the air quickly became rich and intense.


    Although he was facing five charging tigers, Wu Bingji looked like a war god, and there was not one shred of apprehension on his face.


    He raised his right hand, striking out into the void. Ice arrows formed almost instantly in the air and shot toward the Infernal Tigers like lightning.


    The ice arrows were silent but incredibly fast.


    The five Infernal Tigers naturally noticed the strange changes on the Shrek Squad''s side. The power of their domain suddenly converged upon them, merging with them.


    When the ice arrows entered the Dark Domain''s range, they immediately began to show signs of corrosion. Their speed slowed, and the ice elemental energy decreased.


    But the ice arrows exploded at that moment, scattering ice shards everywhere. The powerful explosion caused the ck mist in the Dark Domain to surge. The shockwave also significantly slowed down the charge of the five Infernal Tigers.


    Wu Bingji sped his hands, and the ice elemental energy in the air quickly condensed in front of him. An azure ice spear formed almost instantly, engraved with strange patterns and radiating an incredibly cold aura.


    Seeing this scene, the audience in the stands held their breath. They had seen a simr ice spear in the previous Shrek Squad battle! The Earth Demon Ox''s mighty defense, bolstered by the support of the Blue Fox, had beenpletely unable to withstand it!


    Indeed, it was precisely the spear Wu Bingji condensed when he ignited his bloodline. He wasn��t doing any such thing this time, yet the ice spear had formed almost instantly.


    Wu Bingji raised his head, his gaze almost instantly locking onto the ninth-order Infernal Tiger opposite him. Light surged in his blue pupils, with a hint of purple-gold flickering quietly within.


    The ninth-order Infernal Tiger instantly felt a hair-raising sensation along its spine and released a low roar. It opened its mouth, spitting out a purple-ck light orb made of darkness elemental energy that shot straight toward Wu Bingji. Simultaneously, the other four Infernal Tigers also spat out purple-ck orbs. With the support of their domain, the orbs grewrger as they flew, heading straight for Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji grasped the ice spear he had just formed with his right hand. The ice-blue light around him and the golden patterns beneath him surged violently. At that moment, although he faced an overwhelming dark onught, his back was straight and he stood proud.


    The five darkness orbs were about to reach him. At that moment, Wu Bingji finally moved, hurling the ice spear like a bolt of lightning!


    The ninth-order darkness orb at the front was instantly pierced, and the trajectory of the ice spear shifted. It moved around in a strange pattern, piercing the five darkness orbs, which then all froze in ce, only to explode a momentter after the ice spear shot through.


    The twisted flight of the ice spear was incredibly skillful. When thest darkness orb was pierced, the ice spear also exploded.


    The ninth-order Infernal Tiger was now less than thirty meters from Wu Bingji. Just as it was about to elerate and pounce, a chilling coldness had already reached it.


    It was a strange icicle, about a foot long and very translucent. In fact, it was almost invisible due to its speed. More terrifying was that its aura waspletely concealed until it reached the ninth-order Infernal Tiger. Only when it got close could the terrifying aura be felt.


    It was so fast that even the ninth-order Infernal Tiger couldn''t react in time.


    At the critical moment, ayer of purple-ck light surged around it. At the same time, it barely shifted its torso, attempting to swipe at the giant icicle with its right arm.


    However, the speed of the icicle exceeded its expectations. The icicle pierced into its shoulder with a painful sound. Although it had managed to avoid being pierced through the heart, the Infernal Tiger still felt a chill throughout its body at that moment.


    The next moment, it fully mobilized its bloodline power toward its shoulder. However, the ice explosion was inevitable.


    Although the icicle melted somewhat under the protective darkness element, which also reinforced the tiger��s defenses, the powerful explosion still caused the right shoulder of the ninth-order Infernal Tiger to burst apart. At the same time, half of its body was frozen, and it fell directly to the ground, rolling forward due to the momentum of the charge.


    The power of this spear was astonishing. Although it had failed to kill the ninth-order Infernal Tiger, its second eleration and strong piercing ability had seriously injured it.


    The injury of the ninth-order Infernal Tiger caused a significant copse in the Dark Domain, and the other four eighth-order Infernal Tigers also gave up on attacking, instead gathering around the ninth-order one.


    Wu Bingji remained expressionless and once more grasped the air with his right hand. Another ice spear appeared, quickly transforming under the purified elemental power of his peak-ninth-order state.


    <i>This is what it means to master ice! </i>This was Wu Bingji''s only thought at the moment.


    When the ninth-order Infernal Tiger froze, the audience in the stands was in an uproar.


    No one expected the battle to turn out this way. Even those who had previously watched the Shrek Squad''s matches couldn''t have imagined such a dramatic transformation in just a few days.


    This change was genuinely shocking. The previously unseen Spirit Fusion Array disc had directly transformed the Shrek Squad.


    For all cultivators, the peak of the ninth order was vastly different from any other level of cultivation. That was because it was just one step away from godhood. It was almost impossible for someone at this level to participate in the Great Beast Fighting Arena because they would be preparing to transcend and be gods. Who would waste their time in the arena?


    However, Wu Bingji''s state had been elevated to the peak of the ninth order under the effect of the array disc. Although the bloodline of the opposing Infernal Tigers was truly mighty, their leader had only just entered the ninth order. Moreover, Wu Bingji had received instructions regarding cultivation and control of the ice element from a God King. Naturally, the Infernal Tiger had no such privilege.


    As the ice spear condensed again, Wu Bingji acted as if he didn''t even see the other four eighth-order Infernal Tigers. His focus remained locked on the ninth-order Infernal Tiger. He knew that the victory would be secured if he took down the ninth-order Infernal Tiger. With the Purple Demon Eyes'' locking ability, his ice spear couldn''t be dodged��at least, the Infernal Tiger couldn''t manage it.


    The ninth-order Infernal Tiger let out a crazed roar. The sudden injury had triggered its true ferocity.


    The Dark Domain surged violently, and ck me-like halos rippled from the five Infernal Tigers. A gigantic ck tiger phantom emerged within the domain.


    The phantom was fifteen meters long, with shoulder height exceeding seven meters. The enormous ck tiger frantically absorbed the dark power from the air to strengthen itself.


    This was the Infernal Tiger''s trump card and the pinnacle disy of its domain power: summoning the Dark Infernal Tiger.

 Chapter 325: Summoning... Failure

    <h4>Chapter 325: Summoning... Failure</h4>


    However, no one noticed that while they were summoning the Dark Infernal Tiger, Du Bai, who was positioned at the back of the Shrek Squad, had a subtle ripple of white around him. Something seemed to be stirring in the air.


    The Dark Infernal Tiger let out an earth-shattering roar and used its enormous body to enshroud the five Infernal Tigers. This Dark Infernal Tiger exuded an aura at the peak of the ninth order, and it seemed to have energy even more powerful than that. The darkness element frantically dispelled the ice element in the air.


    But at that moment, the ninth-order Infernal Tiger positioned at the center in order to perform the Dark Infernal Tigerbination technique, suddenly felt a chill throughout its body. Although it had dispelled most of the cold, a sharp pain shot through its shoulder. In this state of pain, another cold wave entered its heart, causing it to palpitate.


    The Dark Infernal Tiger, just about to take form, suddenly lost the crucial support of its main summoner��s power. Its enormous body wavered, and the four eighth-order Dark Infernal Tigers felt as if they had misapplied their strength. The coordination that had never once failed thus broke down, and the Dark Infernal Tiger exploded into arge cloud of ck mist, rippling in the air. The five Infernal Tigers suffered the bacsh, and all of them grunted simultaneously. The ninth-order Infernal Tiger spat out a mouthful of blood, its face full of disbelief.


    The gigantic Dark Infernal Tiger, which had initially filled the human audience with dread, vanished into thin air. It was like a ck... paper tiger!


    At that instant, Wu Bingji''s second ice spear shot out like lightning, with unstoppable momentum and an icy aura.


    The ninth-order Dark Infernal Tiger didn''t dare to be careless. The ck mes wrapping around it red up even more intensely as it forcibly dissolved the remaining ice elemental energy within itself at all costs. It was burning its life force, causing its bloodline to erupt to the extreme.


    It had faced that spear once, and it understood perfectly well how terrifying it was. As it had ninth-order cultivation and a high-tier bloodline, it could also ignite its bloodline, just like Wu Bingji had done that day. In a desperate attempt, it swept at the ice spear with its ws.


    <i>Boom���� </i>


    The ice spear exploded, but not because it had collided with the ninth-order Infernal Tiger. Instead, it exploded when it was still fifteen meters away.


    Four beams of cold light shot out from the exploding ice spear and almost instantly vanished.


    The four eighth-order Infernal Tigers didn''t even have time to react. Under secondary eleration, the four icicles had already pierced through their eyes and prated their brains.


    Yes, this second ice spear did not target the ninth-order Infernal Tiger. It was a feint to mask its actual target.


    With peak ninth-order spiritual power, as well as the control over ice granted by a peak ninth-order cultivation, how could Wu Bingji��s power be the same as before?


    <i>Bang, bang, bang, bang!</i>


    Four heads exploded like fireworks. The four eighth-order Infernal Tigers died simultaneously under the terrifying icicle pration and detonation. With that, the Shrek Squad added four more demon kills to their headshot record.


    The ninth-order Infernal Tiger burning its life force for a full-strength attack, found its strikending in space. It even saw the mocking expression on the opponent''s face. In a moment, blood rushed to its head. It let out a frenzied roar and charged at Wu Bingji, ignoring the copsing Darkness Domain.


    What awaited it were several thick ice walls rising from the ground.


    When the seventh ice wall shattered, the ninth-order Infernal Tiger''s burning bloodline power finally ended, and its aura rapidly declined. An ice spear descended from the sky with a graceful parabolic trajectory, pinning it harshly to the ground.


    The announcer opened his mouth, but no words came out! Having watched the entire match from the stands, he wanted to say he had guessed correctly. The battle was indeed resolved within six minutes. However, the winning side was opposite to what he had predicted.


    Who could have imagined that the Shrek Squad, which had struggled in their previous battle, would crush an objectively stronger opponent in this fifth match in under five minutes? From start to finish, only Wu Bingji had taken action. Despite being only of the eighth order in cultivation, he unleashed the mighty strength of a peak ninth-order. His mastery of the ice spear and icicle reached an astonishing level.


    The headshot maniac once againpleted a headshot, this time on the Infernal Tigers.


    The sharp-eyed spectators focused on the golden patterns on the ground and Du Bai, who held the array disc.


    Through five team battles, the one who seemed the leastbative appeared to be the real reason for this victory.


    They weren''t mistaken, but the spectators did not know that besides the Spirit Fusion Array, misfortune was also a crucial factor in deciding this battle.


    Misfortune struck when the Dark Infernal Tiger was forming, causing the ninth-order Infernal Tiger to misapply its strength, leading to the Dark Infernal Tiger��s instant copse. Their most potent technique didn''t even get a chance to be fully executed, resulting in their swift defeat.


    The sixth-order Celestial Fox Transformation, the Three-Tailed Celestial Fox, was no longer useless on the battlefield; in this fight, it had yed a critical role.


    The ease of this victory was so ridiculous that even the Shrek Squad found it hard to believe.


    Wu Bingji''s first reaction after killing the ninth-order Infernal Tiger was to look back at Tang San. He could hardly believe they had won just like that.


    Tang San gave him a slight nod.


    Wu Bingji hadbined the hidden weapon techniques of the Tang Sect with his elemental control and had already achieved mastery.


    The Spirit Fusion Array seemed powerful, but it was mainly because the opponent wasn''t strong enough. No matter how great the Spirit Fusion Array was, it couldn''t elevate their power to the god level. So, it seemed highly effective now, but as their cultivation improved, the effectiveness of the array would diminish. It would have been different if today''s opponents had included a peak ninth-order expert. Moreover, it was Du Bai''s ability to bestow misfortune that prevented the opponent from using their most powerful move. Without that, it would undoubtedly have been a tough battle. This seemingly easy victory was actually due to multiple factors.


    Of course, a win was a win, and this was the Shrek Squad''s fifth.


    Cheers erupted from the human spectator area. Once again, humans had won, defeating a stronger opponent and showcasing even greater strength. How could they not be overjoyed? They truly saw hope for humanity!


    As they left the battlefield, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape was already waiting there. Its expression was more solemn than ever. Nodding to the five members of the Shrek Squad, it said, "Please follow me."


    With that, it made a gesture of invitation and led the way inside.


    Tang San and his team followed behind it, not returning to the rest area as usual but heading deeper into the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    "Where are you taking us?" Wu Bingji couldn''t help but ask.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape stopped and said in a deep voice, "The arena master wants to meet you."


    Wu Bingji was about to say something more, but Tang San stopped him and said, "Alright."


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape continued forward, with Tang San and the others following behind. Wu Bingji gave Tang San a questioning look, his expression clearly showing some concern. Tang San gently shook his head, signaling him to stay calm.


    They walked for a considerable time, passing through a wide passageway. The area ahead suddenly opened up, revealing a luxurious hall. After passing through a corridor adorned with obviously valuable paintings, they finally stopped before an archway with double doors.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape signaled for them to wait a moment, then entered ahead.


    A momentter, it returned and gestured for Tang San and the others to follow.


    Led by the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, the five entered avishly decorated room.

 Chapter 326: The Arena Master of the Great Beast Fighting Arena

    <h4>Chapter 326: The Arena Master of the Great Beast Fighting Arena</h4>


    The room wasrge, over five hundred square meters, with a seven-meter-high arched ceiling painted with various beast-fighting murals. The room''s primary colors were gold, white, and red, giving it a magnificent and luxurious appearance.


    Behind arge wooden table that emitted a faint fragrance stood a demon, with its back to them. It faced a window that overlooked the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Although the audience outside was still leaving, no sound could be heard inside, indicating excellent soundproofing.


    From the back, they could see that this demon had antlers as white as jade, marking it as a deer demon. Its luxurious attire and the ce it stood made it clear that it was the master of this ce.


    "Arena Master, I have brought them," the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape said with great respect.


    "Yes, you may leave," a melodious voice responded.


    "Yes." The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape bowed, then quickly walked out without looking at Tang San and the others again.


    The deer demon slowly turned to look at Tang San and his team.


    He had a handsome face and appeared to be middle-aged. His aura was restrained, but a faint divine light flowed in his eyes. There was a natural, special charm about him.


    Tang San immediately recognized the man''s n because he had once absorbed the bloodline of this n��the Aetherhorn Deer! Moreover, this was an Aetherhorn Deer with god-level cultivation!


    The Aetherhorn Deers possessed mighty spiritual power, and their Discerning Heart��s Gaze could see through elements. They had encountered such opponents in a previous team battle, and Elemental Stripping had caused Wu Bingji considerable trouble. They hadn''t expected the master of the Great Beast Fighting Arena to be an Aetherhorn Deer.


    "Wee, please have a seat," the Aetherhorn Deer said with a smile, gesturing for them to sit.


    Tang San and his team sat down on the sofa. Apart from Tang San, the other four were wary, somewhat awkward, and unsure of what to do.


    The Aetherhorn Deer smiled and said, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Ying Jie, and I am the patriarch of the Aetherhorn Deers. The Great Beast Fighting Arena in Kali City is not actually our n''s property; rather, we manage it on behalf of the city lord."


    <i>The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King!</i> The words instantly rose in Tang San''s mind. So, the master of the Great Beast Fighting Arena was him.


    Tang San had heard that the Aetherhorn Deer n and the Golden Deer n were the left and right arms of the Peacock Great Demon King. Despite Kali City''s remote location, with the support of these two highly business-savvy deer demon ns, Kali City''s economy flourished and the city was now very wealthy. Economically, Kali City had risen from the bottom to the middle ranks of the major cities, due in no small part to the efforts of the two Deer Demon Kings��especially the Aetherhorn Deer lineage, which was exceptionally gifted in management.


    This n produced the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor, whose blood caused a bidding war at the recent grand auction.


    Aetherhorn Deer King Ying Jie��s gaze fell on Tang San, smiling as he said, ��You must be the real leader of this small team, right?��


    With his keen observation, it was easy for him to discern who the true core of the Shrek Squad was. This could be easily seen from the team members'' eyes. Furthermore, in thest match, Tang San showcased his prowess by defeating the Crested Crane Demon at the final moment.


    Tang San replied without directly answering, "I wonder why you invited us here. Arena Master."


    The Aetherhorn Deer King smiled and said, "Humans are always very clever, especially vassals who can cultivate to your level. You should know why I summoned you here."


    Tang San had said "invite," but Ying Jie had changed it to "summon," which already carried a clear sense of pressure.


    Tang San calmly said, "I only know that the Great Beast Fighting Arena is a very fair ce, especially respectful to the warriors who participate. We just want to win, earn the prize money, and perhaps even gain noble status in the future. That''s all we know."


    The other party exerted pressure while he pushed back, implying, <i>"Aren''t you known for fairness? Then be fair!"</i>


    Summoning them alone was hardly fair. Tang San and his teammates naturally guessed that this Aetherhorn Deer King had called them here for the array discs.


    The Spirit Summoning Array was one thing, but the teleportation array was enough to arouse envy. The Spirit Fusion Array disyed today finally made it impossible for the Great Beast Fighting Arena to remain patient. The Aetherhorn Deer King himself had to step in.


    The Aetherhorn Deer King smiled and said, "As the saying goes, amon man might be innocent, but having a treasure makes him guilty. You should understand this principle.


    Moreover, the origins of some things are hard to exin. The authorities must investigate things of unknown origin. While the Great Beast Fighting Arena is fair, if the authorities in Kali City decide to investigate you, the arena won''t be able to intervene."


    Tang San also smiled and said, "So, if we hand over all the array discs to you, Arena Master, the Great Beast Fighting Arena will be able to protect us?"


    The Aetherhorn Deer King gave a reserved smile and said, "The Great Beast Fighting Arena should have that capability."


    "Alright," Tang San agreed without hesitation, then turned to Du Bai and said, "Senior brother, give them to me."


    Du Bai gave him a look but still took out three array discs and handed them to Tang San.


    Tang San ced the three array discs on the Aetherhorn Deer King''s desk. "Can we leave now?"


    The Aetherhorn Deer King''s spiritual power was extremely strong. He immediately recognized the three array discs as genuine with just a nce. He couldn''t help but look at Tang San in surprise. The other party had handed them over so quickly, which waspletely unexpected.


    "You''re just giving them to me like that?" the Aetherhorn Deer King asked.


    Tang San said, "There''s a saying, ''A wise man adapts to the circumstances.[1] Since you mentioned the authorities might trouble us because of this, we naturally need to be smart. I assure you, these are the only three array discs. You can have your subordinates search us to confirm. So, after this, please don''t bother us again. We just want topete in peace."


    The Aetherhorn Deer King smiled and nodded. "I will ensure they take care of you. It''s always a pleasure to speak with clever humans. See them out!"


    The door opened, and the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape was already waiting outside.


    Tang San led his puzzled teammates out, collected their prize money under the guidance of the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, and then quickly left the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    The Aetherhorn Deer King picked up the three array discs and ced them in front of him, examining them individually. Soon, his face showed a look of amazement.


    Each array disc was only palm-sized and engraved with intricate patterns. The energy pathways depicted were unlike anything he had ever seen. Creating an array with such miraculous effects on a small disc was truly remarkable.


    After examining the three array discs, he quickly realized he had made a mistake. He hadn''t asked the Shrek Squad about their usage and origins.


    He had been very confident in himself. The Aetherhorn Deers were reputed to be one of the smartest demon ns, and he had great confidence in his divine consciousness and knowledge, priding himself on being well-versed. He thought that once the array discs were in his hands, he could uncover their secrets with a bit of inspection.


    However, he now realized that he had been overconfident. Not asking was a significant mistake. The intricacy of the arrays on the discs far exceeded anything he had ever seen. He couldn''t even identify the material of the discs��it seemed to be a specially forged alloy, but he couldn''t determine precisely what it was.


    He tried to use his divine consciousness to activate the array discs, but there was no effect. They clearly weren��t something that could be deciphered quickly.


    <i>No wonder that boy handed them over so readily; he was waiting for this!</i>


    After leaving the Great Beast Fighting Arena, the Shrek Squad quickly blended into the crowd.


    1. The saying ʶʱ����Ϊ���� originates from the History of the Three Kingdoms. It highlights how flexibility and awareness of one''s environment are crucial to sess. This phrase is often used to praise someone perceptive and adaptable, recognizing these qualities as marks of true wisdom and heroism. ?

 Chapter 327: Teleportation Array

    <h4>Chapter 327: Teleportation Array</h4>


    "Tang San, why did you hand the discs over just like that?" Wu Bingji couldn''t help but ask.


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "If I didn��t, we probably wouldn''t have gotten out of there. Just let them have the discs and wish them good luck. The mayor wouldn''t have any business if my array discs were so easy to decipher, they would have been copied long ago. All the array discs are fail-closed. If they try to use the arrays forcibly or do anything to them, it will only damage the discs. The discs themselves are not all that expensive to make, so I don��t really care about them. That��s why I chose to just hand them over."


    "But then what will we use in the next team battle?" Du Bai couldn''t help but express his worry.


    Tang San smirked. "Next time, if I''m not mistaken, our opponents will be easier to deal with. We can win even without the array discs. After all, without us, they won''t be able to unlock the secrets of the array discs. When wee here topete next time, they''lle to us."


    Seeing his confident demeanor, the other four breathed a sigh of relief. Gu Li said, "Being taken to that arena owner today made me nervous! I thought they were going to harm us."


    Tang San shook his head. "The Aetherhorn Deers are not inclined toward violence; they are business people. Business people value profit. Killing us wouldn''t benefit them, and they are <i>very</i> interested in benefiting from us. As long as we target this point, we don''t have to fear what they might do to us."


    Wu Bingji asked, "OK, but what about next time then? What if they force us to tell them how to use the discs?"


    "Then we tell them. The array discs wear out during use and can''t be used too many times anyway, and they cannot possibly expect us to know how they are made. We tell them what they want to know, and they have no reason to target us. As for the origin of the array discs, isn''t that up to us to decide? Don��t worry, they are not all that interested in dealing with us; what matters to them is establishing a connection with the array master behind us."


    Wu Bingji''s heart stirred, as if he had grasped part of Tang San''s thinking.


    "But the mayor said this thing is very important to us. Is it okay to let these arrays circte in the demon world?" Wu Bingji said hesitantly.


    Tang San said, "Originally, I just wanted an outlet to make more money for the organization. However since the organization started using the godhood ascension to threaten my master, I was already prepared to open other sales channels. We can develop on our own as well."


    From the Redemption Society''s attitude toward Zhang Haoxuan, Tang San knew that the organization''s true leaders had limited vision. No matter how much they were given, such entities would find it challenging to truly lead humanity to rise. Moreover, as the profits grew, the likelihood of negative changes also increased.


    That was the main reason Tang San did not and <i>would</i> not give Zhang Haoxuan other types of array discs to sell. As for the Great Beast Fighting Arena, he naturally had ways to deal with them.


    ***


    The Shrek Squad won again, causing the humans in Kali City to celebrate. Especially since this battle seemed easily won, it heightened the people''s expectations for the Shrek Squad. The name of Shrek began to spread throughout Kali City. Of course, the Great Beast Fighting Arena was by far the biggest beneficiary.


    Given the Shrek Squad''s state, starting the sixth match soon was not a problem. However, Tang San did not do this. Instead, he took his teammates back to Golden Valley to continue their cultivation, arranging new tactics and guiding their progress overall.


    After another five days, Zhang Haoxuan finally returned, bringing all the materials from Tang San''s list.


    Despite having already broken through to godhood, the mayor looked travel-worn, but the expression on his face clearly betrayed his excitement. A teleportation array, this was a teleportation array!


    The teammates continued cultivating, while Tang San and the mayor began working on the teleportation array together.


    The array was set up not far from the Golden Tree because it required a powerful and stable energy source for long-term use.


    Setting up this mid-range teleportation array was quiteplex. It was actually not just one array, but a cluster of interlinked arrays. Zhang Haoxuan used to think that he had some measure of understanding when it came to energy arrays, but he quickly realized he couldn''t understand what Tang San was doing. The intricate patterns of energy flow and the interlinked arrays left him dazzled. He was like a cat looking at a wall calendar: he could see everything clearly, yet the meaning eluded him.


    He frequently asked Tang San questions, and Tang San answered them. However, Zhang Haoxuan felt that even with his spiritual power that had already evolved to divine consciousness, he still had trouble keeping up with Tang San''s thought process. He could only understand some of the basic principles.


    "Master, we only used basic materials for this array, so it will only work between here and the academy, and that��s after we set up a paired array at the academy. There will be a disc for controlling the array. Whenever someone wants to use the teleportation array, the one who holds the disk will receive their information and approve the teleportation. Otherwise, the array will not activate. Also, we must get some spatial-attribute gemstones to power the array. You must keep this strictly confidential. I��d say you should set up the other teleportation array at your residence and not tell the other teachers for now."


    "Okay." Zhang Haoxuan nodded and smiled wryly. "This teleportation array is much moreplicated than I imagined. Tang San, can you tell me where you learned this?"


    Tang San said, "If I told you I figured it out myself, would you believe me?"


    Zhang Haoxuan red at him with narrowed eyes. "Should I?"


    "You should!"


    The master and disciple looked at each other andughed.


    Zhang Haoxuan sighed but didn''t ask further because he knew Tang San wouldn''t tell him.


    Perhaps he really was the savior sent by the heavens. Zhang Haoxuan alwaysforted himself with this thought.


    Setting up the teleportation array in Golden Valley took seven days, and the one at Zhang Haoxuan''s residence took three days. Since the main array was at Golden Valley, there was a possibility of setting up other paired arrays elsewhere, and teleporting to other ces as well. Meanwhile, the teleportation array in Academy Town could only ever teleport people to Golden Valley, which made itparatively straightforward.


    The construction of the teleportation array cost over a hundred naturae coins, and that was considering Tang San did it for free. If he had to be paid for hisbor, the cost would skyrocket.


    The moment of nervous excitement had finally arrived.


    Looking at the enormous fifteen-meter-diameter array next to the Golden Tree, Zhang Haoxuan and the members of the Shrek Squad felt a sense of anticipation and eagerness.


    After such great efforts, the teleportation array was finallypleted, and they were about to conduct the first test.


    ording to Tang San, an ordinary person needed at least ninth-order spiritual power to use the teleportation array alone, and it took a tenth-order person with divine consciousness to bring others along. Only divine consciousness could ensure the stability of the teleportation array during transmission.


    With the strength of Zhang Haoxuan and Si Ru, they could transport up to ten people at a time. This was the limit. Teleportation also required the consumption of spatial gemstones. Tang San standardized the processing of the spatial gemstones used for teleportation and made sure there would be sufficient reserves.


    "Shall we begin?" Zhang Haoxuan asked Tang San.


    Tang San nodded at him and said, "Let''s begin."


    He took out a palm-sized array disc embedded with colorful gemstones. This was the core of the teleportation array, and it controlled the activation of the array.

 Chapter 328: The First Teleportation

    <h4>Chapter 328: The First Teleportation</h4>


    Golden light flickered, and the array disc in Tang San''s hand emitted a gentle glow. Instantly, the entire array began to tremble slightly, and strange energy waves spread out, seemingly affecting the entire Golden Valley.


    Spatial fluctuations were very peculiar. Theplexity of the space element was hard to understand, as it involved more than just energy changes; it had many mysterious aspects. Even the Peacock Demon n, who were naturally adept at sensing the space element, couldn''t fully grasp the mysteries of space.


    At this moment, the spatial fluctuations became intense within theplex array, and the entire area seemed to be unstable.


    Zhang Haoxuan signaled the others to move further away. If spatial tears appeared, ordinary people couldn��t possibly survive.


    But at that moment, a strange change urred. The initially chaotic spatial fluctuations started to disy some regrity, and a closer look revealed that the changes in fluctuations corresponded to the changes in the patterns lighting up on the teleportation array. All the fluctuations became orderly and were confined to a specific range.


    Tang San said to Zhang Haoxuan, "Master, in a moment, use your divine consciousness to envelop us, then enter the light gate of the teleportation array. Throughout the teleportation process, make sure your divine consciousness is stable. Remember, only use it to protect us; do not probe outward to avoid being pulled by spatial forces."


    "Alright!" Zhang Haoxuan nodded thoughtfully.


    Tang San reminded him again, "Space is just too powerful. Do not try to probe it lightly, or it may cause your divine consciousness to be shattered. You can��t recover from that, ever."


    "Hmm... Yes, that makes sense," Zhang Haoxuan agreed once more. "Tang San, maybe I should try it alone. You don''t need toe with me."


    Zhang Haoxuan knew very well how terrifying the power of space was, and he was worried that if something went wrong...


    Tang San shook his head. "It''s fine. Although our teleportation array isn''t very powerful and it��s not stable enough for ordinary people to use, I don��t think the two of us will have issues. Let''s begin."


    His divine consciousness was recovering faster and faster, and Tang San was confident in the teleportation array he had created. He just wanted to apany Zhang Haoxuan to ensure his master didn''t experience any mental or emotional fluctuations during his first teleportation. With Tang San''s divine consciousness protecting them, there would be no problems.


    The array disc in Tang San''s hand emitted a golden light as he spoke. The gentle glow became brighter, andyers of light within the array began to converge toward the center. Gradually, a three-meter-tall, two-meter-wide light gate began to take shape at the center of the array.


    The members of the Shrek Squad held their breath at the sight. They had witnessed Tang San and Zhang Haoxuan setting up the teleportation array and were somewhat skeptical about whether such an arrangement would really work.


    However, they realized their doubts were meaningless when the light gate appeared before them. Reality proved that they were really going in the right direction.


    Tang San nodded to Zhang Haoxuan. "Let''s go!"


    Zhang Haoxuan activated his divine consciousness, enveloping himself and Tang San in an invisible force. The two of them walked side by side into the light gate.


    As soon as they entered the light gate, Zhang Haoxuan immediately felt a dizzying sensation. Everything around them seemed to be spinning at that moment. The strange energy changes gave him an indescribable, marvelous feeling, but also made his heart tighten.


    "Keep your mind inward; do not probe outward."


    Tang San''s voice echoed in Zhang Haoxuan''s mind. He couldn''t help but shudder, quickly abandoning the urge to explore the mysteries of the universe and focusing his attention inward.


    Suddenly, their bodies felt light for a brief moment, and all the surrounding distortions gradually faded away. Everything became clear.


    Zhang Haoxuan was astonished to find that he and Tang San were now in a familiar room. Wasn''t this his residence in Academy Town?


    The light gate behind them gradually faded away, and everything returned to normal. The array patterns under their feet shimmered brilliantly and then slowly dimmed.


    Tang San handed the array disc to Zhang Haoxuan and said, "Master, keep the array disc safe. You don''t need to worry about the valley; the array can draw energy from the Golden Tree. But here, for each teleportation, you''ll need to use a spatial gemstone. When we go to the Ancestral Court, we''ll see if we can buy some higher-energy gems to use multiple times."


    Zhang Haoxuan had not yet recovered from the shock of their first teleportation. Hearing this, he looked at Tang San and murmured, "This is truly amazing. It worked! Tang San, you really are..."


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "Don��t worry too much. Maybe we''ll create a teleportation array that can directly send us to the Ancestral Court in the future. As long as we have enough resources, it''s possible."


    Zhang Haoxuanughed heartily. "Who knows, by then, humans might have already defeated the demons and nymphs and truly risen."


    Tang San didn''t respond to this. How difficult would it be for humans to defeat the demon and nymph races? They were just too powerful. Even with Tang San''s help, and even assuming the demons and nymphs didn''t hinder human development, it would still take hundreds or thousands of years for humanity as a whole to evolve. Undoubtedly, letting humans grow gradually seemed unlikely ever to surpass the demons and nymphs. Not to mention, even if Tang San regained his God King level cultivation, he would have to consider the bnce of the world and couldn''t favor a single race.


    Of course, Tang San would not dampen Zhang Haoxuan''s enthusiasm now. He smiled and said, "We''ll work hard together, and humans will always have a chance to rise. Master, I''ll leave the array disc with you. You can try it againter. Testing is necessary, so don''t be stingy with the resources. We must make sure that if anything happens, we can evacuate all students and teachers immediately."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "No worries, I understand how to operate it now. A few more tests will do. Now I can finally rx. Before we go to the Ancestral Court, I''ll teach this teleportation method to Si Ru so I can apany you to the Ancestral Court with peace of mind."


    "Yes. Our progress in the Great Beast Fighting Arena should speed up. I will request the arena to schedule matches for us. The next two should be fairly easy to win," Tang San said with a smile.


    Zhang Haoxuan was taken aback. "You��re that confident?"


    Tang San nodded slightly. He had already paid the price of three array discs, so how could he not be confident?


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena soon received a notification from the Shrek Squad that they wished to continue participating in the team battles. The arena was, of course, pleased to hear this. Although the Shrek Squad was not considered top-tier in evaluations, the revenue they brought to the arena was undoubtedly the greatest. They had be the arena''s star team recently.


    Their poprity had soared, making them one of the hottest presences in Kali City. And naturally, in the eyes of humans, they were <i>the human team</i>. Nobody knew their identities, as the arena never revealed such things, and their faces were concealed by masks. Otherwise, they would have long since been worshiped as idols by every human being in Kali City.

 Chapter 329: Easy Victory

    <h4>Chapter 329: Easy Victory</h4>


    The date was quickly announced. The Shrek Squad''s sixth match would take ce in two days, during evening prime time, with their opponents'' details temporarily kept secret. The Shrek Squad''s poprity soared to new heights.


    When Tang San and his team arrived at the Great Beast Fighting Arena again, they were greeted by the same old Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, who was now wearing a broad smile. It respectfully escorted them into the arena. Even their waiting room had been upgraded to a luxurious lounge. The treatment was worlds apartpared to before.


    "You received the information yesterday regarding your opponents for this round. Are you satisfied?" the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape asked.


    Wu Bingji nodded and said, "We are ready."


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape smiled. "That''s good. After this match, our arena master would like to invite you to dinner, so do your best."


    Wu Bingji also smiled in response. "Then we won''t hold back."


    After saying this, he nced at Tang San subconsciously.


    Everything was as Tang San had predicted. Their opponents for the sixth match seemed to be a very strong team, but they were just the type that the Shrek Squad could counter. The opponents excelled in speed and frontal attacks but were not good at control. For the Shrek Squad, which excelled at control, this was not a significant challenge.


    Tang San looked at Wu Bingji, and Wu Bingji said to the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, "ording to our analysis, we are confident that we can defeat our opponents within three minutes."


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape''s eyes lit up. "Really? Then I must congratte you in advance. I''ll get busy ande back to escort you to the arena shortly."


    With that, he hurried away.


    Watching him leave, a faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face.


    It wasn''t long before the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape returned. The sixth match for the Shrek Squad was about to begin.


    Wu Bingji still walked at the front. Among the Shrek Squad, he remained the most popr. His nickname, "Headshot Maniac," was already famous. The spotlight Tang San had gained in the fourth match had been overshadowed again by Wu Bingji''s solo victory in the fifth.


    Of course, the miraculous array discs of the Shrek Squad was also attracting increasing attention.


    The massive gates slowly opened, and the deafening cheers from outside roared like a tidal wave. The host''s enthusiastic voice echoed through the Great Beast Fighting Arena, "Today, a great battle is about to unfold, and it seems like the Shrek Squad is in trouble! They will face the incredibly powerful Manic Lightning Squad! Those who have seen the Manic Lightning Squad fight know how terrifying they are. Their unbeatable speed means that even a teleportation array can��t help their opponents too much. So, regardless of the oue, I expect this fight to be fast, intense, and absolutely damn thrilling! Of course, our Shrek Headshot Squad is not to be underestimated! We all thought they��d kick the bucket, and yet here they are, alive and kicking! I checked the bets for today''s match, and although only thirty percent bet on the Shrek Squad''s victory, I hope we��ll see another miracle!"


    Indeed, although the Shrek Squad was now a hot team, the proportion of people betting on their continued victory was surprisingly low. The reason was simple: the unity among humans provoked dissatisfaction among the demon spectators, who almost unanimously bet on the Shrek Squad losing.


    Of course, since win-loss betting was not the standard in these cases, those bets were in the minority. Most spectators ced time bets in the brief period before the match started. The excitement of time betting significantly heightened their emotions.


    "Well, in any case, even if the Shrek Squad can win again, I believe this match will be tough. Actually, I think it��ll take more than ten minutes. So, if you trust me, bet on more than ten minutes and the Shrek Squad''s victory. It''s a sure thing!" the host dered confidently.


    Wu Bingji turned his head and whispered to Tang San, "What��s he bbering about?"


    Tang San shrugged. "I don��t know what you expected. The host is here to mislead the audience, it''s normal for him to say that. Otherwise, there would��ve been no point giving hints to that monkey."


    "VIPs who haven''t ced their bets, hurry up! Our match is about to start."


    The host was still shouting, but by this time, Tang San and his team had already seen their opponents.


    Their five opponents today did not look easy to deal with. They were slender, not particrly tall, with a cold look in their eyes. Their wings fluttered lightly behind them, clearly indicating that they were flying demons.


    All five opponents were from the same n, the Sky Rift Falcons, known for their incredible speed and ferocity. They were all at the eighth order��no ninth-order among them. Moreover, they had only won three team battles thus far. In other words, Tang San and his team had finally received a favorable match-up from the arena.


    This was why Wu Bingji had expressed satisfaction to the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape earlier.


    The cost of three array discs had finally earned them a manageable opponent.


    Bets were ced, and soon, the team battle officially began.


    The battle naturally had no suspense. The Sky Rift Falcons were formidable, but the problem was that time and luck were against them. When they couldn''t even control their own flying speed under the effects of Gu Li''s abilities, the battle''s oue was obvious.


    In less than three minutes, Wu Bingji skewered the five Sky Rift Falcons, ending the battle.


    This finally made the host shut up. Indeed, just like he had hoped, a "miracle" had happened in the arena.


    With this, the Shrek Squad secured their sixth team battle victory. Besides the customary cheers from the human bettors, the arena was filled mostly with cursing, most of it directed at the host.


    When the five members of the Shrek Squad returned to the arena, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape was already waiting for them, his smile even more pronounced. He respectfully said, "Our arena master is waiting for you. Congrattions on your sixth victory. This is an unprecedented achievement for humans!"


    Wu Bingji nodded slightly. "Please lead the way."


    It was the same luxurious room asst time. They once again met with the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King, Ying Jie. He had his usual warm smile on his face, and he pped his hands upon seeing them.


    "Impressive, truly impressive! I watched your match just now. You were powerful. It was an amazing victory. Congrattions."


    At least on the surface, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King seemed sincere.


    Wu Bingji replied calmly, "You''re too kind. Today''s opponents were rather easy to deal with."


    As he spoke, he noticed the three array discs on the desk. They were in the same positions as when Tang San had ced them there, seemingly untouched.


    "I wonder what instructions you have for us, Arena Master?" Wu Bingji asked.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King smiled and said, "Last time, you generously handed over the three array discs, and I haven''t had a chance to thank you. Today, you achieved another swift victory, so I must extend my hospitality. Dinner is ready. Please follow me."

 Chapter 330: A Showcase of Hospitality

    <h4>Chapter 330: A Showcase of Hospitality</h4>


    As he spoke, he led the way to a side door, with the five members of the Shrek Squad following. Wu Bingji''s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he couldn''t help but give Tang San a thumbs up. Everything was unfolding just as Tang San had predicted!


    The dining room was just as luxurious as the arena master��s office, with a giant crystal chandelier emitting a mesmerizing glow. The maids were all voluptuous fox demons, and the table wasden with various delicious-looking dishes, mostly made from demon beast meat. Even the utensils were crafted from rare metals, exuding extreme luxury.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King was alone on his side, personally hosting the Shrek Squad.


    "Recently, we received a rare Ice Rhinoceros, and that will be the highlight of our dinner. The horn of the Ice Rhinoceros has a cooling and soothing effect. The horn is ground into powder and cooked with various parts of its body. It offers the best vor and great nourishment. Please, have a taste."


    The Ice Rhinoceros was no ordinary beast. It was a tier higher than a Winged Tiger and extremely rare. Tang San didn''t know its price, but it was undoubtedly astronomical.


    With such delicacies, the Shrek Squad naturally didn''t hold back and began to feast. Soon, they felt a cooling energy gathering in their bodies. The energy was nourishing them and making them feel refreshed all over. Good ingredients indeed had excellent nourishing effects.


    For a race like the Aetherhorn Deer Demons, cultivating to godhood relying solely on their abilities and bloodline was challenging. Geniuses like the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor were extremely rare. However, one thing this n was notcking in the slightest was wealth! Naturally, they could use any number of treasure nts and other such resources to elevate their own cultivation.


    The meal was immensely satisfying for the five members of the Shrek Squad. In fact, for the first time sinceing to this world, Tang San actually tasted a couple seasonings! They imparted unique vors to the meat of the Ice Rhinoceros.


    "How is the meal?" the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King asked with a smile. He hadn''t eaten much himself, having consumed such rare ingredients countless times. For someone of his cultivation, these foods no longer helped much.


    Wu Bingji replied, "Very good. We have never tasted such delicious food before."


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King smiled broadly, "I''m d you liked it. By the way, I forgot to mention somethingst time. After you left the three array discs, I didn''tpensate you. That was my oversight. Such precious items can''t be taken without proper payment. Oh, and another thing... Recently, there''s been an array disc on the market called the Spirit Summoning Array, which has a good effect in assisting cultivation. Have you heard of it?"


    Wu Bingji nkly said, "What��s that?"


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King nced at him and said, "These Spirit Summoning Array discs are very popr, and their prices keep rising. They are worth around fifty naturae coins, but even if you offer more, they��re hard to find. Your three array discs are even more valuable and have never appeared on the market. I won''t take advantage of you. I''ll pay you a hundred naturae coins per disc. What do you think?"


    Wu Bingji''s eyes lit up, and he was about to agree when Tang San gently nudged him. Then he heard Tang San say something that pained him greatly.


    "Arena Master, we don''t need the money. We hope to win ten matches and earn noble status," Tang San said.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King sighed. "If it were something I could do, it wouldn''t be a problem. But you know, the Great Beast Fighting Arena is a fair ce. And besides, you are humans. This makes things rather difficult."


    This wasn''t just empty talk from him. It wasn��t that no humans could ever be nobles, but it was extremelyplicated. The only straightforward way was to win in the arena.


    "ording to the rules of the Great Beast Fighting Arena, you must face the arena''s strongest opponents if you make it to the tenth match. That''s the rule. It''s not something I can decide; you must convince all the races in Kali City that you are worthy," the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King said solemnly.


    Tang San said, "Then, we would kindly ask you to ensure we reach the tenth match. We''ll rely on our strength for that one. Is it possible?"


    They still had four matches ahead. If they couldn''t ensure all four were against easy opponents, what about three? Could three matches be guaranteed?


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King looked deeply at him and said, "Since the array discs are valuable, they should naturally be paid for. As for the arrangements for the uing matches..."


    He waved his hand as he spoke, and soon, threerge trays were brought in.


    When the trays were ced before Tang San and his team, the atmosphere in the dining room instantly changed. The intense elemental fluctuations swept through, making the air feel thick.


    Each of the three trays held one hundred naturae coins, neatly stacked. The first tray contained all ice-blue coins, indicating that they were of the ice attribute.


    Ice-element naturae coins weren''t all that rare, but that didn��t mean just anybody could casually bring out a full hundred of them.


    The second tray contained all green-blue coins, indicating the wind element.


    Clearly, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King had noticed that Wu Bingji and Tang San were the true leaders of their team, so the coins matched their attributes. The third tray had coins of various elements, looking somewhat mixed.


    There were three trays of naturae coins, three hundred in total. This was an enormous fortune that Tang San and his team had never seen before.


    Wu Bingji''s eyes were red as he looked at the naturae coins and then at Tang San.


    "This is your deserved payment. So, please tell me how to use these three array discs. This exchange is fair, right?" the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King said to Tang San and Wu Bingji.


    Tang San replied, "Very fair. However, Arena Master, we still value our lives more. So, about my earlier proposal, what do you think...?"


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King appeared thoughtful momentarily before saying, "What you mentioned is not impossible. If you can tell me where you got these three array discs..."


    <i>Heh, you finally said it!</i>


    Indeed, as Tang San had expected, this was the true purpose of the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King''s invitation.


    For the past few days, he had been researching the three array discs with his trusted subordinates, but the conclusions were disappointing. These array discs were far moreplex than he had imagined, and that only meant one thing: unless they knew the proper methods, the discs were useless.


    He who ties a knot ought to know how to untie it. Naturally, the Shrek Squad had to know how to use the discs, and the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King wasn''t worried about persuading them. Since they had already handed over the discs, they had no reason not to reveal the usage method. It was just a matter of paying the right price.


    As for the right price... Actually, the price he mentioned for the Spirit Summoning Array disc was false. On the market, a Spirit Summoning Array disc''s value had been inted to three hundred naturae coins. When he said fifty, he deliberately observed Tang San and Wu Bingji��s expressions to see if they knew the actual value, and was pleased to find out that they didn��t. Otherwise, they might just make him bleed money.


    Thus, he was entirely honest with his following words��Tang San��s three array discs were indeed treasures that were not avable on the market, and they were worth at least double the price of the Spirit Summoning Array discs.

 Chapter 331: A Flawless Lie

    <h4>Chapter 331: A wless Lie</h4>


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King did not notice any changes in the expressions of the Shrek Squad members.


    Even though they wore masks, these masks only covered half of their faces. Their mouths were not concealed, and with his keen eyesight, he should��ve been able to notice even the slightest hint.


    Unfortunately, there were none.


    Compared to the method of using the three array discs, the origin of the three discs was undoubtedly the most important to the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King. Since they were impossible to replicate, then he absolutely <i>had</i> to find out who had made them.


    Tang San hesitated momentarily before saying, "Your Excellency, to be honest, we aren��t exactly sure about these three array discs. They were given to us by an old man we rescued by chance."


    He had expected this question, so he had already made up a usible story.


    "An old man? A human?" the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King asked.


    Tang San nodded and said, "Yes, a human. At that time, he was injured very seriously. We happened to stumble upon him and we helped him heal his injuries. He said he had nothing to repay us with, so he gave us these three array discs."


    "Where is that old man now?" The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King stared intently at Tang San, the spiritual power fluctuations in his eyes bing noticeably stronger.


    Tang San''s expression immediately became more wooden, and he spoke as if against his own will, "We don''t know where he went, but I believe he lives somewhere near the Ancestral Court. He mentioned that if we ever had the chance to go to the Ancestral Court, we might see him again."


    "Ancestral Court?" Hearing Tang San''s words, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King pondered deeply.


    Tang San''s exnation was simple but made sense, considering they were ordinary human vassals. It was normal for them not to know! After all, the Spirit Summoning Array disc originated from the Ancestral Court.


    A master of arrays in the Ancestral Court was Tang San��s grand idea. It was actually rather usible��if there was such a master of arrays, then what other organization was capable of working with them?


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King couldn''t help but ask, "Do you mean to say that if you go to the Ancestral Court, there''s a chance you might meet him again?"


    Tang San nodded and said, "After obtaining these three array discs, we realized their value. But we also knew that we couldn''t keep such precious items ourselves. The old man said that if we met again, he would give us more. Obviously, we want to get some more, but we are human vassals and we are not allowed to go to the Ancestral Court like this. So we came to participate in the team battles, hoping that once we gained noble status, we could meet him again."


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King pondered which faction this array master belonged to and under which powerful n he was operating.


    The appearance of the Spirit Summoning Array discs was quite sudden, but their effectiveness was immediately evident. ording to the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King''s sources, these discs did note from any specific demon n but had somehow appeared directly on the market. This meant that it was also possible for the array master to be independent. Actually, many were searching for the origin of the Spirit Summoning Array discs, but no clues had ever surfaced. Unexpectedly, the clue was now right in front of him.


    Seeing the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King deep in thought, Tang San put on a confused expression and didn��t say anything more.


    After a while, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King said, "Tell me how to use the array discs, and then you can go back. You can continue participating in thepetition afterward. Let me know if you have any news about that old man. There will certainly be benefits for you."


    He needed to carefully think about how to find the array master.


    He believed he now had an advantage over the various other entities who were searching for the same thing. At least he knew the array master was human and had a clue about contacting him. If he seized this opportunity, the benefits and business prospects would be immense, so he had to n carefully.


    For the time being, however, he had to deal with the matters at hand. The three hundred naturae coins were handed to the Shrek Squad. Du Bai exined how to use the array discs, and the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King quickly mastered it thanks to his intelligence and divine consciousness.


    The usually calm eldest brother was still slightly excited when the five walked out of the Great Beast Fighting Arena. That was three hundred naturae coins! They had never seen so much money before! They had truly hit the jackpot this time.


    Tang San also gathered some information from today''s conversation with the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King. He had achieved his goal.


    He was not afraid that the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King would covet the array discs; actually, he <i>hoped</i> that was the case, so he could n future strategies around this. In addition, he now knew for sure that the following three battles would be doable, but thest one would be incredibly grueling. Winning without revealing their abilities would not be easy. This would be an important trial for the Shrek Squad.


    However, he had already given the information to the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King. As long as thetter was interested in the non-existent array master, he would ensure their safety. They would have extra protection even if they went to the Ancestral Court.


    Even with his intelligence, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King believed Tang San''s words. The reason was simple: he fundamentally looked down on humans and subconsciously thought that ordinary human vassals couldn''t possibly possess such powerful array discs. Although the fictitious array master Tang San invented was also human, a human living in the Ancestral Court was a different matter altogether.


    Although Tang San did not know what kind of humans lived in the Ancestral Court, he believed that there had to be some, at any rate. After all, humans were known for their intelligence, and with such arge human poption, it was impossible not to have a number of truly exceptional ones. There was always a chance for someone to be noticed and chosen by the Ancestral Court.


    In any case, Tang San was getting closer and closer to fulfilling his goals. They already had six victories in the arena, and they were inching closer and closer to nobility. Most importantly, he had sessfully established a connection with the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King. This ensured they would face a lot fewer issues in Kali City, as well as when they embarked on the journey to the Ancestral Court.


    Of course, this connection would onlyst until they returned from the Ancestral Court, but it was not all that difficult to renew the partnership��as long as Tang San brought the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King one or two array discs from the "master at the Ancestral Court," all would be fine.


    By that time, Mei Gongzi could well be exiting her seclusion. Naturally, reuniting with Mei Gongzi was what Tang San truly desired.


    In the following week, the Shrek Squad participated in three more team battles, with each battle urring after a day''s rest. They won all three battles. Exactly as Tang San predicted, their opponents were either not strong enough or just so happened to be countered by the Shrek Squad��s abilities, so they won without much danger. With nine victories in nine battles, they reached an unprecedented height in the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    The bias within the Great Beast Fighting Arena allowed Tang San and his team to earn a lot, and they were now just one step away from bing nobles.


    In Kali City, the Shrek Squad''s fame had spread to the point where even the Peacock Demon n knew about them. They were extremely popr among humans. Wherever there were humans, discussions about the Shrek Squad could be heard, showing their significance to the human poption in Kali City. They had be a symbol of the human spirit.


    Now, all humans were discussing the situation of the tenth battle, debating whether they could win the team battle and obtain the noble title. They even discussed their possible opponents, their tactics, and more.


    Meanwhile, however, the Shrek Squad quietly vanished from the public eye.

 Chapter 332: Each at Their Own Pace

    <h4>Chapter 332: Each at Their Own Pace</h4>


    Nine battles, nine victories. In the initial rounds, they relied on their skills, oveing targeted strategies to defeat their opponents one after the other. In theter rounds, the secret assistance of the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King helped them.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King had already made it clear to them that in the tenth match, they would face an opponent against whom they were not supposed to be able to win, and even the arena master himself could not show any favoritism.


    The appearance of a human team striving for ten consecutive victories rmed the Great Beast Fighting Arena Headquarters, which was based in the Ancestral Court. Let alone for humans, even when a demon team was due for the tenth match, it had to be reported to the headquarters, and personnel from the headquarters would supervise the match to ensure no favoritism or fraud urred.


    Therefore, the tenth match would be an absolutely fair fight. The only thing they could reveal was the identity of their opponent for the tenth match.


    Undoubtedly, this would not be an easy opponent for the Shrek Squad to defeat. The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King even secretly advised them not to participate in this match because their chances of winning were too low.


    If they wanted to go to the Ancestral Court, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King could think of other ways, such as having the Shrek Squad disguise themselves as demons. He could also prepare the necessary identification and whatever else was necessary for them to travel unimpeded.


    But this proposal was rejected by the Shrek Squad.


    Disguising themselves might allow them to enter the Ancestral Court, but could they participate in the auction? This n involved too many inconveniences. Moreover, if they were discovered, they would all die, simple as that.


    What kind of ce was the Ancestral Court? Not to mention other major figures, actual Demon Emperors lived there! If a top expert of that level so much as took a nce at them, not even the best disguise could save them.


    Tang San and his team were not going there for sightseeing but to acquire resources. They needed a perfectly legitimate identity and status to get what they wanted. Therefore, they had to win the tenth match no matter what.


    With that said, the Shrek Squad did not set a specific time for it. They needed more preparation.


    ***


    Golden Valley.


    The Golden Tree emitted an increasingly rich aura of life. It grew more and more every day; the dry branches nted by Tang San had turned into a beautiful tree over five meters tall now, with a lush canopy that brimmed with life energy. This was due to the Spirit Summoning Array, but it also had much to do with the tree itself.


    The stronger the Golden Tree''s life energy, the more spiritual energy of heaven and earth it could absorb. The array allowed it to gather spiritual energy faster, but it had nothing to do with the rate of absorption; this was entirely dependent on the tree itself.


    Although this valley in the Kali Mountain Range was not the most fertile ce, it depended on what it waspared to. The life energy within these mountains wasparable to the Star Dou Forest, the most life-rich area in Tang San''s previous life on the Douluo Continent. Moreover, there weren''t many powerful demonic beasts in the Kali Mountain Range to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Thus, the vast mountain range had an almost endless supply of this rich spiritual energy, which was fundamental to the Golden Tree''s evolution.


    Its growth was now just a matter of time, and it was going rather well.


    Under the Golden Tree, the five members of the Shrek Squad and the Crimson Fox girls were all cultivating. As they were immersed in the rich life aura, their overall lifeforce continuously improved, which allowed their bloodlines to be constantly purified and their bloodline power to grow.


    Although the Shrek Squad could not achieve another qualitative leap in a short time, they could still feel their progress with each day of cultivation.


    Du Bai, who had reached the sixth order and now had the three-tailed Celestial Fox manifestation, was quite content and wanted for nothing else. Before Tang San arrived, even the fourth order of the Celestial Fox Transformation seemed unattainable to him. But now, he was already at the sixth order, and he was still young! He wasn''t even sixteen yet. To have a three-tailed Celestial Fox form at such a young age was something that even geniuses in the Celestial Fox n would find remarkable.


    Du Bai didn''t have extravagant hopes of advancing to a higher order, and back in the day, he would��ve been more than pleased with his cultivation right now. The sixth order of the Celestial Fox Transformation undoubtedly made him a highly valued member of the Redemption Society.


    However, right now, he believed in his Little Tang! His dependence on Tang San only grew stronger by the day, and a major factor of this was precisely his higher cultivation��thanks to the Celestial Fox Vision, he was increasingly aware that having Tang San around was crucial to boosting his own fortune. As long as he followed Tang San, he would have no problem cultivating, as proven by the three breakthroughs he had already experienced. Therefore, among the Shrek Squad, he had the greatest confidence in Tang San.


    After Wu Bingji re-cultivated back to the eighth order, he trained even more diligently. Several life-and-death struggles had given him new insights into bothbat and his cultivation. The Ice Nymph bloodline within him had reached a new level of purity, and his understanding of the ice element was bing increasingly profound. He had indeed begun to grasp the essence of ice.


    The eldest brother now had genuine confidence in reaching godhood, unlike before, when he didn''t even dare to think about it.


    Cheng Zicheng had also made significant progress. Due to the setbacks she had been facing, she had realized her main issue. Even though she had a second-tier golden bloodline, her human body had a critical weakness: it was simply not tough enough, preventing her from fully utilizing her bloodline power.


    Therefore, her training now focused on tempering her body. She didn''t strive to break through to the eighth order prematurely but instead aimed to stabilize her cultivation at the seventh order while improving her own physique.


    The life energy provided by the Golden Tree and the natural treasures within Golden Valley were the perfect resources for her training. Tang San formted aplete regimen for her, detailing which treasure nts to use when she soaked in medicinal baths, what to eat, how to temper her body, and so forth. Tang San had ample experience in these areas.


    Although Cheng Zicheng hadn''t advanced much in her cultivation level recently, she could feel her body bing much tougher than before. This allowed her bloodline power to integrate better with her physique, and she genuinely started to master the Golden Roc Transformation.


    In contrast to her, Gu Li''s recent training focused more on the spiritual aspect, and he made sure to consume natural treasures that enhanced spiritual power.


    Having broken through to the seventh order, his control over time became more precise, and his abilities improved in terms of both range and effect. Naturally, the foundation for this improvement was his increased spiritual power. Tang San also clearly told him that if he wanted to continue advancing, his spiritual power needed to reach the peak of the ninth order as soon as possible. This would effectively stimte his bloodline power, speeding up the progression of the Chrono Croc Transformation. He also needed to start genuinelyprehending the essence of time, and this was also reliant on his spiritual power.


    Through continuousbat and Tang San''s guidance, the Shrek Squad improved by leaps and bounds.


    Training in Golden Valley was different from training at the Redemption Academy. There were other teachers and students at the academy, so Tang San couldn''t guide them too closely without exposing his own abilities. Here, it was different. Zhang Haoxuan was busyprehending the mysteries of the Teleportation Array every day. Even if he came to Golden Valley, he was focused on that and didn''t interfere with Tang San.


    Moreover, the resources here were abundant. Under the guidance of Tang San, who knew how to choose, how tobine, and when to consume each particr herb and fruit, the effects of these natural treasures were disyed to the fullest.


    Barely two months had passed since they started the team battles, yet the individual strength of the Shrek Squad members had experienced a huge leap, and so had their teamwork.

 Chapter 333: The Final Battle

    <h4>Chapter 333: The Final Battle</h4>


    Tang San himself was steady and solid in his cultivation. He had by now elevated his Celestial Fox Transformation and Chrono Croc Transformation to the same level as hispanions, and now that his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique was at the eighth order, he was in no rush. He focused on enhancing both his physical body and spiritual power.


    He didn''t need to consume many natural treasures because he could directly absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth purified and filtered by the Golden Tree. This spiritual energy was more effective in nourishing his body and sea of consciousness.


    The enhancement of his energy cultivation was not urgent, because the more he cultivated, the more Tang San realized that the levels of his bloodline imprints and his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique were closely rted.


    If he hadn''t deliberately suppressed it, he would have already advanced to the ninth order. But this wasn''t what he wanted; he needed to umte power and make sure everything was as solid as possible. Only he understood how difficult it would be to break through to the god level in the future.


    Another reason for hisck of a hurry was that he was waiting for hispanions'' Demonic God Transformations to catch up.


    On the other hand, in terms of spiritual power, he was striving to improve with all his might.


    Having already reached the peak of the ninth order in spiritual cultivation, the spiritual power he now cultivated was naturally used to nourish his divine consciousness.


    This was not a conversion; spiritual power did not transform into divine consciousness. It was a kind of nourishment.


    Undoubtedly, using spiritual power to nourish his divine consciousness consumed a lot, and the improvement speed of divine consciousness was very slow. It was not a cost-effective method by any means, but unfortunately, it was the only method. Without reaching the god level, divine consciousness couldn''t be directly cultivated. In other words, if Tang San directly cultivated his divine consciousness, the nar ruler would immediately notice. At that point, bing a god would be the least of his concerns; the ne would immediately try to crush him with full force.


    Therefore, he could only use this method to nourish his divine consciousness. Although it was slow, it worked and it could be done continuously.


    Now, the memories in Tang San''s mind were bing increasingly clear due to the stabilization and enhancement of his divine consciousness. When he reincarnated, his most profound memories were of his time with his wife. To prevent his weakened divine consciousness from affecting them, before reincarnating, he had ced these memories at the very core, and everything else on the outeryers. As a result, when he first reincarnated, some things��including cultivation techniques and the likes��were not very clear. He only remembered the most basic things.


    As his divine consciousness stabilized and recovered, his memories became clearer, including various experiences and powerful cognitive abilities of a God King. This was his greatest gain.


    No matter how much he cultivated the abilities of this ne, he could never surpass his former self. After all, in this world full of vast resources, a God King level being had never appeared.


    The birth of a God King was practically the greatest hope of all nes, because only in this way could an entire ne ascend to the god level. But the birth of a God King was an incredibly difficult task, close to impossible even. Countless powerful nes were stuck at this step, making enormous efforts to ovee it.


    Therefore, the best way for Tang San to dominate this world was to restore everything he once had, to regain his status as a God King. Even then, he couldn''t easily disrupt the bnce of the entire ne, but he would certainly be invincible.


    Of course, he wasn''t thinking about this now. He was far, far away from restoring his former realm. First, he had to worry about the colossal task of reaching the tenth order.


    In recent days, he had been continuously pondering how to achieve a breakthrough under the pressure of the entire ne.


    And the final conclusion was to coerce the ne into allowing his breakthrough.


    After the ninth match ended, they had been staying in Golden Valley for more than half a month, diligently working to make up for their shorings and enhance themselves.


    However, even in a ce as suitable for cultivation as Golden Valley, improvement in their cultivation couldn''t happen overnight; it required continuous umtion to sustain growth.


    Through the matches and the sale of the Spirit Summoning Array discs, they now had a substantial fortune. Recently, Tang San had intentionally asked Zhang Haoxuan to reduce the supply of array discs, partly to raise prices and partly to express dissatisfaction toward the organization.


    Tang San''s handling of Zhang Haoxuan''s breakthrough to the god level revealed the internal shorings of the Redemption Society. Thus, the organization had urged Zhang Haoxuan multiple times recently to report to the headquarters.


    With that, going to the Ancestral Court was even more of a pressing task. Their tenth match had to be done.


    Sitting around the Golden Tree, Tang San looked at hispanions with a faint smile on his face.


    "Are you all ready? This is the final match."


    Wu Bingji looked at Tang San, smiled slightly, and said, "As long as you think we''re ready, then we should be ready."


    Du Baiughed. "That''s right, if you say it''s okay, it''s okay."


    Cheng Zicheng nced at her faintly golden skin, which seemed less fair than before, feeling slightly troubled. She stole a nce at Wu Bingji, wondering if her eldest brother liked the way she looked now. However, her strength had indeed increased significantly.


    Gu Li said, "My spiritual power seems to have reached a critical point and needs some stimtion. Let''s do it. We''ve gotten through nine matches, it''s all down to thisst one."


    Tang San nodded. "Alright, everyone, get ready. Let''s follow our n."


    A dayter, news from the Great Beast Fighting Arena in Kali City seemed to set the entire city aze. The Shrek Squad, who had already secured nine team battle victories, were finally going to face their tenth challenge. Their opponents were also victorious in nine team battles, and they were a particrly powerful and ferocious team.


    Would the five human warriors of the Shrek Squad ascend to nobility in one fell swoop, or would they fall, rendering all their previous efforts in vain? This ultimate showdown would determine the answer.


    For a time, every corner of Kali City buzzed with discussions about this battle. Humans were almost unanimously optimistic about the Shrek Squad''s chances of winning. Whoever the opponent was and however strong, they were united and supportive in moments like these. After all, it was an exceedingly rare opportunity, even throughout their entire lifetimes, to see their kin emerge with such momentum. Though their hearts were tense, they were also filled with desire. They truly hoped that humans could reach greater heights.


    Perhaps, in the eyes of human ves and lowly vassals, the rise of humanity and standing toe-to-toe with the demons and nymphs seemed impossible. They just hoped to see humans have a chance to be nobles. On the other hand, the ones with greater power and higher standing naturally harbored the desire to grow stronger and break free from the oppression of the demon and nymph races.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena provided them with such an opportunity, allowing them to feel for the first time that it was possible for humans to contend with the powerful demons.


    For this battle, tickets were hard toe by. The prices had tripled, yet demand still exceeded supply. Nearly all major nobles in Kali City wanted to watch this exceedingly rare showdown in the Great Beast Fighting Arena.

 Chapter 334: The Embrace

    <h4>Chapter 334: The Embrace</h4>


    The match would take ce in three days, as they awaited the arrival of supervisors sent from the Ancestral Court to ensure fairness. After all, for humans to achieve nine victories was an astonishing feat, and it naturally raised suspicions.


    In these three days, almost everyone in the streets and alleys was discussing the same thing. asionally, one could even hear shouts of excitement.


    In contrast to the humans, the demon ns almost unanimously believed that it was impossible for humans to win. They subconsciously felt that humans wouldn''t be allowed to be nobles just like that. Moreover, the team that the Shrek Squad was about to face was much more popr, even considered likely to win in the Ancestral Court''spetitions.


    Therefore, in three days, the betting pool had reached an astonishing amount. Bets on the demon n team winning were clearly in the lead. After all, the wealth in human hands was very limited. Even though the previous victories of the Shrek Squad had earned them a lot, it was nothing but a drop in the oceanpared to the wealth of the demon n nobles.


    But for some reason, arge number of bets suddenly poured in for the Shrek Squad, which allowed the odds to stabilize somewhat. This prompted the major nobles, who were nning to ce more bets on the time-based bets for excitement, to immediately invest more in the win-lose bets, bringing the odds to 1:5. In other words, if the Shrek Squad won, the payout would be five times the bet!


    Even before the match began, humans were already at an absolute disadvantage in the betting pools. Some more rational humans even advised theirpanions not to get their hopes up too high. After all, it was incredibly difficult for humans to obtain a noble status.


    In such circumstances, the atmosphere around the Great Beast Fighting Arena grew increasingly tense. For several days, spectatorsing to the arena were particrly excited, causing the arena''s profits to surge and earning it a fortune.


    And finally, the day arrived.


    As Tang San and his team stepped into the Great Beast Fighting Arena, they could vaguely sense that today was different from usual.


    They heard that since early morning, the surroundings of the arena had been packed with people. The City Lord''s Mansion had sent personnel to maintain order.


    Tang San and hispanions, wearing hooded cloaks, managed to squeeze near the arena. They then quietly put on their masks and identified themselves to the arena guards, who finally let them in.


    And then, they felt it.


    Murderous intent!


    The five of them could clearly sense it. The atmosphere of murderous intent created an invisible pressure, causing even the usually lively Du Bai to be somewhat subdued.


    At the same time, as they pushed through the crowd, they could see many humans with red eyes, some of them hysterically excited. Among them were certainly gamblers, but more were filled with anticipation. They longed for a truly epoch-making victory for humanity.


    But could such a victory really be achieved? No one knew. Moreover, the possibility of victory seemed to diminish as more official information was released. Yet, despite this, humans were unwilling to give up even the slightest hope. They had been longing for such a day for many, many years.


    The only one who wasn''t nervous was probably Tang San. He wasn''t just calm; he even felt a bit excited. This feeling hadn''t surfaced for a long time, at least not since Mei Gongzi went into seclusion.


    Perhaps human cohesion would truly begin with this battle. The Redemption Society''s greatest hope was to make Kali City the human stronghold, which was why they spared no effort in supporting Mei Gongzi to be the future City Lord of Kali City. Even knowing the chances were slim, they still fought hard. So, for Mei Gongzi and for humanity, they had to do this and they had to win.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape had been waiting there for a long time. Seeing the arrival of Tang San and his team, it solemnly greeted them and led them to the waiting lounge.


    Closing the door behind it, the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape spoke in a deep voice, "On behalf of the arena master, I''ll ask you onest time: do you really want to participate in this final match? There''s still time to regret it. After all, you only have one life. If you forfeit the match, the worst that will happen is a tarnished reputation. No one has seen your faces under the masks, so you can still live well. Winning nine team matches is already a historical record for humans."


    Wu Bingji calmly replied, "At this point, there is no way we will retreat. If we die, we die, but we will die fighting. You said it yourself: this has never happened before. This is the first time humans have had hope. If we die fighting, then they will keep hoping, but if we run away, everything we did will have been for nothing. You��re not human, so you don��t understand, but this hope... is all that lets many of us keep living."


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape gave him a deep look and said, "Since that''s the case, I won''t say anything more. Although we are not of the same race, I respect you for this. Prepare yourselves."


    With that, it turned and left the room.


    Today''s Bloodthirsty Demon Ape was clearly less respectful yet more concerned than in previous matches. Obviously, it didn''t believe the Shrek Squad could create a miracle. What it said today was sincere; it genuinely didn''t want the Shrek Squad to continuepeting.


    However, Wu Bingji''s words truly earned its admiration.


    Wu Bingji turned to the other four and said, "I said what I said. Today, we might die. If any of you want to back out now, it''s okay, there''s still time. As long as one of uspetes, it means the Shrek Squad is still there and humanity hasn''t fallen."


    Gu Li''s eyes were bright as he smiled and said, "Eldest brother, when we first got here, I was really nervous. Just like in the first match, I was truly nervous. Everyone is afraid of death, and I''m no exception. But you''re right, we are not just here for ourselves, we are here for everyone. So what if we die? Birds fly and people perish, that��s the way of nature. And if we don''t die, we��ll live a thousand years. Let''s do it."


    His nervousness disappeared, and it seemed as if mes were burning in his eyes.


    Cheng Zicheng stood up and slowly walked to Wu Bingji.


    Looking at her, Wu Bingji''s gaze softened. "Zicheng, this is a matter for men to deal with... You really shouldn''t��"


    Cheng Zicheng walked up to him and put her hand on his mouth. "Don''t be such a chauvinist. I like it when you act manly, you look really cool, but you should listen to your own words: we are here for the sake of humanity. And women are no less human than men, so why should you be the ones to bear the whole burden? I can do it just as well as you can, and it��s my duty just like it is yours. Also... Eldest brother, I just want to tell you something personal, can youe over with me for a moment?"


    Wu Bingji was taken aback. "Ah?"


    "Hehehe!" Du Bai chuckled at the corny scene. "What personal talk, Zicheng! Don''t go around nting red gs here! Let me tell you, I''ve calcted it, today our luck will be excellent!"


    Cheng Zicheng gave him a fierce re before turning back to Wu Bingji, grabbing his sleeve, and looking at him with a pleading gaze.


    Wu Bingji took a deep breath, then suddenly opened his arms and pulled her into a tight, tight embrace.

 Chapter 335: Today, I Will Give My All

    <h4>Chapter 335: Today, I Will Give My All</h4>


    This scene stunned Gu Li and Du Bai, and even Tang San was taken aback.


    Who among them didn''t know about Cheng Zicheng''s feelings for Wu Bingji? Wu Bingji kept a deliberate distance from her, never giving her any chance. Who would have thought that the eldest brother would give such a startling hug at this moment?


    Cheng Zicheng''s mind went nk. The eldest brother''s broad and warm embrace, his strong arms, and his unique scent all made her lose the ability to think.


    Then she heard Wu Bingji''s voice echoing in her ear: "Zicheng, don''t say anything. After the match, when we''ve won, you can tell me. I''ll listen to you slowly then. We will have plenty of time to talk, okay?"


    Wu Bingji released her from his embrace as he spoke, smiling at Cheng Zicheng. "Du Bai is right. At a time like this, we can''t jinx it!"


    Cheng Zicheng felt dizzy, her face turning bright red. She sneaked a nce at Wu Bingji and vigorously nodded.


    Wu Bingji turned to Tang San. "Tang San, do you have any instructions for us?"


    Tang San smiled. "Nothing. Today, I will be the captain."


    He stood up, still smiling, and his gaze swept over his fourpanions. "Today, I will give it my all."


    At these words, the eyes of Wu Bingji and the other three lit up.


    They still didn��t know exactly how strong Tang San was, but his promise to give this battle his best instilled more confidence than any other words could.


    Tang San extended his right hand, and Wu Bingji ced his hand on top, followed by Cheng Zicheng, Du Bai, and Gu Li. Five hands stacked together!


    Tang San''s smile deepened as he remembered a phrase he had cried out countless times in his previous life, a phrase imprinted in the depths of his soul.


    He suddenly roared, "Shrek! Victory!"


    "Shrek! Victory!" the five shouted in unison.


    ***


    Due to the overcrowding in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, today''s admission started an hour earlier to allow ticket holders to enter on time and ensure order.


    Inside the arena, it was already packed. However, today''s human audience was much smaller than for previous matches. It wasn''t that humans didn''t want to watch this most crucial showdown; it was simply that ticket prices were exorbitant. Due to the nobles'' deliberate price intion, few humans could afford the tickets.


    On the stands, several teachers from the Redemption Academy were present.


    Led by Mayor Zhang Haoxuan, Si Ru, Guan Longjiang, Mu Enqing, and Mu Yunyu were all there.


    With Zhang Haoxuan''s current financial capability, buying tickets was no problem. Around them were about twenty other human spectators, all vassals holding some status within their respective ruler ns. This represented the entirety of today''s human audience.


    Mu Yunyu nervously clenched her fists, biting her lower lip. She was genuinely unsure of what the oue of today''s battle would be. All the information she had heard was unfavorable for the Shrek Squad.


    She originally didn''t want toe to this match, but she was here nheless. She couldn''t abandon those children.


    When Tang San and the others disappeared earlier, Zhang Haoxuan told them they were undergoing special training. And to prove the teachers�� initial skepticism wrong, they had secured nine consecutive victories.


    As members of the Redemption Society, the teachers felt unprecedented cohesion among the humans in Kali City. Everyone was united in praying for the Shrek Squad''s continuous victories.


    The more this happened, the more they felt the immense pressure. This match was already historic for humans, a historic attempt to achieve noble status. But if they lost and died on the battlefield, it would undoubtedly be a massive loss for the Redemption Society.


    No one questioned why Zhang Haoxuan hadn��t stopped them; those questions had been asked long before they arrived.


    Guan Longjiang hadn''t spoken to Zhang Haoxuan for several days, and even now, he still wore a stern face.


    Si Ru''s expression was rtively calm as he sat next to Zhang Haoxuan. He always maintained a faint smile.


    Mu Enqing took a deep breath and turned to Zhang Haoxuan. "Mayor, are you really confident?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nced at him and said, "Even if we aren''t confident, do you think we can back out now?"


    Mu Enqing''s lips twitched slightly. Indeed, at this point, nothing could be done. Both sides would soon enter the arena, and this battle was inevitable. Moreover, it was a real fight to the death!


    "Since we''re here, let''s settle in and not be anxious. When have you ever seen Old Zhang do something he wasn''t confident about?" Si Ru smiled.


    These words eased the tension of the other teachers a bit. Indeed, Zhang Haoxuan was known for his steadiness. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have be the principal of Redemption Academy; someone with higher cultivation would have been chosen instead, like Si Ru.


    Zhang Haoxuan remained silent but thought to himself, <i>My confidence is only valid when ites to things within my control. That boy has long been out of my control. I just have faith in him as a person.</i>


    The massive gates on one side opened as the teachers spoke, and the Shrek Squad entered the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    Wu Bingji still led at the front, followed by Tang San, Gu Li, Du Bai, and Cheng Zicheng. Despite Tang San dering himself the captain, they didn''t change their formation. The opponents must have studied the Shrek Squad��s tactics, and a sudden change in formation was bound to alert them.


    As the gates on the opposite side of the Shrek Squad slowly opened and their five opponents appeared on the battlefield, almost all the demon spectators erupted into deafening cheers.


    Among the five demons on the opposite side, the one in the center was a sturdy figure about two and a half meters tall. He looked surprisingly simr to a human, with short golden hair that seemed to flutter even though there was no wind, a handsome yet stern and cold face, and crow''s feet at the corners of his eyes, indicating he was past his youth. Its body was muscr and well-proportioned. He held arge sword that it nted into the ground before him, his slightly bloodshot eyes scanning the Shrek Squad.


    Despite knowing his identity in advance, seeing him in person still made everyone in the Shrek Squad, except Tang San, feel a chill in their hearts.


    This figure was indeed famous in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. How could his reputation be described?


    When Tang San attended the grand auction, he saw a powerful one-eyed demon, a peak ninth-order powerhouse named Yu Xi known as the ughter Maniac. Tang San had once considered challenging that powerful one-eyed demon in the future, as he genuinely detested the guy.


    But Yu Xi was dead.


    About a month ago, that arrogant one-eyed demon was killed. And the one who killed him in a one-on-one fight was this very figure before them.


    He had no name, or at least he didn''t reveal it. In the Great Beast Fighting Arena, he was known only by his moniker: Lion-Tiger Sword Saint!


    Yes, Lion-Tiger. Two bloodlines flowed within it, both golden bloodlines: the Golden Lion and the Golden Tiger bloodline.


    His physique didn''t seem as robust as either the Golden Lions or Golden Tigers, but the explosive power contained within his body surpassed both these ns. His bloodline wasn��t quite first-tier, but it was at the very pinnacle among second-tier ones.

 Chapter 336: The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint

    <h4>Chapter 336: The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint</h4>


    Due to the low gicpatibility, the chance of offspring being born between the lion demon race and the Ttiger demon race was only two percent. And of that two percent, nine out of ten died due to congenital conditions. Survivors who possessed both bloodlines were scarce.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint before them was one of those rare survivors.


    However, having both bloodlines made him an outcast in both golden ns. He was not epted by either; rather, he was rejected and called a half-breed. As he matured, his heart was constantly filled with hatred, yet it was precisely this hatred that allowed him to trudge on, step by step.


    Thus, he came to the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    His cultivation was only at the seventh order when he first arrived at the Great Beast Fighting Arena. He spent a year achieving a hundred consecutive victories in solo beast fights, earning a noble title. His cultivation then reached the peak of the ninth order. He was a true undefeated warrior, carving out a legend with his heavy sword and his powerful dual golden bloodlines.


    ording to the Golden Lion and Golden Tiger ns, if he achieved godhood in the future, he would quickly rise and might even have the potential to be a Demon Emperor.


    So, the two golden ns that once rejected him now tried to win him back. However, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint despised them. He harbored only hatred for the ns that had given him his bloodlines. He preferred to stay in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, umting cultivation resources through continuous battles andpetitions rather than returning to those ns. He chose to prove everything through ughter, to achieve his path through killing, and he disdained his blood rtives.


    From a young age, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had understood that he could only rely on himself and his own strength. All who stood against him would die at his hand, and this was Yu Xi��s fate as well. He provoked the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and ended up shed in half.


    However, the Great Beast Fighting Arena was bing less and less beneficial for his advancement. Having reached the peak of the ninth order, he was invincible here. His dual bloodlines, although powerful, proved to be an impediment as well. They created a bloodline barrier within him, making it extremely difficult to break through to godhood. It had been over a year since he reached the peak of the ninth order, and despite constant battles, he had made no further progress.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena suggested that team battles would provide a more substantial stimulus, so he agreed to participate in team battles. The arena arranged several strong fighters to team up with him. They achieved nine consecutive victories almost effortlessly. However, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was dissatisfied��these team battles offered no opportunity for advancement, and he realized that he had be a money-making tool for the arena.


    Today was hisst nned battle in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. After this fight, he would receive arge sum of money, and,bined with his noble status, he could go anywhere in the world. He was preparing to seek opportunities for further breakthroughs.


    The information the Shrek Squad obtained described the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint as a mighty lion-tiger demon, an unprecedentedly terrifying entity. Even among his ninth-order peers, he was a true powerhouse that even demons with first-tier bloodlines would struggle to defeat. He was battle-hardened and proud; in his eyes, the only way was forward.


    Yes, he was proud. He disdained coordinating with his so-called teammates in all the team battles he faced. He often relied on his heavy sword to end the battles within moments.


    Thus, all the cheers from the stands were almost entirely for this undefeated warrior. Despite being a noble, he continued honing himself in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, earning the title of the strongest below godhood.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s teammates were not weak either. Although overshadowed by their captain''s brilliance, those who could team up with the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint were not ordinary.


    Moreover, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s four teammates shared amon trait: they were all illegitimate children from major ns.


    Yes, illegitimate children. In the noble ns of the demon races, illegitimate children were not eligible for noble status. This was a regtion set by the Ancestral Court and a measure taken by the major demon ns to maintain the purity of their bloodlines.


    Therefore, some powerful demon ns devised unique methods to enable their illegitimate offspring to gain noble status. Coborating with the Great Beast Fighting Arena was the quickest and most direct way.


    Ten team battle victories could earn noble status. How swift was that? Theoretically, one could obtain noble status in ten days.


    Thus, when top-tier fighters appeared in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, the arena would offer them deals: they could be part of a team led by a top expert, secure victories, and earn themselves a title, all for the appropriate price. This was within the rules but carried risks, including death. Therefore, those wishing to gain noble status through this method needed a certain level ofpetence.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s four teammates had all gained their positions this way.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King held the Shrek Squad in high regard. Therefore, when selecting their opponents, he specifically asked them whether they preferred to face a team led by the mighty Lion-Tiger Sword Saint or a well-coordinated team with equally strong members.


    Thetter obviously couldn''t have a fighter as outstanding as the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, but their coordination would be troublesome. The biggest issue with the former was that the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had never had a problem wiping out an entire team alone.


    Tang San chose the former.


    Thus, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint appeared before them. His four teammates were also strong: three were at the eighth order, and one was at the early ninth order. They were all from different races.


    The cheers were deafening, all for the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had countless fans in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. He was even considered the most desirable match for young women of both the Lion and Tiger ns.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint ignored the cheers, ncing silently at the opponents before slowly closing his eyes. To him, it didn''t matter who the opponents were; defeating and killing them was all that mattered. Then, he would continue on his path.


    His thoughts had already flown out of Kali City into the outside world. He constantly searched for a path to godhood and believed he would find it. He wanted to prove to the two golden ns that he, a hybrid, was far stronger than their so-called pure-blooded members. He intended to repay all the insults of his childhood one by one.


    The two golden ns'' attempts to win him over wereughable to him. They tried to remind him that he was a member of the n, not knowing that the only thing he felt for them was loathing rather than belonging.


    "Alright, everyone, it��s time for today''s grand showdown! Surely everyone has been anticipating this for a long time. One side is destined to rise in today''s battle, while the other��s destination is dust. The Shrek Squad is hailed as the hope of humanity and has fought its way through nine battles, stepping over the bodies of many strong enemies. Now, they stand on this tenth and final battleground! And the Unbeatable Squad��yes, our very own Unbeatable Squad��is also here to continue its string of victories! The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, unbeatable��" By the end of his introduction, thementator was shouting frantically.

 Chapter 337: Sky-Shatterer Appears

    <h4>Chapter 337: Sky-Shatterer Appears</h4>


    "So, I believe the Unbeatable Squad will win this battle. Dear guests, what are you waiting for? Three minutes, I think it will only take three minutes for our great Lion-Tiger Sword Saint to effortlessly chop down all those clowns. The match will be over within three minutes, guaranteed. ce your bets now! And to those foolish humans betting on the Shrek Squad, my condolences. Vassals will always remain vassals!"


    The discriminatory remarks yelled by the host��s shrill voice filled the Great Beast Fighting Arena and spread outside. Outside the arena, countless shouting voices rose. These were sounds of anger and resistance, filled with a mixture of hope, worry, and fear��the shouts of countless humans.


    Inside the arena, the demons were already in an uproar. Due to the host''s hysterical shouts, countless bets were ced that the battle would end within three minutes. These "guaranteed" bets instantly increased the total betting amount.


    The host''s lips curled into a smile; its goal had been achieved. It was undoubtedly backing the Unbeatable Squad to win, but it also knew that the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had been instructed to let the opponentsst for three minutes. The actual guarantee was for the Great Beast Fighting Arena itself.


    In the arena, both sides were now facing each other from afar.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint opened his eyes once more. His cold and calm gaze fell first on Wu Bingji, the leader of the Shrek Squad.


    Though he had Ice Nymph blood, Wu Bingji felt as if his spirit was about to freeze when he made eye contact with the opponent. It was an invisible killing intent, a powerful mental intimidation that made him feel as if his body were already being torn apart.


    <i>The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint... How is he this formidable?</i>


    Although they had known about his terrifying record beforehand, Tang San''s calm demeanor when he chose the opponent left them also calm and unhesitant. However, as they faced this undefeated warrior today, Wu Bingji finally understood how terrifying someone had to be to achieve a hundred victories.


    At that moment, a figure stepped out from beside him, stepping forward to stand in front of Wu Bingji.


    Immediately, Wu Bingji felt his whole body lighten as the terrifying, oppressive fear vanished.


    Standing in front of him was the now-taller Tang San.


    The eyes visible through the holes inTang San''s mask were calm and unperturbed. The overwhelming killing intent that descended upon him instantly dissolved, unable to affect him.[1]


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s eyes flickered. Initially indifferent to this battle, he finally showed a spark of interest.


    The Shrek Squad''s strategy for this final battle was simple. Tang San had already nned it out before today''s match began. The strongest opponent, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, was his to handle. The other four opponents were for Wu Bingji and the others.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint��s teammates were one at the ninth order and three at the eighth order. Even so, if a team with one first-tier bloodline, two second-tier bloodlines, and a third-tier bloodline with powerful elemental perception and control couldn''t handle them, then what had they even bothered training for?


    Tang San''s right hand grasped the air, and a dark red light appeared. A war hammer appeared in his hand. It was Sky Shatterer!


    Since obtaining Sky Shatterer, Tang San had used it just for forging and to help refine his spiritual power; it had only once appeared in battle, and that was to conclude the fight. Today, however, it appeared in his grasp from the get-go.


    When Tang San first saw the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, he knew that with his current cultivation, he would need a weapon to defeat him.


    To earn such an assessment from him, it was clear how formidable the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was. Indeed, he even surpassed Tang San''s expectations.


    "Let the match... begin!" the host shouted, announcing the start of this ultimate showdown.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s four teammates moved almost simultaneously, dashing toward the Shrek Squad.


    Beneath Du Bai, array patterns flickered, and a golden pattern spread out. It was the Spirit Elevation Array. He was drawing in dense spiritual energy and injecting it into each of his teammates.


    Yes, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King let them have the three array discs for this battle, to give them a better chance of survival


    Tang San regarded this Aetherhorn Deer Demon King more highly because he hadn''t forcibly dismantled the three array discs during his research, avoiding their destruction.


    The Spirit Elevation Array activated as Wu Bingji and Gu Li took position on either side of Tang San. At the same time, Cheng Zicheng soared into the air, surrounded by a golden light as the Golden Roc Transformation was activated.


    At this moment, Tang San stepped out of the Spirit Elevation Array. The reason was simple: the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had moved. He had also taken a step forward, walking toward Tang San. His previously calm heart was now burning with battle intent when facing an opponent who piqued his interest.


    At his level, he could judge in an instant whether an opponent was worth his attention and his full effort. At this moment, the figure holding the war hammer that looked like an extension of his arm was someone he deemed worthy of facing with all his might. Even if the opponent was cleaved in half by his sword in the next moment, he believed that at least this opponent deserved his respect.


    Intense golden mes surged from the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. The ze exuded not only heat but also a sort of sanctity, making his figure seem even more majestic. The hefty sword in his hand, over two meters long and half a meter wide, was instantly dyed golden.


    His first three steps were slow, but the fourth step was the start of a sprint. He charged at Tang San with enormous strides, dragging the hefty sword behind him; with each step he took, his aura grew more potent, and his golden mes burned more fiercely.


    The host looked at the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint with uncertainty in his eyes. He was very familiar with this situation, having watched countless matches. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was going all out! The opponent was unlikely to block such an attack. Wouldn''t that mean the match could indeed end within three minutes? No, that couldn''t happen. If it did, he might be punished!


    <i>Was the "guaranteed win" really going to be a guaranteed win?</i>


    As the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint sprinted, Tang San started moving, striding rapidly toward him. Their strides were somewhat simr, and their speed seemedparable. Almost simultaneously, they leaped high into the air toward each other.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint��s golden mes erupted. But in the next moment, all the golden light flowed into his heavy sword like rivers into the sea. The golden heavy sword was instantly above Tang San''s head.


    This strike was a unification of physical power, bloodline power, and spiritual power. The audience vaguely saw the entire space behind the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint turn golden and an enormous invisible beast roaring at the sky.


    Faced with such a strike, Tang San''s figure seemed so small, like a speck of dust in the face of endless sharpness, about to be ground into nothing and disappear entirely from the world in the next moment.


    1. The original phrase here is ��vanished like a y ox entering the sea.�� ?

 Chapter 338: What Happened?

    <h4>Chapter 338: What Happened?</h4>


    The golden light descended, and the figure that met it was almost instantly split into two. Just as the stands erupted in shock, keen-eyed spectators were astonished to see that the split figure was twoplete figures rather than two halves.


    A strange look shed in the resolute eyes of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. He forcibly pulled back the heavy golden sword, causing the golden light to flow back from the sword into his body. The next moment, a torrent of golden light burst out from him, producing a low rumble as if tearing the entire space apart.


    Centered on the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, a strange scene appeared. The outer circle was the exploding golden light, and within that golden light, closely surrounding him, was a circle of ck ripples, as if space itself was being torn apart.


    The two figures dashed past him and flickered momentarily before quickly moving dozens of meters away, out of the range of the exploding golden light.


    The two figures then merged into one,nding gracefully without raising any dust.


    On the other side, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint alsonded, the strange look in his eyes turning into a grave expression.


    Both sides stared at each other from a distance of dozens of meters, neither rushing to make a move.


    <i>What? What just happened?</i>


    Ny-nine percent of the audience couldn''t understand what had happened. Yet the most astounded ones were not them, but the one percent who <i>did</i> understand. The stronger the spectator, the more intense the shock in their eyes.


    Si Ru looked a bit dazed as he stared nkly at the scene. Meanwhile, Guan Longjiang, Mu Enqing, and Mu Yunyu, who had thought Tang San was about to be killed, slowly sat back in shock.


    Just like them, the other human spectators were stunned.


    "He..." Si Ru muttered a single word.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s mouth was twitching as well. His hands had clenched into fists at some point, but he still muttered, "Isn''t he amazing? Isn''t the disciple I taught amazing?"


    As god-level beings, they could only vaguely discern what happened during the collision through their divine consciousness.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s strike infused all his physical, bloodline, and spiritual power into a world-shattering blow. Even as god-level powerhouses, they felt an intense threat in that instant. Although the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was not yet at the tenth order, his strike, infused with the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, did have explosive power at that level.


    With the terrifying physique and bloodline power that were the result of a dual lion-tiger bloodline, the strike was so powerful that the two gods couldn��t imagine anyone below the tenth order stopping it. More importantly, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint��s spirit locked onto the opponent, making sure they couldn��t escape. In other words, they could neither block nor dodge.


    And yet, someone had just dodged it!


    Tang San used miraculous footwork to dodge it, like a phantom, avoiding the sharp edge and slipping past his opponent.


    As he passed by his opponent, Tang San��s figure swayed. It wasn��t because of his opponent��s power, but rather because he was looking for an opening. The hammer in his hand was already poised to strike.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint also demonstrated his formidablebat ability in that instant. He forcibly pulled back, even though he had just gone all out; his power flowed back into him and he burst forth with a technique that integrated offense and defense, not giving Tang San any chance to attack.


    It could be said that both sides'' responses at that moment were superbly executed.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s aura appeared grand and majestic, but the god-level powerhouses understood that Tang San''s dodge in that instant was the truly impressive feat.


    Such an evasion meant one thing: either the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had not truly locked onto him, or Tang San had easily broken free from the lock. What did this imply? It implied that Tang San''s spiritual power was above the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint��s, and by a significant margin..


    Si Ru thought to himself that he could block the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s strike, but it would be a close call and he��d have to use his divine consciousness. Evading the strike was impossible, and even if he could dodge, he would choose not to. When facing such a strike that embodied the full physical, bloodline, and spiritual power of his opponent, dodging was not an option. A second attack would immediately follow, and then a third, and he would fall into a disadvantage against such onught. With that in mind, it made much more sense to block it head-on and try to counterattack.


    Yet in such a situation, Tang San had not only evaded the opponent''s attack, but also prevented him from following up with a second one. This was terrifying! It meant he might genuinely be able to face the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint head-on.


    As Tang San and the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint went through their first sh instantly, the battle on the other side also began.


    The other four members of the Unbeatable Squad unleashed their abilities, sending four powerful attacks toward the four members of the Shrek Squad.


    However, at that moment, the golden array patterns under the feet of the Shrek Squad members changed. In the next instant, the four figures vanished into thin air. Even as the Spirit Elevation Array was still active, the teleportation array also activated, shifting all of them to the opposite side of the battlefield..


    The attacks of the four Unbeatable Squad members hit empty air.


    Among the Shrek Squad members who had reappeared in the distance, Du Bai had a smug expression and even beckoned mockingly at the four opponents.


    Three days ago, when Tang San was nning the tactics, he first analyzed the situation for everyone. In the Unbeatable Squad, only the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was a true powerhouse. Yet the other four members were not to be underestimated either. A demon at the ninth order and three at the eighth order would be difficult for Wu Bingji and the others to defeat head-on without sustaining injuries. The gap in cultivation levels was challenging to ovee.


    However, it was noted that the four teammates of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint were all inclined towards closebat, at most mid-range attacks, and none were adept at long-range attacks. Even the member who was rtively good at control had limited range.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King had just returned the array discs to them.


    Thus, Tang San''s strategy was to face the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint himself. At the same time, his teammates would use the teleportation array disc to engage in guerri tactics, draining the opponent''s bloodline power. This responsibility mainly fell on Du Bai.


    Du Bai''s spiritual power was the greatest among the team, only below Tang San��s. With his spiritual power, the teleportation array disc could be used every ten seconds without excessive strain.


    Tang San had asked Du Bai if he wanted to be the protagonist of this battle. Naturally, Du Bai did. Tang San then told him, "We''ll employ a kiting strategy."


    The strategy was simple: using the array disc, they would constantly widen the distance between themselves and the opponents, forcing them to chase and attack, thereby exhausting their bloodline power while also seeking their weaknesses.


    Without a doubt, even if the opponents believed their strength surpassed the Shrek Squad''s, they would not dare to split up and pursue them lightly. That would be suicidal. With Wu Bingji''s explosive attacks, the powerful control of the Chrono Croc Transformation, and Cheng Zicheng''s aerial assaults, even a ninth-order opponent would have a hard time if isted. Since their opponents were not adept at long-range attacks, they had no choice but to stay together and chase.


    During the constant shifting, the Shrek Squad would look for opportunities to counterattack. Tang San told Du Bai that the more he could teleport, the greater their chances of winning. This prospect excited Du Bai; finally, he had the chance to be the protagonist!


    At this moment, the Three-Tailed Celestial Fox, a luck-bringer with a first-tier bloodline, was fully focused and extremely excited. Meanwhile, Wu Bingji and the other two were continuously gathering strength and looking for opportunities.

 Chapter 339: Sky Shatterer VS Sword

    <h4>Chapter 339: Sky Shatterer VS Sword</h4>


    Without a doubt, tactically, the Shrek Squad was clearly at an advantage. Through Du Bai''s constant teleportation and the subtle application of misfortune upon the opponents, any enemy mistake could lead to them losing a member. Of course, all of this was contingent on Tang San being able to defeat or at least hold off the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. Otherwise, it would all be in vain.


    The four members of the Unbeatable Squad could not find a solution to this and could only continue pursuing Du Bai and the others.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena was quiterge, with a diameter of several hundred meters. Additionally, the four couldn''t move in a straight line because the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and Tang San upied the center of the battlefield. Entering theirbat zone at this level would be suicidal. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had clearly instructed them that when he was facing an opponent, no one was allowed to interfere in his battle; otherwise, he would kill even his teammates.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint paid no attention to the other battlefield. All his focus was on Tang San.


    Although arrogant, he never underestimated his enemies. Before each match, he would learn as much as possible about his opponents. The Shrek Squad was no exception. After learning about these humans, he felt no threat. The precisely controlled icicles might pose a slight danger, but the difference in cultivation levels,bined with his powerful bloodline, gave himplete confidence in defeating his opponent quickly. Of course, he needed to keep the match longer than three minutes to ensure substantial earnings.


    However, in that instant of their initial sh, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint immediately realized that his opponent was not easy to deal with. The opponent had managed to break free from his spiritual locking and evade his attack thatbined physique, bloodline, and spirit.


    He had used over seventy percent of his cultivation in the previous strike. It wasn''t a full hundred percent to allow for quick adjustments, and he believed that seventy percent of his power was enough to tear apart over ny-nine percent of the opponents in the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    The fact that his opponent could evade, not even engage head-on but simply avoid his powerful strike, indicated, at the very least, that the opponent��s spiritual power surpassed his own. This was something the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had never anticipated.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s spiritual power was extremely close to the peak of the ninth order. Even if his opponent''s spiritual power was at the peak of the ninth order, it should have been nearly impossible to break free from his spiritual lock unless the opponent''s bloodline abilities were specifically rted to spiritual power.


    The heavy sword in his hand slowly rose, pointing once again at Tang San.


    In the face of the immense pressure from the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, Tang San stood there unmoved, his expression unchanged, as if he was not affected in the slightest.


    Of course, his spiritual power far exceeded that of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. Yes, he was also at the peak of the ninth order, but his peak was different from that of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. Even without considering his divine consciousness, his spiritual power was much stronger than that of others at the same order.


    Ever since obtaining Sky Shatterer, he had been tempering his spiritual power with Heavenly Fire Essence Iron. The tempering made his spiritual power extraordinarily solid, creating more space in his sea of consciousness to amodate more spiritual power. His purified spiritual power was extremely dense, and whenever its intensity became too high, a portion would be absorbed by his divine consciousness.


    Tang San knew he couldn''t break through to godhood anytime soon, so he focused most of his efforts on refining his spiritual power. Although the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s spiritual power was not weak, locking onto Tang San was no easy task.


    Their standoffsted for nearly ten seconds.


    On the other side, Du Bai activated the teleportation array again, transporting his teammates again.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint couldn''t hold back any longer and made his move again. Brilliant golden light infused his heavy sword, which he lifted at lightning speed. Previously steady as a rock, he transformed into a storm, sweeping toward Tang San.


    Tang San did not intend to sh with the charging Lion-Tiger Sword Saint directly. The space around him subtly distorted as his figure flickered, moving like a wisp of smoke through the massive golden sword beams. It was the Tang Sect''s ultimate movement technique, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.


    At this moment, Tang San''s Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track made him seem like a ghost, transforming into numerous phantoms surrounding the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. He weaved through the powerful golden sword beams, narrowly evading the fierce Lion-Tiger Golden Astral. Their figures flickered and crossed continuously, yet strangely, there was no collision. The battle was silent, as if they were merely dancing around each other.


    The audience was starting to be restless. Those who had followed the "guaranteed victory" suggestion and bet on a three-minute win were roaring angrily, curses and chaotic shouts rising in waves.


    However, those who truly understood the match held their breath, intently watching the movements between the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and Tang San.


    Before the battle began, no one expected that he would be the one standing against the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and not the ice-controlling expert known for his headshots.


    What kind of cultivation did the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint possess? Being called the number one in Kali City''s Great Beast Fighting Arena was no exaggeration. Preventing humans from bing nobles was an unwritten rule, and he was now the gatekeeper of the final battle instead of Yu Xi. When the Ancestral Court''s overseers arrived in Kali City and heard that thest match would involve the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, they knew that the arena was fully intent on upholding that rule.


    But who could have expected that this human in front of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint could weave through his powerful sword intent and entangle the number one powerhouse of Kali City?


    Without a doubt, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s expenditure was greater than Tang San''s. Below the tenth order, although bloodline power could constantly recover, it was not infinite. The difference in their cultivation levels was evident, yet the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint couldn''tnd a hit on his opponent, which was extremely remarkable.


    asionally, green light flickered around Tang San. This was the Wind Astral of the Wind Tiger Transformation, and he was using it not for attack or defense but to increase his speed.


    Even in his previous life, Tang San had never used the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to this extent. His level hadn��t been high enough before bing a god, and after bing a god, he didn''t need it. At this moment, he was also immersed in the various insights brought about by his continuous evasion.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was like a zing furnace, constantly erupting. Tang San moved around the edges of this furnace, finding gaps where he wouldn''t be scorched, continuously weaving in and out.


    This opponent was truly pressuring him. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was not only powerful but also extremelyposed. He seemed like a natural warrior, facing any change in battle with calmness. In this short time, his sword technique changed multiple times, and he constantly sought openings and tried different ways to attack Tang San.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint quickly realized that he was inferior to his opponent in terms of speed, evasion, and spiritual power. However, the human��s cultivation was at the eighth order, so he had the advantage there.


    The Golden Astral energy released by the heavy sword lingered in the air, forming golden patterns that floated in ce. The intense bloodline aura in the air was continuously increasing. This was consuming the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, but strangely, the lingering energy seemed to cause a feedback, stimting the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s bloodline to ignite. With each attack, the golden light around him grew brighter. Golden mes were rising around his body, and as the Golden Astral energy filled the air, the space for Tang San to maneuver became increasingly smaller. The crisscrossing sword beams constantly restricted his evasion space.


    From beginning to end, Tang San never shed head-on with him, nor did he seem to attempt to break out.

 Chapter 340: The Great Battle

    <h4>Chapter 340: The Great Battle</h4>


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint shed out with his sword, and Tang San once again retreated like a phantom, weaving through the sword and drifting to the side. But this time, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint didn''t pursue. Instead, he abruptly turned his massive sword and thrust it into the ground in front of him.


    In an instant, the Golden Astral energy in the air brightened, and blinding golden light erupted, transforming a thirty-meter radius around the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint into a golden ocean.


    <i>Aren''t you good at dodging? Then I''ll give you an area attack and see how you evade this!</i>


    At the moment when the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint thrust his heavy sword into the ground, Tang San also moved. As hended, he stomped his right foot on the ground, and green light burst from his body.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The spot where Tang San stomped emitted a deep rumble, causing the Great Beast Fighting Arena to tremble. This timing coincided perfectly with the eruption of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, so when the rumble sounded, it was also when the golden lightpletely enveloped Tang San''s figure.


    This was War Stomp, the bloodline ability of elephant demons.


    Why had Tang San integrated the elephant demon bloodline imprint? It wasn''t because the bloodline itself was particrly high-tier, but because it couldpensate for his ownck of physical strength. Elephant demons were a rather pure race, and their bloodline power was entirely focused on physical strength. Their only innate ability was War Stomp; theycked flexibility and pretty much everything else, but when it came to sheer power, they were unparalleled��such was the result of specialization.


    The shockwave from the War Stomp, cloaked in the Wind Astral, burst outward in a green hue. The Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was indeed formidable, and it produced an incredibly fierce burst of power in that instant, but Tang San''sbination of War Stomp and Wind Astral made his own burst of power equally fierce.


    The shockwave exploded outward, colliding with the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral explosion. The two forcesrgely canceled each other out. Protected by the Wind Astral and propelled by the force of the War Stomp, Tang San soared into the sky, breaking through the explosion area of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral. His body shot upward, encased in the greenish-blue light.


    At that moment, a streak of golden light suddenly shed out from the exploding Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, transforming into a golden arc in the air.


    It seemed as if it was intent on tearing the sky apart.


    The instant Tang San flew upward, this golden arc chased after him. Its speed was at least twice that of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s previous attacks.


    Thrusting the sword into the ground was not only meant to trigger the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral but also to store power for this sh. The Sword nting Strike! The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had used this move to y countless opponents.


    The Wind Astral surrounding Tang San was almost instantly shredded by the terrifying sword beam, and it seemed that he would be torn apart in the next moment.


    But in that instant, his body suddenly became ethereal. Yes, for one brief moment, his body actually turned immaterial! The golden sword beam swept through him and into the air behind him. The terrifying aura of that moment caused the entire audience to fall silent.


    Tang San''s ethereal figure solidified again in the next moment. The Wind Astral that had been shed apart reformed, and the next instant, it exploded with a bang, propelling him not away from the fight but back into it. He dashed toward the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, whose Golden Astral had just been extinguished, and swung Sky Shatterer directly at him.


    A look of shock shed in the usually resolute eyes of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. At that moment, he was sure he had struck his opponent! No matter how good Tang San''s footwork was, he couldn''t evade in mid-air. How could he avoid the attack? Moreover, the Sword nting Strike was both incredibly fast and powerful; in the eyes of a normal person, it moved at the speed of light. What kind of ability did the human have that allowed him to evade such an attack?


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint needed a moment to recover after consecutively unleashing the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral and the Sword nting Strike. At this precise moment, Tang San''s counterattack came. His timing was impable.


    At that moment, not far away, a thunderous roar echoed. Among the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s Unbeatable Squad teammates, one had already fallen.


    After four teleportations with the array disc, Du Bai finally found an opportunity. This time, he deliberately teleported to the rear of the four pursuing opponents, targeting the one trailing behind.


    Time Freeze, Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh, and a charged Ice Spear. An eighth-order opponent had no chance against thebined assault of three powerful bloodlines. Moreover, the reason itgged behind its three teammates was that for some reason it couldn��t understand, it had actually stumbled.


    Misfortune had descended!


    One first-tier bloodline, two second-tier bloodlines, and a powerful ice-element control from the Ice Nymph Transformation. There was no chance for the Unbeatable Squad to get a lucky strike in, and now, they had just lost a member.


    In the VIP section, a burly demon male stood up, roaring thunderously. Its eyes flickered with uncertainty. The fallen demon was its offspring, and it had paid a high price to allow this offspring to be a noble only for thetter to perish in what should have been a certain victory.


    At this moment, Tang San''s Sky Shatterer had already reached the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. He was just too quick, giving the Sword Saint no time to recover.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint raised his heavy sword to block Sky Shatterer.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Tang San and his hammer were knocked back, and the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint also took half a step back.


    Though Tang San was much smaller, the strength of the elephant demon bloodline was not to be underestimated. Moreover, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s previous attacks had taken a toll on thetter��s energy.


    Tang San used the rebound force of the strike to flip in mid-air and swing his hammer once more withoutnding.


    Another boom resounded, and the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint took another half step back. His palm felt a slight warmth.


    Tang San used the rebound force to take some distance once more, but the force was weaker this time. Hended, spun around, and swung his hammer for the third time in a horizontal sweep; his shorter stature meant that the hammer was bound to strike the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s chest.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint raised his sword to block and took a deep breath, reigniting the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    This time, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint didn''t retreat, and the recoil Tang San felt was even greater. However, Tang San didn''t get knocked back either. With his feet firmly on the ground, he spun like a top, viciously swinging Sky Shatterer again.


    After repeatedly evading his opponent''s attacks, Tang San finally found the opportunity to unleash his Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint felt a suffocating frustration. He could clearly sense that his opponent''s strength was far inferior to his own. However, the series of explosive attacks he had unleashed earlier had drained a significant amount of his bloodline power, and he needed a few seconds to get himself together. Yet, his opponent was not giving him that chance, with attacksing one after another.


    The power transmitted through the hammer was considerable and carried a fierce vibration, forcing him to use his full strength to deal with it and leaving him no room to readjust. He was not in his best state and he was unable to step back and recover; as for counter-attacking, that was even more of a tall order given his depleted bloodline power.


    Thus, he could only defend for now, waiting for Tang San''s continuous attacks to cease, and then use the opportunity to recover and regain the initiative.


    Unfortunately for him, he was unaware of what Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer was all about.


    The essence of Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer was leveraging the opponent''s power! The user didn��t have to stop and regain their bnce, but rather relied on the opponent��s power to continue moving. This would continue for as long as the user and the hammer could endure the forces involved, and the stronger the recoil of each sh, the stronger the user��s hammer strikes became.


    Moreover, Sky Shatterer was not just any hammer. Its pulverization ability impacted the Lion Tiger Sword Saint��s heavy sword every time they shed, and under the guidance of Tang San��s spiritual power, the searing heat of the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron bypassed the protection of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, pouring into the heavy sword as well.

 Chapter 341: Suppression

    <h4>Chapter 341: Suppression</h4>


    Spinning like a top, Tang San unleashed blow after blow, each strike more powerful than thest, his terrifying strength continuously pouring forth. Within mere moments, he had struck the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint more than twenty times.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was forced to retreat step by step, unable to withstand the increasing power of Tang San''s attacks. Even more terrifying was that he could barely hold onto his own sword. Despite continuously infusing it with bloodline power, the sword grew hotter and hotter, changing from gold to red-hot. The intense heat even began to scorch his palms.


    Why? Why was this happening? He was more powerful than his opponent. Yet, he was being suppressed without any chance to counterattack. Even a brief moment to calm down and channel his bloodline power would make a difference, but the previously evasive opponent was now attacking ferociously, giving him no opportunity.


    A scream rang out again as another member of the Unbeatable Squad fell.


    Tang San''s domination over the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint undoubtedly boosted his teammates'' morale. Wu Bingji fully utilized his control over the ice element,pleting a triple-elerated ice spear attack with the strong support of the Chrono Croc Transformation. The final eleration, aided by Gu Li��s abilities, caused the opponent to misjudge, and the icicle pierced directly through the eye into the brain, achieving a headshot.


    With four against two, the suspense regarding their team��s victory was rapidly diminishing.


    Wu Bingji now deeply understood why Tang San had said he would showcase his true strength today. Even his teammates had no idea how Tang San achieved it. At this moment, Tang San was even suppressing a formidable opponent like the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. Only now did they realize just how powerful Tang San had be.


    To the strong beings in the audience, the match seemed strange. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was clearly stronger, yet he was also clearly being suppressed. Even god-level powerhouses found this challenging toprehend.


    Tang San had already used three bloodline abilities in this battle. Besides the Wind Wolf Transformation that everyone could see, he had used the Elephant Demon Transformation''s War Stomp against the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint��s own wide-area attack, and the Peacock Transformation''s spatial teleportation to evade the subsequent sh.


    Under his powerful spiritual control, Tang San could disappear and reappear in the same spot. This execution could be described as exquisitely precise even under normal conditions. Moreover, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s sh was potent enough to tear through space. Attempting to phase between dimensions and return to the same ce carried the risk of being torn apart by spatial rifts. Even the Peacock Great Demon King would teleport to a distant location in such a situation. But Tang San dared to do it; his understanding of space as a former God King gave him an absolute advantage at this moment. Thus, he aplished something the Peacock Great Demon King wouldn''t easily attempt. Who on the scene could tell he used the Peacock Demon n��s abilities?


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was indeed powerful. Tang San was going all out. At this moment, his bloodline power surged within him, and the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer was pushed to its limit, not giving the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint any chance to recover.


    <i>This can''t go on!</i>


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint realized that if the continuous attacks continued, he would be unable to hold on. He was unable to catch his breath under Tang San''s relentless assault, and his chest was in pain, indicating internal injuries that were growing more severe by the moment. His heavy sword, now heated to a high temperature, was starting to take damage. This sword was extremely valuable and had excellent conductivity for bloodline power, but it was beginning to falter under the pressure.


    If it weren''t for his strong Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, any metal would have already melted under the heat of the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron.


    His heavy sword once again blocked the hammer, but the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint didn''t fully resist this time. Instead, when Sky Shatterer struck his sword, he allowed the t of the de to m into his chest and send him flying backward.


    Once he finally took a solid step, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint spat out a mouthful of blood. To his dismay, his heavy sword could no longer withstand the heat and pressure. The upper half of the de drooped limply. Thebination of high temperature and continuous attacks had destroyed the weapon that had served him for so long.


    However, being knocked back gave him a chance to catch his breath. Spitting out a mouthful of blood looked severe, but it expelled the clotted blood inside him, making him feel much better. Simultaneously, he took a deep breath, intending to adjust the flow of his bloodline power.


    But he had only half-finished this deep breath when a fierce gust of wind was already in front of him.


    When Tang San sent him flying, he understood what the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was trying to do. Using the rebound force, he spun again, and without hesitation, he let go of Sky Shatterer, sending it flying toward the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint.


    This was the thirty-fifth hammer strike, and after being boosted thirty-four times, the force behind this strike was unimaginable. Sky Shatterer caused a sonic boom, instantly catching up to the injured Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. Boosted by the Wind Astral, Tang San also shot forward like lightning closely following the hammer.


    <i>Want to catch your breath? Keep dreaming!</i>


    As the head of the hammer rapidly erged in his view, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint felt a suffocating sense of frustration. He let out a roar and let go of the broken heavy sword, his Lion-Tiger Golden Astral ring wildly. He punched out with his right fist, golden light bursting forth. This time, he couldn''t care about his injuries worsening. He had to prevent Tang San from getting close enough to use that hammer technique again.


    As he punched out with his right fist, his left hand wed through the air, summoning a massive w shadow. At this moment, the solid foundation of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was evident. Although he was only half recovered, his Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was still overwhelmingly powerful. The massive w shadow swept down at Tang San.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    Sky Shatterer collided with his right hand and was flung away, but a series of cracking sounds came from his right fist, clearly indicating that the bones of his hand were shattered.


    Under the violent Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer, the crushing nature of Sky Shatterer, and the scorching heat of the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, the fact that his arm wasn''t shattered along with his fist was a testament to his impressive strength.


    The w shadow he had summoned was already in front of Tang San. At this moment, like him, Tang San had no weapon in hand. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was confident that if he could temporarily push this guy back and catch his breath, even if his right hand was temporarily crippled, he could defeat his opponent. His opponent was at the eighth order, and the continuous attacks just now must have consumed a lot of energy. As long as he could get himself together, he was confident he could tear Tang San apart.


    However, he saw a slightly mocking look in Tang San''s eyes.


    The Wind Astral gathered behind him, forming a pair of azure wings. As Tang San charged forward, the wind wings pped behind him. He drew a graceful arc in the air, easily bypassing the tiger w. Just as his speed triggered a sonic boom, he once again reached the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint didn''t hesitate and kicked out with his right leg, golden mes rising in his eyes. He had no choice but to burn his life force. The moment Tang San got close again, he made a decision. Compared to preserving his health, killing this opponent was the most important; otherwise, he might die today.


    But at that moment, something unexpected happened.


    A purple-gold color burst from Tang San''s eyes, and at the same time, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint felt his body freeze.


    The next moment, his sea of consciousness felt as if it had been struck by a massive hammer. It violently surged, extinguishing the life force he had just ignited. The Lion-Tiger Golden Astral that had been zing out suddenly went out.

 Chapter 342: Do You Want to Become a God?

    <h4>Chapter 342: Do You Want to Be a God?</h4>


    Then, somehow, Tang San''s right hand grabbed his right foot. With immense strength, Tang San swung the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint through the air and mmed him into the ground.


    Another scream echoed in the distance, as if to apany the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s tragic moment. A member of the Unbeatable Squad had his shoulder sliced open by the Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh. The battle on that side was already nearing its end.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s body was solid, but a thought shed through his mind as he mmed into the ground and left dizzy and disoriented.


    <i>Impossible! How did he just stop me from burning my life force?</i>


    There was something suspicious going on with this guy��s eyes<i>. And what was that ability that slowed me down? How could he just grab my foot?</i>


    If Tang San could hear his questions and was willing to exin, he would tell him that it was the Purple Demon Eyesbined with Time Freeze and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was indeed powerful, and it was precisely because of his strength that Tang San had to use many techniques. Although he didn''t use all his abilities and whatever he did use was carefully concealed, he still had to put in serious effort.


    To the spectators, it seemed like the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had changed. Once so formidable, he was suddenly suppressed, unable to counterattack. Only the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint knew the truth of his suffering; his opponent was simply too strange.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    He was swung up again, like a sack, and heavily mmed into the ground.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint felt like he was being shattered into pieces, dizzy and unable to resist.


    At that moment, a voice suddenly sounded in his mind.


    <i>��Do you want to be a god?</i>


    <i>Boom��</i> He was mmed into the ground again.


    <i>��I can help you be a god.</i>


    <i>Boom��</i> This time, he was swung and mmed to the left.


    <i>��Your problem is that the Lion-Tiger Beast bloodline isn��t truly fused, so you have no hope of bing a god.</i>


    <i>Boom��</i>


    ��<i>You should be able to feel that I''ve used more than one bloodline power.</i>


    <i>Boom��</i>


    <i>��And I can help you fuse your bloodline powers.</i>


    <i>Boom��</i>


    <i>��I can make you stronger, make you a god.</i>


    <i>Boom��</i>


    Each time he was mmed heavily onto the ground, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint spat out a mouthful of blood. Every heavy blow caused him unbearable pain. Yet, that voice echoed clearly in his sea of consciousness.


    <i>��Submit to me, and I will help you.</i>


    <i>Boom��</i>


    <i>��Otherwise, die!</i>


    Boom!


    Finally, Tang San stopped. After being continuously mmed into the ground, the Lion-Tiger Sword Sainty there with at least a dozen broken bones. He was on the ground, coughing uprge amounts of blood, severely injured.


    The voice echoed again in his sea of consciousness. ��<i>If you want to die, I''ll fulfill that wish. If you want to live, just make a sound.</i>


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint opened his mouth. Of course, he didn''t want to die. Despite having a hundred victories in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, despite his pursuit of strength and his relentless attacks against any opponent, he still didn''t want to die!


    But he couldn''t make a sound. The pain was too intense, and his throat felt choked.


    Tang San looked at him, murmuring regretfully, "You truly are a brave soul ready to face death. Then I''ll fulfill your wish." He raised his hand as he spoke, and Sky Shatterer flew into his grasp.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint panicked. <i>I don''t want to die. I never wanted to die!</i>


    Using all his strength, he finally, finally managed to squeeze out a sound.


    "Meow��"


    Tang San''s mouth twitched. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was also stunned. At that moment, he felt like his blood had frozen inside him.


    In front of tens of thousands of spectators, a generation''s Sword Saint, a king of the Great Beast Fighting Arena, a mighty demon with the bloodline of two golden ns had actually, actually...


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint closed his eyes; his head drooped, and he died. It was just a social death, but he really felt like


    Tang San felt like he wanted tough. A little.


    Why did he choose not to kill the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint? It was because his bloodline had significant research value, and the potential of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was higher than what he had just seen. If he could make the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint submit, Tang San would gain a powerful bloodline that might not be inferior to a first-tier bloodline and could be enhanced to the ninth order. This could rece the elephant demon imprint, which��although useful��was stillparatively weak. Or he could even rece the Wind Tiger Transformation imprint, which was bing increasingly less effective.


    Especially when facing strong opponents, the Wind Tiger Transformation was just not powerful enough. Tang San had to .


    Moreover, he thought hispanions'' strength was somewhatcking for their journey to the Ancestral Court, so having a mount wouldn''t be bad either. As for how to subdue the embarrassed Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, judging by his will to survive, it might not be too difficult.


    While the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was severely injured and rendered unconscious by Tang San, thest member of the Unbeatable Squad was also killed. The severe injury of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had shattered itsst shred of fighting spirit, and it died in despair.


    At this moment, the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena was in chaos, and that chaos spread outside it as well. Yet in contrast with the curses of the spectators inside, a wave of cheers surrounded the arena!.


    Yes, they already knew the final result. They knew it. The Shrek Squad had won their tenth match!


    The deafening cheers were the release of all those feelings hidden deep inside humans�� hearts during countless years of oppression as ves and vassals.


    On the seats of honor, the faces of the high-ranking members of the demon ns were grim. Even the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King, the master of the Great Beast Fighting Arena, was no exception.


    In fact, although he didn''t want Tang San and his team to die, when a human team truly achieved ten consecutive victories in group battles and was about to receive a noble title, his heart was filled withplex emotions. This was an unprecedented glory for humans, but for the master of the Great Beast Fighting Arena, it was a humiliation.


    The envoy from the Ancestral Court had already stood up, its face dark as it looked at the Shrek Squad members gathering and hugging each other on the battlefield.


    It could clearly hear the cheers from outside the arena. Although, as part of the demon races, it had never believed humans could pose any real threat, at this moment, its displeasure was hard to suppress.


    The envoy turned to the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King. "What''s the deal with that human?"


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King smiled wryly. "I don''t know, I didn��t expect this either. He wasn''t the captain before, and he didn''t show any exceptional strength, yet..."


    "You didn''t expect this? Such a human shouldn''t exist. ves can''t have spiritual leaders, don''t you understand?" the envoy said coldly.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King quickly bowed. "I understand, but the rules of the Great Beast Fighting Arena can''t be arbitrarily broken."


    The envoy waved its hand, cutting him off. "Then follow the rules of the Great Beast Fighting Arena. I don''t care how you do it. If Kali City can''t handle it, send them to the Ancestral Court. The Great Beast Fighting Arena of the Ancestral Court has even richer rewards. Do you understand?"


    "Yes, I understand." The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King immediately grasped the implication, sighing inwardly. <i>The Great Beast Fighting Arena of the Ancestral Court... that ce...</i>

 Chapter 343: The Conclusion, Nobility

    <h4>Chapter 343: The Conclusion, Nobility</h4>


    Tang San grabbed one of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s legs, dragging him out of the Great Beast Fighting Arena. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was now his prize. Not killing him in the arena meant that, in a sense, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was now his ve. This was the right of a free contestant in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Generally, this right was rarely exercised because the participants usually had a do-or-die belief and were hard to enve.


    This was why Tang San conveyed so many thoughts to the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint through his spiritual power while severely injuring him. Otherwise, if hemitted suicide after being defeated, all Tang San��s effort would have been wasted.


    The prize for ten consecutive victories, plus the match earnings, was undoubtedly highly generous. More importantly, from this moment on, they would have noble status and no longer be mere human vassals.


    While they weren''t the only human nobles in this world, they were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.[1]


    They didn''t rush to leave the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Although Tang San knew that appearing in front of the humans outside the arena now would have a significant unifying effect, he also understood that their ten consecutive victories today would undoubtedly cause the demons to feel threatened. Under the circumstances, a strong reaction from the vassals might well trigger murderous intent among the demons and result in who knew what kinds of problems. Therefore, they couldn''t provoke the demon races at this time.


    If this weren''t Kali City and the city lord wasn''t in seclusion, their ten consecutive victories might have put them at significant risk. Why had Tang San handed over the three array discs to the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King and created the impression that there was an array master behind them? It was to make it seem like there was more profit to be extracted, making them less likely to be targeted.


    The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape had been waiting in the corridor. When it saw Tang San dragging the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint over, an intense look of fear shed in its eyes.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was almost universally recognized as the strongest existence in the entire Kali City Great Beast Fighting Arena, hailed as the strongest below the god level. However, he had been ultimately beaten by Tang San in a one-on-one situation. What did this mean? It meant that in a one-on-one battle, below the god level, Tang San was even stronger!


    Tang San had been low-key, hiding his strength until this final match, where he showcased massive power. How could this not make others wary? Moreover, they couldn''t even discern what abilities he had used to defeat the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint.


    "Get him some medical attention. He is my ve now," Tang San said calmly, handing the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint to the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape.


    "Alright," the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape quickly took the limp Lion-Tiger Sword Saint.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s body was as hard as steel. Although Tang San had beaten him severely, the injuries weren''t too serious. Not many bones were truly broken, and with his strong physical capabilities, he would recover soon with proper treatment.


    Tang San continued to the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape, "Please arrange for us to meet the Arena Master."


    "Alright," the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape said. It had already received a message from the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King anyway, and thetter was in fact waiting to meet Tang San and his team.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was taken for treatment, while Tang San and his team were led by the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape back to the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King''s grand and luxurious room.


    The door opened, and as soon as Tang San and his team stepped inside, they were greeted by apuse.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King smiled and looked at them with admiration. "Congrattions! Congrattions on your ten consecutive victories. The first human team to have ten consecutive victories in the history of the Great Beast Fighting Arena. From this moment on, you are nobles. I have arranged for your noble status registration, which will bepleted soon. You will have the right to buy your ownnd and houses in Kali City and the right to recruit ves and vassals."


    "Thank you, Arena Master," Tang San nodded slightly.


    At this moment, Wu Bingji and the other three naturally followed behind him. After today''s battle, there was no longer any doubt about who the true captain of the Shrek Squad was, and there was no need to hide it anymore.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King said, "Please, I have prepared a banquet to wee you."


    Tang San replied, "Then we shall ept your invitation."


    The five followed the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King to the banquet hall, where a table full of sumptuous food awaited them.


    Wu Bingji hesitated and nced at Tang San. After their victory, hearing the overwhelming cheers, especially those from outside the Great Beast Fighting Arena, he felt pride and concern. Their deeds were unprecedented, after all; who knew what means the demons would stoop down to in order to suppress them?


    Tang San gave him a reassuring look and led everyone to sit down. He understood that Wu Bingji was worried about the possibility of the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King poisoning the food. However, Wu Bingji didn''t know that Tang San was the foremost expert in poison in this world. No poison could be hidden from him. Besides, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King wouldn''t resort to such measures before getting what he wanted.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King raised his wine cup and said, "Come, let us toast to you bing members of the nobility in Kali City."


    Tang San and the others raised their cups, and the banquet began.


    The table was filled with delicacies, and Tang San and the others didn''t hold back. During the banquet, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King didn''t say much, merely praising their performance today. Most of his attention was on Tang San, and he was subtly probing about the young man��s bloodline abilities.


    Tang San responded ambiguously, mentioning that his bloodline had undergone some mutations and that his spiritual power was exceptional. He only hinted at the abilities he had disyed on the battlefield.


    They didn''t drink much but didn''t hold back on the nutritious food. After the meal, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King led them to the reception hall.


    Everyone took their seats.


    "Now that you are nobles, what are your ns for the future?" the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King asked with a smile.


    Tang San replied, "Not much. Just continue to strive to be stronger."


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King looked at him meaningfully and said, "With your strength, if you continue to improve, you might be on the path to bing a god. But you should know that reaching the tenth order requires vast resources and sufficient support. It''s not easy for humans to get that far!"


    Tang San sighed and said, "Yes, indeed! Do you have any suggestions for us, Your Excellency?"


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King pondered momentarily and said, "There are some suggestions. It is rare for vassals to be nobles, but it''s not unheard of. However, even with noble status, it is difficult for non-demons to be gods. It would only be possible if you could rely on the protection of arge family, along with a substantial amount of resources."


    Tang San said, "We do have that idea. But we have no way to enter such a social circle!"


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King smiled slightly and said, "My Aetherhorn Deer Demon n can amodate you all. But I wonder..."


    Tang San hesitated and said, "Thank you for your kindness. But I''m worried it might bring you unnecessary trouble. We didn''t expect so much attention from our kind after our victory today. Will it..."


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King looked at him with some surprise, "The fact that you can notice this shows I wasn''t wrong about you. Indeed, your victory today will bring you great trouble. Just now, an envoy from the Ancestral Court expressed clear dissatisfaction. They even suggested taking you to the Ancestral Court''s Great Beast Fighting Arena with the lure of rich resources. But you must understand that the Ancestral Court''s Great Beast Fighting Arena differs greatly from ours in Kali City. One misstep and you could die there."


    1. This is tranted from the original term ����. This phrase describes something extremely rare and valuable, as phoenixes and unicorns are mythical creatures that are practically impossible to find. ?

 Chapter 344: Verbal Sparring

    <h4>Chapter 344: Verbal Sparring</h4>


    He paused for a moment, then said, "In this matter, I''m afraid I can''t protect you entirely. But if you''re willing to join my Aetherhorn Deer Demon n as guest members, at least in the Ancestral Court, we can mediate on your behalf."


    Tang San asked, "Does that mean we won''t have to go to the Ancestral Court''s Great Beast Fighting Arena?"


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King shook his head and said, "That''s impossible. Unless the City Lord is present, no one can stand against the envoy on your behalf. You will have to go, but if this is handled well, there''s a good chance you can return safely."


    "How can it be handled?" Tang San asked.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King said, "You need to win at least one match over there, then I''ll find a way to ensure that your subsequent opponents only injure you but don''t kill you. After that, I''ll work things out to make it seem like you''re grievously injured. Then, we can bring you back and keep a low profile. That should get you through this."


    Wu Bingji looked at Tang San, his emotions mixed. If it weren''t for the current situation, he would have asked Tang San if this guy was being serious.


    Tang San''s answer would be a resounding yes.


    He looked at the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King and said, "Thank you for your care, Your Excellency. And for being so candid with us. We do indeed want to visit the Ancestral Court. I also want to find the master who gave us the three array discs. If there''s a chance, I can introduce him to you."


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King''s eyes lit up, and there was appreciation in his gaze. <i>Indeed, talking to smart people is easy! </i>


    "But..." Tang San hesitated.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King asked calmly, "But what?"


    Tang San lowered his head somewhat shamefully and said, "Could you please introduce us to the City Lord? We have always admired the City Lord deeply..."


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King''s heart stirred, but his expression remained calm as he smiled and said, "It seems you have great ambitions, don''t you?"


    Tang San kept his head down and said, "We''ve long revered the City Lord."


    From Mei Gongzi, he had long known that this Aetherhorn Deer Demon King was one of the Peacock Great Demon King''s allies, a staunch supporter of the same faction, and basically Kali City''s financial overseer. By pretending that he knew an array master, he ensured that the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King had vested interests in them. Then, by expressing a desire to meet the City Lord and indicating a wish to join the City Lord''s ranks, he naturally had multiple considerations.


    Even beforeing to thepetition, Tang San had already devised this n.


    In the future, Mei Gongzi''s most crucial task was to take control of Kali City. If he could join the Peacock Demon n, he would naturally be able to assist Mei Gongzi legitimately by her side.


    "I''ve seen your registration information. You''re called Asura?" The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King looked at the masked Tang San.


    Indeed, Tang San used the name Asura when he registered.


    "Yes," Tang San nodded.


    "The City Lord is currently in seclusion and cannot see you. How about this: after you return sessfully from the Ancestral Court, if the City Lord has emerged from seclusion, I will introduce you then. Have you thought about when you will go to the Ancestral Court?"


    Tang San thought for a moment and said, "Within a month. We also need some time to rest."


    "Alright. Once you''ve decided on your departure time, you cane to see me. I will arrange things for you at the Ancestral Court in advance. If you have any news about the array master, you cane here anytime to find me."


    As he spoke, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King took a token and handed it to Tang San, "Take this token, and you will have unhindered ess throughout Kali City. Where are you staying? The noble registration documents will be sent to you shortly for registration."


    Tang San said, "We are staying at the hotel next to the Great Beast Fighting Arena."


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King said, "Don''t stay at the hotel anymore. Stay here until your noble registration ispleted, and then you can leave. I''ll find a ce suitable for you all to live in."


    "Thank you very much, Your Excellency."


    After the conversation, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King personally saw them to the door and gave the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape some instructions.


    Their amodations were no longer the same; each of them was now given a luxurious room.


    However, the five did not separate but gathered in Tang San''s room.


    It wasn''t until they returned to the room that Wu Bingji and the others breathed massive sighs of relief. Du Bai even copsed directly onto the sofa.


    They could finally rx after the intense battle and the nerve-wracking dealings with the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King.


    "Little Tang, you''re amazing!" Cheng Zicheng said sincerely, her gaze toward him rather different from before.


    Today, Tang San''s battle with the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, from which Tang San had ultimately emerged victorious, left an indelible impression on them.


    Wu Bingjiughed. "That''s beyond amazing. I never thought even the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint wouldn''t be a match for you."


    Tang San smiled and said, "It was just luck."


    He released his spiritual power as he spoke, setting up a barrier to iste any potential external surveince.


    Wu Bingji asked, "How much do you think we can trust what the arena master said?"


    Tang San replied, "Nine parts true, one part false. For him, profit is paramount. If we can make it profitable for him, he will be genuine with us. Otherwise, he could turn on us at any time."


    Wu Bingji pondered, "So that''s why you brought up the array master?"


    Tang San nodded, "Exactly. Eldest brother, from now on, you must avoid revealing your true face as much as possible. From now on, we will live our public lives wearing these masks."


    Wu Bingji nodded. "I understand."


    Tang San continued, "After obtaining our noble status, the most important thing is stabilizing and enhancing our cultivation. The Great Beast Fighting Arena is unavoidable, and the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King''s n seems feasible. We''ve already made a significant impact in Kali City. While this is great for uniting our people, humans are still too weak. It''s not time to show our unity yet. For now, we need to act low-key and wait for opportunities in the future."


    Wu Bingji sighed. "Hearing their cheers gets my blood pumping! But you are more thorough in your thinking."


    Tang San said, "We��ll get our chance as long as we survive. At least we''ve proven that humans have the potential to be strong. Every person who saw our matches or heard of our victories will have a seed nted in their hearts. Given time, it will take root and grow."


    Wu Bingji nodded thoughtfully and replied, "From now on, we''ll all follow your lead. Whatever you say, we''ll do."


    Tang San said, "We must go to the Ancestral Court to seek opportunities. We have plenty of money, and your bloodline issues must be addressed if you want to advance further. The stronger the bloodline, the harder it is to improve if it��s not pure enough. We need to find the right essence blood to enhance your bloodline power. That��s the main goal for going there. The Great Beast Fighting Arena there will be risky. I can handle one Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, but I won''t be able to do that if we face five opponents of that caliber. So, you all need to work hard to improve. As for the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King, I''ll find a way to ensure he has to protect us and give us opportunities."


    "Yes, we''ll all work hard," they responded in unison.

 Chapter 345: Arrival of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint

    <h4>Chapter 345: Arrival of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint</h4>


    The ten group battles had been a transformative experience for the entire Shrek Squad.


    Facing the genuine pressure of life and death threats, their actualbat experience, coordination, and personal strength had all advanced significantly.


    This brought Tang San a sense of relief.


    The potential for growth in his fourpanions was immense, and they could all look forward to a bright future.


    Everyone was exhausted and returned to their rooms to rest.


    Tang San walked to the bed as well; this time, from the room he had been assigned, he could see outside the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    He opened the window, and he could faintly hear asional cheers from the city��clearly human voices.


    Their victory today had a significant impact on the humans in Kali City.


    But the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King was right; it would attract apprehension precisely because of the impact.


    For the demons, eliminating potential problems was as simple as killing them.


    The Ancestral Court was a ce they had to visit.


    If they didn''t go to the Ancestral Court, all their previous efforts would be in vain.


    Tang San needed to find opportunities for hispanions and himself.


    His path to godhood was destined to be incredibly challenging. The Ancestral Court would be his chance to test himself and understand the highest power levels in this world.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King was very efficient. The next day, someone came to handle the registration for their noble status.


    Both demon and nymph nobles needed to register at the Noble Court to confirm their identities.


    Each major city had its own Noble Court, and Kali City was no exception. The Peacock Demon n managed this branch, of course.


    Once their noble status was registered, their residences were arranged.


    As nobles, they now had the right to ownnd, and naturally the right to build a residence on it.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King was very generous. As the wealthiest being in all of Kali City and one of the wealthiest merchants even among all demon races, he gave five houses to Tang San and hispanions in a prosperous area.


    Each house covered an area of about 300 square meters and had its own courtyard. The five houses were next to each other and not too far from the central square of Kali City, on a street on the east side of the city lord''s mansion.


    They had the right to recruit vassals to serve them, and they could also recruit ves, but ves were not allowed to enter the city itself and could only work for them outside the city.


    They didn''t see the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King again; his subordinates arranged everything properly. By the third day after thepetition ended, they had already moved into their houses.


    The houses were fully furnished; theycked luxurious decorations, but they were still better than their quarters at Redemption Academy. They were clean and tidy, with nts adorning the courtyards. Each house had five rooms, enough to amodate more than a dozen people.


    In the following days, Tang San and hispanions stayed mostly indoors. On the tenth day after thepetition ended, someone Tang San had been waiting for finally arrived.


    Tang San came out when he heard a knock on the door. These past few days, he had stayed here, except for a secret trip back to Redemption Academy tomunicate with his master.


    Their residences were monitored. The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King''s men subtly expressed that this surveince was not from the Great Beast Fighting Arena but to ensure their future participation in the Ancestral Courtpetition.


    Opening the courtyard door, he first saw a tall and burly man.


    His injuries seemed almost healed, but his expression was grim. Behind him stood four sturdy demons from the Bloodthirsty Demon Ape n. Each one exuded a powerful aura.


    The leading Bloodthirsty Demon Ape was the one who was always present before their battles. Upon seeing Tang San, it immediately smiled and said, "Brother Asura, I��ve brought you your spoils. How you handle him is up to you. We''ve sealed his cultivation, so you can do as you please. The arena master asked us to bring him to you. His injuries are mostly healed, but you should still be careful."


    "Thank you," Tang San said. The Bloodthirsty Demon Ape didn''t linger; it waved its hand and left with its subordinates.


    Tang San nced at the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and turned to walk inside. "Come in."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint remained silent, quietly following him into the courtyard.


    "Close the door," Tang San said calmly.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint hesitated momentarily, letting out a dissatisfied grunt, but still closed the door.


    Tang San led him into the main house, where he sat down in the main seat in the living room and pointed to a chair beside him.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint didn''t sit down; he looked at Tang San coldly and said, "Does what you said that day still count?"


    Tang San calmly retorted, "Do you have the right to negotiate terms with me?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s alreadyrge eyes widened even more. "What do you mean? You tricked me?"


    "What good would it do me to trick you? But you need to understand your current status. Right now, you''re nothing but my spoil of war. In other words, you''re my ve. Do you not understand what a ve is?"


    "You..." The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint let out a roar. Despite his sealed cultivation, he still exuded a ferocious aura.


    Tang San looked at him and shook his head.


    Then, he slowly stood up and walked over to the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint.


    As he saw Tang San approaching, for some unknown reason, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s previously strong momentum waned, and he subconsciously reined it in a bit.


    Facing the much taller Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, Tang San asked calmly, "What is your goal for cultivation?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint unhesitantly replied, "Of course, to be powerful."


    "How powerful?"


    "Naturally, to be a Demon Emperor. That''s the ultimate goal of every demon," the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint said proudly.


    Tang San asked, "A Lion-Tiger Demon Emperor? Has there ever been one?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was at a loss for words. Indeed, there had never been a Lion-Tiger Demon Emperor in the history of demons.


    "You should be well aware of your problems. The bloodlines of the Golden Lion and the Golden Tiger make you strong, but the conflict between these two bloodlines also troubles you greatly. You''ll never break through to the tenth tier if you can''t unite the two, and even being the strongest below the god level is worth exactly zero if you can��t be a god. Not to mention..."


    He paused for a moment, then said mockingly, "...you''re not even the strongest below the god level."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s breathing became heavy instantly, and he seemed to be on the verge of exploding.


    But Tang San continued leisurely, as if he hadn''t noticed, "To truly be stronger, you must solve the problem with your bloodline. Sadly, you can��t solve it, and neither can the Demon Emperors. You are not the only one of the Lion-Tiger lineage. There aren��t many, but they exist. You must be considered lucky. Whether it��s the first generation born from the Lion and Tiger ns or the offspring of Lion-Tiger demons themselves, not many survive, right? Most die young, am I correct?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint trembled, and he blurted out, "How do you know this?"


    This was no secret for the Lion and Tiger ns, but it was not something a human should know.


    Tang San replied calmly, "I inferred it from your bloodline. Your Lion-Tiger Golden Astral is extremely violent but full of contradictions. The two stimte each other, and your blood is always boiling during battles. Not just anyone can endure such a domineering bloodline. You are very lucky, born with a strong innate constitution thanks to the Golden Lion and Golden Tiger bloodlines. This is why you survived and became powerful. But most Lion-Tiger demons are not so fortunate."

 Chapter 346: Allies?

    <h4>Chapter 346: Allies?</h4>


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint shivered slightly as if he was recalling something painful. He subconsciously said, "What can be done? This is fate, the fate of our kind. They all say we are an unnatural existence, a race that shouldn''t have appeared. It is a curse from the heavens."


    Tang San shook his head and said, "This has nothing to do with any curse. It is simply something caused by your bloodlines interfering with each other. Lions and tigers are rted anyway, so their genes are not entirely ipatible. However, if you only rely on natural mutations to fuse these bloodlines, who knows how many generations it��ll take? Moreover, you can''t pass on these mutations. The offspring born from lion and tiger demons are likely to die young, right? And even those who survive don''t live long."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint took a deep breath and said fiercely, "Why are you telling me this? What''s the point? Can you solve it or something?"


    "I can," Tang San said calmly.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was shaken, and he eximed, "What did you say?"


    Tang San said irritably, "Why don��t you say it louder so those listening from outside can hear you?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s chest heaved violently, and his voice trembled. "Can you really? Can you really do it? You..."


    "I have a way, but I need your cooperation."


    "How do I cooperate?" the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint asked eagerly.


    "It''s difficult and there��s a heavy price to pay. Why should I help you solve this problem?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint turned stiff for a moment. Suddenly, he resolutely said, "If you can help my n solve this problem, my life will be yours. I''ll be your ve and servant without hesitation."


    Tang San shook his head and said, "I don''t want you."


    "Then what do you want?" the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint asked angrily.


    Tang San nced at him and said, "If you can''t even control your own emotions, you''ll never reach the god level."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint growled lowly, "What exactly do you want?"


    "If I can help your n solve this problem, it means the Lion-Tiger n will have a chance to reach the pinnacle, and you yourself have the possibility of bing a Demon Emperor. Isn''t that a huge favor?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint didn''t reply, but the answer was obviously yes.


    Tang San said, "I don''t need you to be my ve or servant, but your n must be my ally forever, ready to respond whenever called upon."


    "Ally? Just an ally?" The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was stunned. He had thought Tang San wanted them to submit to him.


    Tang San��s voice was calm. "Of course. Just being allies is enough."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint said decisively, "No problem, as long as you can do it. I can promise this on behalf of my n. I am the strongest of our n, and the elders would agree anyway."


    Tang San asked, "How many members exist in your Lion-Tiger n now?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint hesitated for a moment before saying, "Less than two hundred are still alive."


    Tang San nodded and said, "Take me to them. Words alone aren''t enough; I''ll show you proof."


    As he spoke, he raised his right hand and struck the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s chest with his palm.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was pushed back a step, but in the next moment, a light flickered around him as the seal was lifted.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was stunned. He hadn''t expected Tang San to remove his seal just like that.


    After a moment of silence, he growled, "Let''s go!" and started to walk out.


    Tang San moved quickly, blocking his way. "Where are you going? Are you afraid they won''t notice?"


    "Huh?" The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was puzzled. "What do you mean?"


    "Follow me." As he spoke, Tang San turned and walked toward the next room.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, somewhat confused, followed behind him.


    This room lookedpletely ordinary, but as the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint entered, he felt a strange sensation��something was affecting his spiritual power.


    Tang San waved his hand at that moment, and light seemed to flicker from it. Instantly, the scenery changed, and the room''s original arrangement disappeared, revealing strange array patterns on the floor.


    Tang San gestured for the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint toe to his side. Before the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint could say anything, light shed and both of them vanished into thin air.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint felt as if he was caught in a whirlwind. When he steadied himself, he was astonished to find himself standing on a mountaintop with Tang San beside him.


    "This... how did you do this?" the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint asked in shock.


    "A medium-distance teleportation array, that''s all," Tang San said naturally.


    "That''s all?" The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint looked at the disappearing array patterns beneath his feet. This unheard-of device was just "that''s all"?


    Remembering how Tang San''spanions used short-distance teleportation to gain distance on the battlefield, however, he couldn''t help but feel that this human was even more capable than he had thought, and more mysterious at the same time.


    "Where are your nsmen? Since you''re here topete in Kali City, they should live nearby, right? This is the Kali Mountain Range," Tang San said.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint nodded and said, "We are just west of Kali City."


    Tang San asked, "Kali City doesn''t allow you to enter? Even if most of your kind don''t live long, the adult Lion-Tiger demons should still be strong in battle, right?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint smiled bitterly and said, "What good does that do? The lion and tiger races don''t ept us. Under the intimidation of these two powerful races, who would dare to take us in? Moreover, most of our people have to stay in the vige to care for those who are unwell. There''s not much else we can do. Ipete in group battles in Kali City to earn money to support them."


    Tang San said, "Lead the way, I''ll follow you. Tell me about your n on the way."


    "Alright, let''s go." The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint leaped into the air, and Tang San followed him.


    As the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint exined, Tang San gradually understood their n''s situation.


    In a sense, the Lion-Tiger n was exiled. ording to legend, the first Lion-Tiger was born from a forbidden love between a lion demon and a tiger demon.


    The probability of offspring being born from the union of lion and tiger demons was only about two percent, and even then, nine out of ten cubs would die young. Thus, such an union had hardly anything to do with reproducing. However, lions and tigers were very faithful to one another once they chose a mate, and since they would always stay by each other��s side, offspring would eventually be born.


    If the surviving Lion-Tiger cubs were lucky enough not to die young, they could be very strong, much stronger than ordinary lion and tiger demons. However, the biggest problem was that their lives would be very short. The conflict between their bloodlines would kill them early and suddenly when they reached adulthood.


    Actually, when the first Lion-Tiger appeared, the lion and tiger races were pleased. Both races were strong, and their offspring should theoretically be even stronger.


    Unfortunately, when the bloodline conflict urred, nobody was able to find a solution. There were talks of a curse, one caused by forbidden love going against nature, and that eventually led the lion and tiger demon races to put a nket ban on intermarriage. It also led the pureblooded lion and tiger demons to consider the offspring of Lion-Tiger couples as abominations..


    However, the problem was that Lion-Tigers already existed, and some lion and tiger demons continued to interbreed due to some circumstances or others. This continued for thousands of years, so although Lion-Tigers were rare, they always existed.


    These Lion-Tigers were ostracized; as soon as a Lion-Tiger appeared, it would be driven away from both of its ns, and that was if a particrly tyrannical n head didn��t simply kill them directly.


    Therefore, the Lion-Tigers bore a cruel inheritance.

 Chapter 347: Bloodline Eruption

    <h4>Chapter 347: Bloodline Eruption</h4>


    When a Lion-Tiger experienced a bloodline conflict, there were only two oues. Most strong, adult Lion-Tigers would suddenly die from the conflict, while the weaker ones, or those who hadn''t fully awakened their bloodline, would gradually weaken and die. Thetter was the moremon scenario.


    They needed to consume many natural treasures rich in life energy to prolong their lives. This was why the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint fought desperately in the group battles to earn money. He needed a lot of money to exchange for natural treasures to help his weakening nsmen sustain their lives.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s wife also experienced a bloodline conflict not long ago. She was pregnant, and the bloodline conflict caused her not only illness but also a miscarriage. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint felt immense grief. He had already spent a fortune on natural treasures, so how could he not be excited when he heard Tang San had a solution to the bloodline conflict?


    After understanding the general situation, Tang San had a n in mind.


    Lion-Tiger Vige was located in a mountain valley about a hundred miles west of Kali City. This area was considered a forbidden territory for most races.


    Thoughcking god-level powerhouses, the Lion-Tiger n was extremely formidable in battle. Their misfortunes had been the very hammer and anvil that forged their fierce nature. Any outsider who dared to enter their territory would face deadly force.


    Although the lion and tiger races exiled them, the Lion-Tigers still carried the bloodlines of these two powerful races. No one wanted to risk offending these powerful races by targeting the Lion-Tigers, and there was no benefit in doing so.


    They sped along the way. When they stood on the mountaintop, looking at the vige in the distant valley, with houses made of stone and little else, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint couldn''t help but roar at the sky.


    He hadn''t returned in many days, and Tang San could hear a faint tremble in his roar.


    Just as the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was about to lead Tang San down, three figures swiftly rushed out from the Lion-Tiger Vige, heading straight for them.


    There were three Lion-Tigers, each very strong, only slightly less than the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. Their bodies glowed with the light of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, and they rushed toward the two of them like meteors chasing the moon.


    "Big brother!" the leading Lion-Tiger roared, rushing up to the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and grabbing his hand. "Quick, quick,e with me. Sister-inw might..."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint quivered violently, "What happened to your sister-inw?"


    The Lion-Tiger lowered his head slightly, saying in a pained tone, "Sister-inw is having a bloodline eruption. Come quickly. She''s been holding on just to wait for you."


    As he spoke, he pulled the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and started running.


    "Wait," Tang San said, shing in front of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, blocking their path.


    <i>Roar��</i>


    The three Lion-Tigers roared at Tang San in unison, their fierce Lion-Tiger Golden Astral erupting, ready to attack.


    "Hmph!" Tang San let out a cold snort, his spiritual power infused with divine consciousness suddenly bursting forth, suppressing their roars.


    "What are you doing?" the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint growled.


    Tang San said, "If you want your wife to survive, don''t be impulsive."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint hesitated. "But, but she''s having a bloodline eruption... This is the most severe case of bloodline conflict, it''s already...."


    Tang San said solemnly, "You can''t go now. Her condition must be very bad, and she''s holding on just because she wants to see you. If she sees you and rxes, she might die. You can return to the vige but don''t appear before her. Let me try. There might still be a chance."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint quivered. Suddenly, the burly man, as strong as steel, knelt before Tang San with a thud.


    "Save her, please save her. As long as she can live, I''ll be your servant. Please save her!"


    By the end, he was sobbing uncontrobly.


    Tang San patted his shoulder, then turned to the other three Lion-Tigers and said in a deep voice, "Take me to her."


    Although the three Lion-Tigers didn''t understand why a human was even there, they knew there was no time to waste. Gritting their teeth, they immediately sped off ahead. Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and the Wind Astral to elerate, following them straight to Lion-Tiger Vige.


    Soon, they entered the vige. The atmosphere of the austere stone houses felt lifeless, with an invisible sense of oppression that made one feel ufortable deep down.


    The three Lion-Tigers ran quickly, but the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had already caught up, his Lion-Tiger Golden Astral burning intensely and his heart pounding violently.


    Without taking the time to observe the situation in Lion-Tiger Vige, they quickly arrived in front of a courtyard. The gate was open, and the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was about to rush in but remembered Tang San''s words. He stopped abruptly, looking hopefully at Tang San, who followed.


    Tang San gestured for him to stay calm and then walked in.


    The three Lion-Tigers followed him in.


    The light inside the stone house wasn''t very good; the windows were simple and small. On arge bedy a female Lion-Tiger.


    She was prettyrge, and she was not in human form. Her fur had tiger stripes, but her head resembled a lion''s. From her weak life energy, it was clear that her condition was very poor, and her heartbeat was extremely faint.


    Hearing sounds, she barely opened her eyes and seemed surprised to see a human entering.


    The Lion-Tiger that had first spoken to Tang San hurried forward and called out to her softly, "Sister-inw..."


    "You... where is your big brother..." the female Lion-Tiger asked in a trembling voice.


    "Big brother..." The Lion-Tiger didn''t know how to respond. He instinctively wanted to say he was outside, but remembering Tang San''s words, he didn''t dare say it.


    "Hello, I''m the doctor the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint found to treat you. He went to get medicine for you and will be back soon. Hold on a bit longer. Let me check you first."


    Tang San''s timely words defused the situation.


    A look of doubt shed in the female Lion-Tiger''s eyes, but she had no strength left. Her chest rose and fell slightly, her heartbeat bing increasingly faint.


    Tang San quickly stepped forward, sat by the bed, and ced his right hand on her neck.


    With his spiritual power, Tang San almost instantly sensed her deteriorating aura. Her blood felt nearly dried up, and more strangely, some parts of the blood seemed to be fighting against some other parts. If she were human, she would have long since died. A Lion-Tiger''s strong life force,bined with numerous natural treasures, was probably what had kept her alive until now.


    The gentle energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique slowly flowed into the female Lion-Tiger''s body.


    She immediately felt a warm sensation spread throughout her, and her breathing strengthened slightly.


    Silently sensing the changes in her bloodline power, Tang San carefully used the energy to guide a trace of her bloodline aura, wrapping it within his own.


    Aftering to this world, he discovered that his Mysterious Heaven Technique differed from when he was on the Douluo Continent. On the Douluo Continent, the Mysterious Heaven Technique was the same as soul power and it could be used directly with a martial soul.


    However, on the Daemon Continent, the energy produced using the Mysterious Heaven Technique was unlike any of the energies here, apparently because the various bloodline powers on the Daemon Continent came from demons and nymphs, not humans. But after continuous experimentation, Tang San found that this energy could allow multiple types of bloodline power to harmonize. At the same time, it seemed that even humans in this ne found it difficult to cultivate using this technique.

 Chapter 348: Platinum Bloodline

    <h4>Chapter 348: tinum Bloodline</h4>


    This harmonization, when applied to Tang San himself, allowed him to possess multiple bloodline imprints. By using the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique to stimte these imprints, he could generate the corresponding bloodline power and abilities. As his cultivation increased, he could even activate multiple imprints simultaneously and use several abilities at once. Although this elerated the consumption of energy, the conversion rate between the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and bloodline power was incredibly good. And the more bloodline types it supported simultaneously, the better this rate was. This was why, despite being only at the eighth order of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, he could easily defeat the peak ninth-order Lion-Tiger Sword Saint.


    During the battle, specifically when he grabbed the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint��s foot and smashed him into the ground, he naturally absorbed some of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s bloodline power into himself. This peak ninth-order, quasi-first-tier bloodline was of great interest to him.


    However, over the past few days, Tang San hadn''t been in a hurry to integrate the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s bloodline imprint. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to;this bloodline power was filled with explosive strength but had numerous issues, and there was a lot for him to research.


    So, when the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint came to him, he was able to immediately discuss the major problem faced by the Lion-Tiger n. This was because he had conducted in-depth research on the Lion-Tiger bloodline and was confident he could solve the problem.


    At this moment, within the female Lion-Tiger, the trace of bloodline power wrapped in Tang-San��s energy began to calm down. The two bloodlines stopped fighting each other and the color of their mixture started to change.


    The Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was a bright gold color at first nce, but when Tang San observed it closely, he noticed that it was actually a blend of two golden hues. These came from the Golden Lion n and the Golden Tiger n. Their bloodlines stimted each other, but also repelled and interfered with each other, leading to the possibility of bloodline conflicts.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, due to his strong cultivation and vitality, could forcibly suppress it. But as his cultivation advanced, and especially if he aimed to reach the god level, he would inevitably face this enormous problem. And even for him, this would lead to certain death. This was why, despite the Lion-Tiger demons'' powerful bloodline, there were no tenth-order ones..


    Now, however, the situation was different. Under the influence of Tang San''s energy, the bloodline within the female Lion-Tiger began to change. The two different bloodline powers, bridged by the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, slowly started to merge into one. At the same time, the overall power of the bloodlines dropped by eighty percent. This was partly due to the female Lion-Tiger''s weakened state, but it also showed that the process of merging the two bloodlines consumed a great deal of energy.


    The newly formed bloodline power slowly took on a tinum hue, distinctly different from the previous bright gold.


    Tang San had previously tried this with the bloodline power he absorbed from the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. However, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s bloodline power was much more robust, and about thirty of the energy remained after merging. But since Tang San hadn''t absorbed much at the time, the resulting Lion-Tiger bloodline power was quite limited. Meanwhile, Tang San''s own Wind Tiger Transformation was already at the eighth order, with the potential to reach the ninth order. Thus, he wanted to absorb some more Lion-Tiger bloodline power before actually merging the imprint into his energy vortex.[1]


    Seeing that his method was effective, Tang San continued to inject his energy into the female Lion-Tiger while asking the three Lion-Tigers beside him, "Is there any close rtive of hers still alive? It must be a blood rtive."


    The three Lion-Tigers exchanged nces. The smallest one said, "I am her brother. Will that work?"


    Tang San said, "Yes, I need some of your blood to inject into your sister to help her recover. Can you do that?"


    "Come on!" The Lion-Tiger stepped forward without hesitation, showing his muscr arm to Tang San.


    Tang San nodded, "Stay by my side and be ready at any moment."


    The female Lion-Tiger was too weak. Her bloodline had been greatly consumed by the conflict within her. If it was transformed and fused, the bloodline conflict would be resolved, but the bloodline power wouldn''t be enough to sustain her life. Thus, a blood transfusion was necessary.


    Tang San multitasked, continuing to slowly fuse the bloodline power within the female Lion-Tiger while raising his left hand. He condensed his Wind Astral into a sharp de and made a cut on the brother''s arm. Immediately, golden-red blood flowed out. Guided by the Wind Astral, the blood flew to Tang San and was suspended in mid-air. The golden-red blood was transformed into tinum by the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and then introduced into the female Lion-Tiger''s body through her pores.


    When the tinum-colored blood appeared before the three Lion-Tigers, they felt a tremor in their hearts. They seemed to sense something; their own bloodline powers were gently fluctuating.


    At the doorway, arge head peeked in, observing the situation inside. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint couldn''t help but worry! When he saw the tinum-glowing blood, he was shaken, and a look of astonishment shed in his eyes. His cultivation was strong enough to vaguely understand what kind of power this was. <i>This... This seems to be...</i>


    As the fused blood continued to be infused into her, the female Lion-Tiger began to emit a faint white light. Although it was still weak, her aura no longer felt as if it were on the brink of disappearing.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint desperately wanted to rush to his beloved''s side, but he was worried about the situation Tang San had mentioned earlier. He could only endure and watch this strange scene. Suddenly, he had a feeling that the life-and-death cmity that had gued the Lion-Tiger lineage for thousands of years might truly have a solution.


    After half an hour, the male Lion-Tiger began to sway from the significant blood loss, and Tang San stopped drawing his blood. Meanwhile, his sister had fallen into a deep sleep, but her breathing was steady. Her bloodline power was now fully fused, but there was just too little of it right now, even after the transfusion. It was barely enough to sustain her vital functions, and she would experience a significant loss in cultivation.


    Even so, her life was no longer in danger.


    Tang San exhaled deeply, slowly retracting his energy..


    The sleeping female��s brother was propped up by his two fellows, and their three massive heads were close together, looking at Tang San with hope.


    "Her life is no longer in danger, but she will need a lot of life force replenishment. You must find many natural treasures for her to consume. She will need some time to recover. Come in." Thest sentence was clearly directed at the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint.


    In a sh, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was by his side, eagerly crouching down and pressing his head against the female Lion-Tiger''s head, silently feeling her condition.


    The female Lion-Tiger''s aura was still weak, but her breathing and heartbeat were steady. Most importantly, her bloodline power, though faint, was also stable.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint took a deep breath and turned sharply to Tang San. "I don''t know how you did it, but my word is my bond. From today onward, I am your servant."


    As he spoke, he once again tried to bow to Tang San.


    Tang San grabbed him by the shoulders, and even though he used the strength of an elephant demon, he could barely hold the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint up. "As I said, we are allies. I don''t need servants, and the noble Lion-Tigers are no one��s servants."


    1. The raws here contain a piece of information that Tang San himself will only find out in ater chapter. Since it doesn��t y any role in this particr paragraph, we have decided to simply remove it. ?

 Chapter 349: Allies

    <h4>Chapter 349: Allies</h4>


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint took a deep breath, slowly stood up straight, and controlled his emotions before saying, "If I''m not mistaken, you just helped her merge the conflicting bloodlines?"


    Tang San nodded and said, "Continuously injecting life energy can temporarily allow you to control your bloodline power with your strong vitality, but it''s like drinking poison to quench thirst. The life energy will strengthen your bloodline power, which in turn will make the conflict even worse. Once it erupts, it will result in sudden death. So, we can''t just treat the symptoms; we must address the root cause.


    "I have a method that can merge your two bloodlines, fundamentally solving the conflict. I just tried it, and it appears that it��s working."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s gaze instantly became fervent. "Can it work for all our nsmen?"


    Tang San said, "Theoretically, yes. However, there are some prerequisites. First, the individual must be an adult Lion-Tiger. During the fusion process, the total bloodline power will be greatly reduced after purification. For someone with a strong physique like yours, about thirty percent of the bloodline power will remain, barely enough to sustain life. But young ones don��t have enough energy, so they might not survive. Also, it��d be best to have close rtives nearby, ready to provide blood. During this transformation process, all the blood in the body must be converted at once; otherwise, the effort will be wasted, and even a three-way bloodline conflict might ur."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint asked, "Will the fused bloodline power still allow for cultivation? Will there still be bloodline conflicts?"


    Tang San replied, "Theoretically, all problems will be solved, but how far you can cultivate will depend on your efforts. However, I can assure you that the fused Lion-Tiger bloodline will be stronger than before. It could likely be considered a true first-tier bloodline. As for how strong it is and how it works exactly, you��ll have to explore that yourselves."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint looked at his three brothers, whose eyes were fixed on Tang San, their breathing increasingly heavy. They all knew what it would mean if the bloodline conflict of the Lion-Tigers could be resolved. Achieving a true first-tier bloodline would bring them unprecedented power.


    "Please wait a moment, I''ll go get the elder." With that, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint turned and rushed out.


    Tang San smiled faintly, found a stone stool, and sat down cross-legged, silently recovering from his earlier exertion. He had been multitasking earlier, constantly monitoring the female Lion-Tiger''s condition, which had taken a considerable toll.


    Before long, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint returned, apanied by a burly yet slightly hunched elderly Lion-Tiger.


    The aura of this elder Lion-Tiger was very dense, and his bloodline seemed almost solidified.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint followed behind him, showing great respect.


    Tang San opened his eyes and stood up.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint quickly said, "Elder, this is the human I mentioned. His name is Asura."


    The Lion-Tiger n elder''s gaze quickly focused on Tang San, his eyes flickering with light. Without speaking, he quickly moved to the bedside to examine the female Lion-Tiger.


    Gradually, his expression changed from calm to shock and then to astonishment.


    When he suddenly turned to look at Tang San, he almost instinctively asked, "How did you achieve something even the Demon Emperors couldn''t?"


    Tang San replied, "Greetings, Elder. As you can see, my method is effective, but it is my secret. I cannot reveal it, nor do I wish to deceive you."


    The Lion-Tiger elder''s eyes flickered, and he said, "I heard from Big Cat that you want to be allies with our n?"


    <i>Big Cat? Is the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s name Big Cat?</i>


    "Yes. I hope that if I can solve your bloodline''s major problem, giving you the possibility of reaching the god level, you will ally with me, and we can support each other."


    The Lion-Tiger elder took a deep breath and said, "Aren''t you afraid that I might detain you here to study your method?"


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint became anxious and couldn''t help but say, "Elder, he is the benefactor who saved Little Cat!"


    The Lion-Tiger elder red at him, and the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint stopped speaking.


    Tang San said, "I dared toe, so naturally, I''m not afraid. First, my method cannot be replicated by anyone. If I don��t help you personally, then nobody can. Secondly, you cannot keep me here. I don��t believe anyone in your n is stronger than the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. If I can defeat him, I can defeat the rest of you as well.


    Moreover, Ie with sincerity. If the Lion-Tiger n''s problem can be solved on a fundamental level, your future offspring will be truly powerful Lion-Tigers with merged bloodlines. Before discussing anything else, you can cooperate with me until I''vepleted the bloodline fusion for your entire n. There''s no need to have a conflict with me."


    The Lion-Tiger elder''s gaze gradually softened. "You are a wise human."


    Tang San replied, "I don''t dare to call myself wise. I only hope to ensure a better future for humans so they no longer live as ves."


    The Lion-Tiger elder looked at the honest young man before him and took a deep breath, "If you can truly help our entire n fuse their bloodlines, then the Lion-Tiger n will be your eternal ally. You will be considered our greatest friend. What other conditions do you have? You can state them."


    Tang San said, "Fusing the bloodlines of your entire n will take time. I already mentioned the prerequisites to the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. Initially, you can select qualified nsmen for the process. Then, as unqualified nsmen gradually meet the conditions, they can undergo the fusion. What I hope for is that in the future, when I need it, you can help humans in battle, standing on the side of humanity."


    The Lion-Tiger elder shook his head silently. "Although humans are weak, they are numerous. I cannot ask my n to fight for all of humanity. We are few and already on the brink of extinction. I cannot risk the survival of our race. Besides, our n is not strong enough now. However..."


    At this point, his eyes brightened. "We can fight for you. Only for you. As long as you are around, just say the word and the warriors of the Lion-Tiger n wille to your side and fight for you."


    Tang San looked at the Lion-Tiger n elder with some surprise. After contemting for a moment, he slowly nodded. "That can work."


    The Lion-Tiger n elder continued, "I need to see more sess. Additionally, we need to verify whether this new bloodline can truly make our nsmen stronger."


    Tang San replied, "Of course. In a while, I will go to the Ancestral Court. Before that, I will fuse the bloodlines of the first batch of your nsmen. So, please select the strongest members of the Lion-Tiger n, preferably those who have close blood rtives. We will start with a few to try it out, and once we��re sessful, we can expand it further."


    The Lion-Tiger n elder nodded. "No problem, I will arrange it immediately."


    Tang San also nodded in response. "I have a ce with abundant life energy that is more suitable for the Lion-Tiger n to live in. If you are willing, I can take you there. After the bloodline fusion and purification, your cultivation base will decrease significantly and it will need to be rebuilt. This process requires a rich life energy."

 Chapter 350: Establishing the Blood Pact

    <h4>Chapter 350: Establishing the Blood Pact</h4>


    The Lion-Tiger n elder hesitated momentarily, and he was just about to say something when Tang San continued, "But before I take you there and before we proceed with your bloodline fusion, we must establish a contract. We must sign a blood pact to ensure mutual trust."


    Hearing this, the Lion-Tiger n elder actually breathed a sigh of relief. A blood pact was the highest level of agreement on the Daemon Continent. Once established, not even a Demon Emperor could break it without suffering a fatal bacsh from their bloodline.


    "Alright, I will represent the Lion-Tiger n to establish a contract with you."


    The facts were right in front of him: the bloodline power within the female Lion-Tiger had been indeed fully fused. The Lion-Tiger n elder felt its potency even more clearly than the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. The fused energy was far superior to the original Lion-Tiger bloodline; it contained immense power and it might well truly be a first-tier bloodline. This temptation was too great to resist. Moreover, solving the continuity issue of the Lion-Tiger n was crucial.


    In fact, with only around two hundred Lion-Tigers left, the n was on the brink of extinction or could be wiped out at any moment. A lifeline had finally appeared, and despite the elder''s inner doubts, he had no choice but to grasp it.


    Tang San had asked about the number of remaining Lion-Tigers earlier to make this judgment. Therefore, when hemunicated with the Lion-Tiger n elder, he was very direct, knowing for a fact that the elder had no other choice.


    Establishing a blood pact was not a simple matter.


    Tang San followed the Lion-Tiger n elder to the vige''s central altar. The Lion-Tiger n was one of the few demon ns that did not worship their ancestors. They believed they had been forsaken by their lion and tiger demon ancestors, and cursed by their bloodlines. Therefore, they only worshiped the heavens.


    The altar was very simple, made up of many piled-up beast bones. Tang San carefully observed it and, fortunately, did not find any human bones. Otherwise, he would��ve had to rethink signing a pact with the Lion-Tigers..


    The Lion-Tiger n, indeed, did not eat humans. The reason was quite simple: human flesh and blood were too weak in life force to serve as their food.


    The Lion-Tiger n elder used his sharp w to cut his left forelimb, letting the blood flow into the altar. "I, Sky Cat of the Lion-Tiger n, hereby establish a blood pact with Asura of the human n today."


    "I, Asura of the human n, hereby establish a blood pact with Sky Cat of the Lion-Tiger n today," Tang San said in a deep voice, imitating the elder��s action.


    Sky Cat elder continued, "Today, Asura solves the bloodline conflict problem for our n. We, the Lion-Tiger n, will be allies with him, helping each other and forming an eternal bond. Should Asura need anything, we will protect and fight for him with all our might, never betraying him. In return, Asura must thoroughly resolve our bloodline conflict, bing a true ally of our n, never to betray us. We establish this blood pact, witnessed by our bloodlines and the heavens."


    Tang San repeated the elder''s words.


    Under the guidance of their spiritual powers, the two different bloodlines slowly merged, causing a misty blood light to rise from the altar.


    The names were not significant. Even if Tang San used the name Asura, he could not break the promise, as his own blood witnessed it.


    The blood light slowly merged into their bodies, forming a contract imprint.


    Tang San instinctively nced toward the distant Kali City. <i>Mei Gongzi, are you well? I''ve prepared another gift for you.</i>


    The blood pact was established. From that moment on, they were true allies.


    Then, Elder Sky Cat told Tang San about the vige. As it turned out, the state of the Lion-Tiger n was beyond pitiful.


    In total, the n had 232 members. Over sixty percent were old, weak, or disabled. Only about seventy could be called warriors, including both males and females.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was the strongest among them. His earnings from the Great Beast Fighting Arena sustained the n.


    But now, survival was bing increasingly difficult because the bloodline conflict remained unresolved, and the number of nsmen steadily decreased. If Tang San had not arrived, Big Cat''s wife, Little Cat, would likely have perished.


    Tang San first had Elder Sky Cat assess the current situation within the n. He identified those who needed immediate treatment and were on the brink of death, prioritizing those with close blood rtives. If there were no blood rtives, he sought out those with the closest bloodlines to have them donate. As long as a n member was still alive, then they could be brought back even from the brink of death.


    An interesting point about the Lion-Tiger n was that they did not recognize themselves as part of either the lion or the tiger races. But since both lions and tigers belonged to the feline family, they called themselves "Cat." They harbored deep hatred towards both the lion and the tiger races. It was because of the rejection by these two races that they had reached the brink of extinction. Otherwise, with the resources of the two powerful races, they wouldn''t have fallen to their current state.


    Tang San focused on solving critical patient issues in the following half month. He found that although the Lion-Tiger n had inherent bloodline conflicts, their bloodlines were very simr. This was also due to their small numbers, which often resulted in offspring from close rtives. In the end, he managed to save all twenty-some critically ill patients.


    The blood pact was just an agreement that could bind both parties. Yet Tang San��s actions were a priceless favor to every family of the Lion-Tiger n. The fact that he was a human did not impede him in the slightest from gaining the recognition and gratitude of the entire n. In the words of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, Big Cat, he was the true benefactor of the Lion-Tiger n.


    During this period, Tang San took Sky Cat and Big Cat to Golden Valley, allowing them to experience the life energy within personally. Naturally, this left both of them in awe.


    However, Sky Cat decided not to rush the entire n''s relocation for a simple reason. Although the two powerful races rejected them, strong members from those races frequently monitored them. Suddenly disappearing would easily arouse suspicion.


    After discussing, Sky Cat decided to send those nsmen who had already been treated and had their bloodlines sessfully fused to Golden Valley. This was to prevent the discovery that they could now fuse their bloodlines and because the rich life energy in Golden Valley would greatly aid their recovery.


    Night fell.


    Tang San was ready to leave. However, since his residence in Kali City was constantly under surveince, he needed to return regrly to show his presence.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, Big Cat, escorted him to the teleportation array at the mountaintop. Today, he seemed unusually quiet.


    Tang San said, "What''s wrong? Little Cat is recovering well, don''t worry."


    "Yes, I know. She told me that although her cultivation has greatly decreased, she is recovering quickly. In at most six months, she can return to her previous level. Moreover, her bloodline power has be much stronger after the fusion. We are all very grateful to you. If it weren''t for you, I would have lost my wife."


    Tang San smiled. "Then why do you still seem hesitant?"


    Big Cat smiled wryly. "I''ve been thinking these past few days. Actually, I��"


    "I know what you''re thinking. I''m about to go to the Ancestral Court. You want toe with me to protect me. But you also envy yourpanions and you want to undergo bloodline fusion as soon as possible, right?"


    Big Cat''s face turned red as he scratched his head. "Yes! That''s exactly what I''m thinking."


    Tang San said, "Tomorrow, I''ll help you with the transformation. Then, you can stay in Golden Valley with Little Cat and recover your cultivation as soon as possible. I don''t know how long this trip will take, and your situation can no longer be dyed."

 Chapter 351: Fusing the New Imprint

    <h4>Chapter 351: Fusing the New Imprint</h4>


    Big Cat said, "But... at the Ancestral Court, you''ll be targeted and it��ll be very dangerous. I should stay by your side to guard you. That was our promise to you."


    Tang San waved his hand and said, "I dare to go because I''m confident in my ability to protect myself. You can rest easy about that. However, your issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible. I''ve been waiting for the conflict in your bloodline to intensify. You''re already at the peak of the ninth order, and I feel you are suppressing your cultivation level. Soon, you won''t be able to hold it back anymore, and once that happens, you won��t go higher in cultivation, but lower underground to meet your ancestors.


    "But the closer you get to that edge, the stronger your bloodline powerpresses and the more power you��ll retain after the fusion. That''s why I haven''t been in a rush to fuse your bloodlines. But we can''t dy much longer. As for protecting me, I don''t need your protection until I reach the god level. Your bloodline fusion must remain a secret until then, lest the lion and tiger races discover it. If they do, you might be taken back as a research specimen or a breeding beast."


    Big Cat''s mouth twitched, and he said, "That''s impossible, Little Cat would kill me. I wouldn''t dare."


    Tang San chuckled. "Your mouth says no, but your eyes say something else."


    Big Cat jumped up, saying, "Don''t talk nonsense. Little Cat is great in every way; she just gets jealous easily. Don''t ever say that in front of her!"


    Tang San said, "Alright, alright, no more teasing. It''s settled, I''ll perform the bloodline fusion for you tomorrow. After the fusion, by my estimates, you''ll retain about thirty to forty percent of your cultivation, so you��ll be at the sixth or seventh order. During your recovery, study the abilities of this new bloodline. Your protection will be meaningful to me once you ascend to godhood with the truly fused Lion-Tiger bloodline."


    "Alright. I''ll do what you say." Having resolved his inner conflict, Big Cat instantly showed a bit of excitement. He was looking forward to using the true Lion-Tiger Golden Astral!


    "Alright, you head back and rest up early, and I''ll head back too. In about a week, I''ll set off for the Ancestral Court. Before that, I''ll help a few more of your nsmen who are in danger."


    "Okay."


    After bidding farewell to the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, Tang San returned to his residence through the teleportation array. For him, there was still an important task to do today. He needed to enhance his strength further, with his imminent journey to the Ancestral Court. Indeed, today, he was ready to fuse the bloodline power of the Lion-Tiger n truly.


    These days, he had been conducting bloodline fusions for the Lion-Tiger n. Since members of the n were very weak during the fusion process, he couldn''t absorb too much of their bloodline power. Each time, he absorbed just a trace. Little by little, the Lion-Tiger bloodline imprint he had created reached the eighth order.


    Tang San was very much looking forward to this likely first-tier bloodline. Having the power of an additional first-tier bloodline would lead to a significant leap in his strength. He had been suppressing his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique at the eighth order because once it reached the ninth order, it would be much more difficult to keep it from advancing further. However, increasing the power of his bloodline imprints came with no such issues.


    Not only was Big Cat looking forward to the fused Lion-Tiger bloodline, but Tang San himself was equally eager.


    When he returned to his residence, it was already night.


    The outside was quiet. Only by listening carefully could one hear the steady breathing of severalpanions during their meditation.


    The other four members of the Shrek Squad did not experience significant increases in cultivation this month. This was normal, given that they��d had continuous breakthroughs recently. However, the past month had allowed them to truly process the experience gained from ten team battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, leading to a betterprehension of their own abilities.


    Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Tang San closed his eyes and circted the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, allowing the endless, gentle energy to flow throughout his body.


    Within his dantian, one bloodline imprint after another lit up, shining brightly.


    Although not the highest-order one, the sixth-order Discerning Eye of Heaven imprint shone the brightest. The other bloodline imprints dimmed in its presence.


    Next was the eighth-order Peacock Transformation, Tang San''s actual strongest bloodline imprint. Following that were the eighth-order Golden Roc Transformation, seventh-order Chrono Croc Transformation, eighth-order Elephant Transformation, eighth-order Blue Silver Transformation, and eighth-order Wind Tiger Transformation.


    Among these seven bloodline imprints, the Wind Tiger Transformation, flickering with cyan green light, was the weakest. Although the Blue Silver Emperor was also not particrly strong, after Tang San fused multiple nt-based bloodline powers and nurtured it for a long time, it had reached the third tier of bloodline power and had further potential for evolution. The Wind Tiger Transformation was also third-tier, but it was at the bottom and couldn��t go any further.[1]


    Even with an eighth-order cultivation, a bottom third-tier bloodline was bing increasingly useless, and right now, it was nothing more than a disguise. In fact, Tang San''s only problem, after recing the Wind Tiger Transformation, was how to mask his multitude of abilities. He had thought this through already. It was still under the guise of mutation; the Lion-Tiger transformation''s essence still had elements of the tiger bloodline. With his current control over bloodline power, he could mask it somewhat��unless someone was very familiar with him, they wouldn''t detect anything amiss.[2] Sky Shatterer was also helpful in this respect��he could use it as his weapon and it wasn��t easy for others to tell what bloodline power he was imbuing it with.


    Under Tang San''s control, the Lion-Tiger bloodline imprint slowly pressed toward the Wind Tiger Transformation imprint.


    As the tinum imprint touched the Wind Tiger Transformation imprint, thetter burst into a brilliant cyan light, seemingly about to recoil. But almost instantly, the light emitted by the Wind Tiger Transformation began to melt away in front of the solid white-golden light,pletely dissolving.


    This reminded Tang San of the first time he saw the unique effect of the Golden Lion Dog��s Golden Holy Fire. The strongest aspect of the Golden Holy Fire was its ability to melt and devour the enemy''s bloodline power. Now, it seemed this scene reyed with the Lion-Tiger bloodline, but even more domineeringly.


    In front of it, the Wind Tiger Transformation could hardly put up any resistance; the dissolving imprint acted like fuel, igniting the tinum Lion-Tiger Transformation imprint. The tinum glow instantly became more intense.


    An unexpected situation arose that even Tang San hadn''t anticipated; after the Wind Tiger Transformation imprint disappeared, the Lion-Tiger Transformation imprint took over its spot within Tang San''s dantian. But the burst of tinum brilliance didn''t settle in ce; instead, it expanded outward, seemingly wanting to fill Tang San''s dantian.


    <i>Is it that domineering?</i>


    Just as this thought arose in Tang San''s mind, the tinum light transformed into tinum mes, bursting outward instantly.


    The nearby Elephant Transformation imprint was the first to be affected, even though it was also at the eighth order. The moment it came into contact with the tinum mes, it began to melt almost instantly. Tang San immediately felt he had lost connection with the Elephant Transformation.


    After consuming the Wind Tiger Transformation, the Lion-Tiger Transformation imprint was not satisfied; it seemed eager to devour the other imprints and even hinted at a desire to dominate the entire dantian.


    In that instant, Tang San could be sure that the fused Lion-Tiger bloodline was definitely a first-tier bloodline. Last time he had felt such a domineering sensation, it was from none other than the Celestial Fox bloodline.


    Upon realizing the danger, Tang San immediately took control of the other bloodline imprints. Measures had to be taken right away.


    The Blue Silver Emperor imprint quickly retreated; with its strength, it could not contend with the Lion-Tiger Transformation imprint. Meanwhile, the Discerning Eye of Heaven, which proudly took the main seat even though it was the weakest in cultivation, immediately erupted with bright white light.


    1. The raws here state that the Wind Tiger bloodline imprint is at the fourth tier, but this contradicts the earlier chapters where he fused the Wind Wolf and the Winged Tiger bloodline imprints. ?


    2. The author seems to have forgotten that Tang San��s official bloodline, so far as everybody else knows apart from the mayor, is the Wind Wolf bloodline. In the raws, he is now introduced as having the Wind Tiger bloodline, even though there��s no Wind Tiger n ever mentioned. Unfortunately, we cannot change this without substantially changing the source text, so we have to roll with it. ?

 Chapter 352: The Dominant Lion Tiger Transformation Bloodline Imprint

    <h4>Chapter 352: The Dominant Lion Tiger Transformation Bloodline Imprint</h4>


    Within the dantian, a vertical eye slowly opened, and the aura of the Discerning Eye of Heaven descended from above, directly enveloping the tinum me of the Lion-Tiger Transformation imprint. Instantly, the tinum me was forced to a stop.


    For some reason, even if they were of the same tier, other bloodlines seemed to harbor an intense dread of the Discerning Eye of Heaven, and this dread caused the tinum me to cease its expansion.


    The Peacock Transformation''s imprint burst forth with silver light, blocking the space around the tinum light where thetter sought to spread.


    Only the pitiable Elephant Transformation, already partially devoured, was slowly dragged into the tinum me, clearly doomed.


    Tang San couldn''t help but feel amused and frustrated at the same time. "I let you eat one, and you take two from me. Now, I''ve got two more spots opened up!"


    Fortunately, the Discerning Eye of Heaven, Peacock Transformation, Chrono Croc Transformation and Golden Roc Transformation were strong enough to deter it.


    Although the Chrono Croc Transformation was a second-tier bloodline, it wasn''t afraid of the Lion-Tiger Transformation''s me. The imprint wrapped itself in a halo that seemed strangely warped, preventing the tinum light froming any closer.


    The Golden Roc Transformation was in fact afraid, but it was also rather fast. It retreated far away and did not approach.


    Tang San��s divine consciousness was recovering very slowly under the nourishment of his spiritual power. In spite of this slow pace, however, it was far stronger than it had been in the beginning, and he now had no problem controlling these powerful bloodline imprints.


    After the initial shock, he allowed the Lion-Tiger Transformation to devour the Elephant Transformation and then took control of the imprint, making it retreat.


    However, the Lion-Tiger Transformation was still unwilling to ept a lower position, so it kept pressing forward, surpassing the Blue Silver Emperor and the Golden Roc Transformation. It even pushed down the Chrono Croc Transformation, in spite of some resistance. Finally, it stopped before the fierce spatial fluctuations of the Peacock Transformation, stabilizing in third ce.


    Like a massive tinum star, it gradually settled down obediently within Tang San''s dantian.


    The tinum glow was not the least bit weaker than the bright silver of the Peacock Transformation, and it even had a somewhat defiant aura.


    Although two eighth-order bloodline imprints had disappeared from Tang San''s dantian, the overall energy had actually not decreased but increased. And with one more first-tier bloodline imprint, Tang San��s strength had unquestionably reached a new level!


    Tang San silently felt the changes the Lion-Tiger Transformation imprint brought about. His physical strength had not diminished despite the disappearance of the Elephant Transformation imprint. Undoubtedly, the Lion-Tiger Transformation was stronger in this aspect.


    It appeared that the most significant characteristic of the Lion-Tiger Transformation was its devouring ability. It was simr to the Golden Holy Fire; however,pared to thetter, the Lion-Tiger Transformation��s devouring ability was even more potent, efficient, and domineering.


    As for the other abilities it had, he would have to research them and test them in actualbat, so it would take him a while to find out everything there was to know about them.


    However, Tang San could distinctly feel that after gaining the Lion-Tiger Transformation imprint, his overall bloodline aura had be much more domineering and oppressive.


    Lions and tigers were kings among beasts, and a being that held both bloodlines was bound to be even more of an overlord. In fact, Tang San was more certain than ever that the Lion-Tiger n would produce a Demon Emperor in the future.


    Although the Lion Tiger Sword Saint needed to be retrained, with his foundation, returning to the peak of the ninth order was just a matter of time. In other words, Tang San could get his own bloodline imprint to the peak of the ninth-order whenever he wanted. In the meantime, all he had to do was research the bloodline imprint and master it.


    For now, he had to meditate and stabilize his energy.


    After a night of cultivation, Tang San was transformed.


    When Tang San awoke from meditation the next day, he instantly found his clothes stretched tight. He had grown five centimeters taller, his muscles were more robust, and his skin seemed to have a faint tinum glow. His whole body seemed filled with boundless strength.


    The Celestial Fox Transformation brought him spiritual improvement, as well as the Celestial Fox Vision. The Peacock Transformation controlled space, which was truly a major deal. Meanwhile, it seemed that the Lion-Tiger Transformation enhanced physical qualitiesprehensively. The long-troubling issue of Tang San��s physical strength was finally resolved. Although the order of his Mysterious Heaven Technique remained the same, Tang San could feel his meridians bing broader and more resilient, able to hold more energy. His overall cultivation level had only reached the mid-stage of the eighth order, but his strength had significantly increased.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face. <i>Heh, looks like I haven��t worked so hard for nothing! </i>


    After freshening up, he pushed the door open. And right as he stepped out, he ran into Du Bai, who hade to find him.


    "Time for breakfast, Little Tang!" Du Bai said cheerily. The next moment, he seemed to sense something and instinctively stepped back. "Whoa, Little Tang, you''ve... changed?"


    Du Bai stared at Tang San with an intense look in his eyes. Tang San grinned at him, and a sh of tinum light appeared in his eyes.


    Suddenly, Du Bai felt a chill run down his spine; he gasped and quickly stepped back, even employing Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. At that moment, he felt as if a formidable, ferocious beast was rushing toward him, opening its maw wide to devour him.


    Tang San chuckled and reined in his aura. Du Bai, possessing the Celestial Fox Transformation, was extremely sensitive and had just sensed the aura of the new Lion-Tiger Transformation imprint. Tang San was still working on it, so he hadn''t concealed it enough.


    "What... what''s with you?" Du Bai asked tentatively from outside the door.


    Tang San smiled. "Nothing much, just made a little breakthrough. Come on, let''s have breakfast."


    Although all five had their ces to live, they had recently been dining at Wu Bingji''s, as the eldest brother''s cooking skills were quite eptable. Of course, that was the others'' opinion, but as for Tang San...


    Tang San didn''t have time to cook and wasn''t very particr about food, so he just ate what he was offered. Otherwise, with the culinary experiences from his past life, he would be pretty skilled. He even had friends who were culinary gods.


    By the time they reached Wu Bingji''s home, Tang San had wholly concealed the aura of his Lion-Tiger Transformation, so his domineering side remained unnoticed by the other three.


    <i>Another breakthrough?</i>


    Wu Bingji''s and the other two''s expressions became a bit strange.


    After the final team battle at the Great Beast Fighting Arena, their perception of Tang San had changed entirely. Although they knew Tang San was strong, they hadn''t expected him to be so immensely powerful.


    Tang San had grown taller and more robust, now nearly the height of Wu Bingji. Those who watched their battles at the arena, as well as Tang San''s defeated foes, would never have guessed that this formidable Asura was just a teenager. Indeed, Tang San was not even fourteen yet, and he was the youngest member of the Shrek Squad.


    Even Wu Bingji and the others would overlook Tang San''s young age if not for a moment of reflection.


    The day Tang San single-handedly challenged and defeated the Lion Tiger Sword Saint, they understood why he was so confident in leading them into this team battle. The Sword Saint was hailed as one of the strongest below the god level. What did it mean for Tang San to defeat him? It meant that even though he was technically at the eighth order, hisbat power was at the peak of the ninth order. In other words, apart from the two gods at Redemption Academy, none of the teachers were as strong as him.


    They had their doubts about Tang San, but they clearly saw that everything he did was for their benefit, and he seemed very keen to help humanity in general. Thus, over the past two years, they had kept their doubts to themselves, preferring to believe that theirpanion was truly a peerless genius.


    Yet now, it had only been weeks since his victory over the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, and he had made another breakthrough?!

 Chapter 353: Setting Out!

    <h4>Chapter 353: Setting Out!</h4>


    "You''re not trying to reach the god level, are you?" Gu Li couldn''t help but ask.


    Tang San smiled and shook his head, "No, I''m far from getting there. It might take five or even ten years."


    "But..." Gu Li wanted to say more, but Wu Bingji interrupted him.


    "Let''s eat."


    After breakfast, Tang San returned to his room and silently teleported away, arriving in Lion-Tiger Vige.


    As he entered the vige, he saw the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint waiting for him. Apanying the Sword Saint was Elder Sky Cat of Lion-Tiger Vige.


    Big Cat approached him immediately. "Brother Asura, you��re here!"


    Tang San smiled and nodded. "Elder, you''re here too. Let''s hurry, we can fuse the bloodlines of a few more before I leave."


    "You shouldn��t help Big Cat for now," Elder Sky Cat suddenly said.


    Tang San paused, and Big Cat also hesitated.


    Elder Sky Cat sighed, "Benefactor Asura, I have witnessed all you have done for our Lion-Tiger n these past days. Whether you have an ulterior motive or not, your kindness has solved a life-and-death problem that has gued us for thousands of years. You are a great benefactor to our n. Even if you wanted us to be your servants, it would only be right for us to do so.


    "Big Cat has told me about your ns; you are about to journey to the Ancestral Court. The Ancestral Court is teeming with mighty figures, and they bear ill will toward your human team. It��s time when allies are needed most. Big Cat is the strongest in our n, but after the transformation, he will enter a period of weakness, so how can he assist you? Even if you help him, let it wait until you return. You must take him with you even if you use him as your mount. I will have a few skilled members from our n apany you on your journey."


    Tang San chuckled and shook his head. "I appreciate your kindness, Elder. I understand your concerns. But this time, our journey to the Ancestral Court will rely more on wits than brute strength. As you said, the Ancestral Court is filled with formidable foes; the number of god-level warriors there is unknown. Even if we had more of your ns'' people on our team, would that solve our problems? Against true powerhouses, we would still be helpless.


    "For the Lion-Tiger n, what��s crucial is the merging of bloodlines and rising anew. If the future generations of your n are born with innate merged bloodlines, then I will consider my mission aplished. Right now, you need to stay hidden. Don��t worry about me; with my teleportation array, I can escape danger when necessary. I wouldn��t go if I weren��t fully prepared.


    "When I return, I will help the rest of your nspeople. By then, your warriors should have recovered the expended bloodline power. In no more than two or three years, the Lion-Tiger n will rise."


    Listening to his words, Elder Sky Cat''s eyes filled with gratitude. Over these days, he had witnessed firsthand what Tang San had done.


    He had seen his nsmenpletely resolve their bloodline conflicts and gain even more powerful bloodlines. As for the temporary weakness that came with it, that was nothing more than temporary.


    What the elder felt was beyond mere joy. He had never imagined that in his lifetime, he would see not the extinction of his kin, but an opportunity for their resurgence.


    Thus, for the Lion-Tiger n, Tang San was now a true benefactor. Bound by a blood pact, he would never harm the n, so the elder trusted himpletely.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint couldn''t help but say, "Are you sure about that? I should really go with you..."


    Tang San responded, "Didn''t we agree on this yesterday? You have the strongest physique among your kin. After the bloodline fusion, you should recover the fastest. Instead ofing with me, it''s more important to regain your cultivation level before I return. If you do that, you��ll be able to try for the tenth order soon. The true Lion-Tiger bloodline is no ordinary bloodline; you need to take your time to study it and discover its secrets."


    The process of bloodline fusion for the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint went smoothly, just as Tang San expected, thanks to his incredibly vigorous bloodline power and physique. He had no need to fear being weakened, much less being in life-threatening danger. He also didn��t need a bloodline power transfusion; thus, Tang San could fully focus on the fusion.


    Quickly, a tinum halo began to form around the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, even more abundant than Tang San had anticipated.


    Once the fusion process wasplete, the remaining bloodline power of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint allowed him to stay at the peak of the seventh order. Moreover, there was indeed no evident feeling of weakness.


    As the fusion ended, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint looked at the tinum Lion-Tiger Golden Astral formed in his hands, his eyes suddenly zing with light as he roared skyward.


    All this time, ever since his cultivation reached the ninth order, he had been constantly on edge during his training. He never knew when a sudden bloodline conflict might erupt and cause his body to explode=.


    Thus, he had always been extremely cautious during his cultivation, fearful of crossing the line.


    In fact, the fact that he had been able to suppress his increasingly powerful bloodline and prevent any issues from happening was testament that he was indeed the greatest genius in the history of the Lion-Tiger n.


    At this moment, feeling that his bloodline power was free from conflict, a thrilling sensation spread throughout his body, and he felt that he could finally give it his all when he trained.


    Finally, he had the opportunity to reach the god level.


    Suddenly, he opened his arms wide and grabbed Tang San, flinging theparatively smaller young man into the air.


    "Thank you, thank you! Hahaha, I can finally escape my fate!"


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s lips; the better the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s talent, the happier he himself was.


    This meant that his own first-tier bloodline would have a stable source for continuous enhancement in the future.


    The Lion-Tiger bloodline power of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was much richer than that of his n members. Absorbing even a little made Tang San feel his tinum bloodline imprint growing stronger.


    He had now solved the pressing issues of the Lion-Tiger n, and with his registration in the nobility records alsoplete, all preparations for heading to the Ancestral Court were done.


    It was finally time to go.


    Tang San teleported back to Redemption Academy, but he did not go find Zhang Haoxuan, who was going to apany them to the Ancestral Court. Rather, he went to Kaly Academy first.


    His janitorial duties at Kali Academy hade to an end, and he would not return there for some time. He had taken the janitor job just for Mei Gongzi, and with Mei Gongzi absent, he had no interest in sweeping the yard.


    Arriving outside the gates of Kali Academy, where Asura once waited for Mei Gongzi, Tang San began setting up an array with materials he had prepared earlier. This was a very intricate messaging array capable of long-distancemunication.


    The cost of materials needed for this array wasparable to that of a teleportation array, but Tang San still went through with it.


    Before Mei Gongzi went into seclusion, he had made a promise to her that once she emerged, she should wait here for him, and he would definitely appear within three days.


    Now that he was heading to the Ancestral Court, he had to leave a contingency in ce so that he could be informed immediately if Mei Gongzi appeared.


    He spared no expense when it came to his promises to her, whatever the cost might be.


    As he had to make sure he wasn��t noticed by the students passing by, he took nearly two hours to finish setting up themunication array.


    Only then did he return to the academy town and find his master.


    "I''m ready to go at any time. The Lion-Tiger n has settled in well at Golden Valley, and they''re getting along fine with your girls," Zhang Haoxuan said to Tang San.

 Chapter 354: The Thrones of the Ancestral Mountains

    <h4>Chapter 354: The Thrones of the Ancestral Mountains</h4>


    Tang San''s mouth twitched. "Master, those are not my girls."


    "Why not?" Zhang Haoxuan asked, a teasing smile on his face.


    "<i>Cough cough.</i> They''re friends, I guess. How''s their cultivation goingtely?"


    Tang San had to admit he hadn��t paid much attention to the Crimson Fox girls as ofte.


    Zhang Haoxuan exined, "Crimson One is the most talented; she has already reached the fifth order. The others are a bit behind her but are steadily improving. Their bloodline talents are somewhat weak, though. Even with the life energy from the Golden Tree, I think reaching the sixth order will be a big bottleneck for them. Without special measures, it''ll be difficult to help them progress further."


    Tang San nodded/ "When we go to the Ancestral Court, we''ll figure something out together."


    Zhang Haoxuan asked, "Are you going to participate in the beast fights there? It''s too dangerous. If things go wrong, you might..."


    He had a ratherplex look in his eyes as he gazed at his disciple. After Tang San had defeated the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, Zhang Haoxuan had been subjected to serious interrogations by Si Ru and the other teachers.


    No one could understand how he had taught such a disciple. Outsiders didn''t know Tang San''s situation, but these teachers did! A fourteen-year-old boy defeating someone at the level of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint? This was likely an unmatched feat even among the most talented demons at the Ancestral Court.


    Zhang Haoxuan truly wracked his brain. He was even forced to ask the other teachers to keep a tight lid on the fact that Tang San was Asura, insisting that the secret had to be kept from the Redemption Society as well. He even swore on his own life as a guarantee for his disciple, just managing to bluff his way through.


    "Master, we have to face it sooner orter. We might finally have a real shot after this trip to the Ancestral Court. We''ve sessfully allied with the Lion-Tiger n. Once we return, all that��s left is to wait for Mei Gongzi to finish her seclusion."


    "Alright. I knew I couldn''t talk you out of it. If you must go, then go. When do we leave?"


    Tang San said, "I��ll let you know the exact time after I''ve met with the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King."


    "Mm."


    They finally set out three days after the meeting. Tang San and the Shrek Squad joined a caravan of the Aetherhorn Deer n and headed toward the Ancestral Court.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King himself arranged this under the guise of having them gain experience at the Ancestral Court and "seizing the opportunity" to participate in the team battles at the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King treated them favorably, especially preparing a luxurious carriage for the five of them.


    The carriage was spacious, and it was drawn by eight Horned Horses. While notparable to the celestial steeds of a Great Demon King, these Horned Horses were exceptionally sturdy, and they could go on long journeys while only resting at night.


    The carriage''s interior was thirty square meters, more than enough for the five of them. It was stocked with various supplies, ensuring they would travel infort.


    The journey from Kali City to the Ancestral Court was long. Even with horned horses that could cover over two thousand li in a day, reaching the Ancestral Court would still take fifteen days, illustrating just how vast the Daemon Continent was.


    Given Tang San and hispanions'' cultivation levels, they could outrun the Horned Horses over short distances even without their teleportation arrays. However, for longer distances, unless using the flying ability of the Golden Roc Transformation, they couldn''t match the impressive endurance of these Horned Horses.


    Horned Horses were demonic beasts, vassals to the horse demon race. Typically, only the wealthiest merchants could afford to use them.


    Of course, air transport by flying beasts was more prestigious, but the cost was more than a hundred times that of Horned Horses. They were used only in extremely urgent situations. Flying beasts could go from Kali City to the Ancestral Court in three days.


    Lifting the carriage curtain to gaze at the rapidly passing scenery outside, Du Bai couldn''t help but exim, "It''s been such a long time since I''ve left Kali City. It''s great to be out!"


    Wu Bingji said, "We''re not going to the Ancestral Court for fun, so don''t let your guard down. Remember, the Celestial Fox n lives there. You need to be the most cautious."


    Du Bai had the bloodline of the Celestial Fox n and had now cultivated to the level of a three-tailed Celestial Fox. The trouble he could face if discovered was unpredictable, but one thing was certain: if the Celestial Fox n decided to act against them, resistance would almost certainly be futile.


    "Got it, I''ll definitely be careful. After all, my life is pretty important!" Du Bai said with a grin.


    Gu Li snorted. "I don''t see you taking eldest brother''s words to heart."


    Du Bai smirked. "Do you want to taste what misfortune feels like?"


    Gu Li''s expression froze, and he quickly gave a forcedugh. "My bad, brother Du Bai, please let it slide." He had truly experienced the terrifying effects of misfortune Du Bai''s abilities were quite formidable now that he was at the sixth order.


    The caravan of the Aetherhorn Deer n moved very steadily. Two dayster, they entered another major city. They arrived at night, and before anyone could take a good look at the city, they set out again the following day. The caravan was well-organized, and all necessary goods were transported promptly to the city.


    Tang San watched dispassionately, observing the bustling trade. Before their caravan had even arrived, the shops owned by the Aetherhorn Deer n had been prepared. Upon arrival, everything was handed over immediately, without a moment wasted.


    No wonder they were so wealthy; in business matters, the Aetherhorn Deer n truly had unique expertise.


    The internal security of the Empyrean Dominion was fairly good. Along the way, aside from two demon beast attacks, the caravan faced no major issues. The apanying guards were quite strong, eliminating the demon beasts before they could even get close.


    Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, almost exactly as nned, and they were about to arrive at the Ancestral Court, the most bustling ce in the Daemon Continent and also the one with the highest standing, home to many powerful beings!


    From a distance, the Ancestral Court could be seen nestled among towering mountains. This style of city-building was somewhat simr to Kali City, but the mountains surrounding the Ancestral Court were significantly taller than those around Kali City.


    Atop those nearly cloud-piercing peaks, one could vaguely see several enormous statues.


    Each statue was in the form of a great beast. Tang San and hispanions had long heard that these statues represented past and present Demon Emperors.


    Only Demon Emperors were worthy of having such statues on the mountains surrounding the Ancestral Court. It was said that these statues also contained the divine consciousness of the Demon Emperors, forever guarding the Ancestral Court.


    These encircling mountains were known as the Ancestral Mountains.


    On the continent''s eastern side, the Ancestral Mountains predominantly featured statues of Demon Emperors, while the western side was home to more statues of Nymph Emperors.


    These statues were collectively called the Thrones of the Ancestral Mountains. Under their watch, the Ancestral Court held the Daemon Continent and the entire Fn in its grasp. It was no exaggeration to call this ce the center of Fn.


    Between the mountains, there were eight major roads leading into the Ancestral Court, and there were no city walls, for the Ancestral Court needed none. Who would dare to act against it? The Court was permanently home to at least six Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors��beings of the twelfth order who could annihte an opponent thousands of miles away with a mere thought.


    Though there were no walls, entry into the Ancestral Court required detailed inspection. The guards consisted entirely of nobles from both demon and nymph ns, and each guard had to be at least at the sixth order.

 Chapter 355: Entering the Ancestral Court

    <h4>Chapter 355: Entering the Ancestral Court</h4>


    Caravans of the Aetherhorn Deers had visited the Ancestral Court countless times before, and after a quick inspection and verification, they were swiftly allowed to pass.


    Tang San and his group went unnoticed.


    Before setting out, Tang San had a deep conversation with the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King, who promised to introduce them to the city lord''s office once they returned from the Ancestral Court. Tang San expressed his sincerity to the wealthy demon king, promising to seek out the array master and at least help them establish a rtionship.


    After some mutual probing, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King told Tang San that their discreet handling of their previous victory was appropriate, causing no significant disturbances among human ns despite their substantial influence in Kali City. Although the Ancestral Court''s envoy was dissatisfied, aside from summoning Tang San and his group to participate in a team battle at the Ancestral Court, they showed little other concern. Ultimately, the demons still did not regard humans highly.


    This was undoubtedly good news for Tang San and his team; the less they were noticed, the greater their chances of sess. The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King indicated that arrangements had been made for them. Specifically, once at the Ancestral Court, someone would instruct them on what to do. However, whether they could ovee the challenge would depend on their own abilities.


    Letting things cool off was the best strategy. In other words, it was best if they lost a battle; their fame would drop, but losing did not necessarily mean death. This much could be arranged by paying the right amounts here and there. However, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King reminded Tang San again that he hoped they would find the array master. He didn��t explicitly say anything, but it was abundantly clear what he meant: he could help the Shrek Squad ovee this difficulty, but he could just as well destroy them.


    To this, Tang San readily agreed. At least for the time being, he still needed the support of the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King.


    After passing the checkpoint, they saw steep cliffs rise on either side, towering a thousand feet high. Yet, the central thoroughfare was exceptionally wide, wide enough to amodate twenty carriages like theirs to stop abreast.


    If one looked closely, one might notice that the rock walls on both sides seemed to have been cleaved by some sharp instrument, not formed naturally. What immense power it must have taken to split such high mountains to create this passageway!


    Upon entering this area, Tang San could faintly sense a potent divine consciousness swirling within the Ancestral Court. It even made him wonder if he had returned to the realm of the gods.


    The interior of the Ancestral Court radiated a vibrant energy of heaven and earth. This energy was abundant, concentrated, and with various attributes that could benefit many different bloodlines.


    This was also why the Ancestral Court stipted that only nobles could enter. Those who were not nobles were not deemed worthy to absorb the rich spiritual energy within.


    Bathed in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, Tang San could feel the bloodline imprints within him absorbing energy on their own, even without him using the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    Indeed, this spiritual energy was somewhat mixed and needed refining to reap its true benefits. Butpared to Kali City, this ce was far superior.


    Tang San could feel that much of this spiritual energy emanated from the Ancestral Mountains. Peaks holding different Sacred Thrones released spiritual energy of various attributes, and that was what led to the mixed nature of the energy here.


    Just then, a streak of bright light shed across the sky. A figure soared directly over the Ancestral Mountains and into the heart of the Ancestral Court.


    Tang San was looking out the window of the carriage, and he quickly focused his gaze on that figure.


    Vaguely, he could make out a pristine white figure, its wings pping in the air, its whole body radiating a holy brilliance. The powerful aura seemed as if it could tear the sky apart.


    In an instant, it disappeared into the Ancestral Court.


    <i>Incredible! A Demon Emperor?</i> Tang San was secretly stunned.


    This white figure, he could vaguely discern, seemed to be a Crane Demon. Even if it was not a Demon Emperor in terms of cultivation, it was likely very close. The fact that it dared to fly over the Ancestral Court spoke volumes about the individual''s stature.


    By then, their caravan had traversed the long mountain road and finally arrived at the Ancestral Court.


    The Ancestral Court was situated in a vast basin. Tall buildings and vegetation filled the basin, and in the very center, several majestic pces stood proudly. Each pce was perched atop a mound, exuding a sense of loftiness.


    There were as many as sixteen such pces,rge and small, each with its unique form but all impressively grand.


    Undoubtedly, these pces were the abodes of the pinnacle powers who truly controlled the vast Daemon Continent from within the Ancestral Court.


    Merely looking at them, one could faintly feel the intangible aura of authority emanating from these pces.


    The pce closest to Tang San and his group was constructed of white stone, situated atop a mound about five hundred meters high. The entirely white pce radiated an intimidating dominance. In front of the pce stood a massive statue, not asrge as the Thrones of the Ancestral Mountains but still impressively grand. The statue depicted a giant White Tiger with wings on its back, its massive body, tens of meters in size, exuding a fierce aura.


    It seemed that this was the pce of the White Tiger Demon Emperor, the strongest of the Tiger Demon lineage and a venerable Demon Emperor.


    On another mound close to the pce of the White Tiger Demon Emperor stood a pce entirely in magnificent gradient colors. The lower part of the building was green, blending seamlessly with the various vegetation on the mountain, while the upper part was fiery red. The transition from green to red made it look like a me shooting up into the sky.


    The overall shape of the pce resembled a giant mushroom, and Tang San guessed it belonged to a Nymph Emperor.


    Tang San could only clearly see these two pces from his vantage point. Through his spiritual power, he could sense that the pces of the Demon Emperor and the Nymph Emperor were absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the air, like vortexes devouring and absorbing. Yet, they also released spiritual energy, seemingly expelling what they did not need.


    The rich yet mixed spiritual energy inside the Ancestral Court seemed to be directly rted to their method of absorption and filtration.


    "It''s really..." Du Bai had already been staring agape. Not just him, but several members of the Shrek Squad were also holding their breaths, watching this grand scene unfold outside.


    It was their first visit to the Ancestral Court, and before arriving, they had imagined many things about this renowned core of the continent. Yet, no matter what they had imagined, the reality still left them utterly astonished.


    Their ten consecutive team battle victories in Kali City had built their confidence, and their increased cultivation had even added a bit of pride to their hearts.


    However, once they arrived and felt the aura of the Ancestral Court, a sense of insignificance overwhelmed them. They finally understood why, despite their achievements, the demon ns still seemed to disdain them.


    Here, they felt like mere grains of sand in the vast ocean, unable to muster even a thought of resistance.


    Even Tang San felt a heavy burden on his heart at this moment.


    He had insisted oning to the Ancestral Court for a crucial reason: to understand this world and grasp just how powerful the demons and nymphs could be. After all, Kali City was just a remote corner, reportedly the weakest among the main cities, so what would the mightiest, the Ancestral Court, look like?

 Chapter 356: The Palaces

    <h4>Chapter 356: The Pces</h4>


    And now, he saw it.


    What he saw was different from others. Through his divine consciousness, he could distinctly feel the presence of those lofty beings within the vast Ancestral Court. The power of the entire ne reached its zenith here, the grand pces resonating with the Ancestral Mountains�� Thrones, each pulsing with immense energy waves, all mighty beings.


    Tang San sighed deeply. He knew that unless he could regain his former God King cultivation, leading the humans of this ne to resist the demons and nymphs was just a pipe dream. It was beyond difficult; it was simply impossible.


    These top-tier Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors could match at least a Second ss God and possibly even reach the strength of a First ss God. Even if Tang San regained his God King status, destroying them all would likely mean battling against the entire ne and obliterating this. But if everything was destroyed, how could humans survive? The humans of this ne would perish as well. He couldn''t just relocate all the humans on this ne to another.


    Upon arriving in this world, seeing humans enved and treated as the lowest of beings, a fire burned within Tang San. Beyond finding his wife, another goal he set for himself was to aid the rise of humanity in this world. But now, it seemed a daunting and distant task.


    To truly elevate humanity on this ne, using force seemed inadvisable. He had to find a new path and seek opportunities; only then might it be possible. This would require long-term nning.


    The immediate priority was to find a way tomunicate with this ne and seize an opportunity to ascend to godhood. Only by returning to the god level could he mobilize everything.


    He had arrived with his memories and a fragment of divine consciousness. If the nar ruler discovered him, it would indeed identify him as an outsider. Once it learned of his God King foundation and his potential to destroy this ne, how would they allow him to be a god once more? It would crush him first. That was Tang San��s greatest peril.


    The energy on Fn was rich, and with Tang San''s natural talent and divine consciousness, his cultivation level would continue to grow steadily even without cultivation. One day, he would face the bottleneck of godhood, and once he could no longer suppress it, he would break through.


    Of course, Tang San would not passively wait for such a disaster; he needed to take the initiative and create opportunities for himself.


    Creating such an opportunity could not be just aboutpromise, nor could it purely involve coercion. He needed to continuously refine his strategy to find the best opportunity and formte the optimal n.


    After the caravan entered the Ancestral Court, it noticeably slowed down. The Aetherhorn Deer Demon King''s merchants seemed to hold some status, nevertheless; although it progressed along the edge of the road, it was still allowed to continue on the main road.


    The deeper they ventured into the Ancestral Court, the more they could sense the enormity of this giant city. Even the huge pces were no longer visible once they entered the streets nked by buildings.


    After about half an hour more, the caravan finally stopped. The caravan''s leader approached Tang San''s carriage and called them down.


    "We''re here. You guys can go your way now, but you must sign up at the Great Beast Fighting Arena under the Shrek Squad''s name. The arena master has already arranged everything for you. Besides the team battle, you''re free to do as you like. Your identities were registered when you entered the city, so carry your noble badges to avoid trouble."


    "There are a few important rules to keep in mind. No fighting is allowed within the Ancestral Court. If you��re caught, you will face the Court''s enforcers, and that means execution. Of course, fights within the Great Beast Fighting Arena are something else. Also, those below the god level aren''t allowed to fly here, and neither are vassals. Even gods have different flight zones. Make sure to remember these rules. Also, do not approach the Ancestral Mountains or the pces of Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors. Entering forbidden zones means certain death. Other than that, there are no particr restrictions. After you participate in the team battle, we will have arrangements for your return. You can sign up for the arena noter than seven days from now. Got it?"


    Tang San and his fourpanions nodded in agreement. The leader no longer paid attention to them and went off to attend to other tasks.


    The caravan stopped in front of arge shop named Aetherhorn. From what they had learned along the way, the Aetherhorn Merchant Association branches were scattered across the continent, not only in the Empyrean Dominion but also in the Solstice Empire. They were among the top merchants on the Daemon Continent and the only notable economic presence Kali City could boast about. Economically, Kali City''s reliance on the Aetherhorn Deer n��s operations was indeed strong.


    In earlier years, the Aetherhorn Deer n had received great favor from the Peacock Great Demon King, thus remaining utterly loyal to the Peacock Demon n. However, with their wealth, even if the Peacock Demon n were truly supnted by the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, their allegiance would remain unshaken. Being able to stand equal with the Golden Deerss, the Aetherhorn Deers naturally had their own reasons to be confident.


    Wu Bingji looked toward Tang San, who said, "Let''s leave this ce first. Find somewhere to stay."


    It was their first timeing to Ancestral Court, so observing the ce thoroughly was paramount. Of course, their immediate task was to meet up with Zhang Haoxuan. Although Zhang Haoxuan hadn��t specified how he would enter Ancestral Court, the god-level mayor surely had his methods. After all, the headquarters of the Redemption Society was right in the middle of Ancestral Court. There had to be a way for him to enter the city so he could report on his duties.


    When they left the Aetherhorn caravan, Tang San and his fourpanions were wearing noble badges on their chests to disy their status.


    Unlike in other cities, within the Ancestral Court, they rarely saw any humans. However, the variety of races was much richer than in Kali City. Particrly, the nymphs with distinct nt-like features were a true eye-opener for them.


    Although the nymphs also had humanoid figures, their skin generally reflected their race��some had roots growing from their heads, others flowers blooming on their shoulders, and still others vines flowing down their backs. The diversity was so vast that the five members of the Shrek Squad found it quite overwhelming.


    The security within Ancestral Court was clearly excellent, with a squad of enforcers d in ck armor passing by now and then. Passersby would actively make way for them, contributing to the peaceful atmosphere of Ancestral Court.


    Tang San and his group could only roughly tell where they were going; once they settled on a direction, they moved deeper into Ancestral Court. ording to their agreement with Zhang Haoxuan, they would first find a ce to settle down, and then Zhang Haoxuan would naturallye to find them.


    After about half an hour, the five stopped in front of a tall building. A sign above read White Tiger Hotel.


    The hotel appearedrge, with an entrance door over five meters tall, amodating the taller statures of the demon and nymph races.


    "Are we staying here?" Wu Bingji asked Tang San.


    "Let''s stay here," Tang San replied.


    Wu Bingji led the way, and the five entered in a single file. Their human forms seemed quite small in this ce.


    Once inside, they saw a grand hotel lobby that soared twenty meters high. The decor was simple, but it felt mighty and domineering. The carvings on the walls depicted various forms of the White Tiger, clearly indicating that, just as the name suggested, the hotel was connected to the lineage of the White Tiger Demon Emperor, if not directly owned by it.

 Chapter 357: Room Reservation

    <h4>Chapter 357: Room Reservation</h4>


    The group of five approached the counter, where several young fox demon girls stood. Each was strikingly attractive, their stunning appearances catching everyone''s attention.


    Wu Bingji said, "We need five rooms, please."


    The fox demon girls behind the counter examined them closely, at first showing shock, but gradually, they regained theirposure and tentatively asked, "Are you humans?"


    Wu Bingji paused before replying, "Isn''t that obvious?"


    The fox demon girl exhaled and said, "You startled me! I thought some VIPs had arrived. It''s impressive that you are nobles at such a young age. What kind of rooms would you like? We have standard rooms, VIP rooms, deluxe VIP rooms, Demon King Suites, and the most prestigious, the Demon Emperor Suites."


    Without thinking, Wu Bingji looked at Tang San, marveling at the Ancestral Court''s uniqueness��such a variety of hotel rooms!


    Tang San asked, "How much do the rooms cost?"


    The fox demon girl exined, "A standard room costs one naturae coin per day, two for a VIP room, five for a deluxe room, and ten for a deluxe VIP room. Only a Demon King is qualified to stay in a Demon King Suites, and a Great Demon King in the Demon Emperor Suites. The price for those is the same as the deluxe VIP room."


    Wu Bingji couldn''t help but say, "Usually, hotels charge in aetherhorn coins. Why does even the most basic room here require naturae coins? That''s way too expensive."


    They had fought life-and-death battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, and one naturae coin each had been the reward for their first fight��the reward for risking their own lives! Staying here for one night in one room costing one naturae coin was excessively expensive.


    The fox demon girl''s expression subtly changed, and her smile was tinged with pride as she said, "The basic currency in the Ancestral Court is the naturae coin. We don''t use aetherhorn coins here."


    "Uh..." Wu Bingji suddenly felt slighted and quickly said, "Then give us five standard rooms, please."


    "Okay, please hold on a moment while I check." After a quick search, the fox demon girl said, "Sorry! We only have three standard rooms left, so..."


    Wu Bingji immediately asked Tang San, "Should we find another ce?"


    Tang San replied, "Let''s stay here. Reserve two VIP rooms, eldest brother. You and sister Zicheng can have one each."


    "Alright then," Wu Bingji said, wincing at the cost as he booked two VIP rooms and three standard rooms.


    However, once the rooms were booked, Wu Bingji stubbornly refused to stay in the VIP room, insisting that Tang San take it. In his heart, although Tang San was young, he had long been both a mentor and a friend. They all knew very well that they wouldn''t have made it this far without Tang San.


    Tang San could only agree, seeing no way to refuse.


    As expected given its high price, the hotel was the most luxurious they had ever seen. Even the standard rooms were sixty square meters, effectively small suites with a living room, a bedroom, and a spacious,fortable bathroom. There was even a dedicated cultivation room. The cultivation room was filled with a richer spiritual energy that seeped in through openings in the walls. Likely, the hotel had something like a Spirit Summoning Array that drew in the spiritual energy from outside, and even more importantly, it was filtered.


    Upon seeing this cultivation room, even Wu Bingji, who had been pained by the cost, fell silent. In terms of spiritual energy, this ce wasparable to Golden Valley, though it fell far short in terms of life energy.


    The VIP rooms were evenrger, at ny square meters, and the spiritual energy in their cultivation rooms was even denser and purer, genuinely illustrating the principle of "you get what you pay for." The rooms also came with a supply of fresh fruit.


    Judging purely by the density of the spiritual energy in the cultivation rooms, the cost-effectiveness was higher than that of the standard rooms. Though pricier, cultivating in such a ce would yield results twice as good with half the effort.


    With two VIP rooms, all five of them could practice their cultivation. Wu Bingji quickly thought that if that was the case, they only needed two rooms, as they could take turns cultivating and resting!


    However, Tang San dismissed this idea. One reason was that everyone had their privacy, and cultivating together could easily lead to disturbing each other. It was better to have separate rooms. Moreover, their primary purpose ining to the Ancestral Court wasn''t just to cultivate; there were many other tasks to aplish.


    After settling in, Tang San returned to his VIP room, stood by the window, and could just see the vast pce of the White Tiger Demon Emperor in the distance. This view was likely designed intentionally.


    Tang San took out a delicate metal ring from his storage bag. The ring was oval-shaped, with a small metal sphere attached at the center, engraved withplex patterns.


    Tang San channeled his bloodline power into it, ced it on his ear, held his breath, and concentrated, guiding it with his spiritual power.


    Soon, he heard a voice in his ear.


    "Have you all settled in?" a familiar voice asked.


    Tang San infused his thoughts into the device using his spiritual power and responded, "We''ve settled in at the White Tiger Hotel. Can you sense the location of thismunicator?"


    "Yes, I can. Wait for me. I''ll be right over."


    "The hotel is quite unique. There are special perks for those above the Demon King level. I suggest you get a Demon King Suite. The cultivation room inside should be even better."


    "Alright."


    "It''s a bit pricey," Tang San cautioned.


    "Heh, do I worry about expenses now? I''ve got plenty of money."


    The voice on the other end was, of course, Zhang Haoxuan. Themunicator Tang San was using on his ear had been inspired by an item he had received from the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King��a portable audio transmission array. Tang San studied thatmunicator and created an even more sophisticated one. It could transmit sound over greater distances through the infusion of spiritual power and also had a positioning feature, making it much more functional.


    However, creating this device was quite troublesome and required precise craftsmanship. He had made just one pair, which he used to stay in contact with Zhang Haoxuan.


    Zhang Haoxuan was quite wealthy now because of selling Spirit Summoning Array discs. Even Tang San didn''t know how much money his master had, but it had to be substantial given thetter��s carefree attitude about spending.


    It didn''t take long before themunicator rang again. "I''ve checked into the Demon King Suite. It''s unbelievable, really unbelievable! Ah..., it''s quite something. Come over. I''m in room 666 on the sixth floor."


    As Tang San headed to the sixth floor, he was stopped by two guards at the staircase entrance.


    He learned that to ess the sixth floor, one either needed a room card or a cultivation level of at least Demon King.


    Tang San had no other choice but to contact his master again using themunicator.


    Zhang Haoxuan came to the staircase to personally escort him to his room 666.


    Upon entering the room, even Tang San felt like eximing, "666 [1]."


    He was greeted by a vast,vishly decorated living room a hundred square meters in size. One side of the living room featured floor-to-ceiling windows that opened to a balcony of the same size. Half of the balcony was taken up by arge hot tub or perhaps it was better to call it a swimming pool, while the other half featured sofas and a lounge area, surrounded by a ring of vegetation.


    This was just... absolutely stunning.


    Besides the living room, there was a twenty-square-meter cultivation room, where the spiritual energy was so dense it almost felt tangible. Even more astonishingly, the aura emanating from this cultivation room nourished one''s spiritual consciousness.


    Was the price of ten naturae coins expensive?


    Truly, it was not expensive at all.


    1. In Chinese, the number 6 is a homonym for the word ��, which means "smooth" or "skilled". It''s used to express awe and respect for good gamey, and has no connection to the devil. For example, Chinese gamers might type "666" in the chat after seeing another yer demonstrate an impressive skill. They might also use "777" to mean "666 but better" ?

 Chapter 358: The Palaces Open to the Public

    <h4>Chapter 358: The Pces Open to the Public</h4>


    Tang San lingered in the cultivation room for a while and realized that his spiritual power was being significantly enhanced here, nourishing his divine consciousness more effectively. If he could cultivate in such an environment, his divine consciousness would surely recover faster.


    And this was just a hotel! Considering this, how much more effective would the cultivation rooms in the pces of Demon Emperors be?<i> </i>


    <i>No wonder they can produce twelfth-order powerhouses. It is something else!</i>


    "Is it worth it, Master?" Tang San asked with a half-smile, looking at Zhang Haoxuan.


    "Totally worth it," Zhang Haoxuan replied without hesitation.


    Indeed, it was! When he felt his divine consciousness being nourished, he immediately understood this ce''s value. Of course, the price was steep��ten naturae coins could buy a lot in Kali City, but it only paid for one night''s stay here.


    The master and disciple sat down in the living room.


    "You said you��ve been to the Ancestral Court before, right?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "I''ve been here twice before, but back then, I stayed at the headquarters since I couldn''t afford a hotel. Not many can afford to stay at hotels here."


    Tang San smiled wryly. "I''ve already felt the pinch from the prices. Master, when do you n on going to the headquarters?"


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "In the next couple of days. Here''s what I''m thinking: it''s better to keep your situation under wraps for now, even from the people at the headquarters. I''ve discussed this with Old Guan and Si Ru. You need more time to grow; after all, you are still very young. We''re concerned that if they find out you are the Shrek Squad that caused such a stir in Kali City, they might have other ns for you, and it won''t be easy for us to refuse them then."


    Tang San nodded in agreement, resolute in his decision to stay in Kali City, where his most important person was.


    Zhang Haoxuan continued, "So, I''ll just go and report in by myself. I''m now at the tenth order, so it��s a whole different storypared to when they first called me there. Plus, I''m now a Blue ss member of the Redemption Society. Even if the organization has ideas about our Spirit Summoning Array discs, they won''t make things difficult for me. I expect it''ll just be some encouragement, and then they''ll ask about the situation in Kali City. Don''t worry.


    "We''ll need to keep spinning the tale about our array master. I''ll report it that way to headquarters, too. Honestly, this breakthrough to godhood has left me feeling a bit disheartened. We''ve made so much money from the Spirit Summoning Array, but headquarters took the lion��s share and yet they are still so controlling. You mentioned continuing to sell other array discs. I''ll try to open up a sales channel this time so we can sell them ourselves in the future."


    Hearing Zhang Haoxuan��s words, Tang San said, "Yes, I think it��s best if you report in alone. Let��s not rush the sales channel issue. You know what they say about innocent people having treasures, and there are a lot of parties interested in those array discs. Aren��t we here with the merchant caravan of the Aetherhorn Deers? From what I��ve seen, the Aetherhorn Deers seem to have a very developedmercialwork throughout the Daemon Continent.


    "Moreover, the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King has close ties with the Peacock Demon n, which could be advantageous to control future distribution of the array discs. Considering we also need to address the repercussions of the Shrek Squad��s ten consecutive team battle wins, we could consider a direct partnership with them. It would be rtively safer, and the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King is a very shrewd merchant; such merchants know how to secure better and more stable profits."


    Hearing this, Zhang Haoxuan��s eyes brightened."Do you mean that in the future, you would like the Aetherhorn Deers to be our distributor for the sales of the array discs? This would also be an opportunity for the Shrek Squad to be free of the suspicions caused by humans being in the Ancestral Court."


    Tang San nodded.


    Zhang Haoxuan asked, "What do you want to do?"


    Tang San unleashed his spiritual power, blocking the transmission of sound around them, and whispered a few words to him.


    Gradually, a richer smile spread across Zhang Haoxuan��s face. "You, oh you, you really are..."


    Tang Sanughed, "Isn��t it all thanks to your good teaching?"


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled wryly. "Don''t say that; I feel quite ashamed as a master. You''ve taught me more than I''ve taught you. In my heart, I haven''t seen you as a child for a long time."


    Tang San said, "Master, since we''re new to Ancestral Court, what ces do you think we should visit that would benefit our future growth or increase our knowledge?"


    Zhang Haoxuan replied without hesitation, "That would be the pces of the Demon Emperors! They��re a must-visit. Experiencing the aura of a Demon Emperor is somewhat of a rite of passage for all demons."


    "Really?" Tang San looked at him in surprise. "The Demon Emperors�� pces are open to the public?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and smiled. "To be more urate, the pces are part of the foundation of each Demon Emperor��s n. Naturally, some parts would be open for members of the n to worship, though outsiders can also visit for a higher fee. Members of the Demon Emperor��s n pay five naturae coins to enter for a visit or worship. Outsiders pay double. But I think it''s worth it. For instance, Du Bai should visit the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s pce to pay his respects. It would be beneficial for him to feel the power of the Demon Emperor��s bloodline."


    Tang San asked, "Wouldn''t our identities be discovered? After all, it''s the pce of a Demon Emperor. The divine consciousness of a Demon Emperor must be terrifying."


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head. "No need to worry about that. First, there are countless visitors to each pce. Demon Emperors can''t possibly cover them all with their divine consciousness at all times. Moreover, Demon Emperors rarely stay in their own pces. The most sacred ce in the Ancestral Court is the council, where nearly all Demon Emperors and Great Nymph Emperors cultivate. Even if they''re not at the council, they are more likely to be at the Ancestral Mountains'' Thrones than in their own pces.


    "You must have felt the reciprocal rtionship between the Ancestral Mountains'' Thrones and the Demon Emperors'' pces. Each Throne of the Ancestral Mountains is a ce where Demon Emperors connect with heaven and earth. They transform the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into what their lineage needs, channeling it into their pces to bless their n. Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperorspete in this aspect, neither yielding to the other. Thus, they must frequently visit the Thrones of the Ancestral Mountains to strengthen their connection with heaven and earth."


    Upon hearing his exnation, Tang San''s mind suddenly cleared. "No wonder, no wonder the spiritual energy within Ancestral Court is so rich yet so mixed. It''s all due to these powerhousespeting against each other."


    Zhang Haoxuan took a deep breath and said, "That''s why the cultivation environment in this hotel is so rare. The filtered energy is not only much stronger than in the outside world, but also suitable for anybody��s cultivation; the high price is indeed justified. But let''s not dwell on that. Let''s continue with the Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors. Since you''vee to the Ancestral Court, I think you must first make a round of these pces. Don''t miss any, visit them all. I believe some of the auras in these pces will give you different sensations. These sensations will surely benefit our future breakthrough to godhood."Tang San said, "Master, I''ve always known there are a dozen or so Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors, but who and what exactly are they?"


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled and said, "That''s exactly what I was about to exin to you all. Go ahead and call everyone here. I''ll exin it to everyone at once."


    "Got it."


    Immediately, Tang San hurried downstairs and called hispanions. They went back up to the sixth floor. Now recognizing him, the guard heard the report of room 666 and let them through. Which Demon King or Great Demon King didn''t have some followers?


    The five entered room 666, and Wu Bingji and his threepanions were instantly full of awe; this room was hands down the most luxurious dwelling they had ever seen.

 Chapter 359: The Nine Demon Emperors (1)

    <h4>Chapter 359: The Nine Demon Emperors (1)</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan had alreadyid out a map on therge dining table in the living room��the map of the Ancestral Court.


    "Don''t get amazed just yet. Come over here," Zhang Haoxuan said to the five. "I''ll fill you in about the powerful beings of the Ancestral Court."


    The five quickly gathered around him, looking at the map before them.


    "North on top, south at the bottom, west on the left, east on the right," Zhang Haoxuan pointed out the directions to make it easier for everyone to recognize.


    "In the history of the demons and nymphs, powerful figures abound. But even the mighty Demon Emperors are not entirely immortal. The oldest known Demon Emperor lived over three thousand years, which seems to be the limit. Some Demon Emperors fall younger due to frequent conflicts."


    The lifespan of a Demon Emperor was news to Tang San, but not the fact that they were mortal. This was something that pertained to the very nature of the Fn: however much power the beings of a certain ne had, as long as it was not connected to a divine realm, it was all dust in the wind.


    Fn was without question the most abundant Tang San had ever seen, and this meant a loting from a God King. Its immense size and boundless resources were sure to give rise to many powerful creatures. Demons and nymphs dominated it, and they were not even the only races here.


    Yet no matter the race, one fact held true: no one on Fn could achieve eternal life.


    Even the richests were still justs, not divine realms. No matter how powerful the Demon Emperors or the Nymph Emperors were, they could not achieve immortality without the nourishment of divine aura and upying a godly seat in a divine realm. A few thousand years of life was already the limit.


    Zhang Haoxuan continued, "The world of the demons and nymphs is very pragmatic. Only the current Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors are entitled to establish their pces in the Ancestral Court. If a deceased Demon Emperor or Nymph Emperor has no sessors within their n, their pces must be surrendered to the neers. Therefore, the pces within the Ancestral Court are constantly changing hands.


    "Look at the Ancestral Mountains surrounding the map. The number of Thrones on the Ancestral Mountains far exceeds the number of pces within the Ancestral Court. All Demon and Nymph Emperors are entitled to a Throne, and even after they perish, the Thrones remain.


    "Let''s leave aside the Thrones for now and let��s talk about the pces within the Ancestral Court. There are currently fifteen pces and sixteen living Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors. The newly ascended Demon Emperor, the one who recently visited Kali City, has not yet had the chance to build his pce. He was severely injured in that battle with the Peacock Great Demon King, so he probably isn''t in the mood to think about building a pce anytime soon.


    "The reason he wants to take over Kali City is that the major cities are also the major industry hubs, and even a supreme being like him needs substantial resources for cultivation. Though remote and not very rich in resources, Kali City is quite wealthy due to the Aetherhorn Deer Demon and Golden Deer Demon lineages that reside there. The Ancestral Court naturally turns a blind eye to this.


    "Today, I''ll go into detail about the sixteen current Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors. You guys need to remember this well; it''s going to be really important for you.


    "Let''s start with the demons. There are currently nine Demon Emperors, including the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. Some you know of, some you don''t. The top-ranked Demon Emperor is called the Crystal Demon Emperor."


    Tang San and the others were somewhat surprised to hear this rather ordinary name. They couldn��t recall ever hearing the name, so as far as they were concerned, the Crystal Demon Emperor wasn��t even as famous as the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    "The Crystal Demon Emperor is recognized as the strongest among demon and nymph races alike. It has lived for over two thousand years, but it hardly ever appears in public, even if we take into ount the Ancestral Court��s Council. It was originally a Crystal Dragon, a Solitary with a unique bloodline mutation; it has no gender and it cannot pass on its lineage. In other words, it��s in the same situation as the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor.


    "However, the Crystal Demon Emperor is far stronger. Its bloodline ability is duplication, and it is capable of copying any other ability, regardless of how powerful it is. For this reason, its full title is the Omnipotent Crystal Demon Emperor. Rumors say that even if all other Demon Emperorsbined their forces, they could at best defeat it but not kill it. This unique being has stood at the pinnacle of the Daemon Continent for a full two thousand years."


    Hearing this evaluation, the Shrek Squad��apart from Tang San��felt their hearts tighten. How powerful was this being to be able to earn such a reputation?


    Zhang Haoxuan continued, "The second-ranked Demon Emperor is one you''ve heard quite a bit about. The controller of fate, the master of luck, the child of destiny, the seer of the demon and nymph races, the great prophet, the sage whose words bew, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor!"


    "In the overall rankings of the demon and nymph races, it ranks third, just below the top-ranked Nymph Emperor. It holds the second position among the demon n, but its fame surpasses the very discreet Crystal Demon Emperor. In a sense, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor could even be considered the most powerful among both demons and nymphs. The fate it controls is something other Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors need. Thanks to that, nobody wants to offend it, and it has good rtionships with everyone."


    Listening to Zhang Haoxuan''s narrative, Du Bai couldn''t help but clench his fists, a gleam seemingly shing in his eyes.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is thus known as the Master of Fate. Legend has it that it governs the fate of the entire Daemon Continent. As long as it exists, the demon and nymph races will possess the greatest fortune and continue to dominate the entire realm."


    "What if it dies?" Gu Li blurted out.


    Before Zhang Haoxuan could reply, Tang San interjected with a peculiar expression, "If that happens, perhaps it would be a chance for humanity for an uprising."


    As soon as he said this, the room fell silent.


    Du Bai couldn''t help asking, "The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor has an heir, right?"


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "There will be one. Perhaps because of the bacsh caused by manipting fate, the lifespan of the Celestial Fox n''s Demon Emperors is short. Each Celestial Fox Demon Emperor only lives for about five hundred years before it falls and is reced by a new generation. However, the lineage of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperors always continues; as soon as one dies, the next one appears."


    Tang San listened silently, saying nothing more, but he had a thoughtful expression on his face.


    "The third-ranked Demon Emperor ismonly known as the Undying Demon Emperor. It is the oldest among demons and nymphs alike, over three thousand years. Its species is the Immortal Phoenix. The Phoenix n has always been mighty, and the royal lineage, the Immortal Phoenixes, have the bloodline ability of rebirth.. Legend has it that once an Immortal Phoenix ascends to godhood, it has nine lives! Not only that, but each time they are reborn, they be stronger! This Undying Demon Emperor is quite low-profile, and it''s unclear how its realbat strengthpares to the Crystal Demon Emperor��s. Its title is Eternal Inferno, and its Infernal mes are also known as the strongest mes."


    Eternal Inferno, the Undying Demon Emperor!

 Chapter 360: The Nine Demon Emperors (2)

    <h4>Chapter 360: The Nine Demon Emperors (2)</h4>


    As Zhang Haoxuan told them about each Demon Emperor, Wu Bingji and the others couldn''t help but turn pale. These formidable beings were the ones they would have to resist in the future, as they led humanity forward.


    They finally understood why these things were not taught in the ssrooms of the Redemption Academy The teachers were likely worried that knowing too soon would dampen their fighting spirit. Indeed, even now, with some achievements, they still listened with ashen faces.


    "The fourth-ranked Demon Emperor, known as the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor, hails from the Behemoth n, renowned as the invincible titans of thend. Their physical strength is possibly the greatest among all demons. The n faces low birth rates, and they have fewer than a thousand members; however,each one is an immensely formidable presence. A ninth-order Behemoth demon might even challenge god-level opponents. The Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor is deemed indestructible! His ws can destroy the heavens and obliterate the earth.


    "The fifth-ranked Demon Emperor, the owner of the hotel we''re currently staying in, is the White Tiger Demon Emperor. The lineage of the White Tigeres from a mutation, and their numbers are rtively few. The White Tiger Demon Emperor is notoriously protective and holds grudges fiercely; among all emperors, it is the most dangerous to offend. It has wings on its back which allow it to reign over heaven and earth alike; thus, its title is ''Heaven-Crossing Earth-Piercing.''


    "The sixth-ranked Demon Emperor, known as the Dark Demon Emperor, is a Dark Demon Dragon. Dragons are a special race, much like Behemoths. However, while Behemoths are one n with the same abilities, dragonse in a bizarre variety, including fire, water, earth, wind, and more.


    "Legend has it that in ancient times, pure dragons were notoriously promiscuous, but due to their powerful bloodline, their descendants were all dragonkind, regardless of what species they mated with. This resulted in dragons with a multitude of attributes. For example, the Crystal Demon Emperor is a mutation within the dragonkind, supposedly from a union between a Radiant Dragon and a Dark Dragon.


    "This pairing should have found it impossible to produce offspring. Yet, somehow, it was born. The dragonkind made some attempts to replicate it, but they all failed; either there was no offspring, or if there was, they died young.


    "Anyway, this Dark Demon Emperor is a pure darkness-element being. Although it��s only ranked sixth overall, none of the higher-ranked Demon Emperors would dare im they could defeat it at night."


    Du Bai asked, "Mayor, there are two Demon Emperors among the dragonkind?"


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "Indeed. This only goes to show the strength of dragons. And now, with the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, the phoenixes also have two. They just don''t rank as high as the dragons. As you can see, the strength of one''s bloodline is crucial for demons and nymphs."


    "The Dark Demon Emperor is known as the Eternal Night Sovereign, for obvious reasons."


    "That title is so cool!" eximed Du Bai.


    The mayor red at him before continuing, "The seventh-ranked Demon Emperor has a golden bloodline. The Mammoth Demon Emperor, from the Golden Mammoth n and leader of the elephant demons, is acimed as the strongest in defense among the Demon Emperors. Even the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor would struggle to breach its defenses. The Mammoth Demon Emperor''s title is Golden Radiance, signifying the pride of his golden bloodline.


    "The eighth-ranked Demon Emperor is the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, of the Red-Crowned Crane lineage, and it has the sharpest attacks among the Demon Emperors. Didn''t you encounter a Red-Crowned Crane in your group battle? That was a member of this lineage. Not only is their swordsmanship formidable, but they are also the best when ites to teamwork. It''s said that the Sword Saint Demon Emperor has a 3600-strong troup known as the Crane Swords, and when they unite under hismand, they can disy terrifying power. Its title is ''Cloud Soaring.'' Its physical strength is nothing to write home about, but its swordsmanship and overallbat skills distinguish him among the Demon Emperors.


    "The ninth-ranked, naturally, is the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, whom you have seen from a distance. He is a rather unique figure. Originally, his lineage was unlikely to achieve the rank of Demon Emperor. However, it seems a special opportunity arose, and he sessfully broke through, elevating the Crystal Phoenix lineage. This newly ascended Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor is still behind in strengthpared to the other eight and needs to umte more experience. Nevertheless, he is a Demon Emperor, and his strength is not to be underestimated. Once he stabilizes his cultivation, he will also be formidable. His title is ''Crystallizer of Heaven and Earth''."


    With this, the introductions of the nine Demon Emperors wereplete. Nine names and nine titles lingered in the minds of Tang San and his fourpanions.


    Ranked first, the Omnipotent Crystal Demon Emperor.


    Ranked second, the Master of Fate Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    Ranked third, the Eternal Inferno Undying Demon Emperor.


    Ranked fourth, the Unbreakable Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor.


    Ranked fifth, the Heaven-Crossing Earth-Piercing White Tiger Demon Emperor.


    Ranked sixth, the Eternal Night Sovereign Dark Demon Emperor.


    Ranked seventh, the Golden Radiance Mammoth Demon Emperor.


    Ranked eighth, the Cloud Soaring Sword Saint Demon Emperor.


    Ranked ninth, the Crystallizer of Heaven and Earth Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    The only one among the Shrek Squad who had actually seen a Demon Emperor proper was Tang San, and the only one he��d seen was the Crystal Demon Emperor. The other eight Demon Emperors were known to them only by name. Yet, just these names and titles made them feel immense pressure. The other four wondered if they could ever truly stand against such beings.


    Indeed, could they?


    No.


    In Tang San''s mind, it was a definite no.


    If humanity kept progressing as it did, then even in a thousand years, and maybe even in ten thousand years, they would still be unable to contend with the demons. And that wasn��t even considering the nymphs.


    Yet Tang San felt a strange sensation. Perhaps his arrival in this world was meant to transform the impossible into the possible. The greater the pressure, the more exhrated he felt.


    He took a deep breath, and his face seemed to light up with divine light as he looked at Zhang Haoxuan and asked, "Master, what about the Nymph Emperors?"


    Zhang Haoxuan looked deeply at Tang San, noticing that his pupil had not shown any signs of despair when he heard about the tremendous strength of the nine Demon Emperors. It was clear that his resolve was steadfast.


    The Redemption Society didn''t usually introduce the top powers of the Daemon Continent to avoid dampening the students'' fighting spirit. After all, even as teachers, they felt a profound fear when contemting these beings. Any one of the Demon Emperors could destroy all of humanity!


    "There are only seven Nymph Emperors, but don''t think for a second that the nymphs are weaker than the demons. The nymphs are more united. The rtionships between their ns are closer, and their cultivation methods differ from those of the demons."

 Chapter 361: The Seven Nymph Emperors

    <h4>Chapter 361: The Seven Nymph Emperors</h4>


    "Put simply, the demon races are distinctly separate from each other due to their bloodlines each having their own attributes. These innate differences prevent them from bing too close. The nymph races, however, are not like this. They are mostly rted to nts, and their bloodlines have far higher potential to merge; in fact, they can even graft multiple bloodlines. In essence, a clever grafting of several nymph bloodlines might even produce a stronger race. The nymph races don��t face the innate rejection seen among demons, nor do they encounter problems like those of the Lion-Tigers."


    "The more inclusive nature of the nymph races fosters closer and more united rtionships among them. In terms of overall strength, the Solstice Empire is not much weaker than the Empyrean Dominion."


    "The top-ranked Nymph Emperor, the Sunborne Nymph Emperor, is second in the Ancestral Court, so it ranks above the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. It��s a Solitary known as the Sunborne Flower, and its bloodline was created over centuries of careful cultivation and grafting, from the Sunflower Nymphs and eight other nymph bloodlines. The process involved several powerful bloodlines and plenty of failures, and it has the same problem as some other Solitaries��its bloodline cannot be replicated. It��s two thousand years old by now, and if the Solstice Empire cannot produce another like it, they will have a serious problem.Its title, ''Sun-Nurtured,'' acknowledges its unique heritage.��


    "What are its powers?" Tang San asked.


    "I don''t know. There are few records of it taking action, but it''s acknowledged as the strongest among the nymphs, ranked just below the Crystal Demon Emperor. As for who is stronger between it and the Crystal Demon Emperor, there''s no clear consensus. However, it must be truly mighty for it to rank above the Master of Fate, not to mention thetter must acknowledge it as well," exined Zhang Haoxuan.


    "The second-ranked Nymph Emperor is known as the Earthshade Nymph Emperor. It��s an Earthshade Grass, and it is co-ruling the world of the nymphs with the Sunborne Nymph Emperor in a bnce of light and darkness. Just like the Sunborne Flower, the Earthshade Nymph Emperor is the result of grafting multiple bloodlines. It��s not as unique or difficult to replicate, but whether the new sprouts can attain the Nymph Emperor level is a different story altogether.


    "It''s said that the Earthshade Nymph Emperor possesses the power to control the earth and exert a strong suppressive force over other nymph ns. Thus, its title is ''Earth Suppressor.'' Among the nymph races of the Solstice Empire, the authority of these two surpasses that of the other five, making them the true rulers of the Solstice Empire."


    Tang San noted that Zhang Haoxuan didn��t detail the powers of the Sunborne Nymph Emperor or the Earthshade Nymph Emperor. Undoubtedly, this implied that the Redemption Society��s knowledge of the nymphs in the Solstice Empire wasn��t as extensive as that of the Empyrean Dominion. Or perhaps, the nymph races were rtively more reserved. However, being on par with the Crystal Demon Emperor and the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor meant that the power of these two Nymph Emperors was without a doubt formidable.


    Zhang Haoxuan continued, "Ranked third among the Nymph Emperors is the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor, a Soul Capturer Tree. His spiritual power is incredible; among all the Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors, only the Crystal Demon Emperor might match it in spiritual power. It''s said that wherever the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor passes, it can control everything, especially the nymph and tree beings. It even has the power to give rise to life, turning lifeless stones into sentient entities. Its title is ''Animator of the Inanimate.''


    "The fourth-ranked Nymph Emperor is called the Parasol Tree Nymph Emperor. It might sound odd for a tree, but its attribute is actually fire. It can burn anything and convert it into its own sustenance, so its title is ''Heaven-Burning Earth-Boiling.'' Although it''s only fourth among the Nymph Emperors, it''s crucial to note that it has the closest rtionship with the Demon Emperors, as his partner is the Undying Demon Emperor. They are a pair."


    As Zhang Haoxuan spoke, the words "Phoenix Nesting in the Parasol Tree"[1] shed through Tang San''s mind. Undoubtedly, when these two were together, theirbined strength likely increased dramatically, making them an immensely formidable duo.


    The Demon and Nymph Emperors were already powerful enough by themselves. To think they even had marital alliances! How could other races thrive like this?


    "The third-ranked Demon Emperor and the fourth-ranked Nymph Emperor together make up a formidable pair, feared across the Daemon Continent. However, due to the overwhelming strength of their union, they voluntarily gave up control of their cities when they decided toe together, choosing instead to reside within the Ancestral Court to alleviate the fears of other Demon and Nymph Emperors. Within the Ancestral Court, their authority is immense. Even the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, who usually presides over daily affairs, shows them great deference."


    "Moving on, the fifth-ranked Nymph Emperor is a rather peculiar being. As mentioned earlier, the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor has the ability to animate stone, and this Nymph Emperor is precisely that: stone. It is a zed Stone that gained spirituality and eventually reached the twelfth tier. Apparently it has a myriad of mysterious abilities, which earned it the title of the Thousand-Faceted zed ss Nymph Emperor."


    "The sixth-ranked is the Diamond Nymph Emperor, a piece of Diamond Spirit that gained sentience. Diamond Spirit is a type of metallic ore renowned as the hardest substance in existence. It does not conduct any kind of energy, and it actually possesses resistance against almost all attributes. Therefore, while the Diamond Nymph Emperor��s offensive abilities are somewhat average, it is the strongest among all the Nymph Emperors in terms of pure defense. When demons and nymphs talk about the ''absolute toughest,'' that��s who they are talking about.


    "The title of the Diamond Nymph Emperor is ''Indestructible.'' His rtionship with the Sky Splitting Demon Emperor is quite poor, perhaps due to them having opposing abilities. They''ve fought many times. Although it cannot defeat the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor, thetter also can''t do much against the Diamond Nymph Emperor. These shes are what made them famous.


    "The seventh and final Nymph Emperor is known as the Endless Nymph Emperor. It��s said to be a bottomless spring that cultivated the water attribute to its extreme. Hence, it is called ''Endless Water.'' Among all the Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors, it has thergest attack range. It can control rivers,kes, and seas, and it is the master of the water element. The name ''Endless'' is derived from the Endless Blue Sea, showcasing his control over all waters. His official title is ''Universe-Flooding.''"


    With that, Zhang Haoxuan finished outlining the basic details of the seven Nymph Emperors.


    Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor.


    Earth-Suppressor Earthshade Nymph Emperor.


    Animator of the Inanimate Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor.


    Heaven-Burning Earth-Boiling Parasol Tree Nymph Emperor.


    Thousand-Faceted zed ss Nymph Emperor.


    Indestructible Diamond Nymph Emperor.


    Universe-Flooding Endless Nymph Emperor.


    Just these titles alone were enough to fuel the imagination. Nine Demon Emperors and seven Nymph Emperors��these were the pirs of power on the Daemon Continent, and they were truly mighty pirs. And that was not even considering the possibility of hidden superpowers.


    Tang San murmured, "Sunborne Flower, Earthshade Grass, Soul Capturer Tree, Parasol Tree, zed ss, Diamond Spirit, Endless Water. They epass yin and yang, flowers, grasses, trees, and stones. They even include wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. They embody all aspects of nature! Impressive."


    With this in mind, it made perfect sense to him that the Nymph Emperors were on par with the Demon Emperors despite being fewer in numbers. They shared a close bond and their powersplemented each other, so they could very well deal with the individualistic Demon Emperors.


    1. This phrase is tranted from ������ͩľ, it originates from Chinese mythology and ancient poetry, where the phoenix, a symbol of virtue, is said to choose only the parasol tree as its nesting ce, reflecting an idealized harmony between nature and virtue. ?

 Chapter 362: Nurturing Divine Consciousness

    <h4>Chapter 362: Nurturing Divine Consciousness</h4>


    This was the Ancestral Court!<i> </i>


    Although these mighty beings might not all reside within the court itself, they were nevertheless the rulers of this world. Most importantly, they were the obstacles humanity faced on its path to a brighter future.


    Zhang Haoxuan took a deep breath and said, "Shocking, isn''t it? That''s right. This is the Daemon Continent we must face��the true Daemon Continent. Thisnd belongs to them and is controlled by them. They are what we must confront in the future.


    "So, as I just told Tang San, your primary task over the next few days is to tour their pces. You can only understand the gap between us by truly experiencing their aura and the pressure it brings. Moreover, I hope that in observing and experiencing, you might grasp some abilities that align with your attributes. Undeniably, if we humans wish to grow stronger and catch up to them, for now, we must follow their path."


    Zhang Haoxuan spoke earnestly. The five members of the Shrek Squad nodded in agreement.


    This was indeed the world they had to face!


    Zhang Haoxuan turned to Tang San and said, "I will be leaving tomorrow, so I''ve only rented this room for one day. You all stay in my room and cultivate today. Tomorrow, when I return to headquarters to report, you''ll start visiting the pces of the Ancestral Court."


    Wu Bingji''s pupils contracted, "So, didn''t we just waste our money on the room? Can we still cancel it now?"


    Zhang Haoxuan replied irritably, "Think of it as tuition for the newly arrived. Do you think the White Tiger Demon Emperor runs a charity? No refunds. Now, let''s make the most of our time."


    Wu Bingji wanted to say more but ultimately held back, though his face was regretful.


    Under Zhang Haoxuan''s lead, the six entered the cultivation room. It had to be said a Demon King-level cultivation room was indeed different��it was spacious and it easily amodated all six of them.


    The six sat down on the spot, each meditating, absorbing the dense spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the room to nourish themselves.


    Zhang Haoxuan did notpete with his disciples for this spiritual energy; he was more interested in the energies that could feed his divine consciousness.


    Elevating spiritual power to the level of divine consciousness represented a qualitative leap. However, this transformation didn''t necessarily speed up the pace of cultivation. On the contrary, cultivating divine consciousness was harder than cultivating mere spiritual power, requiring greater enlightenment. In fact,prehension and enlightenment were <i>the</i> key factors, even outweighing one��s bloodline cultivation.


    For Zhang Haoxuan, advancing to the god level had been a monumental challenge, and further advancement would be incredibly difficult. As for improving his divine consciousness, that was even more challenging. Thus, the cultivation room here, capable of enhancing divine consciousness, was especially beneficial to him.


    More urately, it wasn''t actually enhancement proper, but rather nurturing. Nurturing wouldn''t push his divine consciousness to advance, but it could stabilize it. This made it worth the price of the room for Demon Kings, and even less needed to be said about Demon Emperors. Thus, the White Tiger Demon Emperor had been rather inspired to establish this hotel.


    Tang San silently immersed himself in cultivation, quietly sensing the changes within himself.


    The nourishment of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was unnecessary for him. He was not in a hurry to enhance his Mysterious Heaven Technique to a higher order; on the contrary, he had to suppress it for now. In the future, to advance to the god level, he had to first ensure that he had nine powerful bloodline imprints and the imprints all reached the peak of the ninth order. Therefore, developing hispanions at his current cultivation level was more important, particrly the challenging Celestial Fox Transformation.


    But divine consciousness was different; nurturing it meant he could strengthen it. There was no bottleneck in advancing his divine consciousness, as it was once at the level of a God King!


    Although his current spiritual power had not yet reached the level of divine consciousness, preventing him from actually improving his original one directly, the gradual nurturing of his spiritual power was still effective, albeit slow. Each minute increase in his divine consciousness equated to greater control over the powers from his past life.


    He quickly sensed what kind of energy within the cultivation room could directly nurture divine consciousness��it was a kind of will belonging to someone with a powerful divine consciousness. This will could enlighten weaker divine consciousness, exerting a certain pressure at the same time. Enlightenment, coupled with pressure, could push a divine consciousness to advance.


    Tang San''s divine consciousness had now roughly doubled in strength since it was first used.At that time, he used it to intimidate two twelfth-tier Demon Emperors and even kill a Demon King. Now, he could use it twice without exhausting it, or once if he decided to go all out.


    The recovery rate was slow, but he could do nothing about it. However,ing here to cultivate today gave him a sense of a bright new possibility.


    The Demon King suite''s cultivation room had a noticeable stimting effect on his divine consciousness. Then... what about the Demon Emperor suite? How would that affect it? Would it enhance his divine consciousness even more?


    This thought gave Tang San some room to imagine what the Demon Emperor suite might be like.


    After half a day and a whole night of cultivation, when Tang San emerged from his meditative state, he distinctly felt a slight improvement in his divine consciousness. It was minor on the grander scale, but it was still equivalent to about half a month of his usual cultivation. In other words, his cultivation here would be ten to fifteen times as fast, and over a longer period of time, this would umte.


    Since arriving at the Ancestral Court, this was the first time he experienced the benefits it brought him, and he was overjoyed. Although the pace of improvement was still slow overall, it was much faster than before! And there were still higher-level Demon Emperor suites, weren��t there?


    Zhang Haoxuan had also finished his cultivation; he looked spirited and clearly had a sessful session the previous night.


    "You��re up, huh? The others are still meditating. ording to the time, the room is ours until noon, so you might as well stay here and cultivate. We''ll head back at noon. I''m off to report to headquarters," Zhang Haoxuan called Tang San to the living room and told him.


    "Master, could I ask you for a favor before you go?" Tang San asked.


    "Sure, tell me," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    Tang San said, "Could you please ask at the front desk how many ces in the Ancestral Court offer cultivation rooms like this hotel''s, for Demon Kings or even Great Demon Kings to enhance divine consciousness, and which one is the best?"


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "Alright, I''ll go ask in a bit. This cultivation room really is great! After you guys return safely, I might stay here a while longer. Continual cultivation here could significantly benefit the stability and enhancement of my divine consciousness. If my divine consciousness grows stronger, I believe it will even positively affect my bloodline."


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "No need to rush with the bloodline; I''ve already thought of a method to enhance it further. It should work."


    "Oh?" Zhang Haoxuan asked, surprised, "Enhance my bloodline strength?"


    Tang San nodded and said, "But not right now; we''ll need to wait a bit longer."


    "Fine. I''ve only just made a breakthrough, so there''s no rush," Zhang Haoxuan said.


    Tang San''s method for enhancing Zhang Haoxuan''s bloodline was naturally rted to the Lion-Tiger n. If a powerhouse from the Lion-Tiger n could break through to the god level with their fused bloodline, which was essentially of the same origin and a first-tier bloodline, some of that bloodline power would undoubtedly help boost Zhang Haoxuan''s own.

 Chapter 363: Dreaming About The Demon Emperor Suite

    <h4>Chapter 363: Dreaming About The Demon Emperor Suite</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan went to the front desk to inquire about the situation and returned with some food. Demon Kings got discounts on their purchases.


    The answer to the question about the hotel''s cultivation rooms was straightforward.


    Indeed, within the Ancestral Court, only the hotels under the banner of the White Tiger Demon Emperor offered rooms where one could cultivate divine consciousness, and there were only six such White Tiger Hotels. The enhancement effect was simr in all of them. This was considered one of the core industries of the White Tiger lineage.


    As for whether there were better cultivation rooms than the Demon Emperor Suites, the answer was naturally yes, but those rooms were not to be found in any hotel. They were in the pces of the Demon Emperors.


    Despite the steep prices, the Demon Emperor Suites were generally fully booked. After all, few ces could aid a Great Demon King in nurturing their divine consciousness, and to a Great Demon King, ten naturae coins a night was pocket change. Of course, it was also pocket change for the White Tiger Demon Emperor, but with all such rooms in all White Tiger Hotels being in use throughout the year, the profits ramped up quite fast.


    Such an enterprise could only be managed by the might of a Demon Emperor.


    So, it could be said that Tang San and hispanions were quite fortunate; they had found perhaps not the most luxurious but certainly the best-value hotel in the Ancestral Court.


    After grabbing a quick bite, Zhang Haoxuan left. With hismunicator, he could contact Tang San at any time.


    As noon approached, Tang San��spanions gradually woke up from their cultivation. Surprisingly, it was not Wu Bingji but Du Bai who had gained the most.


    Du Bai''s spiritual power had long since reached the ninth order. Cultivating in this room significantly benefited his spiritual power, making him appear exceptionally vibrant.


    Even Wu Bingji now felt that the room''s cost was justified��it was expensive for a reason! Inparison, their standard and VIP rooms seemed less worthwhile.


    "Can we just keep this room and cancel the others?" Wu Bingji asked Tang San.


    If everyone could cultivate in this one room, ten naturae coins a day seemed very worthwhile to him.


    Tang San replied helplessly, "My master already asked. For Demon King and Demon Emperor Suites, they must verify the identity of the upants daily. Without him, it��s not possible. Let''s wait for him to return from his duties."


    His thoughts had already soared to the even loftier Demon Emperor Suites.


    The Demon Emperor Suite might not actually be better for hispanions. The higher level of divine consciousness pressure could be too much, leading to counterproductive effects. However, Tang San was different. His foundation in divine consciousness was deep, surpassing all other mighty beings in this world. Cultivating in such an environment would undoubtedly greatly elerate the enhancement of his divine consciousness, which was precisely what he needed most now!


    He had to find a way to enter the Demon Emperor Suite for cultivation, even if it meant sneaking in.


    Of course, this was not an easy task, as he could tell from his mental scans of the hotel. Whenever any cultivation room was activated, the hotel staff would immediately realize it. This meant that even if a Demon Emperor Suite happened to be unupied, he would be discovered immediately when he sneaked in to cultivate.


    As for sharing it with other Great Demon Kings, even the thought wasughable. Moreover, given how good the cultivation rooms at this White Tiger Hotel were, who knew how many Demon Kings and Great Demon Kings were present? If he was discovered, he would be doomed.


    Thus, although Tang San rarely felt such an intense urge, he had no intention of acting rashly. Before doing anything, he had to put together a proper strategy.


    It seems he might still need to keep up his mysterious act.


    As Tang San''s thoughts raced, pondering how to enter the Demon Emperor Suite for cultivation, Wu Bingji asked him, "Where should we start our tour of the pces? From the nearest to the farthest? Tang San, what do you think?"


    Zhang Haoxuan had left them a map, clearly marked with the locations of each pce belonging to the Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors.


    Tang San returned from his thoughts and said, "No, that won��t do. The sequence is important. Let��s start with the Demon Emperors and go from weakest to the strongest. After all, even though they��re all at the same tier, they��re not all equally strong. If we slowly ramp it up, it��ll be easier for us to get used to the pressure and get some enlightenment."


    Wu Bingji''s eyes lit up. "That makes sense. We have six days left, and we need to visit at least two or three pces each day to finish before we go to the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Shall we set off now?"


    "Alright, grab something to eat first, and then we''ll set off. The first stop..." At this point, Tang San''s mind suddenly stirred. He instinctively thought of a former adversary.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, who rankedst among the nine Great Demon Emperors, didn''t yet have a pce. Thus, first on the list would be the one above him, ranked eighth��the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. Tang San had once faced a Red-Crowned Crane Demon, whose swordsmanship had left asting impression on him.


    "Cloud Soaring Sword Saint Demon Emperor?" Du Bai asked.


    "Yes," Tang San confirmed.


    They searched on the map and quickly found it. It wasn''t too far from their hotel. Of course, that was only in rtive terms; the Ancestral Court was vast, so walking was impractical, and flying was prohibited, so they had to find transportation


    After eating, everyone returned to their rooms to gather their things, then met up in the lobby.


    Wu Bingji was the first to arrive downstairs. He had already inquired at the front desk; the hotel could provide carriage services, even flying carriages. However, upon hearing the price of the flying carriage, Wu Bingji immediately shook his head and vetoed it. He felt that a regr carriage would suffice.


    One naturae coin could rent a regr carriage for a day.


    Wu Bingji truly felt that money seemed to have lost its usual significance ever since arriving at the Ancestral Court. Meals were charged by the day, costing one naturae coin per person for three meals.


    Soon, a carriage of the White Tiger Hotel was waiting outside for them. The carriage wasn''t huge, but it could amodate five people.


    Visiting the Demon Emperor pces from the hotel wasmon. The carriage didn''t need a driver, as the Horned Horses pulling it possessed a certain level of intelligence. They headed straight for the pce of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor.


    The Sword Saint''s pce was on the Ancestral Court''s eastern side. ording to the map, the higher the ranking of the Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors, the closer their pces were to the center of the Ancestral Court. The very center housed the Ancestral Court Council.


    The Council was on a mountain peak at the very center of the Ancestral Court, towering into the clouds and perennially shrouded in mist. Of course, it was essible only to the Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors.


    Lifting the curtain, they sat in the carriage, watching the scenery sh by on either side of the road. Du Baifortably ced his hands behind his head and said with a smile, "Being wealthy is great! Riding in a carriage is much morefortable than walking. Absolutely delightful."


    Wu Bingji nced at him. "Would you still want to ride in a carriage if it weren''t for saving time?"


    Du Bai chuckled. "Senior brother, moneyes with earning, not saving. We just need to earn more."


    Wu Bingji said irritably, "You talk as if you know how to make money."


    A white light flickered in Du Bai''s eyes. "I''ll cast some good luck on myself; who knows, I might even find some moneyter."

 Chapter 364: Sword Saint Palace

    <h4>Chapter 364: Sword Saint Pce</h4>


    "Take it back," Tang San said quickly, looking up at Du Bai.


    Du Bai, startled, quickly retracted his bloodline power and asked in puzzlement, "What''s wrong?"


    Tang San exined, "This is the Ancestral Court, the stronghold of the Celestial Fox n. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor can extend its divine consciousness to every corner of this ce if it so wishes. Aren''t you afraid of being discovered using your bloodline power and then being captured by the Celestial Fox n to be used as a sacrifice?"


    "Uh..." Du Bai''s face changed. "My bad, I won''t use it anymore."


    Tang San cautioned him, "Unless I tell you it''s safe to use the Celestial Fox Transformation, don''t use it while we''re in the Ancestral Court. This is for the sake of our safety."


    Of course, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor wouldn''t constantly monitor the entire Ancestral Court with divine consciousness, but given Du Bai''s impulsive nature, Tang San was worried he might use the Celestial Fox Transformation at an inappropriate time and invite big trouble.


    "Yeah, yeah, I''ll listen to you." Du Bai immediately became cautious. For some reason, he felt genuinely scared whenever Tang San got serious.


    As expected, the Ancestral Court had excellent security and traffic conditions. The carriage of the White Tiger Hotel could speed along the main roads, and even patrolling enforcers would yield right of way when they saw the crest engraved on it, ensuring a smooth journey. They traveled many times faster than walking, and within half an hour, they reached their destination.


    The carriage stopped near the Sword Saint Pce, and Tang San and his fourpanions got off one by one.


    Looking up from the foot of the hill, they saw a slope about three hundred meters tall, topped by a majestic pce.


    The pce was extremely tall, towering even. Although the main entrance still resembled a ssic pce, the overall structure was a sharp, acute triangr shape, like a sword de thrusting into the sky, pointing at the heavens.


    Even from the foot of the hill, one could faintly feel the surging sword aura, as if it were ready to pierce the skies��majestic, but at the same time, painfully sharp.


    Above the Sword Saint Pce, there were no storm clouds; it was always clear blue skies and white clouds.


    Today was cloudy, with most of the Ancestral Court covered in mist, but sunlight directly hit the triangr Sword Saint Pce. It was quite extraordinary.


    <i>Cloud Soaring, indeed! </i>Tang San praised silently in his heart.


    Not just him, but hispanions were also staring at the Sword Saint Pce, and it took them a full five minutes before they came back to their senses.


    Du Bai eximed, "Wow, that''s awesome! I can see massive fortune gathering there. It��s soaring into the sky, but for some reason, it stays together.."


    Tang San warned him, "Don''t stare with your spiritual power, or you might get hurt by the sword aura. Let''s go up."


    The hill where the Sword Saint Pce was located had stairs only at the front side. At this moment, many people were climbing up.


    A closer look revealed that regardless of race, none of the climbers was in a rush. In fact, the closer they got to the Sword Saint Pce, the slower their pace became, and the fewer the number of climbers.


    When the Shrek Squad actually stepped on the stairs, they understood why.


    The moment they stepped on the stairs, a sharp aura descended from the direction of the Sword Saint Pce. And when they looked at the pce, it felt as if the pce itself had transformed into a giant sword shing down from the sky.


    It was clearly an illusion, yet it produced a tremendous oppressive force in their hearts.


    Tang San''s expression remained unchanged. And surprisingly, it was not Wu Bingji, who had the highest cultivation, but Du Bai who seemed unpressured.


    The pressure from the Sword Saint Pce was more of a spiritual nature. Du Bai did not feel much pressure with his ninth-order spiritual cultivation.


    The other three disyed varied expressions, each experiencing different feelings.


    Cheng Zicheng murmured, "So, this is what sharpness is like?"


    She was an inheritor of the Golden Roc bloodline, and aside from the high-speed flight, the primary feature of the Golden Roc was the sharpness of its feathers; her wings were her best weapon. She had her own understanding of sharpness to some extent, but upon arriving at the Sword Saint Pce, she now realized her understanding was far from sufficient��sharpness seemed to have a different meaning here.


    They climbed step by step, and the higher they went, the greater the pressure was. The sensation of sharpness also became increasingly pronounced.


    The five individuals each had different experiences.


    Du Bai seemed utterly unfazed. Though he felt some pressure, it didn''t affect his climb much; it just slowed him down slightlypared to his normal pace.


    Tang San ascended while contemting, naturally sensing the sharpness.


    Gu Li walked up thoughtfully; his understanding wasn''t profound, but his pace wasn''t slow.


    Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng, however,gged behind their teammates, especially Cheng Zicheng. She paused after each step, as if taking in some kind of feeling before continuing.


    Wu Bingji was also deep in thought. Though his Ice Nymph Transformation wasn''t directly rted to sharpness, the ice element''s lethality relied on freezing, exploding, and sharpness. Thus, the essence of sharpness from the Sword Saint Pce also resonated with him.


    There were many pilgrims. Here, payment was required not just at the summit but from the moment one began climbing��a surefire way for the Demon Emperors to amass wealth. Even so, this requirement was perfectly justified; the understanding gained when one��s attributes aligned with a Demon Emperor��s was more than worth the price. In fact, there were a number of worshipers that stopped at every step and kowtowed before continuing.


    Tang San looked upward and noticed that very few worshippers actually entered the Sword Saint Pce directly. Some would stop at a certain point and simply cultivate on the spot, only continuing once they fully understood whatever it was that had inspired them.


    Worshippers from the same n paid five naturae coins, while those from other ns paid ten naturae coins per visit��a considerable amount. However, if the experience truly boosted their cultivation, it was indeed worth it. The Ancestral Court''s reputation as a pilgrimage site for all demons and nymphs was well-earned.


    The higher they climbed, the stronger the overwhelming sword intent became, though not unbearable. Most intriguingly, the sword intent varied, seemingly disying different aspects of sharpness.


    Compared to Du Bai and Gu Li, who showed mild reactions, Cheng Zicheng and Wu Bingji clearly gained profound insights from the experience.


    Tang San himself was also impacted, though not as profoundly. As a former God King, his understanding was no inferior to that of the Demon Emperors. Yet, the sharpness here effectively refined his spiritual power and subtly polished his divine consciousness, making it feel like his spiritual power was beingpressed further��a beneficial development.


    Although it had only been one day since their arrival at the Ancestral Court, Tang San already deeply felt this ce was a treasure. As long as he could cultivate here, his speed of improvement would be unmatched.


    As Du Bai and Gu Li climbed past the halfway point, their pace eventually slowed, mainly due to the intensifying sword intent. Gu Li was coping better; Du Bai, having the weakest cultivation among them, struggled despite his strong spiritual power, as the sword intent''s oppressive force was overwhelming.


    Du Bai turned to Tang San and said, "I''m having a hard time holding on."


    Tang San replied, "Then stay here and cultivate. Ignore the sword intent itself and use this pressure to refine your spiritual power, try topress and consolidate it as much as you can. Senior brother Gu, you can do the same."


    Gu Li nodded, chuckled, and said, "I can still go up a bit further."


    With these words, he continued to move forward.


    Cheng Zicheng and Wu Bingji had only climbed less than a third of the way up. Their pace was slow, but their aura was subtly changing.


    Tang San gave a slight smile and continued to climb. With his cultivation level and spiritual power, this pressure was nowhere near enough to overwhelm him.

 Chapter 365: Entering the Palace

    <h4>Chapter 365: Entering the Pce</h4>


    Gu Li stopped when he reached about three-quarters of the way and sat cross-legged to meditate.


    Tang San passed him and continued upwards.


    At this position, the pressure intensified, and the sharpness of the sword intent invisibly struck at the spiritual world. Tang San estimated that anyone with a bloodline and spiritual power below the ninth order couldn''t continue upwards.


    Although his own cultivation hadn''t reached the ninth order, thebination of his powerful bloodline powers and peak ninth-order spiritual power made it trivial for him.


    Continuing upwards without thepany of hispanions, Tang San quickened his pace.


    He faintly felt that, for these Demon Emperor and Nymph Emperor pces, ascending the pces was also a journey of discovering his own cultivation path. The best results came when facing the aura of a Demon Emperor''s pce that suited his own bloodline talents. If the attributes didn''t match, the effect was significantly reduced.


    The Sword Saint Pce undoubtedly suited Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng, especially Cheng Zicheng. So, it was better for them to train more here rather than having to visit all the pces. Finding the one that suited oneself was truly the best option.


    For Tang San himself, his diverse bloodlines naturally made it suitable to visit more pces to gain insights, reap greater benefits, and better understand this world.


    Step by step, Tang San was nearly at the summit. As he quickened his pace, his spiritual power, influenced by the sword intent,pressed even more. His divine consciousness was at the core, naturally polishing and merging with thepressed spiritual power. At this moment, it was as if Tang San was using external forces to help transform his spiritual power into divine consciousness.


    The consumption of spiritual power in this process was immense, but no matter the cost, it was absolutely worth it for him! Transforming spiritual power into divine consciousness usually required gradual cultivation, but now, he had been given a chance for transformation.


    Tang San realized that this was likely also the way for the demon and nymph ns'' ninth-order powerhouses to advance to the god level. If one could cultivate in such a ce, especially in a Demon Emperor''s or Nymph Emperor''s pce that matched one''s attributes, the chances of consolidating divine consciousness and making a breakthrough were much more significant. He just didn''t know if the demon and nymph ns had to pay any price after such a breakthrough.


    Finally, Tang San was about to reach the summit, and the Sword Saint Pce grand doors were now right before him.


    The doors were immense, fifteen meters tall, and triangr on top. The double doors were open, and the overwhelming sword intent surged from within.


    At this moment, aside from Tang San, no one else had reached the summit with him. As he stepped onto the final stair, the pressure did not decrease; instead, it became even more concentrated.


    The powerful and sharp aura even made Tang San''s skin tingle with pain, necessitating the activation of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral to defend against it.


    It must be said, the power of a first-tier bloodline was formidable. Moreover, the assimtive capacity of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was exceptionally strong, even capable of absorbing some of the sword intent, which in turn sharpened Tang San''s own aura. More precisely, this ability of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was called assimtion��it took the opponent''s power and assimted it, adding temporary attributes to one''s bloodline power.


    This means if the opponent''s ability is sharp, then upon assimtion, the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral will also gain a sharp attribute. This aspect is far more formidable than the Golden Holy Fire of the Golden Lion n, which can temporarily devour an opponent''s energy but only purely enhances one''s own bloodline power.


    With the empowerment of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, Tang San steadied his stance and then continued step by step until he reached the grand doors of the Sword Saint Pce.


    The sharp sword intent caused his hair to flutter backward as if blown by an invisible wind. The impact of the sword intent on his body sped up the polishing of his spiritual power while the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral quickly assimted it. It felt as though countless swords were slicing through his body, yet also stimting it to grow stronger incessantly.


    Truly a fantastic ce! These ten naturae coins were well spent. Below the god level, the stronger one''s cultivation, the greater the benefits one can gain here. However, the gains would likely diminish for those above the god level, as this pressure would be less effective on god-level powerhouses. Of course, it''s already a great deal whether it''s five or ten naturae coins. It would likely cost much more if it also significantly boosted god-level powerhouses.


    Tang San stood at the doorway for a while, gradually adjusting to the sharp sensation, before stepping inside.


    A strange scene urred. As he stepped into the Sword Saint Pce, the intense pressure that had been present just a moment before suddenly vanished, and his whole body felt empty.


    Tang San might have stumbled forward if not for his extraordinary self-control.


    He faltered for half a step but managed to control his form. Tang San took a deep breath.


    Even such a simple deep breath made Tang San feel like he was inhaling not air but a torrent of energy from heaven and earth. At that moment, his body seemed to be filled to the brim. Pure life energy entered his body, purifying it. Tang San''s whole body trembled slightly as the previously intensely drained bloodline power quickly replenished, and even his spiritual power, nourished by the dense energy, experienced an indescribable sense offort.


    Subconsciously lifting his head, Tang San felt a thunderous crash as a terrifying thought struck directly into his sea of consciousness.


    This unparalleled sharpness felt like it would cleave his skull in two, causing Tang San to lose focus in his eyes momentarily.


    A powerful consciousness emerged in his mind, and a cold voice echoed in his brain.


    "Would you enter the Sword Saint Pce? Would you submit to me?" The grand voice,den with overwhelming force and oppression, shivered Tang San''s spiritual power.


    Such a powerful thought pressed down on him, nearly forcing him to his knees.


    Tang San didn''t engage his divine consciousness to resist. Such a fearsome spiritual thought was undoubtedly from the master of the Sword Saint Pce, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. Perhaps this was merely a fraction of his consciousness left within the pce, but if Tang San were to use his divine consciousness to resist and were discovered, he would be in great trouble.


    Thus, he desperately used his spiritual power to shield his divine consciousness, preventing the intrusive thought from detecting it.


    "Would you enter the Sword Saint Pce? Would you submit to me?"


    The voice rang out again, its oppressive force causing Tang San to stagger. Yet, he forcibly controlled his body, preventing himself from kneeling. Instead, he sat down right there, guarding his mind inwardly, resisting with all his might.


    "Would you enter the Sword Saint Pce? Would you submit to me?"


    The voice echoed a third time. This time, it felt as if thousands of swords were piercing through Tang San''s sea of consciousness, causing him to groan in pain. Yet, with his peak ninth-order spiritual power, he barely managed to endure the agony, gritting his teeth and holding on.


    Finally, the powerful thought receded like a tide, and Tang San''s sea of consciousness gradually stabilized.


    All pressure vanished, leaving only the dense vital energy from heaven and earth enveloping him.


    Tang San slowly opened his eyes.


    Before him stood a colossal sculpture.


    The sculpture, about thirty meters tall and humanoid, depicted a man d in a white robe, holding a ck sword. Behind him, a pair of immense white wings spread out as if ready to take flight.


    No sharp aura emanated from it, but as Tang San looked at the statue, he felt a stinging in his eyes and his spiritual power trembled.


    Such a powerful aura.


    Tang San took a deep breath and slowly stood up.


    Without a doubt, this was the statue of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor.

 Chapter 366: The Sword Command

    <h4>Chapter 366: The Sword Command</h4>


    "Why won''t you submit?" Just then, a chilling voice rang out.


    Unnoticed, a Red-Crowned Crane Demon had silently appeared not far in front of Tang San.


    Tang San''s heart skipped a beat, for he had no idea how the other had appeared, indicating formidable strength. Although indeed not the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, this was no ordinary Demon King.


    Tang San bowed slightly in greeting and said, "Our attributes are ipatible, so..."


    "Whye here if your attributes are ipatible?" the Red-Crowned Crane Demon King asked coldly.


    Tang San bowed again, "I came to refine my spiritual power."


    The Red-Crowned Crane Demon King''s gaze softened slightly, sizing him up a few times, and said indifferently, "Your spiritual power is stable, already at its peak. Well-rounded and wless. Quite rare. If you wish to join the Sword Saint Pce, even as a human, you will be valued. You could even attain the rank of Demon King. Why not?"


    Tang San bowed again and replied, "Because I have not yet found my own true path, I am still in the process of searching. If I find it in the future, I will naturally seek a worthy lord to serve."


    The Red-Crowned Crane Demon King''s gaze intensified, staring at him, "Interesting. You are one of the most interesting humans I have met. Despite the lowly status of humans, you possess considerable ambition, which is rare. Should you wish to join the Sword Saint Pce in the future, you are wee to do so anytime. You should know that among the eight pces of the Demon Emperors, our Sword Saint Pce is the most free of racial discrimination."


    He flicked his hand as he spoke, and a small token flew towards Tang San.


    Tang San quickly caught it; it was a token shaped like a tiny sword,pact yet sharp. Forged from very fine metal, it could even be used as a small dagger.


    "This is the Sword Command of my Sword Saint Pce. With this token, should you find yourself in trouble, you can im to be of the Sword Saint Pce and will be protected. I give you a year to find your path. After a year, if you have not found your way or choose not to join the Sword Saint Pce, you must return this Sword Command."


    "Thank you, senior." Tang San looked at the Red-Crowned Crane Demon King before him, somewhat surprised. Was this a bribe to win him over? Were the Demon Emperor Pces now so desperate for talent?


    "Go," said the Red-Crowned Crane Demon King with a sweeping gesture of his hand. A force swept up, propelling Tang San out of the grand gates of te Sword Saint Pce.


    As the sharp sword intent surrounded him again, Tang San looked once more at the Sword Command in his hand, tucked it away, and then descended the mountain to find hispanions.


    Having truly visited this Demon Emperor Pce, Tang San realized that they could not possibly visit all the surrounding Demon Emperor and Nymph Emperor pces before the start of the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Just one pce would likelyake a day to explore.


    Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng were only halfway up, meditating and resting in ce. Du Bai and Gu Li hadn''t moved, both honing their spiritual power.


    Although Gu Li had climbed high, his body was now trembling, seemingly on the verge of copse, clearly due to an excessive expenditure of spiritual power and nearing his limit.


    On the other hand, Du Bai could hold out a bit longer.


    Tang San moved to Gu Li''s side, standing in front of him to shield him from most of the sharp aura.


    Gu Li exhaled deeply, opening his eyes, "Incredible, truly incredible."


    Tang San said, "Senior brother, you''ve exhausted quite a bit of energy. Let''s head back down to the carriage to rest and recover."


    "Okay." Gu Li stood up and led the way down the mountain.


    Tang San did not leave; he continued to refine his spiritual power while watching over hispanions.


    Du Bai persevered an hour longer than Gu Li, ended his meditation, and then descended the mountain as well.


    Cheng Zicheng reached the spot where Du Bai had been and held out for another half an hour. However, her insights were clearly not just about refining spiritual power, as she was utterly exhausted when she came down.


    Wu Bingji made it to about three-quarters of the way, enduring another hour longer than Cheng Zicheng before he could no longer keep up. Under Tang San''s protection, they both descended together.


    When everyone regrouped at the carriage, the sky hadpletely darkened.


    Exhausted, the group couldn''t possibly visit another Emperor''s Pce. They returned directly to the hotel, ate something simple, and each returned to their rooms to cultivate and reflect on the day''s gains.


    Despite their physical exhaustion, their gains were significantly substantial, especially for Cheng Zicheng and Wu Bingji, who both gained a new understanding of sharpness.


    Tang San''s own gains were not small either. They involvedpressing spiritual power and refining divine consciousness. Of course, there was also the Sword Command.


    After a conversation with Zhang Haoxuan, Tang San learned that for these Emperor Pces, those who could enter were beings capable of achieving godhood. Any Demon King-level powerhouse was worth recruiting. One could choose to join the pce or not, but if one were to break through to the god level either upon entering or just before entering, they would certainly receive the pce''s protection to help them achieve godhood.


    This assistance, of course, was not without strings. Once a breakthrough to the god level was sessful, one had received great benefits. There would be no more choice but to submit to that Emperor''s Pce and be part of it. Otherwise, one''s divine consciousness would be destroyed before they were allowed to leave.


    Previously, Zhang Haoxuan had not expected anyone from their group to enter an Emperor''s Pce, so he had not exined these details. Yet unexpectedly, Tang San had entered the first pce they visited.


    Different Emperor Pces exert different kinds of pressures. Being able to enter one does not necessarily mean one could enter another, even for god-level powerhouses��this requiredpatibility in attributes and also a certain amount of fate. Thus, being able to step through the gates of an Emperor''s Pce was akin to passing its test.


    Tang San, unaware of these nuances, had simply walked in and was immediately enveloped by the will of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor.


    This piqued Tang San''s interest. If he were to enter other Emperor Pces, could he also receive protective tokens? And was it better to have as many of these tokens as possible?


    He posed this question to Zhang Haoxuan, who surprisingly confirmed this was true.


    Before breaking through to god-level, the more Emperor Pces recognized him, the more resources he would receive and the more he would be valued if he chose to join one of them.


    It was said that a dragon n powerhouse had once gained the favor of eight Emperor Pces, bing a key figure for cultivation. He joined the Crystal Pce and, although he could not be the heir to the Crystal Demon Emperor, he became the chief steward of the Crystal Pce with the cultivation of a peak Demon King. It was rumored that if he could break through to the Demon Emperor tier, he might inherit the Crystal Pce should the Crystal Demon Emperor fall.


    Since then, all the grand pces have highly valued those who could gain recognition from multiple Emperor Pces, sometimes even receiving early investments.


    Receiving the Sword Command from the Sword Saint Pce was an investment in Tang San.


    With sufficient information, Tang San thought carefully, and an idea swiftly formed in his mind.


    As a human, to aplish more, one indeed needs considerable strength, especially when facing the entire realm. Twelfth-order powerhouses are formidable beings within the realm. If one''s breakthrough could garner sufficient support from beings of such stature, even the realm''s master would have to reconsider their stance. The path through the Emperor Pces seemed increasingly viable!


    The only concern was his identity as a human. If he could gain widespread recognition from numerous Emperor Pces, could they overlook his human status and support his eventual breakthrough?


    This was uncertain, but it wasn''t entirely impossible either. Much would depend on how he managed the situation.


    The journey through the Emperor Pces must continue, and so must hispanions''. However, they would have to adopt different approaches.


    By leveraging his connections and proving his worth within the Emperor Pces, Tang San could potentially build a coalition powerful enough to challenge even the greatest authorities of the realm, transcending the usual limitations humans face.

 Chapter 367: The Fortune Stone

    <h4>Chapter 367: The Fortune Stone</h4>


    The night passed without a word.


    The following day, Tang San gathered hispanions in his room.


    Cheng Zicheng, Wu Bingji, Gu Li, and Du Bai all looked radiant, especially Cheng Zicheng, whose beautiful eyes sparkled with irrepressible joy.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Sister Zicheng, it looks like you''ve had quite a fruitful experience!"


    Cheng Zicheng replied, "Yes! I never expected sharpness to feel like this; the experience was truly amazing. Tang San, I don��t really want to visit any other pces. Can I just keep going to the Sword Saint Pce? I feel that it suits me best."


    Tang San nodded and said, "Yes, I noticed that yesterday. Different pces are suitable for different bloodline abilities. And if I''m not mistaken, the stronger the bloodline, the more benefits you can get. Sister Zicheng, the Sword Saint Pce seems particrly suitable for you. You must also visit the Undying Demon Emperor''s Pce in the future. The Golden Roc is a powerful bird demon, but the Phoenix is the king of birds. You''ll surely gain some insights at the pce of a Phoenix Demon Emperor. So you should focus on the Sword Saint Pce and the Undying Pce. Before we join the team battle, just visit these two pces."


    After finishing, he looked at Wu Bingji and said, "Senior Brother, the sharpness of the Sword Saint Pce will be very beneficial for your ice-based attacks. You can start training there with Sister Cheng. Also, there is another pce you must visit: the Endless Pce of the Universe-Flooding Endless Nymph Emperor. Water and ice share the same origin, and since your bloodlinees from a nymph, you should gain significant insights there."


    "What about me?" Gu Li hurriedly asked.


    Tang San pondered for a moment, then said, "Brother Gu, there really isn''t a pce that fits your time attribute��it''s too special. If I were to suggest, in this case, you should go to the strongest one. The Crystal Demon Emperor is said to be omnipotent, and since omnipotence should include time as well. Plus, the oppressive force of the Crystal Pce will surpass all others. It��s the most suitable even if you just want to refine your spiritual power there. So I suggest you go only to the Crystal Pce."


    Du Bai said with a grin, "So, I''m just going to the Celestial Fox Pce then?"


    Tang San nodded. "Exactly. I''ll apany you to the Celestial Fox Pce to avoid any issues. Remember, even if you have deeper insights, do not go up more than fifty percent of the steps. I''m concerned that you might not control it and expose your bloodline."


    "Okay, I''ll follow your lead!" Du Bai nodded repeatedly.


    Wu Bingji said, "So, do we go our separate ways starting today?"


    Tang San said, "Let the carriage take us to each location. Eldest brother, you and sister Cheng head to the Sword Saint Pce and stay there for the next two days. After that, you can move to the other two pces. I''ll apany brother Du Bai directly to the Celestial Fox Pce. Brother Gu, you go to the Crystal Pce. We''ll move separately."


    "Okay!"


    Wu Bingji then distributed some money to everyone, saying with a hint of pain, "Ever since we arrived at the Ancestral Court, we''ve really been spending money like water!"


    Tang San smiled and said, "But we aren��t wasting it, are we? Don��t worry; my master still has plenty of money. The amount we''ve spent now is just a drop in a bucket."


    The five of them ate breakfast together and then set off again, this time splitting up.


    Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng were the first to be dropped off as they returned to the Sword Saint Pce. With their experience from yesterday, they knew the way well, and Tang San had nothing to worry about.


    Next, they stopped at the Crystal Pce, located in the core area of the Ancestral Court, just like the Celestial Fox Pce.


    These two Demon Emperors ranked first and third in the Ancestral Court, so their pces were naturally situated in the most central area.


    Before Gu Li exited the carriage, Tang San repeatedly cautioned him not to be reckless. The Crystal Pce, being the first pce, was the most formidable, and he needed to be especially careful.


    Gu Li naturally agreed, setting off with excitement and nervousness.


    Thest stop for the carriage was finally the Celestial Fox Pce.


    Before getting out of the carriage, Du Bai clutched Tang San''s sleeve and asked, "Little Tang, do you think I''ll be discovered? The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is a master of fate. Do you think he might sense my arrival and capture me straight away?"


    Tang San patted his shoulder and reassured him, "You don''t need to worry about that. To someone of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s caliber, you''re nothing more than an ant. Even if he does sense something different about you, he won''t care. Trust me, he''s not that bored. He has to oversee the entire Ancestral Court. But even so, don''t randomly reveal your Celestial Fox Transformation, and don''t climb more than half the steps. The chances of being discovered are very slim if you do that. Plus, I''m right here with you. Let''s go."


    As he spoke, he pulled Du Bai out of the carriage.


    The moment they got out, both of them felt a slight tremor. Tang San suppressed it right away; Du Bai''s, however, kept shuddering... almost trembling, even.


    The peak in front of them was significantly taller than the Sword Saint Pce, rising over five hundred meters. The mountain was entirely white, though it was unclear what material it was made from. A subtle, invisible aura spread quietly through the air around it, carrying with it a hint of allure and an indescribable, mysterious sensation that lingered in the atmosphere.


    Tang San''s expression turned solemn as he sensed the force of destiny, a dense power of fortune. Looking back at the distance, everything around seemed to diminish in significance.


    Tang San held onto Du Bai, not letting him move forward, and they stood still, silently taking in the atmosphere.


    Tang San��s expression then transitioned from curiosity to awe as he gazed at the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain before them.


    He realized what material the white mountain was made of.


    Destiny.


    Yes, this was destiny. It was not some kind of special earth or even rare ore; it was the condensation of fortune. If this material had a name, it would have to be Fortune Stone.


    <i>How could such a thing exist?</i>


    Even with Tang San''s experience through three lifetimes and once being a God King, he had never seen such a phenomenon!


    What kind of being was the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor? A true master of fate who could channel the power of fortune into substance! Indeed, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperors'' lineage must have consolidated the entire Fn''s fortune here, presiding over the Ancestral Court, blessing both demon and nymph ns!


    No wonder that on Fn, only the demons and nymphs were so powerful, to the extent that they could even rival the divine realms.


    It turned out that they had concentrated the entire''s fortune here, blessing both the demon and nymph ns. Given such circumstances, with the energy-rich Fn as the source of spiritual fortune, how could the demons and nymphs not be powerful?


    Indeed, the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain before them could be considered the true heart of the demon and nymph ns. Tang San even spected that the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor might be able tomunicate directly with the will of the nar ruler. Without the aid and consent of the nar ruler, how could it be possible to concentrate a''s fortune to such an extent?


    Even Tang San couldn''t help but feel a deep respect for the lineage of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    It was incredibly powerful! It could only be described as miraculous.


    No wonder other races couldn''t rise or threaten the dominance of the demons and nymphs. Without the blessing of fortune, they naturally couldn''t manage.


    Tang San even wondered if the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor might be in fact the nar ruler.


    nar rulers could exist in various forms; some might only possess instinct without concrete thoughts, while others could cultivate their own consciousness. If the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was indeed the nar ruler, and it was personally bestowing blessings on the demons and nymphs and fostering their growth to drive the evolution of the ne, a lot of things would make sense.

 Chapter 368: Celestial Fox Palace

    <h4>Chapter 368: Celestial Fox Pce</h4>


    Of course, it wasn��t like this approach didn��te with its own issues, the most significant being the excessive concentration of fortune, which led to an imbnce in the''s development. Indeed, from a long-term perspective, this was not conducive to the evolution of the''s civilization. Of course, this was just how Tang San saw it, from the perspective of someone who had ruled over a divine realm.


    However, this method was undoubtedly the best for the demon and nymph races, ensuring their prosperity and longevity.


    Tang San realized he had a new task: to determine the exact nature of the rtionship between the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor and the nar ruler.


    At the same time, if humans were to rise truly, then the mountain before him, Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, had to be destroyed. Only by dispersing the fortune to every corner of the would humans have a chance to ascend. In other words, he was destined to stand against the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    ��Little Tang, are... are we still going?�� Du Bai asked, still shivering.


    His feelings differed from Tang San''s; to him, Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain seemed like the embodiment of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor himself, and his bloodline was drawn toward it, as if ready to burst forth at any moment. It felt like there was nowhere to hide.


    "Of course, let''s go." As he spoke, Tang San ced his hand on Du Bai''s shoulder, and Du Bai felt a warm current flow from Tang San''s hand into his body. Instantly, his restless bloodline seemed to be soothed and quickly calmed down. The trembling within him also noticeably vanished.


    He breathed a sigh of relief and looked surprised at Tang San before rxing and following him toward Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain.


    Upon reaching the mountain base, they looked up at the Celestial Fox Pce. They found that the number of people ascending Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain was more than ten times greater than those climbing Sword Saint Mound. The steps of Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain were nearly filled with demons and nymphs.


    Seeing this, Du Bai immediately felt relieved. Therge number gave him a sense of safety; there were many auras mixed there, so it was much more difficult to pinpoint a single one. He understood that Tang San was right; with his level of cultivation, he wasn''t significant enough to attract the attention of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    They had to queue to pay, simply because there were too many demons and nymphs climbing; the steps were so crowded that even as wide as they were, they could hardly contain the climbers. The Celestial Fox nsmen were hard at work, controlling the flow of climbers.


    Suddenly realizing something, Du Bai couldn''t help but ask Tang San, "How much profit are they making?"


    Tang San blinked in confusion, but when he looked at the stairs...


    They were about fifty meters wide and five hundred meters long; they were nearly packed in the lower half and the crowd was only thinning out toward the top. Even calcting at a rate of five naturae coins per climber, the sum was simply astronomical.


    With a meaningful look in his eyes, Tang San said, "It''s different here. Coming here isn''t necessarily about an increase in cultivation level, it��s about being blessed by fortune. If there��s any good investment, that��s it."


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was a master of destiny, a controller of fate. Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain itself was forged from what Tang San called Fortune Stone, containing the densest fortune power on the whole of Fn. Here, without a doubt, was the best ce to enhance one''s own fortune. Being imbued with this fortune made any endeavor more sessful for anyone.


    After paying ten naturae coins each, they finally queued up to go up the stairs.


    Du Bai and Tang San exchanged a look, and Tang San patted his shoulder again before stepping upon Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain.


    As they took their first step and climbed the first flight of stairs, both of them shivered simultaneously.


    Du Bai felt like he had entered another world; an iparable sensation of wonder filled his heart, intoxicating him. His bloodline power flowed naturally, and his Celestial Fox Transformation was about to activate directly��he could even feel three fox tails about to burst forth from his body.


    Just then, Tang San''s grip on his shoulder suddenly tightened, and a warm current flowed in again, apanied by a sharp sensation within his sea of consciousness.


    Du Bai was startled and quickly snapped out of it, turning to see a purple-golden light shimmering in Tang San''s eyes.


    Instantly, cold sweat broke out on his back, soaking his clothes. That was close! If it hadn��t been for Tang San, he would have been exposed.


    Tang San''s voice echoed in his mind. <i>��Have you been training your spiritual power? Use it to envelop your bloodline power. Don''t let your bloodline''s aura directly absorb the aura of Celestial Fox Pce; keep them separate.</i>


    After arriving at Celestial Fox Pce, Du Bai realized that he had forgotten the basic countermeasures Tang San had taught him the day before. Hurriedly, he gathered his spiritual power to cover his entire body, instantly isting the pleasant aura.


    Tang San finally released his shoulder.


    <i>��Focus and perceive the aura here.</i>


    Tang San had long since set up a spiritual barrier within himself, enveloping the Discerning Eye of Heaven and preventing any contact with the fortune aura.


    This fortune aura originated from below, rising upward from the Fortune Stone��pure fortune from the very core of the!


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was truly formidable! And indeed, overwhelmingly powerful. It was hard to imagine how such a feat had been achieved.


    This was undoubtedly great news for the demon and nymph ns, as it formed the basis for their rule over the world. However, it was a different story for the entirety of Fn. The fact that such a massive amount of fortune was concentrated here affected other races, including those inhabiting the vastlyrger ocean, causing them to develop more slowly. Such imbnced development would produce side effects that would be more and more pronounced as the evolved.


    Indeed, the demon and nymph races had grown stronger over countless years, even reaching the level where they could touch the divine realm. However, for a ne to evolve into a divine realm, it was not enough for just a few races to reach this level. More crucial was the evolution of the ne itself, and the mark of that evolution was the birth of a child of the ne. When this child of the ne grew to the level of a God King, it would be the moment for this ne to evolve into a divine realm.


    Although the Fn was powerful, evolving into a divine realm still seemed challenging. And as Tang San was now finding out, the strength of the demon and nymph races came from forcibly aggregating fortune, and such unfairness had impacted the''s bnce.


    Could the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor achieve this? No, it was unlikely that this was the result of one single being��s powers. It had probably been done by those Demon Ancestors and Nymph Ancestors with great powers.


    Of course, while the rising fortune beneath Tang San��s feet impacted the ne as a whole, it also greatly benefited Tang San. This immersion in fortune affected all his senses and even aided his overall fate.


    However, this was merely a boost in fortune and likely wouldn''tst long. It was sufficient for those demons and nymphs who came to be imbued with fortune, but it was somewhatcking for Tang San and Du Bai, who had the Celestial Fox bloodline. There would be a certain purifying effect on their bloodline, but for this alone to cause evolution was just not possible.


    "Senior brother Du Bai, you must learn how to utilize the power of fortune here. Feel the various changes of fortune."


    "Mmm." With his eyes closed, Du Bai slowly climbed upward, following Tang San, quietly sensing the changes in the surrounding fortune.


    The light of the Purple Demon Eyes flickered in Tang San''s eyes. Here, he dared not use the Discerning Eye of Heaven, lest his possession of the Celestial Fox Transformation be discovered.

 Chapter 369: Inspiration from Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain

    <h4>Chapter 369: Inspiration from Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain</h4>


    Using his Purple Demon Eyes, Tang San gazed upward at the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, where it seemed a beam of light shot straight into the heavens. This pale luminescence spread outward in expanding halos that remained distinct and unblended, brightening everything they touched.


    This was an augmentation of fortune for the entire Daemon Continent.


    <i>This is really grand!</i>


    Tang San marveled inwardly as he silently continued following Du Bai upward.


    The higher they climbed, the stronger the fluctuations of fortune became.


    Tang San noticed that among the climbing demons and nymphs, those higher up showed increasingly visible joy on their faces. Those with weaker spiritual power quickly sumbed to this joy. Once their self-awareness waspletely lost, people from the Celestial Fox Pce would take them down via side paths. Losing mental control meant they could no longer stay here, or they might sumb to spiritual decline.


    Tang San and Du Bai climbed slowly but steadily; both possessed ninth-order spiritual power, so they weren��t in any danger. After resolving the initial issues, even Du Bai was not easily swayed.


    As they climbed, the potent fortune intensified around them, enriching their vital energy and causing their eyes to brighten. Everything seemed to be improving. This feeling was truly wonderful!


    There were over two thousand steps, for an overall height of five hundred meters. After climbing more than a quarter of them, a faint auspicious cloud appeared. With each step they climbed, this cloud became more pronounced.


    Tang San silently absorbed the streams of fortune, sensing the changes between them. At the same time, he quietly observed the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain beneath his feet.


    <i>This is like an infinite flow of fortune! It''s enormous.</i>


    The higher he climbed, the more confident he became that the concentration of fortune in the mountains beneath him must be connected to the nar ruler.


    Whether the nar ruler was sentient or not, it should have instinctively felt that this method of concentrating fortune was not entirely beneficial for the ne''s growth. What did this mean? It likely meant that the Ancestral Court controlled the nar ruler, thus allowing the demon and nymph ns to grow stronger and rule this ce perpetually.


    In other words, the barrier between the ninth and tenth orders was not set by the nar ruler but by the Ancestral Court.


    Zhang Haoxuan��s bloodline wasn''t particrly strong, so when he broke through, he wasn''t severely challenged by the Ancestral Court. But it was different for Tang San. Once he was on the verge of a breakthrough, as long as the demon and nymph ns controlled the nar ruler, they could likely act against him, disrupting his breakthrough.


    However...


    At this thought, Tang San had a sudden idea. Assuming the nar ruler was an intelligent entity under the control of the Ancestral Court, it would make sense for it to want freedom. In that case, could it be persuaded to help Tang San conceal his presence and allow him to be a god?


    As an outsider God King, his divine consciousness could not be hidden during his ascension to the god level and would surely be detected, especially by the nar ruler. The first instinct upon sensing an outsider God King would be fear that he might overrun the entire ne, which could be a greater cmity than any posed by the demon and nymph ns. There was no way he would not be targeted.


    But even if that was the case, the current state of the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain made Tang San think of a possible opportunity.


    If the ne were entirely under the nar ruler��s control, negotiating terms for his ascension would be exceedingly tricky. However, if the nar ruler had lost some freedom and authority, perhaps there was a chance to persuade it.


    With this thought, Tang San deeply felt that his visit to the Ancestral Court and the climb of the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain had not been in vain, as they had revealed an avenue he might exploit.


    A smile unconsciously formed at the corners of his mouth.


    Just then, Tang San felt a sudden pain in his waist and turned his head to look beside him. He saw that it was Du Bai who had pinched his waist.


    "What are you doing?" Tang San asked, annoyed.


    Du Bai blinked, "I saw that mysterious smile on your face and was afraid you were getting lost in it."


    "I... Don''t worry, I won''t. Let''s speed up; there are too many demons and nymphs around here. The power of fortune here isn''t enough to give you enough insight," Tang San said as he climbed faster with Du Bai.


    Since there were so many climbers, their quiet eleration went unnoticed.


    They didn''t slow until they surpassed one-third of the steps. Those who made it this far were all strong-willed. More importantly, reaching this point also meant their cultivation was formidable.


    The power of fortune had be thicker here, and due to the Fortune Stone, just as pure. This pure force of fortune swirled around their bodies, stimting their bloodlines.


    Was that really all it was?


    The Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain felt great, significantly enhancing fortune. However, in a sense, the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain was the most powerful entity in the Ancestral Court. Was climbing it just for an enhancement of fortune? The insights weren''t entirely clear, were they?


    At the Sword Saint Sacred Mountain, the climbing process was continuously sprinkled with a sharp essence from the Sword Saint Pce, which strongly stimted those cultivating simr abilities and led to insights. Yet here it was merely an augmentation of fortune?


    Indeed, for most demons and nymphs, perhaps the mere augmentation of fortune was all they hoped for. However, for those who truly needed enlightenment, this wouldn''t be enough, would it?


    While pondering this, Tang San continued to climb upward with Du Bai.


    The power of fortune grew denser, and Du Bai''s climbing speed noticeably began to slow. And at about forty percent of the way, he finally stopped.


    "Little Tang, I''m afraid I can''t maintain my spiritual strength if we go higher."


    Tang San didn''t force him, saying, "Then stay here and cultivate. Stay alert; otherwise, you might expose yourself, and that could be fatal."


    "Yeah, don''t worry." Du Bai nodded firmly. "If my spiritual power fails, I''ll go down on my own. I won''t force it."


    "Alright, then I''ll continue up to see more." Tang San told Du Bai to stay put and meditate, absorbing the power of fortune. Although this power couldn''t directly affect Du Bai''s bloodline now, he could absorb it andbine it with his own bloodline once they returned to the hotel.


    Leaving Du Bai behind, Tang San continued climbing. His pace significantly quickened nwo that he didn��t need to pay attention to Du Bai.


    Both had ninth-order spiritual power, but Tang San''s was stronger than Du Bai''s. Not only was he at the peak of the ninth order, but he hadpressed it multiple times and he had a spirit core backed by his divine consciousness, so he wasn''t worried about losing his will here.


    Quickly, he reached the halfway point of the Celestial Fox Mountain''s steps.


    Here, the fortune was even denser, so much so that the scenery before him had be blurred, surrounded by thick fog. The auspicious clouds above even started to emit a faint golden hue. Was there a slight dampness emanating from these clouds��a rain of fortune?


    Such nourishment from the fortune made Tang San feelfortable in every limb; even his skin became more lustrous.


    Unlike the Sword Saint Pce, not losing oneself while climbing to this point required a solid foundation of ninth-order spiritual power!

 Chapter 370: Assimilating Misfortune

    <h4>Chapter 370: Assimting Misfortune</h4>


    The Celestial Fox Mountain didn''t demand much physical cultivation and posed little pressure in that regard, but it required considerable spiritual power. Whaty ahead remained uncertain.


    While pondering, Tang San took a step forward. At that moment, he suddenly shivered, and a look of surprise shed in his eyes.


    As soon as he took that step, the auspicious clouds above him suddenly vanished, or rather, they changed color. What was once pristine white turned pitch ck.


    Things were longer auspicious; now, an ominous sensation descended upon him.


    Tang San possessed the Discerning Eye of Heaven and cultivated the Celestial Fox Vision to the sixth order with Du Bai. He naturally understanding what this meant.


    This was... the descent of misfortune!


    Indeed, it was no longer fortune, but misfortune. The Fortune Stone beneath his feet seemed to vanish in an instant. All that remained was misfortune.


    Tang San took a deep breath, immediately stabilizing his body and standing still.


    Having previously absorbed a substantial amount of fortune power, these energies immediately began to contend with the external misfortune as it descended.


    It was an exceedingly bizarre sensation, as if everything around him started to spin wildly, everything bing unclear.


    He��d previously noticed that climbers were exceedingly rare starting halfway up. No wonder this was the case!


    Tang San had assumed that the scarcity of climbers had something to do with the fifty-percent mark, and there was something peculiar about it. Now, he realized that he��d been right. The lower part of the mountain was indeed nothing more than a pure blessing of fortune. The upper part, however, was the true test of the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, and the real opportunity as well.


    The confrontation between fortune and misfortune felt bizarre and confusing to the average bloodline bearer. However, it was different for Tang San, who possessed the Celestial Fox Vision. Insights kept emerging in his mind, instantaneously enhancing his understanding of fortune and misfortune.


    <i>This is great! Du Bai should really cultivate here. It would really help him master his own abilities and truly understand his bloodline.</i>


    As he mulled this over, Tang San slowly lifted his foot. His movements were slow yet exceedingly stable, maintaining his spiritual power within. His body radiated a tinum-colored halo from the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral,and with every move he made, he was as firm as a mountain!


    <i>Be it fortune or misfortune, I am now invulnerable to all!</i>


    With a solid step, he moved onto the next stair.


    Instantly, the fortune around him shifted again, and the intense misfortune that had been present simply dissipated, making everything seem clearer. The auspicious clouds gathered once more.


    <i>A new world with every step?</i>


    A jolt struck Tang San''s heart; he understood that the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor might be even more powerful than he had imagined.


    One step brought misfortune, and the next brought fortune. Such shifts gave a sense of relief. However, the fortune seemed to split apart soon after, as if a force was pulling him, urging him to continue forward.


    Tang San took a steady step forward.


    Suddenly, everything around him turned pitch-ck, so dark he couldn''t see his own hands, much less whaty ahead. In that instant, it felt as though countless dreadful misfortunes descended,unching a frenzied assault directly at his sea of consciousness.


    Tang San focused inwardly. At such times, the simplest way to counter such assaults was to unleash the Discerning Eye of Heaven to alter his fortune directly, but he obviously couldn''t do that��it would instantly expose him.


    The Lion-Tiger Golden Astral on Tang San ignited again, its tinum light ring intensely. The thick ck mist assaulting him was forcefully melted and devoured by the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral.


    Instantly, the tinum bloodline imprint of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral within Tang San was covered with ayer of dark mist.


    The assimtion property of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was truly potent. It had even temporarily assimted the misfortune around him!


    However, Tang San also felt that this misfortune needed to be released quickly, lest it subtly affect him over time.


    While thinking, the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral suddenly intensified, bursting into mes. It presented a bizarre scene; the inneryer was tinum, but there was an outeryer that burned with ck mes, releasing puffs of ck mist.


    If this were during a battle, the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral unleashed by Tang San would not only demonstrate formidable power but could also transfer misfortune directly to an opponent. This was the power of assimtion, and it was no wonder Tang San considered the fused Lion-Tiger bloodline to be a true first-tier bloodline.


    Even the Lion-Tiger n hadn''t fully grasped the robust attributes of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, yet Tang San was increasingly realizing its ingenious uses. If it could assimte even fortune, what couldn''t it do?


    "Ah!" He let out a light exmation, but then calmed down again.


    Tang San took another step forward as the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral burned around him.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    The surrounding darkness suddenly exploded, as if all the misfortune had been dispelled in that moment.


    Fortune descended once more, with vast amounts of fortune power gathering above Tang San''s head into a rain of golden light, washing away the remnants of misfortune and bringing him the aura of fortune again.


    However, at this moment, a strange glint flickered in Tang San''s eyes. His Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was still zing fiercely, yet the descending fortune power remained utterly unaffected and was not assimted.


    This meant that the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral could only assimte misfortune from the Celestial Fox Vision, not fortune.


    Did this mean that the assimtion ability could only assimte powers that would affect him negatively? Or was it because the Celestial Fox Transformation itself was powerful even among first-tier bloodlines and the Lion-Tiger bloodline could not entirely suppress it?


    Both possibilities were likely! But without a doubt, the misfortune-devouring power of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was already sufficient to allow Tang San to stand firm here.


    Tang San let the rain of fortune soak his body, only moving upward again as the rain began to abate.


    With each step he took, the fortune underwent drastic changes, and countless illusions appeared around him.


    But no matter what changes or illusions urred, for Tang San, there was only the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral!


    A powerful first-tier bloodlinebined with peak ninth-order spiritual power made each of his steps appear incredibly stable. His pace was not fast, but he moved steadily forward, step by step, toward the Celestial Fox Pce.


    Tang San knew he was definitely being watched. But this was exactly what he wanted.


    After passing through the Sword Saint Pce yesterday, he decided to follow his teacher''s advice and gain favor from as many pces as possible, which would benefit his uing ns.


    The demon and nymph ns were so powerful that even with his foundation as a former God King, he couldn''t oppose them before regaining his divinity. Thus, he first needed to integrate into one of these ns to disrupt the status quo. And since he had decided to join a demon n, and right now, this was preparation. The more favor he received now, the greater his influence when he eventually joined.


    As for which demon n he would join? He had naturally already made his choice.


    The moment he first stepped into Kali City and saw that girl selling milk tea, everything was destined.


    She wanted to be the next Peacock Great Demon King and maybe even the Peacock Demon Emperor, and of course, he would be by her side. Forever!


    Everything he was doing now was in preparation for her return.


    Step by step, he ascended; the fortune around him was undergoing bizarre changes, yet he always maintained control. Complete misfortune was followed by fortune; illusions and shifts abounded. Yet through all these changes, Tang San remained constant. As solid as a rock, as stable as Mount Tai.[1]


    He devoured the misfortune as it came, and epted the fortune when it arrived.


    1. Mount Tai is known as the eastern mountain of the Sacred Mountains of China. It is associated with sunrise, birth, and renewal. Most importantly, there is the phrase ����̩ɽ that trantes to ��the stability of Mount Tai,�� which in this case refers to Tang San��s steadiness and self-control. ?

 Chapter 371: Obtaining the Second Token

    <h4>Chapter 371: Obtaining the Second Token</h4>


    Tang San didn''t know how long he had been walking, but the sky had already darkened when he reached the top of the mountain and stepped onto thest stair.


    He had been climbing since morning, which meant it had taken him a full day to climb just five hundred meters.


    A golden rain of light bathed his body, nourishing his sea of consciousness. At that moment, everything seemed to be beautiful.


    Tang San stood in front of the Celestial Fox Pce, but he had no intention of going inside.


    Upon reaching this ce, all the pressure had disappeared. This meant that he had passed the Celestial Fox Pce''s test. Without using the Discerning Eye of Heaven or any other abilities, he had relied solely on the strength of his Lion-Tiger Golden Astral to reach the mountain peak.


    Only two of the six bloodline abilities within him could genuinely help him reach the Celestial Fox Pce: the Discerning Eye of Heaven and Lion-Tiger Golden Astral. Even the space maniption of the Peacock Transformation couldn''t achieve this.


    At this moment, Tang San still had no intention of going inside.


    He had encountered the Sword Saint Pce yesterday, where the Sword Saint Demon Emperor was ranked eighth among the nine Demon Emperors. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was ranked second. The gap was bound to be vast, and the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s spiritual power was likely the strongest in the Ancestral Court.


    If he truly caught the interest of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, Tang San didn''t believe that with his current abilities, he couldpletely conceal his divine consciousness from this Demon Emperor''s gaze. Especially since this Demon Emperor was the master of fate��what if it discovered that Tang San��s fate was beyond its control?


    Therefore, he stopped here.


    The reason he didn''t leave immediately was that he was waiting for something.


    Sure enough, after he had stood for about a minute, the light rain above his head gradually faded, and a gentle voice followed, "Why aren''t youing in?"


    Tang San looked in the direction of the voice.


    At some point, a woman had appeared not far from him.


    She looked to be in her thirties and she was incredibly beautiful, with a gentle smile. The most striking feature was the sevenrge fox tails standing upright behind her, gently swaying. Each tail was about five meters long and shimmered with a faint silver light, making it appear extraordinarily magnificent as it moved.


    Tang San''s heart trembled��seven tails meant she was a Celestial Fox Demon King. She gave him apletely different feeling from ordinary Demon Kings.


    He bowed slightly and said, "Because I might not be suited for the Celestial Fox Pce."


    The woman smiled and said, "How do you know you''re not suited if you don''t try? Under the blessing of the Demon Emperor, you might find you are suitable."


    Tang San smiled bitterly and said, "That''s exactly what I''m worried about. I''m afraid I might be unable to stay true to myself and lose my way. If that happens, all the hardships I endured to gain my mutated bloodline would be in vain."


    The Celestial Fox Demon King smiled slightly. "Your bloodline is very interesting. It''s apletely new bloodline that even I have never seen before, and it has the potential to be first-tier. Do you think the Celestial Fox Pce is unworthy of you? You should understand that reaching this point is already your limit as a human. To move forward, you need the favor of fate."


    Tang San intentionally disyed a proud expression. "The Celestial Fox Pce has always been a ce I''ve yearned for. However, if I am to join the Celestial Fox Pce, it must be after I be a Demon King. Otherwise, I feel I am not qualified. I hope my achievements will not rely on fortune but on my efforts. Only in this way will I be worthy of bing a member of the Celestial Fox Pce."


    The Celestial Fox Demon King chuckled. "You are an interesting human. No wonder you made it this far. You are the first human to pique my interest."


    Tang San smiled bitterly, "But I still don''t dare to step into the Celestial Fox Pce."


    The Celestial Fox Demon King said, "The fact that you��re able to restrain yourself and stay true to your heart makes me regard you more highly. Go now, and when you are ready,e back here. Whether you can be a member of the Celestial Fox Pce depends on whether you can turn your pride into reality."


    She waved her hand as she spoke, and a beam of white light shot toward Tang San. He hurriedly raised his hand to catch it.


    It felt warm to the touch. It looked like high-quality jade, perfectly round and pure white, with what seemed like smoke flowing inside.


    <i>A piece of Fortune Stone!</i>


    The Celestial Fox Demon King had vanished at some point, leaving only her voice echoing in the air.


    "When you return, bring this with you. Also, wearing it will help you."


    The second token was in hand!


    Tang San gripped the Fortune Stone, his gaze calm and resolute.


    Everything he said to the Celestial Fox Demon King was naturally a pretense. He didn''t hide his mutated bloodline because she would have seen through it. The tinum-colored Lion-Tiger Golden Astral had never appeared in this world before.


    The ability to absorb misfortune and transform it into his power was what the Celestial Fox Pce valued. That was why he had been given this token.


    It was a shame that he had encountered this seven-tailed Celestial Fox in the pce. If he had met her somewhere far from the Ancestral Court, he could��ve taken her blood. Then, maybe his and Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation could have reached seven tails.


    As long as he didn''t mind exhausting his divine consciousness, Tang San was confident he could defeat a seven-tailed Celestial Fox.


    However, he had to admit one thing��the Celestial Fox n was indeed beautiful!


    <i>Ahem, Mei Gongzi, Mei Gongzi, Mei Gongzi!</i>


    Tang San silently repeated Mei Gongzi''s name three times in his heart, and his mind immediately cleared!


    Without lingering any longer, Tang San turned and descended the mountain. When he reached the spot where Du Bai had been cultivating earlier, Du Bai was already gone.


    When he reached the mountain base, Tang San found the carriage still waiting for him. As soon as they saw him, the carriage door opened, and hispanions jumped out.


    Du Bai couldn''t help but say, "I thought��"


    As he began speaking, Wu Bingji stopped him and waved to Tang San. "Let''s get on the carriage first."


    The five of them got back into the carriage. Seeing the fatigue and relief on hispanions'' faces, Tang San understood that they had been waiting here after finishing their climb, worrying about him all the while. His heart warmed at the thought.


    "Little Tang, how did it go? How far did you climb? Why are you onlying down now? I couldn''t hold on past noon," Du Bai finally asked.


    Tang San extended his right hand and opened his palm. Immediately, a gentle wave of fortune emanated from the Fortune Stone.


    "This is..." Wu Bingji''s pupils contracted, and then he eximed, "The Celestial Fox Pce''s token? Did you reach the top?"


    Tang San nodded, "I got lucky and reached the peak. But I didn''t enter the Celestial Fox Pce; I was worried about attracting the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s attention. But they still gave me this token. They said I could join the Celestial Fox Pce after I''ve decided."


    "That''s amazing," Cheng Zicheng praised. "Eldest brother and I gave it our all today and only managed to climb about sixty percent of the way. Getting a token seems impossible for us this time around."


    Tang San said, "Don''t be discouraged. All the pce tests are designed for peak ninth-order powerhouses. You need to be at the peak of the ninth order and have a strong bloodline to have a chance at getting a token. I was just lucky, and my spiritual power is already at the peak of the ninth order, so I managed to get these two tokens."


    "Stop exining yourself, you��re making it worse," Gu Li said, rubbing his forehead.


    "Senior brother Gu Li, how did it go at the Crystal Pce? That''s the first pce!" Tang San asked him.


    Gu Li''s expression was strange: "Don''t mention it. It seemed like I was the only one trying to climb the mountain at the Crystal Pce today. When I paid, the guy collecting the money looked at me with pity. I didn''t understand at first. But when I started climbing, I got it. Three steps. I took all of three damn steps, and then it was over. Ten naturae coins, just like that..."

 Chapter 372: The Mysteries of the Crystal Palace

    <h4>Chapter 372: The Mysteries of the Crystal Pce</h4>


    "Three steps? Is it that hard?" Tang San said in surprise.


    Gu Li smiled bitterly, "The first step felt like nothing. On the second step, I felt like I had entered a bizarre world. Everything around me turned into a crystal world, sparkling and extraordinarily beautiful. When I stepped onto the third step, I met... I met myself."


    Tang San''s heart tightened. "You met <i>yourself</i>?"


    Gu Li nodded. "Yes, there was another one of me, and everything I could do, he could do too. Then he attacked me just like I would. Sadly, because it was so sudden, I couldn''t win. I was defeated. When I woke up, I had already been knocked down. The person collecting fees said I''d have to pay again if I wanted to try again. It''s a total rip-off!"


    Tang San frowned slightly. The Crystal Demon Emperor was known as the Omnipotent due to its bloodline ability, which apparently allowed it to replicate all other abilities. What were this ability��s limitations?


    The third step essentially created a replica of Gu Li. The implication seemed to be<i> if you can''t even defeat yourself, what right do you have to climb my Crystal Sacred Mountain?</i>


    That was likely the case. It was genuinely mysterious!


    Since arriving at the Ancestral Court, the five members of the Shrek Squad had their eyes opened. Everything was so peculiar.


    Gu Li looked pitifully at Tang San. "Tang San, what should I do?"


    "Why couldn''t you defeat an opponent with the same abilities as you? Have you thought about it?"


    Gu Li was stunned for a moment. "Well... He was very familiar with my abilities and seemed to use them even better than I did."


    Tang San smiled slightly and nodded. "Exactly. He had the same abilities as you but used them better. Can''t you learn from that? Even if you couldn''t win, couldn''t you havested longer? The more you do it, the more familiar you be with your abilities and the better you can apply them. Time is supreme; even the abilities of a first-tier bloodline can��tpare to yours. Senior brother Gu, you need to work harder! How about this? Tomorrow, I''ll go with you to experience the mysteries of the Crystal Pce."


    "Great! If youe with me, that would be wonderful." Gu Li was overjoyed. Just like Du Bai and the others, he now also saw Tang San as the team��s anchor.


    "What about me?" Du Bai looked at Tang San pitifully.


    Tang San nced at him and said, "Senior brother Du, you will continue. Remember, when you climb to the halfway point, at the first step past the halfway mark, you''ll encounter a bacsh of misfortune, and the next step you��ll get fortune again. You should train on these two steps to help you master your control of fortune. You can''t go any higher than that. With your cultivation level, you can''t handle it."


    "Oh, okay." Du Bai felt a bit down. Without Tang San apanying him, he always felt uneasy.


    Tang San looked at Wu Bingji and said, "Eldest brother, tomorrow you and sister Zicheng should continue at the Sword Saint Pce. The day after, we''ll switch locations."


    Wu Bingji sighed, "It feels like time is running out! I''d love to stay here longer if we had enough money and time. Training in the Ancestral Court is so much faster than in Kali City. It''s apletely different world. Now I understand why you insisted on getting us noble status and bringing us here."


    Tang San chuckled helplessly. "How could that be my idea? I didn��t know anything about the Ancestral Court; all of that came from my master. Let''s work hard together. As for long-term training here, it''s not impossible, but right now it��s not the best idea. Once we gain some insights, we should go back and digest them, and thene backter. Don''t worry about the money, eldest brother; I have a way to handle it."


    Wu Bingjiughed. "Yes, having money sure makes things easier."


    Although they spent many naturae coins each day to train at the pces, he genuinely believed it was worth it after two days. This refining process immensely benefited their future attempts to reach god level.


    Compared to theziness of most noble demons and nymphs, diligence was one of humanity''s strengths. They simply didn''t know what fatigue was.


    The carriage moved smoothly along the street. After briefly discussing their training experiences, everyone closed their eyes to rest. A day of climbing, training, enduring pressure, and gaining insights had taken a toll on them. But it was all worth iting to the Ancestral Court had truly opened the door to this world for them.


    Tang San held the Fortune Stone, silently feeling the abundant fortune power within it. He pondered and reflected on everything he had encountered in the Ancestral Court. These experiences were especially significant to him, providing great insights that helped him figure out a direction for his future.


    After returning to the hotel and eating a simple meal, they returned to their rooms to rest.


    Tang San returned to his room, his mind still filled with the changes in fortune he had sensed today. Although he hadn''t used the Discerning Eye of Heaven throughout the process, he remembered the myriad transformations of fortune. Moreover, he still had a lot of the power of fortune stored within him.


    Now that he was back, there was no need to worry about being sensed by the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. He went to the training room and lifted the seal on his Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    Instantly, the Discerning Eye of Heaven seemed to sense something, and the power of fortune umted within him began to surge violently.


    The imprint of the Discerning Eye of Heaven suddenly brightened, transforming into a white vortex that voraciously absorbed the massive power of fortune into itself.


    Tang San''s Celestial Fox Transformation was now at the sixth order, just like Du Bai��s, and his manifestation also had three tails. At this moment, under the influence of the Discerning Eye of Heaven''s fortune absorption, he felt his bloodline imprint improving.


    His perception of fortune seemed to be subtly increasing as well.


    Without a doubt, fortune was one of the most challenging abilities to master, even for the Celestial Fox n. However, with a literal mountain of fortune in the Ancestral Court, cultivating and controlling fortune for the Celestial Fox n was unquestionably much easier.


    At the same time, after experiencing today''s climb, Tang San also realized that he had been right to warn Du Bai about the bacsh. It was clear as daylight: the deeper one cultivated the power of fortune, the greater the bacsh of misfortune. Thus, the higher the advancement, the more difficult it became for the Celestial Fox n. If not careful, they could fall victim to misfortune, especially considering that the Celestial Fox n had littlebat ability to speak of.


    The more fortune was used, the more misfortune umted, and if that misfortune was not released every now and then, it could well end up causing a cmity.


    Thinking of this, Tang San''s pupils contracted sharply as he realized a crucial issue.


    Throughout many generations of Celestial Fox Demon Emperors, they had almost gathered all the fortune of the entire Fn in the Ancestral Court, forming the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain. With that, the demons and nymphs received all the blessings of the.


    <i>If they gathered so much fortune power here that it actually solidified into a literal mountain, it means they manipted fortune to a ridiculous extent. In which case, there has to be an equal amount of misfortune produced, and that misfortune is...where?</i>


    When the Celestial Foxes gathered the��s fortune here, what did they do with the misfortune? Was it spread across the entire or was it stored somewhere?


    Undoubtedly, whoever obtained this entire fortune would be the first to suffer when the misfortune erupted.


    Thinking of this, even his heart couldn''t help but race. He seemed to have found something that could genuinely threaten the rule of the demons and nymphs.

 Chapter 373: The Replica

    <h4>Chapter 373: The Replica</h4>


    Taking a deep breath, Tang San let his emotions gradually calm down.


    With his current abilities, it was evident that he couldn''t interfere with these matters yet.


    Only by bing stronger first, would he have the right to reach for these things.


    He had already obtained the tokens from two Sacred Mountains; next were the others.


    Tomorrow, he would visit the Crystal Pce.


    Gu Li''s encounter today had piqued Tang San''s interest. As the strongest in the entire Ancestral Court and even the whole Daemon Continent, what kind of wonders could the Crystal Demon Emperor bring?


    Tang San also wanted to see what would happen if he was replicated. Would all of his abilities be copied, or just a part?


    Few climbers have climbed the Crystal Sacred Mountain, but if one could genuinely ascend it and arrive before the Crystal Pce, what kind of token would they receive?


    Thinking of this, he had already decided to take a trip to the Crystal Sacred Mountain tomorrow and see his own reflection.


    He focused his thoughts, gradually meditating, digesting the day''s gains, and restoring his spiritual power.


    Whether it was the Sword Saint Pce or the Celestial Fox Pce, the two days of climbing had been most beneficial for his spiritual power.


    Spiritual power nurtured his divine consciousness, the most crucial aspect of all Tang San''s cultivation. Only when his divine consciousness was truly strong would it be his trump card, allowing him to summon the power from his previous life when necessary.


    Although he had only been in the Ancestral Court for a few days, Tang San already felt that this trip was worthwhile. Everything he saw, heard, and experienced gave him a deeper understanding of this world and brought him many benefits.


    It seemed that he indeed needed to stay a bit longer this time.


    As the first ray of sunlight fell into the room from outside in the morning, Tang San woke up gradually in the cultivation chamber.


    His mind was serene, and everything seemed so incredible.


    The divine consciousness at the core of his spiritual power seemed to be more refined, and all his spiritual power was denser and more solid.


    If a powerful individual could see his sea of consciousness at this moment, they would find that the spiritual power hadpletely transformed into a viscous liquid, several times denser than ordinary spiritual power. His sea of consciousness had also be wider, with ample space for more.


    In terms of intensity, his spiritual power was still at the peak of the ninth order, but in total amount, it surpassed thebined spiritual power of three peak ninth-order practitioners.


    Such immense spiritual power naturally provided better nourishment for his divine consciousness.


    Even though the conversion efficiency might be no more than one in ten thousand, Tang San was still pleased with it.


    After breakfast, hispanions were all in high spirits. The past few days of climbing had indeed been wonderful, despite spending a bit more money.


    On their next departure, Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng still went to the Sword Saint Pce, while Du Bai could only go to the Celestial Fox Pce.


    This time, however, Tang San and Gu Li got off the carriage in front of the Crystal Sacred Mountain of the Crystal Pce.


    The carriage sped away, taking Du Bai to the Celestial Fox Pce.


    Tang San looked up, gazing at the number one pce in the entire Ancestral Court.


    The Crystal Sacred Mountain, where the Crystal Pce was located, was very tall, seemingly even taller than the Celestial Fox Pce. Clouds and mist hidden the upper part of the towering peak, making the actual Crystal Pce invisible.


    Therefore, the real Crystal Pce could not be seen either.


    The mountain had a hazy beauty, with a special kind of misty radiance that exuded a faint glow.


    This glow was mysteriously diffused into the air, impossible to see through no matter how one looked. It was filled with a sense of mystery.


    Gu Li was also looking at the Crystal Sacred Mountain before him, his expression somewhatplex.


    To be honest, his gains yesterday were the least. He inexplicably lost and was eliminated, wasting ten naturae coins just like that.


    At least, in his view, it was a waste, so he had been pondering all night how he could defeat a replica of himself.


    If he couldn''t even defeat himself, how could he continue forward?


    "Let''s go," Tang San''s voice said beside him. Gu Li quickly followed him.


    When the two arrived before the Crystal Sacred Mountain, guards naturally stopped them and collected the fee. As Tang San paid, he even felt a hint of pity in the guards'' eyes.


    Just then, a male who seemed to be from the Tiger Demon n walked out with a look of frustration. His expression and eyes revealed that his previous climb had not been pleasant.


    But this only made Tang San more curious about the Crystal Sacred Mountain.


    He asked the guard, "Is it just as difficult for a Demon King-level expert to climb the mountain?"


    The guard replied coldly, "ording to the rules, all Sacred Mountains are the same. Demon Kings and above are not allowed to climb. Don''t you even know this basic fact?"


    Tang San honestly didn''t know this. Upon hearing it, he said, "I see. We''re from out of town and just arrived, so we weren''t aware. Thanks for the information."


    "Go on in," the guard said, not saying much more as he stepped aside.


    Tang San and Gu Li had to pay twenty naturae coins to enter. At this moment, Gu Li was already gritting his teeth, clearly determined to beat himself no matter what.


    "Senior brother Gu Li, rx a bit. Since the opponent you face has all the same abilities as you, their weaknesses will naturally be the same too. I think you should start from that angle. Only you truly understand yourself. While your mirror image may have the same abilities and might even use them more perfectly, it''s still not you. It can''t have as much insight."


    Hearing Tang San''s words, Gu Li''s eyes lit up. "I think I get it now. Little Tang, you go ahead and start climbing. I''ll stay here and think for a bit. I feel like I''ve figured something out."


    He was naturally intelligent; otherwise, he wouldn''t have grasped the mysteries of time. After Tang San''s reminder, he had clearly caught onto something.


    Tang San smiled and nodded, then naturally stepped forward. Soon, he arrived at the front of the Crystal Sacred Mountain.


    Up close, the hazy, misty feeling gradually disappeared, revealing stairs carved like crystal. They were magnificent, and the refracted light from the crystal stairs was dazzling and mesmerizing.


    Tang San naturally wouldn''t be disturbed by the light. Focusing his mind inward, he stepped forward, already ascending the first step.


    At that moment, his body suddenly trembled. Tang San clearly felt an inexplicable force approaching his body.


    No, using the term "invade" was somewhat inurate. This strange energy didn''t bring him any pain or impact. Describing it as a scan might be more appropriate.


    Tang San smiled slightly. The Blue Silver Emperor''s imprint radiated brilliantly in his dantian. Under his deliberate stimtion, the Blue Silver Emperor''s brilliance covered his entire dantian, overshadowing the light from the other imprints.


    Then he took the second step, stepping onto the second level of the staircase.


    This time, an invisible energy descended from above. It was a mental force wanting to prate his sea of consciousness directly.


    Tang San guarded his mind internally, causing his sea of consciousness to spin violently under his control. It emitted the aura of a peak ninth-order spiritual power, yet he prevented the energy from truly entering his sea of consciousness.


    Then he took the third step, ascending the step that had blocked Gu Li''s path yesterday.


    In that instant, his body seemed to be transparent, giving him a feeling ofplete exposure. Immediately after, the surrounding scenery underwent a dramatic transformation.


    Tang San found himself in a unique space. The ground was made of sparkling crystal, and in the distance, everything seemed to fade into nothingness, making it appear that this space was boundless.


    Looking down, he saw his own shadow on the crystal floor. Then, he watched as the shadow slid away into the distance, moving several tens of meters before suddenly standing upright, appearing right in front of Tang San. The shadow on the ground vanished.

 Chapter 374: Three Consecutive Wins

    <h4>Chapter 374: Three Consecutive Wins</h4>


    Replication! This must be another of the Omnipotent Crystal Demon Emperor''s signature moves. Knowing it''s a replica yet unable to counter, it was likely where the Crystal Demon Emperor''s strength lies.


    The "Tang San" opposite him had a gleam in his eyes, locking his gaze on the real Tang San. The next moment, vines surged from his body, rapidly growing and rushing towards Tang San.


    Blue Silver Emperor!


    Tang San himself also released vines quickly, but instead of entangling "Tang San," they coiled around, formingyers of barriers.


    Soon, "Tang San''s" vines reached swiftly, with sharp thorns protruding from the taut vines. A faint mist spread, indicating poison, and as the vines trembled, many tiny seeds drifted silently, sweeping toward Tang San.


    These were all abilities that Tang San had bestowed upon the Blue Silver Emperor through continuous evolution.


    Tang San stood still, unaffected, as the vines around him spun violently, forming a vortex. His controlled vines immediately swept aside any vine approaching him, and the airflow generated by the vortex prevented any seeds froming close.


    At the same time, the Blue Silver Emperor released by Tang San also scattered seeds, spreading towards the "Tang San" opposite him.


    The Blue Silver Emperor vines around "Tang San" also started spinning, mirroring Tang San''s technique exactly, dispersing the seeds.


    <i>A replica that can learn?</i>


    A smile appeared on Tang San''s lips, his eyes revealing immense confidence.


    It can learn, huh? Then let''s see how well it can learn from me.


    Vines suddenly shot up, rapidly rushing towards "Tang San."


    "Tang San" also released vines, aiming to pierce the real Tang San.


    But at that moment, the vines Tang San released twisted together mid-air, forming a gigantic spear.


    The spear itself glowed with a brilliant blue light, and in the next instant, its speed surged, transforming into a lightning bolt aimed directly at the replica.


    The replica was stunned momentarily, its surrounding vines rising to block the attack. But just then, vines suddenly sprouted from its feet, forming a cage and trapping it in ce.


    With a puff, the giant spear pierced the replica''s chest. The replica froze momentarily, then turned into a shadow, flowing back to Tang San''s feet.


    The vines retracted, and everything around him returned to normal. Tang San saw himself standing on the third step of the staircase.


    At that moment, another person appeared beside him��Gu Li.


    Gu Li, standing on the third step, trembled slightly. He was clearly in an illusion, likely battling his own replica.


    Tang San could trounce his replica because the replica could replicate his abilities but not his memories.


    The Blue Silver Emperor was one of the most powerful abilities in his previous life, having defeated countless opponents.


    In Douluo Continent, the Blue Silver Emperor had powerful skills known as spirit abilities.


    In this world, the spirit rings from Douluo Continent were gone, but Tang San could still activate the same abilities of the Blue Silver Emperor.


    So, the replica had just faced Tang San��s fourth spirit ability, Blue Silver Prison, and the fifth spirit ability, Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear, from his previous life.


    With both spirit abilities unleashed simultaneously, how could a replica that only had the basic abilities and instincts of the Blue Silver Emperor withstand them? These weren''t bloodline talents but skills it couldn''t replicate through scanning.


    Tang San stepped forward again, ascending the fourth step. The scanning sensation returned, even stronger this time, as if determined to see through him.


    The Blue Silver Emperor''s imprint radiated brilliantly, covering his entire body. This Blue Silver Emperor wasn''t a nt native to this world but had evolved through Tang San''s repeated absorption of other nts. It had many characteristics, but its true powery in Tang San''s control.


    He continued to the fifth step, and the mental scan reappeared. However, with Tang San''s spiritual power concentrated inward, the scan could probe but not prate.


    At the sixth step, the scenery changed again, returning to the previous illusion.


    Like before, the shadow flowed into the distance and reformed into the replica. This time, the replica immediately waved its hand toward Tang San, releasing the Blue Silver Prison, attempting to control him.


    However, Tang San had already used the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, dodging just before the Blue Silver Prison could rise.


    The replica''s hand formed the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear, and its aura locked onto Tang San instantly.


    Tang San raised his hand towards the replica, and a bunch of vines scattered, forming arge in the air, diverting the thrusting Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear off course.


    At the same time, anotherrge enveloped the replica as it recoiled from releasing the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear.


    This replica''s learning ability was indeed strong. It had learned the abilities Tang San had previously used, making him face a stronger version of himself.


    Tang San had begun to understand some of the trials of the Crystal Sacred Mountain.


    When ordinary demon and nymph ns came here, their bloodlines and innate abilities were scanned and immediately replicated. Then, they had to face an opponent with all their abilities but who used them even better. Thus, most powerful beings likely couldn''t get past the third step.


    To defeat a replicated version of oneself meant having a deeper understanding of one''s bloodline power, developing abilities that couldn''t be easily replicated.


    Or, like Tang San advised Gu Li, using one''s own weaknesses to ovee the enemy.


    However, after one failure and continuing to climb, one would face a version of oneself that had resolved the previous battle''s issues, bing stronger and more perfect.


    One failure for the replica was a growth opportunity.


    Such a trial was undoubtedly challenging. To continue climbing, one had to defeat the replica. To defeat the replica, one needed abilities that couldn''t be easily copied or the ability to identify and exploit one''s own weaknesses.


    However, everything one did would be learned by the replica, to be faced again with the next replica.


    The Crystal Sacred Mountain had over a thousand steps, which was why there were hardly any climbers. Who could continuously face increasingly perfect and stronger versions of themselves?


    Tang San, however, could do it. For him, as long as he didn''t reveal his abilities, the Crystal Sacred Mountain could only replicate what he wanted it to.


    Thatrge was the third spirit ability of the Blue Silver Emperor from Tang San''s previous life, Spider Web Restraint.


    Two prepared Spider Web Restraints,bined with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, allowed him to defeat the second replica again.


    Continuing upward, Tang San climbed to the ninth step.


    The third replica had already mastered the step of the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track that Tang San used to dodge, as well as Spider Web Restraint, Blue Silver Prison, and Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear.


    With the same abilities, Tang San was intimately familiar with himself. With his God King-level perfect control, how could he lose, even if the abilities were the same?


    However, he didn''t want to waste too much time, so he used something else: Controlling Crane Catching Dragon!


    A supreme Tang Sect technique, Controlling Crane Catching Dragon.


    Controlling Crane Catching Dragon might not deflect an overpowering attack like the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear, but it had no problem deflecting Spider Web Restraint.


    He closed in using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track,pletely outmatching the replica''s use of the same technique. Once close, the battle was over.


    Three consecutive wins!

 Chapter 375: Three Replicas

    <h4>Chapter 375: Three Replicas</h4>


    After three victories, the scenery before Tang San suddenly changed. When he reappeared on Crystal Sacred Mountain, he was surprised to find that he was no longer on the original ninth step but halfway up the mountain. Gu Li was somewhat blurry in the distance.


    So, it wasn''t about facing hundreds of replicas one after the other? That made sense. Otherwise, with continuous evolution and replication, each battle would consume physical energy and bloodline power. The climber would be exhausted to death, making it impossible to pass the test.


    It seemed the number of trials was limited. The first three must have been the introductory tests.


    On the surface the Crystal Pce''s trials didn''t benefit the examinees, but that was really just on the surface. In fact, the benefits from the Crystal Pce were likely greater than those from other pces; the trials provided self-reflection.


    By constantly battling oneself, finding and solving personal issues, and continually breaking through and improving, it was undoubtedly excellent training for the strong. Of course, losing once meant losing ten naturae coins, so it was also excellent training for the rich.


    Tang San could even guess that when the Crystal Pce first introduced this test, many strong individuals attempted it, and the pce must have made a lot of money.


    Butter, people realized it was too costly. Not everyone could defeat themselves in just one or two tries. Some likely couldn''t even defeat their first replica after dozens or even hundreds of attempts.


    After all, most demon and nymph ns had only one bloodline, with obvious abilities and talents. Defeating a version of oneself that could use said abilities better was no easy task.


    Tang San silently felt the changes in the surrounding aura. He found that the changes in the spiritual energy were most noticeable halfway up the mountain.


    The spiritual energy around him had be noticeably fuller and was extremely pure, without any specific attributes. This energy could be directly converted into bloodline power.


    Clearly, this was meant for the examinees to recover and rest.


    Tang San hadn''t expended much energy, so without pausing for too long, he stepped onto the next level of the staircase.


    This time, there was no scanning sensation. However, Tang San suddenly felt some pressure.


    He continued upward, and after he climbed three more steps, the scenery changed again. He was shifted back to the previous crystal illusion.


    The shadow at Tang San''s feet detached and slid into the distance. However, Tang San''s pupils immediately contracted.


    The shadow split into three, forming three figures in front of him. Yes, this time there were three replicas of Tang San!


    <i>Is this how the difficulty increases?! This is cheating! It''s a geometric increase in difficulty!</i>


    Facing three of yourself in this unique isted space��how could an ordinary demon or nymph ovee such a challenge?


    While Tang San was internally shocked, the three replicas had alreadyunched their attack.


    A Spider Web Restraint came straight at Tang San, while a Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear was being formed. Even more terrifying, numerous Blue Silver Emperor vines frantically sprouted from the ground, covering a 100-meter area with Tang San at the center.


    Blue Silver Thrust! Tang San had used this before. However, with three replicas deploying it simultaneously, the coverage area wasrger, and the power naturally greater, sealing all escape routes.


    "You guys are good!" Tang San murmured. One against three��if he only had the Blue Silver Emperor, then even with superior techniques, defeating these three replicas wouldn''t be easy, and he might fail.


    The most terrifying aspect of these replicas was their timing and their mastery of using abilities. Their cooperation was wless, not merely a simple release of skills.


    Unfortunately for them, they were facing more than just the Blue Silver Emperor in him!


    When Tang San arrived at the Crystal Pce, he was prepared to reveal at least two bloodlines. Though rare, having two bloodlines was not unheard of. Mei Gongzi, for example, had two bloodlines, and they were both first-tier at that!


    Thinking of this, Tang San wondered what would happen if Mei Gongzi''s White Tiger Transformation and his own Lion-Tiger Transformation werebined.


    This thought shed through Tang San''s mind, and at the same time, incandescent mes surged up around him.


    Whether it was the Blue Silver Thrust or the approaching Spider Web Restraint, both turned to ashes instantly. Tang San''s right hand reached out and caught the lightning-fast Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear, which also quickly burned.


    The massive strength granted by the Lion-Tiger Transformation made it impossible for the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear to break through his defenses.


    Then Tang San moved, using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track along with the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral! He was unstoppable!


    Half a minuteter, the three replicas had turned back into shadows, returning to Tang San.


    This time, after the shadows returned, Tang San clearly felt that he had gained some new insights. The experiences from the three shadows during their battle had deepened his understanding of the Blue Silver Emperor.


    This could be considered cheating. Using the first-tier Lion-Tiger bloodline, he had forcibly defeated the three replicas. Otherwise, if it had been Blue Silver Emperor against Blue Silver Emperor, the experience would have been more profound. Of course, he would have been very likely to fail.


    Standing still for a moment, he pondered on these new insights.


    When he stepped onto the stairs again, a powerful scanning force instantly descended upon him as if trying to peel him apart and examine every cell.


    The Lion Tiger Golden Astral burned fiercely, covering everything, even the Blue Silver Emperor''s imprint. The powerful first-tier bloodline was scanned.


    This time, the scanning took noticeably longer.


    From the previous battle, Tang San realized that during the fight, the replicas could directly learn his techniques for controlling his bloodline abilities. However, they couldn''t learn the bloodline power itself during the fight. So when Tang San suddenly used the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, the three replicas from the previous round couldn''t learn it.


    But it was clear that in the next round, he would face the abilities of the Lion-Tiger Transformation <i>and</i> the Blue Silver Emperor.


    The Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, being a first-tier bloodline power, would be much harder to deal with.


    Tang San could have used the Golden Roc Transformation or the Chrono Croc Transformation to defeat the three replicas. However, he had already used the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral in the Sword Saint Pce and the Celestial Fox Pce. He couldn''t reveal too much! Who knew if these pces shared information? Two bloodlines might be considered eptable, but three or four would likely lead to him being caught and used as a research sample.


    So, Tang San chose the Lion-Tiger Transformation. He felt that the Crystal Pce''s actual test wouldn''t have too many rounds. Facing three replicas was already an insurmountable challenge under normal circumstances. If the tests got any harder, who could handle them? Since it was a test, there had to be some chance of passing!


    Finally, the scan ended, and his sluggish body could move again. When Tang San stepped onto the stairs again, he was once more transported to the crystal battlefield. Three shadows flowed out from his feet and solidified in the distance.


    This time, Tang San didn''t wait for the three shadows to finish condensing; he moved first.


    Without a doubt, this round he would be facing three replicas that had both the Lion-Tiger Transformation and the Blue Silver Emperor''s abilities. He couldn''t afford to be asposed as before and reveal the bare minimum of his abilities. He had to seize the initiative.

 Chapter 376: Tang Sans Spear Techniques!

    <h4>Chapter 376: Tang San''s Spear Techniques!</h4>


    It took about two seconds for the three shadows to separate from beneath him, condense in the distance, and join the battle. Two seconds wasn''t long, but it was not short either, and Tang San knew all too well that he needed to use every advantage to win such a battle.


    The time it took for the shadows to change was worth exploiting. He hadn��t utilized it before because he had no need��the advice he had given Gu Li about exploiting weaknesses was just for Gu Li.


    But this time was different. Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral suddenly burst out, emitting dazzling tinum mes behind him, propelling him almost instantly to the shadow in the middle. He was moving at full speed, and he was actually slightly faster than the shadow''s flow!


    The energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique frantically circted within him. His left hand condensed the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear, and his right hand threw a Spider Web Restraint toward the two figures forming on either side. At the same time, his eyes emitted tinum light. The moment the shadow condensed into a replica��behind him, due to how fast he moved��he abruptly stopped and turned around, mming his shoulder into the replica��s back!


    The central shadow seemed to sense the danger. The moment it condensed, its Lion-Tiger Golden Astral began to burn. However, Tang San was already prepared and attacked with intent, so this strikended square.


    With a muffled bang, the tinum mes on the central replica were instantly dispersed, and its back caved in.


    Tang San''s right hand, held straight like a de, thrust forward. Using Lion-Tiger Golden Astral against Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, he broke through the opponent''s protective energy and reached its spine. Then, he bent his fingers at the first knuckle and, using the recoil of the initial stab, surged forward again, striking the replica''s spine. He then used the recoil once more to quickly form a fist, delivering a final punch to the same spot.


    These three consecutive strikes werepleted in a sh.


    Inch Force!


    Through previous observations, Tang San realized that these replicas could immediately replicate bloodline abilities and, to some extent,bat experience. They also rearranged these abilities to make the replicated bloodline abilities more powerful.


    However,bat techniques could only be replicated after Tang San had used them. Clearly, skills that required prior training weren''t as easily copied.


    In addition, the replicas could learn Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track but couldn''t use it properly without having learned the Mysterious Heaven Technique. The Mysterious Heaven Technique couldn''t be replicated because it wasn''t a bloodline ability and was hidden very deep anyway. Simrly, Controlling Crane Catching Dragon couldn''t be replicated.


    Tang San''s instant burst of Inch Force was a sub-skill also based on the Mysterious Heaven Technique. Even though he had lost the power of his past life, he was still a grandmaster of closebat. With experience from three lifetimes, his practicalbat knowledge was immense.


    With a crack, Tang San''s punch instantly broke the central replica''s spine.


    Tang San didn''t pause for a moment. He didn''t bother with the replica burning away the Spider Web Restraint with its Lion-Tiger Golden Astral. Instead, he shed toward the replica that had just shattered his Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear.


    Another Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear condensed in his hand. Tang San took a deep breath, and his entire body seemed to swell up. The spear in his hand was immediately covered in brilliant tinum mes.


    Hundreds of spear lights suddenly blossomed, shining brilliantly in the air like a dazzling tinum rain.


    This replica clearly didn''t know how to respond. It also burned with Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, and the Blue Silver Emperor turned into arge covering Tang San. At the same time, it was also condensing a Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear in its hand.


    But how could it deal with the countless spear lights so easily?


    Wherever the spear lights went, the Spider Web Restraint turned to dust almost instantly. More terrifyingly, the countless spear lights suddenly converged into one, with all the tinum light focusing into a single point, piercing through the air.


    The replica''s Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear found the precise spot, and the two spears shed almost instantaneously.


    The replica''s Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear shattered instantly. Although it had also infused its spear with Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, how could itpare to Tang San, whobined physical power, bloodline power, and spiritual power, and used a proper spear technique to blend them into a seamless whole?


    This technique was Fury of the Masses!


    <i>Pfff!</i>


    The spear pierced through the replica��s chest, and Tang San��s Lion-Tiger Golden Astral burned fiercely, devouring the replica''s energy to strengthen itself.


    The tinum color in Tang San''s eyes seemed to overflow under the influence of this devouring.


    At that moment, a piercing scream came from behind him.


    Even without looking back, Tang San knew what wasing. He used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, twisting his body deftly in mid-air.


    At the same time, his physical power, bloodline power, and spiritual power once more fusedpletely. As he twisted his body, tinum light burst from his eyes, and the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear in his hand seemed to be transparent.


    The tinum spear light shed and disappeared like lightning, carrying all of Tang San''s power, vanishing almost as if it teleported.


    Thest replica froze in mid-air.


    Its hands were not just broken, but shattered. Yes, it had grabbed the spear, but the spear was unstoppable.


    Spear Technique: All-or-Nothing!


    A self-sacrificial spear technique that fused one''s essence, energy, and spirit into a single, unreserved strike, withplete disregard of the consequences!


    This spear strike represented the pinnacle of Tang San''s current offensive power, even stronger than Fury of the Masses. To execute this technique at such a high speed required immense foundation, experience, and mastery. Otherwise, it would take significant time to build the necessary power.


    Tang San staggered slightly before steadying himself, but he couldn''t hide the smile on his lips. He had done it!


    This was the first time sinceing to this world that he had indeed used some of thebat techniques from his previous life in battle. And his opponent was himself, of all people!


    With his intelligence, he naturally knew how to exploit the replicas�� weaknesses. The techniques he brought from his past life weren''t something the replicas could quickly learn.


    He had realized from the get-go that Crystal Sacred Mountain''s replication ability was limited. It couldn''t perfectly replicate every detail. Such a perfect replication ability didn''t exist even in the true God Realm.


    The three shadows rejoined and merged with Tang San, transmitting an even stronger sense of experience into his sea of consciousness. The various sensations the three replicas felt while facing him were also part of it.


    The scenery in front of him was once more that of Crystal Sacred Mountain, but Tang San was once more surprised to see that he was no longer halfway up the mountain. Instead, he had reached a position near the summit.


    Ahead, there was heavy fog, but he could vaguely see the outline of a majestic pce.


    But in front of Tang San, there were still three steps left��the final three steps.


    At the beginning of the climb, he faced one replica of himself three times. Halfway up, he faced three replicas of himself twice.


    There were three steps left, which naturally meant his test wasn''t over, but it was nearing its end.


    However, Tang San''s expression turned somewhat grim because he realized something. He didn''t hurry to climb but sat down where he was, quietly recovering his energy.


    Although his bloodline power seemed barely depleted after the battle, his mind was indeed drained. To face what was likely the final test, he needed to be in his best condition.

 Chapter 377: Nine Tang Sans

    <h4>Chapter 377: Nine Tang Sans</h4>


    After experiencing three rounds of one replica and two rounds of three replicas, the Crystal Pce''s test wasn''t over yet. What did this mean?


    Tang San was neither an idiot nor bad at math. Thisst test would be just one more round since only three steps remained, that much was clear. So, how many replicas would there be? The second round had three times the number of the first round. If the third round also had three times the number of the second round...


    Tang San realized he was likely in trouble and couldn''t help but think sarcastically, <i>I��m sure a whole lot of normal demons and nymphs can pass this test!</i>


    Facing three replicas, he could still seize every opportunity avable, but how could he cope if the replicas became nine and all his bloodline abilities were copied?


    Tang San felt helpless. No matter what he did, he would lose. Either he went through with it and was forced to reveal some real power in order to pass the test, or he gave up and lost the possible reward.


    He was genuinely hesitant.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor was the First Emperor��the head of the Ancestral Court�� and the most powerful being among all demon and nymph races. It had existed for over two thousand years, and Tang San... was ultimately human. If he could pass all these trials, what would that mean? The Crystal Demon Emperor would undoubtedly see his true strength��the fact that he had more than two bloodlines, peak ninth-order spiritual power, and great potential for growth. Would it allow someone like Tang San to exist?


    Tang San''s impulse to challenge thest trial gradually subsided. He calmly dismissed the idea of continuing upward. There was no doubt in his mind as to whether he could defeat nine of himself, but the extent of what he would need to reveal in order to do so was unpredictable.


    As his energy gradually recovered, Tang San stood up again, looking at the somewhat ethereal Crystal Pce not far ahead. Resolutely, he turned around, preparing to head down the mountain.


    But at that moment, with a sudden buzz, a powerful suction force came from behind, halting his step downward. He was then pulled upward.


    A crystal-clear light enveloped his entire body, rendering him immobile. It seemed as if all time and space around him had been locked in that instant.


    The scanning sensation he had felt before reappeared.


    <i>I can''t leave?</i>


    Tang San was shocked. He hadn''t encountered such a situation in any of the other pces!


    Use divine consciousness to force his way out? That was impossible. Not only had he not yet recovered to the god level, but even if he had, unless he fully regained his strength, he wouldn''t be a match for the Crystal Demon Emperor! The Demon Emperor was undoubtedly at the peak of the twelfth order, in other words a First ss God, far beyond what Tang San could contend with now. Besides, this was the Crystal Demon Emperor''s domain.


    This is coercion! Tang San''s face was full of helplessness. It seemed this battle was unavoidable.


    "Why do you not climb further?" a majestic voice echoed.


    Its gender was indistinguishable, and it seemed to being from all directions simultaneously.


    Tang San smiled bitterly. "I feel it''s impossible, so I naturally choose to retreat."


    "Impossible? You haven''t even tried. How do you know it''s impossible? Cowards can never be strong!" The voice became more intense and the pressure grew more oppressive, making Tang San feel like he couldn''t breathe.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. Obviously, he couldn''t say, "Because I''m human, and I''m afraid you''ll kill me if I reveal too much."


    Cowardice it was, then.


    Yet the next moment, things took an unexpected turn.


    The majestic voice said in a somewhat strange tone, "Well, you��re not wrong either. Knowing it''s impossible and still trying is foolish. Furthermore, in this next trial, it''s win or die once you enter. There''s no second chance. This is the only way to gain the Crystal Pce''s recognition."


    Tang San''s heart shook. "Then I can choose not to take the trial, right?"


    "Toote. You have already entered this trial. Good luck." The majestic voice turned cold, with a hint of mockery, as if it was intent on making Tang San perish.


    Tang San watched as the three steps shifted down under his legs, cing him at the very top of the Crystal Pce''s stairs.


    <i>Buzz! </i>


    The surrounding scenery shifted, and the battlefield reappeared.


    Tang San took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the surge of negative emotions that made him want to curse. He didn��t have time to spew profanity; at this moment, he had no other choice but to face the impending test. If this was a life-or-death trial, there could be no hesitation.


    Just as he anticipated, as soon as he appeared on the battlefield, nine figures flowed out from beneath him, quickly spreading into the distance.


    <i>As expected... there really are nine of them.</i>


    While his mouth twitched, Tang San didn''t pause. He had to seize this initial moment of time difference. Without hesitation, he shook his wrists and a heavy crossbow appeared in each hand. Yes, crossbows��an enhanced version of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.


    The two Godly Zhuge Crossbows glowed brightly, igniting with tinum light as the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral infused into the amplification arrays and erupted!


    These two Godly Zhuge Crossbows were custom-made by Tang San. Using them required more spiritual power and greater energy infusion. Each bolt was made of ck gold, designed to pierce various defenses. Moreover, at this moment, he had also infused them with the immensely powerful Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, the ability of a first-tier bloodline!


    The two Godly Zhuge Crossbows fired almost simultaneously, eachunching eighty-one bolts glowing with tinum light. Strangely, the bolts made no sound as they shot toward the positions where the nine figures emerged.


    At the same time, Tang San had already shot forward, rushing toward one side.


    The Godly Zhuge Crossbows, with their immense power, enhanced by the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral and the ck gold''s armor-piercing capability, could not bepletely blocked by physical defense, even if the target was from the Mammoth Demon n.


    However, these nine figures were vastly different from those before. Just as the bolts were about to strike them, they suddenly erupted with intense tinum light, with tinum mes rising from their bodies.


    Tang San''s expression changed drastically, because he recognized this phenomenon. These were signs of lifeforce ignition. The replicas were directly burning their own bloodlines to gain immense power instantly.


    <i>Isn''t this cheating?</i>


    Not only were there nine of them, but they could also use this kind of ability!


    The bolts of the Godly Zhuge Crossbows exploded in the face of the tinum mes, but the shards were still powerful. Though they couldn''t deal fatal injuries to the replicas, they did force them to retreat. The mes of the replicas also exploded outward; though all of them were pierced by a number of bolts, none of the wounds were fatal.


    At this moment, Tang San had already lunged at the leftmost replica. This was a life-and-death battle, and he couldn''t take any chance. What if the opponent was deceiving him? Someone like the Crystal Demon Emperor couldn��t care less about his life or death, after all, and he was probably viewed as nothing more than a ything.


    No matter what, he couldn''t afford to lose this battle.


    The leftmost replica had taken fewer bolts from the Godly Zhuge Crossbows, but it had been pushed back. At that moment, Tang San reached it.


    However, this replica clearly sensed the danger. Compared to the previous three replicas, its fighting spirit was significantly stronger. The burning Lion-Tiger Golden Astral around it suddenly exploded!

 Chapter 378: The Voice of the Crystal Demon Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 378: The Voice of the Crystal Demon Emperor</h4>


    Yes, it was an explosion, not an eruption, and��as Tang San realized��it was not just the mes, but the replica''s entire body! Its Lion-Tiger Golden Astral burst out, transforming into terrifying tinum mes that swept over everything around, especially in Tang San''s direction.


    <i>What the hell, are they self-destructing now?</i>


    Tang San''s right foot touched the ground like lightning, and the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear he had just formed struck the ground, instantly halting his forward momentum.


    But even so, the erupting Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was still upon him the next instant.


    Tang San knew the power of these mes. The brilliance unleashed by the exploding body would at least push him back or even injure him if itnded on him. This was even considering that the crossbow bolts had wounded the replica.


    If he was pushed back, the other eight replicas could just burn their bloodlines and attack simultaneously, and that would spell his doom.


    He couldn''t retreat and couldn''t afford to get injured now.


    With a silent sigh, Tang San understood it was no longer an option to keep his other abilities a secret.


    He shone with silvery light, and the next moment, he vanished into thin air before the overwhelming mes could reach him.


    Yes, he simply disappeared!


    Peacock Spatial Control, Peacock Transformation!


    In an instant, Tang San teleported and appeared behind the replica on the far side. This replica had just stabilized and was about to charge toward the explosion''s direction to join the assault on the injured "Tang San."


    Fury of the Masses!


    The Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear, infused with the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral explosion, pierced through the back of the replica without hesitation.


    Everything happened incredibly fast. The replica stiffened instantly, but the next moment, its Lion-Tiger Golden Astral erupted, and another self-destruction urred.


    Tang San vanished with a sh, teleporting away to avoid the explosion.


    However, when he appeared beside another replica, he immediately teleported again, moving tens of meters away just in time.


    Seven replicas remained. In this brief period, they had gathered together, forming a circle and facing outward, each holding a Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear.


    The same Fury of the Masses instantly covered all the space around them. If Tang San''s teleportation had been even a fraction slower, he would have been engulfed by the fearsome spear lights.


    Tang San was slightly out of breath. Clearly, these new replicas were different not just in number, but in quality as well. Theirbat awareness had significantly increased, and they seemed to have learned battle formations!


    What to do?


    <i>Run!</i>


    Tang San instantly decided on his strategy. The remaining seven replicas were all burning their bloodline power. Even though Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was powerful, the consumption was enormous.


    The replicas were ultimately still copies of him. Tang San was well aware how long he could sustain burning his bloodline. Using the already exposed Peacock Transformation, he only needed to stay away from his opponents, letting their bloodline power burn out, which would be his moment of victory.


    However, the seven replicas suddenly changed formation at that moment, lining up and facing Tang San. Simultaneously, seven enormous Lion-Tigers with tinum fur appeared behind them, roaring thunderously at Tang San!


    Instantly, a deafening sonic wave erupted, making the entirebat space seem to explode at that moment.


    An intense dizziness nearly caused Tang San to paralyze.


    <i>This is bad!</i>


    The roars that the seven replicas were using were clearly an ability of the Lion-Tiger bloodline; the problem was that Tang San himself was not even aware that such an ability existed, much less able to master it.


    Now that he thought about it, it made perfect sense. In nature, lion and tiger roars were extremely powerful. Combined and augmented by the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, the power was unimaginable. The simultaneous explosion of the sevenfold Lion-Tiger Roar seemed to shatter the entire space around him. At this moment, even if he wanted to teleport to avoid the roars, it was already toote.


    If the seven replicas surrounded him, he would undoubtedly die. Each replica burning its bloodline power was a peak eighth-order powerhouse with dual bloodlines, one of which was first-tier!


    So, sensing the danger, Tang San made a quick decision. Facing the Lion-Tiger Roar from so many replicas, enduring it head-on would only be possible if he fully unleashed his divine consciousness. But that was without a doubt unwise. Revealing his divine consciousness was far worse than exposing other abilities.


    The flow of time in front of Tang San suddenly slowed, causing the loud roar to be sluggish in an instant��the sound waves themselves slowed down!


    Time Freeze!


    There was no other way. At this moment, Tang San could only use the abilities of the Chrono Croc Transformation to slow the iing sound waves.


    Taking advantage of this momentary slowdown, the rate at which the sound waves destroyed the space around Tang San also slowed. The space still disintegrated into fragments but was stable enough for all practical purposes.


    In the next moment, a silver light appeared on Tang San, and he teleported again!


    However, this time, he chose not to teleport far away; on the contrary, he instantly appeared behind the seven replicas.


    The Lion-Tiger Roar was directed toward his previous position, and the seven replicas were standing in a line. In other words, behind them was where space was most stable.


    The moment he reappeared, the flow of time changed again, shifting from slow to elerated. The terrifying sound waves elerated away, and one could even see the distant space marred by a web of ck cracks.


    If he had stayed there, he would have died instantly.


    The eleration of time also caused Tang San''s speed to increase. In his hand, the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear thrust out hundreds of times in an instant, covering the seven replicas with innumerable spear lights.


    At this moment, Tang San was using his full strength.


    The two replicas on the left were almost instantly pierced. But as soon as the first one was touched by the spear lights, it immediately self-destructed. The second one did the same, forcing Tang San to stop the time eleration in order to avoid being caught in the explosion.


    He could no longer use the time-slowing effect. The earlier use of the Chrono Croc Transformation to slow arge area had been a huge burden on his spiritual power. In this situation, he had no choice but to teleport away. He couldn''t finish off the remaining five replicas, but on the bright side, those five were also hit by his spear lights, only avoiding fatal wounds by using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.


    In addition, the violent explosions also blew away the remaining five replicas. That powerful explosive force was not easy to withstand, even while burning their own bloodline power.


    The replica closest to the two exploding ones was the most unfortunate: half its body was sted to bits, and it was clear that it couldn��t continue fighting.


    At this moment, Tang San wasn''t in good shape either. After continuously using Lion-Tiger Transformation, Chrono Croc Transformation, and Peacock Transformation under such high stress, his bloodline power was momentarily exhausted. He had to give up the opportunity to continue the chase and catch his breath.


    The remaining fourbat-capable replicas were also injured, but the situation was clearly much better than it had been initially.


    As he was nning his next move, a deep, melodious voice suddenly sounded from one of the replicas. ��Let me count. One, two, three... four. Four types of bloodline power, with at least two being first-tier bloodlines. Interesting, very interesting.��

 Chapter 379: The Decision

    <h4>Chapter 379: The Decision</h4>


    Tang San''s heart tightened. The next moment, he saw the remaining four replicas slowly merging, quickly fusing into one. Even the near-death half-replica was absorbed, bing part of the whole.


    After the fusion, the replica''s eyes clearly became more animated, carrying a cold gleam as it looked at Tang San.


    Tang San supported himself with the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear, his gaze fixed on it without speaking. But in his heart, he felt a sinking sensation. He understood that he had likely attracted the attention of the Crystal Demon Emperor. This was probably no longer an actual test.


    Holding a Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear, the replica slowly walked toward Tang San. As it moved, ayer of magnificent crystal armor gradually appeared on its body. This crystal armor was a faint ice blue, radiating a beautiful glow. Each reflective surface seemed to capture Tang San''s image, causing his thoughts to slow down.


    ��You two came together. The other one is still holding on. Chrono Croc Transformation��however,pared to you, he is far inferior. I didn''t expect to encounter such an interesting human. You now have two choices. First, I can let you go, but you will fail the test, and yourpanion will die. Second, you can endure my attacks for one minute. I will use thebined power of those replicas along with my abilities. If you withstand it, yourpanion will live, and you will pass the test. Now, tell me your choice.��


    Tang San took a deep breath and slowly straightened his back, his expression calm. ��Your Majesty, with your status, why make things difficult for someone as insignificant as me? This should be beyond the standard test, right?��


    The replica indifferently said, ��Here, on this continent, I am the ruler. Whatever I say goes. Whatever I want happens.��


    Facing this calm yet domineering reply, Tang San''s expression remained unchanged. ��Then, I request this of you. I will take your test and try to hold out for a minute. But I need your promise. If I lose, please spare mypanion. If I win, you cannot enve me. Otherwise, there''s no chance for me to survive, so you might as well kill me now.��


    The replica''s gaze seemed to change as it looked at Tang San. After a moment of silence, it said calmly, ��Alright, I promise you.��


    "Thank you, Your Majesty." Tang San bowed slightly in respect.


    The replica said indifferently, "You don''t need to thank me. I won''t hold back. What you will face is me at the ninth order, and in that era, I was already unbeatable among my peers."


    As it spoke, the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear in its hand slowly rose, pointing at Tang San.


    Tang San took a deep breath and slowly raised his Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear. He knew that in this battle, apart from his divine consciousness, he couldn''t hide anything anymore. Otherwise, he would undoubtedly die, and revealing his divine consciousness would likely also lead to his death.


    The replica��or rather, the Crystal Demon Emperor��suddenly pointed the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear forward, and Fury of the Masses erupted almost instantly.


    It was Tang San''s spear technique, and when the spear thrust out, the surrounding time flow suddenly elerated��Chrono Croc Transformation!


    Yes, it was the instantaneous Chrono Croc Transformation��time eleration!


    Tang San didn''t even have the chance to dodge; the spear light was already upon him.


    What''s even more terrifying was that in that instant, the space around Tang San shattered, copsing instantly��Peacock Transformation, spatial shattering!


    What he knew, the Crystal Demon Emperor also knew!


    Without any hesitation, Tang San activated his technique in an instant��Chrono Croc Transformation��time slowing!


    The spear lights, initially burst out violently, suddenly slowed down, but they were already in front of Tang San.


    And all Tang San needed was to buy himself this fleeting moment.


    A strange arc was traced from the spear with a flick of his Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear. At this moment, Tang San''s expression was grave. He seemed oblivious to the copsing space around him and the immense pressure from the Crystal Demon Emperor. All his focus was on the arc created by his spear.


    The strange arc caught the eye of the Crystal Demon Emperor, and a trace of surprise shed in his eyes. The arc suddenly epassed all the spear lights he had thrust out and vanished without a trace.


    What kind of ability is this?


    The Crystal Demon Emperor didn''t continue his attack. A gleam shed across the surface of his crystal armor, and the next moment, he traced an arc with his Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear, mimicking Tang San''s movements.


    But a strange scene unfolded. The arc he traced seemed to be missing something, as it was just an arc.


    Taking advantage of this moment, Tang San caught his breath. He didn''t retreat or try to restore the shattered space around him. Instead, a pair of wings suddenly unfolded on his back and pped fiercely. Propelled by the golden wings, he charged towards the Crystal Demon Emperor like a golden meteor.


    The offense is the best defense. This battlefield was the Crystal Demon Emperor''s domain. He wouldn''t blindly flee just because of the one-minute agreement. To truly pass this test, he needed to defeat this replica.


    "Oh, a fifth one?" The Crystal Demon Emperor''s eyes lit up. He stopped tracing the arc with his spear, and tinum mes suddenly surged from his body. As he thrust his spear, a pair of magnificent rose-colored wings abruptly unfolded behind him.


    They were ming wings, and behind them, a gigantic image of a fire phoenix appeared, emitting a long, resonant cry.


    Tang San felt his golden wings suddenly grow weak, and his speed drastically decreased. The Crystal Demon Emperor''s spear, wreathed in tinum and rose-colored mes, was already in front of him. Spatial lockdown followed, leaving him with no way to evade.


    A fire phoenix? Could this be the Phoenix me of the Undying Demon Emperor?


    <i>The Omnipotent Crystal Demon Emperor��whatever you know, he knows; whatever you don''t, he still knows.</i>


    Tang San bit the tip of his tongue hard, using the pain to dispel his sense of weakness. Then he locked his gaze onto the Crystal Demon Emperor''s eyes.


    Blinding purple-gold light burst forth almost instantly. He hadn''t used the Purple Demon Eyes in all the previous battles, but now, in this crucial moment, he unleashed them.


    The spear thrust by the Crystal Demon Emperor almost instantly halted, and even the phoenix phantom behind him showed signs of dissipating.


    Having fused the bloodline power of four and a half replicas, its overall energy level had undoubtedly reached Tang San''s ninth-order strength, while Tang San himself was only at the eighth-order. However, in terms of spiritual power, Tang San was already at the peak of the ninth order. Even with the fusion of several replicas, unless it broke through to the god level, it would still be at the peak of the ninth order.


    The spear, infused initially with two powerful bloodlines, suddenly became much softer under these circumstances. Without the control of spiritual power, the surrounding space shattering also paused.


    Tang San seized this opportunity. When the opponent was distracted, he first activated the Discerning Eye of Heaven, because only in this moment could the Crystal Demon Emperor possibly not notice his Celestial Fox Transformation.


    With fortune on his side, he applied it to himself. Unifying his essence, energy, and spirit, he poured them into the spear in his hand. Merging with the spear, he made an all-or-nothing strike!


    The Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear in the Crystal Demon Emperor''s hand was shattered by Tang San with a loud bang. His own spear instantly reached the opponent''s face.

 Chapter 380: One Minute Is Up

    <h4>Chapter 380: One Minute Is Up</h4>


    But at that moment, the Crystal Demon Emperor''s form suddenly became ethereal, like a bubble. When Tang San thrust his spear, it pierced through the bubble, and the Crystal Demon Emperor��s image dissipated like water waves.


    In the next instant, amidst the rippling water, his figure reformed a short distance away. His eyes shed with purple-gold light��Purple Demon Eyes! Spiritual shock!


    <i>How could this be?</i>


    Without hesitation, Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eyes again. He didn''t have the near-invincible ability the Crystal Demon Emperor had just used. If the opponent controlled his spiritual power, it would mean instant death.


    Stepping with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he didn''t retreat. The all-or-nothing strike with his Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear wasn''t over; he continued to thrust at the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    The fierce Lion Tiger Golden Astral suddenly erupted, igniting into mes. At this moment, Tang San also began to burn his bloodline power.


    He couldn''t hesitate any longer. The opponent was simply too strong, with one powerful ability after another, each nearly at the level of a first-tier bloodline. The opponent''s Phoenix Transformation forcibly suppressed his Golden Roc Transformation. He had to continue the onught.


    With their spiritual powers nearly equal, neither could dominate the other with their Purple Demon Eyes. Tang San''s spear had already reached its target.


    The Omnipotent Crystal Demon Emperor fully disyed their power at this moment. Everything around suddenly turned into a vast sea, countless streams of water entwining Tang San and making it difficult for them to move forward. The immense pressure from the ocean bore down on Tang San, squeezing their body.


    At the same time, the phoenix wings behind the Crystal Demon Emperor spread open again, and a sword appeared in their hand instead of a spear.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s sword?


    But at this moment, Tang San''s expression became somewhat peculiar.


    <i>A sea? You probably don''t know my divine position in my past life.</i>


    Tang San''s eyes instantly brightened. The divine consciousness hidden at the center of his spiritual power subtly fluctuated. If the Crystal Demon Emperor could see his sea of consciousness now, they would find it had turned azure blue.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor''s sword shed down towards Tang San, bound by the water. Their crystalline figure moved almost instantly, using the Peacock Transformation''s teleportation.


    But in the next moment, all the surrounding space suddenly froze. The water trapped in Tang San transformed into a massive whirlpool, sweeping the Crystal Demon Emperor inside.


    The tinum mes on Tang San''s body surged again. He knew the reason the Crystal Demon Emperor had chosen to trap him with water was likely due to the influence of the fortune bestowed upon him.


    Likewise, propelled by the water, Tang San''s body shot forward like a cannonball, crashing into the replica possessed by the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    "Interesting!" The melodious voice sounded again. The next moment, Tang San saw the replica trapped in the water suddenly swell, transforming into a giant over twenty meters tall. The water trapping him abruptly shattered.


    At this moment, Tang San''s body collided with the giant replica, but he was met with a massive palm.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Tang San felt the immense force the moment they collided, a power he couldn''t possibly resist. He immediately activated the Peacock Transformation. At this moment, the Crystal Demon Emperor couldn''t control the fragmentation of the surrounding space.


    Tang San reappeared tens of meters away, but the immense force from the collision hadn''t entirely dissipated due to the teleportation. His body was still forcefully mmed into the ground, producing a muffled bang.


    The giant replica''s hand opened, and dark golden ws extended from its fingers. As they extended, the surrounding air was torn apart.


    <i>Is this... the Behemoth bloodline power of the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor?</i>


    But in the next moment, the ws retracted quickly, and the replica''s body returned to its original Tang San form.


    The replica grinned at Tang San, "One minute is up!"


    Tang San exhaled deeply, copsing to the ground and gasping for breath.


    Did the opponent follow the one-minute rule? In fact, during that intense battle, he had no way to keep track of time. It felt like they had only fought for a few seconds. Due to the use of various powerful bloodline abilities, the flow of time waspletely indeterminable.


    This battle was undoubtedly the toughest Tang San had faced since arriving in this world. Besides using his divine consciousness, he had given it his all. He had faced a peak ninth-order replica of himself, controlled by the Omnipotent Crystal Demon Emperor.


    With his cultivation, he felt a sense of powerlessness at this moment. He had thought his mastery of various bloodline powers was already formidable, but the Crystal Demon Emperor controlled many more, far beyond his imagination. Was this guy truly omnipotent? And now that he had exposed so many of his bloodline powers, how would the Crystal Demon Emperor deal with him?


    This time, he had indeed miscalcted. He hadn''t expected the First Demon Emperor to take such an interest in someone as insignificant as an eighth-order cultivator like himself.


    "Congrattions, you passed my test." The replica gave Tang San a strange smile, and in the next moment, it dissolved into a shadow and quietly flowed into Tang San''s body.


    Immediately, all the insights from the previous battle, particrly those from the replica''s perspective, surged into Tang San''s mind. He felt a tremor in his spirit, as if his brain was filled with new knowledge.


    It took him a full moment to gradually regain his senses. At this moment, he had already climbed all the steps, and the mist before him had cleared, revealing a huge crystal pce in his view.


    Just by looking at it, he felt his consciousness starting to waver. Hastily, he controlled his mind and slightly lowered his head, no longer staring at the terrifying structure.


    The powerhouses of this world are truly formidable! He had originally thought he was invincible among those of the same rank, but he hadn''t expected the Crystal Demon Emperor to be so powerful. It''s truly incredible. No wonder he''s the First Demon Emperor. He defeated Tang San using just a replica of himself.


    At this moment, a figure slowly walked out from the crystal pce.


    Strange light waves rippled around as he appeared, making the crystal pce behind him be ethereal again. The oppressive aura that could almost twist one''s spirit also vanished.


    Tang San looked up and saw a manpletely d in crystal armor. He couldn''t tell his age; he seemed to be twenty but also could be thirty. His eyes were a peculiar light blue, and the crystal armor on his body exuded a faint chill.


    When he appeared, the entire Crystal Sacred Mountain seemed to resonate slightly. The powerful divine consciousness he exuded seemed to make the entire world tremble.


    Was this the true form of the Crystal Demon Emperor?


    An ordinary eighth or ninth-order demon or nymph couldn''t discern this figure''s cultivation level. But Tang San, with his divine consciousness, could immediately sense the aura this figure emitted. This was a top-tier powerhouse, undoubtedly a twelfth-order Demon Emperor-level expert. Who else could it be but the Crystal Demon Emperor himself?


    "Your Majesty," Tang San bowed slightly. While his body appeared rxed, his mind was on high alert. If the other party decided to kill him due to the multiple bloodline powers he had disyed, he would have no choice but to activate his divine consciousness at all costs and hope for a slim chance of survival.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor stopped ten meters away from Tang San. Without moving his lips, the melodious voice from the earlier battle echoed out.


    "The various bloodline powers you used don''t seem to be replicated. How did you achieve this?"

 Chapter 381: The Crystal Mirror and The Egg

    <h4>Chapter 381: The Crystal Mirror and The Egg</h4>


    Tang San hesitated momentarily and said, "I''m not too sure, actually. My ability is to take bloodline powers. I can absorb and store other bloodlines, but the number and cultivation level depend on my own cultivation level. My ability is nowhere near as powerful as Your Majesty''s."


    "Interesting. See, though I am called omnipotent, there are aspects of your bloodline power that I can''t fully understand. You can even directly harness spiritual power tounch attacks. That is not a bloodline power but an application of spiritual power. It''s been a long time since I''ve seen a creature as intriguing as you, if I ever did. You are impressive."


    Tang San kept silent; it was wiser to say less.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor said calmly, "Your ability needs training, but your cultivation method with multiple bloodlines can easily draw the attention of other ns. Today, I bestow upon you two tokens. In the future, when you travel outside and anyone questions you, they will protect you. However, you muste to the Crystal Pce when you��re ready to break through to the god level. I will personally guard you during ascension."


    Hearing this, Tang San finally breathed a sigh of relief. This meant that the Crystal Demon Emperor did not mind his abilities, and perhaps he was the only one who could understand someone with multiple abilities like Tang San. However, for some reason, he always felt that this top-ranked Demon Emperor was <i>too </i>easygoing; why would he not inquire more into Tang Sang��s abilities?


    "One more question," the Crystal Demon Emperor suddenly said.


    Tang San''s heart tightened. "Yes, Your Majesty."


    The Crystal Demon Emperor said calmly, "How could you suddenly control my water attack just now? That was the Universe-Flooding ability. Do you possess this bloodline power as well? And even if you have water control, it should not be able to strip me of my own control over water, but only to generate water as well. How did you achieve this?"


    Tang San replied, "I seem to have a natural talent for controlling the water element to some extent."


    "Just to some extent?" the Crystal Demon Emperor asked coldly.


    "Yes."


    This question was tough to answer!


    Fortunately, the Crystal Demon Emperor did not press further. He just looked at Tang San with a strange gaze, waved his right hand, and two items flew toward Tang San.


    The first item that flew to him was a round mirror. It was palm-sized, carved from crystal, and had an illusory glow on its surface, as if it possessed a unique divine quality.


    "This is my Crystal Mirror, of which there are only nine. It represents the prestige of my Crystal Pce and is an important token. If anyone questions you, show them this. The Crystal Mirror, when activated by spiritual power, can replicate a bloodline power, but it can only be used once. Use it wisely."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty." Being able to replicate a bloodline power? This was beyond what an array could achieve; it likely contained the true power of the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    The second item had also flown in front of Tang San. It was a sphere, perfectly round and crystal clear. Its surface was adorned with intricate patterns resembling ice flowers, emitting a radiant, translucent glow.


    It was about one foot in diameter and felt heavy in his hands, weighing almost like Tang San''s Sky Shatterer.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor said, "This is an egg, a peculiar existence cultivated by me. It is also your second trial. When it hatches, your task is to protect it from harm. You must bring it back when you break through to the god level."


    <i>A trial involving an egg? </i>Tang San stared in confusion at the egg in his hand, not knowing what kind of creature it was.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor warned him, "Whatever it requires, you must fulfill its needs to the best of your ability. If it suffers any harm, not only will your trial fail, but you will also face certain death, with your soul scattered. So, you must guard it as if your life depended on it... because it does."


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. He didn''t understand why the Crystal Demon Emperor had assigned him such a task. But since the emperor now knew many of his secrets and had not acted against him, he had no right or ability to refuse.


    "Understood," he replied earnestly.


    "Go now."


    With a wave of the Crystal Demon Emperor''s hand, everything around Tang San became surreal. When his vision cleared again, he found himself at the foot of the Crystal Sacred Mountain.


    Everything above the stairs still looked full of mystery. At this moment, it waspletely empty, with not a single climber in sight.


    Tang San felt as if he were in a dream. If not for the real existence of the egg and the Crystal Mirror in his hand, everything that had happened would seem to be an illusion.


    Quickly storing the two tokens the Crystal Demon Emperor gave into his storage bracelet, Tang San took a deep breath. Today''s climb had indeed been quite thrilling!


    He no longer intended to climb any other Sacred Mountains, at least not before the group battle in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. With the tokens from these three Sacred Mountains, he believed the arena wouldn''t dare trouble them.


    As he exited the entrance of the Crystal Sacred Mountain, Gu Li was already waiting for him outside.


    At this moment, Gu Li''s face showed an indescribable excitement. He looked at Tang San with glee and said, "I won, I won! Haha, Little Tang, yousted longer. Did you win too? How many rounds did you win?"


    Tang San smiled and asked in return, "And you?"


    Gu Li said, "Two rounds. I won two rounds in a row, defeating myself twice. Didn''t you remind me to think about my strengths and weaknesses? In the first round, I figured it out. My biggest advantage is appearing before the replica. So, I rushed to it, using Time eleration, and I attacked it immediately, not giving it any chance to fight back. I won by suppression. When it used time control, I did the same. I won by taking the initiative.


    "In the second round, it was still a replica. I figured it would have a countermeasure. Instead of just jumping it this time, I used Time eleration to speed up the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer before it appeared. By the time it emerged, I had already spun seven or eight times, so I had enough power. Then, I used my own time control to prevent it from manipting time and I just smashed it directly.


    "There was a third round after that, but I was too exhausted. The power stacking of the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer had issues, and the opponent seized the opportunity to counter and took me down... It''s such a pity, I almost cleared the third round. I don''t know how many rounds there are after that, but if it keeps going like this, it��s really tough. The consumption is too much! How many rounds did you reach?"


    Tang San smiled and said, "Actually, it won''t go on indefinitely. If you can win three consecutive rounds, you''ll reach the halfway point of the mountain. Then, you''ll face three versions of yourself."


    "Three? How can there be three? How do you even fight that?" Gu Li looked at Tang San, stunned.


    Tang San shrugged and said, "That''s why I came back too."


    He didn''t mention meeting the Crystal Demon Emperor because he couldn''t exin how he had defeated the nine replicas in thest round. For Gu Li and theirpanions, facing three replicas was already their limit.


    "This is terrifying. No wonder no one climbs the mountain! But I have to say, battling with the replica over time control has really benefited me. I feel like I understand time maniption a lot better," Gu Li said sincerely.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Then keep up the good work. Next time, aim to meet the three versions of yourself."


    Gu Li scratched his head. "It''s still a bit difficult. In the third round, the replica''s time maniption was clearly better than mine, almost as if it was a level higher. I need to train more."

 Chapter 382: Whats Inside the Egg?

    <h4>Chapter 382: What''s Inside the Egg?</h4>


    Inside the grand Crystal Pce, everything was naturally made of crystal.


    The walls reflected the contemtive expression on the face of the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    He murmured to himself, "Do you really think he''s a suitable candidate? After all, he''s just a human. Besides, don''t you find his origins and abilities somewhat peculiar? Some of his powers aren''t derived from his bloodline, and in fact they are not granted by a bloodline at all."


    Another melodious voice sounded, equally indistinguishable in gender but very pleasant to hear, and it was identical to the Crystal Demon Emperor''s voice. "As you said, he''s a human after all; who knows what kind oftent abilities they have? Also, this human is intriguing. He doesn''t know that he passed my test because he didn''t abandon his teammates. He was willing to risk his life to challenge me, so I chose him. It has nothing to do with race or ability. The most important thing is character.


    "Besides, don''t you find his abilities fascinating? Imprinting a bloodline power within oneself��that��s certainly something new. Omnipotence is omnipotence, but ultimately it��s just simting others�� abilities without truly possessing them. It��s also limited to three bloodline abilities at once, but I��m convinced that he can do more than that. This might just be the right direction for future research."


    The Crystal Demon Emperor said, "Your choices have never been wrong, and I believe this time won''t be an exception."


    "That''s certain. You go and rest now. No matter how well the old fox can manipte fate and predict the future, he won''t see this oneing, hahaha."


    ***


    Tang San and Gu Li had finished their climb the fastest. The others were undoubtedly still cultivating. Tang San and Gu Li decided to pick up Du Bai first, then Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng.


    By the time they returned to their residence, it was already evening.


    Everyone was exhausted. After a simple dinner, they returned to their rooms to digest the day''s gains.


    Tang San also returned to his room. He wasn''t tired, but today''s experiences had significantly impacted him.


    The pressure the Crystal Demon Emperor brought made him realize that his situation was beyond his control. This feeling was particrly ufortable for someone who was once a God King. If you��re someone who used to control everything, it��s harrowing to have your life in the hands of another.


    Tang San was now painfully aware that if he had to face the true Crystal Demon Emperor, or any of the other Demon and Nymph Emperors for that matter, he would be doomed. Even if he used the bit of divine consciousness he had recovered, he would have no chance of escaping. Intimidating the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was one thing given the right circumstances, but he would have no chance if it came to a real fight.


    He needed to hurry and be stronger!


    Now that he had calmed down and recalled the various abilities the Crystal Demon Emperor had disyed, he knew that most of them were powerful first-tier bloodline abilities, some of which he also possessed. But Tang San always felt something off about the Crystal Demon Emperor''s replication ability.


    <i>Could he really possess all the bloodline powers in this world simultaneously? Could he indeed be omnipotent? No, that is not possible. It doesn��t make any logical sense.</i>


    As a former God King, Tang San knew very well that power had its limits, whether human or divine. There was no such thing as true omnipotence. That scenario simply did not exist.


    So, where did the Crystal Demon Emperor''s limits lie? Or rather, what was wrong with his bloodline power replication? The secret needed to be explored. Of course, not now. He was still too weak and had no qualifications to explore it yet.


    With this in mind, he took out the two tokens the Crystal Demon Emperor had given him.


    The small mirror and that peculiar, perfectly round egg.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor had made the mirror''s function very clear: it could replicate a power and use it once. Then, it would have to replicate it again


    Holding the round mirror gave him a strange feeling. Tang San silently scanned its material with his spiritual power and found it was something he had never seen before. Even with his experience, he simply couldn''t identify the material from which the mirror was made, which was very peculiar.


    In any case, since he couldn''t tell what it was, he would have to use it and see how it worked.


    Silver light flickered as the bloodline power of the Peacock Transformation slowly gathered in him. When he used his spiritual power to guide this silver light into the round mirror in his hand, a phantom-like vortex appeared on the mirror''s surface, pulling the silver glow into it like a whale swallowing water.


    Momentster, silver patterns resembling peacock feathers appeared on the surface of the Crystal Mirror.


    Everything then returned to calm.


    When Tang San tried to inject more energy into it, he found that he could no longer do so. He then injected spiritual power into it, instantly connecting with it. Then, he activated it.


    Silver light emerged from its surface; with a sh of light, he suddenly appeared several meters away in the living room.


    The light patterns inside the Crystal Mirror quickly faded.


    This was truly miraculous! This item could be life-saving in critical moments, if the replication was used well. The power it could produce seemed rted to the strength of the one who infused it. Additionally, Tang San sensed that the upper limit of this Crystal Mirror was below the tenth order. This made sense; if it was able to replicate divine abilities, then it would be a genuine divine artifact, and the Crystal Demon Emperor wouldn''t be generous enough to give him such an artifact.


    Even so, it was undoubtedly a treasure. Moreover,pared to its inherent functionality, its true importancey in what it symbolized. Namely, thanks to the Crystal Demon Emperor, Tang San now had a valid excuse to use multiple bloodline abilities.


    And speaking of thanks... Another surprising thing Tang San had felt today was the kindness of the Crystal Demon Emperor toward him.


    Tang San''s ability to wield multiple powers must have surprised the emperor. Yet, instead of reprimanding him, interrogating him, or simply killing him on the spot, this person had not just talked to him kindly but even given him the official pce tokens��vouching for him, essentially. What was the meaning of this kindness? Why would someone suddenly be so good to him? This was the number one Demon Emperor, the single most powerful existence on the continent. What could he possibly need from a child like Tang San?


    This question obviously couldn''t be answered now; perhaps he would understand in the future. Or maybe... the answery with the other item?


    As he thought about this, Tang San''s gaze fell on the egg beside him.


    The egg had a crystal-clear shell. If the Crystal Demon Emperor hadn''t told him it was an egg, Tang San would have thought it was arge gemstone.


    Tang San cautiously tried to sense the presence within the egg using his Mysterious Heaven Technique. However, as soon as he injected his energy, it disappeared without a trace, like a bucket of water sinking into the sea without even a ripple.


    The result was the same when he tried to inject his spiritual power into it. It vanished without a trace.


    What kind of lifeform could be nurtured inside this egg? Even the Crystal Demon Emperor seemed to value it highly, so what could it be? It couldn''t possibly be the Crystal Demon Emperor''s offspring, right? Wasn''t it said that he couldn''t have offspring to inherit his mutated bloodline? And even if he could, he wouldn''t entrust it to a stranger like Tang San, right?


    After fiddling with it for a while and finding no clues, Tang San had no choice but to put the egg and the mirror away.


    For some reason, he felt like he was missing something. It was a peculiar feeling, as if he had overlooked something particrly important, and this matter could potentially bring him great benefits.


    What could it be?

 Chapter 383: More Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 383: More Cultivation</h4>


    He pondered deeply for a while, but he still couldn''t grasp the idea even with his divine consciousness guiding him.


    Deciding not to think about it any further, he entered the cultivation room to cultivate and consolidate his spiritual power. Today''s battle had significantly enhanced his understanding of the application of multiple bloodline powers, and his experience with fighting using his multiple Demonic God Transformations had also increased.


    Everyone set off again the next morning, but Tang San did not follow this time.


    ording to the previous n, Gu Li and Du Bai''s destinations remained unchanged, while Wu Bingji was to head to the pce of the Universe-Flooding Endless Demon Emperor. Cheng Zicheng was to go to the Undying Demon Emperor��s pce to experience the pressure of the phoenix, the king of all birds.


    Tang San had already experienced it for her the day before. Though it was the Crystal Demon Emperor''s simtion, it was likely extremely simr or even identical to the real Undying Demon Emperor''s power. The terrifying impact of that bloodline suppression had left asting impression on Tang San. However, he couldn''t say it outright and could only silently pray for Cheng Zicheng, hoping she would gain more benefits than setbacks from this bloodline suppression.


    Tang San himself did not go out. He already had the tokens from the three pces, including the Crystal Pce and the Celestial Fox Pce, the top two among the demon races. These three tokens were enough to deal with the uing challenges. Moreover, he had other matters to attend to. After the trial at the Crystal Pce, he developed a deeper respect for these Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors.


    At the same time, Tang San also realized that racial differences didn''t seem to matter as much at the level of the Demon Emperors. At least in these three royal pces, he hadn''t encountered any unfair treatment, much less racial discrimination or anything like that. Nor had he been prevented from climbing the mountains or charged extra because he was human. Clearly, at the level of the Demon Emperors, these powerful beings valued ability more than anything else.


    What difference did it make if he was human? Compared to the other Demons and Nymph Emperors, he was far too weak to pose any threat to their existence. Unless he could also ascend to the level of a Demon Emperor; then, perhaps they would regard him more highly.


    After sending off hispanions, Tang San activated hismunicator to try to contact Zhang Haoxuan.


    "Master, are you there?"


    Soon, Zhang Haoxuan''s voice came through.


    ��I''m here. How are things going on your end?


    Tang San said, "Things are going well. I have obtained tokens from three emperor pces. The others are still hard at work cultivating. Climbing the pces has great cultivation effects, and everyone finds different benefits."


    ��What? You''ve already obtained tokens from three pces?!


    On the other end, Zhang Haoxuan''s voice changed after hearing Tang San''s words.


    Pce tokens were not easy to obtain. Tang San spoke as if it was effortless, but securing tokens from three pces in three days was absolutely unbelievable.


    Different pces focused on different bloodline powers. Not only that, but in order to acquire a token, one had to earn significant recognition during the climb. Not everyone who reaches the summit received a token; <i>how</i> they climbed it was more important.


    Tang San obtaining tokens from three pces in such a short time was something Zhang Haoxuan had never heard of. Having pce tokens meant the pces recognized and protected him. When necessary, presenting the token would make anyone think twice before acting against him.


    "Master, are things going well on your end?" Tang San was worried about Zhang Haoxuan''s cardiac health, so he didn''t mention that the three pces included the Crystal Pce and the Celestial Fox Pce.


    ��Everything is fine here, nothing to worry about. You should have seen their faces when they saw I''d really broken through. In our Redemption Society, god-level power is already top-tier. With my strength added, and since I''m seen as an array master who can sell arrays to fund the organization, you can imagine my importance. They wouldn''t dare mistreat me. I suspect my position will change even if they don''t make me a Purple ss member outright. But I''ve already told them I must return to Kali City.


    Here, he paused for a moment.


    ��Of course, if you decide to stay in the Ancestral Court... I''ll stay here with you. It''s your decision.


    Tang San said, "I will return to Kali City, but I might stay in the Ancestral Court a bit longer this time. Master, if you have nothing else to do,e back to the hotel. Let''s discuss some arrays. We also need to prepare to visit the Aetherhorn Merchant Association."


    Hearing about studying arrays, Zhang Haoxuan immediately agreed with enthusiasm.


    ��Alright, I''lle back right away!


    Thanks to Tang San��s teachings, he had already mastered the Spirit Summoning Array. Additionally, he had nearly mastered the basic teleportation array. Illusion arrays and linked arrays were tooplex to grasp quickly, but he wasn''t in a hurry.


    The deeper he delved into arrays, the more this mayor marveled at Tang San''s ingenuity. The door to the world of arrays was slowly opening to him. After bing a god-level powerhouse with divine consciousness, his brain had quite literally improved, making his thinking more agile. Understanding arrays became more intuitive, and he was eager to learn more from Tang San.


    It wasn''t long before Zhang Haoxuan returned. Instead of going directly to Tang San''s room, he booked yet another Demon King Suite and had Tang San meet him there.


    The teacher and student met again and exchanged a smile. Zhang Haoxuan couldn''t wait and asked, "What are you nning to give them?"


    Tang San said, "We need to offer some incentives; otherwise, we won''t gain the full support of the Aetherhorn Deers. We can''t give them the teleportation array, since it''s the most valuable among single arrays. Let''s give them the Spirit Fusion Array instead. Although it''s moreplex than the Spirit Summoning Array, with your current understanding of arrays, you should be able to master it quickly. Let''s get started right away."


    "Alright." Zhang Haoxuan was overjoyed. Mastering another array would deepen his understanding of arrays in general, and he was eager to learn more.


    "I''ve already inquired about the auction. In about half a month, there will be arge-scale auction in the Ancestral Court. Such auctions only happen twice a year. There should be many good items appearing. Do you think our array discs can shine there?"


    Tang San nodded and said, "We need enough funds to buy good items, so how can we do that without bringing in some good things ourselves? In the next few days, you can practice making the Spirit Fusion Array disc, and I''ll also put some elbow grease in and produce a few things. Then we''ll send them to the auction."


    In the following days, the other four members of the Shrek Squad continued their mountain climbing cultivation. Reaching the summit was impossible with their current strength, but they each gained many benefits during the climbing process.


    During Cheng Zicheng''s climb of the Undying Sacred Mountain, for instance, she was nearly burned to death. It was practically like a volcano. However, after being scorched like a roast chicken, she found that her bloodline seemed to have been purified. The pain was immense, but the benefits she gained were equally significant.


    Inparison, Wu Bingji handled the Endless Demon Emperor''s Endless Pce much more smoothly. Water and ice shared the same origin, and there he was able to understand much more about the various transformations of water. These insights greatly benefited him. His climb of the Endless Pce was also quite speedy due to his refined control over the ice element. He had already reached four-fifths of the way up and was progressing daily.


    On the sixth day in the Ancestral Court, while hispanions continued climbing Sacred Mountains, Tang San returned to the shop where the Aetherhorn Merchant Association had initially arrived.

 Chapter 384: The Array Master

    <h4>Chapter 384: The Array Master</h4>


    He wore in clothes, and his face was still masked. He wasn''t alone; an elderly man followed behind him. The old man looked ordinary, with white hair and beard, but exuded an aura of natural authority. He also wore a mask, concealing his face.


    As soon as they entered, they saw a familiar face. The caravan leader who had brought them to the Ancestral Court was already waiting for them.


    This meeting had been arranged by Asura beforehand through themunicator given to him by the Aetherhorn Deer King.


    The caravan leader nced at Asura first, but his gaze was immediately drawn to the old man behind him.


    The Aetherhorn Deers excelled at observation, and the Discerning Heart��s Eye could perceive elemental changes. From this old man, he saw an overwhelming concentration of the fire element, clearly the power of a god.


    <i>A god-level human cultivator? How rare!</i>


    The caravan leader himself was a ninth-order Aetherhorn Deer, or he wouldn''t have been entrusted with such responsibilities. He quickly stepped forward, nodded to Asura first, then turned to the white-haired old man and asked Asura respectfully, "Who might this be?"


    Asura nodded to him and said, "Mission aplished."


    The caravan leader immediately understood and quickly made a weing gesture, saying, "Please, both of you, follow me inside."


    The old man didn''t even bother to nod, arrogantly moving forward on his own. Asura followed him respectfully, and the caravan leader took them to the back of the shop.


    It must be said that the Aetherhorn Deers'' shop, one of the continent''srgest businesses, was indeed vast. After passing through a grand hall of over a thousand square meters, they saw rows of private rooms at the back.


    Asura and hispanion learned that these private rooms were specially prepared for VIP clients. VIP clients were privileged to select items here and enjoy the most excellent services and privacy. The Aetherhorn Merchant Association was renowned for its services and favored by many strong beings among the demon and nymph ns.


    The Aetherhorn Deer led the two through these private rooms to a luxurious, quiet room further back.


    The quiet room''s walls and door were made of metal and inscribed with soundproofing arrays, indicating a higher level of sophisticationpared to the other private rooms. In addition, the room itself was truly luxurious. Gentle incense brought a subtle, refreshing fragrance that made one feel sharp and clear-minded after inhaling it.


    On the table were various fresh fruits, andrge sofas promised greatfort. Beside them was a sealed room isted by a crystal-like material. Inside that room was only arge desk, but through the crystal walls, one could see that the inside of the walls was inscribed with insting arrays. These arrays were clearly not just for soundproofing.


    "That room is for inspecting goods. Some special items can be dangerous, you know. Our top clients conduct transactions here. The guests can observe the inspection while beingpletely safe from whatever might happen during the inspection"


    Asura smiled and said, "That''s very thoughtful. So you��re saying it��spletely safe here?"


    The caravan leader replied, "You can rest assured about safety. This is the core area of the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, and we haven''t had any incidents for many years. It''spletely isted from the outside, so even divine consciousness can''t spy on us."


    Asura nodded and said, "Alright, in that case, let me introduce you. This is the master I mentioned. I only know his surname is Lou, so you can call him Master Lou."[1]


    The caravan leader quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Master Lou. I am Xu Ziran, one of the main managers of the Aetherhorn Merchant Association. It''s an honor to meet you."


    "Mm." Master Lou snorted slightly through his nose and said nothing.


    Asura quickly said, "I was fortunate to find Master Lou. Truly fortunate. I''ve already told Master Lou about the arena master''s sincerity and the strength of our Aetherhorn Deer lineage. That''s why he reluctantly agreed toe with me."


    Xu Ziran, being a shrewd and perceptive individual, immediately bowed again upon hearing this, thanking Asura in his mind for the "our" part. "Thank you so much for sparing us some time, Master Lou."


    Master Lou waved his hand and said, "No need for pleasantries. Let''s get to business."


    Xu Ziran quickly straightened his back and said obsequiously, "Beforeing here, the arena master gave me some instructions. If we could get in touch with you, we would do our best to meet any of your requirements. So... what would be these requirements?"


    Master Lou said indifferently, "Asura has already told me about your situation. My requirements are simple: you can act as my distribution channel, but I don''t guarantee quantity or time. You pay upon delivery, and I set the price. Asura will be our contact. I usually stay in the Ancestral Court."


    He flicked his hand as he spoke, and an item flew to Xu Ziran.


    Xu Ziran caught it and, upon seeing what it was, almost instantly sprang up and stood straight. He held the item above his head with both hands and bowed respectfully, saying, "Long live the Sword Saint."


    What Master Lou had thrown to him was a sword-shaped token��the symbol of the Sword Saint Pce!


    Xu Ziran, thinking quickly, respectfully handed the Sword Saint token back to Master Lou and said, "I understand. Master Lou, we have no issues with most of your conditions, but for pricing, we need to evaluate the array discs you provide. What do you think...?"


    Master Lou waved his hand, interrupting him, and said, "There is no need for that. The market will speak. The array discs I sell to you will all appear at an auction beforehand. We''ll use the auction price as the standard."


    Xu Ziran''s eyes lit up. "That won''t be a problem. But can we have exclusive selling rights?"


    If they could secure exclusive rights to the array discs, it wouldn''t matter if they sold them at auction prices or higher prices. With the Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s channels and some marketing, they were guaranteed to make a huge profit.


    But Master Lou shook his head. "You''ve seen the token. Do you think I can give you exclusivity? Giving you some already involves risk. I''m doing this partly because Asura once helped me greatly, as a favor to him, and partly to earn more money to buy materials for array research. By the way, in the future, you can also pay in materials, also valued at auction prices."


    Without much hesitation, Xu Ziran immediately nodded and said, "Alright, we''ll do as you say, Master."


    If they were to trade in materials, the difference between the purchase price of the materials and the auction price would leave considerable room for profit. Xu Ziran hadn''t realistically expected to secure exclusive rights, especially given the dered affiliation with the Sword Saint Pce. Exclusivity was hardly ever on the table anyway. But even without exclusivity, getting a portion would still mean significant profit.


    "Mm." Master Lou nodded in satisfaction.


    Xu Ziran asked, "Master Lou, how many array discs do you n to provide us? What types and numbers are we looking at?"


    Master Lou nced at him and said, "Hard to say. It depends on my mood."


    Xu Ziran nodded thoughtfully. "I fully understand the difficulty of creating these array discs; they are the fruits of your hard work. How about this: we can offer an additional ten percent on top of the auction price, but we hope you can provide at least half of your finished products to our Aetherhorn Merchant Association."


    <i>What a shrewd businessman! </i>Asura couldn''t help but secretly admire Xu Ziran''s negotiation skills. He was also surprised at Xu Ziran''s authority within the Aetherhorn Merchant Association. Decision-making without consulting the Aetherhorn Deer King showed considerable autonomy. Offering ten percent above the auction price��what would their profit margin be in that case?


    1. The pronunciation of ¥ is more like ��low?�� (rising tone like a question) than like the short nickname for Louis. ?

 Chapter 385: Negotiation

    <h4>Chapter 385: Negotiation</h4>


    The Aetherhorn Deers had be some of the top merchants on the Daemon Continent for good reason.


    Master Lou fell silent, instinctively ncing at Asura, who gave no indication.


    Master Lou said, "Let''s do it this way, but I can''t guarantee an exact amount. I''ll do my best to provide half."


    Xu Ziran was overjoyed and said, "That''s wonderful. I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation, Master Lou. In the future, if you need any materials, you can always contact our shop. We can even provide whatever you need in advance and exchange it for array discster, no problem."


    Full of sincerity! These three words perfectly describe his behavior at this moment.


    "Mm!" Master Lou nodded and said, "Indeed, there are some things I need your help to find. This includes some rare essences. I''m currently conducting some special experiments, attempting to use arrays to manifest bloodline power. If sessful, it should..."


    At this point, he abruptly stopped speaking, as if realizing he had said too much, and a sh of regret was visible for a moment in his eyes.


    Xu Ziran was excited and said, "No problem, we should be able to meet all your needs."


    Master Lou chuckled mockingly and said, "Meet all my needs? That''s a big statement. Are you saying that if I want the blood of the Crystal Demon Emperor or the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, you could provide that, too?"


    "Uh... Master Lou, please don''t joke about that," Xu Ziran said awkwardly.


    Master Lou said, "Who''s joking? In bloodline array research, the stronger the bloodline, the better the effect. It��s possible that using the Crystal Demon Emperor''s blood for the array could temporarily grant the user that omnipotent ability."


    "What? How is that possible?" Xu Ziran almost blurted out, his face full of disbelief.


    Master Lou said calmly, "In this world, nothing is impossible. That room can iste energy, right? Asura,e with me. If we don''t show some real skills, they''ll think I''m just bragging."


    As he spoke, Master Lou stood up and walked toward the room insted with crystal walls and arrays.


    Xu Ziran looked at Asura and quickly said, "Brother Asura, I didn''t mean it that way! Please exin to the master."


    Although he said this, he made no move to stop Master Lou from demonstrating his abilities.


    "Don''t worry, it��s fine." Asura nodded to him, then followed Master Lou into the room.


    Master Lou took out several items, all appearing to be highly precious materials. As a caravan leader and a high-ranking member of the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, Xu Ziran had a keen eye, and even he was taken aback by the rarity of some of these materials.


    Then he saw Master Lou begin to move. Intense mes burst forth, and god-level fire surged instantly.


    One by one, the rare materials were silently engulfed by the mes, dancing and melting before Master Lou.


    Master Lou''s expression remained calm as he worked skillfully. Soon, an array disc took shape before him. Light glowed faintly in his eyes, and a crimson carving knife appeared in his hand, quickly engraving the array disc with profound patterns. Intense mes surrounded the disc, making it difficult for Xu Ziran to see the patterns clearly. At this moment, he dared not interrupt and could only watch Master Lou''s actions intently through the crystal wall.


    Master Lou''s movements were sometimes wild, sometimes cautious. The array disc quickly became covered in patterns, and the mystical feeling grew by the second.


    Finally, after a full quarter of an hour, Master Lou put down his carving knife, a hint of heartache in his eyes. He picked up the array disc, blew on it as if to remove an imaginary speck of dust, and then inspected it before handing it to Asura.


    Asura took the array disc and walked out.


    Master Lou followed closely behind.


    "Amazing craftsmanship, truly amazing! I never thought you could create an array disc in such a short time. It''s awe-inspiring," Xu Ziran said with admiration.


    Master Lou waved his hand and said, "It''s not that easy. A lot of materials were wasted to speed up the process. Didn''t you notice that the cost of materials for this array disc alone has already exceeded all the other discs you sold? This is the cost of elerated production, it needs some very precious catalysts. Anyway, you should recognize this array disc."


    Asura handed the array disc to Xu Ziran. Xu Ziran examined it carefully and then infused it with his spiritual power, immediately identifying the disc''s effects.


    <i>Spirit Fusion Array!</i>


    This was one of the array discs that the Shrek Squad had used during their group battle in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, and it was far more important than the Spirit Summoning Array. Moreover, the Spirit Fusion Array Disc had never been sold on the market.


    The fact that the other party had created a Spirit Fusion Array Disc in such a short time left Xu Ziran with no further doubts.


    He bowed respectfully and said, "I''ve seen it before. This is a Spirit Fusion Array Disc. I know what it does, but I am unable to give you a price for it."


    Master Lou said calmly, "You''ll know soon enough. It will appear at the Ancestral Court auction in half a month. There will also be a few new array discs, which will help set the price. This disc is a gift to you as a gesture of goodwill. Just return the materials I used earlier."


    "Master Lou, you''re very generous!" Xu Ziran was overjoyed and quickly put the array disc away. Obtaining an array disc for just the cost of the materials was an incredible deal.


    What Xu Ziran didn''t know was that, in reality, making a Spirit Fusion Array Disc with ordinary materials would take more or less the same time. Many of the precious materials just used were wasted. Master Lou had intentionally crafted it this way to impress him.


    "Master Lou, about the bloodline array you mentioned earlier, how far along is your research?" Xu Ziran asked tentatively.


    Master Lou said calmly, "I knew you would ask about this. I''ll show you something today. Otherwise, you won''t be motivated to find the essence blood for me. But crafting bloodline arrays is extremely difficult, and making the array discs is even harder, with a very high failure rate. I won''t embarrass myself by attempting it here. I''ve given Asura apleted array disc. Let him show you."


    As he spoke, he sat on a nearby sofa, looking somewhat tired, and closed his eyes to rest.


    Xu Ziran''s eager gaze instantly turned to Asura. Asura nodded at him, then took out an array disc from his chest pocket. This array disc was a beautiful light blue, with many strange patterns on its surface. Each pattern was exquisite yet seemed to distort the viewer''s vision, making Xu Ziran feel slightly dizzy just by looking at it.


    Asura said, "This is an array disc specifically crafted by Master Lou. This disc can harness the power of a nt-type bloodline. When Master Lou first began his research, he obtained various nymph bloodlines from the Solstice Empire. As you know, nymph bloodlines are rtively easy to acquire. The preciousness of this disc lies in the fact that Master Lou fused multiple nymph bloodlines into it, allowing them to devour each other and evolve, resulting in this creation. Its power can rival that of a third-tier bloodline. Despite multiple attempts, only this one disc has been sessfully made, making it extremely precious. Fortunately, it��s reusable."


    Xu Ziran was not just shocked, but outright frightened. "An effect equivalent to the ability of a third-tier bloodline? How, how is that possible?"


    This was simply unheard of.


    Master Lou said proudly, "If I couldn''t achieve what people think impossible, how could I call myself a master? Asura, demonstrate it for him."

 Chapter 386: Complete Approval

    <h4>Chapter 386: Complete Approval</h4>


    "Yes," Asura responded respectfully, quickly manipting the array disc with his hands. Immediately, strange light patterns appeared on the surface of the disc. These patterns generatedplex energy fluctuations that even Xu Ziran couldn''t fullyprehend.


    Next, Asura suddenly rotated the disc and pressed it against his chest. Instantly, silver light radiated from the disc, and a blue-silver glint appeared in Asura''s eyes.


    With his hands spread to his sides, thick vines surged from his palms, rushing toward Xu Ziran to wrap around him.


    Startled, Xu Ziran quickly retreated, but the vines instantly formed arge cage. Each vine rapidly sprouted sharp thorns, exuding a powerful bloodline aura.


    Asura made a grasping motion with his right hand, and the vines in his palm fused into a long spear, emitting an extremely sharp aura.


    "It''s really a Nymph Transformation!"


    The Aetherhorn Deers��bat abilities were primarily in the realm of spiritual power, and in terms of observation, they were top-notch. The Discerning Heart��s Gaze allowed Xu Ziran to be certain that this was indeed a bloodline power.


    And the bloodline power Asura had previously demonstrated was clearly a demon��s bloodline! This meant Master Lou''s words were true��he had indeed managed to fuse bloodline power into an array disc!


    This was too shocking for Xu Ziran to even speak. At the same time, he realized their assessment of Master Lou had been too low��far too low!


    <i>This can only be described as a divine skill. This array disc is equivalent to having a second bloodline! And this was just a third-tier bloodline array disc. What if they can really produce higher-level ones?</i>


    Xu Ziran didn''t even dare to imagine it.


    Such an array disc could only be described as priceless!


    His voice trembled as he asked Master Lou, "Master Lou, the array disc you created��what order of bloodline power can it emte? And what is the highest tier it can reach?"


    Master Lou said calmly, "The bloodline tier it uses is the bloodline tier it has. As for the order, theoretically, I can make an array disc of the Demon Emperor level. However, I don''t have the blood of a Demon Emperor, and my strength isn''t enough to use it anyway. As it stands, I can probably attempt a tenth-order disc, but it would require a lot of materials."


    Xu Ziran gasped. "Master Lou, I can''t guarantee anything right now. This matter is too significant; I must report it to my superiors. Please wait for my response, alright?"


    Xu Ziran''s mind was a bit chaotic at this moment, and things were clearly beyond his pay grade. He was well aware that such a bloodline array disc might be merely "precious" to other races, but for the Aetherhorn Deers, who weren��t adept atbat, it was nothing short of a qualitative leap! An absolute transformation!


    Master Lou pointed at Asura and said, "Contact him; he knows how to find me. That''s it for today. Also, this Blue Silver Emperor array disc is my gift to Asura; don��t even think about it. I hear he''s participating in the Ancestral Court''s team battle; this is for his protection. If anything happens to him, all our previous agreements are null and void. That will be all for now."


    With that, he stood up and walked out.


    Xu Ziran quickly followed, respectfully saying, "Rest assured, Master Lou. Regarding this team battle in the Ancestral Court, the arena master has already made ns to ensure Brother Asura''s safe return. Don''t worry; our agreement will be upheld. By the way, are you nning to sell these bloodline array discs?"


    Master Lou stopped and turned to look at him almost with pity. "Do you think these things can be sold just like that? Let me tell you, this is the only one that was aplete sess. There are too few materials to work with, and I can''t keep researching on my own. Why do you think I want to cooperate with you? Do you think I can��t make money otherwise? I just want a good environment and materials for my research."


    "Yes, yes, you''re right. It''s truly our honor," Xu Ziran nodded repeatedly.


    "Right, then that''s it."


    Master Lou strode away.


    Asura whispered to Xu Ziran, "Captain Xu, I''ll see the master off. I''ll be back shortly."


    After speaking, he quickly followed Master Lou outside and entered the carriage.


    Xu Ziran escorted them to the door, respectfully watching their carriage gradually disappear. Then he waved his hand and said in a low voice, "Follow them and see where they settle."


    Inside the carriage, Zhang Haoxuan removed the mask from his face, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "This feels pretty good."


    This was all part of the n he and Tang San had discussed.


    After careful consideration, Tang San had decided to cooperate with the Aetherhorn Merchant Association. One reason was that the association''s loyaltyy with the Peacock Demon lineage, meaning some of the money they earned would eventually go to the Peacock Demons. If Mei Gongzi could be the chief of the Peacock Demon n, all this would naturally belong to her.


    Another reason was that as one of thergest merchant organizations on the continent, the Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s channels would undoubtedly be able to find many of the things Tang San needed.


    Of course, the so-called bloodline array disc was fake. Tang San could in fact make one if needed, but what he had told Xu Ziran was entirely true: it would be extremely difficult to produce and it would require arge amount of resources.


    There was no need for now; he needed to study it further.


    The primary purpose was to motivate the Aetherhorn Merchant Association to work harder to find various rare bloodlines for them, especially the ones Tang San needed the most.


    If they could obtain these things, it would greatly benefit the entire Redemption Society.


    <i>Master Lou</i> thus appropriately disyed his powerful array disc crafting abilities to intimidate Xu Ziran, ensuring that the entire Aetherhorn Merchant Association would hold him in as high esteem as possible.


    Asura��s role as their representative naturally became more critical.


    When he encountered danger, the Aetherhorn Merchant Association would undoubtedly help him for the sake of this potentially lucrative deal. It was a win-win situation.


    "Master, you acted well. Your proficiency in making array discs has improved greatly," Tang San said with a smile.


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "Having divine consciousness sure makes a difference! Everything feels so natural. Alright, you should arrange your team battle now. I''ll take my leave first."


    "Okay."


    Zhang Haoxuan took out a teleportation disc. With a sh of light, he vanished from the carriage without a trace.


    Tang San didn''t rush back immediately. Instead, he carefully reviewed his conversation with Xu Ziran to ensure he hadn''t missed anything. Only then did he instruct the carriage to turn around and head back to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association.


    The people tailing him naturally achieved nothing; with the teleportation disc, how could Zhang Haoxuan possibly be tracked?


    Thus, when Xu Ziran saw Asura again, his subordinates reported that two people got into the carriage, no one got off midway, and only Asura returned.


    "Captain Xu, I��m back," Asura said as he entered the shop and found Xu Ziran again.


    Xu Ziran smiled and said, "Brother Asura, if you don''t mind, you can call me Brother Xu. I didn''t expect you to actually bring the master here. I want to thank you on behalf of the Aetherhorn Merchant Association."


    Asura smiled and said, "It was what I promised the arena master. And I was indeed lucky to have found him. Master Lou isn''t very talkative; he said that if you have any matters for him in the future, just let me know, and he''ll contact me."


    He didn''t say he would contact the master but that the master would contact him, clearly indicating to Xu Ziran that he couldn��t just bother Master Lou whenever he wanted.

 Chapter 387: Time to Hunt

    <h4>Chapter 387: Time to Hunt</h4>


    Of course, this was all part of the conversational strategy. Whether Xu Ziran believed it or not was another matter, but there was no doubt that Asura''s importance had significantly increased in his eyes.


    "Brother Asura, please bring your team over tomorrow. The timing is just right. I''ve already arranged things for the team battle, and rest assured, our Aetherhorn Merchant Association has put much effort this time to ensure you can pass safely. Stay here for dinner tonight. Let''s discuss the details, and as long as nothing goes wrong, your safety is guaranteed."


    "Thank you very much, Brother Xu," Asura said with a smile.


    The following conversation went much smoother, as the Aetherhorn Deers had indeed arranged a retreat for them. However, there was no doubt that the Shrek Squad could no longer continue in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Their disappearance was inevitable.


    Xu Ziran exined in detail the Great Beast Fighting Arena rules in the Ancestral Court. After listening to him, Tang San understood that the arena here differedpletely from those in the major cities. The cultivation of the participants was on average much higher, and more importantly, the degree of freedom was also greater.


    The Great Beast Fighting Arena in the Ancestral Court was divided into two main parts. One part was simr to the arenas in the major cities but on a muchrger scale. This arena was not for killing for amusement but, more importantly, for selecting strong individuals within the powerful ns to spar with each other. While casualties could and did still ur, it was far less brutal than in the main cities. After all, those who could enter this arena were nobles of the demon and nymph ns, and many were prodigies. This ce was the best training ground for them.


    In addition, the Ancestral Court had a unique secret realm called the Hell Garden. It was said that a blood sacrifice had to be made once someone entered the Hell Garden. Of those who entered, only half at most could make it out alive; the others were destined to be fertilizer for the Hell Garden.


    The Hell Garden was so mysterious that even Demon Emperors couldn''t see through it, and god-level powerhouses couldn''t enter it.


    Within the Hell Garden, there were countless dangers. Those who entered would face the perils of that world and threats from not only their opponents but also their ownpanions��the hard rule was that only half could survive, but it did not matter whether an entire team died or half of both teams. In the end, if the death toll wasn''t enough for the exit to open, mutual ughter was inevitable.


    However, there were many opportunities in the Hell Garden as well. It was said that those who survived the Hell Garden would find the path to godhood much smoother. As for the specific benefits one could gain inside, the Ancestral Court had never publicly disclosed them.


    The team battles of the Ancestral Court took ce in this Hell Garden. It was more of a full-scale war than a team battle.


    The Hell Garden could be opened once a month, amodating up to a hundred beings at a time. And only half coulde out alive; whether they were a full hundred or just ten, that stayed true.


    The Hell Garden was one of the Ancestral Court''s most significant sources of ie. All entrants received a detailed introduction before entering, and then enthusiasts could ce bets on who woulde out alive. There were many ways to ce these bets, including the order in which they would emerge.


    As for the restrictions, besides the cultivation level, the Ancestral Court had clear regtions prohibiting members of first-tier bloodline ns from entering.


    The team battle that Tang San and his group were about to face was in this Hell Garden. Their names had already been submitted to the Great Beast Fighting Arena of the Ancestral Court.


    When they parted ways right after reaching the Ancestral Court, Xu Ziran had asked them to return on the seventh day, but in reality, they would enter the Hell Garden on the ninth day. That was to give Asura and his team three days to prepare.


    The Hell Garden was known as the fairest and most free battleground. Those who entered would be sent to random ces, and there was no theoretical limit to the number of members in a team. There could be a team with three people and one with fifty. However, the problem was that with only half able toe out alive,rge teams would undoubtedly be targeted by others, and maybe even be forced to fight among themselves. No one was foolish enough to form arge team given that only half could survive.


    After countless attempts, it was said that teams consisting of five to ten members had the highest survival rates in the Hell Garden.


    Xu Ziran provided Tang San with plenty of information about the Hell Garden and their path to survival. And once they entered the Hell Garden, the Shrek Squad would cease to exist. Their noble status was not an issue; as the Aetherhorn Merchant Association would cover for them, allowing them to remain nobles.


    Tang San even suspected they had bribed the allegedly incorruptible Ancestral Court''s Great Beast Fighting Arena. After all, while money might not be omnipotent, it��s close enough for all practical purposes.


    With three days and some definite information, it was time to prepare.


    Returning to the White Tiger Hotel, Tang San contacted Zhang Haoxuan again, asking him to purchase some items. Then, he began setting up a perfect soundproof array in his cultivation room at the hotel, an array that blocked out even the most minute vibrations. With this, no sound could either enter or escape.


    Zhang Haoxuan quickly brought the items to Tang San and discussed the situation in the Hell Garden with him. Then, Tang San began his preparations.


    When Wu Bingji and the others returned, night had already fallen. The four members of the Shrek Squad returned with weary expressions, some mentally exhausted, others physically.


    After dinner, Tang San gathered them all in his room and exined the situation about the Hell Garden.


    Wu Bingji sighed with relief after hearing Tang San''s exnation. "If things go ording to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s arrangements, we should be rtively safe."


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "It''s not about whether we''re safe now, but whether the opponents entering the Hell Garden with us are safe. Since we''re entering a team battle, we must find a way to gain some advantage. As for what can be gained in the Hell Garden, there''s no information, but we��ll find a way to benefit from it."


    Du Bai''s eyes lit up, and he asked, "How do we do that?"


    A cold glint shed in Tang San''s eyes. "It''s hunting time!"


    "Hunting?" The other four exchanged nces.


    Tang San nodded. "The greatest advantage for us in the Hell Garden is that no one can spy on us from the outside. Whatever we do inside, as long as no witnessese out alive, no one will know. Our opponents will undoubtedly be vicious, and to enter the Hell Garden, they must also be extremely powerful. Their essence blood will be a valuable asset for us. Even if we don''t use it ourselves, we can give it to other students at the academy or sell it at auction for a good price."


    Gu Li gasped. "That''s brutal!"


    Cheng Zicheng gave him a sidelong nce. "If I didn''t know better, I��d think you��re some kind of old monster."


    Tang San appeared to be in histe teens or even early twenties. And while he wore his Asura mask, he gave everyone the impression of being an adult.


    Before Tang San could speak, Wu Bingji said, "As humans, we have no privileges, so we must take every opportunity we get. We have to give up our hard-earned position as spiritual leaders in Kali City, so we might as well profit from it. I agree with Tang San''s n. Since we''re going in, we need to gain something."


    "No problem. Luck is on our side," Du Bai said, patting his chest confidently.

 Chapter 388: Entering

    <h4>Chapter 388: Entering</h4>


    Cheng Zicheng snorted and said, "Just don''t hold us back. I''ve made a lot of progress recently, and it''s the perfect time to show it off."


    Gu Li chuckled and said, "Me too. I''m slowly getting the hang of it. I think my future lies in time management, hehe."


    Tang San nodded and said, "I''ll make some hidden weapons and new array discs for you. We won''t go to the Sacred Mountains for the next two days. Instead, we''ll practice and master these new weapons."


    Upon hearing about the new weapons, the eyes of the four lit up. Anything made by Tang San was bound to be top-notch!


    ***


    Two days passed in the blink of an eye. On the day they were to enter the Hell Garden, the five checked out of the hotel early in the morning and went together to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association.


    Xu Zirui was already waiting there. He handed Asura a storage ring, whispered some final instructions, and saw them onto the Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s carriage.


    The carriage''s interior was spacious, but the windows were sealed shut. This was the rule��no one was allowed to know the location of the Hell Garden''s entrance.


    The Hell Garden team battle participants would all gather at a designated ce. Then, these sealed carriages, isted from spiritual power, would be driven by Ancestral Court personnel to the Hell Garden entrance.


    Five sets of clothing were neatly arranged inside the carriage, all tailored to their sizes.


    The outfits were all ck, tight-fitting uniforms with a hood that only exposed the eyes, nose, and mouth. This attire made it impossible to tell people apart, except for their overall body shape.


    This was to ensure that before entering, none of the Hell Garden team battle participants could see their opponents, adding an element of mystery.


    Tang San nodded to hispanions. The five quickly changed into their ck uniforms, chuckling when they saw that they barely even recognized each other. A light smile showed on Tang San''s lips; for him, the more mysterious the uing team battle, the better.


    The carriage journey was long, with two stops, but no sounds came from outside. Inside the carriage, only four crystals embedded in the corners emitted a faint glow, preventing it from being too dark.


    The five closed their eyes to rest, maintaining their optimal condition.


    After about an hour, Tang San suddenly opened his eyes. He felt a massive spiritual power enveloping the carriage. From that moment on, they could no longer sense anything outside with their spiritual power.


    Tang San closed his eyes again.


    After another half an hour, the carriage finally stopped. At that moment, all the instion seemed to vanish, and sounds echoed from outside.


    "Get off!"


    Tang San nodded to hispanions and was the first to get off the carriage.


    Outside, the sunlight was bright. Stepping out from the dim carriage, he squinted his eyes slightly to adjust to the light while quickly observing the surroundings.


    Before themy a valley with cliffs on either side. Even though the walls were sheer rock and extremely steep, lush foliage covered them for the most part.


    The life energy here was incredibly dense, and it was not split into different attributes as within the Ancestral Court, but merged together. It felt like a stronger version of the life energy in Kali City.


    At this moment, a dozen carriages were gathered in the valley. Participants of various builds, all dressed in ck and wearing hoods, were getting off the carriages one by one.


    The Shrek Squad naturally gathered behind Tang San. They noticed that there were no drivers on the carriages, as if they had arrived here on their own.


    Two tall figures of an unknown race stood guard ahead. They could be distinguished from the participants because, although they wore ck clothing and hoods, their outfits had red patterns.


    "You have all received your identification tags. Remember to wear them properly. If youe out without your identification tag, you will be killed without mercy," one of the red-pattern figures said coldly.


    Naturally, Tang San and his team also had them. They were numbered eleven to fifteen.


    These tags were rted to the bets. After leaving the Hell Garden, they had to hand over the tags immediately to determine the order of exit. They also had to verify their own identities.


    The Ancestral Court''s team battles required sponsorship, with each participating team having a sponsor behind them. They also had to pay a significant deposit. If the entire team was wiped out, the deposit would not be refunded. However, many forces were willing to sponsor teams to enter the battles.


    This was like betting on horses; whoever had a sponsored team inside knew them best, so they had an advantage when it came to betting. Moreover, if the sponsored team survived, the sponsor would receive a reward worth several times the deposit.


    However, while many were willing to sponsor, finding suitable participants was another matter altogether.


    Tang San hung his identification tag on the left side of his chest. Since they were a team of five, it didn''t matter who wore which tag. Having numbered tags just made it easier to identify their teammates, at least at the beginning. If they got separated inside, and a teammate was killed and their tag was taken, that would be another matter. Cases of someone impersonating an opponent to kill the others were not unheard of.


    "Enter the passage," the red-pattern figure said, pointing to the depths ahead.


    The passage between the cliffs stretched straight ahead, but the distant scenery appeared somewhat illusory, naturally giving an oppressive feeling. After all, this ce was called the Hell Garden!


    The other teams of participants had already begun to walk deeper into the passage. Anyone who could get here was well aware of the rules. Fighting was strictly prohibited before entering the Hell Garden; vitors would be executed immediately.


    Once they were about a hundred meters in, they began to hear strange, whisper-like wailing sounds in the air.


    These sounds seemed to carry a strange magic, making them feel somewhat dazed.


    Tang San immediately noticed something was wrong; under the influence of these whispers, his spiritual power seemed to be sluggish, and his thoughts slowed down.


    He did not resist. Undoubtedly, at the entrance to the Hell Garden, there would be Ancestral Court powerhouses observing all the entrants. It would be too conspicuous if he used his divine consciousness to clear his mind now.


    They continued forward for about ten minutes, unaware of how far they had gone.


    Suddenly, the scenery opened up ahead.


    Tang San vaguely felt as if they had passed through a gate, and a whole new worldy beyond it.


    This was a very peculiar ce, with strange lights and shadows flowing through the air. The scenery ahead was unclear and gave everyone a surreal, bizarre feel.


    If one stared closely at those lights and shadows, their mind would even feel as if it were sinking.


    At this moment, the identification tags on their chests emitted a faint heat, stimting each participant present to wake up.


    Tang San noticed that the identification tags on the chests of different teams emitted glows of different colors. The five tags of the Shrek team emitted a pale green halo.


    In the next instant, the bizarrely lit world ahead seemed to twist violently. Then he felt a sudden whirl, as if a vortex had swallowed him, and the surrounding space changed dramatically.


    Sure enough, it was an isted space, a separate ne.

 Chapter 389: Hell Garden

    <h4>Chapter 389: Hell Garden</h4>


    Tang San had seen many small nes like this when he was a God King. The condensation of powerful spiritual wills sometimes formed these unique nes, and sometimes, they emerged after space fragments stabilized.


    These isted small nes had to rely on a primary ne to exist long-term; otherwise, they would dissipate quickly.


    The small ne named Hell Garden before him undoubtedly relied on Fn and was under the control of the Ancestral Court.


    After obtaining some information about the Hell Garden, Tang San had carefully analyzed this ce.


    First, it had to be an isted space. Second, this space had to be unstable; otherwise, god-level beings would be able to enter freely.


    It wasn��t that god-level beings couldn''t enter at all, but rather that their entry could cause the space to copse, destroying the entire small ne.


    Additionally, the benefits obtainable in this isted ne were likely not material objects; if they were, they would have long been exhausted. In that case, it wouldn''t be used as a battleground for team battles.


    In essence, Tang San considered the Hell Garden a dangerous spatial battlefield.


    As he pondered, the surroundings suddenly emptied, and he felt himself falling.


    The scenery before him returned to normal, and cries of surprise came from around him.


    Without looking, Tang San reached out with his right hand and grabbed Du Bai. On the other side, Cheng Zicheng spread her golden wings and grabbed Wu Bingji and Gu Li by their arms.


    Tang San stepped on a brilliant white light, using the airflow to descend slowly.


    They had appeared in the air but were only about ten meters above the ground.


    Tang San instinctively scanned the surroundings while quickly spreading his spiritual power to probe the area.


    What he saw was a somewhat magical world.


    The sky was dark, as if it were night, but strangely, the ground was bright. Within their sight, the ground was covered with various flowers, each emitting a different glow. The soft radiance of the flowers against the night gave a mesmerizing effect.


    They had arrived at the Hell Garden!


    Recalling the information he had received from Xu Ziran, Tang San controlled his descent toward a specific location. Cheng Zicheng followed closely, pping her wings as theynded together.


    One crucial piece of information Xu Ziran had given Tang San about the Hell Garden was that warm-colored flowers were safe, while cool-colored flowers were dangerous. However, during the singing, safety and danger would switch. This was one of the Hell Garden''s rules.


    At this moment, they were in a field of warm-colored flowers.


    The surrounding flowers were mainly light pink, orange, and pale red. Some taller flower stalks reached several meters, while others were only a few inches high. As theynded in the flower field, they were immediately concealed by the surrounding blooms.


    "It''s so beautiful here!" Cheng Zicheng said softly. As a girl, the sight of glowing flowers all around her was incredibly moving.


    Wu Bingji gently tapped her shoulder, and Cheng Zicheng immediately fell silent. Everyone''s attention focused on Tang San.


    Tang San looked at hispanions, smiled slightly, and said, "The hunt begins now."


    <strong><i>Hell Garden.</i></strong>


    <i>Team Battle Rules: The sole objective for all teams entering the Hell Garden is to find the exit. The Hell Garden is vast, and there is only one exit. Whenever singing begins, the direction of the exit can be sensed. At the same time, the safety and danger of warm-colored and cool-colored flowers switch.</i>


    <i>The number of cool-colored flowers increases after each song, and the number of warm-colored flowers decreases. Anyone passing through the area of cool-colored flowers, whether in the sky or on the ground, will be attacked.</i>


    <i>The Hell Garden opens for a duration equivalent to seven days in the outside world. The number of times the singing urs varies, but once all the flowers in the space are cool-colored, the Hell Garden closes and no one can leave. </i>


    <i>Only half of the entrants can leave. If more than half of the participants reach the exit, some have to be killed to reduce the number to below half before they can exit sessfully. The deceased would be nutrients for the Hell Garden.</i>


    It is said that the Great Beast Fighting Arena chose this location for team battles precisely in order to maintain the integrity of this space.


    When they were in the air earlier, Tang San had observed that the warm-colored flowers upied about two-thirds of all the flowers in their field of vision. This meant that, for now, the survival space was thergest.


    Tang San did not rush to act. Before the first song started, they would not know the direction of the exit or which way they should go.


    Du Bai took out two Godly Zhuge Crossbows, holding them in his hands. These were his weapons.


    Tang San gently touched a pink flower before him, closed his eyes, and silently felt its aura.


    The first thing he felt was warmth. The auraing from this flower was warm. That faint warmth gave him a feeling of physical and mentalfort, making him want to sleep or even stay here forever.


    At the same time, he also felt the goodwill these warm-colored flowers were conveying to him. These flowers seemed to be nurturing a very peculiar energy. This energy wasn''t of a nt attribute but rather an extraordinary existence that Tang San couldn''t describe. It had the essence of space and time, but also other indescribable elements were within it.


    Tang San squatted down to observe the ground.


    The ground was in soil, ck as ink, just like the sky above. Tang San lightly touched it and immediately withdrew his hand as if he had been shocked.


    When he touched it, he felt an overwhelming malevolent intenting from the soil, like a whirlpool trying to devour his spiritual will. Strangely, standing on it with his shoes, he didn''t feel this.


    He also sensed a strange energy interaction between the ground and these flowers. It seemed that the flowers were releasing positive energy to counteract the soil''s malevolent intent.


    Xu Ziran��s introduction to the Hell Garden was limited to the few rules he had told Tang San. Beyond that, there was nothing more. It was not that he didn��t want to tell them more, but that he simply did not know, in spite of the Aetherhorn Deers�� extensive informationwork. Even those demons and nymphs who had left the Hell Garden alive could not reveal much information. Or perhaps they hadn''t truly understood what this ce was.


    Du Bai held his Godly Zhuge Crossbows in both hands, grinning. "In a ce like this, it''s time to show off my skills. Once I activate my Celestial Fox Vision and use luck to guide us, we''ll be the first team to find the exit. Then we can deal with the stragglers��perfect!"


    As he spoke, a misty white light appeared in his eyes, and above his head, the shadow of a three-tailed celestial fox slowly emerged.


    What he said made sense��what better guide than luck to determine which direction to go? Additionally, luck might lead them through areas with warm-colored flowers, preventing them from encountering cool-colored ones due to the singing.


    Only Tang San frowned slightly, but he did not stop Du Bai. He just watched him intently.


    As the three-tailed Celestial Fox was about to form, Tang San''s pupils suddenly contracted.


    Just as it was about to take shape, the three-tailed Celestial Fox above Du Bai''s head suddenly turned from white to ck. Immediately following this, a bizarre scene unfolded��the warm-colored flowers around them almost instantly transformed into cool-colored ones. A chilling, murderous aura enveloped the five members of the Shrek team in an instant.

 Chapter 390: Ripples of Misfortune

    <h4>Chapter 390: Ripples of Misfortune</h4>


    Everyone was watching Du Bai and noticed the moment the three-tailed Celestial Fox changed color.


    After so many battles together, they had developed a certain level of tacit understanding. Gu Li almost instantly activated his Chrono Croc Transformation, causing the flow of time around them to freeze.


    The three-tailed celestial fox above Du Bai''s head paused momentarily as it changed from white to ck. Not yet retracted, Cheng Zicheng''s Golden Roc wings struck Du Bai on the back. Purple-gold light flickered in Tang San''s eyes, and a mental shock hit Du Bai. Wu Bingji quickly conjured several ice shields to guard their surroundings.


    Du Bai grunted as his Celestial Fox Transformation was finally interrupted. The three-tailed Celestial Fox''s shadow vanished, and the surrounding flowers stopped changing to cool colors and reverted to warm colors.


    All of this happened incredibly quickly. The flowers would have changed color if they had been even a fraction of a second slower.


    Du Bai was nearly knocked to the ground by Cheng Zicheng''s wings. With Tang San''s support, he barely managed to stay upright. His head throbbed from the mental shock, and he cried out in pain, "What are you doing?"


    Tang San helped him steady himself. "Don''t use the Celestial Fox Transformation. Something''s wrong."


    "Hmm?" Du Bai looked at him in confusion, adjusting his spiritual power to recover.


    Tang San frowned. "When you used the Celestial Fox Transformation just now, it wasn''t luck that descended; it was misfortune."


    "Ah?" Du Bai stared at him in shock, frowning as he recalled the process of his activation.


    After spending several days in the Celestial Fox Pce, he clearly felt that his control over luck had increased significantly, and his bloodline seemed to have purified somewhat. He was eager to showcase his skills in this trial but hadn''t expected such a result.


    "How could this happen?" Du Bai murmured.


    "What did you feel when you used the Celestial Fox Transformation just now?" Tang San asked.


    Du Bai shook his head in confusion and said, "I can''t say for sure. It felt strange, as if something was absorbing my power, and then my mood started to feel a bit irritable."


    Tang San said solemnly, "Don''t use the Celestial Fox Transformation for now. Everyone else, don''t make any rash moves. Wait here for the first singing. I''ll go check it out."


    As he spoke, he headed in a chosen direction toward the edge of the warm-colored flowers.


    The Hell Garden was very mysterious, and he needed to understand the true difference between the warm-colored and cool-colored flowers here.


    Du Bai''s situation was very unusual. Everyone had used their bloodline power, but only his Celestial Fox Transformation showed a significant change, while the others'' Demonic God Transformations were normal. This meant that the Celestial Fox Transformation was affected here. Logically, only fortune could affect fortune.


    With the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral protecting him, Tang San cautiously walked to the intersection of the warm-colored and cool-colored flowers. He was already over a hundred meters away from hispanions.


    From above, using spiritual power to sense, the distribution of the two colors of flowers appeared irregr and uneven.


    This area shouldn''t affect hispanions.


    Tang San squinted his eyes and stepped into the range of the cool-colored flowers.


    Instantly, the murderous aura he had felt before spread rapidly. He immediately sensed a strong suction force from the ground beneath his feet. The gravity increased dramatically, making him feel sluggish and unable to move. Moreover, he could clearly feel his bloodline power and life energy quickly draining away.


    Tang San''s control over himself was nearly unmatched below godhoodl. Yet even so, he couldn''t stop the outflow of his life energy.


    Furthermore, the cool-colored flowers around him almost instantly grew wildly, as if nourished by his life energy. The once beautiful flowers, after growing explosively, revealed a hideous scene.


    Thorns protruded from the stems, and somerge flowers exploded, each petal transforming into sharp des sweeping toward Tang San. Other flowers suddenly grewrger, opening their petals lined with teeth-like barbs, aiming to bite him.


    Moreover, vines from the ground rapidly wrapped around, presenting a full-on assault from all directions.


    Tang San released a cold snort, and the Lion Tiger Golden Astral expanded, instantly forming ayer of white light around him. The white light disintegrated the attacks from the cool-colored flowers upon contact, turning them into powder.


    Simultaneously, Tang San activated the Lion Tiger Golden Astral''s characteristic, attempting to temporarily devour the cool-colored flowers to acquire their traits.


    However, he stopped his action almost immediately. When the Lion Tiger Golden Astral destroyed the flowers and devoured their energy, Tang San felt an instant chill, as if something terrible was about to happen to him. What was this?


    Misfortune? Tang San immediately made a judgment.


    Someone else might not have had such a clear understanding, but he also had the Celestial Fox Transformation ability. His sensitivity to fortune was keen, so he immediately understood what was happening to him.


    <i>Roar�� </i>


    A massive white lion-tiger silhouette appeared behind Tang San, its gaping maw emitting a thunderous roar.


    Instantly, the cool-colored flowers within dozens of meters shattered, clearing the area in front of him.


    Tang San quickly retreated into the area of warm-colored flowers.


    During his retreat, he forcibly used the Lion Tiger Golden Astral to help break free from the suction force under his feet, though his speed was much slower than usual. Fortunately, he was only at the edge of the cool-colored flowers, so he quickly returned to the warm-colored flower area.


    What was that feeling just now?


    Tang San frowned, feeling as though he had grasped something.


    The attacks in this Hell Garden seemed to be rted to misfortune. When Du Bai used the Celestial Fox Transformation, luck turned into misfortune. The attacks from the cool-colored flowers also carried misfortune.


    At this moment, the area of cool-colored flowers he had destroyed was rapidly regrowing from the ground, soon transforming back into dense cool-colored flowers, shining with a cold and beautiful light.


    Using luck would lead to misfortune, even causing warm-colored flowers to turn cool and attack. So, what would happen if he directly used misfortune?


    Tang San''s heart stirred. As the saying goes, "Expertise breeds courage." He had divine consciousness hidden within his sea of consciousness, so he was confident. He quietly activated the Celestial Fox Transformation, and under the precise control of his Discerning Eye of Heaven, ayer of pitch-ck aura quickly appeared around him, enveloping him.


    The misfortune he released would affect the surroundings, not himself.


    The misfortune the Celestial Fox Transformation generated umted as luck was continuously used. It needed to be periodically released outward to neutralize the luck, and Tang San had also umted some.


    As he released misfortune, his body trembled suddenly. He was shocked to find that the warm flowers around him were rapidly changing to cool colors, just like when Du Bai used luck. But even more bizarre was the change in his spiritual perception.


    Tang San felt his spiritual perception range suddenly expand dramatically. In his perception, it was as if countless malevolent thoughts and misfortune enveloped everything around him. As he released misfortune, his perception rapidly extended over thisrge area. He even sensed a team several kilometers away, resting among the warm-colored flowers.


    The endless malevolent intent seemed to exist in a ripple pattern throughout the space, and these ripples were all flowing in one unified direction.

 Chapter 391: Hell and Heaven Are Both in the World

    <h4>Chapter 391: Hell and Heaven Are Both in the World</h4>


    His perception stopped there because the flowers around him had turned cool-colored and begun attacking him again.


    He quickly dispersed the misfortune, and the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral surged, shattering the attacks. The surrounding flowers reverted to their original warm-colored state, and the attacks ceased.


    <i>Ripples... Ripples of misfortune, and there seems to be a source?</i>


    Tang San was shocked. At that moment, he knew that the Hell Garden was not just any mere isted space; there were far deeper secrets behind it.


    He frowned slightly. After a brief moment of thought, he decided to return to hispanions, but at that moment, a melodious singing suddenly began.


    As the singing started, Tang San felt all the warm-colored flowers around hime to life, swaying gently from their roots to their petals in tempo with the song.


    The song was incredibly beautiful and enchanting, and it dazed his mind. Instinctively, he turned in a direction, feeling a strong impulse to walk that way.


    Tang San''s heart was rmed. He bit his tongue and focused his spiritual power inward, clearing his mind. However, the constant temptation from the song continued to assault his mind.


    What made Tang San''s pupils contract was that the direction the song was guiding him in seemed to be the same direction where he had sensed all the ripples converging when he released the misfortune!


    Without hesitation, Tang San quickly ran back the way he hade.


    He saw hispanions again a few momentster. Du Bai was struggling to pull back Cheng Zicheng, whose eyes were dazed as she stepped toward the direction the sound was leading her in. Wu Bingji and Gu Li were both frowning, their faces showing signs of pain as they resisted the temptation.


    "Wake up!" Tang San shouted, releasing a wave of spiritual energy from his eyes. Instantly, under the influence of his spiritual power, hisrades'' expressions rxed, and Gu Li, Wu Bingji, and Cheng Zicheng opened their eyes one after another.


    Among the four, Du Bai''s spiritual power was undoubtedly the strongest, followed by Gu Li and Wu Bingji, with Cheng Zicheng being the weakest. Even so, that was just in rtive terms; Cheng Zicheng''s spiritual power was close to the eighth order, and she was by no means a weak-minded person. Yet she still struggled to resist the temptation of the song, indicating how powerful its allure was.


    Tang San turned around, relying on his memory to face the direction the song guided them, listening carefully to its melody.


    "Hell and heaven are both in the world!"


    The song had no lyrics, but for some reason, Tang San understood what it was saying.


    "Hell and heaven are both in the world!"


    "Hell and heaven are both in the world!"


    Again and again, simr words with different tones, constantly emitting waves of irresistible temptation.


    Just then, a massive pir of light shot up in the distance. The position of the light pir was not where Tang San had sensed the misfortune ripples converging earlier, but in another distant ce.


    When the light pir appeared, all the warm-colored flowers around it became brighter. The light that bloomed instantly made the entire world appear dazzlingly beautiful.


    Strange pale pink light spots floated up, seemingly drawn by the light pir, converging towards it.


    As these pink light spots emerged, the surrounding warm-colored flowers immediately began to change. Some started turning into cool-colored ones. At the same time, the ground began to emit a suction force, the kind that directly devoured life energy and bloodline power. However, the suction was much gentlerpared to the cool-colored flower areas.


    "Let''s go!" Tang San ordered in a deep voice, leading the way toward the light pir.


    Hispanions followed behind him: Gu Li, then Du Bai, with Cheng Zicheng and Wu Bingji bringing up the rear.


    Tang San realized they couldn''t fly at this moment because as he moved, the suction force from the ground increased dramatically whenever his feet left. The higher they were, the stronger the suction. It was rather unintuitive, but walking on the ground minimized the suction force.


    The number of warm-colored flowers was still rtivelyrge, making it easy for them to advance along them.


    "Little Tang, I have an idea," Wu Bingji''s voice came from behind.


    "Go ahead," Tang San quickly replied.


    Wu Bingji said, "If I use the ice element to create arger ice shield, or rather an ice boat, we can stand on it. Then Zicheng can just fan us with her wings, and we can move directly through the flowers. You can guide us from the front. This should be much faster."


    Hearing this, Tang San''s eyes lit up. This was the advantage of attribute coordination. "Great!"


    Everyone stopped, and Wu Bingji used his Ice Nymph Transformation, quickly forming a thin-bottomed ice boat.


    The boat wasn''trge, just big enough for the five to stand on it. It provided some instion from the ground''s suction. Cheng Zicheng then spread her golden wings and pped them hard. The ice boat, driven by the wind generated by her wings, swiftly slid forward.


    "The bloodline power consumption is about twice as high as normal," Wu Bingji''s voice sounded.


    Tang San nodded. "Got it!"


    He fully unleashed his spiritual power, sensing the changes in the flowers ahead, and asionally used the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral with his hands to guide the direction of the ice boat.


    With the ice boat gliding through the flower field, their speed was much faster than walking, and they headed straight for the direction where the light pir had appeared.


    Xu Ziran had instructed them to reach the exit as quickly as possible in order to carry out their n.


    In previous Hell Garden team battles, reaching the exit wasn''t the most challenging part. Most teams could reach it before the flowers turned cool-colored. But the real test began after arriving at the exit. They would face continuous attacks from the Hell Garden''s flowers and fend off other teams desperately attacking for survival. Only when the number of survivors was halved would the exit truly open.


    This was the information about the Hell Garden team battles. It wasn''t overlyplicated, and no one delved too deeply into the Hell Garden''s fundamental nature.


    However, Tang San''s focus wasn''t on reaching the exit. Instead, it was in the center where the misfortune ripples converged.


    The core that constantly drew the misfortune ripples��if it wasn''t where the exit was, then what kind of ce was it?


    The sky was gray and hazy, obscuring everything above. Only the different lights emitted by the two types of beautiful flowers on the ground made the Hell Garden look so alluring.


    Coupled with the enchanting and melodic singing, it created an indescribable pull. This ce''s mystery was clearly far beyond just a team battle.


    However,pared to exploring the secrets of the Hell Garden, it was more important for Tang San to ensure hispanions could get out safely. Discovering the secrets of the Hell Garden could be a secondary objective in the process.


    The singingsted a quarter of an hour before gradually fading away. The number of warm-colored flowers noticeably decreased, and the number of cool-colored ones increased. However, the Hell Garden was vast, and they didn''t encounter any other teams during this time.


    The exit light pir did not disappear with the singing but continued to stand tall in the distance.


    Based on his memory of the direction of the misfortune ripples, Tang San urately determined that the exit light pir was far from where the ripples converged. He even had a vague feeling that the light pir appeared in that location deliberately to guide them away from the core of the ripples.


    If Tang San were alone, he might have chosen to investigate the center of the misfortune ripples, but there is one known thing about the unknown: it alwayses with risks.


    <i>"Go!"</i> said a voice.

 Chapter 392: The Crystal Demon Emperors Residual Consciousness

    <h4>Chapter 392: The Crystal Demon Emperor''s Residual Consciousness</h4>


    And that voice... wasing from Tang San��s consciousness.


    The abrupt voice caused Tang San''s mind to tremble, and he instinctively shouted, "Stop!"


    Cheng Zicheng immediately folded her wings and pped them in reverse, causing the ice boat to halt abruptly.


    At the same time, the singing ceased, and the suction from the ground also vanished.


    "What happened?" Du Bai asked.


    Tang San didn''t answer. At this moment, his expression was somewhat solemn.


    <i>What was that voice?!</i>


    His spiritual power was not merely of the ninth order; his spirit core had his original divine consciousness as the very foundation. Yet even so, he had been taken byplete surprise by this sudden voice, and the thought of what that might imply was frightening.


    <i>What was that voice, and where did ite from?</i>


    Taking a deep breath, Tang San fully activated his spiritual power and sat cross-legged on the ice boat. He traced back the situation when the voice appeared, guiding his thoughts to find the source of the voice.


    Soon, his gaze focused on his storage bracelet. Yes, the voice seemed to being from within it.


    He used his spiritual power to peer into the storage bracelet, and the items stored within quickly appeared in Tang San''s mind.


    He immediately located the source.


    A silvery radiance illuminated the entire space inside the storage bracelet. The silver egg with strange patterns was glowing, and the voice seemed to being precisely from within the egg.


    When Tang San had obtained this egg from the Crystal Demon Emperor, he had pondered what it could be. He had also carefully studied and investigated it but found nothing. His spiritual power couldn''t prate it, and he was also worried that the Crystal Demon Emperor might have left something inside, so he didn''t dare to probe it with his divine consciousness.


    And now, the egg was actually talking to him!


    A sense of fear unconsciously lingered in his heart. If this egg was attached to a sliver of the Crystal Demon Emperor''s divine consciousness, it would be a massive problem for him!


    Namely, it would mean everything he did was under the constant watch of the Crystal Demon Emperor. Thetter could dispose of him whenever, and at his level, there was no way he could contend with a Demon Emperor!


    At that moment, the voice sounded again.


    <i>"Go!"</i>


    Tang San tentatively sent his thoughts toward the crystal egg. <i>"Your Majesty?" </i>


    <i>"This is merely residual consciousness; you don''t need to overthink it. I left it there mainly for the egg''s incubation, because it can sense the right conditions for the egg to hatch. You must follow its guidance. The moment the egg hatches, the remains of my consciousness will naturally disappear."</i>


    It seemed to see through Tang San''s worries; he hadn��t put his question into words, yet the Crystal Demon Emperor��s consciousness had predicted it and taken the initiative to answer.


    Tang San furrowed his brow. Would it really disappear after the egg hatched? And for that matter, <i>what was it</i> that was going to hatch? And once it hatched, would it prove to be a boon or would it bring a disaster to him?


    Of course, he didn''t think abandoning this crystal egg would solve anything. If he did, the Crystal Demon Emperor would likely appear before him the moment he left the Hell Garden and take his life.


    Facing this peerless powerhouse, he didn''t even have the possibility of resistance. What to do was quite apparent. If he couldn''t refuse, he could onlyply and take it one step at a time.


    No matter how strong, a newly hatched life form couldn''t be stronger than him with his divine consciousness, right?


    Moreover, judging from the two tokens the Crystal Demon Emperor had given him back then, it didn''t seem like he intended to take Tang San��s life. In fact, since he had entrusted Tang San with the egg, it seemed that he was intent on keeping Tang San safe, at least until the egg hatched.


    Tang San stood up and turned to hispanions. "I have a feeling. Do you trust me?"


    "Of course!" Du Bai was the first to respond. His trust in Tang San was unconditional. Without Tang San, he would probably still be stuck at the third order.


    Wu Bingji said, "Naturally, we trust you. Without you, we wouldn''t havee this far. If we went to the Great Beast Fighting Arena without you, we would have died there long ago. Just tell us what you''re thinking and we��ll go from there."


    Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng also nodded. They had never seen Tang San look so serious.


    Tang San said solemnly, "I can sense that there are some extraordinary things in this ce. So, I want to take this opportunity to explore. Actually, there''s something I haven''t told you. I reached the summit of Crystal Sacred Mountain and I met the Crystal Demon Emperor."


    "Ah?" Gu Li looked at him in shock. Having climbed Crystal Sacred Mountain himself, he knew how difficult it was.


    Tang San nodded to him and said, "I climbed to the top and met the Crystal Demon Emperor. I gained his recognition and received two tokens from him. One is his Crystal Mirror, and the other is..."


    His storage bracelet shed as he spoke, and he held the silver-glowing crystal egg in his hands.


    The silver crystal egg emitted a faint glow. Tang San held it in his hands, and it seemed that the Hell Garden''s environment made the egg''s glow more pronounced than outside.


    "The Crystal Demon Emperor asked me to protect this egg and help it hatch. Just now, I felt its will. It seems there is an opportunity for it to hatch here in the Hell Garden." He didn''t mention the residual thought of the Crystal Demon Emperor, fearing it would scare hispanions.


    "So, you''re nning to hatch it?" Wu Bingji asked softly.


    Tang San nodded and said, "This is the Crystal Demon Emperor''s order."


    He deliberately emphasized this part. Everyone exchanged nces, naturally understanding what the issue was.


    "Then let''s go," Wu Bingji said without hesitation. "We can''t split up; we have to stay together. Whatever you say, we do."


    Tang San was silent momentarily before saying in a serious tone, "Eldest brother, thank you for your trust. Don''t worry, I will do everything possible to ensure everyone''s safety and that we all leave here unharmed."


    Wu Bingji smiled slightly and said, "Why wouldn''t we trust you? All along, you''ve always been thinking of us. We are a team, and mutual trust is the foundation of everything. Since we need to go, let''s not waste time."


    "Alright! Let''s change direction. Let''s go!"


    The ice boat set off again under Tang San''s guidance, this time heading directly toward the direction where Tang San had previously sensed the convergence of misfortune ripples.


    Tang San didn''t put the crystal egg away but held it in his hand. If it was supposed to guide him, then let it guide him.


    The battle with the Crystal Demon Emperor had exposed almost all of his trump cards, except for the Celestial Fox Transformation and his divine consciousness. This was Tang San''s most significant issue at the time. However, the Crystal Demon Emperor''s attitude seemed genuinely approving of him. This crystal egg might be a test, a risk, or an opportunity. He didn��t know, so he could only act based on what he knew.


    Since the Crystal Demon Emperor''s remnant directed him to that ce, it meant the Crystal Demon Emperor would ensure their safety. If their safety couldn''t be guaranteed, how could he leave the Hell Garden with this egg, whether it hatched or not?

 Chapter 393: Going Deeper

    <h4>Chapter 393: Going Deeper</h4>


    Understanding all this, Tang San felt a bit more rxed.


    Under his guidance, the ice boat continuously navigated through the warm-colored flowers, avoiding the areas of the cool-colored flowers, and rapidly moved deeper inside. Their team was undoubtedly the only one not heading toward the exit.


    ording to the information provided by Xu Ziran, the frequency of the singing in the Hell Garden was rtively low at first. Although the exact intervals couldn''t be determined, the overall trend was that the closer it got to the closing time of the Hell Garden, the higher the frequency of the singing, and the faster the danger zones would increase.


    For the time being, although the number of warm-colored flowers had decreased, there were still many of them, and they were still mostly connected.


    The ice boat continued moving, and Wu Bingji''s energy consumption was significantly reduced without the suction from the ground. Upon entering arge area covered by warm-colored flowers, Gu Li used the Chrono Croc Transformation to elerate again, further increasing the boat''s speed.


    Tang San didn''t do anything to help. As the team leader, besides guiding them in the right direction, his more important task was to guard against any dangers that might appear at any moment. After all, in this mysterious Hell Garden, no one knew what they might encounter.


    Gradually, they moved away from the exit. Therge light pir that was initially prominent in their view gradually became smaller, though it was still clearly visible.


    The crystal egg didn''t give them any further guidance. It merely emitted a faint silver glow and remained quiet in Tang San''s hands.


    Tang San had hispanions take a break every two hours to maintain their optimal condition.


    During the breaks, he would go alone to the edge of the cool and warm-colored flower beds, releasing misfortune to determine the direction of the converging misfortune ripples.


    He discovered that the further they went, the smaller the coverage area of the warm-colored flowers became, while the density of the misfortune ripples increased. He didn''t know how far they were from the center, but after nearly a day of traveling, he saw that the warm-colored flowers were beginning to show signs of disconnection.


    In this situation, the ice boat could only plow its way through, expending a massive amount of energy as Tang San used the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral to clear a path. They swiftly crossed one area covered by cool-colored flowers to reach the next patch of warm-colored flowers.


    Wu Bingji and the others finally understood how terrifying the cool-colored flower regions were. The scariest part wasn''t the attacks, which were at most equivalent to the attacks of sixth or seventh-order nymphs, but the omnipresent devouring force that significantly increased their energy consumption. If they hadn''t bought a lot of natural treasures to replenish their life force and bloodline power before entering, they might not have been able to sustain themselves.


    Their progress slowed as they faced the attacks of the cool-colored flowers.


    When they crossed the third patch of cool-colored flowers, the second round of singing finally began.


    Tang San tried to sense the changes in the misfortune ripples. The ripples had be noticeably denser, and the warm-colored flowers continued to decrease.


    Tang San furrowed his brows. If this continued, then even if they reached the center of the misfortune ripples, would they have to face attacks from the cool-colored flowers all the way back? The energy consumption would be unbearable!


    He hesitated and instinctively looked at the crystal egg in his hand.


    As if the crystal egg sensed his hesitation, a thought came from within the egg once more. <i>"Go!" </i>


    Tang San sent out his thought, <i>"Can you ensure we can return safely?"</i>


    <i>"Yes!"</i> The residual thought responded concisely, but Tang San noticed that this time, it was much weaker than before, as if it was dissipating.


    There was an invisible pressure within the Hell Garden. Tang San could feel that if his divine consciousness appeared here, it would likely face serious dangers.


    Under such conditions, he couldn''t determine if he could lead hispanions out of there alive, even if he gave it his all.


    Especially if they went deeper.


    Tang San sent out a thought again, <i>"We will continue forward, but if I feel we don''t have enough time or weck the ability to return, we will have to stop. Your Majesty, we need to survive after all."</i>


    The crystal egg didn''t respond this time. It was unclear whether the residual thought was too weak or if it acknowledged his point. Either way, it changed nothing.


    The crystal boat continued forward. Tang San was very eager to explore the mysteries of this unique space.


    He had Cheng Zicheng elerate to full speed, Wu Bingji maintain the ice boat, and Gu Li fully activate Time eleration to speed up their progress as much as possible.


    When breaking through the areas of cool-colored flowers, Tang San activated the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral to a greater extent, protecting hispanions and minimizing their energy consumption. Although his own consumption increased, the regenerative nature of the Mysterious Heaven Technique allowed him to recover quickly enough.


    The light pir representing the exit had be just a thin line in the distance when the singing echoed for the third time. For every kilometer they advanced, they had to cross a few hundred meters of cool-colored flower beds. Progress was bing increasingly difficult.


    In this area, the misfortune ripples seemed to cover everything, bing so dense that it was almost impossible to discern where they came from and where they went.


    Tang San knew they were getting closer to the center of the misfortune ripples.


    After enduring the third round of singing, they took a break on the spot, recovering their strength.


    Cheng Zicheng asked Tang San, "Little Tang, which direction should we head next?"


    Tang San raised his hand and pointed in a direction, "That way..." As he finished saying these words, his voice suddenly halted.


    "What��s wrong?" Cheng Zicheng noticed something was off with him.


    Tang San lowered his hand, hesitation in his eyes.


    The others sensed something was wrong, too, and looked over. Wu Bingji asked, "Is something wrong, Tang San?"


    Tang San furrowed his brows and said, "The direction is correct. But in that direction, I can''t sense the presence of any warm-colored flowers."


    Indeed, in his spiritual perception, that direction was entirely cool-colored, seemingly boundless. Moreover, the range his spiritual power could probe was significantlypressed.


    This time, even Wu Bingji hesitated.


    They had crossed cool-colored flower regions multiple times, deeply fearing the omnipresent devouring force. They would face endless attacks if they ventured into a boundless cool-colored flower bed. The most crucial part was not knowing how long it would take to cross that area or where the endpoint was... or whether there <i>was</i> one


    "Senior brother, you all should stay here. Don''t go any further. Wait for me here," Tang San said decisively.


    "What? How can we let you go alone?" Wu Bingji immediately objected.


    Tang San shook his head and said, "Senior brother, this is the best choice. You know that I am stronger. Without warm-colored flowers to rest on, we won''t have time to recover if we go deeper. I canst longer, and alone, I''ll be faster. I''ll move forward based on how long I can maintain my strength. If I feel I can''t go on, I''ll immediately return. If we all go together and any of you be exhausted, it will be harder for us to escape. It''s easier if I''m alone."


    Wu Bingji wanted to say more, but Tang San quickly interjected, "Eldest brother, don''t worry. I won''t be reckless. I will definitelye back safely. The singing has already sounded three times. I n to return before it sounds again."

 Chapter 394: Center of Misfortune

    <h4>Chapter 394: Center of Misfortune</h4>


    Wu Bingji took a deep breath and said, "Alright. Just be very careful. If things look impossible, make sure toe back quickly."


    Tang San said, "If I haven''t returned by the next time the singing starts, you should start heading back. I''ll catch up with you. On the way back, eldest brother, you''ll need to protect the ice boat and clear the path with ice explosions. Senior brother Du Bai, when the singing starts, do your best to keep everyone from getting confused. If necessary, use the mental impact of the Purple Demon Eyes to wake everyone up. Don''t worry, I''ll be fine."


    Wu Bingji gave him a deep look and said, "Nothing can happen to you, you understand? You have to take care. Not just for yourself or for us, but for all humanity. You are our hope."


    Tang San nodded firmly, not dying any further. He held the crystal egg in his left hand, turned resolutely, and leaped forward, diving straight into the cool-colored flowers ahead.


    Without needing to guard the ice boat, he didn''t have to use the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral to clear the path. Instead, he only needed to keep it around his body for protection. The Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was strong enough to simply pulverize any attack from the cool-colored flowers that came near him.


    At the same time, Tang San closed all his pores, minimizing the effect of the external devouring force. Charging into the cool-colored flower region, he elerated to full speed, moving forward rapidly.


    Meanwhile, he fully activated the Mysterious Heaven Technique, quickly recovering his energy. After reaching the seventh order and creating a soul core, his internal energy cirction and recovery abilities were far, far ahead of his peers.


    He didn''t attempt to teleport or use his flying ability, which would consume even more energy. Moreover, this space was unstable, especially with the increasingly dense misfortune ripples around. Tang San feared that a bad teleportation might send him in the wrong direction.


    Being a first-tier bloodline ability, the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was formidable, and its domineering aura was practically invincible. It protected Tang San perfectly, reducing his energy consumption while moving forward, especially against the external devouring force. As for the consumption of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral itself, that was taken care of by the recovery ability of his soul core.


    The biggest problem he faced now was theck of warm-colored flowers as footholds, so he could only dive deeper into the unknown areas. As he had told Wu Bingji, he would immediately turn back without hesitation if he reached his limit and still found nothing. The Crystal Demon Emperor''s intention to push him didn''t matter; even if thetter wanted to deal with Tang San, he would have to wait until they were out. And whatever the Crystal Demon Emperor had in store for him was better than bing fertilizer here.


    Thus, Tang San relied on his enduring stamina, running for nearly two hours.


    Gradually, however, his vitality and bloodline power had begun to deplete significantly, and his recovery rate could no longer keep up with the consumption.


    The surrounding cool-colored flowers became denser and stronger. In a hellish scene, countless azure flowersunched frenzied attacks on him.


    Tang San began to slow down.


    At this point, he still hadn''t found any foothold or anything different. The only certainty was that he had entered the core area where the misfortune ripples converged.


    Tang San sent his thoughts into the crystal egg. <i>"Your Majesty, I''m afraid I can''t hold on any longer. Can you give me some guidance?"</i>


    He was preparing to find a way out.


    The crystal egg emitted a faint silver glow, and suddenly, a beam of silver light enveloped Tang San. He felt a shudder through his body as a strange sensation spread throughout. Immediately, his Blue Silver Emperor imprint seemed to tremble, and strands of Blue Silver Emperor began to seep uncontrobly. Even more bizarrely, these strands rapidly turned azure, looking identical to the surrounding misfortune flowers.


    Tang San immediately realized something and controlled the Blue Silver Emperor to surround his entire body. As expected, the attacks from the surrounding cool-colored flowers quickly decreased until they disappeared. Finally, Tang San had a moment to catch his breath. He attempted to retract his Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, and the hostility from the surroundings vanished. At this moment, surrounded by the Blue Silver Emperor, he seemed to have be part of the surroundings.


    Even more bizarre, Tang San felt that his Blue Silver Emperor imprint was absorbing the energy from the cool-colored flowers in the surrounding air, undergoing some strange changes.


    <i>What... Is this what I think it is?</i>


    It seemed that this egg had granted him an ability! It was likely just temporary, but that was irrelevant; it had resolved the crisis he was currently facing.


    With the Mysterious Heaven Technique, Tang San could already devour various energies and integrate them as part of his abilities. However, he didn''t dare to easily devour the energy of either the cool or the warm-colored flowers, as these hellish flowers seemed closely tied to misfortune.


    However, thanks to the crystal egg, he didn��t need to do that. It seemed that the Blue Silver Emperor was now capable of assimting this energy, gaining the ability of the cool-colored flowers. This was truly strange. No wonder the Crystal Demon Emperor had given the egg to him!


    Tang San secretlyined in his heart, wondering why this method hadn''t been used earlier.


    He paused briefly to recover his energy. Spiritual energy was abundant and dense in the Hell Garden. However, this spiritual energy was tainted with misfortune, so he had to be extremely careful when absorbing it.


    But now, when Tang San''s Blue Silver Emperor imitated the presence of these cool-colored flowers, he discovered something extraordinary. The Blue Silver Emperor actively absorbed the misfortune! When he absorbed the energy of the Hell Garden, the part tainted with misfortune was absorbed by the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline imprint, while the pure spiritual energy was absorbed into his body, quickly restoring his energy.


    <i>Is there really such a good thing? Doesn''t this mean I can now move freely within the Hell Garden?</i>


    Letting out a sigh of relief, Tang San first made sure he was in top condition. Then he slowly activated his Golden Roc wings. As the wings emerged, Blue Silver Emperor vines quickly entwined around them, covering the entire wings and making him look like a humanoid bird covered in flowers and grass.


    He pped his wings and slowly floated up. The surrounding misfortune ripples naturally passed through him, but at this moment, Tang San seemed to be part of these ripples. The only issue was that the Blue Silver Emperor on his body constantly evolved due to the nourishment of misfortune, with the flowers growingrger.


    Tang San didn''t dare to absorb the energy of these hell flowers into himself actively, so he just let them grow while pping his wings and flying deeper into the Hell Garden.


    His speed increased because he could fly without any obstacles. The cool-colored flowers below quickly swept past, and Tang San, seemingly one with them, could feel his Blue Silver Emperor growing stronger. The imprint glowed and flickered, restlessly spinning around within his dantian.


    Although he didn''t know if this was good or bad, at least it protected him now. Even if there were problemster, he could handle them with his divine consciousness after leaving this ce.


    The scenery beneath him passed quickly, but the crystal egg in Tang San''s hand seemed to have lost its glow, as if it had consumed too much energy helping him.

 Chapter 395: Heaven Flowers

    <h4>Chapter 395: Heaven Flowers</h4>


    Tang San continued flying for another hour, covering a distance nearly ten times what he had traveled during the previous two hours, yet he still didn��t find anything special.


    He couldn''t help but gasp inwardly. He knew that without the assimtion ability granted by the crystal egg, even if his cultivation reached the pinnacle of the ninth order, he wouldn''t have been able to prate this far into the vast expanse of cool-colored flowers.


    Moreover, the cool-colored flowers below had started to change. If they were only fist-sized when they first entered the Hell Garden, they had grown to the size of washbasins when he began the assimtion. Now, the cool-colored flowers wererge enough to swallow him whole, with diameters exceeding three meters easily. They looked incredibly beautiful, but their terrifying power was evident. Each flower here had the equivalent of ninth-order cultivation, and the endless number of them was truly horrifying.


    This Hell Garden was far more terrifying than he had imagined. The so-called team battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena were nothing more than children ying around on the outskirts of a warzone. More importantly, warm-colored flowers never seemed to appear in this area.


    Now that he could merge into the environment, Tang San had no qualms exploring this area. He wanted to see whaty at the core of the misfortune ripples.


    Therger the cool-colored flowers below, the brighter the light they emitted. Thus, Tang San found that the further he flew, the brighter his surroundings became. The sky no longer seemed gray but had turned an icy blue from the illumination.


    Ignoring the danger, Tang San thought this was one of the most beautiful ces he had ever seen. <i>Hmm, it would be a perfect ce for a proposal!</i>


    As he thought of proposing, the face of a beautiful figure appeared in his mind, and a wave of longing surged forth. It had been a long time since he��dst seen her. How was she doing now?


    At least so far, the warning device he had left at Kali Academy hadn''t given him any alerts.


    At that moment, a distant glimmer caught Tang San''s attention. Amid the numerous azure hues, some different colors seemed to be at the far edge of his vision.


    Tang San''s heart jolted, and he vigorously pped his wings, instantly elerating in that direction.


    In his hand, the crystal egg emitted that strange silver glow again, and the patterns on it appeared toe to life.


    The closer he got, the more confident he became of his judgment��the area ahead of him was no longer azure but white!


    A soft white glow gently radiated outward. As he got closer, Tang San could faintly see that it was still a sea of flowers, but this time, white. Each white flower emitted a holy aura, and at the center of these white flowers was an enormous blossom.


    Thisrge flower had a diameter of over a hundred meters, withyer uponyer of petals. From above, he could see that at its center was something resembling a lotus pod, emitting a strange, pure white glow.


    <i>Is this it?</i>


    Tang San noticed that all the misfortune ripples converged toward thatrge flower. Outside the white area, the ripples were almost tangible, creating ayer of ckness around the white area. Therefore, it was impossible to see this area from a distance; only when the distance was sufficiently reduced could one see the faint white light beneath the ck shroud. Up close, therge white flower appeared stunningly before his eyes.


    <i>This is it!</i>


    Tang San quickly approached, and under the intense nourishment of the surrounding misfortune ripples, the cool-colored flowers covering his body multiplied.


    As he neared the edge of the white area, Tang San cautiouslynded on the ground. Around him were gigantic cool-colored flowers, each as big as a towering tree, with massive blossoms over five meters in diameter, gently swaying toward the white area.


    The cool-colored flowers on Tang San''s body were also growing rapidly, beyond his control.


    Not daring to linger, as he didn''t know what might happen here, Tang San cautiously controlled a Blue Silver Emperor vine with cool-colored flowers, quietly probing toward the white area.


    A stunning scene unfolded. As soon as the Blue Silver Emperor vine from Tang San''s body entered the white area, it was almost instantly enveloped by the seemingly gentle white light. The cool-colored flowers on it quickly turned to dust and disappeared without a trace, as if washed away, leaving only the Blue Silver Emperor itself.


    A faint voice came from the crystal egg. <i>"Go in!" </i>


    Tang San tentatively extended one hand inside. Immediately, the Blue Silver Emperor wrapped around his arm went through the same transformation, with the cool-colored flowers quickly disappearing and leaving only his arm and the Blue Silver Emperor.


    A strange warmth followed, and Tang San felt a tremendous vitality surge into his body, giving him a cozy warmth that instantly swept away his previous exhaustion.


    "Fortune after misfortune!" Tang San''s eyes shed with delight. He knew he had arrived at an extraordinary ce.


    Without hesitation, he stepped forward and entered the true core of the Hell Garden.


    The cool-colored flowers on his body receded like a tide, revealing Tang San holding the crystal egg.


    The feeling of warmth washing over his entire body was indescribably pleasant, like taking a hot bath when utterly exhausted, soothing every part of him.


    Vitality, bloodline power, and spiritual energy had all fully recovered to their peak at this moment. The crystal egg in his hands was now emitting a dazzling silver light. Tang San could feel the immense suction force from the egg, which was absorbing the surrounding life energy like a vortex and frantically devouring it.


    However, the life force seemed endless in this strange world filled with pure white flowers. No matter how much it was devoured, it did not appear to decrease in the slightest.


    Tang San now vaguely understood the meaning of the earlier song, "Hell and heaven both exist in the human world." If the outside world was hell, the world before him seemed like heaven.


    Strange light flowed through the air. Tang San cautiously touched one of the flowers beside him. Immediately, a strong life force emanated from it, and more intriguingly, he felt a familiar aura: luck!


    Yes, it was luck.


    In fact, the luck here was so abundant that the imprint of the Discerning Eye of Heaven within Tang San began to shine brightly. Almost instantly, signs of evolution appeared.


    <i>"Go up!" </i>The crystal egg sent another thought, interrupting Tang San''s revelry.


    Tang San looked up at the gigantic flower before him, took a deep breath, and leaped into the air.


    The closer he got to therge flower, the more he felt a soothingfort throughout his body.


    Suddenly, a phantom appeared behind him��his Celestial Fox Transformation. The three-tailed fox instantly grew a fourth tail. The dense luck energy surged in, giving Tang San a refreshing andfortable feeling.


    <i>"Hmm?" </i>A faint sound came from the crystal egg, but in the next moment, the voicepletely disappeared. Tang San felt as if something within the crystal egg had been entirely extinguished.

 Chapter 396: The Crystal Egg Hatches

    <h4>Chapter 396: The Crystal Egg Hatches</h4>


    With his keen perception, Tang San sensed that the Crystal Demon Emperor''s consciousness had just disappeared.


    This realization allowed him to rx.


    The Hell Garden was a unique and strange space where divine power was severely restricted. This meant that even if the Crystal Demon Emperor had left a sliver of his consciousness in the crystal egg, it couldn''t convey messages to the Crystal Demon Emperor from this realm. And now that the remnant consciousness had vanished entirely, whatever it had sensed about Tang San, the Crystal Demon Emperor would never know.


    <i>Four-tailed Celestial Fox? Did the Celestial Fox Transformation just advance to the seventh order? Damn, I should have brought Du Bai along!</i>


    The hundred-meter white flower''s petals were gently pulsating. In his heart, Tang San silently named it the Heavenly Bloom. It was a stunning flower, seemingly filled with all the world''s goodness.


    At the center of the Heavenly Bloom was a tform about five meters in diameter resembling a lotus pod, with light golden protrusions emitting a strange radiance.


    Tang San knew this was where the crystal egg needed to go. He floated down toward the center. He encountered no danger, only feeling the tangible baptism of life energy and luck. His Celestial Fox Transformation power grew every moment, and even his other bloodline imprints rapidly grew stronger.


    This was the powerfulbination of luck and life energy. Here, it seemed all bloodlines would evolve, and the limit of that evolution could very well be one''s cultivation level.


    In that ethereal moment, Tang San had a special feeling as hended at the center of the Heavenly Bloom. He was enveloped by a golden glow, with luck and life energy from all around converging toward him like rivers into the sea.


    The crystal egg in his hand frantically absorbed this energy, as did Tang San himself.


    Apart from the Celestial Fox Transformation, all his other imprints rapidly evolved. The limit was, of course, his own cultivation. The Lion-Tiger Transformation remained at the peak of the eighth order, unable to advance further but bing more refined. The imprints below the eighth order were evolving toward it, and those already at the eighth order were advancing toward its peak. The life energy here was so dense that it nourished his body as well, and even his divine consciousness!


    Tang San clearly felt his spiritual power was frantically absorbing external energy, feeding it back to his divine consciousness, and allowing his divine consciousness to recover many times faster than before.


    The crystal egg in his hand became scorching hot in a short time, with the patterns on its surface now radiating a dazzling light.


    Tang San looked down at the heart of the Heavenly Bloom beneath his feet. This was undoubtedly the most terrifying natural treasure in this isted ne, if not in the entire world.


    It had golden protrusions that looked like seeds. Tang San squatted down, trying to take one, but as he reached out, a sudden, intense palpitation stopped him. For some reason, he was incredibly certain that if he took this lotus seed, he would face enormous danger.


    His Celestial Fox Transformation had just advanced to the seventh order, and his premonition of danger had naturally improved. Coupled with the perception brought by his divine consciousness, he immediately stopped his action.


    The heart of the Heavenly Bloom contained eighteen golden lotus seeds. Tang San did not take any but instead ced the crystal egg in the center of the flower''s heart.


    At this moment, the Heavenly Bloom suddenly started to shake. The entire flower quivered, making Tang San feel dizzy and disoriented.


    Immediately afterward, a melodious song began, and Tang San felt as if someone was singing right next to his ear. To his shock, the song was actually produced by the huge petals of the Heavenly Bloom rubbing against each other!


    ��Hell and heaven both exist in the human world!��


    ��Hell and heaven both exist in the human world...��


    With each song repetition, the surrounding life energy and fortune instantly became more intense.


    What surprised Tang San even more was that he suddenly noticed white light spots gradually forming in the air above the Heavenly Bloom. These white light spots slowly took shape, turning into white jade-like stones, then gently floated up into the sky.


    Tang San shivered from the very core of his being. With just one nce, he recognized the stones'' appearance and felt their aura.


    <i>Fortune Stones!</i>


    These were the very Fortune Stones he had obtained on the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain! The tokens of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor!


    There weren��t too many of these stones, but they truly existed at the top of the Heavenly Bloom! They slowly floated into the sky, silently disappearing.


    Tang San suddenly turned around, looking around, and suddenly understood what this ce was.


    Looking down at the Heavenly Bloom beneath him, he took a deep breath, realizing he had likely touched upon the core secret of this ne.


    At this moment, a faint cracking sound pulled Tang San back from his thoughts.


    Looking down, he saw that cracks had begun to appear on the surface of the crystal egg.


    <i>Is it about to hatch? So soon?</i>


    He had no way of knowing that when the Crystal Demon Emperor gave him this crystal egg, it was already close to hatching. Moreover, the Crystal Demon Emperor did not expect him to bring the crystal egg to the Hell Garden; he had no idea Tang San woulde here.


    However, once he reached the Hell Garden, the attraction of the Heavenly Bloom naturally led him here, elerating the hatching process. At the same time, Tang San himself gained great benefits here.


    "Hell and heaven both exist in the human world!"


    The melodious song continued to echo throughout the Hell Garden.


    Tang San squatted beside the crystal egg, staring at it without blinking.


    <i>What exactly is it? A dragon? Or...</i>


    As he was thinking, suddenly, a crisp crack sounded as a piece of eggshell fell off. Immediately, a small, white, tender hand reached out from inside the eggshell, grabbed the fallen piece, and pulled it back into the egg.


    Then, the sound of cracking came from inside the eggshell.


    <i>What the hell is this...</i>


    Tang San stared in astonishment at this scene. Soon, the little hand stretched out again, this time directly grabbing a piece of eggshell, easily breaking it, and pulling it back inside.


    For some reason, Tang San felt that the little hand seemed to have grown slightlyrger than the first time.


    He quickly moved closer, peeking through the opening into the eggshell.


    Inside the eggshell, a small body was curled up. Her short silver hair still looked damp; her skin was very white and she looked very tender. Her little hands held the piece of eggshell she had just grabbed, eating it with great relish.


    This was clearly a little human girl! She couldn��t exactly be called a newborn; she looked to be about a year old, but... a little human girl?!


    Then, Tang San saw that the girl seemed to grow as she ate the eggshell. And it wasn''t just the eggshell; the rich life force from the Heavenly Bloom also infused her, seemingly elerating her growth.


    <i>...What in the... A human born from an egg?</i>


    This wasn''t something new to Tang San, in fact. His grandson was born this way in his previous life; his daughter-inw was the mighty Silver Dragon King, and dragonsying eggs was perfectly normal.


    But what was going on with this crystal egg? Could it be a simr situation? A descendant of the Crystal Demon Emperor and a human woman?

 Chapter 397: Daddy!

    <h4>Chapter 397: Daddy!</h4>


    However, human women give birth to live young. Could it be that the Crystal Demon Emperor was female? But Tang San was pretty sure the Crystal Demon Emperor was male... or at least they appeared to be male.


    This was a bit confusing.


    No, it was a lot more than a bit confusing.


    Moreover, the little girl in front of him was growing a little <i>too</i> quickly.


    After eating one-third of the eggshell in just a short time, she had grown to the size of a three-year-old human child. Her initially minuscule body had grown, and her eyes seemed sparkled. However, at this moment, her eyes seemed filled with hunger.


    Tang San undoubtedly found this scene truly magical. But at this moment, he could do nothing except watch silently.


    Bit by bit, the eggshell was eaten, and the little girl''s body grew little by little. When thest piece of eggshell was finished, she licked the tips of her fingers as if she��d just eaten a delicacy, then looked at Tang San with her beautiful big blue eyes.


    The rich life aura and fortune continued to surge toward her. The Heavenly Bloom''s song had stopped by now.


    Suddenly, the little girl opened her arms toward Tang San. "Daddy, hug me!"


    "What."


    Tang San stared in shock at the little girl, who now seemed about six years old, leaping toward him. Instinctively, he picked her up, feeling more confused than ever.


    The little girl''s eyes were filled with innocence.


    <i>I''m not your daddy; that must be the Crystal Demon Emperor, no?</i>


    In his previous life, Tang San and his wife Xiao Wu had a son and a daughter. At this moment, the little girl that had just rushed into his arms instantly evoked his longing for his daughter from another ne, making his heart soften.


    He took out a shirt from his storage bracelet and covered the little girl with it. "Howe you can talk? You were just born minutes ago."


    "Daddy, daddy!" the little girl called him cheerfully.


    Tang San felt a bit helpless. He looked down again at the eighteen golden lotus seeds at his feet but ultimately did not make a move.


    He understood that this was the very core of the micro ne he was in, and the lotus seeds were the core of <i>this</i> core. If he tried anything, he could easily cause a massive disaster.


    Therefore, even though he knew that these were the absolute treasures of the Hell Garden, he didn''t dare to act rashly.


    Tang San''s bloodline power was also rapidly evolving while the crystal egg hatched. More importantly, he had touched upon the core secrets of this world. He wasn''t in a hurry to leave. Partly it was because the little girl in his arms was still absorbing massive amounts of life energy to replenish herself, and it was several times more than what Tang San had absorbed. Additionally, he hoped to use this opportunity to elevate all his bloodline imprints to the peak of the eighth order.


    However, as the singing paused, or maybe as the Fortune Stones were refined, the luck power here clearly began to weaken, and the life energy also diminished somewhat.


    At the same time, the ck ripples of misfortune outside the Heavenly Bloom area had also faded significantly.


    "What is your name?" Tang San asked the little girl in his arms.


    "Daddy, daddy," the little girl murmured.


    Tang San didn��t know whether tough or cry. "I guess you don''t have a name, so I''ll give you one. Since you were born from a crystal egg, let''s call you Crystalline. How about that?"


    "Crystalline, Crystalline, good!" Her voice sounded a bit rough, as if she wasn��t exactly sure how to use her vocal cords, but the little girl was obviously smart, as she understood Tang San''s words.


    After observing his surroundings, Tang San had an idea. He raised his hand and gently touched the innermost petal of the Heavenly Bloom beside him. The energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique began to circte within him!


    Without a doubt, if this Heavenly Bloom was actually some kind of primitive nymph, it would have a first-tier bloodline. At this moment, Tang San still had room for two bloodline imprints. How could he not seize such an opportunity?


    As his energy circted, Tang San immediately felt a vast amount of life energy pouring into his body, but no bloodline imprint formed.


    s, it seemed that the Heavenly Bloom couldn''t produce its own bloodline power.


    <i>What a pity!</i>


    Calcting the time, Tang San reluctantly nced at the golden lotus seeds on the ground. He knew it was time for him to leave.


    As the power of fortune weakened, he knew it was impossible for his Celestial Fox Transformation to break through to the eighth order unless he stayed here for who knew how long.


    Of course, he couldn''t take that risk, especially since hispanions were anxiously waiting for him.


    It had been a truly worthwhile trip, but it was time to leave.


    At once, he leaped up, holding Crystalline. His wings unfurled behind him, and he gracefully flew toward the edge of the Heaven Garden.


    Outside the Heaven Garden were swaying cool-colored flowers. Each flower was at least at the peak of the ninth order. Tang San could barely handle a few of them, but not this many.


    Previously, he had borrowed the power of the crystal egg to assimte the cool-colored flowers. Now that he was leaving, could the Blue Silver Emperor still do that? He was not sure. This was why Tang San was eager to go. He was worried that the assimtion effect might not be there any longer. If that happened, he might be trapped here forever.


    The Blue Silver Emperor vines cautiously extended outside the Heaven Garden as Tang San tried to recall the same feeling he had when he assimted the azure flowers earlier.


    Fortunately, the assimtion effect hadn''t disappeared. One by one, azure flowers began to appear on the Blue Silver Emperor.


    But at that moment, a strange sensation spread through Tang San''s body. He felt as if two forces suddenly surged in and converged within him.


    Intense misfortune, malice, and negative emotions surged through the Blue Silver Emperor vines from the Hell Garden, while luck and life energy also poured in from the Heaven Garden!


    Behind Tang San, the four-tailed Celestial Fox with its four tails emerged, and intense luck fluctuations spread almost instantly.


    Strangely, the four-tailed Celestial Fox''s shadow behind Tang San changed color almost immediately, with one half turning ck and the other half turning white.


    The two forces intertwined and shed within Tang San''s body.


    <i>Not good!</i>


    He seemed to have be a proxy for these forces to fight each other!


    This situation hadn''t urred when he first entered the Heaven Garden because he hade from the Hell Garden and hadn''t yet been imbued with the Heaven Garden''s aura. However, upon leaving, Tang San now had the auras of both gardens. And due to the assimtion ability passed on by the crystal egg and the Celestial Fox Transformation''s control over luck, he had practically be a conduit for these forces.


    He needed to get out immediately or quickly return to the Heaven Garden.


    Tang San hurriedly tried to control his body, attempting to pull himself back into the Heaven Garden. He knew that in order to leave, he couldn''t test the waters like before but had to rush out in one go, preventing the two energies from interacting.


    However, his understanding came a bit toote. He felt a sense of stiffness when he tried to control his body forcibly, and his movements became difficult. He could only move bit by bit, but the two energies entering his body grew stronger, making his actions increasingly sluggish.


    At that moment, Crystalline suddenly called out softly. "Daddy!"


    Tang San''s gaze shifted downward, and he was shocked to discover that Crystalline��s short silver hair had turned white on one side and ck on the other. And though her face remained unchanged, her eyes had also changed colors in the same way!


    She seemed to be in some pain, and she was continuously calling out to Tang San, "Daddy, daddy..."

 Chapter 398: Domain

    <h4>Chapter 398: Domain</h4>


    Although he didn''t feel any particr kinship toward this little girl, she was still a life��a human life! Tang San had watched her birth with his own eyes!


    The energy that Tang San himself found difficult to bear was acting on her; how could she possibly endure it? Was such a fragile life to be snuffed out like this?


    He couldn''t care about anything else now!


    Tang San''s eyes were resolute as he prepared to activate his divine consciousness. At this moment, only his divine consciousness could restore his mobility. As for the consequences, he couldn''t worry about them now.


    However, at that moment, Crystalline suddenly let out a scream. "Daddy��"


    Immediately, ayer of crystal-clear light burst from her body. Tang San felt the ck and white energies swirling inside him suddenly spin violently.


    As they spun, the two colors also became transparent. His body felt lighter, and the next moment, he saw himself rushing out of the Heaven Garden and into Hell.


    Ayer of transparent light seemed to envelop him, causing the cool-colored flowers in the Hell Garden to not react to him.


    Tang San hurriedly looked down at Crystalline. Her hair had returned to its silver color, but she seemed exhausted and fell into a deep sleep in his arms.


    In the next moment, an even stranger scene urred. Crystalline''s delicate body curled up and began to turn transparent. Before Tang San could even try to sense her condition, she transformed into a stream of light and merged into Tang San''s chest!


    Tang San felt as if a cold stream entered his body, and he was surprised to find that one of the empty imprint slots now had a crystal-like imprint. It quietly stayed at the edge of his energy vortex, withoutpeting for a higher position. It conveyed to Tang San the thought that Crystalline was asleep, and was now resting inside his body.


    What was going on? What kind of being was this little girl hatched from the crystal egg? Tang San could even feel that the sliver of divine consciousness he had been prepared to use earlier now had a slight connection with this strange crystal imprint that had just appeared into his body.


    This was not a situation he wanted to see. His greatest secrety in his divine consciousness, and Crystalline was the offspring of the top-ranked Crystal Demon Emperor. But now, he had no way to resolve this. He tried to manipte it but to no effect. Moreover, Crystalline called him daddy and had just helped him at a critical moment. How could he harm this little girl?


    As it turned out, the changes within Tang San��s body were not limited to just this one imprint. Tang San focused inward, examining himself. The previously turbulent ck and white energies were now spinning rapidly but in a regr manner, constantly shrinking, and finally formed a yin-yang halo. It appeared behind the Discerning Eye of Heaven imprint, as if that imprint had gained a shadow.


    It seemed that there was something peculiar going on with the Discerning Eye of Heaven, and Tang San knew it was likely because the mainponent of this hybrid imprint was the Celestial Fox Transformation.


    And it was precisely because of this swirling yin-yang halo that the cool-colored flowers around him no longer affected him.


    There was no time to think further; leaving this ce was the most important thing right now. Tang San activated his Golden Roc wings and soared up, flying rapidly toward the path he hade.


    The devouring aura from the Hell Garden had vanished, at least as far as Tang San was concerned. This ce seemed to have be like the outside world. Even when he drew in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the part that contained misfortune would automatically merge into that ck-and-white energy flow, leaving only pure spiritual energy for his body to absorb.


    The pure spiritual energy nourished Tang San''s body, keeping him in peak condition in spite of him flying at breakneck speed.


    As he flew, he looked back at the Heaven Garden, a strange gleam shing in his eyes.


    "I��ll be back!"


    Yes, he had toe back here in the future. Perhaps... no, <i>certainly</i>, this ce would allow him to break through to the god level.


    Tang San''s flying speed naturally increased without needing to assimte the cool-colored flowers, and with less burden on him. He seemed to have be a part of this world.


    As he flew, he injected his spiritual will into his Discerning Eye of Heaven, feeling the characteristics and changes of that ck-and-white energy flow.


    When he tried to guide the energy flow, he could feel two distinct changes within it.


    When he focused on the ck energy flow, Tang San found that the cool-colored flowers below him would grow wildly, as if he poured a massive amount of fertilizer around them, bing even more potent.


    When he guided the white energy flow, an even stranger scene appeared. The cool-colored flowers around him instantly changed color from cold to warm, generating gentle life energy and lucky fluctuations.


    The range of his influence could reach about a hundred meters in diameter.


    This was clearly...


    A domain!


    Yes, Tang San was sure that through a series of coincidences and with Crystalline''s help, he had somehow endowed the Discerning Eye of Heaven imprint with a domain-type ability.


    However, he didn''t know if this domain could only be used within the Hell Garden or would work in the outside world.


    More strangely, his domain would mutate when he first activated the ck energy flow and then the dual-color flow. It didn''t expand in range but caused the originally cool-colored flowers to turn ck, filling the surroundings with an aura of misfortune and negative energy. However, when he first guided the white energy flow and then the dual-color flow, everything around him would transform as if entering the Heaven Garden, with all the flowers turning white, brimming with vibrant life and the energy of fortune.


    After several attempts, Tang San noticed that the ck and white halo would dim slightly, clearly indicating that it had consumed its energy. However, within the Hell Garden, he seemed able to directly absorb the power from the surroundings to replenish the halo.


    It took approximately ten minutes to recover after releasing the cool-colored or warm-colored flower domain, but about half an hour was needed to recover after releasing the ck Hell Garden domain or the white Heaven Garden domain. The recovery speed significantly increased when he activated the Celestial Fox Transformation during this process.


    If he could use this domain in the outside world, it would be a tremendous help! He just didn''t know what it would be like outside.


    This was indeed an unexpected boon.


    Tang San continued to test his newly acquired domain while flying forward rapidly.


    Two hourster, he finally saw a field of warm-colored flowers. Since the Hell Garden no longer hindered him, he fully extended his spiritual power to search for hispanions'' whereabouts.


    As he had predicted, the other four members of the Shrek Squad hadn''t gone far. Though they had retreated a bit due to the decrease in warm-colored flowers, they were still not far from where they had initially separated.


    Sensing hispanions'' presence, Tang San quickly retracted his Golden Roc wings and gentlynded.


    Wu Bingji and the other three were filled with anxiety at this moment. Tang San had been gone for a long time now. When the singing began, the areas with warm-colored flowers started to decrease significantly, and there was still no news from Tang San. Half a day had passed, and they were still far from the exit, with no sign of Tang San returning.


    However, none of the four suggested leaving. Instead, they silently waited here for Tang San''s return.


    Suddenly, the singing began once more.


    "Hell and Heaven both exist in the human world!"


    Wu Bingji suddenly stood up. He could sense that the flowers around them were beginning to change. Some kind of energy seemed to emanate from the warm flowers, causing them to turn bluish.


    "Let''s go! Let��s find the next resting point," he immediately said.

 Chapter 399: Du Bais Advancement

    <h4>Chapter 399: Du Bai''s Advancement</h4>


    But just then, a strange scene urred. The warm-colored flowers, which had begun to turn cold, suddenly seemed to rejuvenate, their warmth blooming anew. Their reddish glow became even more intense than before.


    Thefortable feeling made the four of them stop instinctively. Immediately, a familiar voice sounded in their ears.


    "I''m back."


    A figure appeared out of thin air and gentlynded beside them. Who could it be but Tang San?


    Wu Bingji and the others were overjoyed.


    Du Bai rushed to Tang San''s side. "You''re finally back. We were so worried. Are you okay?" he asked, looking Tang San up and down.


    Tang San seemed unchanged on the surface, but as someone with the Celestial Fox Transformation, Du Bai instantly sensed something different about him. In Du Bai''s eyes, Tang San seemed to have be somewhat ethereal, with an aura of transcendence.


    Tang San nced at the distant exit light pir and said, "Let''s talk while we walk. We don''t have much time."


    Wu Bingji nodded and said, "Then I''ll use ice..."


    Tang San interrupted him, "No need, eldest brother, just follow me."


    As Tang San spoke, he ced his right hand on Du Bai''s shoulder.


    Du Bai was about to say something when he suddenly felt a strange energy surge into his body, bringing an indescribablefort. His blood seemed to warm, heating every cell in his body, causing him to moan involuntarily.


    The white shadow of a three-tailed Celestial Fox emerged from above Du Bai''s head. In mid-air, the three long tails swayed gently. The fox emitted a soft glow which was clearly growing stronger.


    Tang San''s Discerning Eye of Heaven had already been raised to the peak of the seventh order. Although it hadn''t reached the eighth order, he had absorbed arge amount of luck power from the Heaven Garden. This luck power could help him advance and naturally benefited Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation bloodline greatly.


    At this moment, he was infusing Du Bai with the luck power he had stored within himself from the Heaven Garden. This would slightly reduce the cultivation of Tang San''s Discerning Eye of Heaven, but the benefit to Du Bai was undoubtedly immense.


    As the saying goes, one should not forget the well-digger when drinking water. Without Du Bai, Tang San wouldn''t have gained the powerful Celestial Fox Transformation. Moreover, if he didn''t give this luck power to Du Bai, some of it would dissipate after leaving the Heaven Garden.


    The luck power surged, causing the ck and white imprint of the Discerning Eye of Heaven in Tang San''s dantian to spin violently. The surrounding flowers changed colors strangely; now they were blue, now they were red; but even when they were cool-colored, they didn''t show any intention of attacking the Shrek Squad.


    A burst of white light brightened, and a fourth tail suddenly emerged from the Celestial Fox behind Du Bai''s head, swaying in the air with the other three.


    Under Tang San''s infusion of luck, Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation was forcibly elevated to the seventh order, the four-tailed Celestial Fox level.


    Du Bai''s whole figure seemed to be more upright. His eyes turned bright and clear, shimmering with ck and white light.


    If the sixth-order Celestial Fox Transformation was able to detect, produce, and control misfortune, then the seventh-order, four-tailed Celestial Fox was able to harmonize fortune and misfortune, these ethereal and indefinite yet omnipresent energies.


    In other words, from the four-tail level, the Celestial Fox n members had some ability to protect themselves.


    "Little Tang, you..."


    Tang San pointed in the direction of the distant exit, leading everyone to set off together. As they moved quickly, he exined to hispanions, "In the depths of this Hell Garden, there''s another garden that I think should be called the Heaven Garden. The flowers guarding it are all of the ninth order. I was fortunate to enter the Heaven Garden. It contains a vast amount of luck power, and I brought some out, which I''ve given to you. Also, I gained some opportunities there and I now have a unique power that affects the flowers in the Hell Garden. It prevents them from attacking me. That''s more or less the situation."


    He briefly recounted his experiences without going into detail, as some things were hard to exin. Fortunately, Crystalline had transformed into an imprint and was sleeping inside him. Otherwise, just exining the issue of Crystalline would be quite troublesome. How could he exin to hisrades the reason he had returned with a <i>daughter</i>...


    ording to their n decided upon with the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, they were to wait for an opportunity at the exit. The strongest team in this team battle had been bribed by the merchant convoy and would clear obstacles for them. Then, they would swap their badges with another group, effectively changing their identities upon departure. That group had no background to speak of, and they would no longer be bothered by anyone.


    This operation sounded simple, but without the Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s strong financial backing, it would be simply impossible. It was only because of Tang San''s group''s rtionship with the array master, which provided sufficient value, that the Aetherhorn Merchant Association considered it worthwhile.


    However, they had been dyed for a long time, and he didn''t know what the situation at the exit was now.


    Tang San''s original n was to take this opportunity to hunt down some strong demon n members participating in the team battle and see if there were any suitable imprints for himself. He had eight imprint slots but only six imprints. However, due to the discovery of the Heaven Garden, they had ended up wasting too much time. He had intended to add just one imprint and leave one slot empty, but the slot he had intended to use for an additional ability was now upied by Crystalline.


    He also tried to activate the imprint where Crystalline resided to see if the little girl could provide him with abilities like his other imprints. But it didn''t work. Crystalline seemed to be an imprint while she slept there, but he couldn��t control or affect her in any way.


    Tang San didn''t dare to push his luck too much, so he decided to leave things as they were for now.


    What Tang San didn��t tell hispanions was that he had uncovered the core secret of the Hell Garden, which in turn was a clue to a secret concerning the entire Daemon Continent. With his current strength, if the top powerhouses of the demon and nymph races discovered he had discovered this secret, even ten lives wouldn��t suffice. Therefore, leaving here as discreetly as possible was the best choice. This garden, where Hell and Heaven coexisted in the human world, had already sparked countless possibilities in Tang San''s mind.


    As the cool-colored flowers around them naturally turned warm-colored as they passed by, transmitting only warmth and abundant natural energy to them, the group couldn''t help but show expressions of amazement. This once-dangerous world seemed to have truly be Tang San''s own garden.


    "Have you be the master of this ce?" Du Bai couldn''t help but ask.


    Tang San gestured at him to keep quiet and said, "Remember, after we leave, don''t tell anyone about this. Only the few of us should know. This Hell Garden likely involves a major secret of the Ancestral Court, but I''m still only specting. No one must know that we ventured deep into it."


    Wu Bingji nodded and said, "Tang San, you don''t need to tell us what you found. Just don''t say anything. If we don''t know, we can��t tell others. When you think we need to know, you can tell us."


    Tang San looked at his eldest senior brother. In his eyes, Tang San saw trust, absolute trust.

 Chapter 400: The Exit

    <h4>Chapter 400: The Exit</h4>


    They had all been together through cultivation, improvement, and training, especially in the life-and-death battles at the Great Beast Fighting Arena. They had all seen what Tang San had done for humanity and for them, and he had asked for nothing whatsoever in return. Despite knowing that Tang San had some secrets, they all avoided probing. Even the mayor had said nothing. Considering everything Tang San had done, all they could do was trust him.


    "Right, don''t say anything. We know nothing. But, Little Tang, is there no power of time here?"


    Gu Li looked at Du Bai with genuine envy. He had worked incredibly hard to reach the seventh order. Yet, Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation, which was undoubtedly harder to cultivate, had just been raised to the seventh order by virtue of Tang San touching his shoulder. It made Gu Li��s eyes turn red with envy.


    Tang San shook his head helplessly and said, "There really isn''t, senior brother Gu Li. When the auction starts, let''s see if we can find some high-order Chrono Croc blood to help you advance."


    Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation might be just a second-tier bloodline, but the more he cultivated, the tougher it got. In fact, it was every bit as difficult as cultivating a first-tier bloodline. Its power was simply incredible, and it was only ssified as second-tier because no Demon Emperor had ever emerged from this lineage.


    The mysteries of time were even more profound than those of space. Even Tang San, a former God King, didn''t dare to im mastery over it.


    Without the interference from the Hell Garden, their return speed was naturally much faster than when they entered.


    They experienced singing twice more during this time. Within their field of vision, there were almost no warm-colored flowers left. Only the hundred-meter range around them, influenced by Tang San, remained surrounded by warm colors.


    The distant exit light pir gradually became clearer. There was still plenty of time before the Hell Garden closed, allowing them to continue forward without rushing.


    Their energy consumption was slower than recovery because warm-colored flowers constantly surrounded them. They remained in peak condition.


    As they approached the exit, the energy fluctuations from that direction began to enter Tang San''s perception.


    They could see the light flickering continuously near the exit pir from a distance.


    Tang San had hispanions stop and focused his senses on the distance.


    The exit pir now appeared enormous in their view, like adder connecting heaven and earth.


    Around the light pir was a small area surrounded by warm-colored flowers, about ten meters in diameter. Outside this area wererge and menacing cool-colored flowers. These cool-colored flowers were equivalent to seventh-order nymphs at the very least. If anyone entered this area, they would be immediately attacked.


    The battle was taking ce in the area where the cold and warm-colored flowers met.


    ording to the timeline, it was thest day before the exit would close. Whether due to restraint in earlier battles or other reasons, Tang San sensed that at least eighty percent of the powerful participants were still present. Including them, this meant most of the participants were still alive.


    Half of the participants needed to die for the exit to open. Otherwise, once the Hell Garden fully closed, all participants would die here. In other words, the battle had started because time was running out.


    What made Tang San gasp was the terrifying strength these teams disyed. He could sense it clearly��almost every participant was at the ninth order. The weakest were at the early ninth order, and at least a dozen peak ninth-order powerhouses were fighting fiercely.


    Tang San shared his findings with hispanions and quickly retracted his domain, reducing the number of warm-colored flowers around them to avoid detection.


    Given the situation of the great battle in the distance, their course of action was clear. Without a domain, they would have had to join the fray, seeking cooperation with the strongest team to secure their exit. But now, with Tang San''s domain, which made him seem like the master of the Hell Garden, all they needed to do was sit back and watch.


    Even if the Hell Garden closed, they wouldn''t have to worry about their lives being threatened, thanks to the protection of Tang San''s domain.


    What they needed to do now was wait until the battle over there had nearly finished.


    The originally perilous team battle now felt incredibly easy for the Shrek Squad. This left them with mixed feelings.


    "Let''s rest here." Tang San said with a smile. The battle over there was fierce and wouldn''t end anytime soon. Since they were waiting anyway, he took this opportunity to thoroughly understand the peculiarities of the new domain ability of his Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    In his previous life, he had also possessed domain abilities; more than one, in fact. In this life, relying on his memories, he had nned to develop at least one of his original domains in the near future.


    However, due to the different circumstances of this ne, he needed to find the right opportunity. Unexpectedly, he had acquired a strange domain.


    The five of them hid themselves among the flowers. They were still several kilometers away from the exit, surrounded by only a few warm-colored flowers, making it unlikely they would be discovered. No one would risk venturing thousands of meters into the cool-colored flowers to investigate a hunch.


    The cool-colored flowers around the exit now appeared to nket the sky, and anyone approaching would face a frenzied attack.


    Tang San sat cross-legged and focused his inner sight.


    He first sensed the changes in Crystalline''s aura.


    Crystalline was still sleeping soundly, but Tang San could feel that this crystal imprint was continuously absorbing energy. She was absorbing a significant portion of the natural energy going into him.


    He then shifted his consciousness to the Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    The ck-and-white energy halo swirled around the imprint. With that, the imprint now had a more domineering aurapared to its previous ethereal and aloof nature, and it was clearlyrger than the other imprints. The Lion-Tiger Transformation imprint was formidable, but it had no courage to resist in front of this one. The same was true for the Peacock Transformation.


    The ck-and-white energy flows intertwined, and Tang San could feel that luck and misfortune were maintaining a bnced state. Essentially, this domain''s principles were simr to those of the original Celestial Fox Transformation. Using luck would increase misfortune, and that misfortune needed to be released, and vice versa.


    When these two different energies intertwined, the domain''s primary function seemed to be amplification of fortune or misfortune. The luck and misfortune within the domain, one hundred meters in diameter, would instantly change ording to Tang San''s will.


    Naturally, this domain saw its best use in the Hell Garden. When he used it here, he might as well be part of the garden; nothing here could affect him.


    Tang San realized that the core mystery of the Hell Garden was the formation of the Heavenly Garden and Hell Garden by luck and misfortune, respectively. He dared to say that this ne was closely rted to the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, and it seemed he was now being treated like a direct descendant of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. He wondered if the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor also possessed this mysterious domain he had formed.

 Chapter 401: Comprehensive Enhancement

    <h4>Chapter 401: Comprehensive Enhancement</h4>


    The domain would undoubtedly grow with cultivation, and Tang San had just sensed the changes in Du Bai after advancing to a four-tailed Celestial Fox. Although he could better control luck and misfortune without a domain appearing, it was different from Tang San''s domain. This meant that the domain didn''t necessarily appear after reaching the four-tailed Celestial Fox but was rted to Crystalline''s assistance during that dangerous moment.


    With his experience as a God King, Tang San understood that the emergence of his domain was more likely due to a mutation.


    It was a mutation that urred instantly under specific circumstances and opportunities. This mutation appeared to be benign so far. What needed to be observed was whether the domain would change once he was outside.


    Within the Hell Garden, having this domain meant that this ce was now effectively his home turf. In the future, if he wanted to enter here again, he would be at ease. This was the biggest gain from Tang San''s Hell Garden journey.


    Now, he needed to control this domain, allowing its power to be wielded at will.


    The journey into Heaven Garden strengthened his spiritual power and significantly improved his divine consciousness in the spiritual core.


    If the divine consciousness strength of a god-level powerhouse was one hundred, Tang San''s strength when he arrived in this world was one. That was all he could retain at the time. However, his divine consciousness origin was at the God King level, with no bottlenecks in its evolution.


    Over the years, his divine consciousness reached about eight during thest burst when he transformed into the Sea God. After consumption, it was left at two. Subsequent nurturing and the life energy from the Golden Tree, along with various opportunities, raised it to around twenty.


    Tang San��s trip to the Heaven Garden had improved his divine consciousness to thirty. This was already one-third of the strength of a god-level powerhouse, even without considering his God King foundation. Between that and the mysteries of divine consciousness, he now felt confident that he could take on ordinary gods without overexerting his divine consciousness.


    However, bing a god once more wouldn''t be easy. Tang San had decided that he would need his divine consciousness to reach divine level first, and then he needed nine bloodline imprints at the peak of the ninth order before considering breaking through.


    This journey to the Ancestral Court had been immensely beneficial, providing him with crucial information that would y a significant role in his future breakthrough.


    Of course, it also brought new variables, such as Crystalline. Now that Crystalline had hatched, he had to decide whether to return her to the Crystal Demon Emperor or keep her by his side.


    If Crystalline were just a normal little girl, he would send her back; she was a real hot potato. But now, Crystalline had simply merged into his body, transforming into an imprint in his dantian. He couldn��t even take her out; how was he supposed to return her like this?


    The Crystal Demon Emperor had already sensed something peculiar about him before��namely, his multiple bloodline abilities. If Crystalline''s imprint was revealed, he would have nowhere to hide. So he didn''t really have a choice now.


    Once they left the Hell Garden, he had to wait and see if the Crystal Demon Emperor contacted him. The remnant consciousness on the crystal egg had disappearedpletely, so the Crystal Demon Emperor shouldn''t know anything directly unless he could sense Crystalline''s aura inside Tang San��s body. Thus, Tang San could only take it one step at a time.


    Tang San''s biggest regret now was going to the Crystal Pce. Even with his experience as a God King, he found it hard to see through the top-ranked Demon Emperor.


    <i>Boom, boom, boom!</i>


    Three explosions startled everyone from their quiet cultivation.


    They stood up and looked into the distance, seeing a mushroom-like fire cloud rising near the exit. Numerous flowers around them were shredded to pieces. They could feel the shockwave from thousands of meters away, causing the cool-colored flowers to tilt outward from the st.


    <i>Goodness... This must be the power of a god''s strike.</i>


    The distant battle seemed to have subsided entirely as the booming sound ended. The pir of light representing the exit began to tremble, its original white gradually turning to gold. Tang San could vaguely see arge white flower-like shape in the center of the pir.


    He blurted out, "The exit is open!"


    Yes, this was probably the sign of the exit opening, which meant that more than half of the participants in the team battle had died.


    The massive explosion just now had undoubtedly imed the lives of many participants, though it was unclear what exactly had caused it.


    "Let''s go take a look," Tang San said as he quietly expanded his domain, leading hispanions toward the exit.


    Within the pir of light, light rays began to flicker��silhouettes being shifted in some unknown direction.


    The ce was already empty when they reached the exit, and no one was in sight.


    Well, no one <i>alive</i>. Fragments of various corpses were being slowly devoured and absorbed by the earth, silently melting into the ground.


    <i>What the hell happened here... Wait... If nobody��s here anymore, aren��t we toote?!</i>


    The five looked at each other, and the other four focused their gazes on Tang San.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. Clearly, the Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s n couldn''t be carried out. They couldn''t find the team that was supposed to be cooperating with them, and they had no idea what had happened.


    "Smear some blood on yourselves, try to look like we had a fight, and let''s get out first. What happens after that, we��ll have to see," Tang San said. Even if the Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s n failed, it didn''t matter much to him. After all, he already had tokens from the three Demon Emperors'' pces, and they were more than enough to protect him.


    While the flesh and blood of the other participants hadn''t beenpletely absorbed by the earth, they quickly smeared some of it onto themselves and ripped their own clothes, pretending they were seriously wounded. They put on their masks and headed toward the light pir.


    ***


    Outside the valley, Xu Ziran had been waiting with several carriages. However, his face was now livid.


    No one knew who had leaked the information, but other participants discovered the identities of the strongest team they had secretly bribed. As a result, during the final battle, they were the first to be attacked by everyone else, and one of them resorted to self-destruction, taking many of the attackers with them.


    Less than a third of those who had entered the Hell Garden came out alive, and most of them were heavily injured. He learned the specifics from the surviving participants.


    Well, that was one thing. The problem was that the n had failed! The Shrek Squad led by Asura was nowhere in sight!


    After meeting the array master, he and the entire Aetherhorn Merchant Association greatly emphasized this cooperation. Yet if Asura was dead, the connection with Master Lou would be cut off! The originally foolproof n had been fooled, and he, the person in charge, couldn''t escape responsibility.


    "Yo, isn''t this Brother Xu? Why do you look so upset? You didn''t ce a big bet on the Bubble Squad, did you? Hahahaha." A somewhat hoarse and unpleasant voice sounded beside Xu Ziran.


    Xu Ziran didn''t need to turn around to know who it was��the Ancestral Court manager of the Skyway Merchant Association, an organizationparable to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association and backed by the Animator of the Inanimate, the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor.


    The Skyway Merchant Association and the Aetherhorn Merchant Association didn''t have much overall business conflict, as Skyway operated more within the Solstice Empire''s nymph world. The only ce they shed was in the Ancestral Court.


    In terms of status, Xu Ziran was not on par with this Skyway manager, who was responsible for all of Skyway''s operations in the Ancestral Court. Meanwhile, Xu Ziran was only a caravan leader, just a deputy within the Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s Ancestral Court operations. However, Xu Ziran was practically the representative of the business, so he was immediately recognized.

 Chapter 402: The Manager Of The Skyway Merchant Association

    <h4>Chapter 402: The Manager Of The Skyway Merchant Association</h4>


    The manager of the Skyway Merchant Association''s Ancestral Court was a fat man, nicknamed Fatball within the business circle. He always wore a gentle smile, earning him the moniker of Smiling Tiger.[1] As a direct descendant of the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor, he possessed not only great influence but also considerable personal strength, at the peak of the ninth order. This was only to be expected; the Soul Capturer Tree bloodline was a first-tier bloodline.


    "What do you mean, esteemed Skyway Manager?" Xu Ziran said lightly. Given the other''s status and position, he certainly couldn''t directly call him Fatball, as that would be too offensive.


    Fatball chuckled. "Nothing much. Just seeing your expression makes me a bit happy. I heard the Bubble Squad already went poof and exploded. I have to say, that big bubble was quite powerful. It indeed killed a lot of contestants. What a pity, they chose the wrong partners! I''m curious, how much did you invest this time, Brother Xu? Was it your own investment or Aetherhorn''s?"


    Xu Ziran said calmly, "That''s not something the esteemed Skyway Manager needs to worry about. If I were you, I��d be worried about my fat percentage; you look less like a tree and more like a fruit right now."


    Fatball was not angered by the taunt; instead, heughed heartily. "You have a point. I really should control my weight. We made a little money from our bets this time. If His Majesty is pleased, he might reward me, and when I advance to the god level, I won''t have to stay cooped up in the association anymore. It''s a pity I won''t be able to deal with you, brother Xu, in the future."


    Although Xu Ziran knew he was being provoked, he was in a foul mood. Of course, they had ced bets, and of course they were not small numbers. But the most important thing was the array master��s proteg��!


    "Fatball, you..." Just as Xu Ziran was about to lose his temper, a sh of light appeared on a piece of ground with array patterns not far ahead, and figures began to emerge.


    Fatball and Xu Ziran were stunned, as they had initially thought no contestants were left. After each team battle, the surviving contestants would leave the Hell Garden at the first opportunity, so why would anyone wait? The Hell Garden was so dangerous that anyone lucky enough to survive and escape would not want to stay a single second longer!


    Unexpectedly, ten minutester, there were still contestantsing out.


    When Xu Ziran saw the figures of the five contestants who suddenly appeared, he was stunned, then overjoyed.


    The human figures differed immensely from those of the demons and nymphs. Tang San and hispanions had nned to use some methods to change their appearances, but since their actual identities were unknown anyway, they appeared in their original forms.


    Xu Ziran no longer paid attention to Fatball. He rushed over to the five of them, his eyes zing as he looked at Tang San. "Brother Asura?"


    "Yes. We barely made it out. But we��" Tang San was about to exin, but Xu Ziran interrupted him.


    "It''s good that you made it out. That''s all that matters. We''ll think of another way. As long as you''re alive, it''s fine. Come on, let''s get out of here." Xu Ziran''s expression had changed dramatically, and he was so excited that he was almost incoherent��the joy of recovering what was lost overwhelmed him. Compared to the money wagered, the survival of the array master''s representative was far more important!


    As he spoke, he eagerly grabbed Tang San''s arm and quickly headed toward the carriage.


    Fatball watched this scene, a look of surprise appearing on his face.


    He had confirmed that the Bubble Squad was utterly wiped out, and he knew for a fact that his Aetherhorn peer had invested a lot of money into them. But why did these masked humans seem more important to Xu Ziran?


    Something was clearly amiss.


    Fatball quickly approached, smiling. "Brother Xu, who are these people?"


    Xu Ziran gave him a cold nce and did not answer his question. "Fatball, see you at the auction."


    With that, he pulled Tang San and the others onto the carriage.


    Fatball did not stop them either, as no one dared to break the rule that banned fighting in the Ancestral Court.


    As he watched Tang San and the others leave, Fatball''s smile faded, reced by a thoughtful expression.


    "Get me the details on that team."


    "Yes, sir."


    As the carriage drove smoothly, Xu Ziran finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I heard the Bubble Squad fell, and I thought you all... Damn, that really scared me! If I had known, I wouldn''t have let you participate in this team battle, no matter the cost."


    Tang San gave a bitter smile. "We were lucky, we just hid in a corner, and were overlooked by the other contestants. That final explosion was really dangerous, I mean... Look at us."


    Xu Ziran said through gritted teeth, "The Bubble Squad was targeted and they self-destructed in the end. Most of the others died with them. Fortunately, you''re okay. Those fools, why didn''t they just escape first?"


    Tang San replied, "You can''t me them. It''s hard to escape from the Hell Garden. That ce is too dangerous."


    Hearing this, the expressions under the masks of Wu Bingji and the others were quite amusing. <i>Dangerous? Dangerous to whom?! We took a stroll through the garden and that was that!</i>


    "Brother Xu, what should we do about this problem? Will the Ancestral Court..." Tang San asked, pretending to be worried.


    Xu Ziran replied firmly, "You don''t need to worry. The association will handle this for you. But remember, from now on, the Shrek Squad no longer exists, and you cannot participate in any more fights."


    Seeing his expression and response, Tang San immediately understood that Master Lou must have yed a significant role.


    "Brother Xu, rest assured, we will be cautious. After this, we''ll return to Kali City," Tang San said.


    Xu Ziran quickly replied, "No rush to Kali City, I��d say you should tell Master Lou you��re alive and well..."


    Tang San said, "We''ve been preparing for the team battle recently, so we haven''t contacted Master Lou. I''ll see if I can talk to him once we return... and see if he has any new products."


    Xu Ziran nodded. "That would be best. The most important annual Ancestral Court auction will take ce soon. Such auctions happen only a few times a year anyway, and this one is going to be really grand. If we can get the master to let us handle some array discs, it will surely be spectacr. Tell the master not to worry. If he provides us with some array discs for the auction, especially some precious ones, we can pay a portion upfront when we receive them. After the auction, we will settle the rest ording to the final price. We need as many discs as he can provide."


    Tang San nodded and said, "I''ll contact Master Lou as soon as possible. By the way, Brother Xu, who was that fat man just now?"


    Fatball had left a deep impression on Tang San. The fat man looked mostly human, but he had streaks of blue and purple patterns on his face, especially around his eyes, which were also blue and purple. He looked very peculiar.


    "That''s Fatball of the Soul Capturer Tree n. He��s the Skyway Merchant Association''s Ancestral Court manager, and the Skyway Merchant Association is one of our biggestpetitors here. They''ve always wanted to enter the Empyrean Dominion market, but we''ve been blocking them. Simrly, it''s tough for us to enter their market in the Solstice Empire. Thepetition is fierce. Everyone showcases their abilities at each Ancestral Court auction to attract more customers. That''s why I hope the master can strongly support us in this auction."


    Tang San nodded in understanding. "I see. Rest assured, Brother Xu, I''ll do my best to get the master to provide some array discs for your auction."


    Xu Ziran quickly added, "It''s best if they are more precious array discs, especially if you have some that haven''t appeared on the market before."


    Tang San nodded, "I''ll ask the master when I return. What type of array disc do you want the most, Brother Xu? A Spirit Summoning Array shouldn''t be a problem."


    1. This refers to someone who lookspletely harmless but is in fact extremely dangerous. ?

 Chapter 403: Massive Fortune

    <h4>Chapter 403: Massive Fortune</h4>


    Xu Ziran said, "There are already quite a few Spirit Summoning Arrays on the market. While they are valuable, they''re not shocking enough. A teleportation array disc would be good, and a Spirit Fusion Array disc would be great. But what truly stunned mest time was the bloodline array disc the master produced. I��m confident we canpletely outshine the Skyway Merchant Association if we get a bloodline array disc. We can promise that all the profits from the bloodline array disc will go to the master; we won��t take any fee."


    "A bloodline array disc..." Tang San pondered the idea, and his expression clearly showed that he was troubled. "Brother Xu, you heard the master that day. Creating a bloodline array disc is extremely difficult, and it has a very high failure rate. It requires immense effort and it costs a lot, especially due to theck of rare bloodlines. So, I definitely can''t promise that."


    Xu Ziran frowned and said, "I understand. If not, a teleportation array disc would also work, since it hasn��t appeared on the market yet."


    "Brother Xu, how about this? Are you able to find some precious bloodlines for me? I��ll hand it over to the master and have him try to create the array disc. If it seeds, you can auction it. Master Lou really just wants to continue his research, so he only cares about having enough materials. He��ll just take the auction profits minus the cost for the blood."


    Xu Ziran��s eyes lit up. "That��s also a solution. Recently, I��ve been searching for rare blood for him. But you know, this is taboo for various ns and not easy to obtain. Its value is also very high."


    Tang San nced at him and said, "Brother Xu, that��s up to you. But let me remind you, you can''t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child! You can think about it. However, there''s not much time left until the auction, so if you dy, it will be toote."


    Xu Ziran frowned. "I''ll report back. I can''t make all the decisions here in the Ancestral Court. Brother Asura, pleasemunicate with the master first. Wait for my news. Where are you staying?"


    Tang San replied, "We are staying at the White Tiger Grand Hotel. However, the room rates are too high there, and we were nning to return after the team battle here."


    Xu Ziran said without hesitation, "The room fee is nothing. The association has special rates there. I''ll have someone apany you back. The association will cover your expenses for the duration of your stay. You can return after the grand auction is over."


    Hearing this, Wu Bingji couldn''t help but secretly give Tang San a thumbs-up.<i> Nice, we��re saving money!</i>


    "Alright, we''ll do as you say, brother Xu."


    Upon returning to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, Xu Ziran immediately arranged for a carriage and an Aetherhorn Deer from the association to apany Tang San and the others back to the hotel. He himself had many tasks to handle, including the follow-up matters concerning Tang San and the most important coboration with the array master. Using the precious blood in the association��s vaults was no small matter, especially the higher-tier blood samples, which were core assets.


    Of course, as far as Wu Bingji was concerned, returning to the White Tiger Grand Hotel with their expenses covered was undoubtedly the best oue.


    Aside from Tang San and Du Bai, the other three gained mainly from absorbing the Hell Garden��s rich spiritual energy. Once they were back at the hotel, everyone returned to their rooms and went straight to the cultivation rooms to train.


    There were still eight or nine days until the grand auction. After the auction, they would return to Kali City, so they naturally had to make the most of this time.


    Tang San returned to his room, closed the door, and his gaze became focused.


    Since leaving the Hell Garden, he focused on his two imprints. One was, of course, the Discerning Eye of Heaven with its new domain. He named this domain the Pr Domain, where the opposing forces of fortune and misfortune coexisted!


    The other was, of course, his crystal imprint.


    When leaving the Hell Garden, Tang San found that the Discerning Eye of Heaven did not show any changes. He did not activate the Pr Domain consciously, and the ck-and-white halo did not change in any way either.


    However, the crystal imprint showed a significant reaction.


    The crystal imprint in his dantian alternated between cold, hot, and trembling, as if it was undergoing some kind of process. During this process, it only absorbed the external spiritual energy without affecting Tang San himself.


    Tang San was ready to use his divine consciousness at any moment, worried that the Crystal Demon Emperor might do something to him because of the imprint. But until now, he hadn''t heard the Crystal Demon Emperor''s voice or sensed thetter��s aura or divine consciousness. It seemed only the imprint itself was changing.


    <i>Should I go to the Crystal Sacred Mountain? Should I tell the Crystal Demon Emperor everything? Or just let things be?</i>


    Naturally, Tang San was inclined to choose thetter. He had too many secrets, and to prevent further exposure, it was best to avoid meeting the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    In the next few days, he didn''t n to go climbing again. The Crystal Pce and the Celestial Fox Pce had given him strong enough stimuli. Coupled with the newly acquired domain and the uncertain situation with the crystal imprint, he decided to let things stabilize for a few days.


    However, before leaving, he would definitely try a Nymph Emperor''s pce, which was one of his main objectives for this trip. As for whether the Aetherhorn Merchant Association would provide the precious blood, Tang San wasn''t worried. He hadn��t been so sure initially, but based on Xu Ziran''s performance and his conflict with Fatball, he was confident that the association would give the "array master" more support. The extent of their support would depend on their boldness.


    Locking himself in the cultivation room, Tang San rxed, meditated to adjust his physical condition, and then prepared to try out the Pr Domain.


    He had possessed a domain before and was very clear about its effects. A powerful domain, if used well, could significantly enhance one��s overall strength. Not to mention, the Pr Domain had the powerful ability to control fortune.


    In the Ancestral Court, he didn''t dare to use it easily in order to avoid rming the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. But if he returned to Kali City, it would be different! He would be free to do as he wished.


    He slowly injected his spiritual power, gradually activating the domain.


    This time, the four-tailed Celestial Fox did not appear; instead, a faint white halo with a three-meter diameter appeared around Tang San, covering the entire cultivation room.


    The white halo wasn''t strong and might not even be noticeable outside during the day.


    However, Tang San felt a distinct difference when the white halo appeared. First, he sensed himself. In his perception, a tinum-colored light seemed to shoot up from his body, and the intense tinum glow even startled him.


    <i>Is this... fortune? My own fortune?</i>


    Through the Discerning Eye of Heaven, he had seen others'' fortunes before, but he could only sense minor changes and a vague general direction. To see his own fortune in a concrete form was simply unheard of.


    Undoubtedly, white represented good fortune, so how fortunate was this tinum color? What did it mean? He could just ascend to godhood in one step? But he didn''t feel that way!


    It was undoubtedly a good phenomenon, but when something seems too good to be true... it usually is.


    Could this change be due to acquiring the Pr Domain?


    As he thought about this, Tang San quietly focused the domain power he released onto misfortune. Instantly, the white halo turned into a faint grayish-ck, and at that moment, the world seemed to lose its color, as if everything was shrouded in gloom.


    However, Tang San''s perception of his own luck didn''t change. The tinum light still surged upward, so much so that the tinum light forcibly repelled the misfortune aura. This indicated that his fortune was so good that even pure, unadulterated misfortune couldn''t affect it.

 Chapter 404: Chrono Croc Essence Blood

    <h4>Chapter 404: Chrono Croc Essence Blood</h4>


    Luck was ethereal, yet in a sense it couldn��t be more real. Oftentimes, things don��t turn out a certain way just because you strive for them; oftentimes, you randomly stumble upon ridiculous fortune. Some call it divine grace, some call it random chance, and some call it... luck. Either way, as far as this ne was concerned, luck was a very important variable.


    Tang San didn''t understand why his fortune was so great, so great that it seemed he might regain his status as a God King and win back his wife just by mere virtue of his existence. But this greatly relieved him. It would be really odd if someone with that level of fortune were to be randomly killed by the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    However, he couldn''t figure out where this incredible luck came from. Was it from the Hell Garden? The Pr Domain? Or his divine consciousness? Thest possibility was the least likely because his divine consciousness didn''t belong to this ne; it would be rejected, not epted. In any case, he could notin; having such great luck was always a good thing.


    Tang San''s perception of his own luck also boosted his confidence in this journey. It seemed the gains from this Ancestral Court trip were not yet over.


    ***


    The Crystal Pce.


    In the magnificent pce entirely carved from crystal, filled with a dreamy aura, the Crystal Demon Emperor Tang San had seen before was sitting cross-legged.


    Suddenly, he opened his eyes and gazed forward.


    The entire pce''s light seemed to tremble slightly, then dimmed somewhat.


    "Gone? So quickly? I see, so luck really can be replicated. Really blessed by fortune, huh."


    ***


    A night of cultivation quickly passed.


    After Tang San and hispanions had breakfast, the others went to their chosen pces to continue climbing. Tang San, however, received a message from Xu Ziran, who wanted to meet him.


    The moment he left the White Tiger Grand Hotel, a carriage was already waiting. He headed straight to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association.


    When Asura saw Xu Ziran again, thetter looked visibly tired, as if he had not rested well the night before or perhaps had not rested at all.


    "Brother Xu, good morning!" Asura greeted him.


    "Brother Asura, did you contact the array master after you went back yesterday?" Xu Ziran asked in a low voice.


    Asura nodded. "He contacted mest night. Ordinary array discs shouldn''t be a problem. As for the bloodline array disc, Master Lou is unwilling to put it up for auction."


    "Ah?" Xu Ziran eximed. "We finally decided to allocate some precious blood to the master!"


    Asura sighed. "The master said that the bloodline array disc is too shocking for this world. Its appearance would easily cause trouble, and for the time being, his research still has a high failure rate."


    Xu Ziran quickly said, "Master Lou doesn''t need to worry about the trouble; the association will handle it and keep his identity strictly confidential. Brother Asura, please contact the master. The Skyway Merchant Association will likely have many heavy-hitting auction items this time. If we can''t bring something that will shock everyone, they might take arge share of the Ancestral Court''s market. Please, we need Master Lou��s support!"


    Asura smiled bitterly. "The master has his difficulties, too. First, he can''t guarantee sessful refinement. Also, the material consumption for refining a bloodline array disc is immense. Even if you''re willing to bear the cost, the master is reluctant to owe you a favor.


    "Most importantly, the bloodline array disc is just too shocking. The array master believes that if he introduces such an item in the future, it must be made using a top-tier bloodline in order to fully showcase his research. The value of first-tier blood essence is extremely high, and I doubt you can provide it. So, while the array master is willing to help, it''s probably very challenging with these many difficulties..."


    Hearing Asura''s logical analysis, Xu Ziran fell silent.


    He had to admit that Asura''s words were true. The bloodline array disc was a truly major matter. If it was just a low-tier bloodline array disc, it would stir up some waves, but it would have little practical value, so how high a price could it fetch? On the other hand, the value of first-tier blood essence was indeed extremely high.


    Asura continued, "The master said he could provide ten Spirit Summoning Arrays, five Spirit Fusion Arrays, and at most two Transmission Arrays. This shows the master''s sincerity. You can calcte the prices, and when the master hands over the array discs to me, I''ll deliver them to you."


    Xu Ziran gritted his teeth. "How about second-tier bloodlines? Can you ask the master? First-tier blood essence is indeed very difficult to obtain, especially since you can��t guarantee sess, and the association can''t afford such a loss. What about second-tier bloodlines? Is that possible?"


    Asura frowned slightly. "The master specified first-tier bloodlines, and he usually doesn''t change his mind easily. But I did hear him mention that he''s particrly interested in researching array discs rted to time and space. If he can create such a bloodline array disc, it would greatly improve his sess rate in creating other bloodline array discs. If you have bloodlines rted to this, I can try to talk to the master for you."


    "Time and space? Chrono Croc? Peacock Demon... No, Peacock Demon blood is impossible to get, even for us. As for the Chrono Croc.., Hmm..." Xu Ziran frowned deeply.


    "Don''t have it either? Maybe we should forget about it," Asura said.


    Xu Ziran suddenly looked up at him. "Brother Asura, the Chrono Croc n has very few members, and they are the only ones who can control time. Their blood essence is also extremely valuable, almost as much as first-tier bloodlines. The association does have a bit of it. If the array master can guarantee that he will make at least one array disc, I can try to apply for it."


    Asura smiled. "That might be difficult to guarantee. However, the more blood essence provided, the higher the sess rate. I heard the array master say his current sess rate for making bloodline array discs is about ten percent, so if there is enough blood for ten attempts, there��s a good chance he will be able to do it. Actually, the higher the quality of the blood essence, the higher the sess rate.


    "Also, the power of the array disc''s abilities also corresponds to the power of that blood essence. That''s why he needs high-power blood essence. For example, an array disc made from the blood of a ninth-order demon would be ninth-order. The master hasn''t yet tested god-level blood essence because, well... it��s pretty much impossible to get. I suggest you get some eighth- or ninth-order blood essence, as the master will have more confidence. If there''s god-level blood essence, that''s even better, but the master''s sess rate might not be very high."


    Asura didn''t directly request god-level blood essence because he knew its immense value. Deception��no, cooperation��needed to be gradual. Moreover, he hadn''t yet reached the tenth order himself. Creating a god-level array disc would require using up his hard-earned divine consciousness, which would be a significant loss even if he seeded.


    Xu Ziran was silent momentarily and then said, "Brother Asura, wait here. I''ll go discuss this with the manager."


    He turned and left without waiting for a response.


    Tang San wasn''t in the least bit anxious. Since the other party had already expressed their determination to obtain a bloodline array disc, they would have no choice but topromise.


    He hadn''t expected that his visit to the Ancestral Court would yield such benefits from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association. Initially, he had hoped just to resolve his identity issue through the association. Now, it seemed that deep coboration was possible in the future. By giving the other party appropriate benefits, having such a significant merchant association as a partner could make many things more efficient. Most importantly, he could obtain what he wanted while remaining hidden and undiscovered.

 Chapter 405: Celestial Feather

    <h4>Chapter 405: Celestial Feather</h4>


    Sure enough, it wasn''t long before Xu Ziran returned. His eyes showed a trace of relief. Upon seeing Tang San, he quickly masked his joy with a severe expression. "Brother Asura, I discussed it with the manager. This time, we''ve shown the utmost sincerity and used the highest authority. We have fifteen drops of Chrono Croc essence blood, ninth-order. The value of this blood doesn''t need exnation. Please ensure the array master understands that we need at least one finished product, or we''ll be at a huge loss."


    In Xu Ziran''s words, Tang San sensed anxiety and helplessness. The anxiety was due to the fear that the bloodline array disc wouldn''t be sessfully made. The helplessness stemmed from the fact that even if the bloodline array disc wasn''t made, he could do nothing. The array master was too important, so he couldn''t even utter a threat.


    Tang San said solemnly, "I believe the array master understands the importance of this cooperation. Sess this time willy the foundation for mutual trust. He will undoubtedly do his best to ensure long-term cooperation."


    Hearing this, Xu Ziran''s expression improved considerably. He nodded solemnly to Tang San, took a box out of his pocket, and handed it to him.


    It was an ice-blue small box that looked quite valuable. The ice-blue material was crystal clear, and Tang San could tell at a nce that it was a type of cold jade that could maintain a low temperature in any environment. The jade box was already a valuable treasure, yet its only function here was to serve as a container.


    Taking the jade box, Tang San carefully opened it under Xu Ziran''s guidance. As the box opened, a burst of chilling air emanated from it. Inside the jade box were fifteen crystal-clear vials, each containing a drop of bright red blood emitting a faint, twisted glow. It was the ninth-order essence blood of the Chrono Croc.


    Tang San carefully closed the jade box and put it into his storage bracelet. He then seriously said to Xu Ziran, "Don''t worry, Brother Xu. The master won''t disappoint you. Even if the master can''t create the bloodline array disc, he will certainly provide something of equal value."


    With things as they were, Xu Ziran had no choice but to trust. He nodded repeatedly, "Then I''ll rely on you, Brother Asura."


    Leaving the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, Tang San was naturally in a good mood. If used correctly, fifteen drops of ninth-order Chrono Croc essence blood could help Gu Li advance smoothly before reaching the god level. The time attribute was undoubtedly one of the most powerful attributes. If Gu Li could break through to godhood in the future, he would be an important ally. In some ways, Gu Li''s Chrono Croc Transformation was as crucial to Tang San as Du Bai''s Celestial Fox Transformation.


    Next, he needed to prepare for the auction. After arriving at the Ancestral Court, Tang San gained a deeper understanding of this world. Undoubtedly, as the highest-level auction on the Daemon Continent, it would be filled with good items. To gain as much as he could from the auction, picking up overlooked treasures would be necessary, but even to do that, sufficient capital was required.


    Beforeing here, they had prepared considerable funds, but it now seemed far from enough. If an essential blood essence appeared, they couldn''t count on picking it up cheaply; they would have to spend a lot to buy it.


    Therefore, Tang San truly needed to create the promised array discs. By using the smallest cost to obtain the greatest benefits, he could then use those benefits to purchase items at the auction.


    Returning to the hotel, Tang San first sealed his room with spiritual power. Immediately he activated hismunicator to contact Zhang Haoxuan, telling him the list of items he needed and asking him to purchase them. Tang San himself couldn''t leave casually. He did not doubt that the Aetherhorn Merchant Association would keep monitoring him and hispanions. Despite the so-called cooperation, they were only wary of the array master, while their primary intent was to control Tang San and the Shrek Squad. As for their current value, the Shrek Squad members weren''t considered significant in the eyes of the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, as none of them were at the god level. Even with outstanding bloodlines, they weren''t highly regarded yet.


    Kali City


    A phantom-like silver figure moved rhythmically in the air, its swaying form captivating and breathtakingly beautiful. Every step seemed to follow the principles of heaven and earth, traversing through space and switching between illusion and reality in theyered space, as if countless figures or numerous ovepping parallel worlds.


    Eventually, all the silver lights merged, and theyered spaces converged, finally bing one. The illusory silver light gathered like a vast ocean into a single body.


    One by one, the silver-white peacock feathers, seemingly carrying silver starlight, transformed into a halo that slowly gathered behind Mei Gongzi. They eventually merged into a single, dazzling silver peacock feather about two meters long, which fell into her hand. Her chest heaved slightly, and her pretty face was pale, indicating that the series of actions had drained her considerably.


    <i>p! p!</i>


    Soft apuse sounded.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s face was full of admiration. "I knew I wasn''t wrong about you. The Celestial Feather in your hand has finally regained its proper brilliance. Only you can lead the Peacock n to re-emerge in the future."


    Mei Gongzi lowered her head in some embarrassment. "I still have a long way to go. There''s a chasm between me and the level you spoke of, where I can tread on the heavens and earth and dance with celestial grace."


    The Peacock Great Demon King shook his head. "You shouldn''t say that. You are only at the eighth order now, still a bit away from the ninth order. To be able to start mastering it and gain the Celestial Feather''s initial recognition at this level is already a delightful surprise to me. I originally thought it would take you at least three years to reach this step, and by then you would be at the ninth order. But I didn''t expect yourprehension to be so good and your talent so high that you got the Celestial Feather''s recognition at the eighth order. It''s only been a little over a year, which gives me more time. Xiao Mei, you have not disappointed your father."


    Mei Gongzi''s pretty face turned slightly red as she looked down at the Celestial Feather. The Celestial Feather was two meters long, silver-white in color, and its shaft was like a long spear��slender, straight, yet full of flexibility. When infused with bloodline power, it could be either hard or soft. On its surface were silver patterns resembling whirlpools, dazzling and spectacr. Most strikingly, the tail end had three clusters of feathers arranged vertically. Ordinary peacock feathers had only one cluster, disying colors like eyes, but this Celestial Feather had three, making it highly unique.


    "Do you remember what I told you the title of our n''s former Demon Emperor was?" the Peacock Great Demon King asked.


    Mei Gongzi nodded, "Mystic Dancer Celestial Peacock Demon Emperor."


    Hearing this, a flush of color appeared on the slightly sickly face of the Peacock Great Demon King, and even his eyes sparkled with divine light at that moment.


    "That''s right, Mystic Dancer Celestial Peacock Demon Emperor! And this is also your future. Promise me, my dear, that you will attain the position of Demon Emperor, let the Celestial Feather shine once more, and restore the glory of the peacocks to the sky."


    "Yes," Mei Gongzi nodded gently, gripping the Celestial Feather tighter.


    As if responding to her, the surface of the Celestial Feather rippled with a faint silver glow, carrying a wonderful and moving rhythm.


    "In the next half month, you need to prepare well. You are now at the peak of the eighth order. I hope you can undergo a trial when you break through to the ninth order. Whether you can truly gain the recognition of the Celestial Feather, or rather the recognition of our ancestors, will be determined then. If you seed, you will be the future master of Kali City. Afterpleting this trial, you can take a break and visit your mother to reassure her. She hase to see you several times but has been turned away. If she doesn''t see you soon, I worry she won''t be able to control herself," the Peacock Great Demon King said with a kind smile.

 Chapter 406: Preparations Complete

    <h4>Chapter 406: Preparations Complete</h4>


    A joyful expression appeared on Mei Gongzi''s pretty face. After being in seclusion for so long, it would be a lie to say she didn''t miss her mother. However, the time spent in seclusion had been very fulfilling for her, so she hadn''t thought much about it. Hearing the Great Peacock Demon King mention her mother now. Her longing surged intensely. She felt a strong impulse to go out and see her mother immediately.


    Not only that, but a figure seemed to sh in her mind, though it was somewhat blurry, making it difficult for her to recognize it at the moment. Was it Asura? Or...


    "What kind of trial do I need to undergo?"


    "The trial of our ancestors, the cleansing of the Celestial."


    Ancestral Court, White Tiger Grand Hotel.


    Several small array discs were neatly arranged on the table in front of Tang San. Zhang Haoxuan stood beside him, looking exhausted.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s fatigue wasn''t from helping Tang San make the array discs, but from watching��yes, just watching.


    To save time, Tang San asked Zhang Haoxuan to help purchase the materials, but he didn''t let him participate in the creation process; he only observed as Tang San made the array discs.


    Due to time constraints, Tang San had sped up his array disc creation process. Even with divine consciousness, Zhang Haoxuan was dazzled and mentally exhausted after a few days of watching.


    Though Tang San also looked tired, he remained entirely focused while making the array discs.


    What impressed Zhang Haoxuan the most was that none of the many array discs Tang San created had failed. Some of these array discs were ones he had never seen before. During the creation process, Tang San exined the techniques and methods for making these array discs, which greatly benefited Zhang Haoxuan. Despite his mental fatigue, his eyes still showed excitement. Even though he hadn''t made them himself, he felt that he had made significant progress in the art of creating array discs.


    "You''ve made so many array discs but not a single Spirit Summoning Array!" Zhang Haoxuan remarked.


    Tang San replied, "The Spirit Summoning Arrays have already been sold to the Redemption Society. It would be difficult for you to exin if they appeared again in the Aetherhorn Merchant Association. The other arrays are different; at most, they''ll reveal another array master. And, not only the Redemption Society''s arrays, but the Spirit Fusion Arrays and Transmission Arrays I made this time are also for you. You can hand them over to the organization, but gradually, not too many at once."


    Zhang Haoxuan was touched and said, "It''s rare for you to be so considerate."


    Tang San said, "We humans are already struggling to survive, so we can''t afford internal strife."


    Zhang Haoxuan asked, "So what do you n to give the Aetherhorn Merchant Association? Most of these are Spirit Fusion Arrays and Transmission Arrays!"


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "The ones I''ve made so far are for you. You can hand over some to the organization, but also tell them that we need a lot of funds to buy materials, so they should lend us some. You can gradually repay itter. We''ll use the borrowed money at the auction. What I will make next is for the Aetherhorn Merchant Association."


    Zhang Haoxuan asked in surprise, "What exactly will you give the Aetherhorn Merchant Association?"


    Tang San replied, "Naturally, it''s what they most want to get, something that will attract their attention but not so much as to make them greedy."


    Zhang Haoxuan was puzzled, "What is that?"


    Tang San said, "Don''t worry. You''ll see once I make it. You can continue to watch, but it will be quiteplex. Take a break if you find it overwhelming."


    Zhang Haoxuan said with great interest, "Now that you''ve said that, I must persist no matter what. I can''t believe that as a god-level cultivator, I can''t even watch."


    Tang San smiled and said nothing more. He then started setting up the room.


    As Zhang Haoxuan watched Tang San ce the array discs individually in the cultivation room, he gradually began to understand what he was doing.


    It was just like when they set up the linked arrays in the Golden Valley. Clearly, Tang San would now use linked arrays to create the array discs. Such array discs, if nothing else, would be incrediblyplex!


    Tang San only devised this method of crafting array discs after his divine consciousness greatly improved upon returning from the Heavenly Bloom Garden. For now, using his divine consciousness only resulted in pure depletion without any possibility of restoration. Instead, he chose to use spiritual power to create the discs as it recovered quickly. His ability for spiritual power recovery was far stronger than that of others at his level.


    As Tang San set up each array disc, Zhang Haoxuan noticed the cultivation room lighting up. It seemed as if a strange energy was circting within the room. Gradually, this energy formed a vortex, rapidly absorbing the external spiritual energy to replenish the room.


    At the core of the cultivation room was arge Spirit Summoning Arrayposed of six smaller Spirit Summoning Arrays. The absorbed spiritual energy naturally umted within thisrge array, causing it to be increasingly bright and the spiritual energy to grow more concentrated.


    This spiritual energy was concentrated enough to be directly used for cultivation! Tang San hadn''t done this before because he didn''t want his cultivation level to rise too quickly, preferring to solidify his foundation continuously. But now, for making array discs, arge amount of spiritual energy was naturally needed.


    Afterpleting these preparations, Tang San turned to Zhang Haoxuan and said, "Master, I''m ready to begin. The first array disc I will create is called..."


    Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the grand auction of the Ancestral Court was about to begin.


    Even for the Ancestral Court, the annual grand auction was undoubtedly one of the most important events. There was even a possibility that a Demon Emperor might attend.


    The grand auction of the Ancestral Court upheld principles of absolute fairness. Regardless of the identities of the buyers and sellers, transactionspleted at the Ancestral Court''s grand auction were protected by all the Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors. Any acts of deceit or double-crossing would result in relentless pursuit by the Ancestral Court.


    Thus, the grand auction of the Ancestral Court was known as the fairest trade, provided you had the money.


    All transactions were conducted using naturae coins, and items were obtained through bidding. Due to therge number of auction items, the Ancestral Court''s grand auctionsted three days, with different types of auctions each day.


    To qualify for bidding, a deposit of one thousand naturae coins was required. Any issues during the auction would result in the full forfeiture of the deposit.


    In other main cities, a single naturae coin had considerable purchasing power; a thousand naturae coins was an astronomical amount. But here, a thousand naturae coins was merely the bidding qualification, preventing excessive participation and unscrupulous bidders.


    The auction took ce in the Ancestral Court''s Great Beast Fighting Arena. This arena wasparable to the Demon Emperor''s Pce and the Nymph Emperor''s Pce in terms of significance, as it had a long history. Many emperors had trained here before eventually reaching the pinnacle.


    Tang San, wearing a hood and mask, quietly lined up to enter the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Just half an hour earlier, Zhang Haoxuan had already entered the arena.


    That''s right, this time they didn''t pay just one thousand naturae coins but a total of two thousand as a deposit, securing two bidding slots.


    Two days earlier, Tang San had refused the Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s proposal for him to join them at the grand auction. Instead, he and his teacher quietly registered on their own. The rest of hispanions were still focused on their cultivation and would not be attending the auction.


    At that moment, Tang San''smunicator buzzed in his ear. "Tang San, I''m inside. I''m number 338."


    "Got it, teacher," Tang San replied quietly.

 Chapter 407: The Auction Begins

    <h4>Chapter 407: The Auction Begins</h4>


    The reason for having two people bidding separately was to avoid drawing too much attention and maybe fake bidding against each other if needed. This was the Ancestral Court, rife with influential and formidable entities. Even though Tang San had tokens from three Demon Emperors, he dared not act recklessly here.


    However, this grand auction was the main reason for his visit to the Ancestral Court, and he had to participate regardless of the risks.


    During his days of crafting array discs, Crystalline remained in a peaceful slumber, showing no signs of awakening. Tang San could feel her silently absorbing his bloodline energy and some of the spiritual energy he had gathered from the world around him.


    But this didn''t cause him any problems. On the contrary, he found that his ability to draw in spiritual energy had increased by nearly thirty percent. The part Crystalline absorbed was less than the extra amount he drew in, so it didn''t burden him. In fact, it even improved his cultivation speed and slightly purified his Mysterious Heaven Technique energy. So, having her imprint upying his dantian wasn''t a waste.


    With that said, for Tang San, this was undoubtedly a hidden danger. The only thing that slightly reassured him was that he was sure Crystalline was a newly hatched lifeform, incredibly pure, and he was the first person she saw, so she regarded him as her father. She had no ill intentions toward him and likely never would. Additionally, she was highly intelligent and seemed to have strong learning abilities.


    Another point offort for Tang San was that the Crystal Demon Emperor seemed to havepletely forgotten about this little one. Despite leaving the Hell Garden for some time, the first Demon Emperor had nevere looking for him.


    The only concern was whether her constant absorption of energy inside him would lead to danger��what if she gathered energy until she identally sted herself apart?


    The queue for entry moved quickly. Those allowed in had already paid their deposits and received their number tes. Tang San followed the line of people ahead of him. He was finally about to enter the continent''s foremost Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    The Ancestral Court Great Beast Fighting Arena was built against a mountain, or rather, three adjacent mountain peaks. These three peaks formed a concave shape, and in the middle of these peaks, halfway up, a massive tform connected them��an impressive feat of engineering.


    This tform was actually the arena. The spectator areas were set higher up on the peaks, carved out like caves of various sizes, suitable for demon and nymph spectators of all sizes. Each cave was single upancy, and it seemed that the tickets were priced based on the location and size of the caves��therger and higher, the more expensive.


    The massive caves at the top of the three peaks were reserved for the Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors, to show their high status. The height of these three peaks was generallyparable to most pces, although not at the level of the highest-ranked ones.


    One side of the tform was a sheer cliff. It was said that in battles here, the loser would jump or be thrown off the cliff, with no chance of survival. Those with flight abilities were no exception, as flying was forbidden here.


    One had to climb the stone steps on either side to reach the Great Beast Fighting Arena. This required courage, as the steps were not wide and they were on the side of a sheer cliff. The higher one climbed, the more dangerous it became. With flight forbidden, one misstep meant the climbers could only rely on their own bodies to break the fall.


    This was how Tang San entered the stone steps area. He wore a hood and mask, keeping his aura restrained. He wasn��t really afraid of being recognized as a human, but a little cautiousness couldn��t hurt. As he walked, he constantly observed the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    After days of rest and cultivation, Tang San discovered that his Discerning Eye of Heaven, now at the seventh order, had gained an additional ability��Celestial Gaze!


    This Celestial Gaze was different from the rudimentary ability he had acquired when he had first met Du Bai. It could genuinely peek into fortune and momentum, whether of a living being, an object, or even a location.


    At this moment, he was using this ability to probe the fortune of the Ancestral Court Great Beast Fighting Arena. Tang San discovered that the arena was filled with a soaring ck-red aura.


    ck represented gloom, haze, and misfortune, while red symbolized ughter and bloodshed. Obviously, this was a ce filled with disaster and misfortune��the obvious result of countless brutal deaths. However, at the same time, it also bore the opposite energy to the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain. In other words, this could be one of the measures the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor used to counteract the bacsh from the massive cluster of luck. However, in spite of its immense scale, all the ck and red aura seemed confined within a specific range and didn''t leak out.


    As he continued to climb, the mountain wind grew piercingly cold, and the temperature dropped. On one side was an increasingly tall cliff, and on the other, a precipice. Unlike other peaks with abundant vegetation, the three peaks holding the Ancestral Court Great Beast Fighting Arena were barren!


    Celestial Gaze could also be used on oneself to peek into one''s fortune and hide one''s aura. Tang San''s spiritual power was at the peak of the ninth order, and with his divine consciousness as the core, he could use it skillfully. His aura was now restrained to that of an ordinary person.


    Because of this, other bidders who were also heading to the auction kept their distance from him.


    In their eyes, theck of any bloodline aura was far more terrifying than a powerful presence. If they couldn��t tell his cultivation, it could only mean he was an absolute monster.


    Tang San didn''t mind this. He was content as long as the top-level powerhouses didn''t notice his overwhelming fortune from a distance.


    Finally, the height of the staircase exceeded that of the tform of the Great Beast Fighting Arena. Continuing up the stairs, Tang San could see the dark red ground of the arena. The air seemed to grow heavier and more oppressive. Countless beings from various races had died here��some sentenced and forced to fight for their lives, others choosing to risk everything to train here.


    After a second check of his badge, Tang San finally found his cave. The caves on the three peaks were densely packed, with a total number exceeding three thousand. Except for the topmost caves, the remaining ones could be upied by bidders. The three-day auction really continued for three full days, and leaving midway meant forfeiting the right to return and continue participating. Thus, the caves had to be habitable. Of course, the ordinary caves were only suitable for sitting meditation. After all, no one would want to cultivate in such a ce and absorb misfortune.


    Tang San''s cave was close to Zhang Haoxuan''s because they had registered together. They arrived separately to avoid their rtionship being noticed.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s position was 338, while Tang San''s was 336.


    The cave wasn''trge, and it was rather far from the grand stage. Naturally, those without connections wouldn''t be assigned the best positions.


    Tang San''s cave, number 336, was about ten square meters. Inside was a table with a crystal ball engraved with a miniature array for bidding. Besides that, there was some food, some water, and nothing else.


    The seating was just a mat, and a telescope mounted on one side allowed for detailed viewing of the auction items. After all, the peaks were some distance from the arena. Not every bidder had Tang San''s sharp eyesight.


    "Master, I''ve arrived. I''m in cave 336."


    ��Good, let��s keep quiet and wait for the start.

 Chapter 408: Mei Gongzis Summon

    <h4>Chapter 408: Mei Gongzi''s Summon</h4>


    The caves on the peaks gradually filled with bidders. Although this was a grand event, when no more bidders climbed the mountains, Tang San realized there were only about a thousand participants. It wasn''t that the Ancestral Courtcked those who could afford a thousand naturae coins, but many great families had likely just sent one representative.


    Tang San didn''t look around but focused inward, waiting quietly. Who knew how many powerful beings were here, and randomly spying on them would be unwise.


    <i>Ringgggggg!</i>


    Suddenly, Tang San shivered. He heard a long-awaited, familiar sound he had been yearning for.


    His eyes widened, and his pupils contracted.<i> It��s her!</i>


    The sound wasn''t from nearby but from the distant Kali City, from the rm array he had left at the gate of Kali Academy. When someone stayed there long enough, the rm would be triggered, and he would sense it.


    The only person who would stay there long enough was the one he had a promise with!


    Tang San almost stood up instantly. He had only one thought in his mind: to leave here, return to Kali City, and meet her. Even with his calm nature, he couldn''t control himself at this moment.


    After more than a year apart, he was desperate to know her situation and even more eager to see her face.


    Just then, three loud hums sounded. The hums reverberated through the heavens and earth, attracting the attention of all the bidders.


    On either side of the Ancestral Court Great Beast Fighting Arena, hundreds of towering, burly males from the bear race had appeared, each holding a massive horn over five meters long. The deep, oppressive horn sounds echoed over the arena when they blew them.


    The grand auction was about to begin!


    Tang San took a deep breath, barely calming his emotions before sitting back down.


    His gaze gradually calmed down. Although he wanted to return to her side immediately, he couldn''t. The most important event of his trip, the grand auction, was about to begin. Everything he aimed to acquire at the auction was to enhance his and hispanions'' strength, and even to find suitable treasures for her. It wouldn''t be rational to give up now.


    Three days. He had agreed with her that when she returned, she would wait for him at the gate of Kali Academy for three consecutive days, and he would appear before her. So there was still time. By flying at full speed and using the teleportation array in Golden Valley, he was confident he could return to Kali Academy within a day. He still had two days left.


    <i>Wait for me. You must wait for me!</i>


    Tang San silently prayed in his heart, his gaze falling on the center of the grand auction arena.


    At this moment, a demon stood in the center of the grand auction arena. Standing over five meters tall, he seemed like nothing more than an ant from Tang San��s point of view, but his aura was nothing short of impressive.


    He was a lion demon, and not any ordinary lion, but a Golden Lion��a true inheritor of a golden bloodline. Moreover, his ming golden hair revealed his god-level cultivation.


    The next moment, a loud voice echoed through the grand auction arena.


    "On behalf of the Ancestral Court, I wee all bidders to this auction. The Ancestral Court''s grand auction is known for fairness and justice; all treasures go to the highest bidder, and fights are entirely prohibited. Everyone understands the rules, so I won''t remind you again.


    "Our auction, as always, will be conducted over three days. Each day will feature different items: spiritual items, rare items, and divine items. Today is the spiritual item auction day. Please present the first auction item."


    Tang San appreciated this straightforward approach. No nonsense, just starting directly. This saved him a lot of time.


    Before participating in this auction, he had gained some understanding of the Ancestral Court''s grand auction through his master and the Aetherhorn Merchant Association.


    The auction took ce over three days. No one could predict what good items would appear on the spiritual item and rare item auction days, but the items were always of high tiers. What was valued or deemed more precious varied from person to person. The final day, the divine item auction day, was the true highlight. If emperor-level beings attended the auction, they usually appeared on thest day.


    Divine items might include artifacts, natural treasures, and other such items. The currency for the divine item auction day was not naturae coins but the highest tier of currency, amethystine coins. Without amethystine coins, one couldn''t even bid.


    The Ancestral Court Council had directly vetted every divine item in the auction. Initially, Tang San had wondered why the emperors of the Ancestral Court didn''t just divide the artifacts among themselves. The answer was that due to concerns about fairness, they were sent to the grand auction for fairpetition. Whoever had the capital could obtain them.


    Tang San hadn''t given much thought to bidding on divine items. Undoubtedly, there would be treasures he needed or wanted, but qualifying to obtain them was another matter. Beyond having enough money, safely taking the items away after winning them was a significant issue. The so-called fairness, after all, depended on the stakes. Rules were rules, but those who made the rules were the emperors, and if the stakes were high enough to move them... rules might be meaningless.


    Tang San was not under any illusion. At this moment, participating in the divine item auction was impossible. However, he had hoped to broaden his horizons and see the divine items coveted even by the Ancestral Court''s great powers. Unfortunately, because of the call from afar, he would have to forgo the divine item auction this time. He could only wait until he saw his master again and asked him what he had seen.


    The first spiritual item had already been brought to the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    Twelve burly members of the bear race carried the item in. It was covered in red cloth, and considering the size of the tform, it looked minuscule. However, it was still ten meters long, and the twelve strong bear n members struggled slightly as they carried it to the center of the arena and slowly ced it on the ground. It clearly had a titanic weight.


    The Golden Lion auctioneer approached the item and thundered, "Beginnings are always difficult, so in order to make everyone feel a little more at ease, we brought out a good item to start with. This is a skeleton, the skeleton of a Starmoon Earth Dragon!"


    As he spoke, he yanked the red cloth aside.


    The moment the spiritual item was revealed, Tang San''s Celestial Gaze sensed a surge of overwhelming resentment.


    It was apletely white skeleton, and there seemed to be specks of silver light shining on the bones. Tang San didn''t need a telescope; he could see it with his Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    The massive skeleton wasplete, so he could tell exactly how massive the creature had been in life..


    The Starmoon Earth Dragon wasn''t an actual dragon but a branch of the lizard n. It was named for its dragon-like appearance and powerfulbat abilities. An adult Starmoon Earth Dragon could grow over ten meters long and reach the tenth order. It absorbed the power of stars and moons for cultivation.


    Despite theirrge size, their abilityy not with physical power but with spiritual power. It was said that the spiritual power of a powerful Starmoon Earth Dragon could even reach the twelfth order!

 Chapter 409: God-Slaying Sword

    <h4>Chapter 409: God-ying Sword</h4>


    "Unfortunately, the dragon bead of this Starmoon Earth Dragon is not in the skeleton. The dragon bead is the essence of the Starmoon Earth Dragon, an absolute treasure for spiritual power cultivation.


    "This Starmoon Earth Dragon is an adult, and its cultivation reached the tenth order. It had been absorbing the essence of the sun and moon for over a century before it was hunted. Although the dragon bead has been removed, everyone knows that the skeleton of a Starmoon Earth Dragon contains the essence of its bloodline. The marrow can be refined into essence blood, and the bones can be used to forge weapons.


    "There was once a Starmoon Armor made from such bones that had the defense to withstand god-level attacks. The amount of essence blood that can be refined depends on the refiner''s skill and luck. The bidding starts now, with an opening price of five hundred naturae coins!"


    Undoubtedly, this Starmoon Earth Dragon skeleton was valuable. Such items could be seen at the Kali City grand auction, and they would be considered among the top items. Yet this was merely an opening item at the Ancestral Court''s grand auction.


    Did Tang San want it? Yes, he did! The resentment emanating from the skeleton indicated that its spirit wasn''t entirely lost, meaning it hadn''t been dead for too long. Refining the bone marrow into essence blood could yield a significant amount. However, five hundred naturae coins was too much, and the essence blood of a Starmoon Earth Dragon wasn''t all that important for him.


    The bidding began quickly!


    It wasn''t just Tang San who recognized the value of this Starmoon Earth Dragon skeleton. Many keen-eyed bidders at the auction quickly started driving up the price.


    Six hundred, six hundred fifty, seven hundred, seven hundred fifty...


    Finally, the skeleton sold for a high price of nine hundred naturae coins, making one marvel at how wealthy the Ancestral Court was.


    The massive skeleton could be used to craft armor and refine essence blood. If handled properly, it could yield a profit of at least double, but the prerequisite was the ability to refine it and craft items from it. Undoubtedly, a prominent merchant association had bought this Starmoon Earth Dragon skeleton, as only they had the confidence to maximize its value.


    This auction item made Tang San realize that finding a bargain here wouldn''t be easy. Although there were many good items, the prices were clear to all, and many bidders were keen-eyed. Finding a sessful bargain here would be extremely difficult.


    "The second auction item will likely interest everyone more. This natural treasurees from the Solstice Empire��Sunset Fruit! There are nine in total. A Sunset Fruit can activate your potential, instantly bringing out your full power to unleash an attack twice as powerful as your cultivation level would otherwise allow. After use, the eater will immediately enter a weakened state, but thanks to the spiritual energy of the Sunset Fruit, it won''t cause permanent harm.


    "It''s a lifesaving divine item for those below the god level! As the saying goes, possessing one Sunset Fruit is like having an extra life. However, note that while Sunset Fruits are excellent, your own cultivation is still more important. Each time you consume a Sunset Fruit, you cannot use another for seven days."


    <i>Great item! </i>


    Tang San subconsciously clenched his fist. With his current cultivation level, if his explosive power were to double suddenly, it would rival the peak of the ninth order. Unfortunately, the Sunset Fruit was only effective for those below the tenth order. Of course, without this limitation, it wouldn''t be a mere spiritual treasure but a divine one. Imagine if a Demon Emperor or a Nymph Emperor could suddenly erupt with two hundred percent of their power��that would be simply terrifying.


    And this was a set of nine fruits, perfect for saving one''s life or going all out��definitely a great asset.


    Of course, something this good wouldn''te cheap. The starting bid was six hundred naturae coins!


    Even so,pared to the Starmoon Earth Dragon skeleton earlier, Tang San clearly felt this was more worthwhile. Its most significant advantage was that it had no bloodline restrictions��any species could take it and benefit.


    The bidding quickly confirmed Tang San''s judgment. Within just a few minutes after the auction began, the price of the nine Sunset Fruits had doubled, and it was still climbing steadily.


    The Golden Lion auctioneer kept announcing new bids, a broad smile spreading across his face. Good items always sold well here. This was precisely why so many merchants were willing to bring their treasures to auction in the Ancestral Court. Though the Ancestral Court took a highermission, the chances of valuable items going unnoticed were very slim here.


    Zhang Haoxuan sent a message asking Tang San if he wanted to get the Sunset Fruits. They would be useful for the Shrek Squad, but Tang San refused.


    They were simply too expensive, and even though they were good, they weren''t essential. The Great Beast Fighting Arena''s team battle had ended, and for the time being, Tang San preferred keeping a low profile, so the Sunset Fruits would not be necessary. Moreover, in just a few years, everyone should be striving toward the ninth order, and by then, the value of the Sunset Fruits would be null. His primary goal this time was to get suitable essence blood, which would undoubtedly be very costly. The best resources should be used wisely.


    Eventually, the nine Sunset Fruits were sold for 1,800 naturae coins, a staggering price.


    The third auction item was a weapon. Spiritual items, after all, included not only natural treasures but also weapons and equipment, as long as they had some measure of spirituality.


    Generally, armor rarely appeared in auctions because the body shapes of different demon and nymph ns were not uniform. Armor usually only suited one race rather than all races. In contrast, weapons had much broader use, making their value significantly higher than armor.


    This was a sword; a greatsword, more specifically. The de was dark gold in color, four meters long, and half a meter wide, clearly not meant for a smaller race. In fact, it looked a lot like a narrow door rather than a broad de.


    When the greatsword was brought up, the Golden Lion auctioneer''s eyes glowed with desire. Clearly, he was less keen on selling it and more keen on owning it himself.


    "This greatsword has a resounding name, the God-ying Sword. Under its de, nine god-level powerhouses have fallen, including a Great Demon King. Its previous owner was the former patriarch of our n. It is at the auction because our patriarch lost to his opponent and forfeited it. Today, it appears here. With special approval from the Ancestral Court, the biddinges with a condition: the holder must, within ten years, challenge the Great Demon King who defeated our patriarch to a fight to the death! Only members of lion or tiger ns can participate in the bidding. Our two races have agreed that whoever wields it and defeats the formidable foe will be the new patriarch."


    Undoubtedly, this was a special auction item, not aimed at all bidders. Only true members of the lion and tiger races could participate, and it was clearly targeted at the two great golden families. It was meant to inspire the younger generation.


    Naturally, whoever obtained this greatsword would also shoulder the heavy responsibility of avenging the former patriarch.


    The bidders on the three peaks were very calm. For the other ns, this was just a spectacle to watch. But for the lion and tiger races, this was undoubtedly a very important matter.


    To defeat the patriarch of the Golden Lion n, even though that person wasn''t a Demon Emperor, it had to be a top-tier powerhouse among Great Demon Kings, someone at the peak of the eleventh order.


    In fact, the patriarch of the Golden Lion n was at that level himself, yet even with the God-ying Sword, which was almost a divine artifact, he still lost to his opponent, even forfeiting the weapon. This opponent''s strength was unimaginable. Defeating such an opponent was no easy task.


    The lion and tiger races were close allies, and this opponent was clearly a formidable enemy for both. The fact that today''s auctioneer was a Golden Lion was likely rted to this situation.

 Chapter 410: Acquiring the God-Slaying Sword

    <h4>Chapter 410: Acquiring the God-ying Sword</h4>


    "The starting bid is one naturae coin!" the Golden Lion auctioneer said in a deep voice.


    One naturae coin was merely a symbolic price. The most important thing was not the price but the meaning behind this auction item. Choosing to bid meant shouldering the honor of the lion and tiger races. A life-and-death battle would take ce ten yearster. Moreover, not everyone was qualified to take this sword; a test was inevitable.


    Silence. The response from the three peaks was silence. Not a single number te lit up. This meant no one chose this auction item.


    The Golden Lion auctioneer''s golden hair fluttered without wind, and he couldn''t help but roar, "Do we have no warriors in our two ns? No one dares to pick up the God-ying Sword?"


    Before the auction began, the two ns hadmunicated internally, and there were seven or eight potential candidates. But at this moment, none of them chose to step forward. Undoubtedly, they were all unsure of themselves and unwilling to fight. Both the lion and tiger races knew who the opponent was, an opponent that filled them with despair.


    Even the strongest among the demon and nymph ns wouldn''t want to throw their life away senselessly.


    Such targeted auctions were not umon at the Ancestral Court''s grand auction. Each n could apply to the Ancestral Court for revenge or to issue a challenge... for the right price, of course. The price tag on this sword was simply because it had to have a price, but who knew what cost the lion and tiger races had paid behind the scenes to be able to present the sword at this auction!


    Still, there was no movement amongst the bidders. The Golden Lion auctioneer couldn''t help but rage. He gritted his teeth and started walking toward the heavy sword. He was one of the seven or eight candidates, and he also had no confidence. Others could hide, but he had no way out, considering everyone was watching him. For the honor of the Golden Lion n, he had to step forward.


    But just then, a light suddenly shone from one of the peaks.


    The Golden Lion auctioneer abruptly stopped, looking up sharply in that direction.


    It was an auction cave positioned lower on the mountain, its prominent number instantly catching his eye.


    "Three-three-six? Bidder number 336 chooses to participate in the auction, bidding one naturae coin."


    While internally thrilled, the Golden Lion auctioneer quickly searched his memory for any recollection of bidder 336. But he soon confirmed that this was not one of the known candidates.


    Could it be a junior? But to attend this auction and have such financial capability, they couldn''t be just anyone!


    "Due to the special nature of this auction item, within seven days after this auction ends, the winner of the God-ying Sword must go to the Golden Lion n''s headquarters in the Ancestral Court to im it. Passing the test will grant ownership of the God-ying Sword."


    Yes, it was number 336, Tang San''s number. Tang San was indeed the one who acquired the God-ying Sword.


    He was certainly not a member of the Lion or Tiger ns, but after careful consideration, he decided to participate in the bidding.


    Obtaining the God-ying Sword would not be easy. The challenge within ten years was mandatory, and there would inevitably be restrictions from the lion and tiger races. Signing a contract was essential; otherwise, such a weapon wouldn''t fall into his hands.


    With that said, the test would definitely not take ce on-site, as the auction''s schedule could not be dyed. It would surely ur afterward, so he had time to deal with his own issues first. They would not chase after him or anything like that; Tang San��s guarantor��because participating in this auction as an individual also required a guarantor��was a prominent member of the Redemption Society, and had the necessary connections. They would make sure Tang San��s credentials were impable.


    Of course, Tang San didn''t bid on this four-meter-long greatsword for himself. He wasn''t a member of the lion or tiger races, and even though he had the Lion-Tiger bloodline, he was still human. But just because he couldn''t use it didn''t mean no one else could. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was the perfect candidate.


    After the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s bloodline evolved, it became a true first-tier bloodline. With his umtion, breaking through to godhood wouldn''t be too difficult. The power of the Lion-Tiger bloodline far surpassed that of the Golden Lion and Golden Tiger bloodlines, after all. Big Cat��s future growth was limitless, and bing a Great Demon King within ten years was not beyond the realm of possibility.


    Yes, the Lion-Tiger n and the lion and tiger races were indeed at odds, but that issue was rooted in the fact that the Lion-Tiger n was considered cursed by their ancestors. Now, with Tang San''s help, the bloodline issues guing them had been resolved. The rise of the Lion-Tiger n was inevitable.


    Previously, Tang San was worried that the two great golden lineages wouldn''t allow the rise of such a hybrid race and would crush them before they grew strong enough. But from today''s auction of the God-ying Sword, it seemed that the lion and tiger races were facing a great crisis. And in this crisis, what could be better than the emergence of a first-tier bloodline from among their ranks?


    A first-tier bloodline meant the possibility of bing a Demon Emperor!


    The tiger race had the White Tiger Demon Emperor backing them, but the lion race had no Demon Emperor. If a first-tier bloodline appeared, there was still a chance for the lion race to rise, even if that bloodline wasn��t a hundred percent pure. The White Tiger Demon Emperor didn��t have a golden bloodline or whatever, but the tiger race still revered it after bing a Demon Emperor. So why couldn''t the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint be the future ruler of the lion race?


    The resources required for the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint to break through to be a Demon King or even a future Great Demon King would be immense. With the powerful lion race supporting him, however, this was not much of a problem.


    Thus, after careful consideration, Tang San judged that the benefits outweighed the risks. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint would face significant challenges, but the chances of sess were high. The probability of gaining the lion race''s recognition was very high. Moreover, the God-ying Sword was no ordinary weapon!


    Tang San felt the genuine aura of ughter from the God-ying Sword. Its material was somewhat simr to a divine weapon he had once controlled. Although it couldn''tpare to that Ultra Divine Weapon right now, it could undoubtedly be upgraded. No matter how challenging, such a great item for just one naturae coin couldn''t be passed up!


    Thus, Tang San ultimately chose to bid.


    ��Tang San, are you crazy?!


    When the Golden Lion auctioneer announced number 336, Zhang Haoxuan''s furious and shocked voice came through Tang San''smunicator.


    "Don''t worry, Master. I''m not bidding for myself. I have confidence," Tang San responded calmly.


    Zhang Haoxuan took a deep breath. If anyone else had said this to him, he would have rushed over to question them. But this was Tang San. He had witnessed too many miracles from Tang San, and Tang San had never let him down.


    However, he couldn''t help but remind him of something.


    ��The one guaranteeing for us is an important hidden member of the organization. If you don��t go or you fail the Golden Lions�� test, it might expose them. You must be careful!


    In any case, the bidding had already begun, and it was toote for regrets.


    "One naturae coin, first call!" The Golden Lion auctioneer below had started the countdown.


    Of course, there were no other bids from the Lion or Tiger ns. Tang San acquired the God-ying Sword, which was not yet a divine weapon but had the potential to be one, for just one naturae coin!


    The auction items continued to be presented, but such a "good deal" for one naturae coin would not reappear. Now that it was sold, the auctioneer was reced by a fox n member, a Blue Fox who looked somewhat like a Celestial Fox. The Blue Fox''s fur was dark blue only at the tips, with the rest being white, making them look like white Celestial Foxes but with a peculiar blue glow.


    This Blue Fox female auctioneer was extremely beautiful, much more visually appealing than the Golden Lion.

 Chapter 411: Such Great Luck

    <h4>Chapter 411: Such Great Luck</h4>


    One auction item after another was presented, and every single one was a treasure.


    But they were all extremely expensive. Some rare treasures could only be used by god-level powerhouses, so their final auction prices were naturally astronomical. There was no chance to get a bargain.


    Tang San and Zhang Haoxuan hadn''t made any bids; even the fact that No. 336 had secured the God-ying Sword gradually faded from memory.


    After all, the God-ying Sword wasn''t even remotely the top item among today''s spiritual items.


    The most popr items were the natural treasures that could be consumed to directly enhance cultivation, especially those that could help one break through to the god level; such treasures fetched sky-high prices.


    Tang San watched as a Sun Fruit from the lineage of the Sunborne Tree, which could help fire-element nymph ns break through barriers and advance to the tenth order, was auctioned off for a staggering price of ten thousand naturae coins.


    Soon, half a day had passed. Although he had gained nothing of material value, Tang San found it an eye-opening experience, expanding his understanding of the treasures in this world.


    From the auction, it was clear that the Solstice Empire was wealthier than the Empyrean Dominion. While the nymph ns weren''t as proficient inbat as the demon ns, they had unique advantages in cultivation, producing an abundance of natural treasures.


    Most of the natural treasures auctioned on the Spiritual Artifact Auction Day came from the Solstice Empire.


    Half a day quickly passed, leading to a break before continuing in the afternoon.


    Zhang Haoxuan��s voice transmission said, "This morning, we didn��t buy anything besides that God-ying Sword. There were some good items. Don��t be stingy if you need anything for your cultivation. After all, you earned this money. What I hope for the most now is that you can break through to the god level soon."


    Tang San said, "Don��t worry, Master. If it��s something I truly need, I won��t hold back. Our funds are limited, so we have to wait for something really worth it before we make a move."


    What he didn��t say outright was that while natural treasures were great, he was more interested in essence blood. Spiritual herbs and the likes were certainly beneficial, but their effects were more generic and they could also be found elsewhere as well.


    What was more crucial for him and hispanions was the appropriate types of essence blood, which could help them ovee their bloodline limitations.


    The limitations of their bloodlines were the main obstacle to the Shrek Squad��s future advancement. This was especially true for Du Bai and Gu Li, who had strong bloodlines.


    The ninth-order blood of the Chrono Croc he obtained from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association was a pleasant surprise, but that was just Gu Li. As for the others... they had to wait.


    With things as they were, only Wu Bingji��s Ice Spirit Transformation could support him in cultivating to the ninth order. The others would find it difficult to even break through to the ninth order, let alone the tenth.


    The main reason Tang San insisted oning to the Ancestral Court to participate in this auction was to address this very issue.


    As for what he could obtain, that really depended on luck.


    Of course, Tang San had no doubt about his own luck.


    Since leaving the Hell Garden, he had noticed that his fortune had been soaring. How could he describe his luck? It was like the opposite of the grand scene before him at the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    Though it wasn��t as grand as this ce��s misfortune, the soaring luck he sensed from himself was on a level Tang San had yet to feel elsewhere.


    He had once used his newly-acquired Celestial Gaze to observe the pces. Most of the pces'' fortunes were concealed, but he could still perceive some subtle clues. This was thebined effect of his once God King-level divine consciousness and the Celestial Gaze.


    Even those emperors didn��t seem to have luck as strong as his.


    Tang San didn��t know where this luck came from, but even getting a message from Mei Gongzi today reinforced his belief in his good fortune.


    Before the grand auction began, Tang San had already set his targets for this bidding session.


    The primary goal was essence blood, specifically from top-tier bloodlines. It wasn��t limited to just what his group needed; if essence blood from other first-tier bloodlines appeared that couldplement his abilities, he could also go for it, as he could still integrate an extra bloodline imprint.


    Next were the rare items to be auctioned on the second day. He didn��t entertain thoughts of divine items; without wealthparable to that of an entire major city, there was no chance of getting involved with them, and the risk was too high.


    But rare items were different. As seen from the grand auction in Kali City, there were many treasures in this world whose uses weren��t well-known, like his Sky Shatterer made from Heavenly Fire Essence Iron and the Golden Wood that he had raised into a Golden Tree.


    If he wanted to find a hidden gem at the Ancestral Court''s grand auction, it would likely be in the rare items auction. These items might appear in the morning, as the morning''s lots usually seemed less remarkable on the surfacepared to the afternoon��s.


    The auction continued into the afternoon. And when the first item of the afternoon appeared, Tang San''s expression immediately turned strange.


    Essence blood had finally appeared. And the first type to show up was one they dearly needed: the essence blood of the Golden Roc.


    There were ten drops of peak ninth-order Golden Roc essence blood, with a starting bid of three hundred naturae coins.


    This price was undoubtedly very high, but for such a scarce essence blood, the fact that it even appeared at the auction was already a pleasant surprise.


    Tang San immediately conveyed his determination to his master, without hesitation.


    He had bought the God-ying Sword for one naturae coin in the morning, so he had intended to stay low-key in the afternoon, but this was something they simply could not afford to lose.


    While they were passing messages to each other, the auction for the Golden Roc essence blood began with the announcement from the Blue Fox host.


    Almost instantly, the price shot up to five hundred naturae coins.


    Cheng Zicheng��s bloodline strength was rtively higher than Du Bai''s and Gu Li''s, but just slightly. Reaching the eighth order was already her limit, and she had realized that as well. That was why she had been training so hard recently by climbing the pces of the Undying Demon Emperor and the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, hoping to stimte her bloodline for some improvement.


    However, a bloodline''s potential could only be dug up so much, and simply stimting it to advance would not work beyond that point.


    But it was different with these ten drops of ninth-order peak Golden Roc essence blood.


    With Tang San��s years of research on bloodline power, he could use these essence blood drops to purify Cheng Zicheng''s bloodline, ensuring she wouldn''t need to worry about bloodline purity until she reached the peak of the ninth order.


    As for advancing to the god level, they would probably need to kill a god-level Golden Roc and forcibly extract its bloodline.


    When the price exceeded seven hundred naturae coins, Zhang Haoxuan started to waver.


    ��Tang San, this is too expensive. Our funds are limited. If we spend too much on this, what if there��s something you wantter on?


    But Tang San replied without hesitation, "Master, it''s better to go all out in one decisive battle than to give up easily. We don''t know what wille upter, but we can be certain that this essence blood in front of us is essential for sister Zicheng. It''s better to miss out on good thingster than to give up on what we absolutely need now. Go for it."


    In this matter, he was very decisive, not just because Cheng Zicheng��s advancement would also benefit his own, but because his individual strength was ultimately limited. On the other hand, Mei Gongzi had already emerged from seclusion in Kali City. She would soon face the struggle for the city lordship and even the immense pressure from the Ancestral Court, all of which required adequate support. He couldn��t afford to miss out on anything that could enhance hispanions'' strength.


    Even if essence blood from the Celestial Fox n appearedter, he wouldn��t regret it. Besides, given the power of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, the likelihood of their essence blood appearing here was virtually zero.


    "Alright then..." Zhang Haoxuan sighed in resignation after hearing his words.


    "Eight hundred naturae coins going twice!"


    While they were talking, the price had already risen to nearly three times the starting bid.

 Chapter 412: Obtaining the Essence Blood

    <h4>Chapter 412: Obtaining the Essence Blood</h4>


    "Master, go straight to a thousand," Tang San��s voice came through.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s heart skipped a beat��this was a direct increase of two hundred naturae coins! But he knew what had to be done. Taking a deep breath, he entered the bid.


    "One thousand naturae coins!" The Blue Fox auctioneer��s voice carried a distinct note of surprise. Such a sudden and significant bid increase usually meant the bidder was determined to win, often deterring other participants.


    After a brief pause, another bidder continued to raise the price. "One thousand and ten naturae coins."


    "One thousand one hundred naturae coins." A direct increase of one hundred.


    This time, the whole arena fell silent. While the Golden Roc essence blood was indeed valuable and considered excellent among second-tier bloodlines, it was still just the essence blood of a ninth-order Golden Roc, not a tenth-order one. The price of 1100 naturae coins exceeded its intrinsic value.


    Most of the participants in the bidding had avian bloodlines; the true Golden Roc n didn��t need the essence blood of their own kin.


    Finally, the hammer fell at 1100 naturae coins!


    Zhang Haoxuan��s breathing was slightly rapid, but when they finally secured the bid, he felt a sense of relief. They had finally won their first truly significant auction item today. This item was of immense importance, as it opened the path for Cheng Zicheng��s advancement. However, the price paid was also substantial.


    The purchasing power of 1100 coins was immense; it was about the annual ie of a small n.


    This time, Zhang Haoxuan and Tang San gathered three thousand naturae coins. This was from Zhang Haoxuan, who has been selling array discs over recent days,bined with Tang San''s savings and an advance on the payment for array discs delivered to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association.


    Three thousand naturae coins seemed substantial before they came to the auction. Neither Tang San nor Zhang Haoxuan believed that even the Redemption Society could earn that much in a year.


    Yet, securing just one auction item had cost them more than a third of their funds, leaving them with only 1900 naturae coins.


    Despite the high spending, a look of relief spread across Tang San��s face. His goal for this trip to the Ancestral Court was to at least secure bloodline advancement opportunities for two of hispanions, and now he had already exceeded that target.


    Through the Hell Garden, he and Du Bai had advanced their Celestial Fox Transformation to the seventh order, which was an unexpected bonus. Now, the bloodline advancements for Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng were also settled. The mission was more than aplished.


    Moreover, his own divine consciousness had increased by more than a third, and he had acquired tokens from three Demon Emperors. If not for the potential trouble the Crystal Demon Emperor brought, this trip could have been deemed perfect.


    The remaining 1900 naturae coins might not be enough to buy items that everyone could see were valuable. They could only hope to find some hidden gems.


    And the following good items that appeared truly made Tang San��s eyes light up with envy.


    Essence blood didn��t appear often, but when it did, it came in session.


    The second auction item of the afternoon also contained essence blood. But this time, it wasn��t from a demon but from a nymph.


    "The next item up for auction is ten drops of ninth-order peak Earth Spirit Tree essence blood. As everyone knows, the Earth Spirit Tree has a second-tier bloodline in the Solstice Empire, but its unique trait is unmatched even by first-tier bloodlines. The Earth Spirit Tree��s innate ability is spiritualmunication, allowing it tomunicate with any nt. Hence, in the Solstice Empire, it��s known as the Spirit Communicator. The Earth Spirit Tree essence blood can be absorbed directly to enhance simr bloodline strength or be used to act as a Spirit Communicator. Each drop of Earth Spirit Tree essence blood provides a chance tomunicate with natural treasures, and I don''t need to borate on the benefits of that. The starting bid is one thousand naturae coins."


    <i>Spirit Communication? Spiritual Communication?</i>


    Hearing the Blue Fox n auctioneer''s description, Tang San��s eyes practically lit up with desire.


    The reason was simple. His Blue Silver Emperor bloodline was around the third-tier, not particrly strong.


    One major issue was its insufficient spiritual energy,pletely unbefitting of the sovereign of nts.


    In his previous life, his Blue Silver Emperor couldmunicate with all nts and harness their power to support itself, making it the true emperor of the nt world.


    In this world, achieving that was evidently challenging because the nymph ns were too powerful. However, if he could endow the Blue Silver Emperor with abundant spiritual energy, he could manifest domain-like abilities based on his past life��s memories. That would be enough to ssify it as a second-tier bloodline.


    However, when the starting price for the Earth Spirit Tree was announced, Tang San knew he couldn��t get it. He didn��t have enough money.


    If he fought for it with all his might, there might still be a chance. But that would mean giving up on bidding for the extraordinary itemster.


    It was frustrating to be short on funds!


    Tang San clenched his fist. Earth Spirit Tree, Earth Spirit Tree! Hemitted the name firmly to memory. Although he couldn��t win the bid this time, he could find a way to request this bloodline from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, using the reason of making array discs.


    The Earth Spirit Tree essence blood was sold for a high price of 2900 naturae coins. The appearance of these two types of essence blood instantly reignited the grand auction��s excitement.


    Fortunately, Tang San didn��t need the third item. Otherwise, he would have vomited blood in frustration.


    Though he knew he couldn��t secure every good item, actually facing such a situation still left him feeling somewhat unwilling.


    Tang San chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued watching the auction.


    The next few items were expensive but not truly top-tier.


    Then, god-level items finally began to appear.


    First came god-level materials: bones, skins, tendons, and other body parts of god-level beings. The bodies of these god-level Demon Kings or Nymph Kings appearing in the auction were from species that weren��t particrly strong; otherwise, the sellers would have to consider the implications of putting such items up for sale.


    These were naturally excellent items, particrly for forging weapons and equipment or as materials for creating divine artifacts. However, Tang San wasn''t very interested in them.


    Now, if it were the tail of a Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, that would be different. But the body parts of Demon Emperors, if they appeared at all, would likely be part of the final divine items auction day.


    As dusk fell, the day��s auction finally approached its end.


    The repeated bidding climaxes had emptied the bidders'' wallets and left them mentally exhausted.


    Even those who had already spent all their money chose not to leave; generally, they would stay for the entire three days of the auction before departing. After all, this grand event only urred twice a year, and they had paid a hefty deposit to get in. Watching the auction could enlighten and broaden their horizons even if they were out of funds.


    "Next up are thest three items of the day, the grand finale. Those with sufficient means should get ready!" The auctioneer was still a Blue Fox, though now it was a different, stunningly beautiful one.


    The mention of the final three items immediately invigorated the many participants. They all knew that items selected for the finale of the three-day auction were the absolute top treasures. These items could only be seen at the grand auction of the Ancestral Court. Records were often broken during these moments.


    The three days of auction were on different levels in terms of money invested, but they had one thing inmon: the final items were all bound to be extraordinary. In fact, even these three items presented during the spiritual item day were likely to be on the level of divine items.


    Tang San also sat up straighter, awaiting the unveiling of thest three items.


    A cart was slowly pushed into the arena. As the cart entered, Tang San felt that the overwhelming aura of misfortune and ughter in the arena seemed to dim slightly.

 Chapter 413: The Stone of Shelter

    <h4>Chapter 413: The Stone of Shelter</h4>


    What was this thing? Could it influence the fortune at this level? Tang San was secretly shocked.


    The expression on the Blue Fox auctioneer��s face became noticeably solemn. ��Our third-tost auction itemes from the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain.�� As they spoke, they turned and bowed towards the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain.


    <i>From the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain? Then it must be from the Celestial Fox Pce. Could it be a treasure offered by the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor?</i>


    "As everyone knows, to be a Demon or Nymph King, you must undergo the baptism of heavenly tribtion. If unsessful, you perish. Therefore, when unsure of their chances, many strong individuals from various ns use external forces to withstand the heavenly tribtion and achieve a breakthrough. Such methods have been researched for countless years and there are naturally plenty of options.


    "However, breaking through using such methods usually limits further advancement. Only those who fully endure and withstand the baptism of the heavenly tribtion can truly be considered strong among gods. And the more powerful the bloodline, the more dangerous the heavenly tribtion!"


    The Blue Fox auctioneer rarely used such a lengthy introduction.


    Undoubtedly, this third-tost auction item was rted to oveing heavenly tribtion.


    "This item from the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, named the Stone of Shelter by the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, serves the purpose of preserving one��s original level if they fail to resist the heavenly tribtion, giving them a chance to try again."


    "Only those who have endured the heavenly tribtion truly understand what it means. Normally, if they fail to break through, they will die.


    "But the Stone of Shelter provides a second chance. Not only that, but the second time, you may attempt the tribtion with the experience of the previous one, which greatly increases the probability of seeding through your own abilities. There��s no better way to unleash the potential of a strong individual."


    The Blue Fox auctioneer lifted the red cloth covering the cart.


    It was a ne. The ne was silver-white, set with tiny white gemstones, clearly Fortune Stones. The pendant on the ne was a silver-white gemstone, emitting a faint silvery glow. In Tang San��s view, this gem clearly diluted the aura of misfortune around it.


    <i>This silver gemstone...</i>


    Tang San found it vaguely familiar, and he squeezed his brain for a moment before his eyes widened in shock.


    <i>The lotus seed!</i>


    Yes, it was the "lotus seed" of the Heavenly Bloom! But somehow, it seemed different. It didn��t have the solid feel that the lotus seed gave him. But it was definitely of the same origin, at least in appearance. It seemed tock a soul, yet even so, it was enough to shock Tang San.


    Was the lotus seed''s function actually to provide shelter? Being able to block heavenly tribtion was far beyond mere fortune. This was practically defying the heavens and changing fate!


    <i>Damn, bringing this out for auction, its value...</i>


    The previously calm audience now began to stir with noise.


    Undoubtedly, this Stone of Shelter ne would be top-tier even on the Divine Artifacts Auction Day. Yet, it was being presented on the Spiritual Artifact Auction Day and as the third-tost item, not the final showstopper. This made one ponder just how valuable the following two items could be.


    The Blue Fox auctioneer didn��t rush; she allowed the noise to persist before slowly saying, ��This item is extremely rare, even within the Celestial Fox n. The bidding starts now, with a starting price of three thousand naturae coins. Each increment must be no less than one hundred naturae coins.��


    Was a starting bid of three thousand naturae coins expensive? Absolutely not!


    As a former God King, Tang San knew all too well the benefits this item could bring. Being able to face heavenly tribtion twice meant undergoing two baptisms. What did two baptisms by heavenly tribtion signify?


    The cleansing by heavenly tribtion was a process of shedding the mortal coil and ascending to sainthood. During this process, one��s impurities would be refined away, divine consciousness would solidify, and the body would evolve. The entire process, while extremely dangerous, differentiated mortals from god-level beings. Once the tribtion was sessfully ovee, one reached the god level, and one''s lifespan would be greatly extended.


    However, as the Blue Fox auctioneer said, the path to bing a god varied among beings. Those who schemed their way through the tribtion existed, but such god-level beings would fundamentally differ from those who relied on their abilities to withstand it.


    Those who sessfully schemed through the tribtion couldn��t progress further; Demon King was their final level. Their lifespan would remain at the Demon King level. Only those who sessfully endured the tribtion by their own merits could truly advance beyond.


    Even among the Demon Emperors, their lifespans varied. Some Demon Emperors could live four to five thousand years, while others could live only one to two thousand years. Why? Because of the difference in their foundations. And where did this foundatione from? Heavenly tribtion was arguably the only opportunity to consolidate this foundation for those at godhood and above.


    The Stone of Shelter allowed a strong individual to face the tribtion twice. What did this mean? It meant two baptisms, two chances to consolidate their foundation. Not only did this almost guarantee surviving the tribtion, but the umtion from these two instances would make their foundation significantly deeper than others at the same level.


    Such benefits couldn��t be measured in mary terms. This was definitely a divine artifact! Especially for those with first-tier bloodlines of a Demon Emperor; having this meant that younger members with the potential of a Demon Emperor would have an additional guarantee for advancing to the level of a Demon Emperor!


    So, it was absolutely worth it.


    Zhang Haoxuan didn��t send a voice transmission to ask Tang San anything. The Stone of Shelter was useful, extremely useful, to anyone. But whether they could afford it was another matter. Even if they sold the entire Redemption Society, they probably couldn��t afford this truly divine artifact.


    ��One thousand!�� A deep voice almost instantly quieted the entire auction hall.


    Hearing this voice, not very loud in itself, felt like a thunderous shock to all the bidders. The overwhelming pressure made the heavens and earth tremble. The voice came from the highest point!


    A Demon Emperor! Or perhaps a Nymph Emperor!


    Although they didn��t know who had arrived, the grandeur of the voice and its direction unmistakably revealed the speaker��s identity.


    Was a Demon Emperor-level powerhouse personally showing up for the Stone of Shelter? It was clear they were preparing it for their sessors!


    ��One thousand one hundred!�� A somewhat cold voice came from the other mountain peak.


    No matter how envious the bidders below were when the first voice spoke, they understood that this item no longer had anything to do with them. The Stone of Shelter had attracted personal bids from Demon Emperor-level beings. Only emperors could bid against other emperors.


    Tang San immediately understood why this item had appeared here. It was likely because more than one emperor had asked the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor for it. Unsure of whom to give it to, he chose to let thempete fairly at the auction. What puzzled Tang San was why this item didn��t appear on the final Divine Artifacts Auction Day but on the first day instead.


    But the next moment, a sh of insight struck Tang San, and he seemed to understand something.


    More emperors were likely to attend on thest day of the Divine Artifacts Auction. Even emperors would be tempted by the Stone of Shelter, leading to more bidders. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor probably arranged with the two currentpetitors to auction the Stone of Shelter on the first day before other emperors noticed, giving one of the current bidders a chance to obtain it.

 Chapter 414: The Crystals Will

    <h4>Chapter 414: The Crystal''s Will</h4>


    ��One thousand two hundred, I��m determined to get this. Continuing topete will hurt our rtions,�� said the deep voice after bidding again.


    The cold voice showed no intention of yielding. ��If we weren��t determined, would we be here? Let��s save time. Just state the highest price you can ept. Twenty thousand naturae coins. If your price exceeds what I can handle, I won��t fight you for it.��


    The treasure that started at three thousand naturae coins had now risen to the astronomical price of twenty thousand. Only emperor-level beings and top-tier merchant associations could likely afford such sums.


    ��Twenty-five thousand! Must ite to this?�� The deep voice was now noticeably more irritated.


    ��Thirty thousand! Since we��re here, there��s no backing down easily. My disciple is already at the peak of the ninth order and needs it,�� the cold voice stated calmly.


    In the sky, immense pressure became evident, causing the air to twist violently, with faint flickers of lightning. Only beings of emperor level could disregard the Ancestral Court''s rule against fighting.


    ��Thirty-one thousand! Don��t forget, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said the final bid requires immediate payment. I doubt you can produce that many naturae coins.��


    ��Thirty-two thousand, the same goes for you.��


    Neither side backed down, each continuing to bid.


    Tang San was speechless; the prices bid by the two emperors left him feeling powerless. They seemed very wary of each other; otherwise, wouldn��t fighting it out be simpler?


    At that moment, a cold and clear voice suddenly said, ��Fifty thousand!��


    This third voice appeared abruptly, so suddenly that it astonished the two previous emperors. Immediately following, a bright light descended from the sky,nding at the peak of the central mountain.


    ��Anyone who bids again will be my enemy.�� The cold voice, indistinguishable between male and female, was filled with unparalleled arrogance, ��This is the will of the Crystal!��


    When Tang San heard this voice, a shiver ran down his spine. He had heard this voice before and even met its owner.


    <i>The head of the Ancestral Court, omnipotent, the Crystal Demon Emperor!</i>


    This Stone of Shelter had even drawn the attention of the Crystal Demon Emperor. The auction fell silent in an instant, and the entire Ancestral Court became quiet.


    The entire hall was hushed, and the two emperors who had beenpeting also fell silent, not uttering another word. The foremost emperor''s majesty was fully disyed.


    <i>The Will of The Crystal!</i>


    When the Crystal Demon Emperor appeared, Tang San felt a tightening in his scalp. This Demon Emperor was, without a doubt, the one he feared the most. He instinctively focused inward to observe his crystal imprint, which showed no changes; Crystalline remained in slumber, as ifpletely unaware of the Crystal Demon Emperor''s arrival.


    ��Nopetition. This Stone of Shelter belongs to me.�� With a sh of light, the Stone of Shelter in the Great Beast Fighting Arena levitated into the air and vanished into the void. The overwhelmingly powerful aura also disappeared without a trace.


    The omnipotent Crystal Demon Emperor came and went quickly, taking less than a minute. They took the treasured item that had caused a dispute between the two emperors, and no one dared to raise objections.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor rarely appeared, even seldom attending council meetings. They were not only powerful but also mysterious.


    No emperor dared topete with them because, as emperors themselves, they were acutely aware of how powerful the top-ranking Crystal Demon Emperor was. Emperors could indeed fall, and since they dered that bidding against them meant enmity, even emperors didn��t dare to challenge them in the slightest.


    Taking away the Stone of Shelter was bound to spark spection.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor was one of the oldest existing emperors. Comparatively, the lifespans of Demon Emperors were shorter than those of Nymph Emperors because thetter could more easily absorb the essence of heaven and earth to nourish themselves. It had long been rumored that the life of the Crystal Demon Emperor was nearing its end. When this strongest Demon Emperor fell, the question of who would lead the Ancestral Court, the demon or nymph ns, would inevitably be the next point of contention.


    Could it be that the Crystal Demon Emperor personally came today to take the Stone of Shelter as part of preparations for grooming their sessor? No one knew who their sessor was, but it was evident that they wouldn��t use the Stone of Shelter for themself, sparking much spection.


    It wasn��t until the aura of the Crystal Demon Emperorpletely vanished that Tang San breathed a sigh of relief. He was the most tense of all. He genuinely feared that the Crystal Demon Emperor might suddenlye and take him away, and with his current abilities, he could indeed resist.


    Fortunately, he left, but he also took the Stone of Shelter. If Tang San could have observed it up close, he might have confirmed whether it was indeed the lotus seed he had once seen in the Hell Garden.


    Tang San genuinely desired that miraculous lotus seed, but with his current abilities, he couldn��t take action yet.


    The venue remained silent for several minutes before the Blue Fox auctioneer, having regainedposure, said, ��Congrattions to His Majesty the Crystal for acquiring the Stone of Shelter. Now, we will proceed with the next auction. Please bring up the next treasure.��


    Even the auctioneer contemted the mental shock of the two emperors who had bid earlier. Being so tantly outmaneuvered, no matter how much resentment they felt inside, they dared not express anything outwardly. What a painful experience it must have been!


    Another cart was brought out. As it was pushed onstage, a distinctly different aura emanated from when the Stone of Shelter appeared.


    It was an iparably rich life aura. When it appeared, it was like a zing fire of life was burning intensely, instantly dispersing the aura of misfortune and ughter in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. The intense life force burned wildly, and the air temperature noticeably rose.


    What a domineering energy aura! Tang San felt a slight shock; this was undoubtedly a treasure. Moreover, he could sense that this level of life force wasn��t from the demon ns; it should be from a nt-based treasure, specifically a sun-attribute nt.


    The Blue Fox auctioneer solemnly announced, ��The penultimate auction item todayes from the Solstice Empire, from the Son of the Sun, from our great Solstice Empire��s foremost leader, known as the Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor. For this auction, His Majesty the Sunborne has generously contributed a petal from the Sunborne Flower.��


    <i>A petal from the Sunborne Nymph Emperor��s flower!</i>


    At these words, Tang San almost instantly stood up.


    From what his teacher had told him, the Sunborne Nymph Emperor��s Sunborne Flower bloodline was a mutation, equally irreplicable, but undoubtedly the strongest bloodline among the nymph ns. If there was any powerful ability Tang San wanted to acquire, the Sunborne Nymph Emperor was at the top of the list.


    Since this petal was from the Sunborne Nymph Emperor��s Sunborne Flower, it undoubtedly contained its bloodline aura, likely even an emperor-level bloodline aura. If he could obtain it, Tang San might acquire the Sunborne Flower bloodline, thereby gaining the foremost bloodline among the nymph ns!


    However, Tang San, who had stood up, soon sat down slowly, his eyes filled with excitement, yet realizing that it was something he could never acquire.


    The final price of the Stone of Shelter was fifty thousand naturae coins. So, what about this Sunborne Flower petal? In terms of rarity, it was definitely above the Stone of Shelter. It was a priceless treasure in the hands of someone who truly needed it.

 Chapter 415: Sunborne and Earthshade

    <h4>Chapter 415: Sunborne and Earthshade</h4>


    There was no need for an borate introduction; just mentioning a Sunborne Flower petal was enough. The mysteries of the Sunborne Flower were known to very few, and those who didn��t know were naturally not qualified to know, much less to bid on this item. This was never meant for ordinary bidders.


    "The starting bid is ten thousand naturae coins, with each increment no less than one thousand naturae coins. Now, the bidding begins."


    The entire hall fell silent; no one ced a bid immediately. Indeed, there were probably few bidders who could afford the price of ten thousand naturae coins. Moreover, those who wanted to bid on the Sunborne Flower had to consider whether their status allowed them to own this treasure. If they couldn��t handle it, they might well face a genuine disaster. Even some of the major ns couldn��t withstand such a treasure.


    "Ten thousand!" The first bid finally emerged, and it was from the same emperor who had initially spoken earlier. He hadn��t left despite the Stone of Shelter being taken by the Crystal Demon Emperor but chose to participate in the bidding again.


    And once more, the bidding was restricted to the very few emperors alive.


    Tang San wanted to tell his master, "I want this." But whether he said it or not, his master could produce neither the funds nor the status.


    "Fifteen thousand." A cold voice followed.


    "Are you deliberately trying to provoke me today?" The deep voice now carried anger. Being suppressed by the Crystal Demon Emperor earlier had already soured his mood.


    "Who wouldn��t want the Sunborne Majesty��s item? This has nothing to do with our rtionship." The cold voice showed no intention of backing down.


    "This is quite lively, so let me join in. Twenty thousand." At that moment, a third voice chimed in. A third emperor had arrived and joined the bidding!


    It was chaotic, utterly chaotic. The first day of the Spiritual Artifact Auction had attracted so many emperors?


    Astute observers could surmise that the earlier appearance of the Crystal Demon Emperor or the Stone of Shelter was what had drawn thiste-arriving emperor. Seeing the Sunborne Flower petal up for auction, he couldn��t resist bidding.


    "Has Sunborne gone mad? The petal is not for sale." A female voice rang out, filled with surprise and intense anger.


    The next moment, the air in the entire auction hall turned icy. A ghostly blue light descended from the sky, enveloping the cart in the auction hall below. Instantly, the life fire that seemed to burn away all killing intent earlier was extinguished, and everything returned to normal.


    "Your Majesty Earthshade, this isn��t right. This is the Sunborne Nymph Emperor��s decision; you can��t just take it," said the emperor who had spokenst, unable to hold back.


    Earthshade Nymph Emperor! The one who intervened was the second-ranking powerhouse among the nymphs. Sunborne and Earthshade��whether they were natural opposites orplements was uncertain.


    The Earthshade Nymph Emperor said calmly, "I bid one hundred thousand. If you bid more, you can take it."


    "You..." The emperor''s voice showed clear irritation, but he said no more in the end.


    The ghostly blue light flickered and vanished, and the aura of the Earthshade Nymph Emperor disappeared as well.


    At this moment, a gentle voice suddenly echoed. "Everyone, do we need to turn the grand auction of the Ancestral Court into a farce? Please, do me a favor and withdraw now."


    When this voice appeared, the atmosphere within the Great Beast Fighting Arena suddenly changed.


    A strong sense of foreboding instantly arose in Tang San''s heart, as if his entire being had suddenly be transparent and all his secrets wereid bare. An intense sense of crisis filled him. Even when the Crystal Demon Emperor had appeared earlier, he hadn��t felt such a threat.


    But then, the crystal imprint on his seventh imprint within his body trembled slightly. Tang San felt ayer of crystalline light covering his skin, and the earlier sensation of transparency vanished, as if he once more had control over his own body.


    Tang San held his breath, not daring to let his emotions fluctuate even slightly.


    He already knew who had arrived. Only this person could single-handedly suppress the malice of the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    The other emperors all fell silent. The next moment, beams of light shot into the sky, transforming into streams of light that disappeared in different directions.


    And the gentle voice rang out again. "Let the auction continue. Until the final day, no emperors will participate in the bidding. On behalf of the Ancestral Court, I apologize to all the bidders for what has transpired."


    At this moment, all the bidders stood up and bowed deeply toward the sky. They could all guess who had suddenly appeared to resolve the issue.


    The Master of Fate, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor! Only this true ruler of the Ancestral Court could suppress the other emperors.


    Among all the emperors, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor ranked third, but he was the actual manager of the Ancestral Court''s Council. In terms of cultivation, he might be inferior to the higher-ranking Crystal Demon Emperor and Sunborne Nymph Emperor, but those two hardly had a hand in the Ancestral Court��s affairs.


    The Master of Fate had been practically managing the entire world for centuries, leading both the demon and nymph ns to thrive. In terms of power, he was the actual first among the Ancestral Court in the real sense.


    No one would dare offend the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, even if it meant crossing the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    The gentle voice faded away, and everything seemed to return to normal. However, Tang San��s shock hadn��t subsided. With his extensive experience at the god level, he knew that the earlier feeling of transparency was likely due to the powerful divine consciousness of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor scanning him. If the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor��s divine consciousness had sensed his uniqueness, he would probably have been pulled out immediately and would be in serious trouble.


    When he climbed the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain before, he faced another member of the Celestial Fox n; albeit strong, it was not the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor himself. And as it turned out, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was far, <i>far</i> beyond his nsmen. If he discovered Tang San��s secret, Tang San would indeed be doomed.


    Thinking of this made a cold sweat break out on Tang San��s back. But he was equally amazed by the crystal imprint in his body. He hadn��t expected the crystal imprint to autonomously protect him and even block the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor��s divine consciousness. Was this an instinct or a bloodline ability that Crystalline possessed? Was she the legacy of the Crystal Demon Emperor?


    Even with three lifetimes of experience, Tang San still couldn��t understand the purpose behind the Crystal Demon Emperor giving him the crystal egg, nor could heprehend Crystalline''s true nature.


    The arrival of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor helped all the bidders calm down. His word was worth its weight in any currency, and if he said the auction would continue as normal, then so it would.


    The Blue Fox n auctioneer took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing, "The next item��s consignor specifically requested that we announce their name. Ites from the renowned Aetherhorn Merchant Association of the Empyrean Dominion. Naturally, to deserve being presented as the grand finale of this extraordinary auction, this item is naturally exceptional even among extraordinary items. Please bring it up!"


    Another cart was brought in, and just like the previous ones, it held a small item.


    Compared to the Stone of Shelter and the Sunborne Flower, its aura wasckluster. In fact, it could well be an ordinary rock under the cover. Yet, it was today��s true final auction item!


    After the appearances of the Stone of Shelter and the Sunborne Flower, and with emperors now barred from participating, how could thisst item not fill all present bidders with anticipation?

 Chapter 416: The Chrono Array Disc

    <h4>Chapter 416: The Chrono Array Disc</h4>


    The Ancestral Court��s grand auction had always been mysterious; no one knew what the auction items would be until the bidding began.


    But with the Stone of Shelter and the Sunborne Flower appearing among today��s items, there was no doubt that the overall quality of this grand auction was exceptionally high.


    The Blue Fox n auctioneer approached the cart and said, "When we received this item, we were truly astonished. Naturally, we conducted our own assessment, and it was unanimously ssified as a divine artifact. Experts who assessed it praised it as an irreplicable masterpiece, surpassing all creations of this era. What you are about to witness is only here because we felt that this auction deserves something truly special. You might find it unbelievable that an item with ninth-order power is ssified as a divine item, but I assure you... you shall see in a moment that our evaluation is well deserved."


    As she spoke, she lifted the red cloth covering the cart.


    Under the red cloth was a silver-white disc about the size of a palm, emitting a faint halo.


    The disc featured intricate and magnificent patterns and was evidently made of interlocking pieces of metal. The metal was skillfully joined, making it appear even more exquisite.


    What was this? Ninth order? A product beyond its time?


    Everyone''s mind was filled with a big question mark.


    The Blue Fox n auctioneer''s eyes sparkled as she dered, "This is an array disc. I believe everyone is familiar with array discs. Not long ago, a very practical array disc called the Spirit Summoning Array disc often appeared at our regr auctions. But I must tell you,pared to the disc before us, the Spirit Summoning Array disc is worlds apart. Theplexity of this array disc is such that even divine consciousness at the emperor level cannot fullyprehend it, as it appears to have self-destructive capabilities. Excessive probing could cause it to be destroyed.


    "Our appraisal experts have determined from its structure that it should not be a product of this era. The intricate arrays on it are beyond the capabilities of any master alive. However, when it is activated, it is immediately obvious that it is a product of our world. Now, I will demonstrate its function."


    As she spoke, her long tail suddenly rose and blue streaks of light shot into the sky��her innate ability, Blue Fox Tail Needle! It possessed an extreme prative power and remarkable force.


    In the next moment, the small array disc fell into her hand. Silver light shimmered, and an unusual silver-white halo rippled outward.


    The Blue Fox Tail Needles, which had been rapidly rising, suddenly slowed down. Even the air around the Blue Fox auctioneer began to distort silently.


    She raised her hand and caught the Blue Fox Tail Needles in her palm. Opening her hand, she revealed the now-soft dark blue hairs.


    "Yes, you��re not just seeing things. This array disc can control time, simr to the Chrono Croc n��s mastery over time. It can not only slow down time but also speed it up. Its power rivals that of a peak ninth-order Chrono Croc. Undoubtedly, this array disc is rted to the Chrono Croc n. However, we have consulted with the Chrono Croc n, who confirmed that this disc did not originate from them.


    "The value of an array disc that can control time is something I believe all bidders can appreciate. But you might wonder, even though this disc possesses such an incredible ability, it is ultimately below the god level. How can itpare to divine items like the Stone of Shelter and the Sunborne Flower?"


    At this point, the auctioneer paused, and her words undoubtedly piqued the curiosity of all the bidders present.


    Only Tang San, sitting in his cave, muttered to himself, "That��s because you don��t need to be at the ninth order to use it."


    And indeed, after a brief pause, the Blue Fox auctioneer said in a deep voice, "The reason is that to activate it, you don��t need ninth-order cultivation; even first-order bloodline power is enough to trigger its effects. This is not just rare, but simply unprecedented. Even the weakest of the demons and nymphs could possess strength equivalent to a ninth-order powerhouse, with a powerful second-tier bloodline ability to control time within a certain range. This is something no divine artifact canpare to.


    "As everyone knows, the more powerful the divine artifact, the stricter the conditions for its use. Yet this Chrono Array disc can be activated even by the weakest of the weak, so how could it not be considered a divine item? This is even without considering its inherent research value. Any member of any n can use it.


    "Now, let��s begin the auction. Those interested in this item, prepare your naturae coins. The starting bid is three thousand naturae coins!"


    Like the Stone of Shelter, the starting bid was three thousand naturae coins. In terms of intrinsic value, it wasn��t as precious as the Stone of Shelter or the Sunborne Flower. However, as the Blue Fox n auctioneer mentioned, its valuey in its uniqueness and special nature. Its research value clearly far exceeded its function, and its function alone was already quite significant. Someone with lesser strength controlling it could confront much stronger opponents.


    This Chrono Array disc was, of course, crafted by Tang San.


    To develop it, Tang San racked his brains,bining various arrays he had learned in his past life, and finally found the optimal solution.


    Lower-level beings could use it because Tang San had given the Chrono Array disc the ability to store energy. It could store energy by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth or by being infused with bloodline power. Once fully charged, it could use the abilities of the Chrono Croc Transformation three times, either slowing down or speeding up time.


    Its intricacy was beyond doubt, but Tang San hadn��t expected his Chrono Array disc to be the final item in the Spiritual Artifact Auction, even surpassing the Stone of Shelter and the Sunborne Flower. Being auctioned in this slot undoubtedly added significant value, and Tang San was sure this was thanks to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association��s influence.


    When he handed this disc to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, Xu Ziran had immediately left, clearly to carry out some arrangements.


    How much was the ninth-order blood of a Chrono Croc worth? A little more than two thousand naturae coins, ording to Xu Ziran. As the final auction item, starting at three thousand coins meant breaking even immediately, even with the extra materials. Moreover, based on previous bids, it would sell for no less than several times that amount.


    Most importantly, it was making its debut.


    This type of item holds the greatest value when it appears for the first time.


    Tang San suddenly felt rich again. After all, besides the money for the Chrono Croc blood, the additional auction value belonged to the "array master"! This was the merchant association��s promise. They had voluntarily given up profit from this auction, only aiming to build a reputation.


    How much could he earn from this? It couldn��t have been ced in a better slot for auction. This meant he wouldn��t need to be so constrained during tomorrow��s auction of rare items; he could bid on good things without hesitation.


    "The bidding starts now!" At that moment, the Blue Fox n auctioneer announced the official start of the auction.


    The price was raised almost instantly. "Five thousand!"


    The Chrono Croc''s bloodline power was immensely strong, and the mysteries of time could be crucial in many scenarios, not just in battle.


    The value of Chrono Croc blood alone was already high. Moreover, this disc enabled any race, any level, to grasp the mysteries of time through it. For the owner, it was equivalent to having a second bloodline!


    What could it be used for? Could it slow down heavenly tribtion, for instance? Absolutely.

 Chapter 417: Bidding Higher

    <h4>Chapter 417: Bidding Higher</h4>


    When collecting fruits of natural treasures, could you slow down their fall so you could grab them before they hit the ground? No problem.


    In battle, when the opponent already knew your bloodline ability, you suddenly disyed the time control of a second-tier bloodline. How many times would the opponent die before they even realized it?


    With the Bloodline Array Disc��s first appearance, it was destined to make a dazzling debut. The Aetherhorn Merchant Association recognized this and didn''t hesitate to offer the Chrono Croc blood to the Array Master, hoping for the debut of this disc.


    The auctioneer didn��t mention the origin of this array disc but simply said the Aetherhorn Merchant Association provided it. So, through the auction of this disc, how much would the Aetherhorn Merchant Association��s influence in high society increase? Moreover, it had the Stone of Shelter and the Sunborne Flower to increase anticipation before itsunch! This series of maneuvers even made Tang San feel a sense of admiration for the Aetherhorn Merchant Association. He couldn��t imagine how they managed such an impressive arrangement just tounch that array disc. As far as he knew, the Aetherhorn Merchant Association didn��t have the support of any emperors, only the Peacock Demon n.


    "Eight thousand!" As Tang San was thinking to himself that things were going quite well, the bidding price had already risen to eight thousand naturae coins.


    Eight thousand naturae coins��in previous auctions, ordinary divine artifacts had reached this price.


    Rarity is value, especially with an item that grants time control abilities.


    Could it exceed ten thousand?


    The answer was yes!


    In less than five minutes, the price of the Chrono Array Disc had already broken through ten thousand naturae coins.


    Zhang Haoxuan��s voice trembled as it came through.


    ��You��ve struck it rich, Little Tang, you��re rich now!


    "Master, stay calm. This is a one-off," said Tang San. When he created the Chrono Array Disc, he had already decided it would be unique. Only a unique item holds the greatest value. Moreover, he needed the remaining Chrono Croc blood for Gu Li��s purification and cultivation.


    Of course, if the Aetherhorn Merchant Association could provide him with god-level Chrono Croc blood, that would be a different story. But creating a god-level Chrono Croc Array Disc would have to wait until he reaches godhood. Right now, that was still far off.


    For this ninth-order Chrono Croc Array disc, Tang San even used a bit of his divine consciousness. Without it, he couldn��tplete some critical array integrations. Despite its small size, the disc actually contained thirty-six arrays. Only by fully integrating these arrays did it achieve its current effect. Among them, nine arrays were just for preventing the core from being decrypted. Any probing attempt would trigger self-destruction.


    However, the subsequent bidding price far exceeded Tang San��s expectations.


    Bidding Room 116.


    This cave was much more spacious than Tang San��s own bidding room. The interior was in fact a full-on suite. At this moment, two Aetherhorn Deer Demons sat inside the suite; one was Xu Ziran, whom Tang San recognized. The other was an elderly man.


    "Young Master, this is quite a grand move on your part! Hahaha," the elderly man said with a lowugh, addressing Xu Ziran.


    Xu Ziran smiled slightly and said, "If we don''t take this opportunity to rip them off, offering up such a good item would be a waste. This time, we��ll see if it��s the Skyway Merchant Association that gets hurt or the Chrono Croc lineage that bleeds. Keep bidding. Raise it to twenty."


    "Alright." The elderly man operated the crystal ball before him, raising the bid again.


    Xu Ziran said calmly, "ording to our evaluation, the array disc is worth ten thousand naturae coins. I never imagined the master could achieve this, controlling even the elusive mysteries of time within an array disc. Its intricacy far exceeded our expectations. But for many, this disc is a must-have. When the Skyway Merchant Association learned that we put this item up for auction, I could already picture Fatball��s face when he grits his teeth, determined to get it and uncover its secrets. The Chrono Croc lineage is probably also extremely interested in it. Through this auction, I aim to boost our association''s overall sales by thirty percent."


    The elderly man chuckled. "Young Master, you are wise. But what if they don��t follow?"


    Xu Ziran replied, "If we must take it back ourselves, it��s still fine. Quality speaks for itself. The next time we put it up for auction, the starting bid will be what we paid today. Didn��t the master say this piece was created through painstaking effort and couldn��t be reproduced? He needs a rest period. There''s room to maneuver as long as it��s a unique item. Raise the bid to twenty-five."


    At this point, the bidding had be increasingly fierce.


    At that point, the true strength of the bidders participating became increasingly apparent. Only those with truly deep pockets had the right to keep participating in the auction.


    Twenty-five thousand naturae coins. Tang San felt his heart race when he saw this price. Even after deducting the Ancestral Court��s fees and the cost of the blood, the money they would receive was still immense.


    ording to the rules, the Ancestral Court would take ten percent as a handling fee. In addition, two thousand coins were to be paid to the Aetherhorn Merhant Association for the blood. With that, they would still be left with over twenty thousand naturae coins! Twenty thousand naturae coins was nearly enough to build a small city!


    Zhang Haoxuan hadn��t transmitted any further messages, perhaps because he was too stunned to speak.


    Even more terrifying was that the bidding price continued to climb.


    "Twenty-six thousand naturae coins, going once, can I have twenty-seven? Thank you, twenty-seven thousand naturae coins going once!"


    The price kept rising, reaching a point that could only be described as stupefying.


    <i>Could such an array disc be worth this much? </i>Thinking back to fighting life-and-death battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena in Kali City, each match only earned them a few dozen naturae coins! It seemed money was easier to make in the Ancestral Court.


    But then again, the fees for climbing the Sacred Mountains of the emperors were collected daily, and they were flush with cash. For the truly great aristocrats, tens of thousands of naturae coins were nothing.


    When the value reached thirty thousand naturae coins, it finally paused.


    "Thirty-one thousand naturae coins!" When this bid appeared, the entire hall fell silent.


    The bidder was Xu Ziran from Room 116.


    "The price is too high, Young Master. No one��s responding," the elderly man said, with sweat faintly appearing on his forehead.


    Xu Ziran, however, remained calm, smiling as if he wasn��t in any rush.


    "Thirty-one thousand naturae coins once, thirty-one thousand naturae coins twice, is there any higher bid? Remember, this is an absolutely unique item! Alright, thirty-one thousand naturae coins three ti��" Just as the Blue Fox n auctioneer reached this point, suddenly, another light shed.


    "Thirty-two thousand naturae coins! Alright, Room 119 offers thirty-two thousand naturae coins!"


    Xu Ziran grinned, and the elderly man beside him looked relieved. Finally, someone else had bid.


    "Thirty-three thousand naturae coins." Immediately, someone else bid again, this time from Room 221.


    Xu Ziran��s smile deepened, "Let them fight for it. We��ll just watch. This price is good enough. It��ll hurt them for a while."


    The elderly man whispered, "If it falls into the hands of the Skyway Merchant Association, will there be any trouble?"


    Xu Ziran replied, "They��ll specte for sure, but only we and my father know the true origin of the disc. As long as we offer the array master enough benefits and bind him firmly to our cause, we don��t need to worry about anything else. With such significant earnings from this, don��t you think he��ll appreciate our sincerity? When we return, prepare ten types of blood, at least third-tier or higher. Send them to the master. This is our research funding for him. For future bloodline array discs, we��ll split the profits seventy-thirty. We only need thirty percent."

 Chapter 418: Thirty-Six Thousand

    <h4>Chapter 418: Thirty-Six Thousand</h4>


    The elderly man frowned and said, "If we only take thirty percent, we��ll barely break even. After all, we spent too much on distribution channels."


    Xu Ziran nced at him and snorted. "We��re the exclusive sellers of this disc. Is the profit only about the money? What we want is status, a level above other merchant associations. Are you seriously worried about not making money? You''ve been with my father for so many years. How can you not understand this basic business logic?"


    "Thirty-six thousand naturae coins, for the third time, sold!"


    With these words, the gavel finally fell.


    The Chrono Array Disc was auctioned off at a staggering thirty-six thousand naturae coins. This was an incredibly high price. Its primary cost was just a single drop of Chrono Croc blood; that��s right, it was only one drop. The other materials were not particrly rare. As for the rest, that was all considered Tang San��sbor cost.


    Tang San exhaled deeply. After deducting fees and the naturae coins he had borrowed from the merchant association earlier, it was still a massive fortune. In tomorrow��s auction, this money would undoubtedly allow him to get what he wanted.


    ��Th-Thirty thousand! Tang San, that��s thirty thousand naturae coins! Our organization has never seen so much money!


    Zhang Haoxuan audibly gulped.


    "Master, calm down. We should spend as much of this money as possible tomorrow. Money is just an external thing; converting it into strength is what matters most."


    ��Alright, I��ll follow your lead.


    Zhang Haoxuan no longer regretted therge sum Tang San had spent on the Golden Roc blood. They were genuinely wealthy now.


    In the end, the Chrono Array Disc was secured by Room 119, and seated there was none other than Fatball, the manager of the Skyway Merchant Association��s Ancestral Court shop.


    Fatball��s expression was gloomy as he constantlymunicated through amunicator, "What? No information at all? Don��t tell me the Aetherhorn Merchant Association just conjured the damn Chrono Array disc out of thin air? Use any means necessary; keep investigating and find out the origin of the disc. If you can''t, don��t bothering back."


    <i>Thirty-six thousand naturae coins!</i> His heart bled at the cost, but he had no choice but to bid. The Chrono Array disc was simply too astonishing. In his view, its true significancey in its research value. Its mechanism could revolutionize the cultivation system.


    Whether demon or nymph, those who could simultaneously wield two bloodline powers were rare, and those who were at least somewhat strong were rarer still. Most cases urred with weaker races, as stronger races faced more significant issues with bloodline ipatibility and conflict. The Lion-Tiger lineage was a prime example.


    But a bloodline array disc changed everything. Carrying one could allow the wielder to mobilize another bloodline''s abilities using their own bloodline power. Furthermore, the disc could be imbued with power higher in order than the wielder��s own. This allowed them to activate high-level abilities without needing advanced cultivation themselves. It was practically defying nature!


    He still didn��t know where hispetitors had sourced this Chrono Array disc, but he realized that if it could be mass produced, its value would surpass that of any product on the market; practically every race would need it.


    If this bloodline array disc��s capabilities could be expanded and if it could integrate first-tier bloodlines, wouldn��t anyone have the potential to be as omnipotent as the Crystal Demon Emperor? Although this was only theoretically possible, as the manager of the Skyway Merchant Association''s Ancestral Court shop, he couldn��t afford to miss such an opportunity!


    Just because the Aetherhorn Merchant Association couldn��t figure it out didn��t mean the Skyway Merchant Association couldn��t; after all, they had a Demon Emperor backing them.


    Thus, when he contacted the higher-ups, the directive he received was to secure the item at any cost and send it back to headquarters for detailed research. This could very well be a groundbreaking product!


    The first day of the auction thus officially concluded. All items were sold at high prices, and it was reported that today��s Spiritual Items Auction Day had set a new historical high for spiritual artifact auctions.


    Although the Chrono Array disc hadn��t achieved the highest auction price, its appearance was by far the most significant to the bidders. Moreover, its origin was still a mystery. ording to information from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, the item had been found in an excavation of ruins; there was no further exnation.


    Although this item wouldn��t reach the level of the Ancestral Court emperors for now, all research reports regarding it had already been submitted to the Ancestral Court Council before the auction. It was universally acknowledged that the arrays it contained were beyond the capabilities of current research.


    Since they couldn��t leave the auction venue, Tang San and Zhang Haoxuan had to rest in their bidding rooms.


    Sitting cross-legged in meditation and focusing inward, Tang San immediately directed his attention to the crystal imprint.


    The crystal imprint protected him when the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor appeared today. Although the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was targeting everyone at that time, if his divine consciousness had been detected, it would have been an enormous problem. Tang San did not doubt that the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor possessed such capabilities. The Hell Garden might very well be a ne created by this emperor!


    The crystal imprint remained silent, with Crystalline showing no signs of awakening and appearing unchanged.


    At least so far, she had brought Tang San nothing but benefits. The Pr Domain significantly improved his control over fortune, for instance. Even at the same seventh order, his Discerning Eye of Heaven was far more powerful than Du Bai��s Celestial Fox Vision.


    Unable to grasp her mysteries, he could only let her continue to develop. He didn��t want to visit the Crystal Demon Emperor proactively. Until he became a god, he had no confidence in facing these emperors.


    After briefly reflecting, he didn��t continue cultivating. The Great Beast Fighting Arena was not a suitable environment for cultivating. His thoughts drifted back to Kali City. Was she still waiting for him there? She was probably disappointed that he didn��t show up right away... He wanted to go back to her!


    It had been over a year since theyst saw each other. He wondered how she had changed. She must have be even more beautiful.


    She had always been under immense pressure, and thest battle between the Peacock Great Demon King and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had left the former severely injured, likely irreversibly. If the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor caused trouble again, the Peacock Great Demon King could face severe problems. Could Kali City be defended? What would she, as the sessor, do then?

 Chapter 419: The Crystal Phoenix Reappears

    <h4>Chapter 419: The Crystal Phoenix Reappears</h4>


    Tang San knew very well that reaching the tenth order would take a long time, but now he felt somewhat impatient. That one time he had managed to intimidate the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was mainly because the Peacock Great Demon King had already put up a good fight against him. Moreover, Tang San��s own cultivation level would have been impossible without the Peacock Great Demon King.


    Every day now felt like a race against time.


    If worse came to worst, he could just take her away. If he was willing to do whatever it took, he should be able to manage taking her with him.


    He could bring her back when his strength was sufficient in the future.


    <i>Kali City.</i>


    Not until sunset did Mei Gongzi quietly leave Kali Academy.


    Her eyes couldn��t hide her disappointment. She hadn��t found either of the two people she was looking for.


    When she returned home, the shop was still open, and Su Qin was busy working.


    Mei Gongzi had returned the previous night, and Su Qin was naturally overjoyed to see her. Seeing her now, she couldn��t help but say, "Why were you out for an entire day?"


    Mei Gongzi frowned slightly and said, "Mom, I didn��t find him."


    "You mean that Asura?" Su Qin asked while tidying up. There were no more customers, and it was time to close.


    Mei Gongzi nodded, then shook her head, "Not just him, Tang San wasn��t there either. Tang San is from Redemption Academy. Could you ask Mayor Zhang where he is? I hope nothing has happened to him."


    Su Qin said with curiosity, "You seem quite interested in this Tang San. Mayor Zhang mentioned he��s very talented. I��ve seen him a few times myself. For some reason, whenever I see his eyes, it always feels like he has something on his mind. Didn��t you say he was sweeping at Kali Academy? He��s not there anymore?"


    Mei Gongzi said, "I asked around. He��s been gone for a while and hasn��t been working anymore. Can you help me ask about him?"


    "Alright, but Mayor Zhang isn��t in Kali City either. He��s gone to report to headquarters. I don��t know when he��ll be back. Last I heard, headquarters might want to transfer him there. Mayor Zhang learned array disc crafting from somewhere, and the Spirit Summoning Array disc has greatly benefited the organization. He��s been promoted to Blue ss now. Of course, I hope he stays since we��ve worked together for so long."


    After closing the tea house, the mother and daughter went to their home behind it. The small house had a cozy atmosphere.


    Mei Gongzi looked at the room where she had grown up, and her eyes softened.


    Su Qin brought a basin of water, dipped a clean towel in it, and wiped her body. Returning to Mei Gongzi, she casually asked, "How is he?"


    Mei Gongzi understood what she meant and replied softly, "Not well. I can sense that his injuries are severe and hard to heal."


    Su Qin sighed and said no more.


    Mei Gongzi couldn��t help but say, "Mom, although he isn��t human, he has been very good to me all my life. Even his other children haven��t learned as much as I have. He has taught me everything, including ancestral secrets. He knows all about our intentions but he still supports me in inheriting his throne. He must really love you."


    Su Qin��s back stiffened slightly. "Perhaps..."


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath, as if summoning her courage, and said, "Mom, he told me he might not live for many more years. Would you like to go see him?"


    Su Qin suddenly turned away, her eyes filled withplex emotions. "Little Mei, you��re still too young. He is not a good person. Don��t listen too much to what he says. Just learn what he teaches you."


    "Huh?" Mei Gongzi was surprised by her mother��s words and harsh judgment of the Peacock Great Demon King.


    Su Qin sighed, her eyes softening, "I don��t want you tainted by some dirty things. You just need to know that we��re human. His intentions may not be pure, but his goals don��t affect ours. It��s just mutual exploitation. As for love, perhaps he did love me once. But... No, let��s not talk about this. Get some rest. Tomorrow morning, I��ll ask about Tang San for you."


    As she turned to continue washing up, Mei Gongzi took two steps forward and hugged her mother from behind. "Mom, whether he truly loves you or not, I do. I will always, always love you."


    Su Qin��s expression grew even moreplex. She turned and embraced Mei Gongzi. "Mom loves you too. I just hope you��ll never be hurt."


    Mei Gongzi nodded gently. "Mom, I��ll try my best. I��ll work hard. For you and for Redemption. We humans will create a home of our own."


    At that moment, Su Qin��s eyes suddenly grew sharp, her gaze fixed on the direction of the window, and a fierce killing intent erupted from her eyes.


    "Who��s there?"


    Mei Gongzi also snapped awake, quickly leaving her mother��s embrace and looking at the window.


    A somewhat troubled voice sounded outside the window, "It��s me."


    Hearing this voice, Su Qin��s expression changed dramatically. She lightly pressed her right hand on Mei Gongzi��s shoulder. "Stay home and wait for me. Don��t go out. Be good."


    With that, a sh of white light enveloped her, and in the next moment, she was out the window.


    Mei Gongzi stood up, wanting to leave, but restrained herself.


    Outside the Mei Gongzi Tea House, a tall figure stood, looking at Su Qin. His eyes held a hint of obsession.


    "What are you doing here?" Su Qin said coldly.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor looked at her with aplex gaze and responded off-topic, "Is that your daughter with him?"


    Su Qin replied icily, "So what if she is? Are you going to harm us, a helpless mother and daughter?"


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor shook his head repeatedly, "N-No, that��s not it. I just came to check on you. I have some important matters to handle in the Ancestral Court. Once they��re settled, I��ll take you with me."


    Su Qin��s eyes shed with cold light, "If you want to take away a corpse, then go ahead."


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor clenched his fists suddenly, "Do you love him that much? Can��t let go of him? I��m telling you, after I severely injured himst time, he definitely won��t live more than three years. It��s already been over a year. Even if I don��te back to fight him, he won��t live much longer."


    Su Qin remained silent, just coldly staring at him.


    This newly ascended Demon Emperor began to feel somewhat uneasy under her gaze, and after a long moment, he slowly said, "No matter what, I will protect you."


    "I don��t need it," Su Qin said calmly.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor suddenly looked toward the tea house, "You don��t need it, but what about her? She��s his daughter. When I return, the Peacock n will no longer exist."


    Su Qin suddenlyughed. Her smile was so enchanting, yet at this moment, it had a hint of something eerie. "Fine! Come on, then! If you��ve got the guts, kill them all. If everyone dies, it��ll all be over."


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor��s eyes widened in astonishment. He had never seen this side of Su Qin before.

 Chapter 420: Spirit Essence

    <h4>Chapter 420: Spirit Essence</h4>


    On the first day of the Ancestral Court��s grand auction, a series of climaxes erupted, not only setting records for the auction of spiritual items with numerous precious items but also featuring the appearance of several emperors, including the top-ranked Crystal Demon Emperor and the third-ranked yet true ruler of the Ancestral Court, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    The first day''s auction items were already so extraordinary, so what kind of marvelous treasures could be expected on the Rare Items Auction Day?


    As dawn broke on the second day, all the bidders were already excited, hoping that even better treasures would appear today.


    Tang San was probably the only exception; his thoughts had long since flown to Kali City. If not for the rational part of him insisting that he had to stay for the Rare Items Auction Day, he would have likely rushed off to Kali City already.


    Naturally, he couldn''t leave the auction entirely in his master��s hands. Tang San knew best when it came to identifying truly precious items and spending money wisely.


    Among all the items from yesterday, the two Tang San liked most slipped through his fingers. One was the Stone of Shelter, made from what appeared to be the Heavenly Bloom''s lotus seed��not only for its protective function itself but also because researching it would allow Tang San to understand quite a few things about this world.


    Then, there was the Sunborne Flower. If he could obtain that, he was fairly sure he could gain the bloodline power of the Sunborne Nymph Emperor, one of the top four powerhouses.


    Moreover, its energy could aid his cultivation. Although it was unlikely to allow him to grow to the twelfth order, reaching the peak of the ninth order was assured, making it a genuinely divine item for Tang San.


    As the bloodline of a top Nymph Emperor, there was nothing to criticize about it. Unfortunately, the Earthshade Nymph Emperor had taken it away without even participating in the auction.


    Therefore, it was easy to imagine that obtaining these valuable rare treasures through bidding would be exceedingly tricky. Today''s auction offered the best chance to find a bargain.


    Moreover, because the array disc had sold for a price even Tang San found astonishing, he now had considerable confidence to purchase items directly. Among the bidders present, those who could bring out thirty thousand naturae coins were rare indeed, definitely among the wealthiest.


    Unfortunately, rare items derive their value precisely from scarcity. They lose their worth if they appear inrge quantities. Thus, making this kind of money from bloodline array disks was out of the question. Additionally, the manufacturing process was genuinely tricky; otherwise, Tang San would be willing to put more effort into this. The money earned from these could be used to support the rise of humanity.


    The sun gradually rose on the distant horizon, but the atmosphere over the grand auction remained gloomy. The aura of ughter and bloodshed lingered, bringing a sense of doom that would not dissipate.


    <i>Dong!</i>


    The bell rang for the third time, signaling that today''s auction was about to begin.


    Tang San quickly washed up, ate a little, and prepared himself for the auction.


    Half an hourter, the bell rang again. Ten minutester, when the bell rang for the third time, an auctioneer from the Blue Fox n stepped into the center of the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    "The Rare Items Auction Day is about to begin. Esteemed guests, please be prepared. We will now present the first item to save everyone''s time and conclude the auction sooner."


    A cart was pushed into the arena. The red cloth covering it was raised high, revealing that the item underneath had a tall, upright shape, somewhat resembling a bottle.


    The Blue Fox n auctioneer smiled and said, "Today''s first auction item is quite peculiar and extremely rare. Please take a look." As she spoke, she lifted the red cloth, revealing the item beneath.


    Indeed, it was a bottle��an utterly transparent crystal bottle, seemingly crafted from top-quality white crystal.


    However, at this moment, everyone��s attention was not on the bottle itself but on the light emanating from within. It was a mass of orange light; inside the crystal bottle, there appeared to be an orange orb. Moreover, this orb was not calm��it was darting back and forth within the crystal bottle, seemingly trying to break free yet trapped inside, making it very peculiar.


    "I imagine many esteemed guests do not recognize this item. To be precise, it is a spirit essence. So, what is a spirit essence? It is an exceedingly rare item, originating from treasure nts that, over countless years, cultivated to the god level. At this stage, such nts undergo the baptism of celestial tribtion. If they survive this ordeal, they can transform and be god-level Spirit Kings. The Spirit Kings are powerful, but these nts�� chances of surviving the tribtion are slim. Most are directly destroyed by it, so there are very few Spirit Kings.


    "In even rarer cases, while the tribtion destroys the nt''s physical form, the intelligence born under the celestial power of the tribtion survives and sessfully generates divine consciousness. Such an existence is called a spirit essence.


    "What is the use of a spirit essence? Its function is straightforward��consuming a spirit essence can directly enhance divine consciousness. The stronger the essence, the greater the effect of enhancing divine consciousness when consumed. Of course, the prerequisite is that the consumer��s divine consciousness must be strong enough not to be overwhelmed by the essence. nts that generate essences generally have considerable inherent power and fall just short of bing Spirit Kings. The Ancestral Court collected the essence that we are auctioning today. All esteemed Demon and Nymph Kings need to enhance their divine consciousness, so we are waiting for you to ce your bids. And with that, our bidding now begins. The starting price is five hundred naturae coins."


    The number of demons or nymphs familiar with spirit essences was not very high, as the birth of a spirit essence was extremely rare. Moreover, due to its ability to enhance divine consciousness, those who obtained a spirit essence would almost always consume it immediately. If not stored correctly, a spirit essence would gradually dissipate without a physical body as support.


    The essence before them appeared very robust, and it was in fact very fresh.


    Because of this unfamiliarity, few strong individuals among the two major ns knew how much a spirit essence could enhance divine consciousness. Certain limitations to its enhancement existed; otherwise, it would not appear in an auction.


    Those who truly understood the essence��s function knew there was a risk in consuming it. The essence''s original intelligence could impact the consumer, and if mishandled, it could backfire. Thus, while it could enhance divine consciousness, it was a double-edged sword that could harm the user if not handled properly.


    "Six hundred, bid from guest number 239."


    "Seven hundred..."


    The auction price for the essence began to rise. However, the increase was not very rapid. After all, this rare item started at five hundred naturae coins, and only bidders who truly understood its value bid with caution.


    "One thousand two hundred, bid from number 336," the Blue Fox n auctioneer announced energetically.


    Indeed, the bidder of 1200 naturae coins was none other than Tang San.


    If someone could see him now, they would undoubtedly notice that Tang San''s expression revealed an uncontroble hint of delight. What was a spirit essence? It was the divine consciousness of a nt. Though its physical form was gone and weakened, it was still genuine divine consciousness. More importantly, the proper way to use a spirit essence was definitely not just in old consumption.


    One thousand two hundred naturae coins was certainly not a low price; it nearly matched the cost of the Golden Roc essence blood he had previously acquired. Yet, Tang San believed it was worth it.


    "One thousand three hundred, bid from guest number 239."


    "One thousand five hundred, bid from guest number 336."


    Tang San''s bids were as aggressive as ever. This was to demonstrate his determination and discourage his opponents.


    Indeed, after the treasure reached the price of 1500 naturae coins, the entire auction arena fell silent.

 Chapter 421: Gigantic Black Crow Stone

    <h4>Chapter 421: Gigantic ck Crow Stone</h4>


    Improving divine consciousness was beneficial, but it was a bit debatable when it wasn''t entirely free of side effects.


    This price had already exceeded the value of an ordinary spirit essence.


    Moreover, the Blue Fox auctioneer had not mentioned what kind of nt this spirit essence evolved from. This suggested two possibilities: either the Ancestral Court didn''t know what it was, or the nt that produced this spirit essence wasn''t very powerful.


    Either way, it would lower its value.


    For example, if the Blue Fox auctioneer had clearly stated that it evolved from a well-known and valued treasure nt, its value would be entirely different.


    "One thousand five hundred naturae coins three times, congrattions to number 336!"


    As he sessfully secured it, Tang San immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a look of joy spreading across his face.


    It seemed that his luck was indeed as incredible as he��d thought. The first auction item was already very useful to him. This was genuinely excellent news.


    At this moment, Zhang Haoxuan''s voice came over.


    ��Tang San, you don''t have to do this. I know my own talent. Although we made a lot of money this time, it must be spent wisely!


    Tang San immediately understood that his master had misunderstood. But at this moment, he couldn''t just tell his master "you''re overthinking this."


    "Master, the spirit essence has other uses; it''s not just for absorption. I''ll exin it to you when we get back," he said.


    On the other side, number 338, Zhang Haoxuan, was taken aback and replied somewhat awkwardly.


    ��Oh, then... we''ll talk about itter.


    Tang San didn''t want to discourage his master, but he was worried that if he didn''t say anything, his master might take the item, settle the bill, and consume it directly after they returned, which would be problematic.


    "Next, let''s present the second auction item."


    When the second auction item was brought out, its size was much more prominent. Judging by the red cloth covering it, it was over a cubic meter in size.


    "Today''s second auction item is a piece of ore. This ore is likely familiar to many of our distinguished guests; it''s ck crow stone. ck crow stone itself isn''t of particrly high value. Still, a piece ck crow stone this gigantic and of such superb quality is probably something none of you have seen before," said the Blue Fox auctioneer as she uncovered the red cloth on the second auction item.


    When Tang San heard the words "ck crow stone," a hint of surprise crossed his face.


    Back at Redemption Academy��s shop, the first lucky find he bought was some ck crow stone!


    More precisely, it was ck gold, which this world''s demons and nymphs didn''t recognize.


    Through high-temperature forging, ck crow stone could be refined into ck gold, which had incredible toughness.


    Tang San used the ck crow stone he had initially auctioned off and additional ck crow stone acquired from the market to forge various hidden weapons for hispanions.


    He didn''t expect to see this metal again at today��s rare items auction.


    The red cloth was lifted, revealing a gigantic block of ck crow stone to all the bidders.


    The block nearly two cubic meters in size, irregr in shape and jet-ck. It gave off a strange sense of depth, as if it was actually a hole in space rather than solid material.


    The ck crow stone he bought before weighed several dozen kilograms, and that was already a lot, but based on his knowledge of ck crow stone��s density, this piece in front of him weighed at least several tons!


    No wonder it took several bear demons together to bring it to the center of the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    "ck crow stone is known for its hardness, and such a massive piece is appearing for the first time in recorded history. It has been personally inspected by a Demon King who stated that he sensed some special energy within it. Additionally, given its enormous size, it is suspected that this ck crow stone has the potential to develop spiritual intelligence. If it does develop spiritual intelligence, it will likely face a tribtion to transform into a nymph, and it could potentially be a Nymph King. Therefore, it was sent here as an rare item. The Ancestral Court guarantees that there is indeed an energy fluctuation present. But it will be up to our esteemed guests to decide if it can be raised to be a nymph and what kind of life it might lead if it does. The starting bid is three hundred naturae coins."


    There was no doubt that this item''s uncertainty was greater than that of the previous spirit essence, so the starting bid was considerably lower.


    ck crow stone wasn''t rare on the Daemon Continent and it wasn''t expensive either. So how valuable would it be even if it could genuinely cultivate into a nymph?


    Subduing a nymph like this to be a vassal?


    If it could indeed be reborn, three hundred naturae coins would still be worth it, since it would be a god-level being. However, the likelihood of it bing a god was small��it would have to survive a tribtion, after all, and that was no easy feat.


    ck crow stone wasn''t considered a powerful material to the demon and nymph ns.


    Therefore, an unusual silence ensued when the Blue Fox auctioneer announced the starting bid.


    None of the bidders made an offer for this ck crow stone.


    Seeing this, the Blue Fox auctioneer couldn��t help but frown slightly. She also didn''t feel that this ck crow stone was particrly auction-worthy, and the three hundred naturae coins price wasn��t low.


    Who would be foolish enough to spend so much money on something like this?


    But this was indeed thergest ck crow stone ever recorded in mining history.


    "This ck crow stone, after hardness testing, is harder than any previously known ck crow stone, indicating its superior quality. If it bes a nymph, its defensive capabilities will likely be outstanding, giving it a good chance of surviving a tribtion."


    Silence, still silence!


    All those who came to participate in the auction were individuals with excellent judgment.


    Moreover, the rare items auction was different from yesterday''s spiritual items auction.


    On the Rare Items Auction Day, high prices for junk weremon.


    Of course, there were also lucky finds. But the Rare Items Auction Day often wasn''t as good as the first day��s spiritual items auction and never as good as the final day��s divine items auction.


    Thus, the second day of the auction had always been the day with rtively poor sales at the Ancestral Court''s grand auction.


    Encountering such items, whose value was difficult to determine, unsold lots were not unheard of.


    "Three hundred naturae coins, guest number 336 has ced a bid. Thank you, number 336!"


    The Blue Fox auctioneer had been ready to start the countdown for this item to go unsold. But suddenly, a bid appeared on the crystal screen before it. It was from number 336, the same one who had just won the spirit essence.


    <i>Someone actually bid on this?</i> That was the thought on many bidders'' minds at that moment.


    Yes, Tang San had ced a bid.


    Based on the total volume, even five times the amount of ordinary ck crow stone wouldn''t be worth as much as three hundred naturae coins.


    But even before hearing the auctioneer��s introduction, Tang San had already been prepared to bid.


    If he hadn''t been worried about other bidders noticing andpeting with him, he would have bid immediately.


    Only those who understood a true treasure knew its value.


    "Three hundred naturae coins going once, going twice, three times... sold!"


    The Blue Fox auctioneer didn''t dy further, knowing it was fortunate that the item didn''t go unsold. She quickly concluded the auction, allowing Tang San to win yet another item he desired.


    Two sessful bids in a row, even though they weren''t particrly high-value items, had still attracted the attention of many bidders to VIP 336.


    The auction continued, with the next few items fully disying what it meant to be "rare."


    They were truly bizarre. There was an unknown meteorite that had fallen from the sky, a peculiar giant egg containing a life aura, and a gigantic pearl from the Endless Blue Sea, among others.


    However, to Tang San, these items held little value.


    The giant egg, for instance, fetched a considerable price, but Tang San didn''t bid.


    The egg indeed contained a very strong life aura, and with his senses, Tang San could determine that it was likely a hybrid creature.


    However, at the same time, Tang San could sense that the egg''s spiritual fluctuations didn''t match its life aura. The life aura was indeed very strong, but the spiritual fluctuations were weak.


    Because of this, it was doubtful that the creature within could ever be intelligent, regardless of how powerful it was. A demonic beast, not a demon, was the most it could be.

 Chapter 422: Fox Tail Relic

    <h4>Chapter 422: Fox Tail Relic</h4>


    The giant egg was eventually auctioned off for a high price of two thousand naturae coins.


    The rare items that made it to the Ancestral Court''s grand auction were carefully selected; indeed, many were of high quality.


    Among them, what interested Tang San most were some rare ores. After all, he had long since noticed that many of the minerals on Fn were unfamiliar even to the demon and nymph ns who sent them for auction.


    On the other hand, even if the minerals slightly differed from what he knew, he could generally tell when he saw something good and what he could do with it.


    He thus ced bids himself and also had Zhang Haoxuan bid for him, securing several types of ore for low prices.


    These items were in fact his main targets for attending the auction.


    "Next, our auction item is likely the smallest in size at this auction, but its value is quite significant. Frankly, I would like to acquire it myself if possible, as it holds extraordinary meaning for us demons of the fox race."


    Judging from the contour of the bulge under the red fabric on the cart, it appeared as though there was nothing but an ordinary tray. The item on the tray seemed to be quite tiny, and it didn''t stick out in any way.


    The expression of the Blue Fox auctioneer was somewhatplex, and from her eyes, one could see that what she had just said was indeed from the heart.


    What could this extraordinary item rted to the fox race be?


    This time, the Blue Fox auctioneer did not remove the red cloth directly from the auction cart. Instead, she bowed deeply to the cart, showing respectful homage, before carefully lifting the red cloth with both hands to reveal the item inside.


    A faint seven-colored glow radiated from the tray, a halo that gave those who could see it an extraordinary sensation.


    That was, of course, to those who could see it. Without visual abilities like Tang San��s, it would be nearly impossible to discern what the auction item on the cart was from a distance. As expected, it was indeed very small.


    Tang San had to activate his Purple Demon Eyes and augment his vision with the Discerning Eye of Heaven to make it out.


    Three transparent needle-like objects were, were disyed on the auction cart. They emitted a faint, seven-colored sheen, giving off a very peculiar feeling.


    Even with Tang San''s knowledge, he couldn''t immediately identify what this was.


    With a somewhatplex expression, the Blue Fox auctioneer said, "These three are the treasures of our entire fox race. They have been put up for auction by the Crimson Fox n. If there are any of our fox race guests bidding, please strive to bring them back to the fox race."


    Right after saying this, she seemed to sense something, and her expression changed slightly, with a sh of helplessness and wistfulness appearing in her eyes. She continued, "This auction item is called the Fox Tail Relic. In our fox race, it only appears after the remains of a powerful and virtuous individual are cremated. The Fox Tail Relic has great symbolic significance for our n. The ancestors who could produce a Fox Tail Relic were all people who made significant contributions to our race.


    "Due to the Crimson Fox n''s extreme financial difficulties in recent years, to prevent more of their members from bing ythings, they have put these three Fox Tail Relics up for auction to improve their n''s livelihood. The Fox Tail Relic has the effect of calming the mind and soothing the spirit, allowing the holder to cultivate without ever suffering from inner demons or experiencing bloodline bacsh. It is especially beneficial when absorbing essence blood, making it a rare and precious item. The starting bid is one thousand naturae coins."


    Inside the VIP room of number 336, Tang San��s gaze remained fixed on the three Fox Tail Relics. They gave him a very peculiar feeling.


    As he examined their fortune, in his vision, they actually manifested as a faint golden color. Tang San had only seen such a phenomenon on himself, though his tinum pir of light reached the sky, whereas the Fox Tail Relics themselves were pale gold, with their brilliance restrained.


    Tang San could also faintly see a hint of red within this pale gold. Although he didn��t dare to probe with his divine consciousness, he could clearly sense that these three Fox Tail Relics were truly, truly extraordinary.


    Of course, the price of good items was certainly not low. These three Fox Tail Relics were, up to this point, the most expensive items.


    The starting bid was one thousand naturae coins, which was quite steep.


    No bloodline bacsh, no inner demon influence.


    This was a useful quality for those who needed it, but it definitely wasn��t for everybody.


    Tang San first thought that if the Lion-Tiger Beast line had gotten it before meeting him, it would have been quite helpful, at least in controlling their bloodline conflict.


    "One thousand one hundred naturae coins!"


    The first bid came quickly. Clearly, the value of the Fox Tail Relics,bined with the Blue Fox auctioneer''s appeal to the fox race, had an effect.


    "One thousand two hundred naturae coins."


    The price began to climb.


    Fox Tail Relics were probably very rare, perhaps never seen before by those not belonging to the fox race. Although the price was rising, it wasn''t particrly fast. The bidders were clearly hesitant.


    "Teacher, do you know about Fox Tail Relics?" Tang San asked Zhang Haoxuan through voice transmission.


    "Never heard of them," Zhang Haoxuan replied without hesitation. "There��s some doubt about this item��s usefulness. Inner demons might ur in the case of nymph cultivation, but not much in demon ns since their cultivation is nothing more than direct bloodline evolution. As for bloodline bacsh, if a bloodline is strong enough and doesn��t randomly devour other types of essence blood, it��s not really an issue. This item feels somewhat superfluous."


    Tang San narrowed his eyes; his opinion of the three Fox Tail Relics vastly differed from Zhang Haoxuan��s.


    The true effect of these items was likely far greater than what the Blue Fox auctioneer described. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have such a starting bid.


    "One thousand eight hundred naturae coins." The price was nearly doubling.


    "Two thousand naturae coins... thank you, number 336."


    Yes, Tang San had just bid again. And at this moment, his eyes were filled with determination. These three Fox Tail Relics were items he was resolved to acquire.


    "Two thousand one hundred naturae coins."


    The Blue Fox auctioneer became visibly tense after Tang San''s bid. Because VIP 336 had won the God-ying Sword yesterday, implying they were likely from the lion or tiger races, not the fox race! Naturally, she sincerely hoped these three Fox Tail Relics wouldn��t fall into the hands of an outsider.


    "Two thousand three hundred naturae coins." Tang San bid again.


    "Two thousand four hundred naturae coins."


    There was still apetitor. At this price, only one voice was left bidding against Tang San.


    He directly upped the bid by two hundred. "Two thousand six hundred naturae coins."


    The opponent followed up again. "Two thousand seven hundred."


    Tang San calmly countered. "Three thousand."


    When the three thousand naturae coins bid appeared, the entire hall fell silent. This had already set the record for today��s auction prices.


    Were the three artifacts from the Fox Tail genuinely worth that much? A thousand naturae coins for each of these needle-like relics! It was mind-blowing.


    The entitypeting with Tang San finally gave up and didn''t bid further. Clearly, three thousand was beyond their limit.


    "Three thousand naturae coins, any other bids?" The Blue Fox auctioneer diligently searched for other bidders. Unfortunately, she was destined to be disappointed.


    "Three thousand naturae coins three times... Sold to number 336."


    At the moment the gavel fell, the Blue Fox auctioneer seemed drained of strength, appearing somewhat disheartened.


    The three Fox Tail Relics were taken away, and another auctioneer who looked visibly more energetic reced the one on stage.


    Meanwhile, in room 336, Tang San could feel a weight lifted off his shoulders. Even if they weren��t useful to most people, these objects were priceless to him.

 Chapter 423: Stone of Slowness

    <h4>Chapter 423: Stone of Slowness</h4>


    Zhang Haoxuan refrained from interrogating Tang San about the reason behind hisvish spending on this item. As he often didtely, he opted to just have faith in his disciple. The thirty thousand naturae coins that constituted their funds had been earned by Tang San himself, after all.


    As the auction progressed, a session of rare goods emerged. Nevertheless, Tang San maintained a low profile. He allowed his teacher to ce bids on interesting things he found. It was as simple as that: if the price was good, they bought it; if not, they passed.


    Time gradually passed, and as the sun began to set, the day''s auction was also nearing its end.


    Several auctioneers had already been changed, since an entire day of auctioning was truly exhausting. Keeping tabs on the products at all times was also a drain on the bidders. But the arrival of the final few pieces was something everyone was anticipating.


    Given yesterday''s auction of spiritual items, it was clear that today''s final rare items would certainly not disappoint. This was indeed a rare opportunity!


    "We will finally begin the auction for today''sst three items. If you expect them to be as good as yesterday��s items, well, I believe you will not be disappointed��each of these three is truly a treasure! Now, let''s wee the third-tost item!"


    Finally, it was here. The somewhat drowsy bidders, especially those with deep pockets and willingness to spend, all perked up.


    Yesterday''s final three items were undoubtedly stunning: the Stone of Shelter, the Sr Blossom, and,stly, Tang San''s Chrono Array Disc. Though the Chrono Array Disc had the lowest price, it was of the greatest significance, as it essentially pioneered a new path.


    So, what treasures would today''s final three rare items be? This was what every bidder eagerly anticipated.


    A cart was wheeled into the venue, and as it entered, all spectators seemed to feel a sense of sluggishness. What was this thing?


    Tang San gazed into the distance, and when his eyesnded on the cart, he immediately felt his thoughts bing sluggish. The four bears pushing the cart wore heavy armor made of metal, as if whatever was on the cart posed some kind of danger to them.


    Judging by the bulge on the cart, this item also didn��t seem veryrge.


    The cart was wheeled to the center of the venue, and the auctioneer stepped back to a more distant spot, in an unusual disy. And when he spoke again, everyone noticed something even more unusual.


    "Honored... guests... next... this... item... is... very... unique.... It... is... a... piece... of ore,... believed... to...e... from... a... meteor... from... beyond... the heavens.... When... it... was... discovered... it... exhibited... very... strange... effects.... Later... it was... sent to... the Ancestral... Court... where... it has... been... kept... ever since... Several... of Their... Majesties... the Demon... and Nymph... Emperors... have... studied... it... but... none... could... determine... the cause... of its... peculiar... effects."


    The Blue Fox auctioneer''s speech was extremely slow and halting, as if hisnguage faculty was affected. This was clearly an effect of the item in front of him. What could cause such a state? Slurred speech? No, it wasn��t slurred but <i>slowed</i>; moreover, even the thoughts of the bidders observing this item seemed sluggish.


    "The... Emperors... of... the... Ancestral Court... call... it... the Stone... of Slowness.... Within... its... certain range... everything... bes... slow... but... the flow... of time... is... unaffected.... We... even... invited... the elders... of the Chrono... Crocs... to... verify... and... they... found... that their... mastery... over time... could... not... alter... its... surrounding effects.... Among... the rare items... kept... in the... Ancestral Court..., this... is... absolutely... one of... the most... miraculous.... If we... could... fully... understand... its nature... it... might already... be considered... a godly... item.... When... a piece... is cut... from its... main body..., the slowness... effect... decreases... significantly.... Please... watch."


    As he spoke, the auctioneer signaled the armored bears to lift the red cloth.


    When the red fabric was raised on the cart, a piece of ore the size of a human skull was exposed. It had crystalline patterns and an uneven surface, and it was a uniform yellow-brown color. No light wasing out of it, but if one could tap into its spiritual energy, they''d perceive a hazy halo. The effect seemed to reach far and wide, slowing down everything within a radius of 100 meters.


    An unknown rare item! That was the category it fell into. However, the effects it produced undeniably proved its value. It made perfect sense for it to be one of the final three items.


    "Starting... price... five thousand... naturae... coins... each increment... must be... at least... five hundred." The auctioneer announced the rules with difficulty, then slowly raised his hand to signal the start of the bidding.


    The venue fell into silence. No one ced a bid.


    The reason no one bid was simple: its uses were unclear. It was simply that: one knew what to do with it. Five thousand naturae coins was no small sum, and spending such an amount on an unknown item was indeed somewhat extravagant.


    Even the Demon and Nymph Emperors couldn''t figure out its origin, mechanism of action, or how to use it. Obviously, the bidders entertained no thoughts of outsmarting the emperors.


    This thing was indeed bizarre, and at the same time, painfully impractical. A first thought would be that it was suitable for making weapons, except the slowness would affect the user themself! The bears�� heavy metal armor seemed to barely inste them from the effect so they were able to move the cart. <i>Using it as a weapon? Don��t be ridiculous. If someone attacked you from a distance, you couldn��t even think to defend before you were hit...</i>


    Slowness was absolutely helpful in some situations, but only if the user was not affected. What was the point if they were?


    The Chrono Croc n was naturally very interested in this rare item, but they were unusually poor for such a powerful n and couldn''t afford it. The Ancestral Court allowed them to study it for a while, but they didn��t find any results and had to return it.


    After numerous failed studies, it was sent to today''s auction.


    Among all the bidders present, if one person was interested in it, it had to be number 336. At this moment, Tang San looked very much like the sparkly-eyed, curious child his physical age warranted him to be.


    In this ne, even high-level gods failed to recognize this so-called Stone of Slowness, but Tang San, a former God King and ruler of a divine realm, recognized it!


    This was not a Stone of Slowness or whatever; it was clearly a Temporal Beacon. Tang San could not even fathom how it had even ended up in a mortal ne like this; it belonged to a divine realm, where it was used to calcte the time flow of different nes.


    In the divine realm, it wasn��t particrly precious, nor did it have such slowness characteristics; it was merely a time regtor. However, outside the divine realm, it was a whole different story.


    Moreover, this Temporal Beacon was huge. A typical Temporal Beacon was only the size of a fingernail, and the gods in divine realms fashioned it in a specific shape in order to conduct time calctions. Such arge Temporal Beacon, even in the Douluo Divine Realm where Tang San had once resided, did not exist.

 Chapter 424: Temporal Beacon

    <h4>Chapter 424: Temporal Beacon</h4>


    What did this mean? It meant that this Temporal Beacon was in its raw form, not leaked from the divine realm but naturally formed, and it had somehow ended up in this ne. Such arge Temporal Beacon was beyond valuation. Simply put, such arge Temporal Beacon wouldst for tens of thousands of years even in a newly developing divine realm. It was enough to expand territory over a vast area. For a divine realm that controlled multiple mortal nes and extracted nutrients from them, this was crucial.


    It might be useless in the hands of those Demon Emperors, but if this thing fell into Tang San''s hands... he knew how to handle a Temporal Beacon!


    Tang San felt a bit anxious at this moment; he was really afraid that a Demon Emperor would suddenly step forward and say "I want it" and then offer an astronomical price.


    If not for the fear of being discovered by the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, Tang San wanted to give himself a stroke of luck right now.


    Fortunately, thepetitor he was worried about did not appear. The entire venue remained silent. No one wanted to spend five thousand naturae coins to buy a useless item.


    "If... no... guest bids..., then... we... will have to... regretfully..."


    A bid was already made as the Blue Fox auctioneer was about to end the bidding.


    "Number... three... three-six... five... thousand... naturae... coins..." the auctioneer said slowly, with an equally slow surprise on his face.


    Tang San had made his move!


    He had to acquire the Temporal Beacon, even if it meant using up all his resources. It was useless in the hands of a Demon or Nymph Emperor, but in his hands and with careful processing, it would be a divine artifact beyond imagination.


    He never imagined there would be so many good things on this ne. It was exhrating. With today��s gains, Tang San was already delighted with this auction. It had already far exceeded his expectations. Now that he had this Temporal Beacon, he didn��t even need to look at thest two headline items to feel absolutely content.


    After three slow calls, the gavel fell. Tang San secured the so-called Stone of Slowness without any suspense.


    Tang San let out a massive sigh of relief, his face full of satisfaction. He almost had to stop himself from rushing over and grabbing the Temporal Beacon with his own hands so he could feel at ease.


    After the Temporal Beacon was wheeled away, the Blue Fox auctioneer finally breathed a big sigh of relief, having finally escaped the annoying sluggish state. <i>Did someone really buy this thing? It was that mysterious 336 person again. Who are they? They must have spent nearly ten thousand naturae coins by now!</i>


    The auctioneer couldn''t help but nce in Tang San''s direction. Tang San didn''t want to be so high-profile, but when faced with irresistibly good items, all that caution went out the window.


    Tang San ced anothermunicator on his ear and injected some bloodline power to activate themunication.


    "Brother Xu, may I collect the money from yesterday''s auction for the bloodline array disc for Master Lou? He bought some things at the auction and must payter."


    Thismunicator was naturally from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association. The auction was probably over for Tang San, but he needed to pay for all the items he had bid on before he could leave.


    ��Not a problem, brother Asura. We��re ready. When does the master need it? We��ll wait at the settlement ce in the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    Asura said, "I''ll settle things on behalf of the array master, right away. I��ll head over after the rare item auction day ends. Thank you for your assistance, Brother Xu. Master Lou is delighted with this auction. It��s a pity the Chrono Array disc is so difficult to make; the master said he was very fortunate to seed this time. Next time you have good samples of essence blood, I can talk to him on your behalf."


    ��Of course, thank the master for me! What happened yesterday was an eye-opener. The ones who got the disc are the Skyway Merchant Association; they will probably have funding problems soon, hahaha! Please ask Master Lou to look after us more. In the future, any essence blood the master needs, as long as we have it, we��ll prioritize it for the master, and we can deduct its value when the discs are delivered to us.


    The Chrono Array disc had brought tremendous shock to this auction. Although the grand auction wasn��t over yet, the Aetherhorn Merchant Association had already received numerous orders and inquiries, bing the talk of the town. Xu Ziran''s desired effect had been fully realized. And this was just the beginning; the array discs Asura had delivered were not limited to the Chrono Array. The Chrono Array disc was unique, but that didn��t mean it was the only good array disc. What it <i>did</i> mean was that with the high price of the Chrono Array Disc, the value of these other discs naturally soared as well, enough to make the Aetherhorn Merchant Association considerable profit.


    In this situation, the reliance of the Aetherhorn Merchant Association on the array master naturally reached its peak.


    While Tang San was talking with Xu Ziran, the second-tost rare item was already being brought onto the auction stage.


    It was a fossil��more precisely, a skeleton. A gigantic skeleton. Judging by its shape, it looked like a dragon but without wings.


    "The second-tost rare item today is this skeleton. It��s said to be the skeleton of a Sea Dragon. Judging by its size, this Sea Dragon was likely a true ruler of the ocean, a Great Demon King-level being. If we disregard the one in Kali City who might be a sea overlord turned Sea God, then this should be the strongest being in the Endless Blue Sea. It��s said that the bone marrow contained in Sea Dragon bones is a great supplement, nourishing any bloodline, especially those with water elements, providing significant benefits. This skeleton, judged by Your Majesties, is highly active and definitely contains bone marrow. Its bones are also precious treasures that can be used to make weapons. The starting bid is five thousand naturae coins."


    "Five thousand five hundred naturae coins!" A bid was immediately raised.


    Compared to the previous Stone of Slowness, the value of this Sea Dragon Great Demon King��s skeleton was much easier to calcte. The hard bones could be used to make weapons, and the bone marrow was a valuable supplement. This was a top-tier rare item, much easier to utilize. In the hands of skilled craftsmen, its value would undoubtedly shine brilliantly.


    Tang San was also interested in this item. If the bone marrow were as miraculous as imed, it would significantly enhance the eldest senior brother��s bloodline power. The only downside was that Wu Bingji��s attribute was ice, and thus the water element was good but not optimal.


    When the bidding price exceeded ten thousand naturae coins, Tang San had already dismissed the idea of bidding. The cost-benefit ratio was too low. It was better to save the money for something else. As for making weapons from the Sea Dragon bones, Tang San wasn��t interested at all; despite their hardness, theycked flexibility. They were inferior to the top-grade alloys he forged himself. He was already very satisfied with the massive piece of ck Crow Stone he had acquired.


    Ultimately, this Great Demon King-level Sea Dragon skeleton sold for a high price of sixteen thousand naturae coins.


    "Next, we have our final item of the day, the concluding piece of the rare item auction. Let''s bring it up."


    Transporting the Sea Dragon skeleton wasborious, so it took a while to get it off the stage. It could not be carried up and down the narrow mountain paths, of course, so it had to be hoisted up and transported by flying demonic beasts, with special approval from the Ancestral Court.


    By the time it was gone, Tang San had already stood up from his bidding cave. If thisst item didn��t pique his interest immensely, he was ready to leave and seize every moment to hurry back to Kali City.


    A huge cart was slowly pushed up to the podium. As it was brought into the venue, the rapidly dropping temperature in the air was noticeable even from the mountain peaks.


    <i>An item with the ice attribute?</i>

 Chapter 425: Throne of Frost

    <h4>Chapter 425: Throne of Frost</h4>


    Tang San paused, having stood up, then sat back down again. On this trip to the Ancestral Court, he had found suitable treasures for all hispanions except for his eldest senior brother, Wu Bingji. And now, thisst rare item was of the ice attribute��could it possibly be suitable for him?


    The cart was pushed to the center of the venue. Just the cart alone had a diameter of over ten meters, and the high bulge under the red cloth suggested that whaty beneath was also quiterge.


    "The final item of today''s auctiones from a deceased majesty, the Ice Sky Demon Emperor! When the Ice Sky Demon Emperor underwent nirvana at her life''s end, she left several rare items behind. This is one of them��the Throne of Frost. Since the fall of the Ice Sky Demon Emperor, the Ice Maidens have been in decline, their numbers dwindling. To ensure the continuation of their n, they have offered up this treasure, hoping to obtain resources through it to revive the Ice Maidens."


    As he spoke, the auctioneer lifted the red cloth.


    Instantly, a powerful chill swept over all the bidders, making them feel a biting cold. A truly bone-chilling frost caused the temperature in the entire Great Beast Fighting Arena to drop below freezing.


    The Throne of Frost was not just arge seat; beneath it was a massive circr base, and at its center was a gigantic chair shimmering with icy blue light. Behind the chair was a background ice wallposed of 108[1] slender ice spears. The piercing cold made everyone present shiver involuntarily.


    Even at a nce, there was no doubt that this Throne of Frost was a true treasure of the Ice Maidens. They were a branch of the nymphs, and legend had it that the first Ice Maiden emerged from the Eternal Profound Ice, formed by condensed ice essence.


    Wu Bingji��s Ice Nymph Transformation actually originated from this very tribe.


    The Ice Maidens were a matriarchal n, hence the name Ice Maidens. This n''s biggest problem was the difficulty they had producing offspring, as it required a long gestational period. This was why the continuation of the race was challenging. After the death of the Ice Sky Demon Emperor, the Ice Maidens had a conflict with a powerful fire-attribute tribe from the outer territories, resulting in the loss of many tribe members and leading to their decline.


    The fact that they were willing to bring out the Throne of Frost showed just how dire the situation had be for the Ice Maidens. Like the Crimson Fox n, which had brought out the Fox Tail Relic, they had no other choice.


    This Throne of Frost was indeed deserving of being the final item of the day. Its value to a strong individual with an ice-attribute bloodline was immeasurable, truly at the level of a divine item.


    "The starting bid is ten thousand naturae coins. Each increment must be of at least one thousand naturae coins. Per the Ice Maidens'' request, we invite their n leader to personally present this item."


    As he spoke, the Blue Fox auctioneer quickly retreated to the side, shivering slightly. He was too close to the Throne of Frost; it was indeed very cold!


    A beam of icy blue light silently arrived at the base of the Throne of Frost. It was a truly beautiful, yet somewhat eerie-looking woman.


    Her figure was very much identical to a human''s, the only striking difference being her hair color. Her hair and eyes were icy blue and her skin was as white as snow, clear and almost translucent, with a crystal-like quality. She stood about 1.8 meters tall, her body slender and graceful. She wore a long, white dress.


    Just one look at her was enough to feel a deep chill, as if they were suddenly ced in the middle of an ancient cier.


    Her eyes shifted to the Throne of Frost beside her, filled with reluctance and wistfulness. She pressed her lips tightly together, not speaking immediately.


    One could only imagine the inner struggle this n leader of the Ice Maidens had to go through to bring the Throne of Frost for auction. However, she had no choice; if she didn''t do this, the Ice Maidens were as good as done for.


    Tang San gazed from afar, observing and sensing with his spiritual power. He could tell that this n leader wasn''t even a Great Nymph King, but just a Nymph King. This tribe had once produced a Nymph Emperor, but Tang San was aware that their bloodline was merely third tier. It might reach the peak of the third tier, but it was definitely not second tier.


    How the previous Ice Sky Demon Emperor hade to be was unknown, as were the secrets of the Ice Maidens, but there was no doubt that their current situation was dire.


    The Throne of Frost had a starting bid of ten thousand naturae coins. It was undoubtedly a great item, and it would definitely provide immense help to Wu Bingji. But could this item actually be won in the auction?


    It was the throne of a former Demon Emperor, and likely had more value than just that. Who knew what other implications were behind it?


    Tang San squinted his eyes slightly. At this moment, he couldn''t worry about much else. Simply buying the Throne of Frost outright wasn''t feasible; they only had around ten thousand naturae coins left, not enough to buy it.


    Tang San took a deep breath, and his eyes shed. He took an item from his storage ring, then focused his spiritual power and transmitted a message to the Ice Maiden n leader in the arena.


    "n Leader, please do not auction the throne. I am willing to sponsor your n, and I have a solution to your reproduction problem."


    A simple transmission, with Tang San''s spiritual power, would naturally reach the ears of the Ice Maiden n leader clearly.


    There was no doubt that such a transmission would be noticed by sufficiently powerful beings. However, there were no rules against it. Immediately, Tang San felt at least ten divine consciousnesses sweeping toward him.


    He stood up and raised his hand, showing off the item he had just taken from his storage ring.


    Immediately, a beam of light emanated from the item in his hand, causing those divine consciousnesses that touched him to retreat as if struck by lightning.


    The Ice Maiden n leader''s divine consciousness was naturally among them. When her divine consciousness and gaze focused on Tang San and the item in his hand, her sorrowful eyes immediately brightened, and she nodded toward Tang San.


    "This item is not for sale."


    As she spoke, an ice-blue light shed in her hand shed and the Throne of Frost beside her silently merged into her body, vanishing from sight. Gorgeous ice-blue patterns appeared on her skin, and her aura soared to the Great Nymph King level.


    She nodded in Tang San''s direction and heard his transmission once more. The next moment, the Ice Maiden n leader floated away.


    The Blue Fox auctioneer was stunned. Only god-level powerhouses understood what had just happened. But if someone decided not to sell, they couldn''t be forced to.


    For a moment, the three peaks were abuzz with noise.


    Tang San didn''t linger. He quickly connected to Zhang Haoxuan, telling him that he would go to settle ounts and take what he could carry. Then he would leave for a while, returning in two to five days to rejoin him at the Ancestral Court.


    After giving these instructions, Tang San quickly got up and left.


    He definitely wouldn''t participate in the next auction. Today had already gone beyond his n and was a bit too conspicuous.


    The auction day for rare items concluded. Many bidders were quite dissatisfied that the final item, the Throne of Frost, had been withdrawn. However, it was the right of any seller to do so, and the rules of the grand auction permitted it. Before the hammer fell, the bidders who submitted items for auction had the right to reim their items, provided they paid a fine. The fine was about one-tenth of the starting bid. This meant the Ice Maiden n had to pay a thousand naturae coins.


    What had Tang San taken out for her to give him credit and everyone else to back off?


    1. In traditional wuxia novels, the number 108 holds significant cultural and spiritual symbolism, often representing bnce,pleteness, and mastery. It draws from Chinese history, where the ssic novel <i>Water Margin</i> features 108 heroes, and Buddhist and Daoist traditions, where 108 symbolizes oveing earthly desires and cosmic harmony. In wuxia (and subsequently xianxia and other kinds of cultivation novels), the number frequently appears in the form of 108 disciples, techniques, or weapons, representing the pinnacle of martial and spiritual achievement. ?

 Chapter 426: Checking Out

    <h4>Chapter 426: Checking Out</h4>


    Naturally, something really important was required to scare off the numerous divine consciousnesses probing over and to make the Ice Maiden n leader withdraw from the auction without hesitation.


    What he had taken out was mirror��the Crystal Mirror from the Crystal Demon Emperor, specifically. He was borrowing the emperor''s influence.


    As a token from the foremost Demon Emperor, who would dare not give face? There were extremely few Crystal Mirrors; the Crystal Demon Emperor did not casually give them away. The holder was unquestionably a favored subject of the Crystal Demon Emperor and, to some extent, could represent them. Moreover, no one knew who Tang San was; with the Crystal Mirror in hand, who would risk offending the Crystal Demon Emperor by questioning him?


    Everyone has witnessed twopeting emperors falling silent during the previous auction day when the Crystal Demon Emperor appeared. Even the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor only showed up after the Crystal Demon Emperor had left. This number one Demon Emperor had unquestionable authority over their peers.


    Tang San did not worry about what the Crystal Demon Emperor might do to him. He understood that at the Crystal Demon Emperor''s level, it was impossible they hadn''t noticed Tang San was at the auction. Since they hadn��t sought him out, demanded Crystalline back, or done anything to him, it meant he was safe for the time being. He was likely already a pawn of the Crystal Demon Emperor, so why not use that status?


    He quickly descended the mountain, inquired with the staff, and headed straight to the checkout area.


    He needed to leave immediately, on the one hand for Mei Gongzi and on the other hand to quickly bring the purchased treasures to a safe ce.


    When the Great Beast Fighting Arena was used for auctions, the checkout area was in one of the waiting zones.


    Few bidders left before the divine items auction ended. After all, even if they couldn��t afford the divine items, it was still beneficial for them to gain some knowledge. So, when Tang San arrived, no other bidders were there.


    He stated his intentions and showed his number te.


    The staff memberspared his number te with the number assigned to the items he had won at the auction. Suddenly, their gaze changed as they looked at Tang San.


    At that moment, a familiar face arrived.


    "Asu... Brother, are you leaving already?" Xu Ziran stopped himself before calling out Asura��s name; protecting one''s privacy was necessary at the auction.


    Asura nodded and said, "Yes! I bought everything the master wanted and a few things for myself. It''s time for me to go."


    Xu Ziran handed him a ring. The ring was dark silver, with a simple design, and embedded with a yellow crystalline gem.


    "Everything is inside. Just settle the bill with them. We owe this to the master! We should strengthen our cooperation in the future. After you take the items, will you be staying in the Ancestral Court or returning to Kali City?"


    Asura replied, "I''ll stay in the Ancestral Court for a few more days, probably returning to Kali City in about a week. What about you, Brother Xu? Are you going back or staying?"


    Xu Ziran said, "I''ll stay in the Ancestral Court for a while. I''ll contact you when I return to Kali City. We''ll have a proper gathering then. If Master Lou needs anything, you can directly go to the Merchant Association or the grand auction''s host. We''ve been collecting various samples of blood essence recently, and we''ll report to the master once we have significant results."


    Asura smiled and said, "You''re too kind, Brother Xu. I''ll settle the bill and get ready to leave."


    Xu Ziran''s eyes flickered. Clearly, Asura did not want to let him see what he had purchased in the auction, so he was indirectly shoving him away. Of course, he wouldn��t get upset about that. He also smiled. "Alright, I''ll head back. I still have to attend the auction tomorrow. Take care, brother."


    Xu Ziran left, and Tang San began to pay for the auction items. It was indeed arge sum of money! The Fox Tail Relic and the Stone of Slowness were truly valuable.


    "The quantities are all correct, no problem. However, you need to wait a bit. You have an item that requires directmunication with the other party. You are aware of this, right?" The staff took the money and handed the items to Tang San.


    When Tang San paid, he realized that the storage ring Xu Ziran had given him was far superior to his storage bracelet, with at least a hundred cubic meters of storage space. Xu Ziran hadn''t mentioned its value, which meant that this was a gift... and, as Tang San was well aware, an extremely expensive one. This spatial storage equipment couldn''t be bought for less than a few hundred naturae coins.


    It was obviously a means to win him over. After confirming that Master Lou could bring enormous future benefits to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, Xu Ziran had immediately started investing in Tang San, the designated representative of the master.


    All other items, including the Temporal Beacon, were stored in the storage ring. The Temporal Beacon was a true pain, taking over ten minutes to let the ring slowly absorb it. Retrieving it in the future would also require a lot of time, and moreover, with this item inside the storage ring, anything Tang San wanted to take out would be slowed down by its influence.


    But he had finally obtained it.


    If Tang San was asked what excited him the most among this auction''s items, the answer would definitely be this Temporal Beacon. It was a cosmic-level treasure, and the fact that he had been able to acquire it was blind luck��the fact that the strong beings of this ne did not recognize it. On the other hand, Tang San''s ability to protect himself would greatly increase if this item was used well.


    The person he needed to wait for toplete a transaction was not the Ice Maiden n leader, but the consignor of the God-ying Sword.


    It wasn''t long before the Golden Lion Demon King that had acted as the auctioneer strode in.


    "Where is the bidder? Number 336?" As soon as he entered, his deep voice filled the air with vibration.


    The staff immediately pointed to Tang San. "This is the one."


    The look in the Golden Lion Demon King''s eyes instantly changed.


    "Are you number 336?"


    Tang San calmly nodded. "Yes."


    The Golden Lion Demon King''s golden hair fluttered without wind, and his aura surged instantly. The intense bloodline aura seemed to boil, creating a terrifying pressure that felt like it was about to devour someone.


    At that moment, tinum light surged from Tang San, and the zing mes enveloped himpletely. This added a hint of divinity to him, resisting the powerful pressure of the Golden Lion Demon King.


    The Golden Lion Demon King was momentarily stunned by the tinum mes on number 336; the bloodline aura was very familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar at the same time.


    "I am bidding on behalf of mypanion. They are your true descendant; as you can see, I am human. However, we share the same source of mutated bloodline, originating from the Golden Holy Fire. Also... it��s a true first-tier bloodline. Is this enough to qualify for bidding on the God-ying Sword?"


    As he spoke, Tang San took out two tokens, showing them off.


    "Crystal Mirror and Sword Saint Token? You''ve gotten the recognition of two pces?" When the Golden Lion Demon King saw these two items, the anger in his eyes instantly vanished, reced by a look of surprise. His bloodline pressure immediately vanished as well.


    Tang San also withdrew the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral. "I don''t know who our future opponent is, but a mutated first-tier bloodline should have a good chance, right? I believe this is what you need. I can leave this Sword Saint Token with you as a token of trust. I will be there to negotiate with you directly within fifteen days."


    The Golden Lion Demon King stared intently at number 336, recalling the Golden Astral he had emitted earlier. It indeed had the scent of the Golden Lion n''s Golden Holy Fire. It was very intense and easy to recognize, yet at the same time, it was slightly different.

 Chapter 427: Two Agreements

    <h4>Chapter 427: Two Agreements</h4>


    The Golden Tigers�� Golden ze was explosive, while the Golden Lion n''s Golden Holy Fire was assimtive. Yet although the two were different, they had some things inmon��the bloodlines were somewhatpatible, after all.


    In the tinum mes just now, the assimtion aura was unmistakable. This meant that what number 336 said was true; otherwise, how could feel his own bloodline power react to it? Number 336 was at most at the ninth order, definitely not a Demon King, yet his bloodline was not inferior to the Golden Lion Demon King��s own.


    "Where did the mutatione from?" the Golden Lion Demon King asked via divine consciousness.


    Tang San hesitated slightly before replying through his spiritual power, "A Lion-Tiger."


    The Golden Lion Demon King''s expression changed instantly. "A Lion-Tiger? How... how can it be them? Don��t tell me, did they solve the..."


    Tang San said calmly, "Please keep this secret. It��s something only the Golden Lion n should know."


    The look in the Golden Lion Demon King''s eyes became extremelyplex. "Alright, I''ll take the Sword Saint Token and await your arrival," he said, taking the Sword Saint Token from number 336��s hand.


    His mind was in turmoil.


    The Lion-Tiger lineage had solved the bloodline curse and produced a sessful mutation, resulting in a stronger bloodline?


    The Golden Lion Demon King was well aware of the rtionship between the Lion-Tigers and the lion and tiger races. This long-exiled lineage was considered an ominous hybrid, and as far as he knew, the Lion-Tiger lineage was on the verge of extinction. He hadn''t expected such a shocking revtion.


    The Golden Lion Demon King understood the implication of his interlocutor��s words: only the Golden Lion n should know, meaning <i>specifically not the Golden Tigers</i>. The lion race had no emperor as a backer, so the existence of a first-tier bloodline was undoubtedly more significant for them than it was for the tiger demons. However, the rtionship between them and the Lion-Tiger lineage was equally hostile.


    Tang San naturally didn''t care about his thoughts. For him, time was tight and the task urgent. He retrieved the Crystal Mirror and turned to leave.


    The Golden Lion Demon King raised his hand, wanting to call out to number 336 for more questions, but ultimately decided against it. This was an earth-shattering piece of news for the whole lion race. It needed to return quickly to discuss it with the Golden Lion n''s higher-ups.


    He had never expected that putting the God-ying Sword up for auction would attract a mutated and evolved Lion-Tiger demon.


    Tang San quickly walked out of the waiting area and headed outside. After passing through several guards, he finally exited the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    Freed from the atmosphere of doom and ughter, the air seemed to be sweet, with a hint of... coldness?


    A figure like an ice sculpture silently appeared in front of Tang San, causing the air temperature to drop naturally.


    "Hello, n Leader." Tang San showed no surprise. In fact, he had arranged for the Ice Maiden n leader to wait for him outside.


    "Mm." The Ice Maiden n leader nodded at him, her gaze intense.


    Tang San said, "Give me a storage artifact."


    The Ice Maiden n leaderplied, taking off an ice-blue bracelet from her wrist and handing it to Tang San.


    The bracelet was icy to the touch. Tang San couldn''t help but marvel��it looked exactly as one would expect from an item of the Ice Maiden n.


    Without hesitation, he began transferring naturae coins from his storage ring into the bracelet.


    The process was slow due to the influence of the Temporal Beacon, and the Ice Maiden n leader watched him in slight surprise. With the support of the Throne of Frost, she could even reach the level of a Great Nymph King. She could clearly sense what Tang San was doing.


    "What are you doing?"


    The Ice Maiden n leader didn''t even know who this young man in front of her was, yet he was indeed giving her money. The reason she had chosen to trust him earlier was not only the Crystal Demon Emperor''s token, but also her own inner conflict and reluctance. Taking out the Throne of Frost was very much against her will and had only been done because of a decision of the n elders. Taking advantage of this opportunity, she was able to keep the Throne of Frost.


    If it had been auctioned, the value of the Throne of Frost would have definitely exceeded fifty thousand naturae coins. It was a true divine artifact. However, only a strong ice-attribute individual could fully unleash its power.


    He looked at her calmly and said, "n Leader, my name is Asura. You should be able to tell that I am human, but I am no longer a vassal; I am now a noble. Today, when I saw your reluctance to part with the Throne of Frost, I could clearly feel its importance to you and the Ice Maiden n. As the saying goes, ''A gentleman does not take away what others cherish.[1]'' I believe the Throne of Frost should not fall into others'' hands; only in the hands of the Ice Maiden n is it truly the Throne of Frost. Therefore, I hope to help you, or rather, help the Ice Maiden n through this crisis.


    "I''ve heard a bit about the situation of the Ice Maiden n, particrly that you have issues with inheritance and difficulty in producing offspring. I''ll give you five thousand naturae coins first, which should help with the immediate crisis. Also, I have an idea that might solve the inheritance difficulties for the Ice Maiden n."


    The Ice Maiden n leader stared intently at him and asked, "Why do you want to help us?" She naturally didn''t believe a human would be so kind as to help them without expecting anything in return.


    Tang San replied, "I don''t want to see the decline of the Ice Maiden n. Also, as you know, it''s difficult for humans to survive by themselves. For one, I hope to gain the friendship of the Ice Maiden n. Helping your n with its inheritance will be beneficial for us humans."


    He didn''t bid for the Throne of Frost primarily due to ack of funds. Additionally, as a human, obtaining this former emperor''s throne could lead to trouble, and even with the Crystal Demon Emperor''s token, he might not be able to keep it for himself. The third reason was figuring out how to help the Ice Maiden n with their inheritance issue was indeed within the realm of possibility, and it could result in some great opportunities.


    "This isn''t the ce to talk. Let''s find somewhere else," the Ice Maiden n leader said, taking the storage bracelet Tang San handed over. She confirmed it contained five thousand naturae coins, and her expression softened slightly.


    "n Leader, I have urgent matters to attend to and must go immediately. Could you wait a few days? I will return to the Ancestral Court to discuss the details with you."


    The Ice Maiden n leader was momentarily stunned, but then she nodded. "Of course. But aren''t you afraid I''ll take the money and disappear? You have no evidence to prove you gave me anything."


    Tang San smiled and shook his head, "You are the master of the ice element. As the saying goes, ''If the heart is as pure as ice, one remains unshaken even if the sky copses.[2]'' If you didn''t have a pure heart, you wouldn''t be leading the Ice Maiden n. Given the n''s foundation, if you were unscrupulous, you wouldn''t be so strapped for resources as to auction the Throne of Frost. I mean no offense; I just want to tell you that I trust you. Since we are considering cooperation, I believe trust is fundamental. Can you please tell me where I can find you?"


    "I don''t have an address in Ancestral Court. I was nning to return to the n directly after the auction," the Ice Maiden n leader said, frowning slightly.


    "How about this: I have a room at the White Tiger Hotel, and it''s already paid for. You can wait for me there. I should be back to discuss things with you in two to five days. What do you think?"


    The Ice Maiden n leader nodded slightly. "That works."


    Tang San handed her the room key card, bid her farewell, and quickly left.


    Was it important to discuss cooperation with the Ice Maiden n leader? Of course it was.


    Was obtaining the God-ying Sword important? Naturally, it was very important as well.


    However,pared to meeting with Mei Gongzi, these things paled inparison. In Tang San''s heart, Mei Gongzi was always the top priority.


    1. This is tranted from the saying ���Ӳ���������. In Chinese culture, this phrase embodies the moral principle that a virtuous person, often referred to as a "gentleman" (���� junzi), should not take away something that someone else deeply cherishes, whether it be a possession, a person, or even an opportunity. ?


    2. This is tranted from the saying �������塢��������. It means that if you maintain inner peace and rity, you can stay strong and unshaken no matter how chaotic things get around you. It highlights the power of staying cool and collected, no matter what life throws your way. ?

 Chapter 428: Returning to Kali City

    <h4>Chapter 428: Returning to Kali City</h4>


    After bidding farewell to the Ice Maiden n leader, Tang San couldn''t wait to set off.


    Flying was not allowed within the Ancestral Court, and running at full speed would draw too much attention. So Tang San decided to rent a carriage to take him out of the Ancestral Court as quickly as possible.


    Sitting in the carriage, he calmed his mind. His heart was somewhat fiery, not because of the gains from the auction but because he was getting closer to Mei Gongzi.


    Taking a deep breath, he barely calmed himself, temporarily diverting his attention. He feared that missing Mei Gongzi too much might cloud his judgment.


    He silently reflected on the auction process. Undoubtedly, as bidder number 336, he had drawn a bit too much attention. His decision to leave quietly after the second day''s auction ended was undoubtedly for the best, even if it hadn��t been for Mei Gongzi. The third day''s divine items auction was the most critical, and emperors would unquestionably participate, so if he left then, he didn��t know who might follow him.


    In fact, if not for the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''smitment that emperors would not participate, he was almost certain that the Fox Tail Relic and the Throne of Frost would not have had the oues they had.


    The Fox Tail Relic was simply too important to the fox race. Although the Crimson Fox n produced it, if the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had been present, he would never have allowed it to fall into non-fox hands. This was one reason Tang San was eager to leave. As for the Throne of Frost, reiming it in the presence of emperors would not be easy once the Ice Maiden n put it up. The personal treasure of a Nymph Emperor would undoubtedly attract great interest from other emperors.


    Though it seemed on the surface that Tang San hadn��t actually obtained the Throne of Frost, those five thousand naturae coins had not been spent lightly!


    For one, Wu Bingji bing a god was almost impossible with his bloodline strength; the process inevitably involved a tribtion that he inevitably would fail to resist. But if this breakthrough urred within the territory of the Ice Maiden n and was assisted by a treasure like the Throne of Frost, Wu Bingji''s chances of sess would be significantly higher. Helping his senior brother ovee the tribtion made it worth it for Tang San.


    Moreover, this could also allow him to seek the possibility of purchasing essence blood from the Ice Maiden n to help Wu Bingji evolve his Ice Nymph Transformation. The cooperation of the Ice Maiden n meant opening a pathway to the future for Wu Bingji, a way for him to ascend to the heavens.


    As for the Throne of Frost itself, Tang San didn''t ce too much importance on it because he had obtained the Temporal Beacon!


    The Temporal Beacon was his absolute most significant gain from this auction, far exceeding his expectations when he came to the Ancestral Court. Even now, Tang San''s heart was still racing. The Temporal Beacon was useless in others'' hands, as they wouldn''t know how to use it. But in his hands, it was a future divine artifact, potentially even a transcendent divine artifact. There were so many things that such a massive Temporal Beacon could aplish!


    Taking a deep breath, Tang San quietly activated his Discerning Eye of Heaven, bestowing good fortune upon himself. He once again felt his overwhelming luck.


    This luck seemed to have been with him since he left the Hell Garden. Tang San wasn''t sure if it was due to the encounters within the Hell Garden or if he originally possessed this astonishing luck and only discovered it after enhancing his Celestial Fox Transformation with the energy of the Heavenly Bloom.


    But regardless of the reason, from the results of this auction, it was clear that he was genuinely imbued with good fortune. Luck was well and truly on his side.


    The journey was uneventful, and the carriage smoothly exited the Ancestral Court''s boundaries. And once outside, Tang San couldn''t wait any longer. He paid the fare, unfolded the Golden Roc wings on his back, and took to the sky. With a few powerful ps, he elerated toward Kali City.


    With the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral protecting him, his flight was even faster than Cheng Zicheng''s. The fierce winds faced during high-speed flight were neutralized by his Lion Tiger Golden Astral, which could even absorb the wind as energy in a virtuous cycle.


    He didn''t even have the mind to inspect the treasures he had won at the auction carefully. His heart was already soaring ahead.


    ***


    Kali City. Kali Academy.


    Standing quietly in an inconspicuous corner outside the academy, Mei Gongzi''s expression was somewhat forlorn.


    There was no news of Tang San from Redemption Academy. The teachers didn''t know where he had gone and couldn''t provide concrete information about his situation.


    The time they had agreed on for waiting outside Kali Academy was about to end, and Asura still hadn''t appeared.


    Could it be that they had both forgotten her because she had been away for so long? Mei Gongzi pouted, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of grievance. The first thing she had done upon returning was look for them, but none of them were around. Seriously...


    The arrival of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor that day had brought an immense, invisible pressure. That guy seemed to have a special rtionship with her mother. She didn''t dare ask, but after the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor left, she found her mother crying deeply and for a long time. Sheforted her mother for half the night before the crying stopped, but her mother remained dazed.


    Mei Gongzi knew that the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had injured the Peacock Great Demon King, and now, that guy wasing again. And when he came, who else in all of Kali City could stand against a Demon Emperor?


    She finally decided to quietly inform the Peacock Great Demon King about this. To her surprise, the Peacock Great Demon King didn''t seem surprised. He just said, "If he wants toe, let hime," and then didn''t say anything else.


    Could the Peacock Demon n defend themselves if the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor came again? If they couldn''t, what was the point of her status as the heir? The mission assigned by her organization would also be impossible toplete. More importantly, the Peacock Great Demon King might...


    Even though she didn''t have deep feelings for this father and there was a barrier between their races, deep down, she didn''t want him to die. After all, he had been truly kind to her, and blood was thicker than water.


    At this moment, she felt a lot of pressure. She really hoped someone could listen to her, hear her heart, give her advice, and help her.


    The only ones she could trust were those two guys. But one was missing, and the other hadn''t kept the appointment, though the agreed-upon time hadn''t passed yet. Maybe he woulde?


    Thinking of this, Mei Gongzi looked around and quietly released her spiritual power, searching for the figure that might appear at any moment.


    But to her dismay, there was still no trace of him.


    Time passed second by second. Mei Gongzi went for a meal once but spent the rest of the time waiting there. She had an inexplicable trust in Asura. She didn''t know why he appeared and always helped her unhesitatingly whenever she needed it, but the fact of the matter was that he had saved her, rescuing her from incredibly dangerous situations. She had always felt he was trustworthy.


    Waiting was often a painful thing. The feeling of continuous anticipation without any result was genuinely unpleasant.


    Three days had passed, and she had been waiting for him here without leaving. Afraid of missing him, she had stayed here the whole time, but he still hadn''t appeared.


    Stretching her stiff body, Mei Gongzi began to move under the setting sun, gently dancing in ce. She hummed a song that only she could hear, carrying a peculiar rhythm, as she gracefully danced in the twilight.

 Chapter 429: Asura and Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 429: Asura and Mei Gongzi</h4>


    Faint silver light flickered around her, emphasizing her graceful movements apanied by subtle spatial fluctuations.


    The Celestial Dance was the most important inheritance of the Peacock Demon n, and its true foundational art. In fact, a n member had once relied on this exact Celestial Dance to be an emperor. However, the Celestial Dance was a trulyplex art, and for many generations, no n member could master it. This was the primary reason a new Demon Emperor had not emerged.


    The Celestial Dance was more suitable for the female members of the Peacock Demon n. While males could also learn it, their results were much poorer. However, the natural bloodline power of males in the n was much stronger than that of females. The Peacock Demon Emperor was an exception��her bloodline had mutated, and as a result of her ascension, the Peacock Demon n��s bloodline had evolved into a true first-tier one.


    Sadly, in the following generations, the male members of the Peacock Demon n were still stronger, and the female members also failed toprehend the Celestial Dance, leading to the current situation.


    Yet now Mei Gongzi disyed exceptional talent; she had been able to awaken the Peacock Golden Crown at an extremely young age and had now finally begun to grasp the basics of the Celestial Dance. She knew this was why, despite her human half, the Peacock Great Demon King was truly intent on passing on the position of n leader to her.


    <i>Once I finish this dance, I won''t wait for that guy anymore. How can he go back on his promise like that?!</i>


    As Mei Gongzi danced gracefully, her qi and blood became more harmonious, her entire body radiating a crystalline silver light. Her spiritual senses expanded outward, perceiving every subtle change in the surrounding space. She could even feel some disturbances from Kali City, responding to her Peacock Demon bloodline.


    At that moment, she sensed something��an extremely sharp aura was approaching at an astonishing speed.


    Mei Gongzi''s gaze instantly turned sharp. She twisted in midair, a peacock plume appeared in her hand, and the space around her rapidly fluctuated, ready for action at any moment.


    But just then, the sharp aura quietly dissipated, and a figure descended from the sky. The golden wings behind him retracted quickly, and hended right before her.


    Mei Gongzi was slightly stunned. That familiar aura...


    "Sorry to keep you waiting."


    The familiar voice, the familiar aura, the familiar mask, and the familiar figure.


    Asuranded gracefully. His breathing was noticeably rapid, and his chest heaved, indicating that he had been rushing with all he had. At this moment, his eyes were filled with an uncontroble fervor, giving Mei Gongzi the feeling that he might jump her at any moment.


    Yet as she looked at his figured and listened to his voice, for some reason, all the resentment umted over the three days of waiting turned into a feeling of reassurance.


    "Did youe from very far away?" Mei Gongzi asked softly.


    For some reason, he seemed to have grown even taller.


    At this moment, Asura''s gaze seemed to devour her.


    She had also grown taller, and her figure was more bnced. The girl''s youthful aura had be even more intense, with less awkwardness and more of the unique softness of a young woman. She seemed a bit thinner, but her eyes were brighter.


    Her dance just now was truly beautiful! Before he arrived, his divine consciousness had already scanned the area. Yes, his divine consciousness, because it couldn''t be easily detected and could probe much farther. To determine if she was still there, he didn''t care about his own exhaustion.


    Then, with his divine consciousness, he sensed that enchanting dance that seemed to move the entire space around her.


    The perception of this dance enchanted him so profoundly that he didn''t even care to hide the sharp aura brought by the Golden Roc Transformation.


    Finally, standing before her, looking at her exquisite beauty and increasingly ethereal temperament, he felt that the rush of a full day and night had been entirely worth it.


    "Yes, it was a bit of a distance, but it was manageable. Some matters dyed me. Sorry to keep you waiting," Asura said softly, suppressing the urge to pull her into his arms.


    "You''ve had a hard journey," Mei Gongzi said, seeing his travel-worn appearance. All her resentment had utterly vanished. While she had just been waiting, he had rushed back from a great distance. His effort was far greater than hers.


    Curious, she asked, "How did you know I was waiting for you here?"


    Asura smiled slightly. "I set up an array here. I can sense it if someone stays here for a long time, and... well... only you would do that. When it happened for the second day in a row, I knew you had left seclusion. You''ve changed a lot! Your strength has also increased a lot. Is your seclusionpletely over?"


    Just a sweep with his divine consciousness, and he could clearly feel that Mei Gongzi''s aura had be more refined. Her cultivation had settled very well. Although she was still at the eighth order, she was at the peak, with clear signs of deliberately suppressing andpressing her bloodline power. Otherwise, she would have already broken through to the ninth order.


    How old was Mei Gongzi? Barely sixteen, and she was already approaching the ninth order. This was rare even for high-tier demon ns; a human achieving this was practically unheard of.


    Of course, Tang San excluded himself from this. He couldn''t be judged by the standards of ordinary humans


    "Well, it''s not terrible, but the training isn''t over yet. I was let out for a short break. In a few days, I have to undergo a trial."


    "A trial? What kind of trial?" Asura asked, immediately feeling a bit nervous.


    Mei Gongzi replied, "A family matter, I suppose. After I pass the trial, the seclusion shoulde to an end."


    Asura suddenly understood. "The reason you''ve been suppressing your power is to break through during the trial, right?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded. "I believe so. It wasn''t my decision, so I don��t know for sure."


    If it wasn''t her decision, it must have been the Peacock Great Demon King''s. It seemed this trial was crucial.


    Asura''s hand shed with light, revealing two items. He handed them to Mei Gongzi and said, "These are two things I recently acquired. Take them. They should be useful during your trial."


    Mei Gongzi looked at the two items in his hand with curiosity. One was a milky white stone, and the other was a small mirror.


    "What are these?"


    Asura said, "This stone is called the Stone of Fortune. Carrying it will bring you good luck. Ites from the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain of the Ancestral Court."


    "Something from the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor?" Mei Gongzi said in surprise.


    Asura nodded. "The other item is a weapon of sorts. I''ve inscribed a bloodline ability on it. When you''re in danger, activate it, and its power will manifest, showing the power of that bloodline at a level simr to yours. Since you''re adept at controlling space, I imprinted the Chrono Croc''s bloodline power for time control. You can use it to elerate or slow down time for one minute. Combining time and space control will be quite helpful to you."


    Mei Gongzi looked at the two items in his hand and then back at him. Instinctively, she took a step back and shook her head. "Thank you, but I can''t ept them. They''re too precious. I can''t take your things."


    Asura said, "There''s no need for distinctions between us. What''s mine is yours. Just take them and consider them borrowed. You can return them to me after your seclusion."


    Mei Gongzi continued to shake her head. "How can there be no distinctions? We''ve only met a few times. I''ve never even seen your true face. I don''t know who you really are, where youe from, or why you''re helping me like this. How can I keep epting your sacrifices when I can''t repay you?"

 Chapter 430: Blood Oath Protection

    <h4>Chapter 430: Blood Oath Protection</h4>


    Asura thought to himself, <i>Well, you could marry me again or something?</i>


    Of course, he only thought about it. If he said something like that out loud, Mei Gongzi would probably fly away faster than he could say "peacock."


    Seeing Asura fall silent, Mei Gongzi continued, "If possible, could you remove your mask and let me see who you are? At least let me know who''s helping me. I really can''t ept your things anymore. I came to see you today and have been waiting for two days to get to know you better and discover who you are."


    Asura smiled wryly and said, "Why be so hung up on this? You just need to know that everything I do is for your sake. Whatever you want to do, I fully support you. Isn''t that enough?"


    Mei Gongzi shook her head. "No, it''s not enough. If friends can''t be honest with each other, how can they be friends?"


    At that moment, Asura felt a strong urge to remove his mask and reveal his true identity. But he held back. The identity of Asura would make it easier to stay by Mei Gongzi''s side, whether to protect her or do other things. Revealing himself as Tang San would be too shocking, and he worried that Mei Gongzi would have too many thoughts about it. After all, Tang San was only about to turn fourteen.


    Fourteen years old, with such cultivation and knowledge, how could he exin that? In the future, to protect her, he would have to use his divine consciousness. It wouldn''t always be like when the Sea God arrived��he couldn��t keep finding covers and excuses. And if she saw it, how could he exin it?


    They were both still young. Tang San was waiting for her to grow up. He wanted to protect her well and pursue her without reservation when she was ready. Asura''s identity was much more suitable for openly protecting her than that of Tang San.


    Mei Gongzi, on the other hand, was of apletely different opinion. Over the past few days, she had been waiting for Asura to appear, and during this time, she had carefully considered her rtionship with him.


    His initial appearance was abrupt, but he would appear by her side every time she encountered difficulties. At first, she was full of vignce toward him, cautious of this inexplicable character. But as he appeared time and time again, helping and protecting her, her defenses gradually rxed.


    Reflecting on the past two days, she was surprised to find that she seemed to be subconsciously regarding him as an important friend. Yet she had never even seen his true face.


    Therefore, she decided that if he came this time, she would definitely ask to see his face.


    "Everyone has their secrets, and so do I. I can''t let you see my face because I have my own difficulties," Asura sighed softly, saying, "If you can''t ept me as I am, then there''s nothing I can do. Consider me a guardian sent by the heavens to protect you. No matter how you see me, I will always be there for you when you need me. These two items were obtained at great risk to my life, and I only hope they can help you. After all, you are still young and have a long way to go. This trial is significant for you. Have you considered what you will face if you cannot pass it? Even if you have doubts about me or other thoughts, deal with this trial first."


    As he spoke, Asura flicked his wrist, and the Crystal Mirror and the Stone of Fortune flew towards Mei Gongzi.


    Sensing a change in his tone, Mei Gongzi instinctively caught them. His eyes seemed to hold a touch of mncholy and sorrow. At this moment, it was as if there were countless stories and past experiences hidden in the depths of his gaze. For an instant, Mei Gongzi felt as if she was looking at someone older than time itself.


    <i>A guardian sent by the heavens?</i>


    Then she saw Asura raise his hands. He cut his left hand across the index finger of his right hand. In the next moment, a drop of blood filled with a zing aura and strange light was squeezed out from between his fingers. It was a drop of essence blood!


    For any individual, essence blood was the most important substance in their body. One could only condense a few dozen drops in their lifetime, and each drop was highly precious.


    That drop of essence blood danced between Asura''s fingers, emitting a strange glow. This feeling made Mei Gongzi''s soul tremble, as if it contained many things she found familiar without knowing why.


    "I swear by my blood. For the rest of my life, whether in good times or bad, whether strong or weak, whether young or old, no matter what the future holds, I will always protect Mei Gongzi. I will never do anything to harm her, I will always be by her side, and I will never betray her. Let heaven forsake me if I break this oath, and let thunder strike me down."


    As he spoke, his hands traced strange patterns in the air, and the drop of essence blood naturally spread out in the air, condensing into a peculiar pattern.


    A beam of crimson light shot up from Asura almost instantly. Although it shed and disappeared quickly, at that moment, Asura''s aura changed dramatically.


    "A blood oath!" Mei Gongzi eximed, feeling at a loss. She never expected that when she wanted to see his true face, Asura would prove his intention to protect her in apletely different way, and such a self-harming way at that.


    "You didn''t need to do this. I''m sorry." Mei Gongzi was filled with regret. "Essence blood is so precious. It will take a long time for you to recover from this. I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have been so willful. You..."


    Asura shook his head with a smile as if nothing had happened. "It''s fine. This way, you can be at ease. I really have good reasons for not taking off the mask now. When the dayes that I can take it off, I will do so immediately. Trust me, it''s just a matter of time. Until then, I will always protect you."


    Swearing a blood oath for his wife was nothing. He wouldn''t hesitate even to give his life for her, just as she had sacrificed hers for him in their past life.


    A blood oath was the most severe vow on the Daemon Continent. No race dared to make a blood oath lightly because in this ne, no matter the race or n, power came from the bloodline. A bacsh from one��s own bloodline meant no less than certain death.


    After the blood oath, Mei Gongzi could faintly feel a connection between herself and Asura. This connection instantly removed any doubt she had about Asura''s intentions in approaching her. Whatever his reasons and his background were, she knew that he was not lying to her in the slightest.


    "Take them. Just consider them borrowed. You can return them to me after you pass your family trial," Asura said with a smile.


    Seeing her looking a bit at a loss, his heart ached, but there was no other way to dispel her doubts. As for the consumption of this drop of essence blood, he was not terribly worried. He had ways to recover it quickly.


    Mei Gongzi lowered her head and said, "Thank you."


    Asura shook his head. "No need to thank me. Hey... Have you eaten? How about we go get some food together?"


    He just wanted to spend more time with her.


    Mei Gongzi shook her head and said, "No, my mother is waiting for me toe home for dinner. I promised her I''d eat at home."


    A tinge of disappointment rose in Asura''s heart, but he nodded and said, "Alright, then. You should head back early. It''s getting dark."


    "Okay. Thank you foring all this way just to see me. Should I keep waiting for you here in the future?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Asura nodded and said, "Anytime. No matter where I am, I''ll try toe back within three days."


    Mei Gongzi looked up at him, her gaze slightlyplicated. She wasn''t quite sure how to handle such a situation.


    "Oh, right. I��m sorry for bringing this up after all...this, but there is actually something I want to ask you for help with," Mei Gongzi said, as if suddenly remembering something.

 Chapter 431: Asuras Jealousy of Tang San

    <h4>Chapter 431: Asura''s Jealousy of Tang San</h4>


    "Go ahead."


    "I have a friend who used to work as a janitor at Kali Academy. You know Mayor Zhang, right? He''s the mayor��s pupil, and his name is Tang San. If it''s not too much of a problem, could you help me find him? I looked for him, but he wasn��t here and nobody knows anything about him. Tell him to wait for me at the academy if you see him. I should be out of seclusion for good within three months."


    <i>You want me to find myself? Well, that��s one hell of a pursuit if I��ve ever tried any.</i>


    Asura couldn''t help but find it amusing, but he just nodded and smiled. "What is he to you? Just a friend?"


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback momentarily, then nodded back. "Yes, just a friend."


    "And what about me? Can I be considered your friend now?" Asura pressed.


    "Yes." Mei Gongzi quickly nodded, then looked up at the sky. "It''s really gettingte. I should go. Thank you."


    As he watched her graceful figure gradually disappear from sight, Asura chuckled helplessly. For a moment, he suddenly felt as if Asura was a bit jealous of Tang San.


    Tang San hadn''t done anything special for her, while Asura had put in literal mountains of effort. Yet, it seemed there was less of a barrier between her and Tang San than between her and Asura.


    <i>In the future, when she finds out that Tang San is Asura and Asura is Tang San, who will be more embarrassed, she or I?</i>


    <i>Little Mei, hurry up and grow up. When you turn eighteen, I will truly start pursuing you.</i>


    Seeing her today, seeing her be even more beautiful, seeing her grow more and more like her past self, Tang San felt full of gratitude��grateful that he could find this ne and grateful that he could find her like that.


    Although they still had many trials to go through if they wanted to walk together again and return to their peak, he was confident. He would bring her back to her family. She was his wife, in every life they lived.


    Mei Gongzi left, and Tang San also needed to leave. He had many things to do. If it weren''t for Mei Gongzi, he wouldn''t have returned today; many tasks were still awaiting him at the Ancestral Court.


    However, this return also allowed him to handle some other matters.


    Without entering Kali City, Tang San leaped into the air along the path next to Kali Academy, heading straight for the Kali Mountain Range behind it.


    He decided not to return to Redemption Academy for now. After entering the Kali Mountain Range, he spread his golden wings and flew swiftly toward a familiar ce. Although teleportation might be faster, he wanted to take this opportunity to observe if there were any changes around the academy.


    From the air, everything looked normal. With his high-speed flight, he quickly arrived at his actual base.


    The ethereal mist still shrouded that area, which waspletely dark by now. Golden Valley remained quietly hidden in the darkness, protected by the interconnected arrays.


    Tang San skillfully entered the illusion array. The rich life aura washed over him when the scenery became clear again. His body eagerly absorbed this life force to replenish the energy he had expended over the past day and night, including the drop of essence blood.


    The Golden Valley was very quiet at night. Only the increasingly robust Golden Tree by theke emitted a faint golden glow, bringing light and vibrant life to this tranquil paradise.


    Returning here, Tang San felt his heart calm down. He hadn''t set up a teleportation array between the Ancestral Court and Golden Valley, partly because hecked the necessary materials and cultivation, and partly because he didn''t want to disturb the peace of this ce. He wanted his rear base to remain stable and secure.


    He strolled toward theke, absorbing the rich life aura in the air. As he walked, he immediately felt his body warm up considerably.


    The Golden Tree grew daily, nourished by the spiritual energy from the Spirit Summoning Array. Therger it grew, the richer the life force it emitted.


    "Who''s there?!" a stentorial voice sounded. Several figures rushed forward with a fierce wind the next moment, blocking Tang San''s path.


    Tang San lifted his hood, revealing his masked face. "It''s me!"


    "Master, you''re back!" A voice full of surprise followed. Among the figures rushing forward, a young woman quickly ran up with a look of joy on her face��it was Red One.


    Tang San smiled and nodded. "Just got back."


    Following behind Red One were several burly young members of the Lion-Tiger n. Each had a tiger-like head and a robust build, with the fiery bloodline aura exuding youth and strength.


    Since Tang San had resolved the bloodline issue for the Lion-Tiger n and reached an agreement with them, they had now settled in Golden Valley. This ce was spacious enough, and the rich life aura was the best recovery environment for n members whose life force had been affected by the bloodline conflict.


    "Benefactor." Several young members of the Lion-Tiger n bowed to Tang San, their eyes showing gratitude and affection.


    Tang San could be said to have saved their entire n; the title of "benefactor" simply didn��t cover it.


    "No need to be so formal. Where''s Big Cat?" Tang San asked.


    A young Lion-Tigerughed. "He should be with his wife. We can call him for you."


    Tang San quickly stopped them. "No need, it''ste. I''ll meet him tomorrow. You all should rest."


    "Yes, we are on night watch. You go rest," the young Lion-Tiger said with a smile.


    It was hard to find such a suitable habitat. Although the illusion array made it very safe, the elders of the Lion-Tiger n still arranged for the young members to keep watch every night.


    Tang San nodded with a smile and brought Red One to the Golden Tree. "Red One, you should rest too. I have something to discuss with you tomorrow."


    "Yes, Master." Red One smiled and bowed to Tang San before stepping lightly on the waves and returning to the cave to rest.


    Nourished by the aura of life in the Golden Valley, Red One had reached the sixth order, and her cultivation was the highest among all the Crimson Fox girls. However, at this level, her rtively weak bloodline showed its limitations, making it difficult for her to advance on her own. The other Crimson Fox girls were even worse off than her.


    Tang San came to the Golden Tree and entered the Spirit Summoning Array. Not only was the life aura rich here, but the elemental energy of heaven and earth was also extremely dense.


    Looking up at the increasingly tall Golden Tree, Tang San couldn''t help but feel a sense of warmth in his heart. He had nted and nurtured this tree with his hands, and it had slowly growin into what it was now.


    Sitting cross-legged under the Golden Tree, Tang San didn''t immediately start meditating or cultivating. Instead, he took something out of his storage ring.


    It was a crystal bottle. As soon as it appeared, the calm yellow light inside began to thrash around, trying to break out of the sealed bottle.


    This was the spirit essence Tang San had bought at the Ancestral Court''s grand auction, a spirit essence from the Solstice Empire.


    ording to the auctioneer''s introduction, absorbing the spirit essence could directly enhance divine consciousness. But would Tang San directly absorb this spirit essence? The answer was, of course, no. He was not that much of an idiot. Even setting aside the possible bacsh, directly absorbing the spirit essence was extremely wasteful.


    As the spirit essence was a condensed form of divine consciousness, it was inherently sentient. Those at the Ancestral Court believed it could only be suppressed and used as direct nourishment because the sentient spirit essence would seek to possess someone, hoping for a chance at rebirth.

 Chapter 432: The Golden Tree Spirit Essence

    <h4>Chapter 432: The Golden Tree Spirit Essence</h4>


    However, for a spirit essence, sessfully possessing someone was challenging, as they would almost inevitably have to take over a body of a different race. And what if they met a demon, an entirely ipatible existence?


    But when Tang San first saw this spirit essence and observed it with his spiritual power, he immediately determined what it was��and once more, reinforcing his belief that his luck was quite literally out of this world.


    He checked the seal on the mouth of the crystal bottle, a small sealing array. The spirit essence was locked inside, and without sufficient spiritual power to use its abilities, it could do absolutely nothing to get out.


    Tang San let out a thread of spiritual power, bypassing the seal and quietly entering the bottle with his mind.


    "Calm down first. Then we can talk."


    Tang San conveyed his thoughts to the spirit essence in the bottle.


    The spirit essence''s thrashing stopped��clearly, it had not expected someone to actuallymunicate with it. Immediately after, a voice filled with anger resounded in Tang San''s mind.


    "Let me out, let me out!"


    It was a strong roar, full of anger and resentment.


    "I will let you out, but we need to talk first," Tang San said calmly.


    "Talk about what? Let me out!"


    The spirit essence''s emotions were clearly unstable.


    Tang San said deeply, "In your current state, we can''tmunicate. You will lose the opportunity for freedom and... rebirth, maybe. Calm down first."


    The spirit essence did not respond this time, but it clearly heeded his warning. A light halo resembling an eye gradually formed, looking at Tang San from inside the bottle.


    Tang San just let it look at him.


    After a long while, the spirit essence''s voice reappeared, somewhat hoarse but noticeably less agitated. "Who are you?"


    Tang San said, "My name is Tang San. I bought you from the grand auction. I believe we should be friends."


    "Friends? Hey, wait, aren��t you a human?" The spirit essence''s voice was filled with doubt.


    "Yes, that is correct. And rest assured, I won''t devour you," Tang San said calmly.


    "Oh really, you won��t devour me? You despicable creatures, do you know how many years it took for me to develop intelligence, how many years to break free from the earth''s constraints, and I was about to ovee the heavenly tribtion? At that moment, you severed my roots, causing me to be obliterated during the tribtion, and captured my consciousness to make me like this. You scoundrels," the spirit essence''s emotions started to be unstable again.


    Tang San sighed and said, "You should calm your emotions first. First, everything you suffered has nothing to do with me. If I''m not mistaken, it was likely the demons that turned you into a spirit essence. Only a Great Demon King could snatch you away from under a heavenly tribtion. Second, as you cleverly pointed out, I am a human. Demons are my enemies, and the enemy of my enemy is a friend. Since you could undergo tribtion, your spiritual intelligence should be enough to understand what I mean."


    The spirit essence fell silent for a while, its emotions gradually calming. "Fair enough. What do you want?"


    Tang San said ndly, "I want to help you. If I''m not mistaken, you are a Golden Tree, right?"


    Yes, this spirit essence was formed from a Golden Tree��specifically, a Golden Tree that was about to reach the god level but failed its tribtion and had its sentient spirit seized. This was why Tang San was so determined to participate in the auction when he saw this spirit essence.


    "That''s right, I cultivated from a Golden Tree. So what?"


    Tang San said, "Well, it��s simple enough. I can''t restore your former glory just like that. But now that you have developed divine consciousness, I believe you can reach the god level faster if you are given another chance. Look behind you."


    As he spoke, Tang San pointed at the Golden Tree.


    The spirit essence eye rotated and, through the crystal bottle, immediately saw the Golden Tree emitting a faint golden glow.


    At that moment, it became agitated again. The yellow light ball started thrashing around, seemingly wanting to burst out of the crystal bottle.


    This time as well, Tang San didn''t stop it. He just silently waited.


    After a full quarter of an hour, the spirit essence finally calmed down again. "Let me out, quickly let me out. Damn, this just a juvenile Golden Tree. It hasn''t developed intelligence yet. Let me merge with it, and I can rise again. One hundred years, yes, at most one hundred years. I can reach the peak again with my divine consciousness and be a god!"


    Tang San shook his head and said, "No worries, it won''t take that long. With my help, you can achieve this goal in a much shorter time."


    "What do you want me to do?" The spirit essence''s intelligence finally came to the fore. When it saw the Golden Tree, all its anger transformed into joy. This was the best opportunity for its rebirth.


    Tang San said, "I don''t need you to do anything specifically. Just guard this area. In the future, I will give you more. All I want is that you consider this area your territory. That is your instinct anyway, so I don��t think it will be much of a problem."


    The Golden Tree''s instinct was to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and transform it into life energy. This life energy wasn''t beneficial to the Golden Tree itself, but it benefited absolutely everything around it. Golden Trees were quitemon in the Solstice Empire, and that was only natural��life energy was essential for vegetation to grow. However, it was rare for them to develop true intelligence. Moreover, the highest advancement for Golden Trees was just the tenth order, and for that reason, they were not regarded particrly highly in the Solstice Empire.


    However, this status was based on the knowledge of this world. In Tang San''s understanding, the Golden Tree was apletely different thing. The reason Golden Trees in this ne could only remain at the Nymph King level and not progress further wasn''t due to the ne suppression or something like that, but because the Golden Trees hadn''t found the right direction for further evolution.


    They might take tens of thousands of years to evolve if left to natural development. Tang San, however, was very familiar with this species and understood deeply the benefits and functions it could bring.


    "Then let me out!" the spirit essence said again.


    "Sure."


    Tang San smirked. Without any hesitation, he opened the crystal bottle directly, releasing the Golden Tree spirit essence from the seal.


    As soon as the crystal bottle was opened, the yellow light ball shot up into the sky, attempting to escape.


    Facing its escape, Tang San didn''t move or attempt to chase it. He remained seated, smiling calmly.


    The yellow light ball soared a hundred meters into the sky but stopped. After hovering for a moment, it slowly descended, returning to Tang San. A momentter, its voice echoed in Tang San''s mind through divine consciousness.


    "Hey, why aren��t you stopping me? Aren''t you afraid I''ll run away?"


    Tang San smiled and shook his head. "Why should I be afraid? This is mutually beneficial for both of us. We are really deep within the Empyrean Dominion, so I hope you don��t expect to find your kind anywhere near here. My purpose in helping you is simple: the life energy you release during your growth will nourish everything here, and that is quite enough for me. You should be able to feel the Spirit Summoning Array I''ve set up here. With these arrays, your recovery and growth speeds will greatly increase. And this is just the beginning. In the future, as I grow stronger, I will provide more good things to help you grow faster."


    The yellow light ball said, "If I grow to the god level in the future, you must not stop me from leaving."


    Tang San said, "Of course, we can sign a contract. When you break through to the tenth order, you can leave and I will not stop you. I��ll even help you through the tribtion."

 Chapter 433: The Fusion of the Spirit Essence and the Golden Evolution

    <h4>Chapter 433: The Fusion of the Spirit Essence and the Golden Evolution</h4>


    The spirit essence''s emotions visibly calmed down, but it remained resolute. <i>"Fine, then let''s make a contract."</i>


    Tang San smiled and nodded. Using his spiritual power, he quickly sketched a contract between them.


    The spirit essence said, <i>"Your spiritual power is strong, but it''s not on the same level as mine. Making a contract like this��" It had just started to speak when a blue light shed on the spiritual power contract before it, making the entire contract seem alive, filled with a life aura.</i>


    <i>"Divine consciousness?"</i> The spirit essence was shocked, and Tang San was scrutinized again. It hadn''t sensed even a trace of divine consciousness from him before!


    <i>"If I wanted to devour you, I would have done it already,"</i> Tang San said, making a gesture of invitation.


    The spirit essence hesitated no longer. A bit of golden light shot out from the center of the yellow light ball, imprinting on the contract. Instantly, the contract glowed with intertwined golden and blue light, then transformed into two streams of light, each entering the divine consciousness of Tang San and the Golden Tree spirit essence.


    The contract waspleted. This was a contract between peers, with no master-subordinate rtionship.


    Tang San''s smile deepened as he looked at the Golden Tree behind the spirit essence. <i>"Need any help?"</i>


    <i>"Of course not."</i> As a god-level Golden Tree spirit essence, merging with a young Golden Tree that hadn''t developed any intelligence yet was humiliating but extremely easy.


    With a sh of light, the spirit essence merged with the young tree. Immediately, the faint golden glow emitted by the Golden Tree intensified significantly. Even the Spirit Summoning Arrays beneath it lit up brightly. Arge amount of elemental energy of heaven and earth rushed in.


    A Golden Tree with wisdom and soul was vastly different from one thatcked them. This would elerate its growth hundreds or even thousands of times, which was precisely what Tang San urgently needed.


    After visiting the Ancestral Court, he understood even more clearly how rich the elemental energy of this ne was. With the previous state of the Golden Tree, this ce could neverpare to the Ancestral Court. That level of life aura was insufficient to support hispanions in achieving god-level cultivation.


    With that considered, it was no surprise he was so excited when he saw the Golden Tree spirit essence, and he bought it specifically in order to have it merge with the Golden Tree, giving it real life and making it an intelligent being. This way, the Golden Tree could grow rapidly and purify a massive amount of life energy, doing many beneficial things for this area and truly making it a treasurend.


    In the Solstice Empire, they only exploited the Golden Trees, and those that developed intelligence were scarce, so they never truly tapped into their potential. But here, Tang San would not only <i>not</i> drain the pond to catch the fish[1] but actually dig up arger pond and throw in more fodder so the fish could grow bigger.


    As for the part of the contract about leaving after reaching the god level, Tang San wasn��t worried about it even for a split second. Once that happened, he just needed to tell the Golden Tree that he had a way to help it continue evolving, and it would probably never want to leave.


    The Golden Tree emitted cracking sounds from all over. The spirit essence''s fusion raised its life level, requiring it to absorb arge amount of elemental energy to replenish itself. While absorbing massively, it also released a massive amount of intense life energy.


    Bathed in this life energy, Tang San''s fatigue quickly dissipated, and even the life force lost due to extracting that drop of essence blood was replenished immediately.


    A faint smile appeared on his face, and a mysterious glow shone in his eyes. One of the gains from this auction was already starting to show its effects.


    At this moment, the Golden Tree was growing at a visibly rapid pace, and the golden light illuminated the entire Golden Valley brightly.


    The patrolling Lion-Tiger n warriors immediately noticed the changes and felt Golden Valley''s increasingly rich life aura. At the same time, they felt a sense of physical and mentalfort as if their bloodlines were being activated. Resisting the urge to roar, they silently watched from a distance as the rapidly growing tree reached closer and closer to heaven.


    Tang San sat cross-legged under the tree and began to meditate and rest.


    After a day and night of full-speed travel and the blood oath he had made to ease Mei Gongzi''s suspicion, Tang San had been significantly drained. Now that he had recovered and rxed, he quickly entered a state of deep meditation.


    The life energy emitted by the Golden Tree bathed him, creating ayer of golden radiance on his skin, making him look dazzlingly brilliant.


    In the morning, as sunlight pierced through the valley clouds and shined upon the Golden Tree, its warmth also awakened Tang San.


    He opened his eyes and immediately felt an indescribable sense offort washing over him.


    Then, he saw that the Golden Tree beside him had undergone a tremendous transformation.


    The trunk was more than twice as thick as before, and it now stood over thirty meters tall. The bark was covered in cracks like a shed snakeskin, and through the cracks, anotheryer of fresh and healthy bark could be seen.


    And this was just because the spirit essence controlled its own power in order to prevent the Golden Tree from overgrowing and bing hollow. Otherwise, its growth would have been even more terrifying.


    Over the past night, the elemental energy in the vast area surrounding Golden Valley had beenpletely depleted. At the same time, the life energy within Golden Valley was so dense it was almost viscous. All living beings in the area had a faintyer of golden light radiating from their bodies, a change brought about by the rapid evolution of the Golden Tree.


    "Benefactor, you''re awake," a familiar voice sounded.


    Tang San turned his head to see the elder of the Lion-Tiger n, as well as the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, Big Cat, and his wife, Little Cat, waiting there. The Crimson Fox girls were also waiting on the other side.


    Tang San smiled slightly and stood up. "Greetings, Elder. Hello, brother Big Cat and sister-inw."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saintughed heartily. "You brought us such a big surprise with your return. Last night, the life energy was so rich that I couldn''t sleep. Without the bloodline evolution, I might have been forced to break through and I would��ve been struck down by the bloodline conflict."


    His cultivation order decreased after his bloodline evolved to form the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral. This was due to thepression of his bloodline power, which actually allowed his body to withstand a greater amount of energy. Therefore, he was no longer at the peak of the ninth order.


    Tang San smiled. "The overall life energy here shouldn''t be much less than what is avable at the Ancestral Court. Moreover, as the Golden Tree grows, the life energy will be even more abundant."


    The elder sighed. "This truly is a paradise! We were already filled with surprise when we first arrived here, but this surprise kept getting bigger. Thank you, benefactor. Without you, our n might have..."


    Tang San waved his hand. "Elder, let''s not talk about that. I have something else to discuss with you this time."


    The elder''s heart stirred, and he asked, "Should we talk here or over at our ce?"


    The Lion-Tiger n had built wooden houses in a corner of the Golden Valley. Their numbers were small, and they chose a secluded corner that didn''t affect the valley''s scenery.


    Tang San said, "Let''s talk here." As he spoke, he waved his hand, creating a barrier of spiritual power that enveloped him and the three members of the Lion-Tiger n.


    He wasn''t worried about the Crimson Fox girls overhearing, but he preferred the other members of the Lion-Tiger n nearby not to hear this yet. After all, this matter needed the elder''s and the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s approval before moving forward.


    "Elder, do you know about the God-ying Sword?" Tang San asked directly.


    The elder was startled. "Of course, how can I not know it? Isn''t that the weapon of the Golden Lion Great Demon King? When the God-ying Sword rises, gods fall!"


    1. ������桪taking the easy way out in the short term but ruining things forter. It��s about making a quick gain without thinking about the future, leaving nothing behind in the long run. It��s a warning to avoid short-sighted decisions that might solve a problem today but create more significant issues down the road. ?

 Chapter 434: The Decision of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint

    <h4>Chapter 434: The Decision of the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint</h4>


    Tang San said, "The Lion King you''re referring to is probably no longer around." He then recounted what he saw and heard at the grand auction.


    Upon hearing that the Golden Lion n auctioned off the God-ying Sword to find a brave warrior willing to challenge a powerful enemy, both the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and the elder showed peculiar expressions.


    "Serves them right. They deserve it," Little Cat couldn''t help but say from the side. This tall Lion-Tiger woman clearly deeply hated the Golden Lion and the Golden Tiger ns.


    The elder sighed deeply and said, "To fall to such a state, how could it havee to this? Did the White Tiger Demon Emperor not intervene?"


    Tang San shook his head. "That, I don''t know. But it was the Golden Lion Great Demon King who died, not the Golden Tiger one. That''s probably why the White Tiger Demon Emperor didn''t intervene."


    The elder looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "So let me get this... You want Big Cat to take up the God-ying Sword?"


    Tang San countered, "Elder, do you want the Lion-Tiger n to just live peacefully here, or do you want to make a name for yourselves and show those who thought you brought misfortune that you are superior to them in every respect?"


    The elder fell silent, and the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint didn''t speak either. Little Cat looked at Tang San, then at Big Cat, wanting to speak but ultimately holding back.


    Deep down, she didn''t want her husband to take the risk. But the one who brought it up was their savior, so she couldn''t refute it. Moreover, she knew her husband had an unyielding heart. As the strongest warrior of the Lion-Tiger n and now possessing a first-tier bloodline, was he really going to remain hidden in this paradise forever?


    Tang San said, "You don''t need to feel pressured; if what you want is a quiet life, then you can just keep guarding this valley and that��ll be perfect. I just think this is an opportunity for the Lion-Tiger n to earn their rightful ce on the greater world stage. If you think it''s not feasible, I can just let go of the Sword Saint Token. It won''t be a loss for the Golden Lion n either. They don''t know who I am, and if they want to investigate, they''ll have to consider the Sword Saint Pce."


    The elder sighed. "Benefactor, our n has just struggled back from the brink of death, all thanks to you. By rights, I shouldn''t oppose you... but our n has so few members left. Perhaps it''s because I''m old, but I don''t want the children to take any more risks. At least let us develop and grow stronger first."


    Tang San nodded, "I respect your opinion."


    He didn''t have absolute confidence in persuading the Lion-Tiger n. Since the elder was unwilling, he would naturally not force the issue.


    At that moment, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up. "No, I''ll go!"


    The elder and Little Cat both looked at him and saw the resolute look in Big Cat''s eyes.


    "Elder, Little Cat, the benefactor is right. We can''t miss this opportunity. We can''t lose our edge just because of the pain we''ve endured. The Golden Lion n has lost their leader and is in a state of chaos. Previously, the lion and tiger races considered us an ominous anomaly. Now, with the benefactor''s help, we''ve not only solved the bloodline conflict but even evolved to a higher bloodline tier. Now that the Golden Lion n needs it, we can show them hope."


    As he spoke, he looked around the Golden Valley, "This ce is wonderful, and I''ve thought about spending my life here with Little Cat. It would be a very happy life. But we are strong, and we must stand tall and proud. Can our Lion-Tiger n really just wait here to die? Elder, you know best that with our current numbers, if we continue like this, our lineage will be extinct in at least three generations. Our bloodline will make it increasingly difficult to have offspring. Is this what we want?


    "We need their recognition and support to move forward and ensure our n''s survival. Only this way can our Lion-Tiger lineage truly stand tall in the Empyrean Dominion. So, I must go. I must take the God-ying Sword, break through to be a god, and strive for the throne of a Demon Emperor in the future. If I be a Demon Emperor, who will dare say our Lion-Tiger n is unlucky?"


    Seeing the elder''s eyes gradually reddening, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s voice softened. "Elder, I know what you''re worried about. I''ll go alone. It won''t affect our n''s situation even if something happens to me. Let me go; otherwise, I won''t be at peace for the rest of my life. If I seed, it will be the rebirth of our n, a true rebirth."


    His eyes showed determination, resilience, and a hint of the defiance Tang San had seen in him in the Great Beast Fighting Arena.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had never been one to be subordinate to others. He wanted to be stronger. He had the mighty Lion-Tiger Golden Astral butcked the support of a powerful backing.


    The Golden Lion n was an ancient and powerful one, with deep foundations. Naturally, Big Cat desired to be respected by this n, prove that the Lion-Tigers'' existence was not an ill omen, gain their recognition and support with his strength, and be an even stronger Lion-Tiger Sword Saint to one day stand at the pinnacle of the demon races.


    Tang San had seen through his character, so he bid for the God-ying Sword at the grand auction.


    The look in the elder��s eyes gradually changed. He forcefully patted the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s shoulder. "You are already the leader of the Lion-Tiger n. Your decision is the n''s decision. I''m old. I''ll stay here to guard our home and protect our people."


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint opened his arms and gave the elder a strong hug. "Elder, believe in me. I will be fine. I will be the pride of the Lion-Tiger n."


    "You can go!" At that moment, another voice came from beside the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. He turned his head sharply to look at Little Cat.


    Little Cat''s eyes zed as she looked at him. "But you cannot abandon me. My illness is cured, and my bloodline has fused. I am also the strongest female in the n. If you want to be the Lion-Tiger n''s hero, I also want to be. So, wherever you go, I will go. As long as you take me with you, if you want to kill, I will kill with you. I will soar with you if you want to soar into the sky. I will dive with you if you want to dive into the sea. If you live, I live. I will be your empress if you be the Lion-Tiger Demon Emperor, and if that journey leads you to your grave, my tail will be wrapped around your tail as we head together to theherworld."


    Little Cat''s words were equally resolute, without a hint of hesitation.


    Big Cat''s eyes grew moist. He suddenly opened his arms and pulled Little Cat into a tight embrace. "Alright, we live and die together. As long as I have breath, I will never let anything and anyone harm you."


    Watching the scene before him, Tang San couldn''t help but feel a bit mncholic, even wondering if what he was doing was right or wrong.


    But he quickly dismissed the thought. Given the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s personality, even if Tang San didn''t give him this opportunity, he would likely find a chance to venture out independently. His heart was not at peace.


    "When do we leave?" the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint asked Tang San.


    Tang San said, "I will return to the Ancestral Court to take care of some things, but I need to stay here for two more days. You can prepare and then head to the Ancestral Court. I can travel faster than you, so I will catch up with you, and if I don��t, you can stay at the White Tiger Hotel there until I arrive. We will meet up and then set off to the Golden Lion n together."


    "Alright."


    The Lion-Tiger ncked the natural ability to fly; they weren''t Winged Tigers. They could use the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral for that purpose, but even though they were extremely fast, the energy consumption was simply too great for it to be sustainable. Tang San let them go ahead because he had some matters to handle here, and even if he left two dayster, he would probably still reach the Ancestral Court before the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and his wife.

 Chapter 435: The Function of the Fox Tail Relics (1)

    <h4>Chapter 435: The Function of the Fox Tail Relics (1)</h4>


    The Lion Tiger Sword Saint and his wife left ahead, but Tang San was not in a rush to leave Golden Valley. The spirit essence of the Golden Tree had just merged with the tree and it had to be observed whether the fusion was optimal. If necessary, Tang San could deal with the problems that might appear.


    However, as far as he could see, the fusion was perfect. After all, they were of the same species, and it was a high-level being merging into a lower-level body. The Golden Tree itself had no intelligence, so adding the spirit essence, with its thousands of years of cultivation experience and wisdom, would significantly elerate its growth.


    Tang San silently observed the state of the Golden Tree for a while. After the fusion, the spirit essence seemed to enter a dormant state to let its divine consciousness fully integrate with the Golden Tree. This was a somewhat lengthy process, because the divine consciousness was too powerful for the original Golden Tree; the spirit essence had to integrate slowly to avoid damaging it, and at the same time, the tree had to grow in order to better amodate the power of the spirit essence. Otherwise, there was a risk of the Golden Tree bursting.


    Fortunately, the spirit essence clearly knew what to do, so no problems had arisen. There was no need to worry about the Golden Tree, at least in the short term.


    Even if the Solstice Empire had powerful Golden Trees, their life energy would disperse over arge area. But Golden Valley was different. Thanks to Tang San''s linked arrays, the life energy was confined within the valley and couldn''t escape, creating twopletely different worlds inside and outside the valley. The life energy here was incredibly rich, and it would only be richer.


    Rising into the air and treading the waves, Tang San arrived outside the cave on the other side of theke.


    "May Ie in?" he called toward the cave. After all, it was full of young women inside, and he needed to avoid any misunderstandings.


    Soon, chattering voices came from inside, and the girls quickly ran out. "Master, you��re here? Pleasee in!"


    Some of the Crimson Fox girls were rather disheveled, but they didn''t seem to care in front of Tang San. They surrounded him with giggles andughter.


    After a long time of recuperation in Golden Valley, they no longer looked as pale and thin as when they first arrived. The Crimson Fox bloodline stimted by the life energy here had significantly enhanced their beauty; they were all youthful, gorgeous, and fresh, like newly blossomed lotus flowers.


    Seeing a group of beautiful girls surrounding him, Tang San felt overwhelmed and quickly said, "Everyone stand properly and quiet down."


    Seeing his serious expression, the Crimson Fox girls quickly stood properly and looked at Tang San with curious eyes.


    Tang San called over Red One and asked, "How is your cultivation going? How��s it going with the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and Purple Demon Eyes?"


    Red One quickly replied, "Everyone is working hard on their cultivation, but our bloodline concentration is limited. We''re not progressing as quickly as we did back in the day. Butst night the aura of the Golden Tree seemed to change, and it feels like our cultivation speed has increased. As for the two techniques, everyone is doing pretty well with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track now. As you said, it works exceptionally well with our Crimson Fox transformation. It''s like it was tailor-made for us."


    The Crimson Fox transformation''s ability was illusion, especially illusionary transformations. They weren��t exceptionally skilled inbat, and neither were they the best at charms among the fox ns, but they were most certainly top-notch in terms of agility and creating illusions. Tang San''s Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track indeedplemented these abilities perfectly.


    Tang San nodded and said, "Your individual strength is limited, but working together, you can achieve excellent results. In the future, I''ll teach you somebination attacks. We''ll start when I return from this trip. But you need to keep working hard on your cultivation. Without enough cultivation, even the best techniques won''t be effective."


    "Yes, Master," the Crimson Fox girls quickly bowed and agreed.


    "I''ve brought something that should help you this time. I haven''t used it before, so there might be some risks, but I will personally protect you. If I''m correct, this item should resolve the bloodline issues you are facing. If you trust me, let''s give it a try."


    Red One quickly replied, "Of course we trust you, Master. Our lives are yours. We''ll do whatever you say."


    Among the eighteen Crimson Fox girls, Red One wasn''t the most beautiful, but she was the most mature. Her tall, full figure was that of a grown woman. When she looked at Tang San, her eyes always held a hint of admiration. Under her gaze, Tang San constantly reminded himself not to get carried away. These girls always believed they were at his disposal, so he had to be vignt, not against them but against himself. Whenever he faced them, he continuously recited Mei Gongzi''s name in his heart to prevent any inappropriate thoughts.


    If it were an ordinary young man facing so many beautiful girls, he might not have been able to hold back. But Tang San''s willpower was strong. Though he was kind to the girls, he always kept a certain distance. This made the Crimson Fox girls both love and hate him. They liked that their master was a gentleman but often questioned whether they really wanted him to be one.


    Tang San looked at Red One and said, "Let''s start with you. Let''s go inside the cave."


    Following the Crimson Fox girls into the cave, Tang San instructed the others to guard the entrance and not let anyone in. Then he had Red One sit opposite him while he sat cross-legged, facing her.


    Red One looked at Tang San curiously. Although Tang San always wore a mask now, they had seen his true face before. She could clearly feel that Tang San had be much more maturepared to their initial meeting. His tall figure was already no different from that of an adult. His clear eyes always carried a calm and wise glow. For some reason, Red One felt a special sense of peace whenever she was by his side.


    A sh of light appeared in Tang San''s hand, and the three Fox Tail Relics he had obtained from the grand auction were now in his palm.


    When the three Fox Tail Relics appeared, all the Crimson Fox girls present trembled, almost simultaneously looking in the direction of Tang San. The weaker ones even wobbled, and it was only with the support of their sisters that they didn''t fall to the ground.


    The Fox Tail Relics were three long, transparent crystal needles, each emitting a brilliant rainbow light. They looked simr, but they were not exactly identical��they were different in size. The longest was about the length of a palm, while the shortest was only half that. Also, although the light they radiated seemed multicolored at a first nce, a closer look revealed a bright red, hair-like strand inside each crystal.


    Tang San held the Fox Tail Relics in his hand, looking intensely at Red One, and asked, "Tell me, how do you feel now?"


    Red One''s voice had a hint of confusion. "A bit dizzy, my body feels warm, and for some reason, I feel the need to kneel down in front of these things.... Ah! My whole body is starting to feel hot!"

 Chapter 436: The Function of the Fox Tail Relics (2)

    <h4>Chapter 436: The Function of the Fox Tail Relics (2)</h4>


    Tang San''s eyes shed with divine light, and ayer of spiritual energy shielded him and Red One, isting the aura of the Fox Tail Relics from the outside. This allowed the other Crimson Fox girls to return to normal to some extent. However, it was evident that they felt more or less the same as Red One; their faces were flushed, and some even started to remove their outer garments.


    "Don''t take them off," Tang San quickly said. He hadn''t anticipated this situation. His lightmand helped the Crimson Fox girls unaffected by the Fox Tail Relics to regain theirposure quickly, though they were showing some pretty confused expressions.


    However, at this moment, Red One let out a soft moan and unexpectedly lunged toward Tang San.


    Tang San''s brain almost stopped. He raised his left hand, cing his forefinger on Red One''s forehead to stop her and keep her steady.


    "Gather your spirit, calm your mind!" Tang San said in a deep voice, adding a hint of Lion-Tiger aura to his words for intimidation. This brought Red One to her senses, though the blush on her face became even more pronounced.


    Tang San returned the three Fox Tail Relics to his storage ring with a sh of light. Red One''s delicate body trembled slightly, and a faint heat seemed to emanate from her as she swayed as if she were drunk.


    Tang San kept his forefinger on her forehead, silently sensing her physical state. He discovered that Red One''s condition was something he had yet to see. Her blood seemed to boil, and all her pores were open, eagerly absorbing the rich life energy in the air.


    Fortunately, they were in Golden Valley, where life energy was abundant for her to absorb. If they had been outside, it wouldn''t have been possible for her to absorb life energy like this.


    Tang San silently calcted. If the absorption of life energy was insufficient, her bloodline''s boiling and burning could result in bloodline purification but a decline in vitality. He hadn''t expected the Fox Tail Relics to have such a massive effect. Weren��t they supposed to stabilize the mind, eliminate inner demons, and prevent bloodline bacsh? Could it be that the effects differed for those of the same n?


    He had guessed correctly. A Fox Tail Relic''s effects were indeed most powerful for members of the fox race. The ims of preventing inner demons and avoiding bloodline bacsh only applied to outsiders. For fox demons, it had the effect of refining the bloodline.


    However, during the refining process, the side effect was a significant consumption of vitality, making it a double-edged sword. Generally, such an item was only used when one had reached a bottleneck in cultivation that was impossible to break through. Moreover, the higher the cultivation level of the user, the lesser the effect.


    On the opposite side, the Crimson Fox girls weren''t even genuine members of the Crimson Fox n, much less high-order ones! Their bloodline was thin, and they relied entirely on the rich life force in Golden Valley to gradually evolve and cultivate, reaching their current level.


    The Fox Tail Relic was simply too powerful a treasure for them to bear, not to mention there were three of them at once. Thus, their bloodlines immediately started to boil when they sensed the relics�� aura. Fortunately, there was ample life energy here, especially after the Golden Tree merged with the Golden Essence, releasing an even more significant amount of life energy. This prevented any dangerous situation.


    Although Tang San hadn''t anticipated this situation, sensing Red One''s physical state and seeing her absorb arge amount of life energy to replenish herself, he quickly understood what was happening and was overjoyed.


    In any other ce, using this relic to refine the bloodline would likely require many rare treasures topensate for the loss of vitality from the blood-boiling and refining process. But here, thest thing theycked was life energy!


    In fact, this was one of the reasons behind the Crimson Fox n putting up their treasures, the Crimson Fox Tail Relics, for sale.


    A Fox Tail Relic was the most precious treasure for any fox n, an absolute n-protecting relic. However, this was only under the condition of having enough resources to support its use.


    As Tang San had judged, using the Fox Tail Relic to refine bloodlines required preparing many rare treasures. Where did these treasurese from? Naturally, they had to be exchanged for resources or bought with money!


    The Crimson Fox n was not particrly wealthy and ranked rtively low among the fox ns. Whenever a n member''s cultivation reached a certain level and hit a bottleneck, they would use the Fox Tail Relic to aid their breakthrough. This had be a tradition. n members would voluntarily apply for it during such times, but this naturally meant using the n''s resources. Moreover, the higher the level of advancement, the more rare treasures were needed.


    Initially, the Crimson Fox n could still be self-sufficient. By selling human vassals and having some of the exquisite Crimson Fox girls marry into powerful ns as concubines, they could exchange for resources sufficient to sustain the n. However, a significant problem arose a few hundred years ago.


    Due to the protection of powerful ns, the Crimson Fox n''s living conditions were veryfortable, luxurious even, leading to an increasing reproduction rate. As the number of n members grew and upper echelons became corrupt, without strict rules for using the Fox Tail Relic, resources were massively depleted, and the n became poorer instead.


    Which high-ranked members of a n wouldn''t want their offspring to take shortcuts for advancement? But taking these shortcuts came at a price��having to buy many rare treasures, for one. Consequently, the n started losing money at a ridiculous rate. In fact, right now, they were in a deficit, and it didn��t show any signs of improvement.


    The upper echelons of the Crimson Fox n had also tried to establish rules prohibiting the use of the Fox Tail Relic, but could this be stopped just by some rules written on paper? The upper echelons themselves often secretly used it. Ultimately, when there was no other choice, they decided to take it to the grand auction for sale.


    The secret of the Fox Tail Relic was known only within the fox ns. The Crimson Fox n initially thought another fox n would surely buy the relics. This way, they could get arge sum of money to solve their urgent needs, and then make do for a while without the relics, during which time they could also umte more wealth. After getting through the most challenging times, they could repurchase the relic. After all, the Fox Tail Relics of the Crimson Fox n had the best effect on Crimson Foxes; for other fox ns, it was a sacred object, but it couldn��t be used optimally.


    But to their great surprise, an outsider had ultimately obtained the relic. Due to the appearance of the emperors on the first day, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had ordered all emperors not to participate in the rare item auction, allowing the three Fox Tail Relics to fall into Tang San''s hands. Otherwise, with the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s status as the ruler of the fox race, he would have undoubtedly helped the Crimson Fox n temporarily hold these three relics.


    Upon learning that the one who had obtained the relics was not a fox demon, the Crimson Fox n intended tomunicate with the auction winner to see how to handle the matter. However, number 338 had already chosen to leave after the rare item auction ended, making it difficult to find him for discussion.


    Now, these three Fox Tail Relics seemed a considerable gain, providing even more benefits to the Crimson Fox girls than imagined.


    As Tang San pondered, Red One finally began to wake up.


    "Master, I''m so hot and thirsty!" she murmured.


    Tang San said, "You can drink some water. I''m helping you refine your bloodline. After the refinement, your cultivation should be twice as effective with half the effort. Follow me."


    He stood up and helped Red One to her feet as he spoke.


    Red One now felt an overwhelming heat throughout her body, a restlessness she couldn''t describe. Right now, Tang San appeared even more handsome than usual. Without her remaining sense of reason, she would have thrown herself into his arms.


    This was a side effect of bloodline refinement. On the one hand, it stimted the inherent allure of the Crimson Fox bloodline, but on the other hand, it also stimted desire.

 Chapter 437: The Function of the Fox Tail Relics (3)

    <h4>Chapter 437: The Function of the Fox Tail Relics (3)</h4>


    Tang San led her back to the Golden Tree. The life energy here was the most abundant. Red One''s body absorbed the life energy autonomously; the feeling of thirst quickly diminished, and her eyes gradually became clear.


    Tang San had her sit with her back toward him and ced his right hand on her back, silently observing the changes in her bloodline.


    The boiling and self-refining bloodline was gradually strengthened by the nourishing life energy. The concentration of her bloodline significantly increased, improving by at least one tier, which would allow Red One further to enhance her cultivation by at least one order. And this was just from being close to the aura of the Fox Tail Relics.


    Tang San didn''t force the bloodline refinement to continue. A sudden increase in purity might not be suitable for Red One. Steady improvement was the safest way. Otherwise, the rapid consumption of life energy, even with external life energy support, could result in her life essence being depleted, affecting her lifespan.


    After ensuring that Red One''s condition had stabilized, Tang San let her leave and called over Red Two.


    He took out one Fox Tail Relic, allowing Red Two to be influenced by its aura and refine her bloodline. This time, as it was done right next to the evolved Golden Tree, the process was even smoother than it had been with Red One, and soon, Red Two''s bloodline also evolved.


    In this way, Tang San let the eighteen Crimson Fox girls undergo bloodline refinement individually. He took the opportunity to observe the girls'' cultivation.


    He discovered that during the bloodline refinement process, the lower the girl''s cultivation, the better the refinement effect. The weakest, Red Sixteen, who was not even at the fourth order due to her thin Crimson Fox bloodline, saw her bloodline purity increase to a level that could cultivate up to the sixth order, a difference of two whole orders. This was an unexpected joy.


    With this round of bloodline enhancement, the Crimson Fox girls wouldn''t have any problems with their cultivation for a while. In fact, with the Fox Tail Relics, they likely wouldn''t face bloodline issues before reaching the ninth order. Moreover, with the abundant life energy here, this ce was undoubtedly the best cultivation ground for these girls.


    After Red Eighteen''s bloodline was enhanced, Tang San instructed them to return to the cave to continue cultivating and stabilizing their realms. By this time, an entire day had passed, and it was now evening.


    The girls returned to the cave while Tang San carefully observed the three Fox Tail Relics in his hand.


    Among the three Fox Tail Relics, the longest was about fourteen centimeters, the second longest was about ten, and the shortest was seven. The aura they emitted also varied; the longest had the most potent aura and emitted the most intense seven-colored light. The other two were rtively weaker.


    From the aura of these three Fox Tail Relics, Tang San could roughly judge that the shortest one should havee from a Crimson Fox Demon King, a tenth-order powerhouse. The second longest was from someone at the peak of the Demon King level, while the one over longest should havee from a Great Demon King. The Crimson Fox n had once produced a Great Demon King!


    From a day''s use and observation, Tang San could now be sure that the Fox Tail Relics�� effect was far more significant than that of essence blood; in fact, it was iparable to normal essence blood. However, the side effect was the burning of life energy.


    As he pondered, Tang San kept the shortest Fox Tail Relic and put away the other two. Then, he slowly inserted the shortest Fox Tail Relic into the tip of his left index finger.


    The Fox Tail Relic was as sharp as a needle. When it pierced Tang San''s finger, he didn''t feel pain but a numbness in his fingertip. Then he distinctly felt a gentle energy, instantly spreading throughout his body and finally flowing toward his sea of consciousness.


    He didn��t exactly recognize the aura, but it made his mind exceptionally clear, even causing a certain degree of agitation in his divine consciousness. Tang San distinctly felt his spiritual power converting into divine consciousness slightly faster in that instant.


    <i>Is it calming the mind and spirit?</i>


    He didn''t have a bloodline imprint from the Crimson Fox n, so the influence wasn''t on his bloodline but instead on the aspects mentioned during the auction. Now, it seemed that these effects were indeed quite impressive! Although he couldn''t immediately understand the underlying principle, holding the Fox Tail Relic while cultivating his spiritual power benefited the enhancement of his divine consciousness. This alone was invaluable to Tang San. However, he also faintly felt that as his spiritual power enhanced his divine consciousness, some of his life energy was absorbed by the Fox Tail Relic.


    Trying it again, he was even more confident of his initial feeling. The Fox Tail Relic indeed absorbed his life energy. This was probably the foundation of its mystical properties being usable long-term��it stabilized spiritual energy and used life energy to power itself.


    If there were insufficient external life energy, it would only have a calming effect at most. However, when life energy was abundant, and the user didn''t mind their life energy being absorbed, it had a calming and invigorating impact.


    This effect was probably very limited for the demons and nymphs. Considering the expenditure of natural treasures, the cost-effectiveness of enhancing divine consciousness wasn''t high. Otherwise, the Crimson Fox n would never have auctioned this item for money.


    But for Tang San��or rather, for humans, it was different. Especially for Tang San, who had lived three lifetimes��he didn''t just bring the experiences from his previous life, but also the Mysterious Heaven Technique, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Mysterious Jade Hands, and various other pieces of knowledge from his first life.


    In his first life, he was a disciple of the Tang Sect. The Tang Sect''s cultivation, including the Mysterious Heaven Technique, involved knowledge of acupoints. Each person has 36 major acupoints and 108 minor ones. These acupoints are essential body parts where nerves or energy gather. Most major acupoints are lethal, such as the Baihui point at the top of the head, the Lingtai point at the center of the back, and the Tanzhong point at the center of the chest. These are ces where a decisive strike can be fatal.


    However, the Mysterious Heaven Technique involved focusing on the energy flow through these points, and the circuit of this energy throughout the body was essentially what cultivation was. Making these acupoints more essible was necessary to improve one''s cultivation. Cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Technique involved clearing these acupoints, allowing one''s body to generate internal energy.


    When Tang San absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, he used his spiritual power to control and open all his acupoints, making the absorption of spiritual energy much more effective.


    Thus, with the three Fox Tail Relics in Tang San''s hands and his knowledge of acupoints, using the relics as needles to stimte the acu points would naturally enhance the effects. The primary focus should be on the acupoints of the head. Of course, this required time for experimentation, starting with the minor points as the primary points posed significant risks. This was why Tang San initially experimented with the least potent of the three Fox Tail Relics. If he started too intensely, his divine consciousness could be disrupted.


    Moreover, such cultivation could only be carried out beside the Golden Tree. In another location with insufficient life energy, he would be immediately drained, making the practice counterproductive.


    After a night''s experimentation, Tang San had grasped the mysteries of the process. At the very least, he could now use the Fox Tail Relic to stimte the minor acupoints on his head, enhancing the speed of converting his spiritual power into divine consciousness.


    The effect was quite good. His spiritual power, already at the peak of the ninth order and nearly saturated, benefited from this stimtion; the process consumed spiritual power and converted it into divine consciousness. For him, there could be no greater benefit. The consumed spiritual power could slowly be restored, and it was much faster than letting it passively turn into divine consciousness.

 Chapter 438: Returning To The Ancestral Court

    <h4>Chapter 438: Returning To The Ancestral Court</h4>


    Using the Fox Tail Relic to stimte his acupoints to restore his divine consciousness was much faster than slowly converting his spiritual power. And this was before he dared to stimte the major points.


    Enhancing his divine consciousness had immense benefits. For instance, with a strong enough divine consciousness, Tang San could suppress his cultivation order for longer, allowing his energy to be more concentrated, refined, and pure. This was to prepare for the most challenging moment of breaking through to godhood in the future.


    The following day, Tang San checked the Crimson Fox girls again. After confirming that they had no problems and their cultivation speed had indeed significantly increased, his tasks in the Golden Valley wereplete.


    After bidding farewell to everyone, Tang San spread his wings again, leaving the Kali Mountains and flying back towards the Ancestral Court.


    His business in the Ancestral Court was far from finished. The Ice Maiden n''s leader still awaited him at the White Tiger Hotel. Although Tang San didn''t necessarily have to obtain the Ice Throne artifact, it would be an absolute treasure for Wu Bingji''s cultivation. He had to find a way to reach an agreement with the Ice Maiden n.


    It shouldn''t be too difficult as long as he could help the Ice Maiden n solve their pressing issues.


    Tang San was in an excellent mood. He had seen Mei Gongzi, and the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had decided to emerge from seclusion for the God-ying Sword. Additionally, the Crimson Fox girls had improved, and Golden Valley''s foundation had been greatly strengthened by merging that spiritual essence with the Golden Tree. The potential for future growth was enormous. Once the Golden Tree gained the glory that he well remembered, it would be an absolutely heavenly cultivation aid, greatly benefiting humanity.


    This trip to the Ancestral Court had yielded incredibly rich rewards. If it weren''t for the invisible pressure brought by that little girl, Crystalline, this trip could be described as perfect.


    As for now, the most crucial thing for Tang San was to quickly grow stronger, not only by himself but together with hispanions. The greatest challenge he would face next was bound to be the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s return to Kali City.


    It was clear that the Peacock Great Demon King would not be able to handle the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor again. In such a situation, finding a solution to help Mei Gongzi ascend to leadership and protecting Kali City became of utmost importance.


    Scaring off the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor as he had donest time was not an easy task. Moreover, if the "Sea God" were to appear again, it might attract an investigation from the Ancestral Court''s powerful beings, which Tang San did not want to happen. He didn''t want to bring trouble to the Endless Blue Sea.


    Right now, the most important thing was time��time was tight! If worse came to worst, he would have Mei Gongzi abandon everything in Kali City and take her and her mother to hide in the Golden Valley. Although this was certainly something neither the Redemption Society nor Mei Gongzi would want, if push came to shove, they would have to do it.


    They would have to take it one step at a time without sufficient strength, but some things needed to be arranged in advance. At the very least, he had to ensure they could escape when necessary.


    As he flew, Tang San nned how to face theing situation. What would be the best case, and how would he respond? What about the worst case, and how should he deal with it?


    After a long flight, he saw the Ancestral Court in the distance, and finallynded. He certainly couldn''t fly directly in��that would be suicidal. Thankfully, with his piece of identification showing noble status, he had the right to simply walk into the Ancestral Court.


    However, he had given the Crystal Demon Emperor''s and Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s tokens to Mei Gongzi and the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s token to the Golden Lion n. Now, he had nothing to show his protected status, so he had to proceed cautiously.


    Tang San needed to visit two ces this time: the Sacred Mountains of the two Nymph Emperors that were at the pinnacle of the nymph races.


    Since he had never been to the Solstice Empire, his understanding of the nymphs was far less than that of the demons. However, his Blue Silver Emperor martial soul in his previous life was nt-based, so he felt an innate connection to them. The Blue Silver Emperor he had carefully cultivated in this life had grown robustly, but its tier was still insufficient. He hoped that climbing the Sacred Mountains of the Sunborne Nymph Emperor and the Earthshade Nymph Emperor would bring some fortuitous encounters. It would be best if he could also obtain tokens,ying some groundwork for his future.


    Walking into the Ancestral Court was much more troublesome than taking a carriagest time, not because it was far or because someone started trouble with him but due to the inspections.


    The Aetherhorn Merchant Association''s convoy had high-level credentials, so the inspections were not as stringent. Tang San, walking in as a human, faced inspection after inspection, passing through six checkpoints before finally re-entering the Ancestral Court.


    Gazing at the towering pces and the surrounding Ancestral Mountains with their Thrones, Tang San pulled up his hood and quickly headed toward the White Tiger Hotel.


    Based on the timing, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint couple would still take a while to arrive at the Ancestral Court. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had noble status, as he had already achieved a hundred victories in the Great Beast Fighting Arena individual battles. However, Little Cat had no such qualifications. Big Cat would probablye to find him for that.


    They would take about five to seven days to reach the Ancestral Court with their speed. During this time, he needed to handle all necessary matters swiftly.


    Returning to the vicinity of the White Tiger Hotel, Tang San did not immediately return to his room but contacted Zhang Haoxuan first. Within the Ancestral Court, themunicator naturally worked again.


    "Master, I��m back."


    ��Oh, finally. I was really worried when you left. Fortunately, you left early. The Crimson Fox n has been looking for you everywhere. The Aetherhorn Merchant Association was reliable; they vouched for your identity and didn��t disclose your origins or whereabouts.


    A slight smile appeared at the corner of Tang San��s mouth. It was no surprise that the Crimson Fox n was looking for him. The Fox Tail Relics were significant. If they ended up with a n belonging to the same race, there was still a chance to get them back. But in the hands of outsiders, where would they even start looking? Despite therge sum they received, the loss was still too great for the Crimson Fox n.


    Of course, regardless of how great that loss was, Tang San had no intention of returning the Fox Tail Relics.


    "Master, how was the third auction day? Were there any good items?" This was what Tang San was most concerned about. If time allowed, he would��ve liked to stay and see what treasures would be auctioned.


    Zhang Haoxuan''s voice was filled with admiration. ��There were so many good items, and six emperors attended. Very few divine objects in the auction ended up in the hands of actual bidders. It��s more like an interest distribution for those top powerhouses and major ns. Many good items were taken by powerful beings. Thest three items though... now those were real divine artifacts!


    "What were they?" Tang San asked curiously.


    ��Well, the first items were also great, there were many natural treasures and the like. Some can even directly transform a person from a mortal into a god, although they��d still need to survive their tribtion. Thest three items were two weapons and a shield, all amazing divine items. One of the weapons and the shield were left behind by dead emperors. The other weapon was made by a master cksmith who spent a long time and vast resources on it. It was originally meant for the Ancestral Court, but since the Ancestral Court couldn��t allocate it properly, it was put up for auction and eventually bought by an emperor."

 Chapter 439: Huang Bingbing

    <h4>Chapter 439: Huang Bingbing</h4>


    Tang San listened to Zhang Haoxuan describe the situation of the Divine Artifacts Auction Day, and he felt a bit swayed. If he had the chance, he really wanted to participate in this auction. By bidding on these top-notch items, he could deepen his understanding of this world, which would be very helpful to him.


    "Is everyone still climbing the Sacred Mountains for cultivation?" Tang San asked.


    ��Yes, they''ve been cultivating diligently, and the results should be good. They don''t know you left; I didn''t tell them.


    Tang San said, "Then please inform them that we will have a meeting tonight. You can book a room at the Demon King level."


    ��Okay.


    Zhang Haoxuan agreed without asking what Tang San intended to discuss.


    Tang San ended the call and walked toward the White Tiger Grand Hotel. He was surprised when he approached the hotel''s entrance. The number of guests entering and leaving the hotel had increased, and it was not just by a little.


    The White Tiger Grand Hotel was not something just anyone could afford. Although there were usually guests, it had never been as bustling as today.


    The hotel''s entrance was packed, and half of the lobby was filled with demons and nymphs of various races.


    <i>What��s going on?</i>


    Tang San didn��t know what was happening, but he didn��t ask, either. He silently observed for a while and noticed that although the guests in the lobby were from various ns, they were rtively young. There were no god-level powerhouses. Judging by their bloodlines, they were almost all descendants of powerful ns. It was rare to see demons or nymphs with third-tier bloodlines; most had second-tier bloodlines. He even saw members of the Chrono Croc n.


    Without staying any longer, Tang San went upstairs. He was already very familiar with this ce.


    Reaching the door of the hotel room where he had previously stayed, Tang San raised his hand and knocked.


    Soon, a cold voice responded, "Who is it?"


    "It''s me, n Leader," Asura replied.


    The door quickly opened. The beautiful face of the Ice Maiden n leader appeared before Asura.


    Unlike the grand attire she had worn during the auction and the armor from the Throne of Frost, today, the n leader wore a simple gray dress. The dress had simple straps, revealing her fair shoulders. Her perfect figure, contrasted by her cold demeanor, made her look stunning. The contrast between her icy demeanor and her casual dress gave Asura a strong visual impact.


    The Ice Maiden n leader stepped aside, letting him enter.


    After closing the door, Asura followed the n leader into the living room, still wearing his mask.


    The Ice Maiden n leader nced at him and said, "You are quite extravagant. This is the most expensive hotel in the Ancestral Court, owned by the White Tiger Demon Emperor."


    Asura smiled bitterly and said, "If I told you this was the first hotel I saw when I arrived at the Ancestral Court and I just moved in, would you believe me?"


    The Ice Maiden n leader replied, "That''s not important. Let''s get to the point."


    Asura nodded and said, "Let me give a detailed introduction first. My name is Asura, and as you can see, I am a human. I came to the Ancestral Court mainly to cooperate with the Aetherhorn Merchant Association for some business dealings. When I saw your Throne of Frost that day, I also heard about the problems your n is facing. I have some ideas and would like to see if we can work together. If possible, I will do my best to help resolve the issues the Ice Maiden n is currently facing."


    The Ice Maiden n leader said calmly, "My name is Huang Bingbing. You say you��re aware of my n��s problems? Then tell me how you n to solve them."


    Asura was somewhat unustomed to such straightforwardness, but he waspletely unperturbed. "Your n faces two problems. One of them is that you have tight finances and you have no idea how to make money."


    Since she spoke directly, he did not beat around the bush either. In simple terms, the Ice Maiden n was poor.


    Through this auction, Asura had realized that a significant wealth disparity existed not just between demons and nymphs versus humans, but also among demon and nymph races and ns themselves. ns like the Ice Maidens and the Crimson Foxes faced poverty. This was something he had not anticipated before.


    Huang Bingbing did not seem embarrassed, and she merely nodded.


    "The other issue is that you find it difficult to produce offspring and pass on your inheritance."


    Huang Bingbing nodded again. "That''s right, those are the two issues."


    Asura said, "If I''m not mistaken, you have reached a point where the very survival of the Ice Maiden n is at risk. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have casually put the Throne of Frost up for auction."


    Huang Bingbing''s expression finally turned grim as she said coldly, "Tell me your solution. There''s no use in saying anything else."


    Asura replied, "Before I discuss the solution, I need to understand more about the Ice Maiden n. For example, how many members do you currently have? What are their living conditions? And what specific issues are you facing with the birth of offspring? Why didn''t these problems arise before?"


    Huang Bingbing''s gaze suddenly turned icy. "You told me at the auction that you could solve the problems. So, you don''t even know the full situation? If you want to die, then just say so, I can make that happen."


    The temperature in the room instantly dropped, and a Nymph King��s pressure made Asura feel his body bing somewhat stiff.


    Feeling helpless, he quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Please don''t be hasty. Let me exin. I don''t know the exact extent of your problems or how they came to be, but I believe I have shown you enough sincerity."


    He pointed at the storage bracelet on Huang Bingbing''s wrist as he spoke. That was five thousand naturae coins! Had this n leader already forgotten she had taken his money? How could she turn hostile so quickly?


    Huang Bingbing was stunned momentarily, seemingly only now remembering that she had received arge sum of money for no guarantee whatsoever on her behalf. Her expression improved, and the coldness in the air dissipated.


    Asura continued, "I am inclined to care for the Ice Maiden n. Don��t think I am some kind of all-caring saint; it��s simply because one of my humanpanions inherited the Ice Maiden n''s bloodline."


    "What did you say?" Huang Bingbing''s beautiful eyes widened instantly, staring intently at Asura. "A human inherited our bloodline? How is that possible?"


    Asura was also stunned. "Impossible? Why would it be impossible?"


    He had indeed never seen another human with the same bloodline as Wu Bingji. But he instinctively thought that since this was an inheritance of the nymphs, it was only rare in the Empyrean Dominion, which was only to be expected.


    But Huang Bingbing''s expression clearly indicated that this was very unusual. Otherwise, she would not have been so shocked.


    "Of course, it''s impossible. Our n consists entirely of women. How could one of our n members be with a human..."


    A blush appeared on Huang Bingbing''s usually cold face as she spoke, and her breathing became somewhat unsteady.


    Asura immediately understood what she meant.


    In other words, Wu Bingji was actually quite different from other human vassals.


    In general, human vassals were descendants of human women vited by male demons or nymphs. Since the Ice Maiden n consisted only of females, this meant that a human male and an Ice Maiden had produced Wu Bingji.


    Asura and Huang Bingbing looked into each other''s eyes, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.


    "But it is true. Mypanion indeed has your bloodline," Asura said cautiously.


    Huang Bingbing moved swiftly in front of him. "Take me to see him. I need to see it with my own eyes to verify his identity."


    Asura quickly stood up, smiling wryly. "n Leader, please don''t rush. Mypanion is currently climbing a Sacred Mountain for cultivation, but he''ll be back by evening. You''ll be able to see him then. Shouldn''t we first rify the situation of the Ice Maiden n? That way, I can make a better judgment as to how to help you."

 Chapter 440: The Ice Maiden Clans Problem

    <h4>Chapter 440: The Ice Maiden n''s Problem</h4>


    "What exactly are you trying to do?" Huang Bingbing asked, her gaze icy as she watched him.


    Asura spread his hands and said, "I''m not trying to do anything. If you think I want to harm the Ice Maiden n in any way, then you don��t have to listen to me; we can end the discussion now. But I can truly provide solutions based on the situation of the Ice Maiden n. If you think my suggestions are unreliable, we won''t cooperate. Consider the five thousand naturae coins a gift; I won''t take them back. With this money, you should be able to deal with the financial crisis for quite some time. So, there''s no harm in listening to my advice."


    Huang Bingbing had regained herposure by now, but the news of a human inheriting the Ice Nymph Transformation had clearly impacted her.


    Sitting back down on the sofa, her gaze at Asura became somewhat different, more rxedpared to before. At least now she knew that this so-called Asura''s offer to help the Ice Maiden n had a reason behind it.


    "Our n''s finances are indeed in trouble. This problem stems from our origins," Huang Bingbing said calmly. "Our Ice Maiden n was born from Eternal ck Ice, emerging as ice spirit bodies. We are <i>naturally pure and wless</i>!"


    She emphasized thest four words deliberately.


    "Mm-hmm," Asura nodded repeatedly, knowing better than to provoke her now.


    Huang Bingbing continued, "After gaining spiritual intelligence, we naturally could control ice elements, bing masters of ice. Our n members were born one after another, and after countless years, we formed a n. We are one of the oldest ns in the Solstice Empire, living in the northernmost part of the Daemon Continent."


    "Our Ice Maiden n members are all female, though we don''t know why. We reproduce by splitting a small part of our divine consciousness andbining it with Eternal ck Ice to nurture a spirit embryo, which is born after years of gestation."


    Asura suddenly understood what was going on. "...How many years, exactly?"


    Huang Bingbing replied, "About a hundred."


    Asura was speechless. <i>A hundred years to give birth? This might be the longest pregnancy period ever.</i>


    "So the Ice Maiden n must be very powerful when they are born?" Asura said.


    Huang Bingbing said proudly, "Of course. We are naturally attuned to the ice element, and we are born at the third order. We can reach the sixth order as adults even if we sleep the entire time."


    Asura thought to himself, <i>This doesn''t sound particrly strong, </i>but once more, he knew better than to voice his words.


    Huang Bingbing continued, "Our Ice Maiden n has always passed down their inheritance this way. How could we have any entanglements with humans and even produce offspring?"


    Asura asked, "How many members does the Ice Maiden n have now, and why is there a problem with your inheritance?"


    Huang Bingbing listened to his question, then fell silent for a moment before saying, "Because we don''t have money. We need to find Eternal ck Ice with enough age to give birth to offspring. But this requires traveling to the northernmost part of the continent, which consumes many resources for transportation and other needs. Additionally, cultivation requires resources. Although we live in the north, where the ice element is abundant, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth isn''t rich enough. The densest spiritual energy is here in the Ancestral Court. So, Eternal ck Ice with a spiritual nature is bing rarer. We need to split more of our divine consciousness to give birth to offspring. With our cultivation also facing problems, it bes increasingly difficult to reproduce, making life harder for our n."


    Her exnation was somewhat confusing, but Asura understood enough.


    "So, your original living area had sufficient spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Eternal ck Ice absorbed this energy and could naturally nurture n members. Also, when you split your divine consciousness to produce offspring, you needed Eternal ck Ice with sufficient spirituality. But now, the quantity of this ice is decreasing.


    "Additionally, for the Ice Maidens to reproduce, I understand that you must reach the tenth order, because only gods have divine consciousness to split. However, due to the insufficient spiritual energy where you live, your cultivation has slowed down, resulting in fewer gods and naturally fewer newborn Ice Maidens. And given that youck the money to purchase natural treasures, you are stuck in a vicious cycle."


    "Exactly!" Huang Bingbing nodded. Asura sure understood the crux of the issue.


    He suddenly furrowed his brow, releasing his spiritual power to iste the room from the outside.


    Huang Bingbing raised an eyebrow but then rxed, understanding what he was doing.


    After isting the room, Asura said, "I understand the problems you''re facing. And... I actually know where the issue lies."


    Huang Bingbing asked in surprise, "You do?"


    Asura sighed. "You said our Ice Maiden n used to be self-sufficient, right? The Eternal ck Ice was enough, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was sufficient for you to cultivate to the tenth order and continue producing offspring."


    "Yes, that''s right." Huang Bingbing nodded.


    Asura asked, "Have you ever wondered why the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in your area suddenly started to drop?"


    Huang Bingbing was stunned and silently shook her head.


    From their conversation, Asura could sense that the Ice Maiden n was very pure-hearted, just as Huang Bingbing herself had said��pure and wless.


    "The reason is simple: the fortune of the continent is gathering toward the center. Since you are on the continent''s edge, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is naturally the thinnest there," Asura said with a bitter smile.


    This situation was different from that of Kali City. As a prominent city, Kali City was also where fortune gathered. Although Kali City didn''t have as much spiritual energy as the Ancestral Court, it still had no significant issues. The emperors of the Ancestral Court probably ounted for this when they built the main cities.


    However, the Ice Maiden n didn''t belong to any main city, and the fortune of the extreme north was being siphoned toward the continent''s center, making the spiritual energy increasingly thin.


    This was the reason behind the Ice Maiden n''s problem.


    "What do you mean?" Huang Bingbing asked, staring at him with wide eyes.


    Asura exined, "In simple terms, the Ancestral Court is gathering fortune, pulling the fortune of the entire Daemon Continent and even the whole Fn toward the center. This increases the fortune here, but as a result, the fortune at the edges of the continent, like in the extreme north where you live, naturally decreases. Consequently, the spiritual energy there also decreases because it follows the flow of fortune and gathers toward the center. This is the key issue you are facing."


    Huang Bingbing understood this time and stared at Asura with wide eyes. "You mean to say that the Ancestral Court has been plundering our resources, causing problems in our inheritance?"


    Asura nodded and said, "In principle, yes."


    "Damn it! I knew it; our spiritual energy had been getting thinner and thinner," Huang Bingbing snarled, her icy face showing a rare expression of indignation. She stood up abruptly, ready to rush out.


    From their previous conversation, Asura had gained some understanding of her personality and anticipated such a reaction. He quickly moved to block her path.


    "Move!" Huang Bingbing raised her hand to strike him. Asura drew an arc with his right hand, deflecting her palm aside.


    "n Leader, please don''t get angry. It won''t help!"

 Chapter 441: Teleportation Artifact?

    <h4>Chapter 441: Teleportation Artifact?</h4>


    "I told you to move!" Huang Bingbing struck again, this time with icy coldness surging instantly. Her beautiful eyes had turned ice blue!


    Asura didn''t dare to be negligent. The flow of time around him suddenly slowed, reducing the spread of coldness. At the same time, incandescent mes rose from his body. He drew a circle with his hands to block in front of him.


    A muffled thud echoed and Huang Bingbing remained unmoved, but Asura staggered back three steps, almost crashing into the door.


    Huang Bingbing was taken aback. She was surprised that when Asura blocked her palm strike, the coldness produced by her bloodline ability seemed to be partially absorbed. Then, the incandescent mes surrounding Asura intensified at the final collision, actually blocking her attack.


    Huang Bingbing had not actually reached the Great Nymph King level; without the Throne of Frost, she was just at the peak of the tenth order. Even so, she was a divine being and the most powerful in her n.


    Meanwhile, she could clearly tell that Asura was only around the ninth order. Although his spiritual power was at the peak of the ninth order, he was undoubtedly not a god. Yet he could block her attacks consecutively, which was quite incredible. Moreover, his technique seemed to dissipate her attack as if absorbed into the ocean. Even though she didn''t use her full strength, her realm was still significant, making this scene quite astonishing.


    "n Leader, please don''t be impulsive. Anger without power will do you no good. Are you nning to storm the Ancestral Court��s Council now? I dare say you won''t even see a single emperor before you get caught."


    "I''ll go to the Sunborne Nymph Emperor toin!" Huang Bingbing retorted, still angry.


    Asura shook his head silently and said, "It''s useless. The Ancestral Court''s gathering of fortune benefits all emperors. The interests of the Ice Maidens aren��t even on the list of priorities. Comining won''t change anything. They won''t alter the status quo because of yourint. After all, if the fortune is dispersed, the inheritance of the emperors will also be affected."


    "Are you saying we should let our n perish?" Huang Bingbing''s voice was turning colder, and even felt somewhat shrill.


    Asura gave a bitter smile and said, "Isn''t that why I''m here to solve your problem? So please, don''t be impulsive. Let''s analyze the situation first, okay?" He gestured toward the sofa as he spoke.


    Huang Bingbing''s chest heaved with anger, but she eventually calmed down. She snorted angrily and turned to sit on the sofa.


    Asura finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was only now that the coldness in his bodypletely dissipated. Although the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral had absorbed the cold somewhat, there was a huge gap between their levels. Moreover, Asura could sense that upon reaching the god level, the bloodline of the Ice Maidens was no longer third tier but at least second tier.


    The extreme cold left him shivering.


    Returning to his seat, Asura looked at Huang Bingbing and asked, "n Leader, how many members does your n have now?"


    Huang Bingbing replied coldly, "Fewer than a thousand."


    Asura took a sharp breath. A n with fewer than a thousand members was clearly endangered. The Lion-Tiger n was different��even if they disappeared altogether, they were the offspring of lions and tigers, and they would eventually appear again. Even if the birth and survival rates were low, the lion and tiger races did notck numbers. However, the Ice Maiden n required a hundred years to produce offspring. They were clearly on the brink of extinction. No wonder they had to auction off the Icebound Throne; they were desperate.


    "You��re in really critical condition," Asura said, taking a deep breath. "Can you leave the extreme north and live near the Ancestral Court or in one of the main cities?"


    Huang Bingbing shook her head. "No, we can''t. Leaving the extreme cold environment would deplete our vitality, and our cultivation would also be difficult to improve. While we need the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, we also need the extreme cold environment. In a way, our bodies are like ice; if ice leaves the cold, it melts. If we leave, we will only die off faster."


    Asura frowned deeply. This was a really thorny problem.


    He had actually already devised a solution for the Ice Maiden n''s inheritance, although Huang Bingbing might not agree. However, at the critical juncture of life and death, she might have no choice but to ept it. But solving their fundamental problem was of the utmost importance. Without enough spiritual energy, nothing else would matter. Even if they could produce offspring, their overall cultivation would decline, leading to extinction.


    Huang Bingbing watched him intently but did not interrupt his thoughts. After Asura blocked her two attacks, her trust in him had increased without her even realizing it. Although Huang Bingbing had a simple nature, she could sense that the golden aura around Asura was the product of a first-tier bloodline, and an unfamiliar one at that. Moreover, the slowing of time was beyond her understanding. This human was not only mysterious, but also very strong.


    Finally, Asura raised his head and asked, "n Leader, can the spiritual energy you need for cultivation be reced by life energy?"


    Huang Bingbing nodded and said, "Of course. In fact, what we need most is life energy. Ice is abundant in the extreme north, but life isn��t. Life energy is the scarcest resource in that bitter cold because hardly any creatures can survive there. And to sustain life and produce offspring, we need abination of life energy and ice elemental energy."


    "Then I have a solution," Asura said, pping his thigh. "But this solution requires a significant cost and can''t be implemented immediately."


    Huang Bingbing''s eyes lit up. "What solution?"


    Asura said, "Youck life energy. Although you can''t leave the extreme north for long periods, you should be able to do so for short durations, right? If we set up a teleportation array in your Ice Maiden n, we could periodically send your n members to a ce with abundant life energy to absorb it, then teleport them back. Wouldn''t this solve your problem ofcking spiritual energy?"


    "Teleportation array? What kind of teleportation array?" Huang Bingbing stared at him in a daze. This was beyond her knowledge.


    Asura exined, "We can set up a teleportation array somewhere in your territory, so we can directly transport your n members to the Ancestral Court to absorb life energy. Long-distance teleportation, simple as that."


    "How is that simple?! Don��t tell me it��s possible to transport people over such long distances," Huang Bingbing said in disbelief.


    Asura shrugged and said, "It''s indeed impossible now, but that doesn''t mean it will always be impossible."


    "What''s your evidence?" Huang Bingbing''s voice carried more emotion, even a hint of irritation.


    Asura''s hand shed with light, and an array disc appeared in his palm. He handed it to Huang Bingbing.


    "Within two hundred meters, you can teleport anywhere. Wherever your mind goes, your body follows."


    Huang Bingbing took the teleportation array disc, showing a hint of surprise on her face. Infusing it with her divine consciousness, she instantly teleported a dozen meters away.


    Her eyes brightened immediately but quickly dimmed again. "Fine, but this is useless! Short-distance teleportation is not the same as teleporting thousands of miles."


    Asura said, "Then we just need to make the arrayrger. I have a n, but it will take some time. A master of arrays crafted this array disc. He has always aimed to create a teleportation artifact that can transport him to any corner of the continent at any time. If he seeds, we can borrow it to solve your problem."

 Chapter 442: Humans and Ice Maidens

    <h4>Chapter 442: Humans and Ice Maidens</h4>


    He wasn''t speaking out of his ass. He really intended to refine the Temporal Beacon he acquired at the grand auction into a true artifact. The size of that Temporal Beacon was unprecedented, even in the divine realm. It was sufficient to forge an artifact or even a super artifact. Asura''s current cultivation level was inadequate for a super artifact, but it could still serve a significant purpose with time and some additional materials.


    "Fine, let��s assume things can be done as you say, but then what about our n''s inheritance? Your method addresses the symptoms, not the root cause. Our reproductive ability is already weak, and we have even fewer members now. Only about twenty n members can reproduce, and weck sufficient resources. Even if we do produce offspring, it would be a drop in the ocean. By the time new members cultivate to the tenth order and go through a hundred years of gestation, it might be toote," Huang Bingbing said bitterly.


    Asura said, "That''s another matter. We were discussing solving the survival issue just now. We can do this: Before the teleportation array ispleted, you can use the money to buy natural treasures and elixirs to help the n cultivate in the absence of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The money I gave you should support you for a while. When it runs out, I''ll provide more. As for the reproduction issue, I have another idea, but you must promise not to get angry before I finish exining it."


    Huang Bingbing''s eyes shed, "What idea?"


    Asura said, "It might be offensive to the Ice Maidens, but you must promise to listen calmly."


    "Alright, go ahead," Huang Bingbing said. Although Asura hadn''t solved the Ice Maiden n''s problems yet, his five thousand naturae coins were a cozy nket wrapped around her pride.


    Asura nodded and said, "This is based on the case of mypanion. Do you know how long it takes for humans to give birth?"


    Huang Bingbing shook her head in confusion.


    "Ten months. Humans only need ten months to give birth, less than a hundredth of what the Ice Maidens need by using the ssic method. And considering mypanion''s situation, it��s clear that the Ice Maiden n can give birth like a human woman. In other words, your physical structure is very simr to ours."


    Huang Bingbing still didn''t quite understand and asked in confusion, "So what?"


    Asura said, "Your n now has a thousand members. What if, instead of using the method of splitting divine consciousness to reproduce, youbined with humans? Theoretically, the number of Ice Maiden n members could double within a year. In ten years at most, your reproduction problem could bepletely solved."


    "What did you say?" Huang Bingbing''s voice suddenly rose as she stood up abruptly.


    "I''m just suggesting. Don''t get agitated," Asura said, fearing she might attack again. "You don''t have to choose this option. I''m just presenting the possibility."


    Huang Bingbing''s breathing was visibly rapid. "Impossible. This is impossible. You humans are ordinary beings; we are born of pure essence, we are pure ice bodies. How could this be possible?"


    Asura said, "Well, as you can see, it is. Mypanion was born this way, and you��ll see that for yourself. Of course, his bloodline power isn''t as pure as that of your Ice Maiden n. But I''ve seen your Throne of Frost. If you use the Throne of Frost and Eternal Profound Ice to purify the offspring��s bloodline, once they cultivate to the god level, wouldn''t they be indistinguishable from your n? Moreover, male n members born this way couldbine with females, and the reproduction rate would be much faster than gestating spirit embryos, creating a positive cycle."


    Huang Bingbing slowly sat down, her eyes losing focus. It was clear that Asura''s words had deeply affected her.


    <i>Ice Maiden n and humans giving birth to offspring?</i>


    If someone had dared to say this during the Ice Maiden n''s peak, Huang Bingbing, as the n leader, would have turned them into an ice sculpture. This was simply an insult to the Ice Maiden n.


    But now, the Ice Maiden n was at a critical juncture of life and death! With less than a thousand members left, one wrong move could mean theplete extinction of the n. Nothing was more important than the n''s survival in such a situation. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have put the Throne of Frost up for auction. However, she knew that even if the Throne of Frost fetched a high price and provided the Ice Maidens with funds, it would only be a temporary solution. When the money ran out, the problem would resurface.


    Moreover,pared to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the biggest issue after the number of n members decreased to a certain point was offspring. With only twenty or so god-level Ice Maidens, producing one new set of members every hundred years was no longer sustainable for the n.


    Asura did not speak again, silently waiting for her to think. He knew epting such a method would not be easy for Huang Bingbing.


    After a long while, she slowly raised her head, "What do you want to gain? What do you want from us? The Throne?"


    Asura shook his head. "The Throne of Frost is a sacred artifact of the Ice Maiden n. I''m not that greedy. What I want is the friendship of the Ice Maiden n, not for me but for humanity."


    Huang Bingbing was taken aback, looking at him with a bit of surprise in her eyes.


    Asura said, "Compared to the Ice Maidens, we humans are not any more fortunate. Yes, we humans have strong reproductive capabilities, so we are numerous. But most of our people are still just ves. The better-off ones are the children of women who are vited by the demons and nymphs, those who are born with the ability to use a Demonic God Transformation. Some of them can be vassals, and very few nobles. I am human, and I hope that in the future, humans can at least have their own living space, not be mistreated or discriminated against, and have freedom to control their own destiny."


    Huang Bingbing shook her head. "Your idea is impractical. It simply can''t be done. And we won''t be of any help."


    Asura said, "It seems impossible now, but there''s a saying that if water keeps dripping, it can even pierce a hole through stone. If we do nothing, humans will always remain ves or even food. But if each of us strives to elevate humanity''s status and gain more recognition from other races, one day, humans will be strong. I firmly believe this."


    Huang Bingbing looked at Asura and saw the determination in his eyes, making her heartbeat quicken.


    "Let me meet yourpanion. I want to check his bloodline personally," she said in a deep voice.


    Before confirming that what Asura said was true, she naturally wouldn''t make any promises.


    "No problem. You��ll see him tonight."


    Huang Bingbing nodded. "Okay."


    The living room fell silent. Huang Bingbing bowed her head in thought, and Asura also pondered on his own matters.


    Huang Bingbing''s ount of the Ice Maiden n and their current situation made it clear that the Ice Maidens were a n worth allying with.


    Initially, Tang San had just wanted to help Wu Bingji cultivate using the Throne of Frost to enhance his potential. Undoubtedly, the easiest way to do this was through the Ice Maiden n. But after hearing what Huang Bingbing had to say, he sensed this might be an opportunity.

 Chapter 443: Everyone is Progressing

    <h4>Chapter 443: Everyone is Progressing</h4>


    Tang San had already secured the friendship of the Lion-Tiger n. If the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint could take control of the Golden Lion n, they might also provide some support. The Ice Maiden n could be the next ally. Although they lived in the extreme north, if they could be convinced to intermarry with humans, they would have a solid blood rtionship in a few decades. The Ice Maiden n could even be assimted into the human race.


    Huang Bingbing was likely contemting this issue as well. She was well aware that there was no point in being afraid of deception��what could Asura do to them worse than what was already happening? The Ice Maiden n''s problem was simply too severe; extinction was far scarier than diluted bloodlines. So he wasn''t worried at all. Even if Huang Bingbing disagreed right now, she would eventually have topromise.


    Compared to the weak humans, intermarrying with other demons or nymphs would be less desirable for her, as that could lead to losing control. Inparison, humans would certainly be easier to deal with.


    Asura stood up, and Huang Bingbing was instantly awakened and looked up at him. Asura smiled wryly and said, "I flew back all the way, and I''m a bit tired. I''ll meditate in the training room for a while. Mypanions will return tonight. Then I''ll bring the one with the Ice Nymph Transformation to meet you."


    Huang Bingbing nodded. "Alright. Go ahead."


    Tang San had rushed all the way back. Despite resting in the Golden Valley, the mental tension from using the Fox Tail Relic to stimte his divine consciousness had exhausted him.


    Entering the training room and feeling the rich spiritual energy inside, Tang San began meditating to restore his energy. He knew that Huang Bingbing needed time to consider his proposal, so he would use this time to let her think it over thoroughly.


    As time passed and night fell, Tang San finished his meditation and emerged from the training room. He had received a message that hispanions had returned.


    "n Leader, please wait. I''ll meet mypanions first and bring him over to see you shortly," he said to Huang Bingbing before leaving the room.


    Watching his departing figure, Huang Bingbing''s gaze was somewhatplicated. The Ice Maiden n leader had been in deep thought for most of the day. Asura��s exnations and analyses were very clear cut, with the most crucial point being the existential threat facing the Ice Maiden n. In the face of extinction, other problems seemed insignificant.


    If the problem could be solved as he suggested, it might be the only way out for the Ice Maidens.


    She sighed inwardly, knowing that if she agreed, she would have a lot of work to do when she returned. Getting the entire n to ept intermarrying with humans would not be easy.


    Leaving the room, Tang San went upstairs ording to his previous arrangement with his master and arrived at the Demon King-level guest room that Zhang Haoxuan had reserved.


    He knocked on the door, and when it opened, he saw that hispanions were all there.


    Everyone looked tired, but when they saw Tang San, whom they hadn''t seen for days, they all showed wide smiles.


    They didn''t know what Tang San had been doing during this time, and Zhang Haoxuan hadn''t told them either. They had been climbing the Sacred Mountains of the emperors to improve themselves. Although it had cost a lot of money, the results were awe-inspiring.


    "I''m back," Tang San said with a smile as he walked forward.


    Du Bai couldn''t wait and rushed over. "Little Tang, where have you been these past days?"


    Tang San smiled and said, "I was doing something good! Sister Cheng, your essence blood has been prepared. After we return, we''ll help you with the bloodline purification, just like senior brother Gu Li."


    Cheng Zicheng was stunned at first, then overjoyed. "Really? That''s great. Long live Little Tang, hehe!"


    "What about me, what about me?" Du Bai asked excitedly, jumping with joy.


    Tang San said helplessly, "Didn''t you just have an upgrade? High-level essence blood from the Celestial Fox n isn''t easy to obtain!"


    "What? None for me?" They all knew Tang San had gone to the grand auction, so hearing there was no Celestial Fox essence blood, Du Bai knew he was out of luck. Even though he had recently upgraded, who wouldin about improving their cultivation quickly?


    Gu Li mocked him, "You''re never satisfied; you always want more without putting in the effort yourself."


    Du Bai retorted, "Then you shouldn''t use essence blood either! Let��s see you put in more work then!"


    "Alright, stop arguing. Everyone, sit down," Zhang Haoxuan said,ing out from the back room. Seeing his disciples, his smile grew even wider. He thought Tang San''s early departure that day was very wise. The Fox Tail Relic was obviously a rare treasure, and many fox ns were searching for it afterward. However, the Aetherhorn Merchant Association stated that they were the ones that had purchased it on behalf of someone, and refused to disclose the buyer��s identity. Not because the Merchant Association was particrly righteous, but because the benefits from Tang San''s "array master" were too significant.


    Everyone sat down in the living room. Zhang Haoxuan activated his divine consciousness, setting up an istion barrier, then nodded to Tang San.


    Tang San said, "There were indeed many good items at the Ancestral Court auction. You''ll find out the specifics when we return to Golden Valley. It''s beneficial for everyone. Sister Zicheng and brother Gu''s essence blood issues are resolved, which should be enough until you reach the peak of the ninth order. We''ll figure out a solution for your ascension to the tenth order in the future. How has your cultivation progress beentely?"


    Cheng Zicheng, perhaps too excited by the good news, was the first to speak up. "It''s going great! I''ve gained a lot at the Undying Demon Emperor''s ce. The daily burning mes from his Sacred Mountain make my body feel tougher and stronger, and it seems like my bloodline purity is also improving. The only downside is the huge energy drain; Ie back exhausted every day. Thankfully, the supplements you gave me help restore my energy. The progress I''ve made in this period feels like months of training at the academy."


    Wu Bingji finally spoke up, "It''s just a bit expensive."


    As he spoke, he looked at Tang San. Although he didn''t ask like Du Bai, his eyes showed a mix of expectation and slight disappointment. Tang San hadn''t mentioned finding suitable essence blood for him. Wu Bingji knew his situation; his bloodline purity had somehow allowed him to reach his current level, but it hadn��t been without difficulties. And while he could reach the ninth order, pushing to the peak would be challenging, let alone breaking past it. Furthermore, this bloodline tier wasn''t high enough to match the future potential of the others. This had always been a concern for him.


    Du Bai said, "My level hasn''t changed sincest time, but my control over fortune has improved. I''ve understood many things that were unclear before and I made progress with the control of fortune and misfortune. I''ll show youter."


    "Good," Tang San nodded. If he had more time, he would dly spend it on the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain to deeply understand its mysteries. Although the Crystal Demon Emperor was considered the top powerhouse, in his mind, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor remained the most mysterious.


    Whether it was the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain itself, the Hell Garden, or the gathering of fortune across the entire Daemon Continent and even Fn, it was all inseparable from the mysterious Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, the master of the Ancestral Court.

 Chapter 444: The Ancestral Court Elite Competition

    <h4>Chapter 444: The Ancestral Court Elite Competition</h4>


    In the future, if Tang San wanted to ascend to the divine realm, he would likely have to start by seeking opportunities from the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain. The Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, a massive Fortune Stone, undoubtedly influenced this realm''s nar ruler. To ascend to the god level, Tang San first needed to gain recognition from the nar ruler or find a way to avoid being targeted, at the very least.


    "Eldest brother, I have something important to discuss with youter. Senior brother Gu Li, how have your gains been at the Crystal Sacred Mountain?" Tang San asked.


    Gu Li smiled bitterly. "I can handle one-on-two now, but one-on-three is impossible. I''ve tried every possible method, but there''s no way to pass. Facing three of myself is simply too difficult!"


    Tang San nodded and said, "It is indeed difficult. However, the Crystal Sacred Mountain is the best ce to hone your abilities. I suggest everyone give it a try, even senior brother Du Bai. When you face multiple versions of yourself, those copies will use your abilities, and as the saying goes, ''an onlooker sees more clearly.[1]'' Facing yourself will help you better understand your abilities, and you��ll be able to improve yourbat skills."


    Everyone nodded in agreement, especially Gu Li. Despite being tormented to despair while cultivating at the Crystal Sacred Mountain, he could say with confidence that hisbat skills had significantly improved.


    Tang San turned to Zhang Haoxuan and asked, "Master, did you buy anything elseter?"


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled bitterly and shook his head, "I didn''t dare to bid much afterward. Later in the auction, there were transactions with empyrean coins and even amethystine coins. You can imagine how ridiculously expensive the items were if they weren��t even traded in naturae coins. Although there were some really useful treasures, they were beyond our reach. Well... I think you saw it yourself: it��s not just us humans. Among the demon and nymph ns, the rich are really rich, and the poor are really poor. It feels like resources are being concentrated toward the ns with emperors, while the other ns are getting weaker."


    Tang San nodded slightly and said, "This is inevitable and both territories seem to face the same issue. Even when they mediate a conflict, the Ancestral Court prioritizes the interests of the Demon Emperors and the Nymph Emperors. If this continues, the smaller ns risk extinction. By the way, the hotel seems very lively today with many new guests. What happened?"


    He hadn''t inquired outside before, but now that hispanions were back, it was a good time to ask.


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "The Ancestral Court Elite Competition is about to begin. It''s a grand event held every three years, apetition held to ensure that ns have suitable sessors. Only those below the tenth order can participate, and it''s open to all races. The top three winners receive significant rewards and essentially undergo an assessment by all the emperors. The top ten can receive tokens from the emperors, and the one with the most tokens is considered a true prodigy.


    "There is a legend in the Ancestral Court that those who win the Elite Competition have the potential to be emperors. In fact, they are often groomed as sessors to the emperors. Of course, in most cases, the winners are descendants of an emperor anyway. If a strong contender from a non-emperor n wins, they be highly sought after."


    Tang San''s interest was piqued. "When does it start? And is it really open to <i>all</i> races?"


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "The Ancestral Court prides itself on fairness and openness, so it really is open to all races, humans included. However, participating races need a certain foundation, and the registration fee is expensive. Small ns can''t afford to participate, and they wouldn��t achieve much even if they did. Why? Do you have an idea? Didn''t we agree to keep a low profile?"


    Tang San smiled and said, "I don''t have any ns for myself, but there is someone suitable for participation." Of course, he was referring to the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint.


    One of the primary purposes of this trip back was to take the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint to the Golden Lion n to gain their recognition. Recognition woulde through passing their tests and showcasing his strength. However,pared to the possibility of facing criticism while facing the Golden Lion n directly, what if the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint shone in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition? That would be entirely different!


    Since the Ancestral Court Elite Competition was so important, how would the Golden Lion n view it if the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint could achieve a high ranking? Especially if he won the championship? Obviously, they would have no issue whatsoever giving him the God-ying Sword; moreover, there was a good chance that they would ept him as their new leader.


    As for curses or emotions, Tang San wasn''t worried at all. In the world of the demon ns, strength always reigned supreme. Sufficient strength could solve all problems, especially given the current predicament faced by the Golden Lion n, which needed a true rising star to lead them. With his newly-developed first-tier bloodline, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was the most suitable candidate, and even the White Tiger Demon Emperor might try to recruit him. Whether to ally with the lions or the tigers didn''t matter to Tang San; he would go with whichever side offered the greatest benefits.


    So, hearing about the Elite Competition from Zhang Haoxuan, Tang San immediately thought of letting the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint participate and showcase his abilities. The only problem now was that thetter hadn''t arrived at the Ancestral Court yet.


    "Master, what''s the registration deadline?" Tang San asked.


    Zhang Haoxuan replied, "I''m not sure of the specifics. I''ll go find out shortly. Who are you thinking of having participate?"


    Tang San smiled and said, "What do you think about the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint? He is definitely suitable."


    "Him? Can he do it? He''s known as the top cultivator below the god level in Kali City, but it''s different here. The ninth-order powerhouses in the Ancestral Court include many first-tier bloodline ninth-order powerhouses. Given his situation, I''m afraid..." Zhang Haoxuan said hesitantly.


    Tang San shook his head and said, "No, I believe he definitely has a chance to get a good ranking." He didn''t mention that the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint now had a first-tier bloodline, but there was no need to. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was battle-hardened, having fought his way out of the Great Beast Fighting Arena''s deadly battles. In terms ofbat experience and fighting spirit, he was not inferior to any other at his level.


    Moreover, his Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was a powerful ability to begin with, and others had no idea that it was now powered by a first-tier bloodline. They would expect him to be strong, but they had absolutely no idea how strong he <i>actually</i> was.


    Zhang Haoxuan seemed to suddenly understand something. He looked at Tang San with narrowed eyes. "You mean, you want to use thispetition to help him acquire the God-ying Sword?"


    Tang San had discussed the situation of the Lion-Tiger n with Zhang Haoxuan during their previous time in the Ancestral Court and told him about their n to get the Lion-Tiger n to ally themselves with humans. He had solved the bloodline conflict problem of the Lion-Tiger n, and although their numbers were small, they were definitely a powerful n.


    Tang San nodded slightly, "The Lion-Tiger n would take too long to develop on its own. Moreover, if they can''t make it to the big stage, their influence would naturally be negligible. If in the future, the Lion-Tiger n can gain true recognition from the lion and tiger races and be a powerhouse among them, the dynamics of these two major ns might change. If Big Cat bes the leader of either the Golden Lion or the Golden Tiger ns, it would benefit us plenty. That''s why I asked Big Cat toe over. He and his wife should arrive in a couple of days."


    Zhang Haoxuan''s breathing became a bit rapid, and there was something more in his eyes as he looked at Tang San. While the others were somewhat confused by what they were hearing, Zhang Haoxuan understood what Tang San was aiming for.


    1. This is tranted from the Chinese phrase �Թ�����. It expresses that those not directly involved in a situation can often see or understand the truth better than those emotionally invested or too close to it. ?

 Chapter 445: Alliance Strategy

    <h4>Chapter 445: Alliance Strategy</h4>


    For humanity to rise in the future, standing in opposition to all the demon and nymph races was impossible. Humans were too weak, and most importantly, theycked their own inheritance, relying on the Demonic God Transformation to gain some abilities. Trying to rise among many powerful races and gain their own space was a foolish dream. But if others, especially strong ones, supported them, it would be much easier.


    This was indeed a path forward! In fact, it aligned with what the Redemption Society had always wanted to do, precisely the n that led to Mei Gongzi seeking to inherit the throne of the Peacock Demons. Undoubtedly, Mei Gongzi''s bid to be the n leader of the Peacock Demon n was tough. Although she had gained the recognition of the Peacock Great Demon King, she would still face numerous challenges in gaining eptance from the entire n and the Ancestral Court.


    But the Lion-Tiger n was different! The Lion-Tiger n was rted to both the lion and the tiger races. Although they faced rejection from both races, the fact that neither the lion nor the tiger races had exterminated them showed that blood was thicker than water. If the Lion-Tiger n could prove that their "halfblood" people were superior to lions and tigers, they might be able to turn things around. This would be something the Ancestral Court would not reject. It might even be easier than Mei Gongzi''s efforts with the Peacock Demon n. After all, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was a pureblood demon, and he was incredibly strong at that.


    Seeing his master clearly entertaining the idea, Tang San quickly said, "Let''s take it one step at a time and adapt as we go. The best-case scenario is what we''ve imagined, but even if it doesn''t work out, we''ll still have the friendship of the Lion-Tiger n."


    Tang San didn''t worry at all about whether the future friendship with the Lion-Tiger n wouldst. Without him, the Lion-Tiger n wouldn''t be able to resolve their bloodline conflict within even a few centuries, much less a few weeks. The bloodline conflict would naturally fade as they reproduced and the mingling bloodlines reached stability, but that was many generations in the future. If they wanted to do it now and ensure their survival, they needed Tang San''s help. This kind of rtionship was rooted in the deepest biological need��the need to survive, and if anyone wanted to harm Tang San, the Lion-Tiger n would absolutely stand in his defense at all costs.


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded and said, "So that��s what you had in mind when you bid for the God-ying Sword. Beautiful, I have to say! If this seeds, I''ll report your achievements to the organization. Tang San, I''m really starting to see hope in you."


    Tang San said, "Don''t say that. As humans, it''s our duty. These are things we should and must do. We''re just working in this direction. And speaking of that, there''s another n that we might possibly win over."


    "Oh?" Zhang Haoxuan perked up. "Another one? Which n? Even if it''s a small n, we should try. Every little bit helps."


    Tang San nodded. "It''s a small n; they are almost on the brink of extinction, which in fact is also our opportunity. This n is rted to the eldest senior brother."


    "Rted to me?" Wu Bingji pointed at himself, looking puzzled.


    Tang San nodded to him and then turned back to Zhang Haoxuan. "Master, do you remember the Throne of Frost at the end of the rare items auction? Later, the Ice Maiden n leader canceled the auction and left with the Throne of Frost."


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "Of course, I remember."


    Tang San said, "Well, the Ice Maiden n leader''s name is Huang Bingbing, and she''s waiting in my room right now."


    He then briefly recounted his conversation with the Ice Maiden n leader, detailing the plight faced by the Ice Maiden n.


    The fact that he originated from the Ice Maiden n was something Wu Bingji himself was not aware of. He knew that he had inherited his bloodline from a nymph with the ice attribute, but he actually had no idea about his own parents. Hearing Tang San''s exnation, he realized that it wasn''t his father who was a nymph as per usual, but his mother who was an Ice Maiden.


    This revtion made his expression turn strange. All along, he had harbored hatred for the demons and nymphs, like other humans, because of themon issue of their mothers being vited. But now, it seemed that his case wasn''t that tragic.


    When the Redemption Society found Wu Bingji, he was an orphan who had naturally awakened control of the ice element. He was an outstanding talent among the younger generation. He waster sent to Redemption Academy in Kali City, where he grew up under the care of the teachers and became a disciple of Guan Longjiang. He never delved deeply into his background, just like everyone else, because they were all orphans and mostly tragic figures.


    But after hearing Tang San''s story today, Wu Bingji realized that he was in factpletely different from the others. This was a shocking revtion and gave him a strong urge to uncover the mystery of his origins.


    Sensing his senior brother''s rapid breathing, Tang San said, "n Leader Huang Bingbing is still waiting in my room, hoping to see if you really have inherited the Ice Maiden bloodline. And if you want to advance your cultivation further in the future, it will depend on the Ice Maiden n. If we can get the Ice Maiden n to agree to intermarry with humans to produce offspring, this n will undoubtedly stand with us. n Leader Huang Bingbing mentioned that although the Ice Maiden n is weak, they still have over twenty members at or above the tenth order. This is a formidable force."


    Tang San exined his thoughts clearly. Wu Bingji''s expression wasplex, but Zhang Haoxuan''s excitement grew. Upon hearing that there were over twenty god-level Ice Maidens, he clenched his fists in exhration. If humans could assimte such a n, it would immensely benefit humanity.


    This was different from the Lion-Tiger n. Even if the Lion-Tiger n recognized humans as allies, intermarriage with humans would be impossible. Humans might gain their support, but not much else. However, the Ice Maiden n was another matter altogether. If they agreed to intermarry with humans, it would mean that humans could legitimately inherit the Ice Maiden n''s bloodline and possess the Ice Nymph Transformation.


    In other words, women did not have to sacrifice themselves and procreate with other races to produce offspring with a Demonic God Transformation. This was a game-changing development! In Zhang Haoxuan''s mind, winning over the Ice Maidens that had a simr physical structure to humans was even more important than the Lion-Tiger n.


    "Hurry, hurry, don''t keep the n leader waiting. If you need me to participate, I can join as well," Zhang Haoxuan said eagerly.


    "You can''t go!" a somewhat anxious voice suddenly called out. Everyone turned in surprise to see Cheng Zicheng standing up quickly, grabbing Wu Bingji''s arm.


    Feeling everyone''s curious gazes, Cheng Zicheng''s face turned bright red. But she still looked at Wu Bingji and said, "You can''t go, eldest brother. I won''t let you go!"


    Tang San, ever perceptive, immediately understood what Cheng Zicheng was worried about. He felt a pang of regret for overlooking his senior sister''s feelings. He quickly exined, "Don''t worry, senior sister. I''m asking senior brother Wu to go because he has to prove to the Ice Maiden n leader that the offspring of humans and the Ice Maiden n can inherit the bloodline and be very powerful. It''s not to arrange a marriage. Rest assured, if the Ice Maiden n wants to intermarry in the future, the Redemption Society has plenty of candidates. It won''t be the eldest senior brother."


    Cheng Zicheng turned her head away and said, "Marriage alliances have nothing to do with me!"

 Chapter 446: Wu Bingjis Maternal Clan

    <h4>Chapter 446: Wu Bingji''s Maternal n</h4>


    Wu Bingji had already regained hisposure. He looked at Tang San, then at Zhang Haoxuan. "I''ll go see her. Tang San..." He paused at this point, ultimately not finishing his sentence.


    But Tang San already understood what he wanted to say. He lowered his voice and said, "You can try. Try to ask, although you might not get a result. So be mentally prepared, senior brother."


    Wu Bingji evidently wanted to inquire about his background, particrly about his mother.


    Cheng Zicheng had already let go of Wu Bingji''s hand when Tang San mentioned that he wouldn''t be arranging a marriage.


    Wu Bingji said, "I understand. Let''s go now." With that, he turned and walked out.


    Tang San bowed slightly to his master before following Wu Bingji.


    Cheng Zicheng then turned away, pouting, and snorted, "I''m going back to my room." With that, she also walked out.


    Du Bai stuck out his tongue and whispered to Gu Li, "This is a one-sided love, isn''t it?"


    Cheng Zicheng had sharp ears. She quickly came back, ring at Du Bai. "Who did you say has a one-sided love?"


    Du Bai, in his infinite wisdom, instantly changed his tune. "I was talking about myself. I''ve always admired you, always a one-sided love, but you just don''t see me that way!"


    Cheng Zicheng snorted disdainfully. "You?" With that, she turned and walked out.


    Zhang Haoxuan shook his head helplessly. It was clear to everyone that Cheng Zicheng had feelings for Wu Bingji. Although they were still young, Wu Bingji clearly had no interest in romantic rtionships, focusing entirely on cultivation. Even though he knew about Cheng Zicheng''s feelings for him, he had never responded to her.


    In this regard, Zhang Haoxuan had always thought it was only appropriate. After all, Wu Bingji was the eldest senior brother, and Cheng Zicheng was still young, so there was no rush. But today, it seemed that Cheng Zicheng had genuinely fallen for her senior brother. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have reacted so strongly just now.


    Tang San walked side by side with Wu Bingji towards his room. As they walked, Tang San asked in a low voice, "Senior brother, about sister Zicheng..."


    Wu Bingji gently shook his head and said, "I know how she feels about me and it��s not that I am rejecting her. But I don''t have the leisure to think about these things right now. When I turned eighteen and became an adult, I made a vow: if I don''t reach the god level, I won''t start a family."


    Tang San nodded and said, "There''s no rush. You are both still very young. But speaking of that, the Ice Maiden n''s help should be a good opportunity to reach the tenth order. I''ll ask the n leader to let you try cultivating with the Throne of Frost this time. She took a good pile of money from me, so she shouldn''t refuse. Eldest brother, you should take this opportunity to purify your bloodline to the level where you can cultivate to the peak of the ninth order, at least. In the future, when you reach the point of bing a god, you will definitely need to visit the Ice Maiden n."


    "Yes," Wu Bingji nodded. The sudden change in his background made his emotions veryplicated and somewhat chaotic.


    The two arrived at Tang San''s room. Tang San knocked on the door.


    The door opened, revealing Huang Bingbing''s stunning face.


    "n Leader, we''re back." Tang San nodded to her.


    Huang Bingbing''s gaze, however, bypassed him and fell on Wu Bingji.


    Bloodline power resonance was immediately apparent among members of the same n. Wu Bingji instantly felt his blood stir slightly, and a chill naturally emanated from him. His eyes turned ice blue.


    Huang Bingbing''s eyes also turned ice blue. When their eyes met, Wu Bingji immediately felt an indescribable sense of closeness, and in spite of the room temperature dropping, there was a mass of warmth spreading in his chest. He blurted out, "Wu Bingji greets the n leader."


    "Come in," Huang Bingbing said as she silently felt the fluctuations in Wu Bingji''s bloodline, stepping aside to let them in.


    The two walked into the room, with Wu Bingji looking somewhat restrained, staying close to Tang San.


    Huang Bingbing led them to the living room and gestured for them to sit.


    Tang San pulled Wu Bingji to sit down. Huang Bingbing sat down beside Wu Bingji and unceremoniously grasped his wrist. Wu Bingji nced at Tang San and didn''t resist. He knew she was inspecting his bloodline.


    Huang Bingbing closed her eyes, silently observing. With her divine consciousness, she could clearly feel every detail of Wu Bingji''s body, especially the bloodline strength and purity.


    After a full quarter of an hour, Huang Bingbing released his hand and muttered, "Your bloodline strength is average, but your cultivation is very good. You��re at the peak of the eighth order, and you are suppressing your cultivation and concentrating your energy. The key is that your vitality is very strong, stronger than our normal n members. If the bloodline purity is improved, there''s hope for reaching godhood."


    As she said thest words, her beautiful eyes widened slightly, and she tilted her head as she looked at Wu Bingji. "Did you reach this level entirely through your own cultivation?"


    Wu Bingji looked at her and nodded slightly. "Yes. I had some opportunities, but the cultivation was all done by myself."


    Huang Bingbing mused, "Since you reached the peak of the eighth order through your own cultivation, there really is hope. Although you''ve reached a bottleneck, this ismon for most n members. Your bloodline purity, considering your human half, is very high. You must be a descendant of one of our god-level elders. Do you know who your mother is?"


    <i>God-level elder?</i> Wu Bingji''s expression changed. "I don''t know. I actually wanted to ask you, n Leader, if you could help me find my mother."


    Huang Bingbing''s face turned cold, and she said sternly, "Do you know what the punishment is for secretly marrying an outsider? In our n, it means returning to the source and being reshaped into ice."


    Wu Bingji was taken aback. "n Leader..."


    Huang Bingbing ignored him and turned to Asura. "You''ve proven that what you said is true. But this matter is too significant for me to make a decision now. I need to go back and investigate further. He wille back with me to the Ice Maiden n."


    Asura shook his head without hesitation. "Absolutely not. He is my senior brother, and it''s not the right time for him to go with you. If your n ultimately decides not to cooperate with us and doesn''t choose my method, what will happen to my senior brother as a bearer of your bloodline, which your n''s rules apparently don''t allow? Will hee back alive?"


    Huang Bingbing looked at him coldly. "You''re right. But as an offspring born in vition of our n''s rules, he must be taken back. If the Elder Council agrees to your proposal, he might remain unharmed. Otherwise, he must return to ice. Whether we cooperate with humans or not, he must be taken to the n. Such an existence, especially a male, cannot be left outside."


    Asura��s face darkened. "n Leader, you didn''t mention any of this before asking me to bring my senior brother here."


    Huang Bingbing said indifferently, "If I had exined, would you have brought him here? It has now been proven that he carries our n''s bloodline, and this matter needs thorough investigation. I will strive to support your previous proposal."


    "But there''s also the possibility of failure."


    Huang Bingbing did not argue, replying calmly, "I''m taking him with me. Do you intend to stop me?"


    Wu Bingji wanted to say something but Tang San stopped him. He pulled his senior brother to his side and looked intently at the Ice Maiden n leader. "You can try."


    Huang Bingbing said coldly, "You are not a god. Do you think your strong bloodline is enough to stop me? I said I must take him, and I <i>will</i> take him."


    Asura said, "How about this, n Leader? Let''s duel. You cannot use the Throne of Frost. If you can defeat me, you can take him and I won��t say anything. Otherwise, proceed ording to our previous agreement and return by yourself. Whether we cooperate in the future or not, you will noty a single hand on my senior brother."

 Chapter 447: Challenge to the Ice Maiden Clan Leader

    <h4>Chapter 447: Challenge to the Ice Maiden n Leader</h4>


    Huang Bingbing looked at him with some surprise but shook her head. "I took your money, I don''t want to kill you."


    Tang San said, "If I don''t prove I have enough strength, our future cooperation might be problematic. In that case, let''s resolve this issue first so that we can talk on equal footing."


    Huang Bingbing''s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. "You seem very confident. Your bloodline ability earlier was not bad, but not enough either. Fine, I agree. If you win, I won''t take him and will try to make this happen. But if you lose, I''ll take him with me, though I will still try to make this happen."


    Tang San stared at her intently. "If I lose, you can take my senior brother. But if you harm him in any way, in the near future, I will exterminate the Ice Maiden n, and you can all return to the ice you so much love."


    His tone was calm, but his words had an indescribable majesty to them.


    This version of Tang San/Asura was someone neither Huang Bingbing nor Wu Bingji had ever seen before. At this moment, he seemed like apletely different person.


    Tang San was truly angry. Although he hadn''t interacted much with the Ice Maiden n leader before, in their previous exchanges, everything he did was for the benefit of the Ice Maiden n. While he did have the intention of helping humanity rise, everything he said also greatly benefited the Ice Maiden n.


    But after he brought Wu Bingji here, the n leader wanted to forcibly take Wu Bingji back to deal with him, which genuinely angered Tang San. Tang San understood that this proud n leader had probably never looked at a human with respect, much less thought of them as equals. If he did not prove his strength, their cooperation would likely not proceed smoothly.


    This was the culture of the demons and nymphs: strength was the foundation of everything. Just like how Tang San had convinced Big Cat��it wasn''t just because Tang San had saved the entire Lion-Tiger n but also because Tang San had defeated him one-on-one on the battlefield. Apart from gratitude, there was also a sense of submission toward Tang San.


    Tang San said, "n Leader, let��s head in the direction of the Ice Maiden n. We''ll find a ce outside the Ancestral Court to fight, and my senior brother will be there to witness the fight. Earlier, I gave you five thousand naturae coins. If I win, you can still take these coins, I will not ask for that money back. However, I hope you can use the Throne of Frost to purify my senior brother''s bloodline, at least to the extent that he can cultivate to the peak of the ninth order."


    Huang Bingbing looked at Tang San, feeling an unusual sensation in her heart. When Tang San had uttered those threatening words earlier, her heart had skipped a beat, making her feel as if she had done something wrong.


    <i>Does he really believe he can defeat me? How is that even possible? Throne of Frost or not, I am still a peak-level Nymph King.</i>


    "Alright!" Huang Bingbing was now slightly regretting her insistence on taking Wu Bingji by force. She had already decided to push for this cooperation no matter what because what Asura had said earlier had genuinely moved her. However, cooperation aside, holding the dominant position was still critical. She had no intention of harming Wu Bingji but thought that taking him back could allow them to try breeding offspring and essentially hold a hostage, which would benefit the Ice Maiden n. She hadn''t expected Asura to react so strongly.


    "n Leader, do you want to leave now or wait until tomorrow morning?" Tang San asked.


    "Let''s go now." Huang Bingbing had already made up her mind and didn''t want to dy. She had decided that once she won the fight, she would be more conciliatory and at least assure this Asura of his senior brother''s safety in order to ease the tension.


    She was well aware of the high price the array disc had fetched at the Ancestral Court auction, so she believed to some extent in the cooperation with the array master that Asura spoke of. Naturally, she did not want to offend him.


    Wu Bingji looked at Tang San, and Tang San gently shook his head. After being together for so long, they had developed a mutual understanding. Wu Bingji asked if they should inform their teacher about this matter.


    Tang San''s answer was no.


    Although Zhang Haoxuan was now a god-level powerhouse, he had only recently attained that level and was still inferior to Huang Bingbing. Moreover, Huang Bingbing had the Throne of Frost, which elevated her to the level of a Great Nymph King when used. Tang San had just pressured her not to use the Throne of Frost. But if Zhang Haoxuan came, and Huang Bingbing felt threatened, things could go badly.


    Therefore, from the beginning, Tang San had nned to face the situation alone.


    Huang Bingbing didn''t have much to pack, so she and Tang San left the White Tiger Grand Hotel and rented a carriage in front of the hotel, heading straight for the outskirts of the Ancestral Court.


    Since Huang Bingbing was returning to the Ice Maiden n, she naturally chose the northern exit.


    Sitting in the carriage, neither side said a word, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Wu Bingji''s feelings were the mostplex at this moment. Although he didn''t know Huang Bingbing''s exact cultivation level, she was definitely a god. How could Tang San challenge such a person? However, from Tang San''s previous words, he knew that Tang San was confident; moreover, he had never seen Tang San do something he wasn''t sure about.


    Earlier, Huang Bingbing had said that with his bloodline, his mother should be a god-level elder of the Ice Maiden n. This meant that his mother was likely still alive and in the Ice Maiden n! From this perspective, Wu Bingji truly wanted to go to the Ice Maiden n. Even if it was risky, he wanted to see what his mother was like.


    So he had made a decision in his heart. If Tang San couldn''t win, he would immediately tell Huang Bingbing that he was willing to go to the Ice Maiden n and ask her to spare Tang San.


    At this moment, Tang San was the calmest among the three. He closed his eyes, seemingly entering a state where he forgot both himself and the surroundings. His aura was perfectly restrained, and a faint, natural glow enveloped his skin. It wasn''t noticeable unless you looked closely, but when you did, you could sense a peculiar harmony about him.


    Huang Bingbing mostly kept her gaze on Tang San, only asionally ncing at Wu Bingji. She was pondering how to handle the uing fight. As for losing to Tang San, she had never considered it. No matter how much she was willing to cooperate, as the leader of the Ice Maiden n, losing was not an option. It was a matter of pride for the Ice Maiden n.


    The sky hadpletely darkened by the time they arrived outside the Ancestral Court. They could only see each other under the sparse light of the stars and moon.


    The carriage took them ten miles away from the Ancestral Court. Tang San paid extra to have the carriage wait for a while.


    Beyond the northern exit of the Ancestral Court was a hilly area. It was still rtively close to the Ancestral Court, so they had to cross the hills and go a bit further to find a secluded valley for the battle to avoid being noticed.


    This situation was somethingpletely normal at the Ancestral Court. Fights were not allowed inside under any circumstances, so they had to go outside.


    They walked without a word, crossing two hills until they reached a rtively t valley. Huang Bingbing stopped first and said, "This ce will do."


    Tang San nodded slightly and said, "Alright. Senior brother, please watch from the sidelines. No matter what you see today, I ask you to keep it a secret for me."

 Chapter 448: Polar Domain of Fortune and Calamity

    <h4>Chapter 448: Pr Domain of Fortune and Cmity</h4>


    "Alright," Wu Bingji nodded without saying much. He had always known Tang San had a number of secrets, and this was made painfully clear when he defeated the peak ninth-order Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. That feat required abilities beyond his understanding.


    Now Tang San was about to challenge a god-level powerhouse. Wu Bingji wanted to see how deep his junior brother''s reserves were and what he relied on to face such an opponent.


    He moved away to a safe distance, while Tang San and Huang Bingbing stood facing each other, only a dozen meters apart.


    Huang Bingbing said coldly, "Do you really want to fight me? It''s not toote to stop. How about this? I can promise to spare his life. Even if the n ultimately doesn''t agree to cooperate with humans, I will protect his life."


    Asura shook his head and said, "My senior brother can''t go with you, at least not now. If the Ice Maiden n truly allies with humans in the future, then he can go back, even to find his mother, but not now."


    Huang Bingbing said indifferently, "I didn''t expect you to be so stubborn. Well, if you want to do this, let��s do this. Let me see how you defeat me."


    Her aura changed abruptly as she spoke, and a sudden chill spread like a cold night.


    A sh of light emanated from Asura, and in an instant, he was a hundred meters away, directly widening the distance between himself and Huang Bingbing. It was the teleportation array disc he had shown her earlier.


    At such close range against a tenth-order nymph, he wouldn''t have many chances to use his abilities before being simply steamrolled. He was very familiar with Wu Bingji''s Ice Nymph Transformation; the most vital aspect of the ice element was its ability to control the fight, not its hardness or whatever. Moreover, he had experienced the chilling power of Huang Bingbing''s god-level abilities firsthand.


    Therefore, he first moved to widen the distance between them at the start of the fight.


    A hundred meters distance was far even for a god''s attacks.


    Watching him teleport in an instant, Huang Bingbing''s eyes flickered. <i>This teleportation array disc is really interesting!</i>


    Then she saw that Tang San had a hammer in his hand, a ck hammer that emitted a faint red glow.


    It was Sky Shatterer!


    When this hammer appeared, a scorching aura naturally arose around Asura, blocking out the overwhelming cold apanying his teleportation.


    This was one of Tang San''s sources of confidence in challenging a tenth-order powerhouse. Sky Shatterer was made of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron and modified by Tang San. Now, it was his forging hammer, but also his strongest weapon.


    In his previous life, Tang San''s best weapon had also been the hammer. After all, apart from the Blue Silver Emperor, he also had the Clear Sky Hammer as his martial soul��the one as the strongest tool soul.


    With the hammer in hand, his aura suddenly surged. His eyes brightened, and a faint purple glow burst forth, causing his spiritual power to increase dramatically.


    But at the same time, a five-hundred-meter area centered around Huang Bingbing had already turned into a world of ice and snow.


    Yes, it was that fast. At the god level, forming a basic domain within a certain range was within the realm of possibility, especially for someone like the leader of the Ice Maiden n.


    The ground froze, bing as smooth as a mirror. Large snowkes floated in the air, and the temperature plummeted. Even Wu Bingji, who also possessed her bloodline and had retreated to a distance, could feel the intense cold.


    Wu Bingji''s eyes widened as he watched the impending battle unfold. He understood that he had been brought here not just to watch Tang San, but also to observe Huang Bingbing''sbat methods. After all, she was the true heir of the Ice Maidens. Wu Bingji was sure to learn a lot from herbat style.


    <i>Isn��t this basically an expanded version of my own Ice Path? An ice world, I guess you��d call it?</i>


    In this domain, ice element users would undoubtedly experience a significant boost in their power.


    Huang Bingbing''s graceful body slid across the ground, shooting toward Asura like an ice arrow from a hundred meters away.


    But at that moment, the light in his eyes changed.


    His left eye turned white and his right eye turned ck. Above his head, a unique energy seemed to swirl out.


    This was the fusion of heaven and hell, the alternation of fortune and cmity�� the Pr Domain!


    This was the first time Tang San used this domain in battle.


    As Huang Bingbing sped forward, she felt her heart skip a beat. The distant Asura grew taller instantly, and everything around her seemed to slip out of her control.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    The ice on the ground in front of her suddenly cracked, impeding her movement. Additionally, a few snowkes drifted into her line of sight, blocking her vision.


    What shocked Huang Bingbing even more was that her smoothly circting bloodline power suddenly stagnated and her blood seemed to freeze momentarily, causing her movements to stall and making her grunt in frustration.


    Though she forcefully activated her divine consciousness, resolving the problem just the next moment, her charge was affected and failed to reach Asura.


    At that moment, Tang San moved. He spun in ce, and at the same time, he swung Sky Shatterer.


    Blinding tinum light burst out from his entire body. When that tinum light infused the hammer, it turned into a bright crimson gold. Intense heat erupted, instantly turning the surrounding cold into scorching heat as Sky Shatterer was infused with the power of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral. The Heavenly Fire Essence Iron of the hammer radiated dazzling light, and the scorching energy surged out as if to melt the entire world, rushing toward Huang Bingbing.


    The Pr Domain represented the extremes of fortune and cmity. Enemies faced extreme misfortune, while the user experienced extreme luck.


    The most magical aspect was that the domain forcefully bnced fortune and cmity. The unluckier the opponent, the luckier Tang San would be, without the risk of bacsh from overusing luck the way it happened with the Celestial Fox Transformation.


    Huang Bingbing struck out with her right hand, but her foot inexplicably slipped. How was this possible for a being literally made of ice?


    Her bloodline power stagnated again, significantly weakening her strike. She had to forcibly stimte her bloodline energy to create an ice pir before her, barely blocking Sky Shatterer''s blow.


    But the scorching hammer force instantly shattered the ice pir, and the intense heat affected Huang Bingbing!


    Tang San used the momentum to spin,unching the second strike of Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer. He was incredibly fast, his eleration aided by the reduced friction from the ice beneath his feet. Yet even with this reduced friction, he showed no signs of losing control. The second strikended just as Huang Bingbing was about to gather her strength again but hadn''t yetpleted the process.


    This time Huang Bingbing was struck back three steps. She hadn''t even been able to use thirty percent of her full strength.


    Huang Bingbing felt incredibly frustrated. Although her cultivation was much stronger than her opponent''s, she kept experiencing inexplicable idents.


    "Are you from the Celestial Fox n? What is going on?" Huang Bingbing shouted angrily.


    Tang San didn''t stop,unching one hammer strike after another. Under the effect of Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer, each strike was heavier than thest. Huang Bingbing never managed to regain her footing and, to Wu Bingji''s astonished gaze from a distance, was continuously forced back by Tang San.


    The effect was even better than Tang San had expected. Even a god-level powerhouse like Huang Bingbing was greatly affected, and that was even though they were fighting on t and clean ground where he could not use the environment in his favor.

 Chapter 449: Suppressing the Ice Maiden Clan Leader

    <h4>Chapter 449: Suppressing the Ice Maiden n Leader</h4>


    Tang San didn''t know that the Pr Domain of Fortune and Cmity was not something unique to himself, but a hallmark of god-level Celestial Fox n members. Only Celestial Foxes at the god level, with seven tails or more, could cultivate the Celestial Fox Transformation to the extent of generating a domain. He had obtained this domain''s power in the Hell Garden by a stroke of luck, and being able to use it while only at the four-tail level was something unprecedented.


    However, while the Pr Domain was immensely powerful, it also consumed a lot of spiritual power. Tang San''s peak ninth-order spiritual power was depleting at an astonishing rate. Fortunately, it was extremely robust and profound, thanks to being bolstered by his divine consciousness. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to maintain it for long.


    Moreover, Tang San found that the higher the level of the beings within his Pr Domain, the greater the consumption of his spiritual power. Additionally, the consumption was much greater when using this domain in the outside worldpared to the Hell Garden.


    At this moment, he was trapping a god-level cultivator. The rapid consumption of his spiritual power surprised even Tang San.


    Huang Bingbing''s shock was even more incredible. When Asura unleashed the Pr Domain, she felt immense pressure, as if her very fate was being altered. This sensation was excruciating. More importantly, Huang Bingbing couldn''t smoothly activate her energy to use her abilities. Asura''s Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer became heavier with each strike, and coupled with the intense heat from the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral and the Sky-Shatterer, it made her extremely ufortable.


    "Ah!" A scream burst from Huang Bingbing''s mouth as her divine consciousness erupted in the next instant. A snowke-shaped ice-blue mark appeared in the center of her forehead. Her powerful divine consciousness surged almost instantly, aimed solely at breaking free from the Pr Domain.


    Faced with her divine consciousness explosion, Tang San was not rmed but pleased. Almost simultaneously, he retracted the Pr Domain.


    The consumption of spiritual power was too great; if he continued, he would be unable to sustain it due to excessive depletion, even without Huang Bingbing defeating him. He had been waiting for her divine consciousness explosion. Just like the domain was draining him, this kind of explosion was immensely consuming for her; she had to give her all to break free from the domain''s power.


    Given the difference in their cultivation, Tang San had no intention of letting his Pr Domain sh head-on with her divine consciousness. As Huang Bingbing''s divine consciousness exploded, Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, continuing his Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer. He struck three consecutive blows at Huang Bingbing; while she blocked with an ice shield, she was still forced back, her aura in disarray.


    However, without the suppression of the Pr Domain, the unbearable feeling of wanting to vomit blood finally disappeared. Huang Bingbing quickly retreated, ice forming under her feet to increase her speed. A massive snowstorm erupted, sweeping toward Tang San.


    Tang San did not pursue but instead spun in ce, his Sky Shatterer swirling like a tornado around him. The heat from the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron empowered his Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, creating a ten-meter diameter around him where no ice or snow could exist.


    As Huang Bingbing was about to catch her breath, an inexplicable sense of danger came from her divine consciousness. She instantly formed four ice shields around herself.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    An ice shield shattered. Somehow, Tang San had navigated through the snowstorm and appeared right before her. Heunched another series of heavy strikes using the force from his Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique.


    <i>How did he do that? </i>Huang Bingbing was shocked. Although the battle had onlysted briefly, Asura had already brought her too many shocks. Navigating freely within her snowstorm without being detected and reappearing in front of her to attack was simply unbelievable. <i>Could it be the teleportation array disc again?</i>


    Of course it wasn��t. The teleportation array disk required time to recharge after activation and wasn''t that easy to use anyway. But Tang San had another teleportation ability: the Peacock Transformation��s space control!


    The abilities of this bloodline imprint allowed for instantaneous movement within a reasonable distance. Of course, Huang Bingbing had no way of knowing that, and even if someone told her so, she wouldn��t believe it. And having finally suppressed this formidable opponent, how could Tang San give her a chance to pull herself together?


    In terms of cultivation, he was far inferior to Huang Bingbing. But when it came to battle experience, even a hundred Huang Bingbings couldn''tpare to him.


    Huang Bingbing retreated again, and at the same time, ice spikes shot out from her body in all directions. The ground also erupted with huge ice spikes, sealing off all surrounding space.


    Tang San didn''t retreat at all. Continuing with the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique, he used the miraculous Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to move through the ice spike array. His heavy hammer struck Huang Bingbing with unerring uracy, forcing her to defend herself and keeping her in an unfavorable state.


    In Huang Bingbing''s eyes, Asura''s figure seemed illusory, yet with each strike, the scorching hammer only became heavier and heavier.


    Huang Bingbing was actually best at mid-rangebat, typical for most elemental energy users. At the beginning of today''s battle, she chose to approach Asura out of confidence in her strength, thinking close-range attacks would secure a faster victory and be easier to control. In addition, she feared that her mid- and long-range attacks would be too powerful for him to handle, and she didn��t really want him to get injured.


    With that, she had fallen into Asura''s rhythm. Even as a peak tenth-order powerhouse, she was being forced to retreat step by step.


    White light flickered in Tang San''s eyes. His Discerning Eye of Heaven offered him the fortune control of the Celestial Foxes and the abilities of the Aetherhorn Deer lineage. He could observe how the ice elemental energy operated, where it was most potent, and where it was weakest. Moreover, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track always allowed him to evade danger at thest moment and appear at the opponent''s weakest spots. Even without the assistance of the Pr Domain, Huang Bingbing still couldn''t escape his rhythm.


    Of course, Sky Shatterer yed a crucial role as well. Without the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, even the powerful Lion-Tiger Golden Astral wouldn��t be enough to counteract the extreme cold.


    Tang San''s blood and Qi surged within him, the powerful recovery of the Mysterious Heaven Technique supporting his continuous energy output. The Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique pushed his attack power to the limit, and the dazzling tinum light of the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral grew even stronger.


    Huang Bingbing was starting to feel the strain. Suppressed by Asura��s incredible hammer technique, she felt an increasing sense of pressure and pain in her chest. Such head-onbat had never been her forte.


    At this moment of crisis, she let out a cold snort, and the ice-blue mark on her forehead shone once more. The next moment, all the surrounding ice and snow suddenly converged toward her. A massive, coffin-like ice structure enveloped her.


    <i>Boom, boom, boom!</i>


    Three consecutive strikes hit the ice coffin but only left shallow marks. Yet although it seemed like she was about to lose and Tang San could continue attacking, he chose to retreat.


    The ice-blue coffin emitted a profound radiance, and the surrounding cold intensified geometrically.


    Where did the Ice Maiden ne from? They were born from millennia-old ice gaining spiritual intelligence��ice that was extremely cold and incredibly hard. At this moment, the Ice Maiden n leader, Huang Bingbing, was using her innate ability, her very essence as an ice elemental being.


    Tang San��s retreat was the right move.


    The next instant, the ice-blue coffin turned dark blue, and Huang Bingbing reappeared like an undead emerging from its coffin. Her long hair had turned dark blue, and even her eyes had be dark blue as well. The aura she radiated due to her cultivation hadn��t really increased, but the ice elemental energy around her had changed dramatically. The ice elemental energy around her seemed to intertwine with a massive amount of spiritual power, bing extremely dense.


    Within a thirty-meter radius around her, the energy had no other elemental attributes whatsoever; the area was now a world of pure ice.

 Chapter 450: The Great Sumeru Hammer

    <h4>Chapter 450: The Great Sumeru Hammer</h4>


    This was Huang Bingbing''s domain, a true ice domain!


    Such a domain undoubtedly consumed a massive amount of energy, but it also undoubtedly elevated her power to its peak.


    The biting cold created an indescribable sense of pressure. In her dark blue eyes, a profound glow flickered faintly. To be pushed to this point by an opponent who was clearly weaker in cultivation had truly enraged her.


    From the beginning of the battle until now, it was her, a peak tenth-order Nymph King, who had been suppressed. She was even forced to use her true form to regain the upper hand!


    Asura''s eyes were calm, his gaze as serene as an ancient well, devoid of any emotional disturbance. He raised his hand and the ring on his finger shed with light. In the next moment, an object was ejected from the ring.


    When this object appeared, it fell to the ground, but for some reason, its descent was extremely slow.


    Everything around it also slowed down.


    The ice element spreading toward Asura at an astonishing speed slowed down, and as Huang Bingbing wondered what was going on, she... noticed... that... her... thoughts... slowed... down...?


    The Stone of Slowness!


    Indeed, this was the very same Stone of Slowness that Tang San had acquired at the auction, which was actually a Temporal Beacon!


    Even as a god, Huang Bingbing was affected by the Stone of Slowness. And just like her own movements and thoughts, the flow of the ice elemental energy was influenced by it. Everything was.


    A look of astonishment instantly and slowly appeared on Huang Bingbing''s face. She had been at the auction that day and naturally knew what this item was. Well, knowing it was one thing, and expecting Asura to just randomly throw out the Stone of Slowness mid-battle was something else entirely.


    <i>What... is he... trying... to do...? This... thing... will... slow... down... his a...ctions... as well... and... he''s... not... even... at the... tenth... order.... Won''t... the ef...fect... be... even... greater... on him...</i>


    However, in the next long moment, her expression changed.


    Asura moved, and in a sh, he was beside Huang Bingbing. Sky Shatterer came crashing down without any reduction in speed, and in her slowed-down gaze, it might as well be a ray of light.


    Fierce mes burned on the hammer, carrying unparalleled heat. In an instant, it reached Huang Bingbing''s side.


    <i>How... is this... pos...sible...? Why... isn...''t he... affected?</i>


    Huang Bingbing was both shocked and angry. The ice elemental energy within her body burst forth, trying to block the attack. Ayer of dark blue ice armor slowly formed on her body.


    Under normal circumstances, the ice would instantly wrap her in wless armor, and it would be more than enough to block Asura''s attacks, considering the ice domain and the difference in cultivation.


    Sadly, she couldn��t even think fast enough to realize that her armor was just too slow.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The hammer strike directly sent Huang Bingbing flying. The ice armor shattered into powder. If her body hadn''t instantly turned into hard ice, this blow might have severely injured her.


    Asura didn''t pursue her. He slowly floated up, his eyes faintly glowing with golden light. He gripped the hammer with both hands, and the crimson-gold mes on Sky Shatterer suddenly copsed inward, condensing. The hammer itself began to emit a strange dark gold light.


    It was clearly still the same Sky Shatterer, but in the eyes of both Huang Bingbing and Wu Bingji, it seemed magnified, giving off an aura as majestic as a mountain.


    Asura gripped the hammer with both hands and raised it above his head. The powerful and terrifying aura instantly peaked.


    ......


    <i>This... is...</i>


    <i>God...?</i>


    Huang Bingbing''s pupils gradually contracted. That was clearly a god-level aura! And such a powerful one at that!


    At this moment, Asura was like a martial god standing between heaven and earth. Sky Shatterer, in his hands, crashed down fiercely. The dazzling golden light made it fall like a meteor,pletely unaffected by the Stone of Slowness. The hammer strike carried an unparalleled majestic aura as it descended.


    A sh of fear appeared in Huang Bingbing''s eyes as her body transformed into Eternal Profound Ice. However, while she was transforming, she had a feeling that this hammer strike couldn''t be fully blocked by just turning into ice. Even if it didn��t kill her, it would at least cause serious injury.


    Yet, she had no chance to dodge.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The giant hammer fell, and a circle of dark gold ripples burst outward. The violent and terrifying explosive force caused the entire valley to echo with a piercing scream.


    Even from a distance, Wu Bingji could deeply feel the terrifying power of this hammer strike. The ground trembled, and the violent roar temporarily robbed him of his hearing.


    Countless fragments of stone flew, and dust rose into the air.


    When he saw Tang San again, his junior brother was standing in a pit over thirty meters in diameter and five meters deep.


    Numerous cracks extended outward from the pit, reaching as far as a hundred meters away. The power of this hammer strike had a bit of an apocalyptic feel to it.


    Huang Bingbing seemed to have been pulverized; there was not even a trace left. The aura around Tang San also receded.


    He suddenly raised his hand, and a stone fell from the sky into his palm and then disappeared. It was the Stone of Slowness.


    As the stone vanished, the flow of time around them returned to normal.


    <i>What the... Did he... Did he kill the Ice Maiden n leader?!</i>


    Wu Bingji stared at Tang San in shock.


    He had always known that Tang San was strong, but he had never imagined that his junior brother was <i>this</i> strong. He had actually killed a god-level being just like that? And he wasn''t even at the tenth order himself yet!


    <i>What kind of strength will he have once he reaches the god level?</i> Wu Bingji couldn''t even fullyprehend the abilities Tang San had used. It seemed almost ridiculous to him how easily Tang San had won.


    Just then, a blue figure slowly emerged from the distance. She looked rather disheveled; her clothes were in disarray, her once neat hair now slightly messy, and there was a look of lingering fear on her delicate face. Wasn''t it the Ice Maiden n''s leader, Huang Bingbing?


    Tang San hadn''t truly harmed her. The target of his hammer just now wasn''t Huang Bingbing, but the ground beside her. Huang Bingbing had just been sted away by the immense shockwave, not struck by the hammer itself.


    But at this moment, her heart was filled with extreme fear. She had just received a good jolt, nothing more, but she could clearly feel how terrifying the power of that hammer was. If it hadnded on her, the consequences would have been unimaginable.


    "You win," Huang Bingbing said with some difficulty.


    "n Leader, you are too kind," Asura said as he put away Sky Shatterer, his gaze calm as he looked at her.


    Huang Bingbing took a deep breath and said, "I will keep my promise. I will also push forward your suggestion."


    "Good. So should we go back to the hotel first, or do it here?" Asura was referring to using the Throne of Frost to enhance his senior brother''s bloodline.


    Huang Bingbing said, "Let''s do it here. I need to return to the n as soon as possible. I''ll leave right after we''re done."


    "Alright," Asura nodded.


    Seeing that Huang Bingbing was fine, Wu Bingji ran over. His expression was somewhatplex; right now, he felt as if Tang San was the true senior brother.


    Tang San looked at Wu Bingji and said, "Senior brother, go with the n leader. I''ll wait here for you."


    As he spoke, he sat down cross-legged on the spot, showing no concern for Huang Bingbing, even though she was nearby.


    Huang Bingbing gave him a deep look and asked, "Can you tell me what technique you used with that hammer just now?"


    Asura replied calmly, "It''s the Great Sumeru Hammer, a technique thatpresses vast power into a small point."


    "What a great technique... Come with me," Huang Bingbing said, directing thetter part at Wu Bingji as it turned and walked toward the nearby woods.


    Wu Bingji looked at Tang San, saw him nod, and then followed Huang Bingbing.

 Chapter 451: Wu Bingjis Evolution

    <h4>Chapter 451: Wu Bingji''s Evolution</h4>


    Watching them enter the woods, Tang San quietly hid his hands in his sleeves. At this moment, his hands and even his arms were trembling violently. Uncontroble spasms of pain came from his muscles, and his blood was surging within him. He might have coughed up blood if not for his mighty spiritual power.


    Although it seemed like he had won the battle just now by andslide, he knew very well that unless he used his divine consciousness at all costs, it would have been tough to defeat Huang Bingbing, even if Huang Bingbing didn��t use the Throne of Frost.


    When he brought down his hammer, the target wasn''t Huang Bingbing; only then did Huang Bingbing refrain from activating the Throne of Frost. Otherwise, although he might have <i>technically</i> won because the opponent used the Throne of Frost, the situation wouldn''t have been as clear-cut as it was now. There was even a possibility that he might have been silenced.


    In the battle just now, Tang San had given his all. The suppression from the Pr Domain yed a crucial role andbined with the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer, it caught Huang Bingbing off guard. The Temporal Beacon was used to slow Huang Bingbing down; its effect wasparable to a divine weapon��s, and even Huang Bingbing''s cultivation couldn''t fully resist it.


    Why wasn''t Tang San affected? The simple answer was that he <i>was</i> actually affected. However, he used his Chrono Croc Transformation to elerate himself, so it appeared as if he weren��t, and there was also the teleportation ability from the Peacock bloodline.


    As for the final Great Sumeru Hammer, he had invoked a sliver of his divine consciousness. His powerful ability from his previous life disyed extreme power in this life as well.


    However, he no longer had the Clear Sky Hammer from his past life. He could only simte some of the Clear Sky Hammer''s characteristics with his divine consciousness and integrate them into the Sky Shatterer. This was the only way he could barely use this technique.


    The power was immense, but Tang San himself suffered from it due to both overexertion and insufficient toughness of his own physique.


    The entire process was veryplicated, but in the end, he had managed to defeat his opponent and achieve the oue he most desired.


    If Huang Bingbing had intended to use the Throne of Frost to get rid of him, with Tang San''s current strength, he wouldn''t have been able to win against her. But if he had fully unleashed his divine consciousness, escaping with Wu Bingji wouldn''t have been a problem. In that case, they would have be mortal enemies, and the Ice Maiden n wouldn''t be worth cooperating with.


    As it turned out, Huang Bingbing was rational and chose the best oue.


    ***


    Huang Bingbing led Wu Bingji into the woods.


    She didn''t immediately release the Throne of Frost but stopped and turned to look at Wu Bingji.


    Wu Bingji stopped as well and looked at her, feeling a bit uneasy. After all, this was the n leader of his maternal n!


    Huang Bingbing took a deep breath and asked, "How old are you this year?"


    Wu Bingji replied, "I am not sure how old I was when my teacher found me, but I should be about twenty now."


    "Twenty? Twenty years ago?" She squinted her eyes, lost in thought.


    Wu Bingji suddenly realized something and eximed, "No, don''t. I..."


    Huang Bingbing waved her hand and said, "Even if I find out who your parents are, I won''t harm them. What they did might not be wrong. Perhaps this is the future path for our n, so don''t worry. Once the n makes a decision, I will find you. And if I can find your mother... I will bring her along."


    Wu Bingji''s expression became somewhatplex, but he still nodded lightly.


    "You inherited our n''s bloodline power. And even though it''s not pure and you have human blood, you''ve cultivated to this level, which is quite remarkable. I have to say, you humans don''t cultivate slowly. Even though you''re not a full member of the Ice Maiden n, I hope that in the future, no matter what happens, you''ll lend a hand when our n needs help."


    Wu Bingji looked at her in surprise, knowing that the demon and nymph ns had always looked down on humans, treating them as ves or vassals. However, he quickly understood that Huang Bingbing''s change in attitude was rted to her defeat by Tang San. Tang San had earned her recognition with his strength.


    He nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely."


    A dazzling, gigantic ice throne suddenly appeared behind Huang Bingbing, radiating an icy blue glow.


    Instantly, the surrounding air temperature plummeted, everything turned cold, and frost began forming on the grass and trees around them.


    "Kneel before it. This is the inheritance of your ancestors," Huang Bingbing said, stepping aside.


    Wu Bingji hesitated for a moment but then knelt as instructed.


    The Ice Maiden n was different from other demon or nymph ns, as far as he was concerned. Most of hispanions had human mothers, but his mother was from the Ice Maiden n. This meant that the Ice Maiden n hadn''t killed his mother once he had awakened his bloodline, as was customary among the others. Although he didn''t know who his father was, an Ice Maiden wouldn''t be with a human without a reason, so they likely had genuine feelings for each other. And with half of his blood being from the Ice Maiden n, it wasn''t wrong to call it his family.


    He respectfully kowtowed three times, then stood up and looked at Huang Bingbing.


    Huang Bingbing''s expression was somewhatplex, but she still waved her hand and said, "Go ahead, sit on it."


    Wu Bingji hesitated, his breathing bing a bit rapid. He took a deep breath to calm himself before walking toward the Throne of Frost.


    The closer he got to the throne, the more pronounced the strange sense of familiarity became. It felt like the ice element was calling out to him, guiding him forward.


    Finally, he arrived before the throne and slowly sat down.


    When he sat on the Throne of Frost, the extreme cold he felt before vanished. Instead, a refreshing coolness flowed through his body, making him feel as if he was soaking in an ice spring.


    His mind instantly cleared, and his body emitted an icy blue glow. He instinctively closed his eyes, savoring the beauty of being immersed in the ice elements.


    Huang Bingbing watched his transformation intently. When it saw ice flower-like patterns appear on Wu Bingji''s skin, a trace of surprise appeared in its eyes. This human''s Ice Maiden n bloodline was surprisingly pure andbined very well with his human blood. There was no sign of rejection, as confirmed by the Throne of Frost''s eptance of him.


    Perhaps Asura was right; the Ice Maiden n''s physical characteristics had to be very close to humans. If the descendants of Ice Maidens and humans could have such a degree of bloodline purity, then these descendants would be slightly inferior to the Ice Maidens born of divine consciousness division, but not by much. With subsequent bloodline purification, the n''s heritage could essentially be continued.


    Wu Bingji felt some strange changes urring in his bloodline. It seemed as though something within his body was being activated, causing his body to freeze, while something else seemed to melt during the freezing process.


    In his spiritual perception, he could see a woman of stunning beauty sitting on the throne. Around the throne were crisscrossing images, seemingly recording her life.


    Strange sensations followed, as if he had learned something intangible, and he felt that his perception of and affinity with ice slowly improved.


    The feeling of cold gradually disappeared because he had be the cold itself.


    At dawn, Wu Bingji returned.


    Tang San ended his meditation and looked at him, noticing that his senior brother seemed different.


    Compared to before, Wu Bingji��s aura had turned more subtle, carrying an otherworldly feeling. His movements had changed in equally subtle ways. Ice flower patterns were faintly visible on his forehead, slowly fading but still noticeable.


    "How do you feel?" Tang San asked with a smile.


    Wu Bingji replied, "I''ve be more of an ice element user. My understanding of the ice element has deepened a lot. My bloodline seems to have changed as well."

 Chapter 452: Registering for the Elite Competition

    <h4>Chapter 452: Registering for the Elite Competition</h4>


    Tang San nodded slightly and said, "It seems it''s purer now. Congrattions on your bloodline advancement, eldest brother. Before reaching the god level, you shouldn''t worry about your bloodline."


    Wu Bingji looked at him deeply and said, "Little Tang, you know, I understand you less and less now."


    Tang San smiled. "Some things I can''t exin now, but maybe one day you''ll understand. But rest assured, eldest brother; everything I do is for humanity. After all, I am human."


    "Yes, I believe you, and so does everyone else. So even though the things you do and say make us wonder, no one asks because we don''t want to cause you trouble."


    Tang San patted his shoulder and said, "Let''s go back so we don''t worry everyone."


    "Alright." Wu Bingji had just been through a bloodline awakening thanks to the Throne of Frost and needed to stabilize his energy.


    Huang Bingbing had also left, returning to the Ice Maiden n. Tang San had already given her his contact information so they would meet again in Kali City once the Ice Maiden n made a decision.


    Wu Bingji returned to the White Tiger Hotel, but Tang San didn''t go with him. Instead, he activated his Golden Roc Transformation and flew toward Kali City.


    The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint couple hadn''t arrived yet. They needed to hurry up if they wanted to participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. Tang San nned to meet them and speed things up.


    After a night of meditation, Tang San mainly recovered from the internal injuries caused by using the Great Sumeru Hammer, but his chest still ached slightly. The Great Sumeru Hammer wasn''t easy to use, mainly because his physical strength and toughness were insufficient. If not for the significant enhancement of his physique by the Lion-Tiger Transformation, he wouldn''t have even qualified to use the Great Sumeru Hammer at all.


    Finding the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint couple wasn''t difficult. Tang San also had the Lion-Tiger bloodline, so he could locate their bloodline aura through divine consciousness within a certain range. Besides, there was only one road from Kali City to the Ancestral Court.


    To his surprise, the Lion-Tiger couple was faster than he had imagined; he found them after only half a day.


    Tang San exined the details of the Elite Competition to the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint and shared his thoughts. Big Cat naturally agreed eagerly. He loved fighting the most. Having survived countless life-and-death battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, how could he fear a merepetition? Moreover, with his new and improved Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, he couldn''t wait to find opponents to test the power of its first-tier bloodline.


    They elerated together, heading straight for the Ancestral Court.


    Since Little Cat didn''t have noble status, she couldn''t enter the Ancestral Court. Tang San thought of a solution. He first entered the Ancestral Court and found the Aetherhorn Merchant Association. He asked them to help sneak Little Cat in and forge some identity documents. She wouldn''t be exposed if there wasn''t aprehensive inspection.


    After the auction of the array discs, the Aetherhorn Merchant Association was filled with anticipation for whatever the array master would bring out next. Tang San''s request wasn''t too difficult, and Xu Ziran promptly handled it.


    The following day, Tang San, the Big Cat, and the Little Cat entered the Ancestral Court together.


    It was the couple''s first time in the ancestral court, and Tang San introduced them to some aspects of it. Seeing the many Sacred Mountains, the longing in the Big Cat''s eyes was unmistakable.


    He had always been ambitious, but his bloodline issues had forced him to suppress this ambition. Moreover, with his wife being seriously ill for a long time, he hadn''t had the heart to think about these things.


    But with Tang San''s help, the Lion-Tiger bloodline evolved, the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was sessfully improved, and the bloodline issue that gued him, his wife, and his nsmen was resolved. This reignited the fire deep within him as he cultivated in Golden Valley.


    So when Tang San mentioned the God-ying Sword, Big Cat agreed without hesitation. This was the kind of opportunity he longed for. He knew that if he relied solely on the Lion-Tiger n, it was impossible to aspire to the level of Demon Emperor in the future. Only a strong n could help him be a peak powerhouse.


    Today was thest day to register for the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. Tang San had already had hispanions find out the registration location. He rented a carriage and took them straight to the registration site without giving Big Cat and Little Cat time to rest.


    The Shrek Squad naturally wouldn''t participate in thispetition. They had only managed to resolve the turmoil from thest team battle in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, so they couldn''t easily show themselves again. Therefore, Tang San had hispanions continue their cultivation on the Sacred Mountains, with only Big Cat participating in the Elite Competition this time.


    The registration period for the Ancestral Court Elite Competition had been going on for a while, so by the time they arrived at the registration point, there was hardly any crowd.


    The Ancestral Court Elite Competition was held in the Grand za of the Ancestral Court. The Ancestral Court Council was located on the za''s east side, making it andmark. This highlighted thepetition''s importance to the Ancestral Court.


    There were conditions for participating in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition; not just anyone could participate.


    Having noble status was the most basic requirement. Without it, one couldn''t even enter the Ancestral Court, let alone participate in thepetition. Secondly, one��s bloodline had to be at least second-tier to qualify for thepetition. This requirement excluded most small and medium-sized ns.


    Lastly, there was a fee of one hundred naturae coins. Even powerful ns couldn��t dish out that kind of money for ordinary members.


    Therefore, those representing their ns in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition were indeed elites. Otherwise, it would be nothing more than a waste of money if they were eliminated in the first round.


    ording to the information Zhang Haoxuan had gathered, each Ancestral Court Elite Competition had about three hundred participants. This was a grand event, with the Ancestral Court specifically setting things up for these young elites. It was said that the emperors even ced private bets, one of their few ways of entertainment.


    Moreover, each Elite Competition was when the emperors gave out the most tokens. When they saw talented youths, they would extend olive branches, regardless of whether they were from the same n or not.


    Today was thest day to register, and thepetition would start in three days. There were noplicated round-robin formats. Just elimination matches: win and advance, lose and be eliminated. It was that simple.


    As for those who were strong but met an even stronger opponent... that was too bad for them. Luck is also part of one��s strength.


    And speaking of that, whenever the Ancestral Court Elite Competition was about to start, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor would order all his n members to stay away and not interfere with thepetition''s luck.


    The Celestial Fox n was not skilled inbat and naturally did not participate in the Elite Competition. However, if someone managed to get a powerful Celestial Fox to enhance their luck, their chances of drawing favorable lots and winning would significantly increase. Hence, this rule was established.


    No one dared to disobey the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s orders, and his descendants least of all, so the Celestial Fox n had never interfered with thepetition.


    Tang San brought Big Cat to the registration site on the west side of the Grand za. At this moment, the za was still bustling with construction work. The construction of the battle stages was close to finished; there were three giant stages over two hundred meters in diameter each, and many protective measures being put in ce. This was quite an extensive project.


    The registration site was now deserted; most of those who wanted to register had long since done so. It was just a small shack, practically.


    Two tall males with long, fiery red hair, exuding a powerful aura, were in charge of registration.


    <i>Phoenix demons!</i> Tang San immediately recognized their features; they appeared to be from the same n as the Undying Demon Emperor.


    Tang San wore a mask and a hood, while Big Cat only wore a hood.


    They approached the registration desk, and Tang San said, "Hello, my friend wants to register for this Elite Competition."


    The phoenix demon on the left looked up at the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. When he saw Big Cat''s appearance, a trace of surprise appeared on his face. "What n are you from? Why do you look so strange?"

 Chapter 453: Big Cats Test

    <h4>Chapter 453: Big Cat''s Test</h4>


    Big Cat lifted his hood, revealing his face. His lion-like features with tiger stripes radiated a strong, masculine aura.


    "Lion-Tiger n?" The two phoenix demon staff members were experienced and immediately recognized his race upon seeing his whole appearance.


    The phoenix demon on the right frowned and said, "What is a Lion-Tiger n member doing here? What qualifications do you have to participate in the elitepetition? Do you really think your cursed bloodline makes you elite?"


    Big Cat''s pupils contracted, but just as Tang San feared he might erupt, Big Cat calmly said, "I registered ording to the rules. You can test me to see whether I meet the qualifications."


    Seeing Big Cat remain calm in such a situation, Tang San couldn��t help but think more highly of him. Despite his rough exterior, he was not someone who acted recklessly.


    The two phoenix demons exchanged nces. The one on the left motioned to the one on the right, who reluctantly took a form and said, "Fill out the form, then take the test."


    A bloodline test was the main requirement for participating in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. The bloodline had to be at least second-tier, and one could enter thepetition after paying the fee.


    In the eyes of most demon races, the Lion-Tiger n was a cursed n, rejected by both the lion and tiger races. It was said that the hybrid bloodline of these two powerful ns was cursed and prone to copse at any moment, leading to them banishing their unfortunate descendants.


    Tang San stepped forward and paid the fee of a hundred naturae coins while Big Cat filled out the form.


    Seeing the hundred coinsid out in front of them, the two phoenix demons couldn''t help but show expressions of surprise. This was no small amount of money, and if the test failed, it wouldn��t be refunded. Could this Lion-Tiger n member have a strong enough bloodline to participate in thepetition?


    The phoenix demon on the left put away the form that Big Cat had filled out and motioned for him to follow. "Follow me."


    Big Cat and Tang San followed him to a room in the back.


    In the center of the room stood an object that looked like a stone tablet standing upright, and at its center was a crystal column.


    The staff member instructed Big Cat, "ce a drop of your blood down there." He pointed at a groove at the base of the crystal column on the stone tablet.


    "Regr blood will do," he added as an emphasis.


    Big Cat stepped forward as instructed, then nced at Tang San. Tang San gave him a nod, and only then did Big Cat raise his hand, use his nail to cut his finger, and flick a drop of blood into the groove.


    As soon as the drop of blood merged into the groove, there was a soft "poof" and an intense light surged upward, rushing along the base of the crystal column.


    There were clearlybeled markings on the side of the crystal column. They were in 30-centimeter increments. The first mark read "Five," likely representing a fifth-tier bloodline; 90 centimeters marked the fourth tier, 1.8 meters the third, 3 meters the second, and only at 4.5 meters was it considered first-tier.


    The incandescent light instantly shot upward when the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint dripped his blood on the tablet. Its speed was astonishing.


    In hardly an instant, the light shot up past 90 centimeters, then 1.8 meters, and immediately approached 3 meters.


    Seeing this, the two phoenix demons nced at each other with expressions of astonishment on their faces. They had worked here for a long time and had tested countlesspetitors, witnessing many different bloodlines. But such a rapid rise was extremely rare! At this speed, a second-tier bloodline was a sure thing.


    Before they could fully process their surprise, the incandescent light had already reached the three-meter mark and continued to surge upward. The intense glow of the rising blood aura was blinding, and it showed no signs of slowing down.


    It passed 3.3 meters, then 3.9 meters... 4.2 meters...


    By this point, the two staff members had their mouths wide open. They knew exactly what this meant.


    "First-tier bloodline?" Both phoenix demons gasped in unison. Yes, it had reached 4.5 meters!


    And yet it was still showing no signs of stopping. Since the stone tablet was 6 meters tall, the crystal column was also capped at 6 meters, even though the cutoff mark for first-tier bloodlines was at 4.5. This meant that even within first-tier bloodlines, there were differences. A bloodline at 4.5 meters and one that reached 6 meters were undoubtedly at different levels.


    Tang San watched the crystal column intently, pondering.


    <i>This is quite a helpful device. I wonder if I can get one for Golden Valley in the future to test the bloodline strength of mypanions.</i>


    Humans with a Demonic God Transformation often faced the issue of insufficient bloodline strength. Though external means could improve it, the effects were always hard to gauge exactly. A device that could measure everyone��s bloodline strength would be incredibly valuable.


    By the time he looked at it again, the light had reached 4.8 meters!


    At this point, all traces of disdain had vanished from the faces of the two phoenix demons. They were well aware of what a first-tier bloodline implied, not to mention that every unit above 4.5 meters meant greater strength. Fewer than twenty participants had passed the 4.8 meter mark, and Big Cat''s light was still going up.


    When had the Lion-Tiger n''s bloodline be so powerful? Was this a mutation? After all, all demons and nymphs with a first-tier bloodline had the potential to be emperors. The White Tiger Demon Emperor had a mutated bloodline��could this Lion-Tiger be the same?


    Finally, Big Cat''s bloodline light stopped just shy of 5.1 meters. This instantly ced him among the top tenpetitors in terms of bloodline tier.


    Bloodline power alone didn''t determine everything. One��s strength came from multiple factors. However, having a bloodline in the top ten made this person highly likely to achieve a top rank.


    The two phoenix demons'' attitudes toward Big Cat had changed entirely. There was now a clear sense of respect in their eyes. Even though they were from the phoenix race, their bloodlines weren��t strong enough; otherwise, they wouldn��t be working as staff here. In the demon world, power was revered, and nobody would think them hypocritical just because they now acted respectfully.


    ��Is that all?�� Big Cat asked calmly. Although his expression was neutral, the gleam in his eyes was unmistakable.


    Although Big Cat had long felt that his bloodline had reached the first tier, he didn��t know the exact level. It was just as Tang San had expected. The test confirmed that he had not only reached the first tier but was among the strongest within that tier. This knowledge gave him immense confidence.


    ��Yes, yes, of course. Your bloodline strength is truly outstanding. You will undoubtedly shine in thispetition,�� one of the phoenix demons said respectfully.


    ��Alright, that��s it,�� Big Cat said, turning to look at Tang San.


    Tang San gave him a slight smile. Their eyes met, and nothing more needed to be said. The deep gratitude in Big Cat''s eyes seemed so intense it could almost melt Tang San.


    Yes, without Tang San, Big Cat would still be troubled by the bloodline conflict. How could he possibly possess such a powerful bloodline?


    They returned to the front hall toplete the remaining registration work.


    The phoenix demon then respectfully said, "Lord Big Cat, your registration isplete. You just need to wait for the draw to determine your match in thepetition. However, there��s a new rule in this year��s Elite Tournament that I need to exin to you."


    Big Cat was somewhat taken aback. "What is it?"


    The phoenix demon exined, "This time, we also have a doublespetition in addition to the individualpetition. If you have a strong nmate to participate with you, that��s allowed. The doublespetition is designed to promote teamwork, especially between different races. The Ancestral Court has recently studied the transformative effects of cooperation between different races. That��s why we��ve added this newpetition format, and the rewards for the doublespetition are even more generous than those for the individual one."

 Chapter 454: Entering the Doubles Competition?

    <h4>Chapter 454: Entering the Doubles Competition?</h4>


    Big Cat said in surprise, "This is to observe the tacit understanding between different races and how well they��re working together, right?"


    "Yes," the phoenix demon said. "The only time we can gather so many first- and second-tier bloodline powerhouses is during the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, so the Ancestral Court has now decided to use this newpetition format. In the individualpetition, only the top three receive rewards, while in the doublespetition the top ten will receive rewards, and the rewards are even more generous."


    Big Cat turned to look at Tang San. Tang San said, " How about you let Little Cat participate?"


    Big Cat shook his head and said, "She can''t! She doesn''t have a noble title, so she doesn''t meet the requirements. How about..." As he spoke, a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.


    "Me?" Tang San was momentarily stunned. He had no ns to participate in thepetition, especially since the issues with the team battle had just been resolved. He still hoped to stay low-key for a while and keep things steady.


    Big Cat nodded. "Yes! If we team up, wouldn''t the doubles championship be easily in our grasp?"


    The two phoenix demons were stunned. One hurriedly said, "Wait a minute, wait a minute. This one should be a human noble, right? Only nobles can enter the Ancestral Court, and humans are no exception."


    "That''s right," Big Cat answered for Tang San.


    "Humans probably can''t participate. Their bloodline doesn''t meet the requirements. Even being a noble won''t help," the phoenix demon quickly added.


    "Even a first-tier bloodline?" Big Cat asked in confusion, but it was toote when Tang San wanted to stop him.


    The phoenix demon looked at him in shock. "There are humans with a first-tier bloodline?"


    Big Cat nced at Tang San again, realizing he had misspoken.


    Tang San said helplessly, "What are the rewards for the doublespetition?"


    The phoenix demon exined, "The reward for first ce is very generous. It includes tokens from all the Demon and Nymph Emperors, which means you can join any of their courts and be in their favor anytime. Additionally, each winner receives a divine item that suits them. The first ce in the individualpetition receives the same reward, but of course, it''s only for one person. The rewards for second and third ce are slightly less, and the rest get nothing. Meanwhile, the top ten in the doublespetition all receive some measure of reward. The fixed reward is a top-tier rare item, and the top rankers get first pick. As for the number of tokens they get, that depends on how many emperors favor the participants."


    Tang San said, "So, the first ce prize is a divine item plus all the tokens, while the lower rankings are tokens from favored emperors and the right to choose a rare item. The higher the ranking, the earlier you choose, right?"


    "Yes, that''s exactly it. But please excuse me for saying this: having a human register for thispetition is, well...." The phoenix demon now addressed Tang San respectfully, as Big Cat''s earlier words seemed to suggest that Tang San also possessed a first-tier bloodline, which made them take him seriously.


    Tang San nodded slightly. To be honest, the rewards tempted him. Between being given a divine item or having the right to choose a rare item, he valued the chance to select a rare item. If something like a Temporal Beacon came up, it would be far stronger than an ordinary divine item! The treasures in the Ancestral Court were truly countless.


    "Then how can he participate?" Just as Tang San was ready to give up, Big Cat asked at the worst possible moment.


    The phoenix demon replied, "Only with an emperor''s sponsorship. If an emperor has acknowledged you, then we naturally have no reason to question your eligibility."


    "So troublesome!" Big Cat frowned. He had genuinely hoped to team up with Tang San. After all, he had lost to Tang San in the past, and although he now possessed a first-tier bloodline, his immense respect for Tang San''s strength had not changed in the slightest. Big Cat truly believed they could secure a high ranking if they teamed up.


    "I do have a token," Tang San said, flipping his wrist. In his palm appeared a small sword-shaped object��the token of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor.


    Seeing the token in his hand, the phoenix demons were shocked and immediately reevaluated him.


    Earning the recognition of an emperor was no easy task. It was impossible without absolute strength <i>and</i> abilities that aligned with the emperor''s expectations. Anyone possessing an emperor��s token was destined to be at least a Demon or Nymph King, potentially even a Great Demon or Great Nymph King in the future!


    Although the Sword Saint Demon Emperor wasn��t ranked among the top, hisbat power was formidable. Many demons and nymphs climbed the Sword Saint Sacred Mountain, but those who could obtain a token were extremely rare.


    For this person to have obtained the Sword Saint Demon Emperor��s token, it was clear that his killing abilities must be extraordinary.


    The phoenix demon��s attitude was now even more respectful. "In that case, as long as your bloodline is second-tier or higher, you can participate."


    "Do you really want me topete?" Tang San asked Big Cat helplessly. He was genuinely hesitant.


    "You''re nobody if you don''t draw others�� envy. Come on, just join! You have the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s token, which makes you one of the Sword Saint Pce''s people, right? So what if you''re human? With a Demon Emperor backing you, what��s there to fear?" Looking at the Sword Saint token in Tang San��s hand, Big Cat��s eyes were filled with envy. After all, he too carried the title of Sword Saint, but there was noparison between his title and that of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor! Seeing Tang San��s Sword Saint token, how could he not feel utterly jealous? If he had the chance, he would also go to the Sword Saint Pce to cultivate.


    Listening to Big Cat��s words and observing the expressions of the two staff members, Tang San suddenly realized something��he had underestimated the value of an emperor��s token.


    An emperor��s token represented far more than just a simple token of acknowledgement; it showed actual recognition from an emperor. And with that recognition came genuine protection. Even though he was human, with an emperor''s backing, his race was no longer a problem; emperors cared little about that.


    The rewards of the Elite Competition were too tempting.


    "In that case, I��ll give it a try. In the individualpetition, I��ll clear the way for you."


    Thatst part was meant for Big Cat. It would carry even greater significance if Big Cat could win the individualpetition. As for the doublespetition, Big Cat could take the lead and Tang San could assist, keeping a low profile without revealing too much of his strength.


    Thinking of this, a faint smile appeared on Tang San��s lips. "Let''s take the test, then."


    Returning to the back hall, Tang San approached the massive stone tablet and let a drop of his blood fall. As the blood dropped, he intentionally activated the Lion-Tiger bloodline imprint within him, making his bloodline lean more toward the Lion-Tiger.


    As the blood fell, white light surged, and the light on the crystal pir slowly began to rise.


    Watching the speed at which the light ascended, the two Peacock Demons were momentarily stunned, and Big Cat furrowed his brow. Not because it was too fast but because it was too slow.


    Compared to Big Cat��s earlier test, the speed at which the light rose for Tang San was significantly slower��it only passed 30 centimeters after three full seconds. Normally, the speed of the ascent was proportional to the strength of the bloodline. Such slow progress typically signified failure!


    Tang San was curious about how far his bloodline would go while deliberately using the Lion-Tiger bloodline. Judging by the speed, was his bloodline not strong enough? Could it be that he didn''t even reach the second tier? That shouldn''t be possible��he could use the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral and it was every bit as powerful as Big Cat��s! Or perhaps the test didn��t recognize it due to his human bloodline?


    While he was thinking, the light on the crystal pir slowly climbed past 60 centimeters. It was slow, but its speed didn��t diminish and stayed rtively stable.


    It continued to rise��90 centimeters, 1.2 meters, 1.5 meters��slowly yet steadily.

 Chapter 455: She Also Came to Register?

    <h4>Chapter 455: She Also Came to Register?</h4>


    The expressions of the two phoenix demons changed again. From their experience, bloodline strength tests usually slowed down as they progressed, and toward the end, the rise would be the slowest. This was exactly how it had been with Big Cat earlier.


    However, the human��s situation seemed different. The light was rising at a constant speed; it was not fast, but it wasn��t slowing down either. How was that even possible? It was truly strange!


    In another few moments, the light reached 1.8 meters. A third-tier bloodline was already assured. For a human to have a third-tier bloodline was considered quite impressive in the eyes of these phoenix demons. Yet, the light on the crystal column continued to rise at the same steady speed. Who could even exin this?


    Then, it reached 2.1 meters... 2.4 meters...


    Steady ascension.


    Tang San was also curious as to why this was happening. Even with his not-insubstantial knowledge about bloodline power, this bloodline test baffled him. In any case, since he had decided topete, he needed to surpass 3 meters to prove he had a second-tier bloodline.


    A second-tier bloodline would be perfect, allowing him to participate while remaining low-key. After all, this was just the tier of a single bloodline imprint. If he hadn��t been concerned about the purity of his bloodline, he would have used the Chrono Croc bloodline instead. But fearing it might not reach the second tier, he had opted for the Lion-Tiger.


    Meanwhile, the light had reached 2.7 meters!


    He was already approaching the level of a second-tier bloodline at 3 meters.


    At that moment, the sound of a bell suddenly rang from outside. One of the phoenix demons eximed in surprise, "It��s thest day, are people stilling to register? I��ll go check. You stay here."


    The speaker left, while the other phoenix demon remained to monitor the rise of Tang San��s bloodline light.


    Tang San frowned slightly. For some reason, when the bell rang, he felt his heartbeat quicken. His sensitivity to his fate had increased with the growth of his Celestial Fox bloodline. A sudden eleration of his heartbeat usually indicated that something was about to happen, and it was somehow rted to the bell he just heard.


    <i>Could the powerful individual registering outside affect me and Big Cat in thispetition?</i>


    "Three meters!" At that moment, Big Cat''s voice echoed, sounding relieved.


    Tang San looked up, and sure enough, the crystal column��s light had surpassed 3 meters. Only now did the speed of the ascent begin to slow down, no longer maintaining the steady rise it had before.


    It seemed he couldn��t reach first-tier bloodline power. To Tang San, this waspletely normal. After all, the limit of his Lion-Tiger bloodline was the ninth order, since the Lion-Tigers he had absorbed the energy from were all below the god level. The Mysterious Heaven Technique couldn��t absorb enough energy from them to bring his Lion-Tiger bloodline imprint to the peak.


    Thus, there was a clear difference between his and Big Cat''s bloodlines. Big Cat''s was innate, while Tang San''s was created by absorbing others'' bloodline power. The power of his imprints wasparatively shallow and it was also fixed; they had almost no innate potential to grow, and he had to absorb higher-order and eventually higher-tier energy for that to happen. In any case, the Lion-Tiger bloodline imprint being only second-tier was to be expected.


    The bloodline continued to rise, slowly but steadily. It passed 3.3 meters, and only near 3.6 meters did it slow down by arge margin. From the looks of it, it wouldn��t reach fifteen meters, but it would likely stop around 3.9 meters, marking a top second-tier bloodline.


    For a human to have such a solid second-tier bloodline, as well as the recognition of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, the phoenix demon left behind to check his test was feeling shocked. A bloodline of this strength in a human was truly rare! After all, even when humans inherited a demon or nymph bloodline sufficiently powerful to use the Demonic God Transformation, their bloodline strength was diluted. Such a strong bloodline meant that whichever demon or nymph n he was part of had a first-tier bloodline!


    Finally, just before it reached 4 meters, the light column stopped and no longer continued its ascent.


    "Is that good enough?" Big Cat was more anxious than Tang San.


    "It��s good enough. Congrattions, you��re qualified topete! You��re entering both the individual and doublespetition, right? You��ll each need to pay an additional hundred naturae coins for the doublespetition. That��s two hundred per person."


    Hearing the amount, even Tang San, who didn��t usually care much about money, had to keep his jaw from dropping to the floor. The Ancestral Court sure knew how to make money!


    Big Cat looked at Tang San. "Got enough?"


    "Yeah, I��ve got enough," Tang San said, resigned.


    "In that case, please follow me to register," the phoenix demon said with a smile.


    At that moment, the door opened, and the phoenix demon, who had gone outside earlier, returned with a somewhat odd expression. Behind him appeared a man who looked human but had a striking head of blue hair.


    As soon as Tang San saw him, he immediately recognized that the man was from the Peacock Demon n.


    Moreover, the moment this person stepped in, an invisible pressure caused Tang San��s heart to tighten, and the fur on the back of Big Cat''s neck bristled��he was clearly sensing a massive threat.


    A Peacock Demon of god-level strength or higher? Who was this person?


    As Tang San stood in shock, the rapid heartbeat sensation returned, and momentster, a face he had been dreaming of��one he had seen just a few days ago��appeared before him.


    No matter how strong Tang San��s will was, at that moment, hepletely lost control of his emotions and blurted out, "Mei Gongzi?"


    Yes, the one who had followed the Peacock demon was none other than Mei Gongzi!


    Tang San had never expected to see Mei Gongzi here. When they parted, she had mentioned undergoing the next trial with the Peacock Great Demon King. Yet, she had arrived here at the Ancestral Court Elite Competition registration.


    For a moment, his mind wentpletely nk.


    Hearing his exmation, both the Peacock Demon and Mei Gongzi turned their gazes toward him. Mei Gongzi��s eyes also showed shock as she eximed, "Asura? What are you doing here? Weren��t you..."


    Traveling from Kali City to the Ancestral Court took quite a long time. They had only parted a few days ago, four or five days at most, and yet they were meeting again in the Ancestral Court. How was it possible for Asura to be here that fast?


    "Hmm?" The powerful Peacock Demon turned his head in confusion, looking at Mei Gongzi and then at Tang San. "You know each other?"


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath to calm herself, then nodded and said, "His name is Asura, my human friend. Asura, this is my father."


    Hearing her introduction, Tang San immediately understood. Although he had seen this man��s figure from afar during the battle over Kali City between the Peacock Great Demon King and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, that was really only just a figure with light shes in the background. Seeing him up close, Tang San couldn��t help but feel strange. This was his future father-inw? The father of his wife in this world?


    Suppressing the impulse to call him "father-inw," Tang San bowed slightly and said, "Greetings, n Leader."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded slightly, then nced at the height the crystal column had reached. His gaze shifted to Big Cat, and he asked in surprise, "Lion-Tiger n? Have your bloodline problems been solved?" He had subconsciously assumed the bloodline sample being tested belonged to Big Cat.


    Upon hearing Tang San address him as "n Leader,"bined with the bloodline strength and the features of the Peacock Demon n, Big Cat immediately understood who this person was. After all, though he had never seen the city lord in person, he <i>had</i> spent many years in Kali City. He quickly responded respectfully, "n Leader, this isn��t my bloodline test; it''s brother Asura��s. I��ve been in Kali City for some time,peting in the Great Beast Fighting Arena."

 Chapter 456: Mei Gongzis Bloodline Strength

    <h4>Chapter 456: Mei Gongzi''s Bloodline Strength</h4>


    "Human? Second-tier?" The Peacock Great Demon King suddenly looked at Asura with a hint of surprise and... respect. A human��s bloodline reaching such a height was something he had never seen before��excluding Mei Gongzi, of course.


    "Yes," the phoenix demon standing nearby quickly replied respectfully. Although there was discord between the peacock race and the Phoenix Demon n, it didn��t apply to their particr n.


    "Alright, please test my daughter��s bloodline," the Peacock Great Demon King said, waving his hand toward Mei Gongzi. He didn��t say anything more or engage in further conversation with Asura.


    Mei Gongzi stepped forward as instructed, though her gaze remained fixed on Asura. It truly felt like encountering an old friend in a foreignnd. At that moment, she had a strange thought. <i>Has Asura been at the Ancestral Court all along? Did he return just to meet me and then headed back here again?</i>


    Tang San''s emotions were equallyplicated. Mei Gongzi��s appearance here meant she was undoubtedly participating in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. The fact that the Peacock Great Demon King personally brought her... <i>Is this to publicly confirm her status as his sessor? If so, thispetition will be her first test��earning the recognition of the high-ranking members of the Ancestral Court. </i>


    <i>Could this be the trial she had mentioned earlier? But didn��t she say it was taking ce within the Peacock Demon n��s estate? </i>


    <i>Shit, what if Mei Gongzi and Big Cat bothpete in the individualpetition? Who do I help?</i>


    <i>I��m not someone who prioritizes romantic interests over friends! But... Well, Mei Gongzi is also a friend now, isn��t she? Yes, absolutely! I knew her before I even met Big Cat, after all.</i>


    Unaware of Tang San''splicated thoughts, Big Cat was simply surprised that the Peacock Great Demon King had personally brought the little princess topete. And it seemed she knew Tang San��she even appeared to be a human hybrid! After all, wasn��t her hair ck, rather than the signature peacock blue of her n?


    "Please," the phoenix demon staff member gestured politely to Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi slowly walked toward the testing stone tablet. She nced first at Tang San, then at the 3.9-meter mark on his bloodline test, and her expression grew slightly odd.


    <i>His bloodline isn��t first-tier?</i> She had seen Asura in action multiple times and knew he possessed more than one type of bloodline. <i>Is this just one of his bloodlines at this strength?</i>


    While pondering, she cut her finger and let a drop of blood fall into the groove.


    Immediately, Tang San felt a strange sensation rise in his heart. His blood had just been in the groove, and now Mei Gongzi��s blood was there. Didn��t that mean their blood was mixing together? It felt strangely intimate. As for the previous blood that had been tested, his powerful blood aura had already overwhelmed it, so it didn��t count��it didn��t count!


    <i>Poof!</i>


    As the blood dropped into the groove, the light on the crystal pir immediately began to rise.


    It wasn''t moving very fast! Yes, just like Tang San''s test, it wasn��t rising quickly. The speed was almost the same as his.


    The Peacock Great Demon King frowned slightly, but Tang San whispered to Mei Gongzi, "Don��t worry. It seems like our human bloodlines rise slowly but steadily. That��s how mine was just now."


    "Hmm..." Mei Gongzi nodded at him.


    Tang San quietly asked, "Are you joining the individualpetition? How about the doublespetition?"


    "I��m just entering by myself..." Mei Gongzi replied instinctively. But as soon as the words left her mouth, her gaze froze on Asura''s face, and she blinked.


    Asura also blinked, looking right back at her.


    As he said, the crystal pir rose steadily and continuously. Although it wasn��t fast, it seemed slightly quicker than Tang San''s.


    60 centimeters, 90 centimeters, 1.2 meters, 1.5 meters...


    It quickly passed 1.8 meters, then 2.1 meters, and finally 2.4 meters!


    Watching the steady and sustained rise, the Peacock Great Demon King''s expression returned to normal.


    The two phoenix demons were also watching. Mei Gongzi��s bloodline was of great interest to them, after all. The Peacock Demons and the phoenixes had been rivals for the title of King of Birds for countless years. The battles between the Peacock Demon Emperor and the Undying Demon Emperor had never determined who was stronger, and their standoff hadsted for years. Only after the fall of the Peacock Demon Emperor did the Peacock Demon n decline, allowing the phoenix race to secure the title.


    And today, the daughter of the Peacock Great Demon King��a daughter he had with a human female, to boot��was here topete in the elite tournament. What did this mean?


    The phoenix ns also had participants in thepetition. It would be interesting to see just how strong this Peacock Demon princess was.


    Standing beside Mei Gongzi, Tang San could sense it��she was at the ninth order! Yes, the ninth order! Although she had likely broken through just recently, her aura was noticeably more substantial than when they met just a few days ago.


    3 meters! A second-tier bloodline was already confirmed. The Peacock Demon n possessed true first-tier bloodlines, but would she still reach first-tier if she had human blood?


    After reaching 3 meters, the rise in Mei Gongzi��s bloodline strength didn��t slow down as Tang San��s had. Instead, it rose steadily, clearly showing more potential than his. Tang San��s bloodline strength had reached 3.9 meters, so she was likely to reach 4.5 meters, the threshold for a first-tier bloodline.


    It was approaching 3.6 meters, and at that moment, the speed of Mei Gongzi''s bloodline light began to drop.


    <i>Is it slowing down after passing 3.6 meters?</i>


    <i>Can she still reach 4.5 meters?</i>


    Just as everyone was having the same doubts, a strange scene unfolded. Mei Gongzi��s light on the crystal pir, which had been slowing down, suddenly elerated again. And this time, it was even faster than before, continuing its rise.


    <i>What the... How is it elerating?!</i>


    The two phoenix demon staff members watched, utterly dumbfounded.


    But the evidence was right before them; there was no denying it! The device was one hundred percent urate. If her bloodline power could somehow boost itself... then that was that.


    3.9 meters, 4.2 meters, 4.5 meters! A first-tier bloodline was confirmed. And it was still rising.


    Big Cat, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, stood watching, his face showing surprise. This girl and Asura were both half humans, so... was she stronger than Asura?


    The test proved everything. 4.8 meters! After passing 4.8 meters, the speed finally began to drop again, but by then, it didn��t matter. Mei Gongzi��s status as a first-tier bloodline holder was undeniable.


    Although her human bloodline required additional scrutiny forpetition eligibility, her first-tier bloodline and the Peacock Demon n leader''s presence resolved all those issues. After all, the Peacock Demon n had once produced a Demon Emperor.


    The light passed 5.1 meters.


    Little by little, she had surpassed Big Cat��s record. This level of bloodline power ced her firmly among the top ranks. And that was with human blood in her veins.


    Tang San had a faint suspicion about the reason behind Mei Gongzi��s second surge in bloodline strength. It likely came from another bloodline within her��the White Tiger bloodline inherited from her mother, a legacy from the White Tiger Demon Emperor. Thebination of two first-tier bloodlines created this phenomenon.


    He couldn��t help but wonder what would happen if he activated all of his imprints and let his blood be tested like that. How many times would it elerate? At least his second and first-tier bloodlines could likely increase the speed. Perhaps the 6-meter stone tablet wasn��t the limit after all.


    Finally, Mei Gongzi��s bloodline light stopped at 5.3 meters and didn��t seem like it would start moving again. Even so, this measurement was astonishing.


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded in satisfaction and said, "That will do. Go ahead and register."

 Chapter 457: Three Plus Five Equals Two

    <h4>Chapter 457: Three Plus Five Equals Two</h4>


    Everyone moved to the front hall. The two phoenix demons ignored Tang San and Big Cat, registering Mei Gongzi first.


    "This year, the Ancestral Court Elite Competition not only has an individualpetition but also a doublespetition, and the rewards for the doubles are very generous..." The phoenix demon repeated to Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Great Demon King what it had told Tang San and Big Cat earlier.


    As the phoenix demon spoke, Big Cat looked at Tang San, whose eyes never left Mei Gongzi, and suddenly had a bad premonition.


    "Can I join the doublespetition?" Mei Gongzi turned to the Peacock Great Demon King.


    "With whom?" asked the Peacock Great Demon King, puzzled.


    "With me!" Asura said without hesitation. He stepped forward to the Peacock Great Demon King, bowed slightly, and continued, "I''m Mei Gongzi''s vassal. I can participate with her."


    "You?" The Peacock Great Demon King frowned. "You only have a second-tier bloodline, and your aura is barely at the ninth order. You would just be a burden."


    Asura immediately took out the Sword Saint token and handed it over. "I believe I have the abilities."


    "Yes, he is very strong," Mei Gongzi nodded. She gave Asura a strange nce when he imed to be her vassal, but she didn''t say much. To her, it seemed Asura was just saying that to participate with her. Naturally, she didn''t mind having him as a partner.


    Seeing the Sword Saint token in Asura''s hand, the Peacock Great Demon King was moved. "You are from Kali City?"


    Asura nodded. "Yes, City Lord."


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at Mei Gongzi again, this time squinting a little. "Well, what can I say. The future world belongs to the young. You decide for yourself."


    The phoenix demon looked at Tang San, then at Mei Gongzi and Big Cat, muttering, "Weren''t you two going to participate together?"


    Tang San turned to Big Cat, looking apologetic. Big Cat raised an eyebrow and looked at Tang San understandingly, showing no sign of displeasure.


    Tang San gave him a thumbs up, conveying everything without words. Then, he turned to Mei Gongzi


    "Is that fine with you?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded to him. "Sure."


    Seeing her delicate and charming face, Tang San suddenly wanted to kiss her. Finally, they could fight side by side again. At this moment, his excitement was hard to contain. Memories of their past life flooded his mind.


    He clearly remembered their past life as Xiao Wu and Tang San. Their duo had once dominated the arena, their cooperation seamless and unbeatable, defeating countless opponents.


    Now, they would once more walk side by side into an arena. What could be more wonderful than this? Although he felt slightly sorry for Big Cat, he had his priorities, and he knew that Big Cat also had his own. All Tang San��sposure vanished in front of his Mei Gongzi, <i>his Xiao Wu</i>.


    Registration, confirmation, receiving thepetition badge, and confirming thepetition time��after this series of procedures, the preparation for participation wasplete.


    Tang San, Mei Gongzi, and Big Cat all entered the individualpetition. Then Tang San and Mei Gongzi entered the doublespetition.


    What intrigued Tang San was that Mei Gongzi covered her name during the registration, not letting him see it. Was there a problem with her name? Was she going under an alias, the way he himself did?


    "Let''s go," the Peacock Great Demon King told Mei Gongzi.


    "Okay. See you at the arena," she said, turning to nod at Asura.


    "Alright. See you there."


    After seeing her, Tang San''s whole demeanor changed. His eyes sparkled with energy.


    He had been somewhat hesitant to participate, but since Mei Gongzi was here, then all that went out the window.


    After leaving the registration area, the Peacock Great Demon King and Mei Gongzi disappeared in a sh of silver light.


    Their rapid arrival to the Ancestral Court was naturally due to spatial jumps, a specialty of the Peacock Demon n. Of course, this ability was on an entirely different level when used by the mighty Peacock Great Demon King.


    "Stop looking. They''re already gone," Big Cat''s teasing voice rang out.


    Tang San turned to him and said, with a bitter smile, "Sorry, sorry, Big Cat. It''s all my fault."


    Big Cat waved his hand and said, "It''s nothing, I understand. Prioritizing love over friendship is normal. If it were me, I''d do the same. I have to protect my loved one. Everything else is secondary. I understand."


    Tang San held back and didn''t mention that he was friends with Mei Gongzi before meeting Big Cat.


    "Let''s go. Aspensation, I''ll treat you to a really good meal. And if we ce in the doublespetition, I''ll pick something good for you."


    Big Cat shook his head at Tang San''s words and said, "Asura, you are my benefactor, and I now consider you my true brother. If you see me as a brother, don''t say things like that in the future. I must strive for whatever I want with my strength; otherwise, I will never truly be strong. You''ve already set me on the path to obtaining the God-ying Sword. In thispetition, I will prove to all those who look down on the Lion-Tiger n that we are strong enough."


    Seeing the determined light in his eyes, Tang San nodded slightly. Big Cat was right. You can never truly reach the top by relying on others.


    Big Cat looked at him intently and continued, "But no matter what, the Lion-Tiger n will be on your side. Just say the word, and we''ll go through hell and back for you."


    ***


    The Peacock Great Demon King teleported back to his residence with Mei Gongzi.


    Now that there were no outsiders, his expression softened considerably when he looked at Mei Gongzi.


    "Who is that Asura? Is he from your Redemption Society?" he asked.


    "Yes. When we were in Kali City, he always helped me. Those few times where I took action personally... he assisted me."


    In truth, she was not sure if Asura was part of the Redemption Society, and there was a genuine possibility that he wasn��t. But considering his actions and especially the oath he��d pledged to her...


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at his daughter with deep meaning and said, "If you believe he is an important ally for your future, you must make efforts to win him over. But if you can''t be sure he will truly help you, you must remain vignt. As a leader, you can''t always control every one of your subordinates, but every core team member must be a trusted confidant."


    "Understood." Mei Gongzi nodded.


    Regarding Asura, she always maintained a sense of caution. That time she asked to see his true face was for this reason. That mask seemed a barrier, preventing her from fully letting go of her doubts even after that oath. But she could also feel Asura''splete devotion to her... and the undisguised joy and deep emotions in his eyes whenever they met.


    "Alright, get some rest. You''ve been traveling nonstop since you passed the inheritance test and haven''t rested properly," said the Peacock Great Demon King. Then his figure flickered and disappeared.


    After her father left, Mei Gongzi rxed. Seeing Asura today had indeed been a pleasant surprise for her, but it felt somewhat strange to form a team with him for thispetition.


    They had worked together before, but a long time had passed and her power had evolved immensely. Could they cooperate like they used to? She wasn''t entirely sure of Asura''s true strength, but she knew he was very powerful, always capable of what others couldn''t achieve.


    <i>What about the Lion-Tiger who was with him earlier? Is he Asura''s friend? Were they nning topete in the doubles together?</i>


    But when he saw her, Asura chose to team up with her without hesitation.


    <i>What does he truly feel about me?</i>

 Chapter 458: Sunborne Sacred Mountain

    <h4>Chapter 458: Sunborne Sacred Mountain</h4>


    As Mei Gongzi grew older, she reached an age where her feelings were awakening, and she wasn''t entirely clueless. She could sense the way Asura looked at her. However, he still refused to remove his mask. Perhaps through thispetition, she could uncover something more about him.


    At the White Tiger Grand Hotel, Tang San''s emotions remained unsettled for a long time. He was very grateful that he had gone to register with the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint. Otherwise, how could he have met Mei Gongzi? It was a stroke of luck.


    As he gradually calmed down, he realized why the Peacock Great Demon King had brought Mei Gongzi to participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. The purpose was somewhat simr to his own purpose for having the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint participate. It was clearly to prepare for Mei Gongzi''s future ession to the throne.


    Suppose Mei Gongzi could show outstanding performance in thispetition and even achieve a high ranking. In that case, the Peacock Great Demon King could naturally and easily dere her his sessor and even pass the throne to her sooner rather thanter. Therefore, he had to help her defeat their opponents this time. The individualpetition wasn''t easy to control, but the doublespetition would be much easier with him teaming up with her.


    Today, he had defeated a god-level powerhouse and was confident about the Elite Competition. Of course, it was possible they would encounter descendants of powerful races with the strength to challenge god-level opponents. Still, he firmly believed that as long as he cooperated with Mei Gongzi, they could ovee any enemy. This was also an excellent opportunity to see the strength of the top entities below godhood on the Daemon Continent.


    Of course, certain things he had used in his previous battle with Huang Bingbing, such as the Temporal Beacon, couldn''t be used in thepetition, at least not for the time being. But when Tang San returned from the Ancestral Court, he nned to go through an initial refinement of the Temporal Beacon, making it so that he could use it to an extent. Although his cultivation wouldn��t remotely allow him to unleash the full power of the Temporal Beacon, even a tiny portion of its power would beparable to that of a divine item.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face, his expression showing a slight divine glow. At this moment, he was genuinely filled with confidence! <i>This is the power of love!</i>


    Tang San informed Zhang Haoxuan that he would also participate and assured him he would be cautious. With more than two days before thepetition started, he didn''t n to spend that time idly in the hotel. He wanted to visit two ces he had always intended to go to. This was so that once the Elite Competition was over, he could leave the Ancestral Court immediately and return to Kali City.


    Since Mei Gongzi was here to participate in thepetition, it seemed she wouldn''t continue her seclusion after returning. In other words, the power transition in Kali City was likely to begin, and she would definitely need him during such a critical time. So, he had to make the most of every moment.


    After lunch, Tang San hired a carriage and quietly left the White Tiger Grand Hotel. The hotel was bustling, with many strong participants arriving for thepetition, making it much busier than usual.


    Sitting in the carriage, Tang San mentioned his destination. The carriage smoothly traveled through the streets of the Ancestral Court. Tang San closed his eyes, quietly adjusting his state to be at his best.


    Half an hourter, the carriage slowly came to a stop. The driver respectfully said, "Sir, we''ve arrived."


    "Alright, wait here for me," Tang San said as he exited the carriage, looking up at his destination.


    The majestic mountain was strikingly red, not due to the color of the rock but because of countless red flowers. These flowers varied in size and species, but they all disyed a simr red hue. It looked like a mountain perpetually aze from a distance, a magnificent sight.


    This Sacred Mountain belonged to the Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor, the top nymph powerhouse in the Solstice Empire.


    At the peak of the towering mountain was a crimson pce, which appeared to be burning even hotter than the me-colored flowers.


    From this Nymph Emperor''s title, Tang San knew that although he was ultimately a nt, his attributes leaned toward the most extreme yang.


    His bloodline resulted from extensive hybridization; after countless efforts, it had ultimately mutated into a powerful bloodline that couldn''t be replicated or passed down. The Sunborne Flower petal sold at the Ancestral Court auction was likely from the Sunborne Emperor himself. So, what were the flowers on this Sacred Mountain? Some kind of offshoots of the Sunborne Flower? Or were they just normal flowers influenced by his aura?


    As he pondered, Tang San had already reached the foot of the mountain.


    A straight staircase extended from the foot of the mountain. There weren''t many climbers on this staircase, although more than there were at the Crystal Demon Emperor''s ce. Tang San could see about a dozen people, far fewer than the thousands often seen at the Sword Saint Mountain.


    The emperors with such sparsely climbed Sacred Mountains probably did notck wealth or mind theck of visitors. However, Tang San couldn��t help but wonder if they felt poorpared to people like the Sword Saint Demon Emperor or the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    After paying ten naturae coins, Tang San arrived at the foot of Sunborne Mountain.


    The temperature in the air seemed to rise slightly, bing somewhat warm but not as scorching as he had imagined.


    A faint floral fragrance lingered in the air, and the fiery red color invisibly lifted one''s spirits.


    <i>Is it just warmth?</i> Tang San remained skeptical. Adjusting his state, he stepped forward, setting foot on the steps leading up along the Sunborne Sacred Mountain.


    Everything around him suddenly changed as soon as he stepped onto the stairs.


    The flowers and nts in his vision disappeared, reced by a thunderous roar in his ears, and the temperature suddenly became scorching. In front of him, a stream of moltenva flowed down, rushing toward his feet.


    The steps still existed, but the entire Sacred Mountain seemed to have transformed into an active volcano erupting. No volcanic ash was in the air, but the mountainside was covered in flowingva. The intense heat felt as if it would evaporate him instantly.


    Using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Tang San dodged the flowingva at his feet, attempting to continue his climb. But as he stepped onto the second step, theva in front of him increased dramatically, covering more than two-thirds of the step''s area. Additionally, random sshes ofva flew toward him.


    Tang San didn''t dodge anymore; he wanted to test how this scorchingva would affect him. He activated his Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, which burst forth, transforming into a tinum-colored me that covered him entirely, blocking theva''s assault.


    Theva fell onto the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, producing a series of sizzling sounds. Despite its strength, the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was rapidly dissolving. Tang San immediately stopped attempting to utilize its devouring property; although it could devour the energy around him, the intense heat was almost too much for his body to handle. The temperature was too high, and if he kept absorbing it, he might end up burning himself.


    What could he do next since he could not absorb the heat directly?


    The Lion-Tiger Golden Astral was being consumed rapidly, and Tang San frowned. His Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, bolstered by his ownpressed bloodline power, was strong enough to rival the abilities of a ninth-order powerhouse with a first-tier bloodline. Could it be that even a ninth-order powerhouse with a first-tier bloodline couldn''t climb the first few steps of Sunborne Sacred Mountain? That would make the challenge too difficult. But from what he had observed at the foot of the mountain, some climbers had managed to reach the halfway point. It shouldn''t be this hard.

 Chapter 459: Tempered by Sunfire

    <h4>Chapter 459: Tempered by Sunfire</h4>


    There was a hard rule when climbing a Sacred Mountain: you could stop, but you couldn''t retreat. Once you took a step back, it meant failure. So, Tang San couldn''t back down from the second step.


    An idea shed in Tang San''s mind. Vines surged out from his body, instantly forming a barrier before him. He used the lower-tier Blue Silver Emperor to block the scorchingva while retracting the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral.


    Strangely enough, as soon as the Blue Silver Emperor appeared, the temperature of the previously scorchingva noticeably decreased. Although the Blue Silver Emperor quickly turned ck and charred, the air temperature and theva''s temperature significantly dropped, making it much easier to withstand.


    The Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor was indeed tricky! The Blue Silver Emperor was barely third-tier, and it was in no way strong enough to affect the environment here. In other words, the whole thing was set up to prevent non-nt entities from climbing this Sacred Mountain. Tang San had thought this might be the case, so he had switched to the Blue Silver Emperor. Almost instantly, his guess had been proven true.


    The intense heat naturally affected the Blue Silver Emperor, causing it to cken and wither. Tang San constantly infused it with the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique to maintain its defense.


    Tang San didn''t hurry to continue climbing. He stood on the second step, quietly sensing the changes in the Blue Silver Emperor. Before continuing upward, he wanted to understand the benefits he could get from climbing Sunborne Sacred Mountain.


    Soon, he discovered that when he converted his bloodline power to the Blue Silver Emperor, the scorching firepower of Sunborne Sacred Mountain no longer attacked but rather permeated his body.


    The Blue Silver Emperor vines quickly became scorching hot, and waves of heat naturally flowed into Tang San''s body through them. However, this heat was clearly not meant to burn him to ashes. Instead, it felt as if he was being slowly baked. He could feel his blood and energy gradually reaching boiling poing as he soaked in the heat.


    During this process, some impurities within his body seemed to be incinerated. At the same time, his skin, bones, meridians, and internal organs were undergoing subtle changes under this thermal influence.


    <i>Tempered by Sunfire?</i>


    A thought struck Tang San.


    If the climber was a nt-type nymph, this kind of Sunfire tempering would likely purify their bloodline. However, not everyone could withstand it. Even with theparatively gentle way the energy here was acting now, the temperature remained extremely high, and a slight mistake could damage the cultivator''s essence. Only two attributes could withstand it: one was extreme cold, which could resist in a direct confrontation but would draw next to no benefits from being here. The other was extreme heat��the fire element obviously granted high resistance to fire and those with such bloodline alignment could genuinely benefit from this tempering.


    No wonder there were so few climbers on Sunborne Sacred Mountain. The benefits here were only helpful to nt-type nymphs with the fire attribute. The Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor seemed to have a particr preference for nymphs with such attributes. It made sense, as he couldn''t produce offspring to pass on his legacy, so he sought his sessor this way.


    Understanding this rified the Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor''s purpose. Tang San smiled slightly. Although his Blue Silver Emperor wasn''t of the fire attribute, it had been created by integrating the bloodlines of multiple treasure nts, and it had some measure of resilience against most things. In addition, the energy cultivated through the Mysterious Heaven Technique was bnced and steady; as long as the fire attribute wasn''t overly aggressive, he had a chance to neutralize it slowly. If this was the benefit of being baked slowly, then Tang San had nothing against feeling like a loaf of bread in the oven.


    One of the biggest issues Tang San faced was his physical strength and toughness. Although he had significantly improved thanks to the vast vitality of the Golden Tree and the enhancement of abilities like the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, his physique still struggled to endure some of the abilities from his past life when driven by his divine consciousness. For example, using the Great Sumeru Hammer had ced a huge burden on him, making it impossible to use it again in a short time.


    Now, he found that the benefit of climbing Sunborne Sacred Mountain was the tempering of his physique, which was perfect for him.


    In his past life, Tang San had greatly enhanced his physique in a treasurend called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where he was tempered by the extreme cold and hot springs, significantly boosting his strength and eventually enabling him to cultivate into bing a god. The scorching bloodline energy of the Sunborne Nymph Emperor before him was even better than the hot spring from back then. After all, the energy intensity of this ne surpassed that of his previous world.


    As he let the heat slowly permeate his body, while using the Mysterious Heaven Technique''s energy to dissolve it, the heat quickly turned Tang San''s skin red like a cooked shrimp��s shell. Normally, he would��ve been afraid of it leaving fire toxins behind, but that was not the case; on the contrary, as he circted his internal energy, the fire actually caused the existing impurities to sublimate.


    Moreover, as he slowly cultivated, he felt as if some blood clots within his body were being dissolved and realized that this was the feeling of the hidden injuries caused by using the Great Sumeru Hammer being healed. The cirction of his energy became smoother. Of course, this consumed a lot of energy, but with his soul core, his recovery ability was nothing short of spectacr. The abundant spiritual energy here ensured there would be no problems in the short term.


    Tang San was in no hurry to climb higher; maintaining his current state was fine. By nourishing his body with the fire''s power, he could continuously temper himself, and at the same time temper his Blue Silver Emperor.


    From noon to evening, time passed quickly, and the ticket collector took notice of a peculiar guy. Tang San was undoubtedly the least-advanced climber, having only ascended two steps. However, all climbers who had been ahead of him had already left and even some of those who arrived <i>after</i> him also reached their limits, while he remained standing there. He was undoubtedly the one who persisted the longest.


    Even as night fell, he showed no intention of leaving. Although the staff member had worked here for a long time, he had never encountered such a situation before.


    It wasn''t until midnight that Tang San exhaled deeply and slowly stepped down from the stairs.


    Immediately, white steam rose around his body, releasing arge amount of heat. His clothes, having been baked, were on the verge of giving out.


    Tang San brought out a robe and covered himself, preventing his body from being exposed.


    The redness on his skin lingered for a long time, and there was a constant feeling of soreness and itching in his bones, meridians, and internal organs. This sensation was quite ufortable, but Tang San''s face showed nothing but joy. He knew that after being tempered by the Sunfire, his body was nothing like before.


    <i>This is great! This level of tempering is just right!</i>


    If time allowed, he could stay here for three days and nights. It wouldn''t take much��maybe a year or so��and his physique could be elevated to the god level, making him tough enough to wield the Great Sumeru Hammer easily.


    Unfortunately, time was not on his side. He still had to participate in thepetition and visit another ce, so he couldn''t continue training here. He would have to leave it for another time.


    The carriage driver was very dedicated. Even though it was already veryte, he was still waiting outside. Tang San gave him extra fare and asked him to take him back to the hotel, arranging to depart again at noon.


    Upon returning to the hotel, Tang San meditated in the cultivation room.


    The redness on his skin had mostly faded, but the heat deep in his bones remained. Tang San continuously circted the energy of his Mysterious Heaven Technique to absorb this heat while monitoring the changes in his strength under this intense refinement.

 Chapter 460: The Conflict of Extreme Yin and Yang

    <h4>Chapter 460: The Conflict of Extreme Yin and Yang</h4>


    The intense heat seemed to imprint itself into his body, significantly affecting the Blue Silver Emperor imprint. The surface of the Blue Silver Emperor imprint had ayer of fiery red light, and even the appearance of the vines had changed slightly. Their color deepened and they somewhat shrank in size, as if they had been roasted, but their toughness noticeably increased. In addition, they felt hot to the touch��obviously unusual for a nt.


    Indeed, the refining effect was significant. Under the intense firepower of Sunborne Sacred Mountain, the Blue Silver Emperor was subtly evolving. The Sunborne Flower, the epitome of extreme yang, was remarkable! That yang aura even influenced Tang San''s Lion-Tiger Golden Astral imprint somewhat.


    The Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, already a manifestation of extreme yang and brute force, became even purer under the Sunfire''s tempering.


    After thepetition, he could suggest to the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint to try out this tempering. Although the ce naturally repelled demons, with Big Cat''s cultivation level, he should be able to endure for a while, and even if he wasn��t there for a long time, the Sunfire would help refine his bloodline power.


    Reflecting on his learnings, Tang San quickly entered a meditative state. Tomorrow, he nned to visit another ce: the Sacred Mountain of Earthshade Nymph Emperor.


    With yanges yin; with extreme yang and rigidity, there is extreme yin and softness. The bnce of yin and yang, thebination of firmness and gentleness, was the true path of cultivation.


    Tang San intended to visit the domains of these two strongest Nymph Emperors to experience their mysteries personally. Although he only felt a bit of the essence at the foot of Sunborne Sacred Mountain, it had already given him many insights and a certain understanding of the Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor.


    As the Earthshade Nymph Emperor forcefully bought the Sunborne Flower petal at the auction, it was evident that these two Nymph Emperors had a very close rtionship.


    <i>After today''s tempering by extreme yang and rigidity, I''ll experience extreme yin and softness tomorrow to see if thebination of the two can bring more benefits.</i>


    The next day at noon, Tang San arrived at Earthshade Sacred Mountain.


    Compared to the red, yang-filled Sunborne Sacred Mountain, Earthshade Sacred Mountain was gloomy, entirely ck, and filled with eerie yin energy, which gave off an unpleasant sensation.


    Tang San paid the fee and stepped into the range of Earthshade Sacred Mountain. The climbers here were noticeably more numerous than those at Sunborne Sacred Mountain, but everyone wore ck cloaks,pletely covering themselves for reasons unknown.


    Amid the eerie yin energy, Tang San stepped onto the first step.


    Instantly, waves of chilling yin energy surged from all directions, attacking him.


    Tang San unleashed his Blue Silver Emperor once more. The extreme yang energy he had absorbed the day before hadn''t been fully digested yet. Tang San thought it should provide some resistance against this chilling yin energy.


    However, the moment he released the Blue Silver Emperor, its vines began to stiffen. Almost tangible streams of yin energy pouring from above frantically surged into the Blue Silver Emperor.


    <i>Oh no!</i>


    Tang San almost instinctively stepped back, retreating from the stairs. He couldn''t care less if the ten naturae coins were wasted.


    But he was a second toote. With a series of cracking sounds, the Blue Silver Emperor vines began to shatter inch by inch.


    Even the Blue Silver Emperor imprint within Tang San''s body showed signs of cracking as if it was about to disintegrate. The pain was so intense that Tang San couldn''t help but spit out a mouthful of blood. His body''s yin and yang energies intersected, not merging but rapidly colliding with each other.


    <i>How can this be happening? </i>Tang San was shocked, but he reacted immediately. He activated the Chrono Croc bloodline, slowing down all changes around his Blue Silver Emperor imprint within his body, then quickly turned and left the Earthshade Sacred Mountain''s area.


    Somewhere at the door of a dark pce, an old woman stood gazing into the distance. A ck robepletely covered her, revealing only deep blue eyes.


    Suddenly, she seemed to sense something; her eyes narrowed and a hint of disdain appeared at the corner of her mouth.


    "Another fool dreaming of the impossible. If extreme yin and yang were so easily fused, the Solstice Empire would no longer be dominated by the two of us," she muttered to herself, a trace of pain shing in her eyes. She sighed deeply and turned to walk back into the dark pce.


    Tang San couldn''t even care if he might alert others. He quickly instructed the carriage driver, then found a secluded corner and activated the Peacock imprint, using spatial teleportation to return to the White Tiger Grand Hotel as fast as possible.


    He never expected the forces he faced to be so domineering. When extreme yin and yang interacted, a truly massive reaction urred.


    Moreover, the yin energy that had entered his body continued to produce a series of reactions, affecting his Blue Silver Emperor imprint and even his Mysterious Heaven Technique. The impact of the yin and yang energies resulted in a repelling force, making even his soul core unstable.


    This was too overbearing! This was just a bit of the power from the two Nymph Emperors'' Sacred Mountains, yet even his bnced and neutral Mysterious Heaven Technique couldn''t harmonize it, causing such a drastic reaction.


    With his previous experience, he never could��ve imagined a scenario like this. What should he do?


    The best solution was to cut off the Blue Silver Emperor imprint and discard it, along with the contaminated part of his energy. That would instantly solve the problem. However, doing so would directly reduce Tang San''s cultivation level, which was uneptable with the Ancestral Court Elite Competition about to start!


    But what could he do if he didn''t cut off the Blue Silver Emperor? Forcefully absorb and dissolve them? These two opposed energies were too overbearing. They only shed like a needlepoint against the tip of an awn[1], and showed no possibility of reconciliation.


    Tang San had tried using the Chrono Croc imprint to slow their interaction, but it still couldn''t solve the problem. Even splitting the space between them couldn''tpletely sever their connection.


    He couldn''t resolve this issue even with the powerful abilities of time and space. How could the Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor and the Earthshade Nymph Emperor be friends? Their attributes counteracted each other to such an extent that they would constantly sh if they <i>were </i>friends.


    <i>Cutting off the Blue Silver Emperor it is!</i> Tang San was never one to be indecisive. Between two evils, choose the lesser. Even if it meant losing some of cultivation, he couldn''t care about that now.


    Just as he was about to extirpate the Blue Silver Emperor imprint, however, he suddenly nced at the foremost of his bloodline imprints.


    The ck-and-white vortex-shaped imprint rotated steadily. It was the only one unaffected by extreme yin-yang shes. It seemed like a detached observer, calmly operating on its own.


    <i>Of course! Why didn��t I think of it? Maybe time and space can��t stop yin and yang from shing, but what about a bit of luck?</i>


    With this thought, Tang San hesitated no longer. He immediately used his divine consciousness to activate the Pr Domain!


    The ck and white energies silently emanated from his body, flickering slightly. Centered on Tang San, the Pr Domain extended to a two-foot radius, enveloping him.


    Immediately, the flow of fortune within Tang San began to change. The wildly vtile energies were still conflicting, but some subtle changes had clearly started.


    Even as they shed, the yin and yang energies seemed to slide past each other, intertwining and pulling each other into a spiral. Although they immediately shed again, that spiral created a rotational force that decreased the intensity of the subsequent collisions.


    <i>There is hope!</i>


    1. . This is tranted from the saying ������â. It symbolizes two equally powerful forces in direct conflict, a tense standoff where neither side is willing to yield. ?

 Chapter 461: Yin and Yang

    <h4>Chapter 461: Yin and Yang</h4>


    The Pr Domain consumed a ridiculous amount of spiritual power, but Tang San grit his teeth and maintained it.


    It seemed that the state of good fortune he was in was the key to all this. As they collided, the extreme yang and yin energies continued to intertwine and rotate, leading to fewer and fewer shes and an increasing number of instances where they slipped by each other.


    A hint of joy appeared on Tang San��s face. The cracks on the Blue Silver Emperor imprint slowly became more numerous, but at the same time, the shes between yin and yang that caused these cracks were fewer and fewer. The fragments of the broken Blue Silver Emperor imprint were drawn into the rotation, turning into what seemed like sprinkles of light and merging in, causing the extreme yang and yin energies to stabilize more and more in a virtuous cycle. They seemed to be forming a new and unique imprint that ran stably like the vortex of the Pr Domain.


    The yin and yang energies that were destroying his Blue Silver Emperor imprint were thus brought under control, and the energies that had contaminated his own internal energy were slowly drawn into the new imprint as well. This finally allowed Tang San''s internal state to stabilize.


    <i>This Pr Domain is genuinely amazing! Not only can it be used in battle, but it also has such benefits in cultivation. </i>With it, Tang San felt that there was almost no need to worry about cultivation deviation.


    Although he couldn''t yet determine the strength of the Blue Silver Emperor imprint after integrating the yin and yang energies, it was clearly powerful. He would need to wait until he fully recovered to test its specific applications.


    After this ordeal, both his soul power and spiritual power were significantly depleted. Once he confirmed his stable internal state, Tang San began meditative cultivation.


    It wasn''t until evening that he woke from meditation, and found that his strength was mostly restored.


    Focusing inward, Tang San saw that the new Yin-Yang Blue Silver Emperor imprint was still rotating, seemingly absorbing yin and yang energies from the air to sustain itself without any sign of weakening.


    Now mostly recovered, Tang San was ready to experiment and see what this new imprint could do.


    He activated his Pr Domain to avoid unnecessary danger, then infused his spirit to activate the Blue Silver Emperor imprint again.


    The Yin-Yang Blue Silver Emperor imprint suddenly expanded the moment he activated it. The yin and yang energies spread out, filling him...


    ***


    The Ancestral Court Elite Competition was one of the most important events in the Ancestral Court. Many strong individuals from various races had gained the attention of their respective races by showcasing their skills in the Elite Competition, gradually bing prominent figures or even leaders within their ns.


    Thepetition stage was finallypleted in the massive Ancestral Court Square. Surrounding the Ancestral Court Square were the sacred mountain pces of the emperors. This was the core area, with six emperor pces nearby.


    The Ancestral Court Elite Competition followed a knockout format, meaning participants had only one fighting chance. If they failed, their time in thepetition was over. Even those with formidable strength could be eliminated in the first round if they faced a strong opponent. People often say that luck is a part of one��s strength, and in this world, luck was a far more tangible factor than it was elsewhere.


    Today was the first day of thepetition, and the most important event was not the matches themselves but the drawing ceremony. The opponents and the positions in the bracket greatly influenced the chances of securing a good rank. In the history of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, there were many instances where strong contenders were ced in the same group, resulting in deadly shes.


    In addition, this Elite Competition had introduced a new format: the doubles match. This was a historical first, so the stands around the Ancestral Court Square were sold out long ago.


    The massive square could amodate over 500,000 Ancestral Court denizens to watch thepetition. As for order, it was never an issue in the Ancestral Court. With the pressure from the Demon and Nymph Emperors, who would dare disrupt the proceedings?


    Early in the morning, the citizens were already entering, waiting in the stands for the excitingpetitions to begin. On the northern side were the VIP seats, essible only to n leaders and other nobles. The emperors wouldn''te in person; they could watch thepetition by simply sweeping their divine consciousness over the arena.


    At this time, the contestants were lining up from the registration area to draw lots. The order was firste, first-draw.


    The individual and doublespetitions alternated, with the individualpetition on the first day and the doubles on the second. So, today was just the draw for the individualpetition. The doubles draw would take ce tomorrow before the actual doubles matches.


    Tang San arrived early today with the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, Big Cat, to draw lots. Generally, the closer two people drew lots together, the less likely they were to end up in the same group.


    With over three hundred participants, there were sixteen groups, each with about twenty people. Only one group member would advance, meaning that anyone else in the same group would be eliminated.


    Thus, Tang San and Big Cat hoped not to draw the same group. It wasn''t much of a problem for Tang San because he had a Celestial Fox��s luck��and at the same time was not a Celestial Fox, so nobody would suspect him of cheating.


    Tang San and Big Cat had finished drawing lots. Tang San was in the third group, and Big Cat was in the sixth group, so they were not going to fight each other. If they reached the top sixteen, there would be another draw, so until then, all they had to do was their best.


    After finishing his draw, Tang San waited at the entrance for Mei Gongzi. He needed to solve thismunication issue since he couldn''t contact her directly. Otherwise, how would they draw lots together for the doublespetition tomorrow?


    He didn''t have to wait long. Tang San''s eyes lit up as he saw Mei Gongzi approaching, d in a long white dress.


    She looked gorgeous��from a human point of view, of course��and attracted the attention of many other contestants. However, Mei Gongzi seemed oblivious to these gazes, maintaining an icy expression.


    Tang San walked directly toward her, and Mei Gongzi also noticed him.


    He approached her and said softly, "This is for you."


    As he spoke, he handed Mei Gongzi a smallmunicator he had made. At the same time, when their hands touched, he surreptitiously sent a stream of fortune her way.


    "Use your spiritual power to activate it and you can contact me. This will make it easier for us tomunicateter. Reach out to me anytime if needed," Asura said. After that, he walked away. This wasn''t a suitable ce for conversation.


    Mei Gongzi looked at the small device in her hand, noticing it was designed to be worn on the ear. She nced in the direction Tang San had left, marveling at how considerate he was.


    She put on the smallmunicator, infused it with spiritual power, and asked softly, "Can you hear me?"


    ��I can hear you, Asura''s voice responded.


    "Which group are you in?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    ��I''m in the third group, and Big Cat is in the sixth group. It should be fine if you''re not in these two groups. We probably won''t end up in the same group.


    "Okay, I''ll let you know my group shortly."


    Before long, Mei Gongzi finished her drawing. The fortune from the Celestial Fox imprint worked well, and she ended up in the ninth group. Three, six, and nine��those were their groups for the individualpetition.


    With the groups determined, thepetition was next.


    Thepetition format was simple, brutally straightforward even. Each participant had a number assigned in the order they��d joined the group; for example, Tang San was number 6 of Group 3. Therefore, his opponent today was number 5 of Group 3. It was as simple as that.

 Chapter 462: The Beginning

    <h4>Chapter 462: The Beginning</h4>


    This purely elimination-basedpetition was undoubtedly the most brutal, but it had one advantage: there would be no strategizing or anything of the kind; all one had to do was finish off their opponents while minimizing injury.


    The contestants took their ces on the three massive stages that were 200 meters in diameter. Three matches would take ce simultaneously, between the first three pairs of Group 1.


    Today was the first round of elimination, so it was naturally the longest. Thepetition ended only when all the matches werepleted, so naturally, there would be over a hundred fifty matches. But three stages were running simultaneously, and as soon as one match finished, the next contestants would step up without pause.


    There was one single rule: anything goes. Any weapon could be used; if a contestant had a divine weapon, that was their advantage. A match was lost if one side surrendered, died, or was knocked off the stage.


    Competitions on the Daemon Continent were straightforward and brutal. This method saved the most time.


    At this time, the six contestants of the first group had taken the stage. There were no participants from the same race, but it was clear that they were all from powerful ns.


    Each stage had a god-level judge. Their role was usually simply to announce the start and the winner of the match.


    The first match sparked immediate excitement. Those who dared to participate were mainly at the ninth cultivation order, and they all had second-tier or even first-tier bloodlines. As soon as the battle began, powerful auras erupted. For a moment, it seemed like the intense bloodline energies on the three stages would soar into the sky. Every contestant knew this was their best chance to showcase their abilities. Their performance here would determine whether they could secure more resources to aim for godhood in the near future.


    As long as one could advance from the group stage in the Elite Competition, they would undoubtedly be granted more cultivation resources by their respective ns. Advancing further would be even more impressive, and the top three would be considered absolute prodigies.


    Tang San was in a corner of the waiting area with Big Cat. To avoid attracting attention from other contestants, the burly Big Cat wore arge cloak. Tang San stood beside him, mostly hidden by his shadow, making it hard to draw notice.


    From their vantage point, they could see the match on Stage 1.


    At this moment, the two contestants on the stage were from two mighty races. The male contestant on the left was a strongpetitor from some n of the phoenix race, while the male contestant on the right was from the Solstice Empire''s Sharp Gold n, metal-element nymphs with a second-tier bloodline.


    "This match should be straightforward. The attribute advantage is too obvious," Big Cat whispered.


    Everyone knew that fire countered metal. The phoenix race generally had fire-attribute, first-tier bloodlines, while the Sharp Gold n had a second-tier bloodline. Given simr cultivation orders, attributes and heritage would determine a lot. Of course, many things could change during the battle, and no one could guarantee a sure win, but the phoenix male��s chances were undoubtedly higher.


    "Anyone who dares to participate can��t be that easy to beat. Let''s watch and see," Tang San whispered.


    "Yeah."


    The battle began.


    The Sharp Gold Nymph had a tall, slender build, a triangr head, long arms and legs, and silver-white skin. His eyes were light gold.


    Metal-element bloodlinesbined offense and defense, but their one weakness was an opponent that could use the fire element.


    The phoenix demon opposite him looked no different from a human. At this moment, fiery red wings spread from his back, pping to hover mid-air. Intense mes surged, making him the most dazzling figure on the three stages.


    "This phoenix demon probably doesn''t have muchbat experience, though his cultivation isn''t weak," Big Cat said, frowning.


    With Big Cat''s richbat experience, he could tell from the shy flight that the opponent didn''t have much battle experience. Such showiness was undoubtedly for the spectators, but was it essential?


    Compared to him, the Sharp Gold Nymph was much more low-key. He spread his arms at his sides and quickly rushed toward his opponent without releasing any aura.


    The phoenix demon pped his wings forward, propelling himself backward while a sea of intense mes swept toward the Sharp Gold Nymph.


    The Sharp Gold Nymph didn''t dodge. He brought his arms together above his head, and they transformed into a long de. His speed doubled almost instantly as he charged through the mes.


    The phoenix warrior seemed to sense something and pped his wings again to soar high. He was naturally skilled at flying and believed that as long as he maintained his distance and used phoenix mes to incinerate his opponent, victory would be a matter of time.


    But was that really the case?


    The first st of mes suddenly split apart, and it became apparent that the Sharp Gold Nymph had transformed into a de, soaring into the sky. Yes, his entire body had be a long de under the cover of the mes! The silver-white de had a faint red hue, not from being scorched by the phoenix mes, but from a bloody aura.


    "Hell de?" Big Cat blurted out. Compared to Tang San, he had morebat experience and immediately recognized the Sharp Gold Nymph''s technique.


    The speed of the Hell de''s burst was simply incredible. It sliced through the scorching phoenix mes one by one, reaching the phoenix demon almost instantly.


    Realizing the danger, the phoenix demon, a standout even among his own exceptional race, took evasive measures. His right wing swept toward the side of the Hell de, and simultaneously, his eyes turned golden-red. He opened his mouth and spat out a thin, golden-red me.


    Phoenix True Fire! This was his most potent me.


    The Hell de didn''t evade the Phoenix True Fire; instead, it rose horizontally and continued to sh out.


    <i>Poof!</i>


    The Phoenix True Firended on the Hell de, burning a hole straight through it. But the Hell de also shed fiercely at the phoenix demon��s right wing.


    That sh made him fall from the sky screaming, with his right wing almostpletely severed.


    "Injury for injury. This Sharp Gold Nymph has decisiveness, experience, and is ruthless to himself," Big Cat said with some admiration.


    The Sharp Gold Nymph was inferior to his opponent regarding heritage and bloodline. Even though the Hell de could cut through ordinary phoenix mes, it could not even touch the Phoenix True Fire. Yet when the Phoenix True Fire arrived, the Sharp Gold Nymph did not dodge; he preferred to let himself be burned while heavily injuring his opponent. A grounded phoenix was rtively more straightforward to deal with.


    Bothpetitorsnded simultaneously. The Sharp Gold n member reverted to his original form, but his left arm now had a gaping hole above the elbow from which a crimson hue spread into his body.


    Without hesitation, he transformed his right arm into a de and cut off his left arm to prevent the Phoenix True Fire from spreading through his body. Then, he sprang up again, transforming into a slightly smaller Hell de and shing toward the Phoenix once more.


    The phoenix demon was clearly superior to his opponent in every aspect. But at this moment, the opponent''s ferocious tactics made him panic. The Phoenix True Fire burned wildly, attempting to scorch the enemy to death.

 Chapter 463: Watching the Battle

    <h4>Chapter 463: Watching the Battle</h4>


    However, this time, the Hell de, still exuding a fierce aura, traced a graceful arc in the air, suddenly changing direction and flying back to its previous position.


    The Phoenix True Fire twisted the air on Stage 1 into a fiery red, and a phoenix''s cry echoed, creating a magnificent spectacle. But on this massive 200-meter diameter stage, the range of the Phoenix True Fire''s coverage was limited. Within such a broad space, it couldn''t envelop the opponent, so it couldn''t achieve its intended effect. In other words, it was just a shy waste of energy.


    Using the Phoenix True Fire required a significant cost. The phoenix demon was naturally aware of that, yet he had still panicked and expended far too much energy for nothing. Anyone with keen eyes could see that he was being led by the opponent and couldn''t fully utilize his true strength. Although the Sharp Gold Nymph''s cultivation was inferior, he rendered his inexperienced opponent helpless.


    The Hell de could cut through ordinary Phoenix mes, and the Phoenix True Fire couldn''t hit. Thus, after much back-and-forth, this match ended upsting the longest of the first three. In the end, the phoenix demon fainted on the stage from overexerting his phoenix mes and lost the match.


    The Sharp Gold Nymph won!


    "What am I supposed to say now? Having all that bloodline energy and being so useless, these major ns truly leave me speechless. If it were me, I''d just dodge and fight. Even if ordinary mes get cut through, it doesn''t mean the Hell de won''t get worn out. Just control the field with normal mes and use Phoenix True Fire for protection at critical moments. The Sharp Gold Nymph would either surrender or be roasted or melted or whatever they do when they burn," Big Cat said disdainfully.


    Tang San snorted. "Don��t be so harsh. The descendants of these strong ns are different from you! Without real experience, no matter how strong their bloodline and their cultivation, they can''t truly utilize their own power. One of the purposes of the Ancestral Court holding this Elite Competition is probably to allow them to improve in these aspects."


    "<i>Pft</i>. If this is the level here, then I really have confidence to make it into the top three."


    Tang San warned him, "Don''t be careless; there must be real strong contenders. Let''s keep watching."


    Perhaps Tang San''s luck was too good, or maybe his words carried power. In the next match on Stage 1, their expressions turned serious.


    Ten seconds!


    The match ended in ten seconds!


    The winner was a dragon race contender��a true powerhouse. The match ended before they even saw what kind of dragon demon it was. It was pure power domination. From the moment it stepped on the stage, it began to gather power. When the judge announced the start of the match, it punched out, even creating a sonic boom. The opponent didn''t even have a chance to dodge, getting sted off the stage instantly.


    The match was over just like that. The ten seconds included the time they spent walking onto the stage.


    Dragons��Tang San had no dealings with them sinceing to this world, with one exception. This dragon demon didn''t look particrly tall, just over two meters, but when its power erupted, a terrifying aura like andslide or tsunami truly shocked the entire audience.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor was also a dragon, but when Tang San faced them, they disyed abilities copied from other bloodlines and no dragon traits. But this one had fully demonstrated the domineering nature of the dragon n.


    "What kind of dragon demon is that? They look smaller than the bear race!" said Tang San puzzled.


    Big Cat said, "Dragons are a rather special race, and the phoenix race is simr. Before they reach the tenth order, they are basically in human form all the time. But once they reach the god level��and they are very, very likely to do that��it��spletely different. They will have both dragon and human forms, and they are enormously powerful either way. Well, the dragon just now was probably from a lineage focused on pure strength.


    "Actually, dragons have so many branches you can��t even count them, though each n usually has few members. Different dragon ns can interbreed, and it��s hard to determine their attributes just from the way they look. Even worse, they might have a mutated bloodline. So unless it''s a well-known dragon powerhouse, you have no idea what you��re fighting until they make their move."


    Tang San nodded. This exnation made sense, and it contributed to his understanding of this world.


    Thepetition continued, but from the matches they could see in Group 1, the most shocking was the dragon contestant who had appeared earlier. The one-move knockout was truly eye-catching.


    On the three stages, the pace of each match varied, but most were rtively quick. Even though all were ninth-tier powerhouses, the differences in strength due to racial and attribute differences were clear. That was how elimination matches worked: if you drew a powerful opponent, you might lose the match without even getting a chance to fight back.


    As thepetition progressed, the gaps between opponents would be smaller. Those who made it to the end had to have some luck, but luck alone could never carry them all the way through. Only strength could.


    All the matches in Group 1 actually finished within half an hour, and Group 2 was already up. With twenty or so opponents per group, there would be three or four matches per stage at the most, and all matches until now had finished within minutes. Or, well, seconds.


    The second group took the stage, and the battles were equally intense. Tang San carefully observed all the matches he could see from his position. This was his best opportunity to understand the abilities of the powerful races on the Daemon Continent��one reason he had decided to participate in thepetition with Big Cat before Mei Gongzi arrived.


    Observing the situation of the demon and nymph races and understanding his opponents better would greatly help in the future. His trip to the Ancestral Court was important not just for cultivation or purchasing items, but also to understand everything there. Finding a way for humans to survive under the oppression of these powerful races was not an easy task.


    Big Cat was also watching very seriously. He was an experienced warrior, and he didn��t need Tang San��s warning to know that understanding his opponents was a critical step toward victory. He was certainly notcking arrogance, but he would never let it impact his way of fighting.


    The second group''s matches progressed a bit slower than the first group��s, but after more than an hour, the third group was finally due to take the stage.


    As Group 3''s Number 6, Tang San would be the third pair topete in the third group.


    Big Cat patted his shoulder. "Good luck!"


    Tang San smiled and nodded. "Don''t worry, I''ll be waiting for you in the finals."


    He walked toward thepetition area to prepare for his match.


    There was a passage from the waiting area to thepetition area that led directly to the three stages. At the end of the passage, they waited for a stage to be avable before proceeding to that stage for the match.


    As Tang San walked into the passage, there were several contestants ahead of him waiting for their matches. Since Group 3 had just started, the other contestants were naturally also from Group 3. These were the opponents Tang San would face in the individualpetition over the next few days.


    Tang San wore the same outfit as Big Cat��a hooded cloak that covered his entire body. With a mask on his face, it was difficult to see his appearance or even determine his race, especially with many demons and nymphs looking more or less humanoid.


    At this moment, there were three contestants already in the passage. The most eye-catching was a tall elephant demon. It was in humanoid form but towered over everyone else at over seven meters tall. It had an extremely muscr body, a long trunk, andrge, drooping ears. It stood there like a small mountain, exuding a strong sense of power.

 Chapter 464: Golden Mammoth

    <h4>Chapter 464: Golden Mammoth</h4>


    Tang San had once possessed the War Stomp ability of the elephant race and was quite familiar with them, but the one before him was clearly not an ordinary elephant demon.


    Ordinary elephant demons only had a third-tier bloodline, with weaker ones even having a fourth-tier one. Also, their grayish hide was easy to recognize. This one, on the other hand, had three tusks protruding from each side of its lips; moreover, it had brown skin, and dark golden hair.


    A mammoth demon! This was a powerhouse from the Mammoth Demon n!


    Among the Demon Emperors, the seventh-ranked was the leader of this n, the Golden Radiance Mammoth Demon Emperor. Therefore, the demon before Tang San undoubtedly had a first-tier bloodline.


    This Mammoth Demon exuded a calm demeanor; its massive trunk was gently swaying, its eyes were half-closed as if it was meditating, and it was not even ncing at the other contestants who might be its opponents.


    The other two contestants near it, although not as tall as the Mammoth Demon, were still around three meters and over two meters tall, respectively. At this moment, they hadn''t even noticed Tang San entering behind them, as their focus was entirely on the Mammoth Demon. Clearly, they hoped this Mammoth Demon wouldn''t be their opponent in the uing match.


    What was the Mammoth Demon''s number? This was what they were constantly calcting in their minds. But regardless, as long as they were in the same group and they kept moving ahead, they would have to face it sooner orter. Their gloomy expressions showed that they had no confidence against this Mammoth Demon.


    Tang San quietly walked near them, waiting for his turn. It was better to be ignored by potential opponents. He believed that with his luck, his uing match shouldn''t be against this Mammoth Demon. Even if it was, it didn''t matter; he still had empty slots for bloodline imprints. If it turned out to be this one, its bloodline might suit him well. After all, this n was known for their immense physical strength, which would greatly benefit his own physique. As for facing it sooner rather thanter, that didn''t make much of a difference.


    "Group 3, Number 3 and Group 3, Number 4, please enter the arena," came the voice of the staff.


    The Mammoth Demon instantly opened its eyes, dark golden light faintly shing within them. The other two contestants immediately looked at their number tes to confirm their numbers.


    "I''m Number 3," said one of the contestants. The other one, without hesitation, replied, "I''m Number 4."


    The two contestants exchanged nces, and they both saw the joy deep in each other''s eyes. Yes, their opponents were each other, not the powerful Mammoth Demon.


    Not far away, Tang San''s face showed a look of surprise. <i>What happened to my luck? How is my opponent this Mammoth Demon? I should be blessed with good fortune!</i>


    <i>No, that��s not right. I used the Pr Domain, and that one can have both good and bad oues. I already got the good luck of not drawing mypanions as opponents. Could this be the inevitable misfortune from the domain?</i>


    <i>It seems that while the Pr Domain allows me to control fortune more precisely, it alsoes with potential drawbacks. And since this isn''t an actual bloody battlefield, the bad luck has no ce to dissipate.</i>


    Tang San''s mouth twitched. He had indeed gained a deeper understanding of his domain abilities, but at what cost? In this first match, he had to face a first-tier bloodline, and moreover, the descendant of a current Demon Emperor. This was a bit of a pain.


    Even among first-tier bloodlines, there were distinctions. A first-tier bloodline descended from a reigning emperor was definitely stronger than those without one. With the support of a Demon or Nymph Emperor, they received better resources and had stronger bloodlines.


    At this moment, Tang San felt a scorching gaze directed at him. Looking up, he saw the towering Mammoth Demon intently staring at him.


    "Are you Number 6?" Its voice was deep and muffled.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. "Yes, that would be me."


    "Alright, I''m Number 5. What race are you?" This Mammoth Demon didn''t seem as domineering as its appearance suggested. Instead, it looked somewhat simple-minded.


    "Human."


    Since the match was about to begin, there was no point in hiding it.


    "Human?" Upon hearing Tang San''s response, the Mammoth Demon didn''t show any disdain or contempt. Instead, it looked at him with great interest and said, "You''re a human? That��s new. If you canpete here, then you must be very strong among your kind. Please go easy on meter!"


    This time, it was Tang San''s turn to be surprised. Looking at the Mammoth Demon before him, his first thought was that this demon was definitely not just a simple-minded brute after all; otherwise, it wouldn''t have said such things.


    "You''re too kind," Tang San replied calmly, not intending to converse much more.


    "Group 3, Number 5 and Group 3, Number 6, please enter the arena," the staff''s announcement came again at that moment.


    The Mammoth Demon gave a simple-minded smile, swung itsrge trunk, and said, "Well, it''s our turn. Let''s go."


    As it spoke, it gestured for Tang San to go first.


    Tang San nodded to it and, without hesitation, walked into thepetition area first.


    Under the guidance of the staff, they were led directly to Stage 3. They entered from opposite sides, however, meaning they would start the battle two hundred meters apart.


    As they took the stage, Tang San still wore his hood, so the audience couldn''t tell his race based on his appearance. But when the Mammoth Demon stepped onto the stage, the tens of thousands of spectators erupted into cheers. Of course, the cheers from the elephant ns were like andslide, overwhelming and deafening.


    The Mammoth Demon n, also known as the Golden Mammoths, were the only golden bloodline among all the emperors. The Golden Radiance Mammoth Demon Emperor was known as the top defensive powerhouse among his peers. The strength of this n needed no exnation.


    Compared to the Mammoth Demon in front of him, Tang San''s figure appeared much smaller.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi was in another waiting area, her mind wandering around the process of passing the trial of inheritance not long ago. But when she heard "Group 3, Number 6," she subconsciously looked up and saw the two opponents. The waiting area she was in happened to have a view of Stage 3.


    <i>A Mammoth Demon? Asura has to face such an opponent? Wow... His luck is really bad.</i>


    On the first day of thepetition, there wasn''t even a host to introduce the opponents. The Ancestral Court Elite Competition was that rough. In the eyes of the Ancestral Court, there was no need to introduce people who might not even be there for half a minute. As for the audience, the most direct way to get to know the contestants was through their performance in the matches.


    But when this Mammoth Demon stepped onto the stage, it immediately became the favorite to advance from Group 3 in the minds of many spectators. And how could it not?


    The Ancestral Court had betting pools for thepetition, but on the first day, the bets were mainly on the duration of the matches. The bets were ced on the total match time, in ten-minute intervals, starting from four hours and going up to eight hours. Those who guessed correctly would receive ten times their bet.


    In this way, the Ancestral Court naturally raked in a huge profit, but there were still countless people willing to participate in the betting. Many of the great nobles did that as well. This time prediction was obviously absolutely fair, because no one could possibly bribe all the contestants at the same time, and even if they did, there was no guarantee that things would work out the way they wanted. The fairness of this attracted many to participate in the betting pools.


    Tang San lifted his hood and took off his cloak, revealing the tight and agile outfit underneath. His mask remained on his face, and he stared intently at the Mammoth Demon across from him.

 Chapter 465: The Formidable Mammoth

    <h4>Chapter 465: The Formidable Mammoth</h4>


    Two hundred meters is a distance that wouldn��t even allow ordinary people to see their opponent clearly. But Tang San could very clearly see the simple-minded smile on the face of the Golden Mammoth. It seemed to sense Tang San looking at it, and it even showed a slightly ingratiating expression, nodding at Tang San.


    Then Tang San saw its weapons.


    This Golden Mammoth had on each wrist arge bracelet, or rather bracer, because they looked more like wrist guards than like jewelry. With a sh of light from the two bracers, a heavy hammer appeared in each of its hands.


    How does one usually define a "heavy hammer"? Certainly not as "a hammer with the head one meter in diameter and the handle four meters long and as thick as a human thigh."


    Yet here they were, and there were <i>two of them</i>.


    Tang San himself thought he was the wielder of a heavy hammer, but as it turned out, that wasn��t a heavy hammer. <i>These</i> were heavy hammers.


    Even with Tang San''s extensive experience, his face couldn''t help but twitch when he saw these hammers. This guy was intense!


    Just like for the previous matches, the judge didn��t bother with introductions and formalities and simply announced the start of the match.


    "Begin!"


    The Golden Mammoth''s eyes lit up, and the ingratiating expression on its face instantly vanished, reced by thirst for battle. It took a big step and charged directly toward Tang San.


    <i>Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom... </i>


    With each step it took, the entire arena seemed to tremble. Even more terrifying, its imposing aura was rising crazily. Its skin instantly turned dark gold, and light shot out from its eyes. The originally ck hammers now shone golden, as if they were coated with ayer of gold.


    Tang San also moved, but instead of facing his opponent head-on, he turned and ran to the side. His light body moved swiftly as he tried to put some distance between him and his opponent.


    However, despite the Golden Mammoth''s massive size, its speed was anything but what the size suggested. When it started running, it was like a massive boulder rolling down a steep mountain. It adjusted its direction slightly and continued to charge at Tang San, quickly closing the distance between them.


    "A human? Hey, is that really a human?" In the VIP seating area, a nobleman asked hispanion.


    "Yes, it does look like a human, but it''s not clear which n''s vassal they belong to. How can a humanpete? Check how they registered."


    "What? The Sword Saint Great Demon Emperor''s token? Huh, that''s interesting. To gain the Sword Saint''s recognition, this human must be exceptional. They should be skilled with a sword, but I don''t see one there."


    Tang San ran quickly along the edge of the arena. Although the Golden Mammoth was fast, he was not any slower. As his opponent tried to close the distance, Tang San immediately changed direction, forcing the Golden Mammoth to adjust its path to chase him again.


    As he started running back, the stands were filled with boos.


    The Golden Mammoth was also a bit frustrated. Tang San was very fast, and the arena was quiterge. Catching a speed-type opponent on such a big stage was not easy.


    "Roar!" A deep growl came from the Golden Mammoth, and it started swinging its heavy hammers.


    Just when all the spectators thought the hammers would be thrown at Tang San, they smashed into each other instead.


    <i>DIIIINNNNGGGG~</i>


    A deafening ring instantly spread throughout the Ancestral Court za. Weaker spectators in the stands felt dizzy from the noise. The impact was terrifying.


    Inside the arena, Tang San felt it even more intensely.


    The massive sound wave, apanied by a strong shockwave, swept across his side of the arena almost instantly. There was no way to avoid it.


    Tang San felt his mind go nk for a moment, his ears ringing. His steps faltered, and he staggered unsteadily.


    He wasn''t a god yet, and even if he regained his divine powers, he couldn''t know what abilities his opponent would use! This terrifying sonic attack caught him off guard, causing him some trouble.


    His internal energy circted rapidly, and even his divine consciousness was slightly stirred. Even so, it took him a full second to recover most of his senses. In that brief time, the Golden Mammoth had already closed the distance to within twenty meters.


    The Golden Mammoth''s massive body suddenly leaped high into the air. At the peak of its jump, its shadowpletely covered Tang San. The pair of giant hammers descended like a dark cloud, smashing directly toward Tang San.


    The impact of these hammers was no less terrifying than Tang San''s Great Sumeru Hammer unleashed with divine consciousness. The power of this attack truly showcased the might of a top-tier bloodline.


    Tang San now understood that this guy was a perfect example of yin and yang bncing each other��his cowardly speech was inplete contrast to his incredibly ruthless style of fighting.


    His opponent''s aura had firmly locked onto him, making it impossible to simply run away at this moment.


    But at that moment, Tang San''s eyes shed with a purple-gold light and two beams shot out from his pupils��Purple Demon Eyes!


    The Golden Mammoth felt its sea of consciousness being fiercely struck, its mind going nk for an instant.


    However, the Golden Mammoth was not known as the ultimate fortress for nothing. It had formidable defenses not only physically but also mentally.


    In but an instant, the Golden Mammoth recovered from its daze, and the hammers continued their descent toward Tang San. The only difference from before was that the spiritual lock on Tang San had been disrupted by the Purple Demon Eyes.


    Tang San did not panic at all. He lightly tapped the ground with his toes and gracefully soared upward. A bright tinum light burst from him��it was the Lion-Tiger Golden Force. Instead of retreating, he advanced. Just before the hammers fell, he leaped toward the Golden Mammoth, slipping through the gap between the hammers. The Lion-Tiger Golden Force opened a path for him, allowing him to avoid the direct impact of the hammers and get close to the Golden Mammoth.


    The opponent was certainly a great actor, but when it came to ying the pig to eat the tiger, Tang San himself was no slouch. All that running around the stage was nothing but an act.


    An opponent often revealed a w whenunching their strongest attack.


    Having slipped through the hammers, Tang San was now right in front of the Golden Mammoth. His target was naturally the opponent''s throat, an invariably vulnerable spot.


    But at that moment, the Golden Mammoth suddenly puffed out its chest. Its strong pectoral muscles bulged outward, blocking Tang San''s upward path. This meant that Tang San''s attack wouldnd on its chest and could not reach its throat or face.


    This type of defense was something Tang San had never seen before. However, he couldn''t hesitate at such a critical moment. He instantly struck out with his right hand, hitting the Golden Mammoth''s chest.


    With a soft "puff" sound, Tang San used the momentum to bounce back. As the Golden Mammoth''s hammersnded and rebounded, Tang San leaped high in a diagonal direction, avoiding the hammers'' follow-up strike.


    From the audience''s perspective, it seemed as if Tang San deftly dodged the hammers, collided with the Golden Mammoth, and then rebounded to a distance. The colossal Golden Mammoth alsonded, and the two sides separated once again.


    "Is he just tickling the elephant? Hahaha!"


    "What the hell, the human doesn''t even have a weapon! What''s the point of hitting him with your fists?"


    Various noisy voices echoed in the audience, mostlyining about the human��sck of power. However, the twobatants didn''t see it that way at all.

 Chapter 466: Peacock Lion-Tiger Yin-Yang Palm

    <h4>Chapter 466: Peacock Lion-Tiger Yin-Yang Palm</h4>


    On the surface, the events on the stage seemed simple, but the real contest had begun with the twin-hammer soundwave attack. The Golden Mammoth created an opening for itself with the soundwave impact, while Tang San used the Purple Demon Eyes'' mental shock to buy himself some time. By forcibly cutting through the Golden Mammoth��s attack with the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, he managed tond an attack of his own.


    The Golden Mammoth''s massive physique was undoubtedly its greatest advantage, but itsrge size also made it less agile. It was indeed deceptively fast and nimble, but how could itpare to Tang San? Thus, Tang San exploited this weakness tond a hit.


    Given Tang San''s toughness, he naturally couldn''t afford to be hit by those heavy hammers. As he himself had discovered in a simr arena, when a hammer collided with a head, the head was usually on the losing side.


    He didn''t have a weapon to avoid hindering his agility. But was his barehanded attack so easy to withstand?


    At this moment, the Golden Mammoth begged to disagree.


    Tang San''s seemingly light palm strike on its strong chest muscles initially felt like a mere tickle to the Golden Mammoth. Even if the opponent was a newly ascended Demon or Nymph King, unless they were particrly adept at attacking or wielding a divine weapon, harming it would be very difficult. How could this small human pose a threat?


    However, as Tang San rebounded and the Golden Mammothnded, preparing to continue its attack, it sensed something amiss.


    Inside its chest, its mighty heart suddenly skipped a beat. Immediately after, the Golden Mammoth felt a tightening sensation in his chest.


    Heat and cold appeared almost simultaneously within it; the heart was invaded directly, and with that, the entire blood flow was impacted. The Golden Mammoth could no longer pursue Tang San and instead stood still, sucking in a harsh breath of air.


    Then the scorching and cold energies exploded, and its bloodline power was affected. The incredible pain made the Golden Mammoth''s face turn pale, and the golden color on its skin faded significantly.


    <i>How is this possible? How did this happen? How did he do it?</i>


    The Golden Mammoth''s eyes were filled with disbelief.


    Tang San was also observing it. Seeing itsplexion change and its aura weaken instantly, he knew he had seeded.


    Was that seemingly light palm strike really that easy to block? How could it be, when it was a condensation of Tang San''s entire strength?


    That palm strike carried three of his bloodline abilities: Peacock Transformation, Lion-Tiger Transformation, and Blue Silver Emperor.


    The Lion-Tiger Transformation''s function, or rather the Lion-Tiger Golden Force��s function, was to devour a portion of the Golden Mammoth''s formidable bloodline power reinforcing its chest muscles, thus weakening its defense. Then, taking advantage of this opportunity, the spatial power of the Peacock Transformation manifested, injecting Tang San''s subsequent attack directly inside the Golden Mammoth��s chest through spatial transmission and simply bypassing the thick and tough hide, flesh, and ribcage.


    As for the Blue Silver Emperor, it had just absorbed the purest yang and yin energies from the Sunborne and Earthshade Nymph Emperors, respectively. Now, it was no longer what it used to be; the hybrid nt bloodline had beenrgely reced by these yin and yang energies. However, the Blue Silver Emperor''s remaining aura acted as a kind of adhesive, stabilizing thebination.


    When Tang San stimted the Blue Silver Emperor imprint, these yin and yang energies would reinforce whatever attack he used. This time, he used spatial transmission to shift some pure yin and yang energy into his opponent��s body.


    The Golden Mammoth naturally didn��t have the same abilities as Tang San, who could forcibly bnce the yin and yang energies with luck and the Blue Silver Emperor. Therefore, the extremely violent yang and yin energies rampaged in its heart.


    Although these two streams of energy weren''t very strong, they were of extreme attributes! If they had acted elsewhere, the Golden Mammoth could have withstood them with its strong defense, but in the heart, the impact was naturally significant.


    Thus, Tang San''s seemingly light palm strike could be urately called Peacock Lion-Tiger Yin-Yang Palm. Or maybe the Triple Transformation Palm.


    Tang San only had some basic control over the yin and yang energies, and the imprint''s power wasn''t all that great. However, two of his bloodline imprints came from genuine first-tier bloodlines, and his Blue Silver Emperor was now also around that level.


    The Golden Mammoth''s defense was indeed ridiculous. Had it been an ordinary demon or nymph instead, then even without the yin-yang energy, just the domineering Lion-Tiger Golden Force teleported directly inside their heart would be enough to kill them on the spot.


    Tang San didn''t seize the opportunity to exterminate his fallen opponent. This palm strike had exhausted him considerably. The yin and yang energies had temporarily lost bnce due to the output, and he needed to stabilize them. He couldn''t use them again for the time being.


    The yin and yang energies he had previously gathered were limited. Although he had begun absorbing these energies from the air through the imprint, extremely pure yin and yang energies were scarcely found in ordinary spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Increasing his reserves was bound to be a painfully slow process.


    With things being as they were, it was already impressive if he could use the Triple Transformation Palm once a day.


    However, for today''s battle, this palm strike was basically enough.


    Tang San ced his hands behind his back and silently observed the Golden Mammoth before him. He wanted to see if its defense would allow it to continue the fight.


    "ng!" One heavy hammer fell to the ground, followed by the other.


    The Golden Mammoth clutched its chest with both hands and knelt on one knee, gasping heavily. The dark golden light on its skin flickered, its face turned pale, andrge beads of sweat rolled down from its forehead.


    This sudden change immediately caused the noisy crowd to quiet down.


    Even though the seven-meter-tall Golden Mammoth knelt down, its figure was still muchrger than Tang San''s. Yet at this moment, the tiny little human on the stage appeared titanically grand in the eyes of all the spectators.


    How could this be possible? In one move, the Golden Mammoth lost itsbat capability? Wasn''t this one of the favorites to advance?


    At this moment, Tang San moved, swiftly charging toward the Golden Mammoth. The Golden Mammoth sensed his approach and instinctively reached out to grab Tang San, but another wave of intense throbbing hit its chest. The stimtion from the yin-yang energy made it feel as if its heart was being crushed by an iron grip, and its strength instantly drained away.


    Tang San, using the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, slipped directly through its thick arms and reached its front. His right hand pressed on its forehead, and his voice, carrying spiritual power, sounded in its ears. "Admit defeat."


    "I..." Feeling the steady and cold hand on its forehead, the Golden Mammoth raised its head to look at Tang San. A trace of reluctance shing in its eyes, but it was quickly reced by fear.


    If the opponent could channel energy into its heart, why couldn''t he do the same to its brain? And if that strange energy entered its brain, then whatever defenses it had weren��t worth a single demonshard coin.


    It lowered its head dejectedly. "I admit defeat."


    The referee thus announced the end of the match. "Number six of Group Three wins!"


    This was undoubtedly a result no one had anticipated. A weak human actually defeated the powerful Golden Mammoth��how unbelievable was that? Yet, the truth was before everyone''s eyes. Unless the Golden Mammoth was pretending and deliberately lost, which was simply unthinkable, what kind of power did this human possess?


    Tang San actually didn''t want to defeat his opponent so conspicuously��it attracted too much attention. But he knew his own situation. This Golden Mammoth definitely had the strength to challenge a Demon King-level opponent. Given its impressive defense, Tang San had to achieve a surprise victory, and he only had that one chance. If he failed, then with his current strength, he wouldn��t have stood a chance of winning unless he used his divine consciousness, which he had to avoid at all costs.

 Chapter 467: It鈥檚 A Secret

    <h4>Chapter 467: It��s A Secret</h4>


    Between activating his divine consciousness and achieving a conspicuously swift victory, he had immediately chosen thetter. At least no one could tell what ability he had used.


    "Don''t move, I''ll heal you," Tang San said in a low voice. As he spoke, he moved his right hand from the Golden Mammoth''s forehead to its shoulder, circting his internal energy while activating the Blue Silver Emperor and Peacock Demon transformations simultaneously.


    He had to do this! Without the Peacock Transformation, he couldn''t affect the internal areas of the opponent''s body.


    The entangled yin and yang energies in the Golden Mammoth''s heart were finally drawn out and returned to Tang San''s body.


    This wasn''t because Tang San was particrly kind and felt like healing his opponent was a virtue. One reason was to retrieve his precious yin and yang energies to restore his Triple Transformation Palm. The other reason was to avoid leaving traces that could reveal his abilities.


    Without the influence of the yin and yang energies, the Golden Mammoth''s powerful body allowed it to recover almost instantly. Its heart pumped blood vigorously, restoring its mobility. Apart from being slightly weakened, it was now fine.


    "Can you tell me what ability you used just now?" it asked, standing up and retrieving its pair of hammers.


    Tang San shrugged and said, "Noment." Then he turned and walked off the stage.


    He couldn''t exin the attack he had just used, as it was something he hade up with on the spot. His greatest strengthy in having multiple bloodlines, and being able tobine these bloodline powers was crucial to enhancing hisbat effectiveness. Moreover, in thepetition, he couldn''t let the observing experts see through him, nor let his opponents discover what had happened. It required a high level of concealment, so how could he exin it just because he was asked to?


    The Golden Mammoth strode after him, its face once again showing a goofy smile. "My name is Mao Wenwu, what''s your name?"


    Before the match, it hadn''t even asked Tang San''s name. Now that it had lost, it felt that introductions were warranted.


    Tang San obviously did not intend to be honest, but he did feel like the question warranted an answer, so he chose to reveal his alter ego. "I am Asura."


    Only at this moment did the audience erupt in an uproar, with various boos rising and falling. This battle seemed too strange, and for a time, the roaring voices of hundreds of thousands of Ancestor Court citizens made the entire Ancestor Court za extremely noisy.


    Watching Tang San''s quickly departing figure, Mao Wenwu''s expression became quite interesting. It originally intended to y the role of a pig in order to eat a tiger, yet it had unexpectedly be a proper pig. Although it hadn''t expected to get a top spot anyway, it had believed advancing from the group stage shouldn''t be difficult. To its dismay, its journey to the top had ended before the first step was even taken.


    The key point was that the loss seemed too inexplicable. Now that the yin and yang energies in its body had disappeared, it quickly returned to its normal state, as if it hadn''t been attacked at all.


    Even to the contender, the match seemed fixed! So how the hell was it supposed to exin this when it went back home?


    <i>Damn, won��t Grandpa beat me to death? This was aplete failure.</i>


    Tang San, of course, had greater concerns than what Mao Wenwu was thinking. After quickly leaving thepetition stage, he immediately returned to the original waiting area to wait quietly.


    In the waiting area where he was, only the matches on the first tform were visible. Therefore, despite the numerous boos in the arena, they didn''t know what had happened on the third tform, nor did they know that Tang San had already defeated a strong opponent.


    Big Cat approached Tang San and asked in a low voice, "How did it go?"


    Tang San pulled him to an inconspicuous corner of the waiting area and then whispered, "I won."


    He didn''t borate on the nature of his opponent, still reflecting on the process of his own palm attack.


    This was the first time he had tried tobine several bloodline abilities together, and he didn''t expect the result to be so effective. However, without the dominating power of the yin-yang energy, relying solely on the Lion-Tiger Transformation and Peacock Transformation, it would have been difficult to break through the opponent''s defense. The Golden Mammoth, Mao Wenwu, had a cultivation close to the peak of the ninth order, with plenty ofbat experience and powerful techniques. Tang San��s victory could be considered rather surprising.


    The boos from the stands quickly dissipated as thepetition continued and the next contestants began their matches. The audience''s attention naturally shifted.


    Tang San fell into deep thought about the sudden issue with the Pr Luck Domain and the fusion of various bloodline abilities. These were important aspects he needed to consider for his future cultivation.


    Breaking through to the god level was challenging and would inevitably take some time. Thus, before reaching the tenth order, he needed to find alternative methods to truly contend with god-level powerhouses, and those alternative methods would inevitably involve short and massive bursts of energy.


    After watching Big Cat and Mei Gongzi''s matches today, he nned to revisit the Sunborne Sacred Mountain and Earthshade Sacred Mountain. Condensing yin-yang energy in these two ces would be much faster than cultivating on his own. If he could enhance the yin-yang energy to a certain extent, the power of his Blue Silver Emperor imprint would greatly increase.


    More importantly, this yin-yang energy could be added to any other ability, serving as an auxiliary power. And what a formidable auxiliary power it was! Not even the tough physique of a Golden Mammoth could withstand it! This energy concentrated the core abilities of two top Nymph Emperors, and with the adjustment from the Pr Luck Domain, it could be a powerful trump card, almost on par with the domain itself.


    Tang San had to restrain his own excitement at this thought.


    <i>No rush, take it slow!</i>


    In the process of cultivating this yin-yang energy, he couldn''t let the two Nymph Emperors discover him, so he could only improve himself slowly and steadily.


    Thepetition progressed quickly, with evenly matched situations being rather rare in the first round. In a knockout tournament like this, every contestant treated each match as if it were theirst, because, well, it could be. They all fought at full power, resulting in quick battles.


    At one point, Big Cat''s voice interrupted Tang San''s contemtion of his own abilities.


    "It''s my turn."


    "Good luck," Tang San said, clenching his fist and waving it toward Big Cat.


    "I will." Big Cat took a deep breath, his eyes instantly brightening, and strode out.


    Compared to Tang San, Big Cat had experienced far more. From the time he was born, he was constantly told by his n members that they were cursed. Among his peers, he was the strongest, disying remarkable talent from a very young age; yet the Lion-Tiger n was ostracized, and resources were extremely limited. Despite the elders'' care, even basic sustenance was hard toe by.


    As he grew older, his power increased day by day. Gradually, he began to feel the problems with his bloodline. Each time his bloodline powers shed, he would experience unbearable pain. The elders scrimped and saved to buy natural treasures to supplement his life force, helping him endure and suppress the pain caused by the bloodline conflict.


    Even so, his strength continued to grow rapidly. Later, by chance, the young Big Cat learned that he could earn money at the Great Beast Fighting Arena, so he resolutely went there.


    The arena saw that he was a rare Lion-Tiger, which was a great selling point, and naturally, let him participate without hesitation, even offering him a good deal. With his formidable strength, Big Cat gradually made a name for himself in the arena.


    The first time he killed an opponent, he was actually terrified, but thinking of the many people in his n who needed money to live, he hardened his heart.


    He didn''t know how many times he had been through life-and-death situations, nor how many scars he had umted. His strength improved day by day, and he eventually became an invincible presence in Kali City��s Great Beast Fighting Arena.

 Chapter 468: The Pride Of The Lion-Tiger Clan

    <h4>Chapter 468: The Pride Of The Lion-Tiger n</h4>


    In order to earn more money, he even went as far as helping those nobles by throwing matches, just to buy more natural treasures to sustain his n members'' lives.


    However, his childhood sweetheart''s bloodline conflict was particrly severe, reaching a point where even treasure herbs and fruits could not suppress it. His heart was full of despair, and at the bottom of that despair, resentment brewed. He hated everything in this world; he hated that he was cursed by the heavens, that life was so difficult for him even though he was working so hard.


    He hated everything.


    Until he met Asura, the one who saved his life, the lives of his entire n, and... the life of his beloved.


    When Asura resolved all his worries and even allowed his bloodline to fully integrate, Big Cat had already made up his mind. No matter if he had to be a ve or a servant in the future, he would repay this great benefactor.


    But Asura did not enve him; instead, he treated him as a friend and gave him the opportunity to lead the Lion-Tiger n in its rise. At this moment, his heart no longer harbored resentment but was filled with unparalleled and unprecedented fighting spirit. He no longer fought for survival but for the Lion-Tiger n and his own honor. He no longer needed to feign civility with those nobles; he only needed to unleash his battle intent and defeat all opponents in his way.


    Big Cat was assigned to Stage One. As he stepped onto the stage, every step was firm and powerful. During his ascent, he removed his hooded cloak and tossed it aside, revealing his striped fur, strong physique, and facial features with both lion and tiger characteristics, all showcasing his unique heritage.


    He stood tall, determined to show all spectators whether the Lion-Tiger n was truly cursed or genuinely powerful.


    <i>Lion-Tiger n? </i>As they watched him step onto thepetition stage, the nobles from the lion race and the tiger race in the VIP seats couldn''t help but stand up in shock.


    <i>Since when could the Lion-Tiger n participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition? How did he get here? Is he a noble?</i>


    "It''s a disgrace!" a strong tiger demon growled with anger in his eyes. "How can these cursed beings be allowed into the Ancestral Court? This will bring a curse upon our tiger race!"


    The members of both races present all started yelling in anger. However, Big Cat was already on stage, and his participation was set in stone.


    At this moment, Big Cat''s opponent also stepped onto the stage. It was about two meters tall, covered in golden fur, and had exceptionally long arms. A shiny silver staff was in its hand, blending with its golden fur to create a dazzling brilliance.


    It was a Golden Silk Demon Ape, a top branch of the ape race and a second-tier bloodline.


    The Golden Silk Demon Apes were one of the most perfectbinations of speed and strength. Moreover, it was innately gifted with exceptionally high spiritual power. The Golden Silk Demon Apes even had a third vertical eye on its forehead, which allowed it to use powerful spiritual attacks.


    The Golden Silk Demon Ape n had always been dominant among the ape race. Unfortunately, it had never produced a Demon Emperor, so it had always remained a second-tier bloodline.


    Big Cat looked coldly at his opponent, a heavy sword already in his grasp. Who the opponent was and what n it belonged to didn''t matter to him; all that mattered was that he had to win, so he would win!


    The Golden Silk Demon Ape bared its teeth at him, revealing its fangs, but its eyes showed disdain.


    The two opponents were on opposite sides of the stage, far apart, making any verbal exchange rather difficult.


    "Begin!"


    With the referee''s announcement, Big Cat''s first match in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition officially began.


    Both sidesunched their attacks almost simultaneously.


    The Golden Silk Demon Ape propped itself up with its long staff and leaped into the air. Its speed was incredibly fast, like a shooting star shooting across the arena, swiftly charging toward Big Cat. The gold and silver intertwined, looking extremely dazzling.


    As it ran, its muscles began to swell, and it transformed from a humanoid into a giant ape.


    In an instant, it swelled to a height of four meters, its speed increased dramatically, and the long staff in its hand grewrger to match its physique. With an imposing aura, it charged straight at Big Cat.


    Big Cat moved simultaneously with his opponent, dragging his heavy sword with his right hand and striding toward the enemy. His eyes were cold, and a zing white me ignited instantly. With each step, the mes on his being intensified, and his aura surged. His already strong body became even more imposing, swelling up as well. Bloodline power surged!


    The Golden Silken Demon Ape raised the staff high above its head with both hands.


    "Take this!"


    At the same time, the vertical eye on its forehead suddenly opened, ready tounch a spiritual attack.


    At that moment, Big Cat burst out with a furious roar. "GET LOST!"


    The zing golden mes around his body suddenly turned tinum, condensing into a giant Lion-Tiger head that emitted a terrifying roar.


    Facing this roar, the vertical pupil of the Golden Silken Demon Ape, which had just opened, couldn''t release its spiritual power due to sheer intimidation. Its bloodline surged, and even as a second-tier bloodline being, it suddenly felt a strong sense of fear. The power of its bloodline scattered; the golden light radiating from its entire body was greatly diminished, and the force with which it swung its staff weakened.


    Big Cat''s right hand swiftly lifted the heavy sword upward. With his richbat experience, he certainly wouldn''t miss such an opportunity.


    The long staff fell, colliding with the heavy sword, creating a deafening boom.


    In the next moment, under the spectators'' shocked gazes, the clearly extraordinary silver long staff was directly sent flying. The golden glow on the Golden Silken Demon Ape dimmed almostpletely, and it was knocked backward.


    Big Cat stepped forward with full force, and the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral''s tinum light grew even brighter. At the moment of collision, he had already absorbed part of the opponent''s power, which had nowpletely transformed into his strength. The sword in his hand was as heavy as it was massive, yet it appeared as light as a feather as it shed down fiercely.


    A tinum sword light shed through the air, and at that moment, time seemed to freeze. The Golden Silken Demon Ape, which had been sent flying, suddenly paused in mid-air.


    Then, its golden body abruptly exploded into countless fragments, scattering in all directions. Blood and entrails sttered, creating a rain of blood in the sky.


    The stands erupted in an uproar!


    This was the first death in today''spetition so far.


    After all, this was the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, and the participants were elite powerhouses from various powerful ns. Everyone gave everyone else some face, as this was just apetition. Determining victory or defeat rarely involved lethal force. But Big Cat had not only killed his opponent, he had done so in a truly brutal manner, as if he was venting deep-seated grievances umted over the years.


    The lion and tiger demons in the stands were wide-eyed,pletely unable to believe what they were seeing.


    On thepetition stage, Big Cat acted as if nothing had happened. He strode over to the silver staff that had been sent flying and picked it up��it was his trophy, after all. A child from a poor family would never waste anything.


    With one hand dragging his heavy sword and the other holding the silver staff, he casually walked off thepetition stage.


    The Ancestral Court Elite Competition had no rule against killing opponents; as a matter of fact, it had no rule against anything apart from outside interference. Moreover, the world of the demons and nymphs was a world where the strong were revered. Being able to kill an opponent, especially in an officialpetition like this, was a testament to one''s skill.

 Chapter 469: Mei Gongzi Appears

    <h4>Chapter 469: Mei Gongzi Appears</h4>


    In an instant, a powerful Golden Silk Demon Ape was killed. What did this mean? Most of the spectators present had already figured it out.


    In the VIP seats, a lion demon noble with golden fur looked shocked.


    <i>Have they resolved the bloodline conflict? The power he used has never appeared before... is this the result of a true fusion and evolution? Have the Lion-Tiger n sessfully fused their bloodlines? Is the result a first-tier bloodline?</i>


    With this fierce and ruthless battle, Big Cat announced to all the lion and tiger demons present that he, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, a descendant of the Lion-Tiger n, had arrived!


    When he stepped off thepetition stage and returned to the waiting area, the contestants who had watched the battle looked at him differently. An unseen yet fearsome aura seemed to emanate from Big Cat.


    Tang San had watched the entire battle. He had to admit that, purely from the perspective of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, Big Cat''s was stronger than his own. Whether in strength or in application, Big Cat had perfectly mastered this bloodline power. Indeed, he was a born warrior. Thebat experience he had gained from hundreds of life-and-death battles was fully disyed in this fight, not allowing the Golden Silken Demon Ape to use its best abilities.


    That Lion-Tiger Roar had forcibly interrupted the spiritual attack of the Golden Silk Demon Ape and exerted a powerful suppression. Well, the Lion-Tiger n had a natural bloodline suppression over the ape race��and many other races, for that matter. They were natural predators, after all. The moment that roar was unleashed, the battle''s oue was already decided. Killing the opponent was out of pure habit, but it was also to intimidate others.


    Big Cat walked over and handed the long, silver staff to Asura. "Here, I got you a little gift."


    Tang San didn��t stand on ceremony and directly stored it in his storage ring.


    The pair finally caught the attention of the other contestants around them. For a moment, many gazes were directed their way.


    "Are we leaving now, or are we waiting for your girlfriend to finish her match?" Big Cat asked telepathically.


    Tang San replied, "You can head back if you want. I''ll wait for her to finish."


    "I''ll stay with you," Big Cat said. At this moment, his emotions were still surging. This was the Ancestral Court, the core of the Daemon Continent! Not only had he defeated his opponent in such a significantpetition, but he had also killed it in a brutal and domineering manner. He had showcased the Lion-Tiger Golden Force to all the demon and nymph ns for the first time, bringing his n in the limelight as the proud and mighty warriors they were. How could his mood be calm?


    Moreover, this was just the beginning! In the uing matches, no matter his opponents, he would prove with his strength and fighting spirit, and most importantly, he would prove that the Lion-Tiger n was not cursed by the heavens!


    Thepetition was thrilling, with many powerful contestants appearing. However, at this point of thepetition, if a contestant with a second-tier bloodline faced one with a first-tier, they were almost certain to lose. This was the difference in bloodline power. Only in rare cases, where there was an attribute advantage and the second-tier bloodline contestant had powerful abilities andbat power, was there a chance of winning.


    Quite obviously, there were more second-tier bloodline contestants, with first-tier bloodlines making up only about forty percent. But after today''s first round of eliminations, the number of second-tier bloodline contestants would be significantly reduced. And in another round or two, there might not be any second-tier bloodline contestants left in thepetition.


    Tang San was feeling a bit nervous.In his view, Mei Gongzi had just reached the ninth order, far from the peak ninth order. Although she had a first-tier bloodline, if she faced a strong opponent of the same tier, she might not be able to defeat them. He didn''t know how much Mei Gongzi''s cultivation had improved during her more than a year of seclusion. As the saying goes, concern leads to confusion; he cared about her, and this caused him to be a bit unsettled now. After all, this was not a doubles match, so he couldn''t be on the field to help her.


    Finally, the matches for Group Nine began. Mei Gongzi''s number was three, so she appeared in the second round of Group Nine.


    Her match was on Stage Two. Tang San quickly left his own waiting area and moved to another waiting area where he could see Stage Two, ready to watch Mei Gongzi''s match. He was even more nervous now than when he waspeting himself.


    "Group Nine, Number Three versus Number Four, please step onto the stage."


    Mei Gongzi strolled onto the stage. As she ascended, her jet-ck hair turned peacock blue, revealing her identity as a member of the Peacock Demon n. This was ording to an instruction from the Peacock Great Demon King��to hide her human bloodline as much as possible during thepetition. After all, the only visible difference between the Peacock Demon n and humans was their hair color.


    By the time she exited seclusion, Mei Gongzi had utterly transformed from a girl into a young woman. Her stunning face looked even fairer against her peacock blue hair, and her cold expression gave her an ethereal quality.


    Female contestants were already rare, and even rarer were those as stunning as Mei Gongzi. The powerful demon and nymph ns mostly had humanoid appearances, and their aesthetic senses were quite simr, apart from the focus on sheer fighting power. Naturally, many spectators were captivated by Mei Gongzi''s unparalleled beauty.


    Tang San took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves while quietly preparing to intervene if necessary. <i>What if Mei Gongzi encounters an opponent as bloodthirsty as Big Cat?</i>


    Concern leads to confusion indeed. Mei Gongzi had a space-attribute bloodline, so how could others harm her so easily? Maybe they weren��t the strongest when it came to sheer attack and defense, but in terms of evasion skills, the Peacock Demon n was definitely at the top among all the demon ns.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi''s opponent also stepped onto the stage. In this arena, where female contestants were rare, Mei Gongzi''s opponent was also coincidentally a female. She had an incredibly alluring figure; she was slightly taller than Mei Gongzi and had curves in all the right ces. Her golden hair flowed inrge waves down her back, and her golden-red eyes had a captivating charm. She had a charming smile on her pretty face and even had a finger in her mouth.


    <i>A Golden Fox!</i>


    Indeed, she was a representative of the golden bloodline of the fox race. Although not a first-tier bloodline like the Celestial Fox n��s, Golden Foxes were still considered strong among the second-tier bloodlines.


    Seeing that Mei Gongzi''s opponent had a second-tier bloodline, Tang San immediately heaved a sigh of relief. Although Mei Gongzi had just reached the ninth order, dealing with a second-tier bloodline shouldn''t be too much of a problem.


    The referee announced, "Begin the match!"


    The next moment, the female contestant from the Golden Fox shimmered and suddenly split into two identical figures, making it impossible to distinguish the real from the fake.


    <i>Cloning technique?</i>


    This was undoubtedly a type of illusion.


    Tang San quickly recalled the innate abilities of the Golden Fox that he had learned at Redemption Academy.


    The Golden Fox n had few members, just like most golden bloodlines but very much unlike other fox demon ns. Their numbers were so few that they could bepared to the Celestial Fox n, so their public appearances were equally rare.


    The strength of this lineage was in its three innate abilities: speed, illusion, and charm. Aside from the Celestial Fox n, which controlled fate, they were clearly the strongest of the fox demons.


    Most fox demons were not skilled inbat, but the Golden Fox n was an exception. They were excellent assassins and had strongbat abilities, especially in one-on-one situations orplex environments.


    At this moment, the Golden Fox had already used her high-level illusion ability to create a perfectly identical clone. Tang San''s Crimson Fox girls, though skilled in illusions, did not yet have this capability.

 Chapter 470: Space Severing

    <h4>Chapter 470: Space Severing</h4>


    The two figures split again, bing four. The four golden figures simultaneously shot toward Mei Gongzi like four beams of golden light.


    Mei Gongzi raised her right hand, a peacock feather silently appearing in her grasp. Then she closed her eyes.


    Yes, she simply closed her eyes, as if she didn''t even deign to look at her opponent.


    The four golden figures quickly approached, elerating and intertwining when they were less than twenty meters from Mei Gongzi.


    At that moment, Mei Gongzi moved. Her graceful body spun in ce, and a pair of peacock wings unfurled behind her, as if she was dancing. Circles of silver light patterns expanded outward, and the Peacock Crown that Tang San had seen before appeared on her head.


    The dazzling crown highlighted her noble status. The silver light patterns emitted by the Peacock Plume spread in all directions. Where the light patterns passed, space seemed to split and ovep, no longer aplete whole but a number of segments. For a moment, everything around her became bizarre and fantastical.


    <i>Space Severing!</i> Tang San almost blurted out. Mei Gongzi had cut space into pieces, leaving only the area surrounding her intact!


    The four golden figures about to rush toward her suddenly stopped, feeling the threat of the fractured space and not daring to advance further.


    But unlike the golden figures, the silver light patterns did not stop. They intersected and flew out, enveloping the four golden figures.


    The seemingly delicate silver lines were in fact fracture lines in space. The Golden Fox contestant didn''t dare to even touch them, and she hastily retreated.


    But in the next instant, she felt space shift behind her. When she turned around, she saw that silver light patterns had appeared behind her at some point, blocking her retreat.


    The silver light patterns gradually closed in, enveloping arge area of space around them, making it impossible for the conjured figures to move forward or retreat.


    The Golden Fox excelled in speed, illusion, and charm. But her luck was terrible today. Facing another female, her ability to charm the opponent was greatly reduced. With the space shattered, neither side could even see the other directly, making illusion attacks useless. Lastly, her physical strength could not withstand the attacks of Space Severing, so her speed meant nothing whatsoever under such arge-scale space blockade.


    In conclusion...


    "I surrender!" She didn''t want to die and immediately screamed when she saw she couldn''t fight back.


    The silver light patterns silently retracted, finally merging into the Peacock Plume. Meanwhile, at some point, Mei Gongzi had appeared less than five meters behind her.


    The Peacock Plume feather lightly quivered, causingyers of distorted ripples in the surrounding space. With a sh of silver light, she vanished without a trace.


    Even Tang San was left dumbfounded; what more, then, the other spectators?


    Tang San sensed that Mei Gongzi had perfectly integrated into space itself. Under her control, the entire space around the stage was like obedient building blocks, arranged andbined at will. The gaps between each small bit of space were her best attack methods. Compared to the sheer magnitude of her mastery, her opponent��s attacks were nothing more than a child��s y.


    <i>Has she really be this strong? How could she improve this much in just a year of seclusion....</i>


    Mei Gongzi silently appeared in the waiting area and sent a message to Asura viamunicator.


    ��Asura, the match is over. I''m going out now.


    "Okay," Tang San replied. He had originally nned to ask Mei Gongzi to practice for their doubles battle, but given the strength she had disyed today, it seemed unnecessary.


    Mei Gongzi walked out of the waiting area under the strange gazes of others, her thoughts returning to the moment of her family''s bloodline inheritance test.


    ***


    <i>A pitch-ck cave.</i>


    The Peacock Great Demon King had called her back in advance upon hearing that the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament was to be held. He hoped that if she could pass the n inheritance test, she could participate in thispetition and make a name for herself. After all, she had human blood, and to inherit the position and be the next n leader, she needed the Ancestral Court''s approval. Strength had always been the quintessential way to gain recognition, so that was the way to go now as well.


    Therefore, her inheritance test came early.


    The cave was so dark that one couldn''t see their own hands, but Mei Gongzi was not hurrying to explore. Although she was young, she always had a calm temperament. Her mother had taught her since childhood that she was to remain calm no matter the situation, as only in a calm state could she handle any crisis.


    Since she couldn''t see, she closed her eyes and silently focused on sensing the spatial fluctuations around her. The Peacock Demon n''s inheritance test unquestionably had to do with space maniption; there were no ifs and buts.


    At the same time, she quietly sped the Fortune Stone in her hand. This Fortune Stone could enhance her luck, or so Asura had told her.


    Holding the Fortune Stone, she couldn''t help but think of the masked face. <i>Why wouldn''t he let me see his true face? What is he hiding?</i>


    As her thoughts became chaotic, she suddenly felt the space around her tremble slightly.


    Even though her eyes were closed, everything suddenly became bright. She was surprised to find herself in a silver-lit space.


    It was like an altar surrounded by an endless void. In the center of the silver circr altar, Mei Gongzi felt the air around her seem viscous. At this moment, even making the slightest movement seemed excruciatingly difficult.


    Suddenly, her whole body rxed, and the altar beneath her feet erupted with silver light, shooting out like a volcanic eruption. These silver rays passed through her body, making her feel as if she had be translucent. Then, these silver lights shot toward the endless night sky, turning intorge swathes of silver brilliance.


    Gradually, the altar beneath her feet began to darken, revealing the pitch-ck night sky, and she felt as if she were floating in it. In the distance, the boundless starry sky soaring in this dark world brought her an indescribable sense of fear.


    At this moment, a point of silver light in the distance suddenly erged, seemingly shooting toward her. Mei Gongzi was startled for a moment, instinctively dodging to the side.


    A silver line almost grazed her body as it flew past.


    The silver line that flew past silently disappeared, reappearing under Mei Gongzi''s feet. It was a spatial attack, and if it had hit her, it could have sliced her body apart.


    The spatial power she had dodged reassembled under her feet, seemingly bing part of the previous altar.


    Before she could think more, two more silver rays shot toward her. Mei Gongzi''s silhouette flickered as she dodged again. The two silver rays swept through the void, disappeared, and reappeared, merging back into the altar beneath her feet.


    <i>Is this the test?</i>


    At this moment, she suddenly understood what her test was. The altar beneath her feet was woven from countless strands of spatial power. Once she had appeared, these strands of spatial power had scattered. Now, they were returning, and she had to avoid the assault of spatial power toplete this test.


    But there were thousands of strands of spatial power that had scattered earlier!


    Four silver rays flew toward her at this moment, forming a grid pattern.


    Mei Gongzi leaped up, passing through the center. The four silver lights disappeared, reappeared, and merged into the altar beneath her feet.

 Chapter 471: Inheritance Test

    <h4>Chapter 471: Inheritance Test</h4>


    This time, there was no more interval between the attacks. Eight more silver rays appeared almost immediately, shooting in from all directions.


    At that moment, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but recall the Peacock Great Demon King''s words before the test, just one sentence: "Step on the Yellow Silk and dance the Celestial Dance!"


    She began to dance gracefully in the next instant, her lithe body flickering as she slipped through the gaps between the silver lights. The silver lights fell and merged into the altar.


    But more silver rays were already shooting toward her.


    Mei Gongzi had to fully extend her spiritual power, so she started dancing the Celestial Dance, which she had just begun to master. She tightly held the Fortune Stone in her hand, continuously weaving through the silver rays that could easily slice through her.


    Perhaps being hit by the silver rays wouldn''t kill her, but it would most certainly cause her to fail this inheritance test. Before entering, the Peacock Great Demon King had told her that there was only one chance for the test, which would differ based on one''s cultivation level. She was at the peak of the eighth order, not yet at the ninth, but she had already reached a certain level of proficiency with the Celestial Dance; this was the perfect time to take the test. Whether she could indeed pass depended on her.


    Under the immense pressure, the Celestial Dance seemed toe naturally. Mei Gongzi''s dance became faster and faster as she moved through the increasingly dense spatial rifts like a weaver��s shuttle. The silver light under her feet grew increasingly intense, making her figure look even more dazzling and captivating.


    Gradually, Mei Gongzi began to feel exhausted. First, it was her spiritual power. She had to extend her spiritual power to find those tiny gaps, after all; not only that, but it was impacted by the cracks in space, so it was consumed at an even higher rate. Then, her body started tog behind her senses, due to physical fatigue.


    Yet, the spatial rifts around her showed no signs of decreasing.


    She didn''t even know how many attacks she had dodged. But since the spatial rift attacks hadn''t ended, she hadn''t passed the test yet! She could only grit her teeth and persist.


    These attacks were genuinely terrifying. She had even had strands of her hair cut off, and the sensation of these close brushes with death made shivers run down her spine, and at the same time, made her even more awake and alert.


    But her body''s limits were approaching. No matter how hard she tried or how much she pushed her potential, the fear of death was there.


    At that moment, a light flickered in her other hand. The spatial rifts speeding toward her suddenly slowed down.


    The silver of spatial rifts was so dense that the whole world around her looked like a shattered window, as if the mere touch of a finger would cause pieces of it to fall.


    The slowed speed allowed Mei Gongzi to truly see for the first time what she had been dodging. Most of the altar beneath her feet was now lit up.


    She stepped along the peculiar rhythm of the Celestial Dance, weaving through the spatial rifts that seemed to cut through the entire world. Despite the density of the rifts, the reduced speed made it much easier for her.


    A crystal-clear mirror glowed with a magical light in her hand, emitting a soft halo that caused everything around it to slow down.


    If a power in this world could influence space, it would undoubtedly be time. The two concepts were equally profound and mysterious, and the two powers could influence each other in a way inessible to other types of power.


    The crystal mirror was the Crystal Demon Emperor��s token, imprinted with the Chrono Croc bloodline that Tang San had decided to ce in it after some deliberation. He was well aware of the profundities of space and time, and he naturally expected that a Peacock Demon n��s inheritance test would involve space maniption, so he thought that the power of time would be the best assistance to Mei Gongzi. And indeed, at this critical moment, it proved to be of immense help to her, ensuring her survival��or at least allowing her to continue with the test, which was indeed tied to her survival as well.


    Strands of silver light silently imprinted on the altar beneath her feet, making the altar''s glow brighter and brighter. The dazzling light filled the surrounding space with strange fluctuations.


    The Chrono Croc''s cloned bloodline ability didn��tst very long, but it was enough for Mei Gongzi. After the densest spatial rifts passed, only some scattered spatial fluctuations remained. She used the slowed time to catch her breath, readjusted, and started dancing again.


    The brief slowdown in time allowed her to process her new understanding of the Celestial Dance.


    At this moment, she realized that the Celestial Dance was not just about dodging but actively guiding the space around her. Under the guidance of the mystical spatial fluctuations apanying the dance, the densely packed spatial rifts that had seemed unwavering initially now began to follow a pattern, changing direction ording to her movements. She was no longer dodging them��they were going around her as if of their own initiative.


    Without the slowed-down time and the much-needed break, she might have needed much longer to uncover these mysteries.


    Finally, when thest silver light quietly swept past, guided by Mei Gongzi''s Celestial Dance to merge into the ground and light up the final dark bit of the altar, the entire world seemed to turn silver instantly.


    In Mei Gongzi''s vision, everything was filled with brilliant silver light, and at that moment, she felt as if she was crossing millions of kilometers of space.


    Her body felt light, and she felt the ground beneath her feet again. She realized she was back in the cave she was in previously.


    However, at this moment, the cave was no longer dark. A giant silver peacock appeared before her, spreading its dazzling feathers, its eyes seemingly filled with a smile.


    The next moment, the eyes on each of its feathers shone with dazzling silver light, illuminating Mei Gongzi and cleansing her body. It was as if she was bathed in a river of space, undergoing wondrous changes.


    The Peacock Crown silently emerged on Mei Gongzi''s forehead, and under the cleansing of the silver light, the originally golden crown began to turn tinum.


    In her consciousness, she felt like she had be a silver-white peacock, her form merging with the giant peacock before her. They danced gracefully throughout the entire silver-lit world, guiding and transforming the heavenly secrets into her own spatial world.


    The marvelssted for a long time, or maybe it was a short time? She didn��t know. But when she regained her senses, everything seemed extraordinarily beautiful. She could sense every subtle spatial change in the world.


    Not far in front of her, a magnificent feather gently floated. It was entirely tinum but emitted a blue halo, and the three eyes on the feather seemed to have three spaces rippling within them.


    The Celestial Plume was the Peacock n''s divine token. Mei Gongzi had held it before, but now it seemed somewhat different. It emitted a gentle glow and she felt a feeling of affinity toward it, as if it were her very own feather.


    She raised her hand and gently waved at it. The Celestial Plume silently flew to her, dancing joyfully around her. The eyes on the feather emitted brilliant streaks of light, making her vaguely glimpse into a distant future.

 Chapter 472: Three Secrets of the Heavens

    <h4>Chapter 472: Three Secrets of the Heavens</h4>


    Mei Gongzi focused her gaze. In the first eye of the plume, she saw herself dressed in splendid attire, standing high above with countless figures bowing below. In the second eye, she saw herself soaring into the sky, apanied by a figure radiating a blue glow thatplemented her brilliance.


    But thest eye suddenly turned dark red. As Mei Gongzi was about to look closely, an indescribable fear abruptly gripped her heart.


    "Ah!" she eximed, snapping out of the illusion.


    The Celestial Plume was still dancing around her, but the three eyes had returned to normal as if what she had seen was merely inside her own mind. But that was <i>not</i> how she felt; the vision had been more vivid than reality itself.


    Grasping the Celestial Plume in her hand, Mei Gongzi frowned slightly. What exactly was going on?


    The Peacock Great Demon King had once told her that beyond their mastery of space, the Peacock Demon n had another powerful ability: capturing the secrets of the heavens, and this was in fact the purpose behind the very first Celestial Dance. But in the history of the n, only their great ancestor, the Peacock Demon Emperor, could truly capture these secrets.


    Before passing away, the Peacock Demon Emperor had said that in order to gain ess to them, one had to gain the recognition of the Celestial Plume. So, had she now been acknowledged? Could what she had seen in the three eyes be these so-called secrets of the heavens?


    She didn��t have much time to ponder this; the next moment, she appeared outside the cave.


    There, the Peacock Great Demon King had been waiting for her test to conclude.


    His eyes burst with intense light as soon as he saw Mei Gongzi.


    At that moment, she appeared ethereal, as if she was real but also illusory, not living within space but being a part of space itself.


    "Did you seed? Did you receive the inheritance? How long did youst on the altar?" the Peacock Great Demon King asked urgently, somewhat losingposure.


    Mei Gongzi blinked and returned to her senses. "Quite a while."


    "Yes, yes! It really must have been quite a while; otherwise, you wouldn''t have gained the recognition of the Celestial Plume. I onlysted one-fifth of the way before being shredded by the spatial rifts. By my estimation, you mustst at least three-fifths to truly gain the Celestial Plume''s recognition and receive the inheritance. But in the generations before me, the best anyone managed was close to two-fifths. It seems you are indeed extraordinarily gifted! No wonder you grasped the basics of the Celestial Dance at such a young age. You used the Celestial Dance to endure the test, didn''t you?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded instinctively. She didn''t mention that she had actually passed the entire test. Before returning, her mother had told her to be reserved with the Peacock Great Demon King, especially in important matters, and although she did have positive feelings for her father, shepletely trusted her mother. Since the Peacock Great Demon King hadn''t asked, she would just go along with what he said.


    "Did you see anything in the Celestial Plume? The ancestor once said that when obtaining the inheritance, the first time oneprehends the celestial secrets, they can usually see most clearly. At least a glimpse of the future from one of the feather eyes."


    <i>One? Not three?</i> Mei Gongzi thought to herself, but she just went along and replied, "Yes, I saw myself in splendid attire standing high above, with many people bowing below."


    Hearing her words, the Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes lit up and eximed, "Good, good, good! Hahaha! It seems my child truly has the hope of bing a Demon Emperor in the near future! Our Peacock n has the hope of revitalization! Oh, speaking of which, you just broke through to the ninth order! Good!"


    Mei Gongzi was stunned. Then she focused and observed her own bloodline power. Unbeknownst to her, her cultivation had skyrocketed, and she had indeed stepped into the ninth order. Not only that, but the bloodline power within her had also transformed into a crystal-clear tinum color, as if her bloodline had undergone a radical change. Her affinity with space had always been high, but right now, it could not evenpare to what it was before.


    ***


    By the time she snapped out of her thoughts, Mei Gongzi was already back at her residence.


    On the way to the Ancestral Court, it had been the Peacock Great Demon King who teleported both of them, while she just observed the changes in space. She could now essentially grasp the changes brought about by her bloodline evolution. Her Peacock Crown seemed to have reverted to its golden color and she assumed it would only turn tinum when she used the Celestial Plume.


    In today''s battle, her opponent was honestly not very strong. Though she had a golden bloodline, a Golden Fox��sbat power was ultimately limited. Moreover, in front of a master of space like her, those illusion tricks were just that��tricks. Defeating her opponent brought her no sense of pride.


    That day, she had only told the Peacock Great Demon King about one of the scenes she saw in the three eyes of the plume. The first eye undoubtedly foretold that she could be the leader of the Peacock Demon n, possibly even the next Peacock Demon Emperor. But what did the visions in the second and third feather eyes mean?


    The second vision indicated that a blue figure would dance alongside her in the future, bing her partner, or perhaps...


    <i>Who was this person?</i> Judging by the figure, they should indeed be human; if she was to find a partner in the future, it would certainly be a human!


    <i>Who is he? Where is he?</i>


    And what about the third secret of the heavens, the one she couldn''t truly see, only glimpsing a dark red vision of destruction? What did it foretell? This vision weighed heavily on her heart.


    On the way here, the Peacock Great Demon King had told her that peering into the secrets of the heavens was not easy, even with the Celestial Plume. It required a great price, sometimes even life force. Their great ancestor, the Peacock Demon Emperor, had shortened her lifespan by peering into the celestial secrets, making her one of the shorter-lived Demon Emperors.


    However, when she became a god in the future, the Celestial Plume would resonate with her energy once more, giving her another chance to glimpse the future. This would happen with every breakthrough.


    In other words, if she wanted to see the secrets of the heavens clearly, she would have to wait until her next breakthrough, when she reached the god level.


    Meanwhile... he had also be stronger!


    She had watched Asura''s match today but failed to understand it, just like most others. She was absolutely certain it was not an arranged match, however. With the Golden Mammoth n''s status, how could they cooperate with others to throw the battle? And with a human, to boot?


    She owed him for being able to pass the Peacock Demon n''s bloodline inheritance test. It was certain that without the Fortune Stone and the Chrono Croc bloodline imprint within the Crystal Mirror, she wouldn''t have passed the test, or at the very least, she wouldn��t have passed it perfectly like she had.


    He treated her really well. She wondered if she could use the Celestial Plume to peer into his secrets and confirm his true intentions toward her.


    Tomorrow, she would fight alongside him. Compared to one-on-one battles, fighting alongside Asura made her a little nervous.


    Participating in thispetition was very important for Mei Gongzi. It was a perfect opportunity to test her bloodline inheritance through the rigors of battle.


    After the match, she didn''t see him because, for some reason, she didn''t want to interact with him too much. There was always a figure in her heart that frequently appeared, yet she had never been able to see him again.


    Before leaving Kali City this time, she had gone back to Kali Academy but still hadn��t seen that guy named Tang San. Tang San, Tang San, why did she always have a weird feeling whenever she thought of this name?

 Chapter 473: Enhancing Yin and Yang

    <h4>Chapter 473: Enhancing Yin and Yang</h4>


    At this moment, Tang San, the Asura in her eyes, was again climbing a Sacred Mountain.


    After leaving the Ancestral Court Square, Tang San did not return to his residence. He sent Big Cat to climb and try to gain recognition from the Sword Saint Pce while he went back to the Sunborne Sacred Mountain.


    The wondrous effects of the yin-yang energy had been vividly disyed in today''s battle. Among his, Big Cat''s, and Mei Gongzi''s opponents, the Golden Mammoth was unquestionably the strongest, possibly one of the top contenders in this elitepetition. Tang San hadn��t been sure how effective his strike would be back then, but to his surprise, the infusion of yin-yang energy had yed a decisive role, directly defeating his opponent. This showed how formidable the extreme yin and yang aura was.


    When the world was first created, yin-yang energy naturally existed. The bnce of yin and yang gave birth to life and allowed it to grow, and it contained countless mysteries.


    Tang San used to be a God King, so he naturally had an understanding of the mysteries of the universe, but in his previous life, his cultivation was based on his martial soul, which was fixed and could not be changed.


    In this life, however, he had the ability to absorb and use whatever bloodline power he wanted, which allowed him to experiment more. What delighted him most today was the qualitative change brought about by the fusion of multiple abilities.


    If this fusion could be taken a step further, even without being at the tenth order, it wouldn''t be too difficult to fight against ordinary tenth-order opponents.


    Moreover, mastering yin-yang energy would help himter in refining the Temporal Beacon.


    The Temporal Beacon was not easy to process. In addition to thews of time and space, more powerful forces were required to create it. With Tang San''s experience and divine consciousness, he could only partially do it, and he couldn��t tell how great that part was until he did it. Now, with the addition of yin-yang energy, he could undoubtedly get much better results.


    After paying ten naturae coins, Tang San once again arrived at the foot of the Sunborne Sacred Mountain. He stepped onto the first step and stopped there this time.


    Immediately, a strong yang aura rushed toward him, invading his body.


    Tang San quietly guided the yang energy into himself, attempting to channel it through the yin-yang energy vortex around his Blue Silver Emperor.


    Sure enough, the vortex directly devoured the yang energy, integrating it into it, causing the yin-yang energy within the vortex to surge immediately.


    What surprised Tang San was that although the energy he had absorbed was a hundred percent of yang, fiery nature, a small part of it was transformed into something else within the vortex. It didn''t turn into the opposite yin and gentle energy, however; what emerged was apletely different kind of energy, bnced and powerful. This energy was different from the internal energy produced by his Mysterious Heaven Technique and was clearly of a higher level.


    Others might not know what this energy was, but Tang San, who had once controlled an entire divine realm��and a high-level one at that��recognized it at a nce.


    <i>This is chaos energy!</i>


    Before the world came into existence, there was the primordial chaos. From the primordial chaos emerged the two pr extremes that were now known as yin and yang. This division further led to the birth of all living beings.


    Could the yin and yang energies merge like a soaring dragon and a roaring tiger dancing together and turn back into the original chaos energy?


    Although it was just a tiny amount, this chaos energy was incredibly precious! It was the most primordial energy, and it was immensely useful for any living being at any level of existence.


    The divine energy of the divine realm was a form of chaos energy. Yet chaos energy was on a higher level; in a way, it wasparable to a purified form of divine energy.


    The power of faith and offerings that a divine realm absorbed from the nes under its control was a source for this very chaos energy.


    If Tang San were still a God King, this amount of chaos energy would naturally be nothing to him. But now, as an ordinary human, far from reaching divinity, it was entirely different. This chaos energy was a massive boon for his physique and Mysterious Heaven Technique alike.


    Under this tremendous nourishment, Tang San had the opportunity to enhance his physique once more.


    He carefully collected the chaos energy, wrapping it with his internal energy, preparing to absorb and cultivate itter.


    The yang energy in his body began to intensify. Although the yin-yang vortex could absorb and draw in some of it, it became unstable as more extreme yang energy entered his body.


    Tang San didn''t dare let it remain in this unstable state. If the bnce of yin and yang was lost, it could break the imprint, nullifying all his previous efforts and causing severe injury.


    He quickly used the spatial power of the Peacock bloodline to iste the vortex from the yang energy he absorbed. Instead of blocking the yang energy, he let it merge into his body, using the fierce Lion-Tiger Golden Force to devour and guide it, gathering it near his soul core andpressing it as much as possible.


    Although the yang energy was domineering, with Tang San''s current abilities, and considering it was only the energy level of the first step, he could still handle it.


    This time, he didn''t stay too long. After absorbing andpressing the extreme yang energy to a certain extent, which took about an hour, he left.


    His next target was naturally Earthshade Sacred Mountain.


    Arriving at Earthshade Sacred Mountain, Tang San paid the entrance fee and again only stepped onto the first step. This time, he was even more cautious while absorbing energy.


    For each wisp of yin energy he absorbed, he drew out an equal amount of yang energy from thepressed cluster, shifting both together into the yin-yang vortex of the Blue Silver Emperor through the spatial power of the Peacock Demon imprint.


    The newly arrived yin energy was bound to cause some instability, butpared to the energy already in the vortex, it was much weaker and was quickly assimted. Tang San could feel his yin-yang vortex growing stronger.


    When disturbances arose during the assimtion process, the Chrono Croc imprint would be activated to slow down the process, giving them more time to merge.


    Sure enough, this method worked. The speed at which the yin-yang vortex within his Blue Silver Emperor improved was far greater than when he cultivated elsewhere. Tang San wasn''t impatient, however; he refined and merged the energies bit by bit. The greater the energy strength of the yin-yang vortex itself, the faster it would assimte the new yin-yang energy, forming a positive cycle.


    As a result, in about two hours, the yang energy previously absorbed from the Sunborne Sacred Mountain waspletely assimted and merged. This time, due to him being more careful to avoid losses, the strength of the yin-yang energy within his body had doubled by the time the fusion wasplete.


    Of course, this wasn''t the end. After exhausting the yang energy, he directly absorbed as much extreme yin energy from Earthshade Sacred Mountain before returning to the Sunborne Sacred Mountain to cultivate. He used the same approach to absorb some more yang energy.


    By midnight, Tang San had made two roundtrips. Although he had spent quite a few naturae coins, the yin-yang energy within his body had increased to four times its previous level, and he could now use it in battle without fear of it being instantly depleted.


    However, by this time, Tang San also noticed a problem. The yin-yang energy vortex was bing unstable due to its increase in strength, and the Pr Luck Domain did not help much in stabilizing it.


    After careful observation and judgment, Tang San discovered the issue. The reason for the instability was not a problem with his cultivation but that the energy of the Blue Silver Emperor, which served as a fusion catalyst, had been depleted. In other words, without the harmonizing effect of the Blue Silver Emperor imprint, the yin-yang energy was bound to be more and more unstable.

 Chapter 474: The Return of the Three-Five Combo

    <h4>Chapter 474: The Return of the Three-Five Combo</h4>


    To keep the yin-yang energy stable, it had to be cultivated to the level where yin and yang harmonized, where dragon and tiger fused. But for now, this level was still far away. Whether it was the yang energy or the yin energy, Tang San hadn''t cultivated an energy core yet. This required far more time and energy.


    When the Blue Silver Emperor''s energy was depleted, the only solution was to absorb higher-tier bloodline power from nt nymphs, replenishing it and enhancing its foundation. Otherwise, he would be unable to harmonize the yin and yang energies further


    It couldn''t be a nt nymph with either the yin or the yang attribute; it had to be something else. Otherwise, the imprint would be inclined toward one side, causing significant instability.


    <i>I wonder if I will face a nt-type opponent in my next match.</i>


    A second-tier bloodline would suffice; as long as he could absorb it, he could immediately upgrade his Blue Silver Emperor.


    One of Tang San''s goals in this tournament was to find suitable bloodline imprints.


    Among his bloodline imprints, the Blue Silver Emperor could be considered second-tier thanks to the yin-yang energy vortex. The Golden Roc and the Chrono Croc were both true-blue second-tier bloodlines as well. The Discerning Eye of Heaven, Lion-Tiger, and Peacock Demon imprints were first-tier. With three first-tier bloodlines and three second-tier bloodlines, he still had two slots avable, and at least one could be filled now.


    He had naturally absorbed the Golden Mammoth''s bloodline power, and he was keeping this bloodline imprint as a backup. But if he could absorb some bloodline power that matched his three second-tier bloodlines and could fuse with them, elevating them to the first tier, that would be ideal, paving the way for his future path to godhood.


    Tang San nned to absorb a few powerful bloodline imprints and then select andbine them in the best way possible.


    Returning to the hotel, he meditated and rested. He was in a great mood, not just because the yin-yang energy had increased significantly, as expected, but because he would be able to fight alongside Mei Gongzi tomorrow. The Three-Five Combo would return; though it was in another world, this feeling was genuinely fantastic.


    At dawn, Tang San awoke from his meditation feeling refreshed. The effects of cultivating with chaos energy were indeed remarkable. Although not much chaos energy was produced in the yin-yang vortex, it had a purifying and evolutionary impact on his internal energy, nourishing his body and increasing his physical strength. The enhancement even extended to his spiritual power, benefiting his sea of consciousness. If he could continue to use chaos energy to help his body evolve, his chances of breaking through to the god level would be much higher.


    He took a bath, neatlybed his hair, and changed into clean clothes��a white outfit, this time. He meticulously checked every detail of his appearance to ensure he was in the best condition. After breakfast, he returned to his room to brush his teeth, put on his mask, and head straight to the Ancestral Court Square.


    When he arrived at the Ancestral Court Square, there were already many people, though most were spectators entering the venue rather than contestants.


    Tang San didn''t know when Mei Gongzi would wake up from her rest, so he didn''t send her a message and just waited for her at the contestants�� entrance to avoid disturbing her.


    Big Cat didn''t have a match today, so he was likely resting or trying to climb the Sword Saint Sacred Mountain.


    Compared to yesterday, there would undoubtedly be more contestants today. Although not every participant in the individual matches would sign up for the doubles matches, most would. Coupled with their partners, the overall number of matches might be lower than yesterday, but the number of participants would certainly be higher.


    About half an hour before the draw began, Mei Gongzi finally sent a message through theirmunicator.


    ��Asura, I''m on my way to the square. I''ll be there in about ten minutes. Where are you?


    Hearing that familiar voice, Tang San instantly smiled as he replied, "I''m waiting for you at the entrance of thepetition venue. When you arrive, we''ll line up for the draw together."


    Mei Gongzi quickly replied, "Okay!"


    In less than ten minutes, Tang San saw her figure. She was dressed simrly to yesterday, with a hood on her head. When she saw Asura wearing white clothes today, she paused briefly before walking up to him.


    Seeing her stunning face under the hood, Tang San''s smile grew even wider. "You''re here. Let''s go line up," he said, pointing to the contestants queuing for the draw.


    Their human forms were not particrly noticeable among the many demon and nymph races. However, they still attracted asional nces.


    Many had closely watched yesterday''s individual matches. Asura''s match had seemed an awful lot like a fake fight, but Mei Gongzi''s powerful spatial control and the brilliance of her Peacock Crown had left a deep impression on many spectators. Moreover, she was beautiful and powerful��extremely beautiful and powerful. How could she <i>not </i>attract the spectators��gazes?


    In today''s doubles match, their appearance as a team naturally drew attention.


    The day before, Tang San and Mei Gongzi hadn��t focused much on studying their opponents because it was meaningless. It was an elimination round, and only the first ce in each group would advance to the final. So, they only needed to pay attention to the top contenders who would advance from the group stages. The other contestants were destined to be eliminated.


    Today''s doubles match format was simr to yesterday''s individual matches but with fewer groups��eight in total. Each group had about twenty pairs of contestants, so the total number of participants was, indeed, higher than yesterday. Yet fewer people came to draw lots than had signed up; those with serious injuries from the individual matches, who were unable to fight any longer, as well as those who prioritized the individual matches, had withdrawn from the doubles. This was despite the generous rewards for the doubles match, which had attracted many participants.


    Standing in line, Tang San and Mei Gongzi walked side by side. He was now about half a head taller than her, making them look well-matched. Mei Gongzi exuded a faint orchid-like fragrance. Although they were just walking together, without any physical contact, Tang San felt as if this was the happiest moment since he came to this world.


    He had never spent such a quiet time with Mei Gongzi like this before, and they were here as equal partners.


    At this moment, he felt a strange sensation in his heart. Perhaps it was all fate��perhaps fate allowed his lover to be reborn like this, and allowed his deep sorrow to turn into extreme joy. Perhaps it was fate that he could once more fight for the heart of the woman he loved.


    For some reason, he had recently started to feel that Mei Gongzi''s appearance was bing more and more like Xiao Wu''s. Perhaps when she fully matured, she would regain her original appearance.


    <i>My love, when will you truly return to my embrace?</i>


    Tang San had always been hesitant about when to confess his feelings to Mei Gongzi. He didn''t even know whether to confess as Asura or Tang San, which was his dilemma.


    Asura had done more for Mei Gongzi, but for some reason, Tang San felt she seemed to have a better impression of Janitor Tang. He still treasured that milk tea cup she had given him back then.


    He would wait a bit longer, at any rate, until they dealt with the crisis in Kali City. By then, both he and she should be adults, and that would be the right time to confess his feelings.


    Until then, he would always be by her side, protecting her. Besides himself, he wouldn''t let her have any other choice. Anyone who tried to take his wife would face his wrath!

 Chapter 475: Group One, Number Eight

    <h4>Chapter 475: Group One, Number Eight</h4>


    Mei Gongzi turned her head slightly, looking curiously at Asura. For some reason, in that instant, she keenly sensed a sudden burst of killing intent from him. It wasn''t directed at her, but she couldn''t tell who it was aimed at.


    Sensing her gaze, Asura turned to look at her, their eyes meeting. He smiled slightly. "What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing. Do you have any thoughts about today''s match? After all, we might encounter strong opponents," said Mei Gongzi.


    Tang San replied, "Well, I wanted to discuss our tactics yesterday, but after seeing the strength you disyed in your match, I don''t think it''s necessary. You''ve be much stronger since you left seclusion. I feel like you''ve reached a level where you can assimte with space. That''s impressive."


    "Assimte with space? You can sense that?" Mei Gongzi looked at him in surprise.


    Tang San nodded. "The spatial rifts you created in the battle seemed to split from your body. That''s what I consider the realm of space assimtion. It''s very difficult to achieve, but you can do it at such a young age! That inheritance must be extraordinary!"


    "Yes, it did help me a lot. But we shouldn''t be careless in today''s match. What if we encounter strong opponents like you did yesterday? And by the way, how did you do that yesterday? I mean, that palm strike."


    "Well, you know me. I tried to fuse several abilities and I transmitted my palm force directly to its heart, bypassing its external defense. That''s how I defeated it. It was somewhat careless, letting me get close. Otherwise, it would have been tough. The Golden Mammoth''s defense is indeed very strong."


    He indeed thought that the Golden Mammoth��s defense was useful, but after careful consideration yesterday, he decided not to rush the integration of the Golden Mammoth bloodline. He was concerned that any unforeseen changes during the process might affect today''s match. Nothing could interfere with the return of the Three-Five Combo!


    Mei Gongzi pondered, "Transmitting force directly into the opponent''s body? Is that possible?"


    Tang San nodded. "Not only is it possible, but you can do it even better than me, since you can manipte space directly. Think about it. Space isn''t just external; it can be internal too. I mean, isn''t there space within our bodies? And if there is, why shouldn��t you be able to control it just like any other space?"


    Hearing this, Mei Gongzi''s eyes lit up as if she had grasped something, and she carefully pondered the implications of his words.


    "When you have time, I have a simplebat technique we can practice together. It''s based on controlling spatial power and should be helpful to you," Tang San said.


    "Sure!" Mei Gongzi agreed. Asura always gave her a sense of mystery and strength. Even after her recent evolution, she didn''t feel her power surpassed his. And sometimes, his words were even more insightful than her father''s.


    It was their turn to draw lots. Mei Gongzi looked at Tang San, "You do it."


    "Okay." Tang San didn''t hesitate. This time, he didn''t activate the Pr Luck Domain but just subtly used the Discerning Eye of Heaven to enhance his and Mei Gongzi''s luck. After acquiring the Pr Luck Domain, his use of the Discerning Eye of Heaven had be truly seamless.


    He reached out and drew a lot.


    The lots were spread out, meaning they could end up in any group.


    "Group One, Number Eight!" Tang San handed the number card to the staff.


    It was the first group, meaning they would be up soon after the matches began. With three arenas, six pairs would go up at a time, and they would wait in the preparation area for their opponents, pair number seven. As soon as one match finished, they would take the stage.


    The two took their number cards. Since they were up fourth in the first group, they needed to go directly to the waiting area instead of the preparation area to avoid missing their turn if the previous matches ended too quickly.


    Walking side by side, Mei Gongzi suddenly asked Tang San, "Do you have any tactical ideas?" She trusted Asura in this regard since they had fought together before, and his strategies were always sessful against strong enemies.


    Tang San replied, "You''ve improved so much after your retreat that I''m not entirely sure of your currentbat strength. How about this? You go on the offensive, and I''ll support and assist you."


    "Alright." Mei Gongzi nodded in agreement.


    Developing good teamwork requires practice. Since they hadn''t had time to train together, they would have to rely on actualbat to build up their coordination.


    The draw proceeded quickly. The weather was great today, with bright sunshine and a clear blue sky. As the sun fully rose in the east, the first round of the doubles match officially began.


    Compared to the individual match, Tang San was more nervous about today''s doubles match. The opponents were unknown, and he was fighting alongside Mei Gongzi. He had to consider more variables than when fighting alone.


    In a one-on-one match, he was confident in his ability to adapt on the fly, but today''s match included a partner, and it was Mei Gongzi of all people. The return of their past-life Three-Five Combo meant he had to think about more than just winning. He needed to ensure Mei Gongzi wasn''t hurt at all and that she could feel his support during the match. Ideally, he would also leave a good impression on her.


    Mei Gongzi sensed Asura''s silence. She turned to look at him and asked, "What''s wrong? Don''t you have confidence?"


    Tang San shook his head and said, "No. I was thinking about something else."


    "Hey, we''re about topete. Focus," Mei Gongzi said, frowning slightly.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched as he thought to himself, <i>My mind is full of you, buzzing with thoughts. How can I focus?</i>


    As they spoke, the first three matches of the first round had already begun. In the waiting area, several pairs of contestants from Group One had arrived, waiting for their matches to start.


    Though Tang San and Mei Gongzi were in human form and inconspicuous among the many tall demon and nymph races, their presence had not gone unnoticed, especially Mei Gongzi''s, due to yesterday''s individual matches.


    Feeling eyes on them, Tang San turned to look.


    Not far from them, three other pairs of contestants had arrived in the waiting area.


    The gaze came from an extremely tall contestant, even taller than the Golden Mammoth from yesterday, standing over seven meters tall and very muscr. This was a bear demon with dark golden fur and fierce glint in its huge eyes.


    Its partner was peculiar, a stark contrast to the bear demon��srge frame. The partner was a small, deformed-looking humanoid, standing only about 1.2 meters tall. It sat on the bear demon''s shoulder and could easily be overlooked if not observed closely. Its head was unusuallyrge, taking up half its height, and its limbs seemed almost atrophied, very thin and small.

 Chapter 476: Spider Tree Nymph and Corpse-Devourer Nymph

    <h4>Chapter 476: Spider Tree Nymph and Corpse-Devourer Nymph</h4>


    Tang San thought carefully and identified a very rare n, a type of demon known as the Demon Infant. No one knew exactly what race the Demon Infant belonged to; some legends said they were a branch of humans, while others imed they were some kind of goblins. Their numbers were extremely few, and there were even rumors that they had gone extinct. Yet today, one appeared in thepetition.


    The Demon Infant was a terrifying existence with a top-level second-tier bloodline. Its body was very weak, and its vitality was correspondingly low, making reproduction difficult and pushing the species to the brink of extinction. However, in stark contrast to its frail body, its spiritual power was extraordinary. Born with a terrifying talent in this respect, a Demon Infant''s spiritual power could start at the seventh order at birth and would undoubtedly reach the ninth order upon maturity.


    However, legends also said that this n was cursed. No Demon Infant had ever broken through to the tenth order. Their bodies were too fragile; no matter how strong their spiritual power, they couldn''t withstand the cleansing of the tribtion lightning.


    Among the Demon Infants, there was a belief that if a Demon Infant could be a god, it would likely be the ruler of the entire world. Unfortunately, this remained only a legend, because no Demon Infant had ever reached the tenth order. Yet, within the Demon Infant n, this legend had reached the level of faith. Thus, upon reaching adulthood, every Demon Infant sought ways to break through, hoping to be a god and lift the curse of extinction from their race.


    In today''s two-on-two match, Tang San was surprised to see a representative of this extremely rare n. Its partner was a Dark Gold Demon Bear, from one of the dominant bear ns. Thisbination of sheer brute force and spirit was undoubtedly very powerful.


    Because of this, the gazes of the other two pairs of contestants were also focused on this pair. No one knew each other''s lot numbers, so their next opponents could very well be this pair. Undoubtedly, they would be extremely difficult to deal with. The Demon Infant''s spiritual power was so great that, purely in terms of spiritual power, it was not inferior to a first-tier bloodline. Everyone understood how significant a role such powerful spiritual power could y on the battlefield.


    Byparison, although some contestants recognized Mei Gongzi, they still subconsciously believed that the Dark Gold Demon Bear��Demon Infant pair would be stronger. In a doubles match, theplementarity of the pair was paramount, after all. There were far more teams with two contestants from different races than from the same race, let alone the same n, for this exact reason.


    After observing the two, Tang San''s gaze shifted to the other two pairs of contestants, and a slight smile appeared on his face. With luck on his side, he believed that his and Mei Gongzi''s opponents in this round would not be the Dark Gold Demon Bear and the Demon Infant, but another, more suitable pair.


    "Group One, Number Seven; Group One, Number Eight, please enter Stage One!" announced a staff member.


    As they walked toward the passage, the other pair of contestants also emerged, and just as Tang San had predicted, they were not the Demon Infant team.


    The contestants faced each other, and Tang San could clearly sense the solemnity in their opponents'' eyes as their gazes fixated on Mei Gongzi. It was obvious they had watched her match yesterday. They were naturally wary of a space controller from the Peacock Demon n, a true first-tier bloodline with highly versatile space control.


    Following the passage, they each headed to opposite sides of the arena. Mei Gongzi turned to look at Tang San, who nodded at her.


    In this round, they were lucky. Based on their opponents'' profiles, it was abination of second-tier bloodlines, nothing too extraordinary.


    Mei Gongzi and Tang San stood side by side on the stage, while their opponents also took the stage on the opposite side.


    Their opponents were a pair of nymphs, clearly from different races.


    The contestant on the left was about four meters tall, with pitch-ck skin. Its body had a somewhat humanoid appearance, but it had eight slender limbs with sharp spikes at the end. Its eyes emitted a sinister glow.


    The other contestant looked rather peculiar. Its entire body was a dazzling golden color, which initially made Tang San think it was a Golden Tree. But upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn''t, as itcked a strong life aura. Instead, there was actually a faint presence of death around it.


    Based on Tang San''s knowledge about the various nymph races, he could identify the ns of these two opponents.


    The one with eight pitch-ck limbs was likely a Spider Tree Nymph, while the dazzling golden one with eerie white eyes and a sinister appearance was probably the infamous Corpse-Devourer Nymph.


    The Corpse-Devourer Nymph was a kind of vine that was extremely poisonous and fed on corpses. The stronger the corpses it consumed, the faster it evolved. It had exceptional digestive abilities and was unrivaled in terms of corrosive poison within the nymph world.


    The Spider Tree Nymph was more adept at frontalbat, while the Corpse-Devourer Nymph excelled at ranged attacks, wide area attacks, and poison attacks, making it very troublesome to deal with.


    Both were second-tier nymphs and naturally had great strength. Theirbination was clearly designed with abination of close-quartersbat and rangedbat in mind.


    Tang San said to Mei Gongzi, "Let''s fight separately. You take the Spider Tree Nymph, and I''ll handle the Corpse-Devourer Nymph, okay?"


    "Okay." Mei Gongzi nodded slightly.


    "Let the match begin!"


    \With the referee''s announcement, Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s first coboration in the arena officially started.


    The Spider Tree Nymph moved first. It crawled forward, its eight limbs piercing the ground. Then, it vanished, transforming into a shadow that merged into the ground.


    The Spider Tree Nymph was known as the shadow assassin of the nymph world. Top-tier Spider Tree Nymphs were almost invincible in shadow-filled environments. Once in shadow form, its speed was simply incredible, and it could cover two hundred meters in an instant. In just a breath, it had already reached them.


    Mei Gongzi stepped forward, and a shimmering silver hexagram suddenly burst out under her feet, drawn by spatial rifts. She stomped down, aiming at the iing shadow.


    The Spider Tree Nymph sprang up in advance, its eight sharp limbs transforming into ck des in mid-air, shing at Mei Gongzi.


    Meanwhile, on the other side, as the Spider Tree Nymphunched its attack, the Corpse-Devourer Nymph''s stomach suddenly swelled like an inted balloon, rapidly expanding. The dazzling golden light it radiated turned into a hazy yellow aura surrounding it. Its expansion speed was tremendous. It was originally three meters tall, and just as the Spider Tree Nymph and Mei Gongzi began their confrontation, its body reached three meters in diameter as well.


    But at that moment, it suddenly sensed something was off. Its swollen body leaped forward like a bouncing ball. Where it had been just an instant before, a figure had silently appeared.

 Chapter 477: The Heavens Follow the Wishes of People

    <h4>Chapter 477: The Heavens Follow the Wishes of People</h4>


    The Corpse-Devourer Nymph leaped into the air, and the figure that appeared behind it followed suit, almost instantly pursuing.


    The "ball" spun in the air, and simultaneously, it opened its mouth, spewing a cloud of yellow mist. The mist carried an indescribable stench, enveloping the figure that followed it.


    Corpse miasma! And a highly toxic one at that!


    The Corpse-Devourer Nymph''s corpse miasma umted as it grew and kept consuming corpses over time. The more corpses it devoured, the higher its cultivation, and the more toxic the miasma became. It had a terrifying corrosive power, enough to melt even gold and iron. Moreover, the Corpse-Devourer Nymph could st the poison across arge distance and cover plenty of space��in this case, the battle stage.


    However, within therge cloud of corpse miasma it had spewed, the figure that should have been enveloped had silently vanished again.


    A jade-white hand suddenly appeared in its path, blocking its way.


    The changes happened very quickly, but being at the ninth order, the Corpse-Devourer Nymph had a keen sense of danger. It didn''t hesitate to turn in mid-air, facing its opponent. This time, it didn''t hold back. Its body suddenly burst like an overinted balloon, with a dull pop. A dense yellow mist spread out in all directions.


    Since it was now at the center of the arena, it was perfectly positioned to envelop asrge an area as it could with its poison.


    At that moment, a fierce tinum me rose, suddenly enveloping the exploding corpse miasma. It was as if a tinum light sphere had appeared in mid-air, forcefully containing the miasma within a five-meter radius, preventing it from spreading outward.


    The corpse miasma was contained, and as the tinum me swirled around them, both opponents disappeared.


    It took less than two seconds until the light sphere receded, and a figure fell to the ground out of nowhere. It was Asura.


    Asura''s left hand held an array disc, while the Corpse-Devourer Nymph hadpletely disappeared, leaving no trace behind.


    At this moment, the battle on the other side had also concluded.


    The Spider Tree Nymph''s eight limbs were incredibly sharp. Itunched a powerful attack when it emerged from the shadows in front of Mei Gongzi. However, what awaited it were numerous spatial rifts.


    The dense spatial rifts, with terrifying cutting power, instantly enveloped it, locking out any possible paths of escape


    The Spider Tree Nymph tried its best to counter with its speed and attack power. However, when it actually encountered a spatial rift, it realized that all its power was useless. Just a moment of contact and one of its limbs was severed.


    Just like when Mei Gongzi underwent her inheritance test, silver rays shot out, and all the space around the Spider Tree Nymph seemed to shatter into fragments, leaving it with no ce to hide.


    The remaining limbs simultaneously pierced the ground, not to attack but to allow it to escape, turning into shadows to flee. It needed to reunite with its partner beforeunching another attack.


    But at that moment, the surrounding space suddenly seemed to solidify, forcibly blocking the shadow. In the next instant, countless silver rays surged from all directions.


    The Spider Tree Nymph''s body was simply cut into bits. There was no blood, but neither was there anyrge piece left intact.


    <i>The match is over!</i>


    At this moment, the nymphs�� miraculous nature became apparent. Although the Spider Tree Nymph was cut into pieces, the ck fragments rapidly moved toward each other, seemingly trying to reassemble.


    Mei Gongzi frowned slightly but did not do anything to stop it. They had already won; insisting on killing the opponent would turn this into a beast-fighting, not apetition.


    Looking up into the distance, she saw Asura silentlynding; the Corpse-Devourer Nymph was no longer.


    Asura gave her a thumbs-up, and Mei Gongzi nodded back at him.


    This battle had been essentially effortless.


    "Group One, Number Eight wins," the referee announced the result.


    Asura approached Mei Gongzi, waving his hands to gather the ck fragments��the Spider Tree Nymph''s pieces were struggling to merge.


    He stepped forward, took out a fruit filled with life energy, crushed it, and infused the life energy into the opponent.


    At the same time, he flicked his other hand, and with a flickering silver light, a shriveled body flew andnded on the ground. Well, it looked more like a desated skin; the Corpse-Devourer Nymph''s once-golden body had turned earthy yellow and was twitching on the ground.


    The Spider Tree Nymph barely pieced together its cracked body. Looking at Asura and then at the twitching Corpse-Devourer Nymph on the ground, it rasped, "Thank you."


    Asura raised his hand to support it and said lightly, "It''s just apetition."


    After saying that, he called out to Mei Gongzi, and they walked off the stage together.


    The first round of the doubles match, victory!


    They fought separately, but both easily defeated their opponents, suppressing them throughout and giving no chance to fight back.


    In the eyes of the audience, Mei Gongzi''s battle was no different from the previous one. It was a bloodline suppression, using the Peacock Demon n''s powerful control over space to crush the opponent, leaving no room for a counterattack. If it weren''t for the nymphs'' strong vitality, if it had been a demon or a human instead, they would have died instantly.


    Even so, the Spider Tree Nymph was severely injured and would take a long time to recover.


    What truly caught the audience''s attention, including the VIP spectators, was Asura. Once more, no one understood how he had defeated his opponent.


    The white-hot light sphere contained immense bloodline power, but no one could tell what happened to the Corpse-Devourer Nymph after being enveloped by it. They could only vaguely sense the bloodline was at least at the top of the second tier, or even first tier.


    Then the match ended. Those who remembered Asura''s performance in the individual match were the most astonished. Asura''s victory over the Golden Mammoth had looked strange, as if the Golden Mammoth had intentionally thrown the match. But what about this match? Was it also a fake? If it was not, then how had this supposed human aplished it? And if it was... then all the more reason to be curious as to how he had aplished it.


    Mystery piques curiosity, of course. Sharp-eyed observers noticed the array disc in Asura''s hand: it was the famous and expensive teleportation disc.


    It seemed he had used the teleportation disc to instantly reach the Corpse-Devourer Nymph, teleporting twice to get close enough for an attack. In other words, closebat was his forte. If his victory over the Golden Mammoth in the first match had also been genuine and based purely on strength, then it followed that his closebat abilities were exceptional.


    This was the audience''s perception of Asura''sbat abilities.


    Walking off the arena, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but ask in a low voice, "How did you do it? What about the corpse miasma?"


    Asura replied, "The Corpse-Devourer Nymph is pretty dirty and smells too bad. I didn''t want it to contaminate you, so I got rid of it."


    In truth, hisbat method was simple: he had used the Lion-Tiger Golden Force to prevent the corpse miasma from spreading. During this time, he silently opened spatial rifts, using them to vacuum out the miasma within the Golden Force. He then sealed the Corpse-Devourer Nymph with spatial sealing while absorbing a significant amount of the Corpse-Devourer Nymph''s bloodline power.

 Chapter 478: Bringing Her Back To His Room

    <h4>Chapter 478: Bringing Her Back To His Room</h4>


    The core bloodline talent of the Devourer Nymph was devouring, though their method of devouring was somewhat dirty. However, this did not diminish the strength of their bloodline talent, as it was still a second-tier bloodline.


    Helping the Spider Tree Nymph at the end was, of course, not purely out of kindness. By infusing some life energy into it, Tang San ensured it wouldn''t die immediately. During this contact, he also conveniently absorbed some of its bloodline power.


    As the saying goes, the heavens follow the wishes of people. Yesterday, Tang San had exhausted his Blue Silver Emperor''s foundation while cultivating yin-yang energy. Today''s match allowed him to obtain bloodline power from nt nymphs to replenish and upgrade his Blue Silver Emperor, preventing the yin-yang energy from bing unstable.


    Just as he and Mei Gongzi were talking, they encountered familiar faces. The Dark Gold Demon Bear and the Demon Infant, whom they had seen in the waiting area, had also finished their match and wereing out from another stage.


    The Demon Infant sat on the Dark Gold Demon Bear''s shoulder, grinning. Itsrge head gave off a particrly sinister feeling.


    The Dark Gold Demon Bear''s eyes glowed faintly red, and judging by the blood on its bear ws, their previous opponents probably had a grim fate.


    The Demon Infant cackled at them, then made a throat-slitting gesture.


    Asura''s expression instantly turned cold. He wouldn''t care about this if it were just him, but the Demon Infant had directed the gesture at Mei Gongzi.


    "I hope we meet you in the next round," Asura said coldly.


    The Dark Gold Demon Bear didn''t expect the human to say this and let out a low growl.


    The Demon Infant''s shrill voice echoed, "Calm down. You need to stay calm and control your bloodthirst. We''ll meet them sooner orter since we''re in the same group and they seem to have won. On the stage, you can feast. Be good." As it spoke, it patted the Dark Gold Demon Bear''s head.


    Strangely enough, the formidable Dark Gold Demon Bear calmed down under the Demon Infant''s soothing.


    Asura squinted his eyes; he sensed a special connection between the Demon Infant and the Dark Gold Demon Bear.


    Mei Gongzi frowned slightly. "Let''s go."


    She clearly had no good impressions of these demons.


    "Alright." He just ignored them. As the Demon Infant said, as long as they continued they would meet eventually if they could continuepeting.


    "Stay and watch, or leave?" Asura asked Mei Gongzi after exiting thepetition area.


    Mei Gongzi replied, "Didn''t you say you had abat technique to teach me? Let''s do it now. Where are you staying?"


    Asura was taken aback. "To my ce?"


    "Where else? Do you think we should go to my ce? My father is there," Mei Gongzi said irritably.


    "Ah, right, makes sense, makes sense," Asura said hastily, overjoyed at the opportunity for such private interaction.


    Mei Gongzi looked at him suspiciously, seeing his obvious excitement. "You don''t have any ulterior motives, do you?"


    "No, no. I can''t even beat you. You''re so strong now. Besides, don''t you trust my character?" Tang San said with a smile.


    "You won''t even remove your mask to show me your real face. How can I trust you?" Mei Gongzi snorted.


    Asura sighed. "I have my reasons. Please understand."


    "Let''s go," Mei Gongzi said without furtherment.


    Tang San left the Ancestral Court za, leading Mei Gongzi back to the White Tiger Hotel. Many carriages were waiting outside the za, as today''s event had drawn arge crowd, making it a great business opportunity. Tang San rented a carriage and gave the hotel''s name.


    The carriage was small and enclosed, and Asura quickly smelled the faint fragrance emanating from Mei Gongzi.


    He wanted to say something but didn''t know how to start. Mei Gongzi remained silent, making the atmosphere inside the carriage a bit awkward.


    There was quite a distance between thepetition venue and the White Tiger Hotel. After a while, he couldn''t help but say something. "Why aren''t you talking?"


    Mei Gongzi nced at him and said, "Didn''t you say ''please understand''? What else is there to say? You know what I want to know."


    Tang San hesitated for a moment and then said, "Wait for a bit longer, please. When you be the leader of the Peacock Demon n and the ruler of Kali City, I''ll take off my mask and tell you everything. Is that fine?"


    Mei Gongzi''s beautiful eyes stared at him intently. "Will you help me get there?"


    Asura nodded without hesitation. "Of course."


    "Alright." A faint smile appeared on her pretty face, and she nodded lightly.


    "By the way, I asked you to help me find Tang San. Did you look for him?" she suddenly asked.


    Hearing the name ""Tang San"" really startled him.


    "Uh... I haven''t had the chance yet. After thispetition, I''ll look for him. Maybe he''ll be back by the time you return to Kali City. What''s your rtionship with this Tang San?" Although he knew he shouldn''t ask, he couldn''t help it, even if the truth might lead to social suicide in the future...


    Mei Gongzi thought momentarily and said, "A friend, I suppose. A little guy. He''s younger than me and usually sweeps the grounds at Kali Academy. He''s very nice and a bit shy, but for some reason, every time I see him..."


    She paused and looked away, as if reminiscing about something.


    He really wanted to ask her about her feelings for Tang San, and almost blurted out his thoughts.


    <i>I''m Asura, I''ve been so good to you, yet you wouldn''t even give me a milk tea cup, but you gave it to Tang San. Why?</i>


    <i>Could it be that fate truly works in mysterious ways? Theoretically, she shouldn''t retain any impressions from her previous life after reincarnation into another world. Yet, she feels differently about Tang San.</i>


    <i>Once thepetition ends, Janitor Tang has to return to his role quickly. Little Sweeper Tang seems to have a better chance than Asura, who fights life and death-battles for her.</i>


    "What happens when you see him?" Asura asked.


    "I can''t really say," Mei Gongzi shook her head, not revealing her true feelings.


    Asura asked, "What about me? Besides not showing you my true face, do you have any other feelings about me?"


    Mei Gongzi looked at him, "You''ve always been helping me, I know that. You also pledged that oath, so I believe that your intentions are honest. But ... I just don��t feel the trust I��m supposed to feelI can''t fully trust you until I see your true face and know your real intentions. That''s honestly it."


    Seeing her gaze, he felt an urge to just take the mask off and reveal his face. But now wasn''t the right time. Until the major issues in Kali City were resolved, Asura''s identity was more convenient for helping her, and he didn��t want to have to exin his bloodline issues for the time being.


    "I understand. But please believe that everything I do for you is without expecting anything in return. I will continue to prove with my actions that I am trustworthy," Asura said softly.


    A trace of disappointment shed in Mei Gongzi''s eyes. She simply replied, "Hmm..." and said nothing more.


    Upon arriving at the White Tiger Hotel, Tang San helped Mei Gongzi off the carriage. As they walked into the hotel, he asked, "By the way, where are you staying here in the Ancestral Court?"


    Mei Gongzi replied, "Family property."


    Tang San immediately understood. The Peacock demon n had produced a Demon Emperor before, so having family properties in the Ancestral Court waspletely normal.


    He led Mei Gongzi upstairs to his room.

 Chapter 479: The Mysterious Circles of Heaven

    <h4>Chapter 479: The Mysterious Circles of Heaven</h4>


    After closing the door, Tang San felt his heart race. Even though they were an old couple in his previous life, being alone with her in an enclosed space for the first time in this life made him feel flushed and warm.


    Mei Gongzi seemed to sense something as well. She turned to him and asked, "Are we learning the technique here? Is there enough space?"


    Tang San took a deep breath to calm his excitement and nodded. "Don''t worry, we don''t need much space. It can be done here."


    Mei Gongzi said, "Then let''s start. I need to go back soon to avoid my father asking questions."


    "Alright," Tang San nodded.


    After a brief moment, he told Mei Gongzi, "Try creating a spatial rift and let it stay in the air."


    Mei Gongzi nodded and waved her hand. A silver spatial rift quietly appeared in the air.


    Tang San said, "Watch carefully."


    As he spoke, he raised his right hand and traced a graceful arc in the air.


    With her keen sense for space fluctuations, Mei Gongzi felt a strange sensation as Tang San began drawing the arc. It seemed as if the surrounding space resonated with his motion in a peculiar manner, and it wasn''t just space; there appeared to be other energies mixed in. The arc he traced epassed the spatial rift she had created earlier, and then the spatial rift vanished like a line on a ckboard being erased. The severed space seamlessly healed.


    When Mei Gongzi first entered the room, she was somewhat cautious, given the situation of being alone with a man. Although she could feel that Asura had always been kind to her, it was normal for a girl to be cautious, and her emotions were somewhatplex.


    But now, all those emotions had turned into shock.


    She knew many methods of counter-attacks and destroying spatial rifts. After all, the space attribute, while powerful, was not invincible.


    However, she had never even imagined, let alone witnessed, something like what Asura had just done��casually erasing the spatial rifts she released.


    "How did you do that?" Mei Gongzi''s voice rose in surprise.


    Tang San exined earnestly, "This technique is called the Mysterious Circles of Heaven. The circle is the most harmonious and wless shape in heaven and earth. There is a saying:''Embrace the circle and guard the w[1]. The circle in this context represents perfection. It bes pure when we turn the surrounding force field, space, and time into a circle. Our goal is to master how to make this pure circle wless. The closer you get to perfection, the more all disharmonious existences within the Mysterious Circles of Heaven will disappear."


    Mei Gongzi didn''t fully understand what he meant but felt that it was profound.


    "Do it again," she said, releasing three spatial rifts this time.


    Tang San raised his hand and traced another graceful arc. Within this arc, the three spatial rifts disappeared as if erased.


    Where did these Mysterious Circles of Heavene from?


    In his previous life as the Sea God, Tang San inherited a divine weapon, the Sea God��s Trident, from his predecessor in the Sea God position. The trident came with a powerful set of thirteen techniques, with the most potent control move being Unpredictable Storm. This move could restrain everything and everyone, even the most powerful beings. Even God Kings would be temporarily immobilized by Unpredictable Storm!


    The Unpredictable Storm that Tang San had been taught wasposed of multiple such circles, and Tang San''s Mysterious Circles of Heaven was just a simplified version that allowed him to use one circle at a time.


    He had be able to use the technique once his divine consciousness had stabilized. As time passed, his divine consciousness had recovered and his and internal energy had increased; now, his foundation was strong enough for him to actually use Mysterious Circles of Heaven, though the full version of the trident technique would have to wait until he reached the god level once more.


    The foundation of the Mysterious Circles of Heaveny in the control of space and time. By watching Mei Gongzi''s matches, Tang San realized she had grasped the essence of space and could, therefore, begin to understand the mysteries of the Mysterious Circles of Heaven. He had no reservations about sharing this with his future wife, and increasing her self-protection capabilities was certainly beneficial given the dangers she might face.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi''s pretty face was full of disbelief as she looked at the space where her spatial rifts had been.


    "Can you still do it if I attack you?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Tang San nodded and said, "Of course, it''s meant to be used in battle, but it does consume a lot of energy. You can try attacking me."


    "Be careful then," Mei Gongzi said. She raised her hand and spatial rifts shot toward Tang San, although not too fast.


    Tang San traced a circle with his right hand and his left hand at the same time, creating two Mysterious Circles of Heaven. When she looked at them, Mei Gongzi felt as if they epassed the entire world. Instantly, the spatial rifts in the air disappeared, and more strangely, within this close range, she found it impossible to tear the space and create new spatial rifts.


    At this moment, the space seemed to have be perfect and wless. The entire space felt less like ake, where the toss of a stone would cause ripples, and more like the pristine surface of a diamond that could withstand external forces.


    1. This is tranted from the saying ��Ԫ��ȱ. It teaches the importance of focusing on core principles while epting imperfections. This reflects the bnce between striving for perfection and recognizing that achieving perfection is an ongoing effort. ?

 Chapter 480: Guiding Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 480: Guiding Mei Gongzi</h4>


    "How did you do that?" Mei Gongzi stopped her attack, never expecting that someone could counter her spatial rift in such a way.


    After passing the inheritance test, she recognized the space element and gained a new understanding of spatial power. Whether crossing space or manipting it, she had seen tremendous improvement.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had told her that their ancestor who ended up bing a demon emperor had only managed to pass about eighty-five percent of the inheritance test. However, with the Fortune Stone and the Crystal Mirror given to her by Tang San, Mei Gongzi passed one hundred percent of the test. This elevated her understanding of the space element even above her ancestors''. This foundation made her feel like she had be a part of the space element herself.


    But just now, when she released her spatial rift to attack Asura, the perfect circles he drew in the air somehow closed the rift she had unleashed. Everything became harmoniously integrated, and the peculiar transformation he caused was clearly closely tied to spatial power, but she couldn''tprehend <i>how</i>. That was the most unbelievable part for her.


    <i>Can it be that Asura''s mastery over space is greater than mine? How is that possible?</i>


    Purely in terms of elemental control, he certainly couldn''t match Mei Gongzi. After all, Mei Gongzi was the direct heir of the Peacock Demon n, and thanks to her inheritance, it was as if she had been acknowledged by the space element itself, making her akin to this ne''s avatar of space.


    However, Tang San, who was once a God King, had an understanding of space that far surpassed Mei Gongzi''s. His energy was nowhere near aspatible with space as hers was, but even though his ownprehension regarding space and time could not be called perfect, it was beyond even that of the most powerful beings in this ne.


    He had once controlled an entire divine realm; he had protected the realm from being swallowed by a ck hole, and led the divine realm to break free from the ck hole and return to a stable space. These were unimaginable feats for the beings on Fn, but he had experienced them all directly.


    During these experiences, he constantly interacted with the vast expanse of cosmic space, giving him an understanding of space far beyond what this world couldprehend. This was also why he could use the Mysterious Circles of Heaven even before regaining his god-level powers.


    Sensing Mei Gongzi''s astonishment, Tang San smiled slightly and said, "The mysteries of space are never just what we see and perceive directly. To maintain stability, every space requires a lot of energy as a support. This is true for our space inside and outside the Fn. What we need to do is to try to find the bnce point of this space. If you can grasp this bnce, no matter what kind of space you are in, you will be favored by space."


    Mei Gongzi, somewhat confused, asked, "The bnce point of space? What exactly is this bnce point?"


    Tang San replied, "It''s a feeling that can only beprehended, not exined. When you truly feel it, you''ll naturally understand. I believe that with the inheritance you received, you actually gained the recognition of this ne''s space. In a sense, you can even be considered an avatar of space recognized by this ne. Think of the emperors... Why can they be emperors? Perhaps it''s because, in one aspect or another, they are fully recognized by the ne, and are therefore considered the representatives of that aspect.


    "And speaking of that, if you are familiar with the abilities of the emperors, then think carefully. Isn''t there only one emperor representing each aspect? If there''s more than one, it means there might be a deficiency in that area and the ne requires more avatars."


    The astonishment in Mei Gongzi''s eyes grew. Over the past year, she had been training in seclusion with the Peacock Great Demon King, who had taught her plenty about space. He was a true master, far above her level, so it was natural that she had a lot to learn from him. But at this moment, she felt that Asura''s exnations seemed deeper than her father''s, yet at the same time made a lot of sense. And given these so-called Mysterious Circles of Heaven, it was clear that even her current level of control over space was not true mastery, and she had a long way to go.


    This sense of profound mystery made Asura appear even more impressive in her eyes, and she was now slowly developing a new feeling toward him��respect.


    "Then how should I find that bnce point?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Tang San replied, "Whenever you cultivate, you should immerse yourself in space to gain insight. Also, after tearing space apart, always mend it again. In this process of opening and closing, you will find the mysteries of space.


    "Sometimes, closing space is even more important than opening it because you must find a way to mend it. Even if it''s not difficult for you now, carefully sensing the changes during the mending process will help deepen your understanding of space.


    "The Mysterious Circles of Heaven technique, simply put, is aplete process of opening and closing space. When this process bes harmonious, a Mysterious Circle of Heaven is achieved. When we start drawing a circle, it''s like opening a space. When the circle ispleted, it bes a closed space. Within the scope of this circle, the opening and closing process can neutralize all attacks within range. In the future, if you can make it function independently, without needing to pay attention to it specifically, it can be your best defense, and at the same time a powerful control ability."


    Listening to his exnation, Mei Gongzi''s eyes grew brighter, as if she had caught onto something. "Aplete process of opening and closing space, isn''t that like creating a temporary spatial realm? Is that how I should understand it?"


    Tang San nodded and said, "That''s one way to understand it, yes. This is also the difficulty of the Mysterious Circles of Heaven. But since you are now an avatar of space and you have the potential to achieve perfect control of it, I believe you can do it with some practice. Let me guide you through an experience."


    As he spoke, he walked to Mei Gongzi''s side and said, "Stand with your back to me. Don''t worry, I won''t touch you."


    Mei Gongzi turned around as instructed, facing away from him.


    Being so close to her, looking at her long, beautiful hair and smelling her fragrance made Tang San''s heart skip a beat.


    He slowly raised his right hand, using his internal energy to guide Mei Gongzi''s right hand to rise as well.


    Mei Gongzi felt that as her arm rose, the space around it started to exhibit strange rhythms. It wasn''t tearing space, but it seemed like the fluctuations of space elemental energy were undergoing a new arrangement. In this process, it was as if a whole new world was being created. As the circle was gradually drawn, it seemed as if a door was opening in the emptiness before her, a door leading to another space. This door was harmonious and perfect, and the other space seemed vast and boundless.


    Throughout the process, the spatial changes were very peculiar. Compared to her usual method of tearing space apart, this moment felt more like truly integrating with space, working <i>with</i> it as opposed to forcing it to submit to her will. The space element, at this moment, seemed to be more harmonious.

 Chapter 481: Drawing the Circle

    <h4>Chapter 481: Drawing the Circle</h4>


    She had never imagined anything like what she was now experiencing. Even her father had never let her feel such beauty in space.


    In that instant, it was as if countless bizarre and colorful spaces existed within that circle, allowing her to see distant worlds.


    The strange sensation made her mind involuntarily recall the three secrets of the heavens that the Celestial Plume had once triggered. These mysterious fluctuations made her feel as if these secrets were ever so slightly rified.


    She saw herself in the first image once more, standing high above many others, yet this time there was a familiar figure beside her��a masked figure who looked at her with calm and warm eyes.


    This feelingsted only for a moment before it silently disappeared. Everything returned to the hotel room.


    Mei Gongzi felt as if she had gone through a journey in space, raising her understanding of space to another level.


    What she didn''t see was that Asura now had beads of sweat covering his forehead.


    He felt a considerable burden when using the Mysterious Circles of Heaven himself, let alone performing it through someone else��s hands. The burden naturally became greater.


    He stood silently behind her, however, not disturbing her as she entered a state ofprehension. At this moment, the distance between them was very close. He could even see the tiny hairs on her neck gently moving against her fair skin.


    He even had the urge to braid her long hair into the familiar scorpion braid.


    Once upon a time, his Xiao Wu had sat before him just like this, allowing him tob her long hair.


    Tears glimmered in his eyes.


    <i>My love, in this life, I will cherish you even more. God King, divine realm��none of that matters anymore. In this life, I belong only to you. I will guard you every moment. I will strive to be strong to ensure you aren''t hurt. I will shield you from the wind and rain. I am willing to give up everything else to protect you.</i>


    "<i>Haaah...</i>" Mei Gongzi let out a long breath, and her beautiful eyes became clear again. She turned around and said excitedly, "I think I understand��"


    They were already close to begin with, and when she turned around, they were face to face. From this distance, they could even hear each other''s breaths.


    Facing him so closely, Mei Gongzi was stunned for a moment. Then she saw the tears in Asura''s eyes, those sparkling tears, and his pupils with only her reflection in them.


    Mei Gongzi instinctively took a step back and stammered, "You..."


    "Sorry." Asura quickly turned his head away. "I was reminded of some old memories."


    The room fell into a brief silence, but at that moment, Mei Gongzi suddenly had a feelinging from deep inside her that the masked man before her was someone she could trust. Perhaps it was because of that glimpse of a heavenly secret, or maybe it was because of the tears in his eyes? Whatever the case, at that moment, a soft spot in her heart was touched.


    "Did you feel it?" When Asura turned back, he had already regained hisposure.


    "Yes. I felt the sense of stability you mentioned. Although I can''t fully grasp it yet, I think I understand a bit. The Mysterious Circles of Heaven is a technique and a way to mend space. Through the process of mending space, it triggers certain changes in space. The space element is drawn to this and naturally supports the process."


    Asura nodded slightly and said, "Your understanding is correct. Do you want to try again?"


    Mei Gongzi immediately nodded. "Sure!" She had just captured that wonderful feeling and naturally wanted to try again.


    Asura made a rotating gesture with his right hand, signaling her to turn her back to him again.


    Mei Gongzi turned around as instructed, once more facing away from him.


    He took a deep breath, fighting the mental exhaustion, and raised his hand again to guide her, helping her perform the Mysterious Circles of Heaven.


    Their movements were identical, and their figures seemed to ovep at that moment. Despite his physical fatigue, Tang San''s heart was filled with satisfaction and emotion.


    He continued teaching her how to draw the circles. Mei Gongzi might not fully grasp the Mysterious Circles of Heaven just yet, but this would greatly help her understand space, deepening her affinity with it. It wouldy a solid foundation for her future breakthrough to godhood.


    Circle after circle. This time, Tang San didn''t stop. He continued guiding Mei Gongzi toprehend and continuously perform the Mysterious Circles of Heaven, letting her fully immerse herself in their wonder.


    She didn''t know how much time had passed, but at one point, her right hand naturally traced a circle in the air, and she felt as if the space elemental energy around her was helping her of its own initiative.


    Yet at that moment, she suddenly felt her hand lighten as the guiding force silently disappeared.


    Then she heard a strange noise behind her. Turning around, she saw Asura staggering, about to fall.


    She was instantly by his side in a sh of silver light, supporting him before he hit the floor.


    He wore a mask, but it only covered his eyes and nose; the lower half of face was as pale as paper. Sweat had soaked his cor, and his breathing was rough.


    Mei Gongzi was rmed. "What happened to you?"


    Asura''s eyes were tightly shut, and he didn''t respond. At this moment, his vision waspletely dark, and a strong sense of weakness overwhelmed him. He could hear her voice, but he couldn''t muster any response.


    His spiritual power was severely overdrawn, making it difficult for him to control his body.


    Mei Gongzi quickly helped him sit down and transferred her bloodline power into his body. At this moment, she realized that guiding her in performing the Mysterious Circles of Heaven had been a tremendous drain on him. Yet, he hadn''t stopped until he was utterly exhausted.


    Asura was now weak, having even lost consciousness. Sweat continued to trickle down beneath his mask.


    This was the first time she had seen him so vulnerable. For a moment, Mei Gongzi felt at a loss.


    <i>He got himself into this state just because he wanted to teach me!</i>


    She propped him up against the wall, then quickly fetched a towel to wipe the sweat from his face and neck, continuing to transfer her bloodline power to help him recover.


    He appeared very serene now, but the tightly closed eyes revealed the pain he was enduring.


    At this moment, she only needed to raise her hand to remove the mask from his face, even under the pretext of wiping his sweat. However, she had no such intention at all.


    <i>This is someone I canpletely trust</i>, she silently told herself. Her gaze toward Asura softened.


    It didn''t take long for him to recover gradually. Although his spiritual power was significantly depleted, it was because he was unwilling to use his divine consciousness that he ended up in this situation. With Mei Gongzi, he did not feel the need to guard himself in any way.


    At this moment, he was in a very peculiar state. His spiritual power was exhausted, but his divine consciousness was helping him recover quickly. Although it was weak, his divine consciousness was acutely aware of everything around him.


    Through his divine consciousness, he could even see the expression Mei Gongzi had while looking at him, and the changes in her gaze.


    <i>Anything I do for her is worth it.</i>


    Letting out a long breath, Tang San reopened his eyes. He didn''t want her to worry too much, even though he wished to stay with her a little longer.

 Chapter 482: Master or Brother?

    <h4>Chapter 482: Master or Brother?</h4>


    "It''s nothing, just overdrawn spiritual power," he said softly.


    Mei Gongzi helped him sit up straight. "It''s my fault. I didn''t realize it would take so much out of you. Why didn''t you stop?"


    Tang San smiled. "You were in the best state ofprehension then. It would have been a shame to stop. How do you feel?"


    "I seem to understand a lot more now. It''s given me a new understanding of space. I can''t use it myself yet, but I believe that in the near future, when Iprehend more and have better control, I should be able to."


    She paused momentarily, then, with a slightly reproachful look, said, "And you call this a basic technique? If this is a basic technique, then what counts as an advanced one?!"


    By now, she fully understood that what Tang San had taught her was an extraordinary technique, a divine one even!


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "As long as it helps you."


    "It does," Mei Gongzi said sincerely. "I''ve never understood why you''ve always helped me and been so good to me, but thank you from the bottom of my heart. I never imagined that your understanding of space was so profound. I think you''re even stronger than my father in this aspect. How about I take you as my master? Pleasee back to Kali City with me and guide me."


    Tang San''s mouth twitched, and he blurted out, "Nope."


    Of course not! If he became her master, not to mention the weird seniority rtionships, how mortified would <i>she</i> be when he eventually revealed his true identity?


    Mei Gongzi looked at him suspiciously, seeing the fear in his eyes. "Why? Aren''t you already teaching me?"


    Tang San gulped dry. "Uh... There''s not much of an age difference between us. It''s not appropriate. I can teach you, no problem, anytime. But being your master, no way. I can''t take that title."


    Mei Gongzi looked at him deeply and said, "You said you would always help me. You know what I will face in Kali City in the future. If you don''t have a reasonable identity, how can I exin your presence to the members of the Peacock Demon n? Being my master is quite suitable. I can convince my father."


    Tang San hadn''t expected her to think of something like this, but she was clearly starting to ept him.


    "Being your master isn''t appropriate. How about you acknowledge me as your big brother?" Tang San suggested tentatively. A fraternal rtionship in name only would be good enough for all practical purposes. Although he was younger than her on this ne, he couldn''t tell her that, so he took upon himself the role of big brother.


    "Big brother?" Mei Gongzi was taken aback.


    "Yes!" Tang San immediately responded without hesitation.


    Mei Gongzi''s face stiffened. "You''re shameless!"


    "I''m a bit weak. Let me faint for a bit longer." Tang San closed his eyes, tilting his head as if about to pass out.


    Mei Gongzi looked at him exasperatedly but remembered how he had overdrawn his strength to help herprehend space. Her heart softened, and she muttered, "Fine, big brother it is."


    "Alright." Tang San immediately opened his eyes again, filled with joy.


    ......


    <i>"Third Brother, Third Brother,e here."</i>


    <i>"I''m here, I''ve always been here."</i>


    <i>"I know, I know everything," Xiao Wu said softly. "You deliberately came back a littlete, didn''t you?"</i>


    <i>"I''m sorry, Third Brother. I''m sorry."</i>


    <i>"Don''t cry! Today is a joyous day for a family reunion. Don''t cry! You were never as pretty as me to begin with, and you look even worse when you cry. Hehe."</i>


    <i>"Okay, I won''t cry, I won''t cry."</i>


    <i>"That''s right. Today is truly a good day. My final wish has been fulfilled, and our grandson is safe. Third Brother, being with you in this life, being your wife, has made me happy. I am extremely, extremely happy. I''ve never regretted my choice. Maybe I saved the universe in my past life, so I could meet you in this one."</i>


    <i>"We''ve been together for a long, long time. But I still can''t bear to part with you."</i>


    <i>"Even though I knew we had already returned, you deliberately kept the divine realm from finding this ce. You stayed by my side daily so I could hold on longer. But I pretended not to know because I wanted to be with you more and stay by your side. Third Brother, I love you so much."</i>


    <i>"But I still have to go. After I''m gone, I know you''ll be very sad. But you have many responsibilities. You must manage the divine realm well and take good care of our daughter and son. Be the head of our family. If you miss me, just look at this."</i>


    <i>"Xiao Wu..."</i>


    <i>"Living is the bravest thing. Death is just an escape. You must be a brave person. There are so many things waiting for you. Protect our children, and help Xuanyu with that divine realm as well. You have a lot, a lot to do."</i>


    <i>"Third Brother, I love you."</i>


    <i>"Do you remember the first time we met? Do you remember everything we''ve been through? Third Brother, I''m willing to love the entire world for you. If there is a next life, I will still be your wife..."</i>


    ......


    "What happened to you?" Mei Gongzi asked, her eyes filled with shock as she looked at Asura, who was sitting there with tears streaming down his face.


    His tears flowed down from beneath his mask as if he had utterly lost control of his emotions.


    Right after she called him "Big Brother," his tears started to fall uncontrobly. She didn''t know why, but seeing his tears caused a sharp pain in her heart as if it was being squeezed tightly.


    "I-I''m fine... fine... I''m just so happy... I remembered some things from the past." While he tried to find an excuse, he was still sobbing uncontrobly.


    Mei Gongzi didn''t know how tofort him, but at this moment, even though he was still wearing a mask, he seemed more real to her, and more human than ever. What did that mask matter?


    <i>What kind of past and stories does he have that made him cry like this just because I called him "Big Brother"?</i>


    After a long time, Asura finally managed to stop his tears. "I''m sorry, sorry for losing control of my emotions."


    Mei Gongzi softly said, "It''s okay. If you want to talk, I can listen."


    He gently shook his head. "It''s not the right time yet. One day, I will tell you, but not now."


    In this life, he had finally found her. But in this life, Xiao Wu was now Mei Gongzi, so he wouldn''t tell her about their past lives until she genuinely fell in love with him again. Otherwise, it wouldn''t be fair to her in this life. He wanted to win her back, not to make her feel as if she had to be with him due to some nebulous past connection. He wanted her to fall for him and be his wife again of her own will. Only then would he reveal the memories and love from their past life, ensuring she had no regrets in this life.


    He let out a long breath, and his emotions finally settled down a bit, though his eyes were still somewhat swollen. He looked at Mei Gongzi and asked, "Can you call me that again?"


    "Big Brother?"


    "Yes."


    "Big Brother!"


    ***


    Even after Mei Gongzi left, Tang San''s mind was still in a daze. The expenditure for the Mysterious Circles of Heaven had been worth it. Asura''s identity had finally brought him closer to Mei Gongzi, and he had finally heard her call him brother. Even though she wasn''t calling him "third brother," he was immensely satisfied. He had always wanted to give her all the best in the world, and nothing less.


    Not until the sky outside darkened did his emotions stabilize. Although his spiritual power had been significantly depleted and he hadn''t cultivated at all today, it was perhaps the happiest day he had experienced sinceing to this world. His whole heart felt as if it had been cleared and brightened.

 Chapter 483: Advancing the Blue Silver Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 483: Advancing the Blue Silver Emperor</h4>


    Tang San''s gaze became resolute again. He needed to be even more powerful. Only then could he protect his beloved in this dangerous world.


    Returning to the cultivation chamber, Tang San sat cross-legged and focused inwardly.


    He had devoured the bloodline imprints of the Spider Tree Nymph and the Corpse-Devourer Nymph in today''spetition. Both were ninth-order, second-tier bloodlines. Among the contestants in the doubles matches, they were rtively ordinary in strength. But for Tang San right now, they could hardly be more appropriate.


    The way he cultivated his Blue Silver Emperor cultivation was by integrating the strengths of various nts. With his affinity for nts and understanding of them, Tang San always tried to move in this direction. However, the nts in the Kali Academy store were limited in terms of bloodline tier, and he obviously could not make contact with strong nymph ns while in the Empyrean Dominion. Therefore, despite his efforts to find suitable nts, he had only managed to elevate the Blue Silver Emperor to the third tier.


    Now that he was absorbing the yin-yang energy from the Sunborne Sacred Mountain and Earthshade Sacred Mountain, the Blue Silver Emperor imprint could only serve as a catalyst for fusion and a medium that allowed theplementary state of the yin-yang energy to remain stable. And as his yin-yang energy grew stronger through continuous cultivation, its power was bing inadequate for this role.


    Without a good medium, the excessive yin-yang energy had started to show signs of rebellion. This was why he hadn''t dared to use it in today''spetition��he feared that losing bnce might result in a bacsh.


    The arrival of these two second-tier nt nymphs was undoubtedly a great help; practically, they had delivered him a big pile of charcoal in snowy weather[1]. When he used his fortune ability earlier, this was exactly the kind of opponent he prayed for.


    Having fortune on his side proved effective, allowing him to get what he desired. If not for the various events with Mei Gongzi earlier, he would have fused these two imprints as soon as possible to stabilize his yin-yang energy.


    The Spider Tree Nymph''s imprint was ck, exuding a sense of hardness and sharpness. It also had faint shadowy fluctuations, highlighting the characteristics of the bloodline.


    Tang San slowly guided it toward his Blue Silver Emperor imprint, where the yin-yang energy resided, and activated his internal energy to start the devouring process.


    Sensing something amiss, the Spider Tree Nymph''s ck imprint instantly became rigid, attempting to forcibly break free from the control of his internal energy.


    However, the yin-yang energy suddenly surged, and a powerful suction force pulled the ck imprint next to the Blue Silver Emperor imprint.


    The formidable yin-yang energy swirled, releasing intense fluctuations, and the powerful rotation immobilized the Spider Tree Nymph imprint.


    Intense energy was drained out of it and rapidly injected into the Blue Silver Emperor imprint through the yin-yang vortex.


    A blue light reappeared at the center of the vortex. As the Spider Tree Nymph bloodline imprint weakened, this blue light grew stronger, and the surrounding yin-yang energy swirled more tightly. At the same time, the flow of energy became smoother and steadier.


    <i>As expected!</i> Tang San was delighted by the results of this experiment.


    This second-tier bloodline imprint was, of course, stronger than the original Blue Silver Emperor. After devouring less than a third of the Spider Tree Nymph imprint, the yin-yang energy hadpletely stabilized, and the previously fragmented Blue Silver Emperor imprint was recovering. Compared to before, its color had be much deeper, a change clearly brought about by the Spider Tree Nymph imprint.


    The yin-yang energy swirled around the Blue Silver Emperor, bing increasingly fast yet equally stable. Although the yin-yang energy Tang San had absorbed in recent days was of the highest quality, its quantity was still limited. As the Blue Silver Emperor steadily advanced, reaching the level of a second-tier bloodline, he could finally exert proper control over the yin-yang energy. This imprint was no longer just a medium for fusion; it would be the core of his yin-yang energy abilities.


    Even the most potent energy was detrimental if uncontroble. And the more potent, the more dangerous it was. Now that the yin-yang energy was bing manageable, things were quite different. Tang San could not only use his existing energy better, but he would have no problem absorbing even more.


    Once the Spider Tree Nymph''s imprint fully integrated, the yin-yang energy appeared as a two-colored light wheel behind the Blue Silver Emperor.


    The deep blue Blue Silver Emperor in Tang San''s dantian resembled a gracefully swaying tree. Behind it was a dazzling light wheelposed of crimson and deep purple. In terms of brilliance, it could rival Tang San''s Discerning Eye of Heaven imprint.


    The Discerning Eye of Heaven appeared as an eye-shaped imprint, now pale gold, surrounded by a ck-and-white light wheel formed by the Pr Luck Domain. Both of these imprints with light wheels looked quite stunning.


    Although the Blue Silver Emperor imprint itself was a second-tier bloodline, with the addition of the yin-yang energy, it could not really be judged as such. The yin-yang energy was not the direct bloodline legacy of the Sunborne Nymph Emperor and Earthshade Nymph Emperor, butbined with the Blue Silver Emperor, it produced something not inferior to a proper first-tier bloodline. Moreover, there was still plenty of room for improvement.


    Tang San decided not to absorb the Corpse-Devouring Nymph bloodline for now. It would be better to wait a bit before absorbing it.


    The Blue Silver Emperor was the medium that preserved the bnce between the yin and yang energies. Conversely, when the Blue Silver Emperor fused with another bloodline, the yin-yang energy was the perfect way to ensure the imprints being devoured would be suppressed and unable to fight back. Now that the yin-yang energy had stabilized and the Blue Silver Emperor had surpassed its strength, he could absorb more yin and yang energy, which in turn would make it easier for him to devour another imprint. There was no rush.


    When the following day arrived, Tang San finished his meditation, and his cultivation had fully returned to its peak state.


    Because of his constant suppression, his cultivation level was still at the eighth order. However, with the absorption of the yin-yang energy and the fusion of the Spider Tree Nymph bloodline into his Blue Silver Emperor, he was now getting closer to the ninth order, and he felt that he would not be able to hold back for much longer.


    Today was another individualpetition, and then another double. If he continued to advance, the schedule would be very tight, and he would have matches every day. If he got injured, things would be increasingly difficult.


    After the first round of thepetition, half of the participants had been eliminated. But the remaining participants were undoubtedly strong.


    After breakfast, Tang San met with Big Cat and headed to the Ancestral Court za.


    Tang San noticed that Big Cat''s spirit and aura, now that he��d had his first victory, differed from when they��d just arrived at the Ancestral Court. He now had a sharper aura, and his gaze was more determined.


    In the first match, Big Cat had directly killed his opponent, one of the few deaths in the first round. Although no one would seek revenge, having a reputation for killing would draw more attention in thepetition. Additionally, his future opponents would likely not show mercy, fearing that if they didn''t go for the kill, they might end up being killed.


    "Brother Asura, you seem a bit different today!"


    Asura had noticed the changes in Big Cat, and Big Cat felt the same about him.


    In Big Cat''s eyes, Asura seemed to exude boundless vitality. His overall aura seemed elevated, and even his very presence and the minute amount of energy he unintentionally exuded made Big Cat feel a bit awed. Although Asura''s figure was much smaller than his, he felt that... his ce was behind, following Asura.


    Asura smiled and said, "Maybe it''s the effect of winning yesterday. It put me in a good mood."


    Big Cat chuckled and said, "I understand, I understand. It''s the power of love, huh? That Peacock girl is indeed charming. I feel my best when I''m with my Little Cat, too."


    1. This saying is tranted from the Chinese saying ѩ����̿, which means giving someone what they need most during a difficult time. It''s about helping when it''s most critical, not just when it''s easy. ?

 Chapter 484: Repulsion Domain?

    <h4>Chapter 484: Repulsion Domain?</h4>


    Asura didn''t exin further and changed the topic. "I feel like your Lion-Tiger Golden Force has improved again. I sensed it in thest match."


    Big Cat nodded and said, "During my training in Golden Valley, I gradually felt a sense of integration. Our Lion-Tiger n has characteristics of both the lion and tiger races. So my fused Lion-Tiger Golden Force should possess the abilities of both races, which I see it does. But this fusion isn��t so simple; I feel that it can offer some evolved abilities, so I''ve put a lot of effort into this area. The deeper I understand the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, the more I can sense some of its unique features."


    "Oh? Tell me more." Tang San also had the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, but his bloodline was acquired from Big Cat. When it came to understanding and using this bloodline, he certainly wasn''t as proficient as Big Cat. It was like how Tang San''s understanding of space far surpassed Mei Gongzi''s, but this had nothing to do with his bloodline and everything to do with his knowledge as a God King. When it came to manipting space and ying with spatial rifts, he couldn''t do it the way she could, even though he also had the Peacock Demon bloodline.


    This was a difference in fundamental aptitude.


    Simply put, Tang San possessed various bloodlines absorbed through the Mysterious Heaven Technique, but the ability he could wield from these fused bloodlines was about seventy to eighty percent of the original. He could achieve around eighty percent for those he deeply understood, while it might be closer to seventy percent for others. His advantagey in the diversity of his bloodlines, allowing them toplement and support each other. Now, he could even fuse and apply them to some extent. However, when it came to using a single bloodline, there was a gappared to the original of the same level.


    Big Cat held nothing back from Asura and said, "The very birth of my n was an absolutely minuscule probability. Their bloodlinepatibility is not perfect, so among a hundred lion-tiger couples, there can hardly be a few cubs. Our existence itself is a low-probability event. Moreover, something like the Lion-Tiger Golden Force appearing is even more unlikely. So I thought... Since these unlikely events actually urred, then could they have resulted in a mutation of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force?


    "And this mutation is precisely my ticket to ascension. See, I havee to understand what the Lion-Tiger Golden Force has that the lion and tiger races did not. It has an additional powerful ability generated due to the bloodline fusion, an ability that is the opposite of devouring and was the source of our previous bloodline conflicts. That ability is repulsion."


    Big Cat extended his right hand as he spoke, and a faint white light appeared. "Touch it and see."


    Asura raised his hand to touch it. Instantly, as his hand made contact with the white light of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force that looked exactly like his own, a powerful rebound force emerged. This rebound forcebined the Lion-Tiger Golden Force and Asura''s strength. He hadn��t exerted much power, but his spiritual power was strong enough to tell what was going on.


    <i>I see... the opposite of devouring is repulsion, and the Lion-Tiger Golden Force has both properties! How peculiar!</i>


    Asura asked in surprise, "How did you do this?"


    Big Cat said, "It��s simply reversing the devouring process. I kept experimenting until it worked. I never expected that the bloodline conflict issue that troubled us could result in such an effect after the bloodlines fused. The repulsion ability can absorb the opponent''s power and add it to my own to create a strong rebound. It''s not just using their own strength against them, butbining it with mine and <i>then</i> bouncing it back. The devouring effect is of course more useful when the opponent uses some kind of energy I want to absorb. But if I can��t or I don''t want to do that, I can use repulsion to reflect it back and let them suffer the consequences of their own attacks.


    "Devouring is better for enhancing attacks, while repulsion is suited for defense. When the Lion-Tiger Golden Force is used for repelling things, the energy consumption is lower than when it��s used for devouring, and there''s no concern about indigestion, like I might get from devouring a kind of energy I can��t properly absorb. Also, I can restrict the repelling effect to a certain area. I suspect that once I reach the tenth order, I should have a domain ability rted to repulsion. By then, even if my opponent is stronger, they might not be able to defeat me."


    Hearing this, Asura''s eyes lit up, and he suggested a possibility, "I see, so a repulsion domain. That must be very powerful, but have you consideredbining devouring and repulsion? Devour one, repel the next one. Wouldn''t that make an attack three times as powerful as the opponent''s? I mean, twice the opponent''s power plus your powerbined."


    Now, it was Big Cat''s turn for his eyes to light up. "Yeah! Why didn''t I think of that?" He pped his hands, his excitement rising.


    <i>Right, who says I can��t use the two abilities inbination? I can devour the opponent''s first attack, then use repulsion on their next attack and incorporate the devoured power into the repulsion. This will make the attack far more powerful than just my own power. </i>


    Just thinking about it was terrifying.


    "Practice it when you go back, but don''t try to use it today! Save it as a trump card," Asura said with a chuckle.


    "Got it! Haha, you''re smart as always." Big Cat rubbed his hands eagerly. If it weren''t for the uing match, he would have wanted to find a ce to try it immediately.


    "Big Brother Asura, are you there?" At that moment, a pleasant voice came through Asura''smunicator.


    That "Big Brother" made his knees a little weak. Although Mei Gongzi''s tone felt somewhat awkward and unnatural, and she was clearly not used to such a form of address, he was delighted to hear it.


    "I''m almost there with Big Cat. How about you?" Asura replied softly.


    Big Cat rubbed his own arms and said, "Brother, you''re giving me goosebumps! Are you possessed? Did a split personality take over?"


    Asura red at him, while Mei Gongzi''s voice came through themunicator.


    "Yes, I''m almost there, too. After returning yesterday, I practiced for half the night, and I feel that I understand space better. It''s better to focus on protection rather than destruction. This way, it fights back a lot less when I try to control it. This change in mindset is really important to me. Thank you."


    Tang San chuckled, "No thanks needed. That''s because you''re smart. Others might not understand, no matter how much I exin. Our Little Mei is truly abination of beauty and wisdom."


    "Mm-hmm, right... See youter." Mei Gongzi''s face reddened slightly from his praise, and she felt that Asura''s mood seemed quite different today.


    Big Cat quickened his pace, trying to distance himself from the dumbass causing him goosebumps.


    After ending the call, Tang San''s face broke into a silly grin. It was truly wonderful to see Mei Gongzi every day.


    Catching up with Big Cat, he noticed the Lion-Tiger��s odd expression and tried to exin. "Please try to understand. Uh... I mean, this is all new to me."


    "Alright, whatever you say," Big Cat responded with a teasing look, a far cry from the decisive Lion-Tiger Sword Saint on the battlefield.


    They arrived at the Ancestral Court za and found that not only had people <i>not</i> gotten bored, but the sea of spectators seemed even denser.


    Everyone knew that theter matches would be more exciting and intense, since the remaining contestants were the absolute cream of the crop. Naturally, they were even more eager to see who woulde out on top and how.


    Asura and Big Cat entered the waiting area, awaiting the start of the matches.


    Asura stood in the corner, behind Big Cat. With Big Cat''s imposing figure and the fearsome reputation from the first round, attention on him was minimal, just as he preferred.


    Soon, Mei Gongzi arrived as well. She joined Asura and Big Cat in their waiting area this time. Since it didn''t matter where she waited for the match to start, she chose to be with them. She was in the ninth group, so her match would beter.

 Chapter 485: Preparation for the Second Round

    <h4>Chapter 485: Preparation for the Second Round</h4>


    "Over here." Tang San quickly waved her over, guiding her to his side.


    Seeing him, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but smile.


    The Mysterious Circles of Heaven had be a medium that brought them closer. After attempting and practicing it, Mei Gongzi increasingly felt the profoundness of this divine technique. It was not just a technique, in fact, but a way to cultivate spatial abilities; the help it provided her felt almost as significant as her ancestral inheritance.


    He had such a precious ability and taught her without reservation, and he even pushed himself to the point of fainting while guiding her. It was impossible not to be moved. Having such a brother was lovely, especially since she had seen through the heavenly secret that he would always be by her side to help her and might even be the ruler of Kali City in the future.


    Mei Gongzi came over and stood beside Asura. "Hi... Big Brother."


    He immediately beamed. He resisted the urge to hug her. "You didn''t stay up toote to cultivate, did you?"


    Mei Gongzi shook her head. "No, don''t worry. I rested and meditated at midnight, since there was a match today. I spent most of yesterday thinking about the integration with space. Through what you taught me, I realized that since space recognizes me, I should take care of it better, not just use it. This change in perspective is particrly important to me. Although it''s only been a day, I feel I''ve gotten closer to understanding space."


    He gave a thumbs-up. "Your gut feeling is right. Keep cultivating in this direction, and you''ll gradually grasp the true essence of space."


    Mei Gongzi responded with a hum.


    She had never been confident about inheriting the position of City Lord of Kali City and the leader of the Peacock n. After all, she had human blood.


    <i>Will the vast Peacock Demon n acknowledge me even though I have the Golden Crown?</i>


    Moreover, Kali City housed other races. The Ancestral Court had the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, who even her father couldn''t defeat, and the Ancestral Court coveted Kali City as well.


    After glimpsing that heavenly secret, however, she saw the possibility of her dream bing a reality, giving her more confidence. Learning the Mysterious Circles of Heaven and passing the ancestral inheritance test naturally deepened her confidence. However, she also knew that she needed greater strength to truly control Kali City, and reaching godhood was crucial. Tang San''s Mysterious Circles of Heaven gave her a glimpse of the boundary to the god level, showing her a path. This guidance was immensely helpful.


    "Big Brother, do you know who your opponent is today?" Mei Gongzi asked softly.


    Asura shook his head. "No, I don''t. Not that it matters," he said casually, causing Big Cat to turn and look at him with a raised eyebrow.


    "Stay humble, stay humble! You might run into a strong opponent again," Big Cat teased him.


    In thest round, Asura''s opponent was the mighty Golden Mammoth. Winning wouldn''t have been easy if it hadn��t been for a clever strategy.


    <i>Who will I face in this round? If it''s a member of a strong n, it might not be an easy fight!</i>


    He smiled, "No matter who the opponent is, they can''t stop me."


    His attitude toward everything had changed now that his rtionship with Mei Gongzi rapidly progressed. He became more positive and gradually showed a bit of an edge.


    Mei Gongzi said, "Then I''ll be watching you. Be careful."


    She had confidence in Asura. Yesterday''s Mysterious Circles of Heaven showed her more of Asura''s depth. Just that one move was enough to counter her spatial rift. With such strength, his chances of defeating his opponent were very high.


    "Mm." Tang San nodded.


    As they spoke, the second round of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition solo matches had begun. The first group of contestants was already entering the stage.


    Tang San had Mei Gongzi meditate and rest beside him, maintaining her best condition and told her he would call her when it was his turn to go on stage.


    "It''s a pity Little Cat isn''t a noble. Otherwise, she would be here topete, too. Seeing you and Mei Gongzi together makes me miss her," Big Cat transmitted to Asura.


    Asura rolled his eyes and said, "You two parted ways this morning. You''ll see her again after the match. By the way, how''s Little Cat''s condition?"


    Big Cat said, "She''s in great shape now. Maybe it''s because her bloodline conflict was so severe, but once that problem was resolved, her cultivation advanced rapidly. I think her progress is even faster than mine. Plus, she can now use the repulsion trait of the Lion Tiger Golden Force. I think it won''t be long before she reaches the ninth order. Her talent was actually greater than mine when she was young, but the severe bloodline conflict held her back."


    "That''s good. Now that the bloodline conflict is no longer an issue, things will go better and better. Your Lion-Tiger n is naturally strong. During your match that day, your bloodline heavily suppressed your opponent��s. In this regard, the pure lion or tiger races simply don��t have this kind of dominance," Asura said.


    Big Cat sighed and said, "The benefits only became apparent once the fusion of the two bloodlines and the conflict issue were resolved. It was indeed a qualitative improvement. It''s just a pity that so many of our ancestors weren''t lucky enough to meet you."


    Tang San patted his shoulder and said, "Don''t overthink it. If you lead the Lion-Tiger n to prominence, showing all those who looked down on you your strength and establishing the Lion-Tiger n at the pinnacle of the Empyrean Dominion, that will be enough to honor your ancestors."


    "I will. That''s also why I participated this time," Big Cat said, clenching his fists.


    Although today''s matches were half as many as the first day, they took noticeably more time per match. Those who made it to the second round were all the top contenders from the first round, after all. The frequency of intense shes increased significantly. After the experience from the first round, everyone became more cautious in their battles.


    While strength was critical, performance during the fight was equally crucial. The first round had its share of unexpected upsets. For instance, Tang San''s match was seen as an upset for the Golden Mammoth n and even considered a possibly rigged match.


    Tang San didn''t rest but continued to watch the matches closely. There was no better opportunity than this tournament to understand the characteristics of the powerful demon and nymph ns.


    He also carefully observed which bloodline imprints would be most suitable for him. He set a goal for himself: when he attempted to reach the tenth tier, he needed to have nine first-tier imprints ready. He already had three first-tier imprints and three second-tier imprints, and apart from the slot upied by Crystalline, he still had a free one.


    That little one had been asleep ever since the Hell Garden trip and hadn''t woken up. It seemed like a very peaceful sleep.


    Last night, Tang San intended to fuse with the Golden Mammoth imprint to enhance his physical strength. But when he prepared to do so, he suddenly realized Crystalline was upying a slot, which made him abandon the idea. He still needed to save a slot for an imprint he believed would be more beneficial. Although the Golden Mammoth was good, it hadn''t moved him enough to take in the imprint without hesitation.


    Another option was to break through to the ninth order, gaining an extra imprint slot. He wasn''t hurrying to break through, however; the more he umted andpressed, the more significant the improvement would be after the breakthrough. He was easily on par with any ninth-order expert in terms of both bloodline and spiritual power, so he would wait until he simply couldn��t hold back anymore.

 Chapter 486: What Kind Of Luck Is This?

    <h4>Chapter 486: What Kind Of Luck Is This?</h4>


    The matches proceeded one after another, and today''s matches were even more intense, with more contestants getting injured. Some fought to exchange injuries for victory, but such contestants would quickly run into trouble in the next round.


    Finally, it was time for the third group again. Tang San gave Mei Gongzi a heads-up and headed to the waiting area.


    Half of the third group had already been eliminated in the previous round. ording to the order, he would be the second to go on stage this round because he was number six. Naturally, his opponent would be one of the winners as well.


    In the waiting area, other contestants were waiting to enter. Among them was someone Tang San had seen on the first day of thepetition��the third contestant from the third group. This contestant was over three meters tall and was from a n with a second-tier bloodline. In the first round, it had defeated another second-tier bloodline. They were both fortunate to have avoided the Golden Mammoth Mao Wenwu, but of course, only one of them could pass the first round.


    At this moment, the first-round victor''s expression turned peculiar upon seeing Tang San. Tang San''s victory in that match surprised all the contestants. It was now pondering how Tang San had won. However, since the matches proceeded in sequential order, its opponent was the winner between the first and second contestants of the third group, which means it wouldn''t face Tang San. Only if it won this round could it meet Tang San in the next round, and that was on the premise that Tang San won as well.


    Tang San also observed the contestants in the waiting area, trying to identify his opponent. This three-meter-tall second-tier bloodline contestant was not his opponent. Last time, he hadn''t paid particr attention to the other winners of the third group. Apart from the third contestant, two others were waiting there, clearly the opponents for him and the third contestant.


    These two had quite different appearances. One looked almost identical to a human male; if Tang San couldn''t subtly sense from the aura that he wasn''t human, he might have genuinely been fooled. This contestant had short, fiery red hair, stood about 1.9 meters tall, had a straight nose and square mouth, and exuded a bright and warm aura.


    The other was an unidentifiable demon of a race Tang San had never seen before. Standing around 2.5 meters tall, its skin had ck markings, its head was somewhat elongated, and its eyes were narrow, giving off a sinister and dangerous vibe.


    <i>Which of these two will be my opponent?</i> Tang San didn''t dare use his divine consciousness to probe here, as there were too many god-level powerhouses in the Ancestral Court. If his secret of possessing divine consciousness were discovered, it would cause big trouble, and even more so since he was not at the tenth tier.


    The four of them were observing each other. They wouldn''t know who their opponents were unless they revealed their numbers, so Tang San was only sure that his opponent should be one of these two.


    At this moment, the staff''s announcement came.


    "Group Three Number One, Number Three, Number Six, Number Seven, enter the arena for your matches."


    Everyone��s face turned serious, and the atmosphere became tense. Under the staff''s guidance, they each walked toward different directions of the arena.


    Tang San arrived at one side of the arena and was assigned to the second match stage. Following the staff''s indication, he ascended the stage.


    As he ascended the stage, his opponent stepped up on the other side of the second match stage.


    It was the contestant who had fiery red hair and looked almost indistinguishable from a human.


    There were too many races and ns among the demons and nymphs. Even after all the studying he��d done at Redemption Academy, Tang San still couldn''t remotely recognize them all. He didn''t know which race or n this opponent belonged to. However, judging from his aura, he was clearly a difficult opponent to deal with. Among the three contestants earlier, the one Tang San least wanted to face was this one.


    The opponent was also observing Tang San; he appeared very calm, but his eyes had turned dark red at some point.


    "The match begins," announced the referee, standing at the edge of the stage.


    In the waiting area, upon learning that Tang San''s match was on the second stage, Big Cat and Mei Gongzi moved to another waiting area for a better view of the match.


    "Which race is Brother Asura''s opponent from?" Big Cat asked, a bit puzzled. Not only did Tang San fail to identify the opponent''s race, but in spite of his significantly greater knowledge and experience, Big Cat also had no clue.


    Mei Gongzi''s expression was somewhat serious. "Generally, higher-level demons and nymphs also appear in human form. Luck is not on his side today! Thest match was against a Golden Mammoth, and regardless of this opponent''s race, I''m certain he has a first-tier bloodline. The specific race will only be clear once the fight starts."


    "Is he that unlucky?"


    The proportion of first-tier bloodline contestants wasn''t high, especially in the early stages of the knockout rounds. Yet even so, Tang San had faced first-tier opponents in two consecutive matches! Moreover, as thepetition progressed, the likelihood of facing first-tier bloodlines would increase, since only the strong remained; was it his fate to keep fighting tough opponent after tough opponent?


    At this moment, the referee had already announced the start of the match, and the battle was about to begin.


    Tang San raised his left hand, holding the teleportation array disc in his palm. Although he had the Peacock Demon bloodline, so he didn��t need it, he <i>did</i> need an excuse, since he was clearly not a member of the n. It also served as an advertisement for his teleportation array disc.


    One victory with it might not mean much, but how about multiple? Especially if he advanced out of the group stage, it would attract attention, which would be beneficial for increasing the price of the teleportation array discs. Since he chose topete, he aimed to gain multiple advantages simultaneously.


    Two hundred meters away from Tang San, his opponent stepped forward. In the next moment, an intense red light surged from his body. Even from this distance, Tang San could feel the change in air temperature.


    The young male with short red hair extended his arms to his sides. Instantly, thick vines burst out from his back and quickly grew out, extending behind him and above his head like dark-red serpents.


    Large crimson flowers began to bloom on these vines. The petals opened, and the centers were dark red. Within a few moments, dozens ofrge flowers adorned the vines.


    In the waiting area, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but exim, "A Scorching Sunflower!"


    Upon hearing this, Big Cat''s entire body shook, and he said in surprise, "Are you referring to the Sunborne Nymph Emperor''s original n?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded solemnly, her eyes showing signs of tension.


    The Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor was the foremost of the Nymph Emperors in the Solstice Empire, the absolute most powerful existence. However, while its bloodline was something any nymph would long to acquire, it was simply not replicable.


    In a sense, it was simr to the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor of the past. The difference was that the Rainbow Deer Demon Emperor was the result of an extremely potent mutation of a single low-level bloodline. The Aetherhorn Deer Demon lineage was not truly powerful; it was only exceptional in spiritual power.


    In contrast, the Sunborne Nymph Emperor''s background was much more noble.


    Though it was reportedly a hybrid, there had to be an original race used as a base for grafting other bloodlines. And before acquiring bloodline traits of other races, the Sunborne Nymph Emperor''s original bloodline was that of the Scorching Sunflowers, a powerful first-tier n. In the past, they had even produced a Scorching Sunflower Nymph Emperor.

 Chapter 487: The Terrifying Scorching Sunflower

    <h4>Chapter 487: The Terrifying Scorching Sunflower</h4>


    At that time, the Scorching Sunflower Emperor ranked rtively low among the Nymph Emperors. However, when the Sunborne Nymph Emperor''s bloodline mutated and allowed it to achieve the status of Nymph Emperor, its power surpassed all others of its kind, and it became the top existence in the Solstice Empire.


    After bing an emperor, the Sunborne Nymph Emperor always hoped to cultivate the Scorching Sunflower bloodline in order to reproduce its own, but it never seeded. This did not affect its care for the n, so the Scorching Sunflower n remained one of the strongest in the Solstice Empire. Of course, the fact that such a powerful n had sent this person to participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition indicated that the contestant was one of their best seedlings.


    In the first round, Tang San encountered the descendant of an emperor, a demon from the Golden Mammoth n that had the most potent defensive abilities of all demons. Now, he faced the Scorching Sunflower in the second round. His luck couldn''t be described as anything but terrible.


    Tang San had naturally never met anyone from the Scorching Sunflower n, but he had heard of them. So, when the opponent activated the Scorching Sunflower bloodline, he recognized it. His lips twitched. He hadn''t used his fortune blessing today��was he now enduring the misfortune that came with using the Celestial Fox abilities all the time?


    A ninth-order powerhouse with a top-tier bloodline wouldn''t back down even against a regr tenth-order opponent. Just as he could defeat the Ice Maiden n leader, Huang Bingbing, he believed the strong members of top ns could challenge god-level opponents. Undoubtedly, the representative of the Scorching Sunflower n was one of them.


    While Tang San was pondering, the other half of the arena had turned into a world of zing fire. The temperature continued to rise, and more crimson sunflowers were growing on the vines sprouting from his opponent. Based on the opponent��s aura, his bloodline power seemed to be somehow beyond the peak of the ninth order, although it was clear that he hadn''t ascended yet.


    Tang San was speechless. Defeating this opponent would not be easy.


    At this moment, the Scorching Sunflower started to walk toward Tang San. As he moved forward, the sunflowers blooming on the vines became even more vibrant, with their dark red stamens faintly glowing. There were already over a hundred sunflowers in full bloom.


    This one opponent alone felt stronger than the Spider Tree Nymph and the Corpse-Devourer Nymphbined.


    Tang San didn''t know that if his opponent knew his thoughts, he would be furious. If the Spider Tree Nymph and Corpse-Devourer Nymph were before him, they would not even entertain thoughts of resisting; they would simply concede and pray he didn��t cause trouble for them.


    The nymph had released his bloodline power to such an extent because he had researched Tang San beforehand. As a direct descendant of the Scorching Sunflower n, there were naturally countless others at his beck and call, so he had some information about his opponent. Tang San''s victory over the Golden Mammoth n in the previous match made him wary. He didn''t believe it was a fake match. <i>Would a Golden Mammoth intentionally lose to a human? What a joke! So, how did the Golden Mammoth kid lose?</i>


    Before this match, his elders advised him that this human was likely hiding some ability that allowed him to take down his opponents in closebat. He shouldn''t let the human get close and should use long-range attacks to solve the problem. That was why he fully activated his bloodline power from the start, putting pressure on Tang San.


    Tang San''s gaze focused, and a faint glow appeared on his skin. He had to confront this opponent head-on.


    In the next moment, he suddenly disappeared.


    The nymph��s pupils contracted instantly, and his sunflowers suddenly emitted dazzling light. Fiery red beams shot out from the stamens of dozens of sunflowers, each beam about a palm��s length in diameter. They instantly wove into a fiery, closing off all the space around the Scorching Sunflower.


    He knew that he could not give his opponent a chance to get close. If he dared to appear anywhere near, the human would immediately face the pure yang fire attack from the sunflowers.


    Amidst the scorching mes,rge ripples appeared; the space around the Scorching Sunflower seemed to be somewhat illusory and distorted.


    Mei Gongzi, being the space element expert she was, saw at a nce that the intense heat was actually causing the surrounding space to be extremely unstable. Under these conditions, attempting to teleport could not only result in reaching the wrong ce, but also suffering a bacsh from the wild space element energy.


    Her hands clenched into fists.


    At the same time, Tang San indeed appeared. But to everyone''s surprise, it wasn��t anywhere near the Scorching Sunflower contestant. Instead, he appeared about ten meters away and off to the side. Then, he raised his hand, and a strange device appeared in it.


    Something shot out of the device, straight at the Scorching Sunflower.


    At a distance of ten meters, there was no possibility of dodging such powerful bolts from the Godly Zhuge Crossbow. Even a Demon or Nymph King could hardly manage it. In addition, the Godly Zhuge Crossbow gave off a strange golden halo��and only the user knew that this halo was the result of using the Golden Roc bloodline to activate the crossbow��s array.


    The speed of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow''s bolts was incredible to begin with. With the added speed and sharpness granted by the Golden Roc bloodline, almost as soon as the mechanism''s sound began, dozens of bolts had already pierced the opponent''s body.


    Everything happened so fast that many spectators didn''t even see the bolts being shot.


    However, in the next instant, Tang San''s pupils contracted, and he vanished once more


    me beams crossed and pierced through the space where he had been, distorting the air.


    The nymph had indeed been struck square by the crossbow bolts; he withered immediately, and was engulfed by the vines behind him. But if one looked closely, one would see that three of the sunflowers had silently withered in that instant.


    At the same time, on the other side, arge sunflower''s petals closed, then quickly opened again. The Scorching Sunflower emerged from it,pletely unharmed.


    As he appeared in the distance, Tang San''s eyes showed a look of surprise. <i>Body substitution?</i>


    To nobody��s surprise, his crossbow shot had in fact hit the opponent exactly as intended, and being shot from such close range was bound to severely injure even a demon or nymph at the peak of the ninth order. Of course, the Golden Mammoth was an exception.


    Yet this opponent had seemingly swapped his critically injured body with one of the sunflowers behind him, an ability Tang San had never seen before.


    Tang San immediately grasped the issue, given his experience and understanding. The Scorching Sunflower''s humanoid form was not its true self; the nymph��s essencey in the vines and the sunflowers behind.


    It was clear to Tang San that the humanoid Scorching Sunflower was actually the embodiment of three of the crimson sunflowers. That was why three flowers had withered, yet the humanoid body had emerged unharmed from another flower. Having the humanoid body destroyed was definitely not something pleasant, but the nymph could simply generate more bodies. In other words, the only way to kill off a Scorching Sunflower was to get rid of all the vines and flowers.

 Chapter 488: Meteor Hammer

    <h4>Chapter 488: Meteor Hammer</h4>


    At this moment, Tang San''s opponent seemed enraged.


    Hundreds of fiery beams��which Tang San mentallybeled "Scorching Beams"��shot toward him simultaneously, covering the entire area around him. What was more terrifying than the actual beams was that the surrounding space was affected by the intense heat, making it impossible for Tang San to teleport urately.


    Tang San moved, and white incandescent light burst forth from his body. Using the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he weaved through the Scorching Beams, his figure appearing like multiple phantoms in the already distorted light��an extremely peculiar sight for the spectators.


    The Scorching Beams were too dense, and even Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track couldn''tpletely evade them. Yet when a Scorching Beam was about to hit him, the incandescent aura radiating from him would instantly generate a strong repulsive force, deflecting the beam and preventing it from harming him.


    Big Cat was stunned. He had just exined the repelling effect of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force to him. <i>How can he use it just like that?!</i>


    He was no longer surprised by Asura''s disy of multiple bloodline abilities. When Asura helped their lineage with bloodline fusion, Big Cat noticed that he seemed to be absorbing some of their bloodline power, but Asura never exined it and Big Cat never asked either. He knew this was likely the core secret of his benefactor, and since it clearly wasn��t harming them, he just let it slide.


    But he hadn''t expected Asura to use the repulsive ability of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force just like that. After all, he himself was notpletely in control of it.


    In any case, this was now a sh between first-tier bloodlines. The Scorching Sunflower might be strong, but the repulsive effect of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force was equally powerful.


    The temperature on the stage continued to rise, turning the area into an illusory world surrounded by water-like ripples. It was difficult for the spectators to even see the battle clearly. The stage was enormous, but it was entirely enveloped in zing mes. Surviving in such extreme heat was incredibly difficult, yet the humanpetitor did not show any signs of wanting to abandon the fight, and the battle continued.


    This was a difficult match for Tang San, even tougher than his fight against Huang Bingbing.


    The Scorching Sunflower''s intense yang energy was quite simr to that of the Sunborne Nymph Emperor; they came from the same root, after all. Although there were slight differences, at this level, they weren��t all that significant. The heat Tang San felt wasn''t just from the Scorching Beams themselves; the nymph��s aura caused the stage and the air to heat up.


    Fighting in such conditions was far fromfortable. The opponent''s bloodline power seemed endless; his aurapletely covered the entire stage and left Tang San no room to dodge. It even significantly restricted Tang San��s use of spatial power; all across the stage, space was distorted in ces, so attempting to teleport could result in a serious bacsh.


    It seemed that defeating the opponent would be impossible without using some real skills.


    Tang San grabbed into the air with his right hand, and Sky Shatterer appeared in his grasp. Immediately, a deep blue vine emerged from his palm, wrapping around the hammer''s handle.


    Using the strange movement patterns of Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, the vine guided Sky-Shatterer somewhere away from Tang San. The Lion-Tiger Golden Force was also activated, covering the Blue Silver Emperor and Sky Shatterer with ayer of dazzling white light.


    At the same time, Tang San continued to use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track himself, avoiding the Scorching Beams'' direct attack. He took a deep breath and switched the Lion-Tiger Golden Force from repulsion to devouring, forcibly absorbing the surrounding fire elemental energy.


    The Lion-Tiger Golden Force shone brightly, and then instantly switched from devouring to repulsion. The surging Lion-Tiger Golden Force exploded outward, forcibly creating a clear area for Tang San in the scorching environment. He had mentioned this to Big Cat before: first devour, then repel, using the opponent''s strength against them.


    The distorted scene before him cleared up, and by that point, Sky Shatterer was already hurtling toward the opponent''s vines.


    Several Scorching Beams shot toward Sky Shatterer, aiming to block it.


    A dark red light shed on the surface of Sky Shatterer, and in the next instant, the Scorching Beams were absorbed into it and vanished without a trace, unable to even slow it down, let alone stop it.


    Then Sky Shatterer struck a Scorching Sunflower vine, and its pulverizing effect was triggered.


    Although a Scorching Sunflower''s attack power was fantastic, their defense was not exceptional. The vine sted into shards, and the two sunflowers on it immediately withered.


    Sky Shatterer was forged from Heavenly Fire Essence Iron and enhanced with the devouring effect of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force. Devouring and absorbing these pure yang mes not only did not harm it but even strengthened it.


    Tang San skillfully hooked the Blue Silver Emperor with his hand, and the hammer bounced back. With a flick of his wrist, it was thenunched once more, smashing toward another vine.


    Sensing the threat, the Scorching Sunflower immediately directed more Scorching Beams at Sky Shatterer, aiming to melt it and burn the Blue Silver Emperor vine behind it.


    In the past, the Blue Silver Emperor vine might have simply withered from the intense heat without needing the Scorching Beams to destroy it.


    But now, it was different. The intertwining of yin and yang energies made it extremely resilient. Theplementary and bncing nature of these energies allowed the vine to endure all other energies; heat included, naturally.


    With another bang, a second vine was sted apart. Tang San controlled the Blue Silver Emperor skillfully, guiding Sky Shatterer. As the scorched vine began to show damage, he quickly retracted it, releasing another vine to carry the hammer flying toward another direction.


    This technique of controlling Sky Shatterer was called Meteor Hammer[1], one of the hidden weapon techniques from the Tang Sect''s Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation, and it was perfect for this environment. Thanks to Sky Shatterer clearing the stage, the density of the Scorching Beams attacking Tang San naturally decreased. Moreover, it also threatened the opponent''s main body, forcing him to respond and giving Tang San a brief respite.


    It had to be admitted that the Scorching Sunflower bloodline was extremely powerful. The scorching heat was already singing his clothes and hair, which were now giving off a burnt smell. The fire was continuously eroding his energy, like a poison. If it weren''t for the yin-yang energy neutralizing it, even the Lion-Tiger Golden Force couldn''t havepletely blocked it.


    This was the true strength of a first-tier bloodline! Among Tang San''s various bloodlines, none could perfectly counter it. The yin-yang energy could indeed neutralize it, but he simply didn��t have enough of it just yet. There was still a significant gappared to this pure zing fire.


    On the other hand, Sky Shatterer was unstoppable in its meteor hammer form. Tang San dodged the opponent''s attacks as much as possible while using only Sky Shatterer to strike back. And wherever the hammer hit, the Scorching Sunflower vines would vanish.


    After several hits, the opponent wised up. The vines no longer stayed in ce but moved quickly, dodging while unleashing full firepower. They stopped attacking the hammer and focused all their attacks on Tang San. If they took out Tang San, the hammer would no longer be a problem.


    The repulsive effect of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force yed a crucial role at this moment. Such pure yang attacks were too much for Tang San to absorb; he couldn''t withstand the sheer energy. Repulsion was much more helpful than devouring in these moments, and it allowed him to handle the attacks he couldn��t dodge.


    As Tang San struggled and exhausted himself against this powerful opponent, a gentle voice suddenly echoed in his mind.


    <i>"Mmm.... Why is it so hot, Daddy? It��s so annoying!"</i>


    1. A meteor hammer is an actual historical Chinese weapon consisting of a chain with a weight at one or both ends. ?

 Chapter 489: The Reflection of the Crystal

    <h4>Chapter 489: The Reflection of the Crystal</h4>


    Tang San was stunned for a moment. This was...


    <i>"Crystalline? Are you awake?"</i> Tang San instinctively called out in his sea of consciousness. His heartbeat skipped a beat, and a fiery beam hit him. Although he blocked it using the repulsion ability, he was still sted backward.


    Crystalline was a "gift" of the Crystal Demon Emperor. Tang San was always cautious about this little lifeform because he wasn''t clear about what she truly was.


    When Crystalline first hatched, she was his greatest aid in forming the Pr Luck Domain, and he was naturally grateful for that. But what was her rtionship with the Crystal Demon Emperor? Why would they entrust her to an unknown element like Tang San?<i> </i>


    He was always on guard and feared that the Crystal Demon Emperor, the foremost of the Demon Emperors, might pose a threat to him.


    Crystalline had been sleeping since then, however, and her sudden awakening shocked him.


    At that moment, Crystalline��s imprint suddenly brightened, like a crystal reflecting a sudden sunbeam. Tang San felt a strange sensation. The surrounding distorted light became clear again, and he could even sense the blood flowing within the Scorching Sunflower.


    Among the many vines, there was one that released intense firepower. It injected arge amount of energy into the surrounding vines, unleashing it through the crimson sunflowers to attack.


    <i>What on earth is this? I can see that guy��s bloodline power flow!</i>


    Tang San''s battle experience was extensive. He wouldn''t miss such an opportunity. Sky Shatterer shot out instantly, propelled by the Lion-Tiger Golden Force at full st, heading straight for the point where he sensed the core of the opponent��s bloodline power.


    Immediately, as if panicking, many of the vines rapidly contracted to protect that point. At the same time, all the sunflowers shot fiery beams at Sky Shatterer, even neglecting to attack Tang San. This significantly reduced the pressure on Tang San.


    <i>"Daddy, hit it!"</i> Crystalline''s voice sounded again, and the shining crystal imprint glowed again, allowing Tang San to see the core of the Scorching Sunflower''s rapidly shifting position.


    <i>Trying to run, are you?</i>


    The Godly Zhuge Crossbow was again in hand, loaded with aplete set of bolts. Assisted by the Golden Roc bloodline, the bolts shot out violently, directly covering the opponent''s core. Meanwhile, Tang San pulled Sky Shatterer back with the Blue Silver Emperor vine, caught the hammer, and flung it out with explosive energy, using the Lion-Tiger Golden Force''s repelling effect.


    Beams of fire crisscrossed, trying to intercept the bolts. However, with the Golden Roc bloodline''s augmentation, the bolts were so fast that before the fire beams were even shot out, they had already passed by, drilling into the numerous vines of the Scorching Sunflower.


    A scream followed, and the intense firepower significantly weakened. Thanks to the repelling force it was imbued with, Sky Shatterer deflected the many fire beams striking it and headed straight for the core.


    As it turned out, the Scorching Sunflower was a typical ss cannon.


    It was extremely strong in attack, with attacks that covered all ranges and a wide area. The intense, pure yang fiery beams were so powerful that once an opponent was within range, all they could do was wait to be incinerated. However, its apparent invulnerability was just that��apparent. If its core was destroyed, it would die instantly.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    Numerous vines were sted apart, and the nymph��s very own fire turned them aze. It was as if a fiery rain of light was falling from the sky.


    The remaining vines retracted, and the sunflowers blooming from them withered immediately. Only then did Tang San notice the entire arena was riddled with holes, burnt with numerous gaps, and charred ck.


    "I surrender," sounded a somewhat helpless voice.


    As the numerous vines converged inward, the humanoid body of the Scorching Sunflower reappeared in front of Tang San. All the vines and Scorching Sunflowers vanished. His face was terribly pale, and he was now holding Tang San''s Sky Shatterer, clearly with some difficulty.


    On the surface, it was hard to see how seriously he was injured, but his aura had significantly weakened.


    Tang San didn''t look much better. His clothes and hair were singed in many ces, and he was panting heavily, with each breath apanied by hot steam, showing just how fierce the opponent''s mes had been.


    If it weren''t for Crystalline''s timely assistance, Tang San would have had to use the Pr Luck Domain to fight. Only by using the Pr Luck Domain would he have had the confidence to defeat this opponent. This opponent was truly too strong.


    "Can you tell me what material this hammer is made of?" The Scorching Sunflower contestant''s voice was very pleasant. He looked shocked as he gazed at the hammer in his hand.


    Tang San shook his head. He couldn''t let anyone know the secret of the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron.


    "I can trade with you. Tell me what you want. I can offer a high price if you''re willing to sell."


    The Scorching Sunflower seemed quite eager.


    Tang San''s mouth twitched. <i>Your Sunborne Nymph Emperor even sold a petal of its own flower. How much could you possibly offer?</i>


    "Can you afford it? This is more or less a divine weapon," Tang San said.


    "Uh..." As expected, the opponent fell silent. Scratching his head, he said, "Can you give me a way to contact you? I''ll go back and discuss it first."


    "I''ll be here participating in individual and double matchpetitions. You cane find me," Tang San replied.


    "Alright, here you go." As he spoke, the Scorching Sunflower tossed Sky Shatterer back to Tang San, looking reluctant. It was clear that the reluctance was not rted to the match, however; he was just <i>very</i> interested in Tang San''s hammer.


    "Oh, by the way, how did you find my sr core? There��s no way it was that easy! I thought I hid it very well. Forget about spiritual power, even if you had divine consciousness, you still couldn��t see it just like that. How did you do it?"


    "If I said it was luck, would you believe me?" Tang San replied helplessly. The opponent sure had a lot of questions.


    He was also incredibly powerful. In fact, Tang San still felt like his insides were burning. He wouldn''t have held out if not for the yin-yang energy adjusting the energy flow and calming down the heat. If he happened to face a Scorching Sunflower in the future, he had to attack immediately and not let them grow all their vines and sunflowers; otherwise, it would be too difficult.


    "To be honest, no. But to be honest, I also can��t find any other exnation, so maybe you really were lucky." The Scorching Sunflower seemed troubled. "Well, alright, I''ll find youter. By the way, what''s your name? I''m Xing Shi."


    "I''m Asura," Tang San replied.


    "The match is over. You can leave now. Group Three Number Six wins," the referee, who had been listening for a while, finally announced. He would have shooed them off the stage earlier if not for one of them being a Scorching Sunflower and the other earning such a surprising victory.


    "See youter. I need to go back and figure out how I lost. This isn''t possible, not possible at all..." Xing Shi muttered to himself as he left the stage.


    Tang San walked off the stage, feeling rather weak. The heat inside his body was unbearable. He took out a new set of clothes, quickly put them on, and tidied his slightly scorched hair. His mouth twitched. Thankfully, he had a mask to cover his face. Otherwise, he''d look terrible in front of Mei Gongzi.


    The Scorching Sunflower n was truly a powerful n! Without Crystalline''s help, defeating them today without using his divine consciousness would have required revealing some of the abilities that he very much wanted to keep hidden.

 Chapter 490: Don鈥檛 Jinx It

    <h4>Chapter 490: Don��t Jinx It</h4>


    However, through today''s battle with the Scorching Sunflower, Tang San gained more understanding of the nymph races. The Scorching Sunflower n''s bloodline power could even counteract spatial abilities. Even Mei Gongzi might have difficulty facing them. However, there were ways to counteract them. Though their offensive abilities were strong, their defense wasn''t exceptionally high; the Sr Beams were extremely powerful, but not well-suited as a shield.


    If an opponent had extremely high speed and explosive power, they might manage a quick victory as long as they weren��t too afraid of being burned. Of course, this was easier said than done; the Scorching Sunflower''s fire was extremely fierce, among the top mes in this world.


    This victory also stirred the spectators, especially in the VIP seats. The high-ranking nobles knew better about the strength of the Scorching Sunflower contestant, Xing Shi. He was one of the new generation''s best in the Scorching Sunflower n. Not only was he from the Sunborne Nymph Emperor��s n, but he was personally mentored by the emperor, and was even a top ten heir to the Sunborne Pce.


    Yet he had lost in the second match of the group stage, and to a human, no less! This human didn''t seem to have powerful abilities. He just used an array disc and some strange ranged weapons. The only unique thing seemed to be the hammer that could handle the heat of the Sr Beams. Yet even without showing any particrly outstanding abilities, he had dispatched one of the top nymph contestants; and moreover, he had done so after allowing the opponent to unleash all his abilities!


    At this moment, in the spectator stands, there was a tall and burly figure that looked somewhat bruised and battered. This person with a disgruntled expression was none other than Tang San''s opponent from the previous round, Mao Wenwu of the Golden Mammoth n.


    "I told you, I didn''t lose on purpose. Grandpa insisted I waszy and didn''t want to continue, so I lost on purpose, and he beat me up. Now he knows he was wrong, right? Even that Scorching Sunflower guy lost. Can you guys me me for losing? Hmph!"


    When he found out he was grouped with the Scorching Sunflower, he was somewhat frustrated. Although he had some confidence in relying on his strong defense to withstand the opponent''s attacks and charge to victory, he would probably end up like a roasted pig, or rather a roasted elephant, and that wouldn''t feel good at all.


    But losing to a human in the first match was something he never expected. Others didn''t see it that way either. When he went back, his father beat him up, and his grandfather scolded him for beingzy.


    Now, seeing Xing Shi also lose to that human called Asura, he felt great satisfaction. At least it proved he hadn��t lost the match on purpose. <i>Didn''t that Xing Shi guy also lose?</i>


    They were on the same level. He had lost the day before yesterday, and now Xing Shi lost today, which meant he hadn��t thrown the match.


    <i>Smack!</i>


    A forceful p hit the back of his head, causing Mao Wenwu to lurch forward, almost colliding with the spectator in front of him. He instantly turned around to re at the person behind him.


    It was a figure even taller and more muscr than him.


    "Why did you hit me? Doesn''t this prove I wasn''tzy?" Mao Wenwu retorted.


    The burly figure behind him said coldly, "The hell does it prove again? How long did he hold out and how long did <i>you</i>? He made his opponent struggle, what about you? Do you even have any idea how you lost? Just wait till we return home; I''ll deal with you then."


    "..."


    Tang San had no idea about the shadow looming over the mammoth''s mind. At this moment, he had returned to the waiting area.


    Seeing his disheveled appearance, Big Cat''s expression was somewhat peculiar, a mixture of wanting tough but feeling a bit embarrassed to do so. It was the first time he was seeing Asura in such a sorry state; even his mask seemed partially melted, showing just how challenging the previous battle had been.


    "Against these types with powerful area attacks, you need to burst in and attack immediately, not giving them a chance to unleash their offensive. Otherwise, you''re going to suffer," Big Cat said.


    Mei Gongzi, on the other hand, frowned as she approached Tang San. "Are you okay? Are you badly hurt?"


    Ignoring Big Cat, Tang San immediately smiled. "I''m fine, really. That guy''s mes were powerful. I could have won earlier, but I wanted to see the full extent of the fighting power of these strong nymphs."


    <i>How can I show weakness in front of the person I love?</i>


    This was a man''s nature, whether that man was a teenager or a God King.


    Big Cat''s mouth twitched as he turned away.


    Mei Gongzi said, "Big Brother, your luck is horrible. How do you keep encountering first-tier bloodline powerhouses every round?"


    Tang San''s mouth twitched. "You ask me, but who should I ask? It''s fine; as long as our luck improves in the doubles matches, it''s all good."


    Indeed,pared to the doubles, what did the singles matter? Winning here was far less important than keeping his core abilities secret. However, losing the doubles match with Mei Gongzi was uneptable.


    Big Catughed heartily. "Brother Asura, your luck is something else. Facing two emperor ns in a row, you''d expect this in the final stages. You''ve encountered it in the first two elimination rounds. I wonder if there are any other emperor n members in your group."


    Tang San retorted irritably, "Don''t jinx it!"


    Big Cat shrugged and said, "If we encounter them, so be it. The whole point of thepetition is to hone ourselves through battle. I''d love to face a strong opponentter; it will push me to improve."


    He spoke with sincerity, and Tang San could feel his burning battle spirit.


    Big Cat was indeed a natural-born warrior. Only on the battlefield could he shine most brilliantly, especially in life-and-death struggles. He had fought his way out of the Great Beast Fighting Arena in Kali City, sustaining an entire n. This was not just grit and hard work, but also talent. And after resolving his bloodline conflict, his fighting spirit could no longer be suppressed.


    Behind Tang San thus stood a monstrous Lion-Tiger who had just broken out of his cage, ready to devour his opponents.


    Mei Gongzi helped Tang San find a ce to sit down. He was in bad shape, and he felt as if he was burning up from within. He sat cross-legged and began circting his internal energy to heal himself. With the doubles match tomorrow, he needed to recover quickly.


    However, today''s battle made him appreciate the utility of yin-yang energy even more. Although his yin-yang energy was only at a basic level, it had yed a significant role today, greatly neutralizing the extreme heat of the Scorching Sunflower''s fire. Without it, things would have been much more brutal. He needed to continue improving it as much as he could.


    After today''s matches, Tang San thus nned to return to Sunborne Sacred Mountain and Earthshade Sacred Mountain to continue cultivating and evolving his yin-yang energy.


    Today''s matches were even more intense and exciting than the day before. With the experience of the first round, the remaining contestants were showcasing more and more their abilities. At the same time, the matches also became bloodier, with some participants heavily injuring or even killing their opponents.


    No one came out to stop these killings. Even though these contestants were elites from various powerful ns, no one intervened. This was the survival of the fittest among the demon and nymph races. To be stronger, they needed to challenge and defeat tough opponents, and challenge themselves at the same time. Only through this could they continuously improve and eventually be leaders of their ns.


    An hourter, it was finally time for the sixth group topete, and Big Cat was already in the waiting area, raring to go at it.

 Chapter 491: Lion-Tiger Versus Mammoth

    <h4>Chapter 491: Lion-Tiger Versus Mammoth</h4>


    After a period of meditation, Tang San''s condition improved significantly. The yin-yang energy yed a significant role in neutralizing the fire energy that was practically poison to Tang San.


    Indeed, rather than the burns he had suffered, the main issue was actually the invasion of extreme yang mes; once that was resolved, he was in much better shape despite his rather disheveled appearance. Naturally, he wanted to watch Big Cat''s match.


    A handsome man sat in the higher corner of the VIP seats, closely following the matches. When he saw Big Cat enter the arena, his gaze focused. He narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Asura, Lion-Tiger Sword Saint."


    This man was none other than Mei Gongzi''s father, the Peacock Great Demon King.


    After meeting Asura and Big Cat and learning they were from Kali City, he immediately had their backgrounds and situations investigated. He discovered they had faced off in the Great Beast Fighting Arena in Kali City. The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was famous enough for even the city lord to hear of him; naturally, the Peacock Great Demon King had heard that he had lost to a human. As it turned out, it was precisely the human apanying him here.


    That human had caused a stir among the human race by continuously winning team battles in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. He hade to the Ancestral Court to participate in the Great Beast Fighting Arena as well��the Peacock Great Demon King wondered why there was no information about that��and seemed quite close to his daughter.


    How could he <i>not</i> pay attention to this human?


    Thus, he had been following Asura and Big Cat since the first round. When Asura faced the Golden Mammoth youth, he wasn��t terribly optimistic about the boy��s chances. The Golden Mammoth n''s Emperor was once nicknamed No Weak Points[1]; it had an invincible defense and never gave his opponents any chance. How could a human break through its descendant��s defense?


    He couldn''t imagine Asura winning, yet against all chances, Asura won. And the Peacock Great Demon King had no idea how. Despite being a god-level powerhouse, he couldn''t use divine consciousness to probe the contestants during the Ancestral Court Elite Competition��this was a major taboo. He even asked Mei Gongzi afterward, but she didn''t know how Asura had won either.


    Big Cat''s match had also shocked him; he had not expected such a decisive kill and such absolute force. The explosion of power brought an intense visual impact. The Peacock Great Demon King didn''t need to ask his subordinates about it; he understood that this Lion-Tiger Sword Saint had undergone some transformation, bing stronger in a way that a second-tier bloodline couldn''t achieve. He knew about the bloodline conflict of the Lion-Tiger n, but from Big Cat, he didn''t sense this conflict.


    <i>What does this mean? Has their bloodline mutated and evolved into a first-tier bloodline?</i>


    That would be an incredible development. Moreover, had Big Cat evolved independently, or had the entire Lion-Tiger n found a solution to their bloodline conflict? It would be a game-changer for the lion and tiger races if it were thetter. Neither race had a first-tier bloodline inheritance; the White Tiger Demon Emperor had only reached that level due to a bloodline mutation.


    If the Lion-Tiger n��s bloodline evolved into a first-tier bloodline, it would significantly alter the dynamics of the lion and tiger races. This made the Peacock Great Demon King pay more attention to Big Cat than Tang San. After all, Asura''s victory was somewhat inexplicable.


    He had also watched the doubles match featuring his daughter and Asura.


    In that doubles match, the battle ended quickly. His daughter''sbat prowess was unquestionable; even he couldn''t find fault with her mastery of space. After the ancestral inheritance, she seemed wholly merged with space, rapidly progressing and mastering it to an extraordinary degree. But what about that Asura? He still couldn''t understand how the young human had won. The attacks of the Corpse-Devourer Nymph had simply vanished. Compared to the Spider Tree Nymph, the Corpse-Devourer Nymph, which specialized in poison, was more difficult to deal with, yet he had still won.


    Then today, Asura once again defeated the descendant of an Emperor, this time from the mighty Scorching Sunflower n. The battlested a long time, and he managed to withstand the Scorching Sunflower''s powerful attacks, eventually defeating his opponent. His hammer was notable, but the victory wasn''t just about the hammer.


    <i>This Asura is quite interesting. If the first win was a fluke, then were the other two victories flukes as well?</i> <i>In the two solo matches, his opponents were top-level fighters with first-tier bloodlines; how could they possibly make rookie mistakes at this level?</i>


    At this moment, Big Cat entered the arena again, and the Peacock Great Demon King''s attention naturally focused on this match.


    The opponent also appeared. To the Peacock Great Demon King''s surprise, Big Cat''s opponent was also from the Golden Mammoth n. With a simrly robust physique and wielding dual hammers, this opponent was clearly at the same level as Mao Wenwu.


    As a top-tier n, the Golden Mammoth n naturally had more than one participant. There was one in Tang San''s third group and one in the Big Cat''s sixth group. It seemed his luck wasn''t much better than Tang San''s, since he met such a formidable opponent in the second round.


    When Tang San and Mei Gongzi saw Big Cat''s opponent, their expressions turned grave. The Golden Mammoth n was not easy to deal with.


    Although Tang San''s battle with Mao Wenwu hadn��tsted long, the opponent''s formidable defense had left a deep impression on him. He had barely managed to break through using abination of various bloodline abilities and sending his yin-yang energy inside to mess with Mao Wenwu''s heart. Otherwise, the battle would have been as difficult as today''s.


    Big Cat didn''t have as many bloodline abilities as Tang San. So, how would he handle this opponent?


    Tang San hoped Big Cat could prove himself to the lion and tiger races through this Elite Competition. Naturally, losing in the second elimination round would not be ideal.


    "Let the match begin!"


    On the battlefield, as the referee announced the start, yet another battle of titans officially began.


    The Golden Mammoth contestant pounded its chest with its twin hammers, emitting a dull thud, before charging at Big Cat.


    Big Cat gripped his heavy sword. To the spectators�� surprise, he showed no intention of dodging and instead charged directly at his opponent! Stimted by the improved Lion-Tiger bloodline power, his physique began to swell, reaching over four meters in height within moments, with muscles bulging powerfully. The dazzling white Lion-Tiger Golden Force burst forth.


    However,pared to his opponent, his stature was dwarfed. The Golden Mammoth contestant was a towering giant, nearly twice Big Cat''s height and with bulging muscles all over. The golden mes wrapping its body soared as it swung its massive hammers and charged forward. The impressive momentum from both sides immediately captivated the spectators.


    When thirty meters remained between them, Big Cat stomped the stage, causing it to cave in. He shot forward, and a furious roar echoed in the sky��a massive Lion-Tiger head phantom appeared behind him, unleashing a terrifying and mighty roar.


    The Golden Mammoth��s charge seemed unstoppable, yet upon hearing that roar, it actually paused for an instant, and its movements stiffened momentarily.


    Ordinary spectators might not have noticed this brief change, but many noble spectators in the VIP section turned pale. This was especially true for the lion and tiger race powerhouses.


    They knew very well how strong the Golden Mammoth n was��an unquestionably formidable first-tier bloodline, the ruler n of the elephant race, and their mightiest warriors.


    However, the Golden Mammoth contestant''s body instinctively reacted to Big Cat''s roar.


    <i>What does this mean?</i>


    In their minds, only two words appeared: bloodline suppression.


    Yes, the Golden Mammoth''s bloodline was suppressed by that roar of the Lion-Tiger.


    1. The original here, ��ȱ��˾�� (literally ��wlessmander-in-chief��), happens to be the moniker of a fairly famous Korean StarCraft yer who retired circa 2007. Is TJSS a fan? Who knows. ?

 Chapter 492: A Bloody Fight

    <h4>Chapter 492: A Bloody Fight</h4>


    In the natural world, there was little interference between elephants on one side and lions and tigers on the other. The issue of bloodline suppression wasn��t a thing, but either way, they hardly ever fought against each other. However, lions and tigers were the true kings of beasts��one ruled the grasnds, the other the forest.


    On the other hand, when ns of the lion and tiger races faced the Golden Mammoth n, not being suppressed by their bloodline could be considered quite the achievement. After all, their golden lineage was only a second-tier bloodline, while the Golden Mammoths�� was first tier.


    Yet now, given that the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint suppressed the Golden Mammoth with his bloodline power, it meant his bloodline tier was not only <i>not </i>inferior to his opponent''s, but actually surpassed it! No Lion Demon or Tiger Demon had ever possessed such a strong bloodline besides the White Tiger Demon Emperor! How could the lion and tiger races�� noble members not be astonished?


    As the roar erupted in mid-air, Big Cat gripped his sword with both hands, and the Lion-Tiger Golden Force surged. His eyes turned utterly white-hot, with tinum white light seeping from the corners. In this instant, his physique, bloodline power, and spiritual power all peaked, and he unleashed his full power with intense battle intent.


    The Golden Mammoth swung its twin hammers upward, aiming at the diving Big Cat. This was a pure test of strength, leaving no room for trickery.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The deafening crash momentarily paused the battles in the other two arenas. Many spectators in the stands covered their ears, yet their heads still buzzed.


    tinum and gold intermingled. The instantaneous sh was genuinely breathtaking.


    The white-hot figure bounced back, flying out. But the golden-glowing figure didn''t fare well either. It was simply driven into the stage up to its knees!


    Big Cat flipped in mid-air andnded, staggering back five steps before steadying himself. A flush rose on his face.


    His opponent, the Golden Mammoth contestant, had slightly bulging eyes, and the golden glow it radiated dimmed noticeably. The twin hammers it wielded bore obvious cuts.


    Big Cat didn��t even give himself time to catch his breath. As soon as he steadied himself, he began another charge, leaping into the air with his heavy sword once more igniting in white-hot light. The fierce Lion-Tiger Golden Force burned anew.


    <i>ROOOAAARRR!</i>


    Another thunderous roar erupted as he struck at his opponent


    At this moment, the Golden Mammoth hadn''t yet pulled its legs from the ground, and the ferocious roar forced it to halt.


    <i>This guy..</i>.


    As the zing white light descended again, the golden aura rose once more to meet it.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The second collision between hammers and sword erupted mere seconds after the first, and it was in no way quieter. The fierce mor and explosive energy waves caused countless demon and nymph spectators to rise from their seats.


    This was the battle they wanted to see��a powerful sh that made their blood surge. It was simply exhrating!


    Big Cat was again sent flying, but the Golden Mammoth was also driven further into the stage��it now buried halfway up the thighs.


    As Big Catnded, he spat out a mouthful of blood. His physical strength was not on par with his opponent��s; naturally, these intense, head-on physical collisions caused him more injury.


    But even as he spat blood, he leaped high again, his heavy sword shing toward his opponent for the third time. There was no hesitation, no sign of rest.


    <i>Fight till death. Just keep fighting!</i>


    <i>BOOM!</i>


    The white and golden energies exploded. This time, it was clear that Big Cat''s heavy sword was bending. Even under the reinforcement of Lion-Tiger Golden Force, it was barely holding up against such a ferocious sh.


    Before Big Catnded this time, he was already spewing blood mid-air. His opponent, the Golden Mammoth contestant, was also bleeding from both nose and mouth. For a Golden Mammoth to be injured like this, it was clear how brutal their collision had been. Moreover, the Golden Mammoth''s legs had already sunk into the stage almost up to his waist.


    He didn''t get the chance to pull himself out, either��as soon as Big Catnded, he ignored his injuries and crazily leaped up again. The heavy sword in his hand still emitted a zing tinum light as he struck down once more.


    This time, the look in the eyes of the Golden Mammoth contestant began to change. <i>Is this guy fucking crazy?! He��s more injured than me, and he can��t possibly have my defense. Why? Why is he attacking so wildly without even giving himself a chance to catch his breath?</i>


    Although the Golden Mammoth''s defense was strong, it had its limits! What terrified the demon was that even though the opponent was injured, each sword strike was more potent than thest, and its power more violent. As for the Golden Mammot��s twin hammers, though they were exceptional weapons, they were now covered in cuts. It couldn''t dodge at all and had to take the hits head-on, unable to use its bloodline abilities properly.


    But he had no more time to think as the heavy sword descended from the sky, fiercely shing down. Even though the sword had bent a bit, its majestic momentum hadn''t diminished in the slightest.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    This time, Big Cat wasn''t flung far away but shot straight up into the air. The Golden Mammoth was now properly waist-deep in the ground, and it spat out a mouthful of blood. One of its war hammers had half of its head chopped off, which went to show the ferocity of that strike.


    While in midair, Big Cat took a deep breath. He once more pumped bloodline energy into his Lion-Tiger Golden Force, and it burst out with even more dazzling brilliance. Descending from the sky, he struck down again, after an even shorter time.


    Even though this was the fifth strike already and he was tired and injured, it was so majestic and overwhelming that the spectators were awed. No fancy moves��just pure power and relentless attacks.


    "Ahhhh!"


    The Golden Mammoth let out a roar, and the golden light it radiated suddenly surged as if it had ignited its energy. A golden halo even appeared behind its head. The ground around its embedded lower body began to crack, clearly showing that he was about to use a powerful move.


    But then, the tinum light in mid-air flickered.


    The tinum light from around the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint suddenly converged inward,pletely merging into his heavy sword. Under the enhancement of the tinum light, the sword became almost transparent.


    The golden ze was directly split in half by the tinum light, and it continued unimpeded to sh once more with the mammoth demon��s hammers.


    <i>BOOM!!!</i>


    Both figures spewed blood simultaneously. Big Cat flew backward again, while the Golden Mammoth was now buried in the ground up to its chest.


    Big Cat''s heavy sword had been shattered, and so had the Golden Mammoth''s twin hammers.


    Both of their hands were split open, and blood was flowing like rivers.


    Big Catnded far away, staggering continuously and spitting blood before finally falling on his butt.


    Even so, he still struggled to get up and walk toward the Golden Mammoth, step by step. And with each step, the tinum light ignited again, still zing fiercely.

 Chapter 493: The Cunning Big Cat

    <h4>Chapter 493: The Cunning Big Cat</h4>


    The Golden Mammoth contestant, now without its twin hammers, was bleeding profusely from its nose and mouth, and its eyes showed a look of horror.


    <i>Madman, this guy is aplete madman!</i>


    The tinum white light burst forth once more, and despite clearly being severely injured, Big Cat leaped into the air again. Without his heavy sword, he still had his fists. Swinging his fist, enveloped in the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, he aimed a heavy blow at his opponent''s head.


    The Golden Mammoth contestant was now sunk into the ground up to its chest and properly immobilized. Facing Big Cat''s ferocious assault, its psychological defenses finally copsed.


    "I concede!"


    <i>The madman is trying to take me down with him! This is already going bad for me, and he��s only getting stronger with every attack. A few more hits and I might die!</i>


    <i>BOOM!</i>


    Big Cat''s fist smashed into the ground beside it, missing it by a hair''s breadth. The massive power of the strike left a crater in the stage, and at the same time, the Golden Mammoth was flung out of the hole andnded somewhere in the distance, square on its butt. The shockwave caused it to vomit blood.


    At that moment, it saw Big Cat crouched on the ground, gasping for breath.


    But then Big Cat slowly lifted his head and looked at his opponent. A cruel smile appeared on his blood-stained lips. The sight sent a shiver down the Golden Mammoth''s spine. <i>This guy is a real madman!</i>


    But the next moment, Big Cat swayed and copsed, fainting on the spot.


    <i>What?</i>


    The Golden Mammoth contestant almost turned crazy! <i>This guy was done for! If I had just withstood thatst hit, I might have won!</i>


    Sadly for it, "might have" meant nothing more than "might have." The result was set in stone the moment it said "I concede."


    The referee thus announced Big Cat''s victory.


    Immediately, staff came on stage to treat both contestants and carried them off, while other staff members got to work on the stage. This stage was temporarily unusable due to the severe damage and needed repairs.


    In the VIP seats, the noble powerhouses of the lion and tiger races had wavering gazes andplex expressions. They all remained silent, lost in thought.


    The Lion-Tiger contestant had won! He had defeated a Golden Mammoth! Not only that, but he had won by breaking his opponent��s will through sheer power and making it concede!


    It was unbelievable. This Lion-Tiger n warrior was so formidable that he made their blood boil with excitement.


    <i>Is this really a member of a cursed n? Is their bloodline really cursed?</i>


    This thought appeared in their minds almost simultaneously.


    This was an extremely exciting match. The spectators were cheering and thrilled��it was the kind of match they most wanted to see!


    Tang San was already waiting when Big Cat was carried off the stage. He took the unconscious Big Cat from the staff and immediately channeled his internal energy into him, intending to stabilize his injuries.


    But in the next moment, he was stunned. Big Cat actually opened one eye slightly and winked at him!


    Tang San immediately understood. Without showing any change in expression, he hoisted the massive Big Cat onto his back. Now that the Lion-Tiger Golden Force was no longer, Big Cat had returned to his normal size, but he was still 2.5 meters in height and quite bulky, making him cumbersome to carry. His legs dragged on the ground, but Tang San somehow managed.


    "That was amazing! Amazing, I tell you!" Big Cat''s voice came to Tang San''s ear. "I haven''t had such a satisfying fight in a long time. And you know what, your method works! I suffered the most during the first sh, that one really cost me. But I also absorbed some of its power, and then I added the absorbed power to the repelling effect when I struck the second time. I wasn''t hurt at all then. After that, I could just keep borrowing strength from it and use that as my weapon. That dumb elephant thought I was trading injuries with him. Heh, wishful thinking!"


    Tang San was amused. <i>So all that continuous spitting of blood is just an act?</i>


    All the spectators probably thought it was a brutal match, but Big Cat''s injuries were far less severe than they imagined. The absorption and repulsion technique Tang San had proposed just hours before was already being used quite effectively. The Golden Mammoth contestant fell into Big Cat''s trap from the beginning. It could have shattered the ground and moved away during Big Cat''s second attack, then used its bloodline abilities like War Stomp. That would have indeed been a tough fight.


    But Big Cat''s continuous act of spitting up blood made the opponent believe it could win by just holding on a bit longer. In the end, however, it couldn''t hold on. It was like a sitting duck for Big Cat''s strikes.


    <i>Anyone who thinks Big Cat is just a simple-minded brute is the real simple-minded brute! He is fully utilizing his advantages while attacking the opponent''s weaknesses. In terms ofbat experience, this guy is nearly wless.</i>


    Tang San could fully imagine how formidable Big Cat would be once he reached the god level.


    He smiled faintly, and his expression was somewhat different as he looked at Big Cat. A person like him was truly worthy of Tang San��s respect.


    Returning to the waiting area, Tang San found a corner where Big Cat could rest.


    Mei Gongzi came over and whispered, "How is he?"


    Tang San said, "He got a bit injured. Let''s let him rest for now."


    Many contestants were paying attention to Big Cat, who had just finished his match, so it was not a good time to discuss his condition.


    This fight made Mei Gongzi see Big Cat in a new light. With this, Asura and Big Cat had defeated three first-tier bloodline powerhouses!


    Although the Ancestral Court Elite Competition was filled with strong contenders, there weren''t many at this level. Defeating such opponents undoubtedly meant that Asura and Big Cat were at that tier themselves.


    "Big Brother Asura, this friend of yours is also from Kali City, right?"


    When she called him "big brother," Tang San felt as if his bones had lightened by a few pounds, and he replied gently, "The Lion-Tiger n were excluded by the lion and tiger races; they��re practically outcasts. They''ve been living in a vige near Kali City. Don''t worry; they are our allies and they''ll always be our allies."


    Just from those few words, Tang San immediately understood what she was getting at and immediately reassured her. After all, his initial intention in helping and recruiting the Lion-Tiger n was in fact to support Mei Gongzi in inheriting the position of city lord.


    Next, Mei Gongzi''s luck was much betterpared to Tang San��s and Big Cat��s. Her opponent had a second-tier bloodline and stood no chance against Mei Gongzi''s mastery of space, losing without much resistance. The three of them thus advanced to the next round of the knockoutpetition.


    Out of over three hundred participants, only ny or so remained after two rounds of elimination. Three more rounds would determine who would advance from each group to the final round.


    The Ancestral Court Elite Competition''s knockout system was ruthless, but it saved time. Winning nine consecutive matches made one the champion, which was even faster than the team elimination matches Tang San had participated in before.


    Big Cat naturally needed to return to their lodging to heal himself, and Mei Gongzi also returned to her ce. Although Tang San''s physical state wasn''t at its best either, he decided not to return to the White Tiger Hotel but to head to the Earthshade Sacred Mountain instead.

 Chapter 494: Continuous Improvement

    <h4>Chapter 494: Continuous Improvement</h4>


    At this moment, he was still feeling a burning sensation in his organs caused by the Scorching Sunflower''s extreme yang energy.


    Anyone else heading to the Earthshade Sacred Mountain in such a state would be courting death, in and simple. The sh between yin and yang would destroy them from the inside out.


    But he was different; he had the yin-yang energy vortex, which allowed him to regte the bnce of yin and yang within his body.


    Absorbing the extreme yin energy from the Earthshade Sacred Mountain could harmonize the yang fire within him, bncing the two, resolving the problem, and simultaneously enhancing his yin-yang energy.


    Although Tang San did not know what would be the end result if he continued cultivating yin-yang energy, the extreme yin and yang were among the most fundamental energies in the universe; it definitely wouldn��t hurt to have more.


    He would have been wary of his "daughter" noticing his cultivation, but to his surprise, after helping him, Crystalline had once again fallen into slumber. It seemed that she wasn��t ready to truly wake up yet.


    He didn''t know how long she would sleep. It was somewhat like a child needing more sleep during development, and the energy she gained naturally came from Tang San.


    As expected, just as Tang San had predicted, when he arrived at the Earthshade Sacred Mountain and began cultivating, the intruding extreme yang fire within him was immediately neutralized by the yin energy. They bnced each other out, transforming into yin-yang energy and being absorbed into his Blue Silver Emperor imprint.


    The previously devoured essence of the Spider Tree Nymph was also quickly being digested thanks to the overall increase in his yin-yang energy.


    By the end of today''s cultivation, the essence of the second-tier bloodline was nearly digested. He needed to continue with the bloodline imprint of the Corpse-Devouring Nymph to maintain the bnce of yin-yang energy.


    Tang San was happy about this; the faster the Blue Silver Emperor imprint progressed, the faster his cultivation of yin-yang energy progressed as well.


    In the uing matches, he would likely encounter powerful nymphs, so he would be able to obtain some good bloodline power.


    Unfortunately, he had been unable to obtain the bloodline of the Scorching Sunflower today; due to thetter��s fierce attacks, he simply had no chance to get close enough.


    Although the two sides ended up approaching for a conversation, if Tang San had gotten close enough to touch his opponent and absorb his bloodline, it would have aroused suspicion immediately.


    However, Tang San thought it through and felt that it wasn��t necessarily a loss. The Scorching Sunflower��s attribute was extreme yang, and it was unlikely to be suitable for the Blue Silver Emperor. In fact, with the foundation of the Blue Silver Emperor, he wasn��t sure whether it could even process such a powerful bloodline, and if it couldn''t be devoured, it might disrupt the bnce of yin-yang energy, which would him a solid loss.


    In any case, he had enough to continue his cultivation for now. Bloodline advancement could not be achieved overnight, especially with the simultaneous presence of yin-yang energy. Tang San needed to be particrly cautious, as this was apletely self-created variant bloodline. All improvements had to be made gradually, step by step.


    That night, he cultivated at both the Earthshade Sacred Mountain and the Sunborne Sacred Mountain while devouring the imprint of the Corpse-Devouring Nymph. It was already past midnight when he returned to his residence, but he was in a great mood. The fire poison he had absorbed during the day had been neutralized, and his yin-yang energy had advanced further.


    Tang San also discovered that nourishing the yin-yang energy also enhanced his physical strength. Additionally, this yin-yang energy could be applied to other attack abilities, although right now that was limited to close-quartersbat since he had to inject it into the opponent��s body.


    Big Cat��s most recent fight had a significant impact on him. It looked like a in old sh of strength with hardly any subtleties involved, but in reality, every sh from Big Cat''s sword had behind it a perfect focus of his physical power, bloodline power, and spiritual power.


    Moreover, during this process, he had to adjust the devouring and repelling effects of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, coordinating them in order to imbue as much power as possible into the heavy sword. This was no easy task.


    In terms of cultivation, Big Cat had only recently returned to the ninth order due to his bloodline fusion, and had not yet reached the peak of the ninth order. On the other hand, his opponent was a peak ninth-order powerhouse from a top-tier n. Even under these circumstances, his opponent couldn''t withstand his attacks, which showed Big Cat''s ferocity. Moreover, much of his severe injuries at the end were just for show.


    Big Cat''s battle experience and control over his abilities made him the strongest among the same-level fighters Tang San had encountered in this world. He was a natural-born warrior, both brave and cunning.


    Tang San''s current fighting style involved heavy use of Sky Shatterer, but as his opponents grew stronger, he found it increasingly insufficient. The hammer, though forged from Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, had not undergone much refinement, and Tang San''s cultivation was just not up to par. Although it had allowed him to restrain the Scorching Sunflower to some extent, it would have been much easier to deal with the nymph if the material��s potential had been fully tapped into and the hammer had been refined to the level of a divine weapon.


    Once he got back to Kali City, it seemed that he needed to craft some good weapons.


    This made Tang San recall two divine weapons from his previous life. Unfortunately, he couldn''t use them now unless it was a situation of utmost desperation. Using them would likely cause every demon and nymph powerhouse to chase him, so he would never use them unless necessary.


    When he woke up with the morning light outside, he had only meditated for two hours. Although he still felt somewhat mentally exhausted, his physical condition had returned to its peak. He had a doubles match today and couldn''t rest like Big Cat.


    He first cultivated the Purple Demon Eyes and then went to the restaurant for breakfast.


    When he arrived at the restaurant, he happened to meet hispanions.


    The recent period of cultivation at the Ancestral Court had brought significant changes to hispanions.


    The improvement in physical fitness made everyone look vibrant. Wu Bingji''s demeanor had be increasingly cool and detached. He was already handsome, but now he exuded an otherworldly aura, which made Cheng Zicheng''s gaze rarely leave him.


    Cheng Zicheng herself seemed to have found her direction, and she was bing increasingly feminine. Her long hair flowed behind her, and her eyes shone brightly. Her asional sweet smiles were mainly directed at the eldest senior brother, of course.


    Gu Li had be moreposed; his physical strength was quite a bit greater, yet his aura was more restrained. Unlike before, he was no longer on the ostentatious side, but seemed perfectly calm. He was still climbing Crystal Sacred Mountain, continuously challenging his own limits. Every day, he spent some time at the Sacred Mountain, and upon returning, he would ponder deeply and train hard, progressing by leaps and bounds.


    Du Bai had earned somewhat of an ethereal aura. He gave off a very peculiar feeling��as if he was very present, yet at the same time not quite there. At the same time, his presence brought othersfort, and when people saw him, even their negative emotions seemed to vanish.


    His climb of Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain had not been in vain; his mastery of the Celestial Fox Transformation had deepened significantly.


    Thanks to Tang San helping him enhance his bloodline, the level of his Celestial Fox Transformation was iparable to what it used to be, and the way he was now, he could truly influence an entire battlefield.


    Du Bai sat beside Tang San and whispered, "Little Tang, are you participating in thatpetition? I''ve noticed fewer people climbing the Sacred Mountaintely. It seems they''re all going to watch thatpetition. Are the opponents strong? How do theypare to the ones we faced in the Great Beast Fighting Arena?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 495: The Chrono Croc and The Red-Crowned Crane

    <h4>Chapter 495: The Chrono Croc and The Red-Crowned Crane</h4>


    Tang San said, "Of course, they''re strong. At the very least, they all have second-tier bloodlines and are quite tough to deal with. I even encountered first-tier bloodlines. Thepetition is exciting, so it''s naturally attracting much attention. This is an event even more important than the grand auction."


    Wu Bingji said, "I wonder if we can go watch. It would certainly broaden our horizons."


    Hearing his words, Tang San felt that they made sense.


    Since arriving at the Ancestral Court, hispanions had all made significant progress in their cultivation but hadn''t engaged in much actualbat. They weren''t ready to participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition yet, as their cultivation levels were stillcking. However, watching the tournament was a great opportunity. They could see the top-tier shes between the best of the younger generation, not just among the demons but also the nymphs. Such an opportunity was indeed rare!


    "I think it''s possible. I''ll go to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association to get you tickets. They should be able to get them. After today''spetition, I''ll take care of it, and then you can go watch the matches. The remaining matches shouldn''t take too long, about half a day, and then you can continue your cultivation."


    "Really? That''s great," Cheng Zicheng eximed excitedly. "Is there an Immortal me Phoenixpeting? I''d love to see it. I''ve been climbing the Undying Demon Emperor''s Sacred Mountaintely, and it feels different. The bloodline pressure is excruciating, but it seems to have a strong stimting effect on my bloodline. I''m really curious to see how they perform in battle."


    Tang San said, "I haven''t encountered them yet, but I''m sure they are participating. All the powerful ns are."


    "Alright, then I''ll count on you to get the tickets," Cheng Zicheng said happily.


    Tang San turned to look at Du Bai and said, "Senior brother Du Bai, you probably can''t watch thepetition. There''s a rule that members of the Celestial Fox n cannot participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition to ensure fairness. They can''t even be spectators. Moreover, you''re a human with the Celestial Fox bloodline, and that cannot be exposed. You''d better keep climbing the mountain."


    Du Bai''s face fell. "Why is it always me? This isn''t fair."


    Gu Li threw an arm around his shoulder and chuckled, "In this world, there''s no such thing as absolute fairness. Just bear with it, kid."


    "Hmph!" Du Bai snorted arrogantly but said nothing more.


    After breakfast, Tang San hurriedly bid farewell to hispanions and headed back to the Ancestral Court za. Today was the day of the doublespetition, and the Three-Five Combo was set topete again. He wondered what kind of opponents they would face today.


    He arrived at the venue early again, but it wasn''t long before Mei Gongzi arrived.


    The two exchanged smiles upon meeting and headed to the waiting area together. They were the first group in the doublespetition, so they would be up right at the beginning. Competing first was good; they could return to their cultivation sooner after the match.


    Tang San realized that although yesterday''s battle was brutal, his subsequent cultivation was more effective after enduring the ordeal and resolving the fire poison issue. Such was the benefit of stimting potential throughbat.


    He wondered what kind of opponents they would face today.


    "That Scorching Sunflower from yesterday was strong. If I was the one to meet it one-on-one, it would have been difficult," Mei Gongzi said to Tang San.


    Tang San nodded, saying, "Its extreme Yang fire can even melt spatial rifts. If you happen to fight a Scorching Sunflower, don''t let it bloom fully. You must attack aggressively from the start and just suppress it until it falls. That''s probably the best way to deal with them. I didn''t know that yesterday and almost suffered a big loss."


    Mei Gongzi''s eyes lit up."Suppress them with direct explosive attacks? Makes sense."


    Tang San said, "But you still have to be careful. The Scorching Sunflowers are obviously aware of their own weaknesses, so they''ll have some measures to counteract that. Thankfully, your teleportation ability allows you to get close to them quickly. If you encounter them, just go out with a swift close-range burst and take them down in one go."


    "Got it." Mei Gongzi nodded thoughtfully.


    The audience had already entered the venue, and the contestants were almost all in ce. Today''s matches were about to begin.


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s match was the first one. This meant they would be the first topete in each round before the finals. This was something Tang San didn''t like; it drew too much attention.


    They both appeared human. Mei Gongzi was better off since the Peacock Demon n looked almost perfectly human anyway, but he was different. His bloodline power had not been fully disyed, which added ayer of mystery. Being the first topete and drawing attention made it easy for others to analyze them.


    However, since they were here, they had to face it.


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi ascended to the first stage together. Their two opponents stepped onto the tform opposite them.


    <i>Demons!</i> This was Tang San''s first thought, and then... his expression turned somewhat strange. The pair of opponents facing them were from races he was pretty familiar with.


    One was tall, over two meters in height, with scales on his forehead, protrusions running down his back, and arge tail extending behind him. It was unmistakably a member of the rare Chrono Croc n.


    Facing an opponent from this n, Tang San was genuinely delighted. Being able to participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition meant it was at least at the ninth order. Devouring their bloodline would greatly benefit his Chrono Croc bloodline. Although Gu Li now had the essence blood Assura had squeezed from the Aetherhorn Deers, it would take time for his cultivation to improve. However, if Tang San could devour enough bloodline imprints from this Chrono Croc opponent, he could elevate his imprint to the peak of the eighth order straight away. If he broke through to the ninth order soon enough, he might even bring the Chrono Croc imprint to the ninth order.


    Apanying this Chrono Croc was a winged demon��a Red-Crowned Crane from the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s lineage.


    Tang San had encountered a Red-Crowned Crane opponent in the Great Beast Fighting Arena in Kali City. As descendants of the Sword Saint lineage, the Red-Crowned Cranes�� swordsmanship was exceptionally refined and challenging to handle on the battlefield. And the one he faced back then was nothingpared to the one in front of him right now. After all, this demon was representing the Red-Crowned Crane lineage in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition and had to be a direct heir of the n.


    This pair consisted of one adept at time maniption and the other a master swordsman. Their coordination was easily imaginable. With his own Chrono Croc bloodline, Tang San immediately envisioned their possiblebat strategies.


    Tang San said to Mei Gongzi, "The Sword Saint Demon Emperor��s sword prowessbined with time maniption. The time attribute will affect you. I''ll handle the Chrono Croc; you take on the Red-Crowned Crane. Once I deal with the Chrono Croc, I''lle to help you."


    Mei Gongzi nodded.


    Tang San nned to fight separately once more. With both having teleportation abilities, they could effectively divide the battlefield. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to properly cooperate with Mei Gongzi, but it wasn''t the time for that yet. They couldn''t let stronger opponents figure out their abilities too early.


    At that moment, the referee officially announced the start of the match.


    "Begin!"


    The Red-Crowned Crane opponent''s eyes instantly lit up with a sharp gleam. At that moment, he seemed to vanish, leaving only sword intent behind, as if he were the sword, and the sword was him.


    When that sword intent appeared, it illuminated the entire arena with brilliant sword light. The incredibly sharp aura sliced through the air toward Tang San and Mei Gongzi.

 Chapter 496: The Yin-Yang Palm Strikes Again

    <h4>Chapter 496: The Yin-Yang Palm Strikes Again</h4>


    <i>So strong!</i> A sh of light appeared in Tang San''s eyes. This opponent had trained to the point where he and the sword were one. Reaching this level of swordsmanship was no easy feat.


    As the Red-Crowned Crane soared into the air, his wings spread wide. Below him, the Chrono Croc warrior emitted a soft white light. His eyes turned a misty white, and a distorted halo radiated from his body.


    Even without experiencing it up close, Tang San could sense that this opponent''s control over time was far superior to Gu Li''s. After all, this was a pureblooded Chrono Croc warrior that was at the very top below godhood, so naturally, his time maniption was also peak-level. Paired with the elite Red-Crowned Crane, they formed a truly formidable team.


    Unfortunately, their opponents were Tang San and Mei Gongzi.


    Tang San felt it wouldn''t be a big deal if he lost in the individual matches. But he would never allow himself to lose in the doubles matches, because he couldn''t let Mei Gongzi lose. <i>How can I let my beloved experience pain and sadness?</i>


    Tang San moved. The light from his teleportation array flickered, and the next moment, he vanished into thin air.


    The next moment, he appeared in front of the Chrono Croc.


    Yes, he had directly entered the opponent''s time control range!


    As he reappeared, his body seemed to freeze, and he plunged into a world where everything was incredibly slow.


    The opponents had clearly studied them; the Chrono Croc warrior had expanded his time control area right from the start. At the same time, a lightning-like sword light from above shot down, aiming straight at the top of Tang San''s head.


    But at that moment, the Chrono Croc suddenly saw two purple beams shooting out from Tang San''s eyes.


    In terms of bloodline power, Tang San was nowhere near the strongest of the contestants, but when it came to spiritual power, only the absolute cream of the crop among pure spirit-attribute experts couldpare to him. His spiritual power, purely in terms of the total amount, had long surpassed what could be evaluated as the peak of the ninth order.


    First attack, Purple Demon Eyes, for maximum spiritual impact!


    The Chrono Croc never expected this opponent, who had previously fought straightforwardly, to possess such incredible spiritual power. After all, in all of Tang San''s previous battles, he had never used any abilities rted to spiritual power. Additionally, the Chrono Croc''s own spiritual power was very high, so he hadn''t even imagined that he might suffer in this regard.


    At such a close distance and with nothing to protect him, the Chrono Croc felt as if a heavy hammer had struck his sea of consciousness. His mind went nk in an instant, and the time-slowing effect ceased.


    The sword strikeing down from above was naturally affected by the time change as well. The two had been cooperating for a long time and had a high level of coordination. Therefore, while time slowed down the opponent, it would also speed up the Red-Crowned Crane''s sword attacks.


    Naturally, as the Crono Croc lost control, the sword''s attack also seemed to slow down.


    A figure with peacock-blue hair shimmering with silver light appeared behind the Red-Crowned Crane. Dozens of silver beams surged upward��an explosive wave of space rifts.


    Although Tang San and Mei Gongzi hadn''t talked anything about coordinating their attacks, when he instantly shifted himself into range and stopped the time-slowing ability, Mei Gongzi wouldn''t miss such a good opportunity.


    Attacking the enemy in such a way that he was forced to defend was more effective than directly helping Tang San block the sword attack.


    Tang San didn''t even look up at the descending sword strike. With a quick step, he was next to the Chrono Croc. His right hand rose, and before the opponent could regain rity, Tang San��s palm was already pressed against his chest.


    In the spectator stands, people werementing on the fight.


    "See? This is exactly what happened thest time!" Mao Wenwu almost instantly shouted, turning to look at his father, who was behind him again. Back then, he had lost to this seemingly casual palm strike, and now, it seemed that it was the crocodile demon��s turn!


    The sword attack finally reached Tang San, yet by that point the Red-Crowned Crane had no chance but to divert his de and barely grazed Tang San��s back. The long sword in the crane demon��s hand flickered continuously, generating streaks of sword light to counter Mei Gongzi''s space rifts created by the Peacock Plume. In an instant, the battle reached a fever pitch.


    At the same time, Tang San''s palm was pressed against his opponent''s chest.


    If his opponent weren''t a Chrono Croc, Tang San wouldn''t have easily used his Purple Demon Eyes, as this was one of his true trump cards. Moreover, it was an ability that couldn''t be easily exined by bloodline alone. However, he couldn''t pass up the bloodline power of this peak ninth-order Chrono Croc. It was far more effective than waiting for Gu Li to advance.


    It wasn��t just his own cultivation at stake. For his uing creation of the Space-Time Beacon, he needed more substantial control over time to maximize its power. So, he decided to use the Purple Demon Eyes to ensure he could engage with this opponent.


    The defense of the Chrono Croc was vastly inferior to that of the Golden Mammoth, so there was no need to use the Peacock Demon imprint. He directly used the Lion-Tiger Golden Force''s devouring ability while injecting a stream of yin-yang energy into the opponent''s body.


    The Chrono Croc''s spiritual power was also quite formidable, so he only took a second to regain control of his body. As soon as his consciousness recovered, he tried to manipte time once more, but... it was toote.


    Tang San''s palm had already pressed against his chest.


    The Chrono Croc''s defense was quite goodpared to ordinary demons��, with his scales providing strong defense. Unfortunately, he faced the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, the power of a first-tier bloodline.


    The devouring force immediately began to draw his bloodline power, and it was especially smooth thanks to Tang San��s internal energy, which seemed to be suited to devouring other bloodlines since arriving in this ne.


    At the same time, the injection of yin-yang energy instantly caused the Chrono Croc''s pulse to triple in speed. The sudden increase in heartbeat caused a surge in the blood supply, drastically increasing his bloodline strength��so much so, in fact, that it wentpletely out of control. The internal chaos almost made the Chrono Croc''s eyes pop out of his sockets.


    The time fluctuations around him ceased abruptly just as they had begun to appear.


    "Sorry." Tang San''s voice sounded in his ear.


    Just as the Chrono Croc warrior was still trying to figure out what was happening, the terrifying devouring force suddenly peaked, causing his powerful heart to beat so hard it burst apart.


    Blood gushed from all orifices, and the Chrono Croc stared nkly at his opponent, feeling his boiling bloodline being frantically devoured and absorbed.


    The next moment, he simply exploded, turning into flying bits of flesh and a cloud of blood.


    A brilliant white light burst forth, enveloping Tang San.


    He had to use this extreme method to devour everything as quickly as possible. And to prevent the Chrono Croc warrior from exposing his abilities, he chose to kill his opponent outright, thus burying all traces.


    Everything happened in what felt like the blink of an eye.

 Chapter 497: Father, Did You See That?

    <h4>Chapter 497: Father, Did You See That?</h4>


    Within an instant, Tang San had teleported to his opponent. Purple light had shed in his eyes, and the flow of time had changed. He had lightly touched his opponent, and then... there was no then.


    In the air, Mei Gongzi and the Red-Crowned Crane were still shing, but below, the Chrono Croc had been struck by Tang San''s rather gentle palm and turned into a scattering blood mist. From start to finish, it took only a few seconds.


    Tang San''s face was flushed, and he swayed slightly. He took a deep breath to suppress the boiling energy within him. His innards were in turmoil, but this time it wasn''t due to injury; rather, it was due to the instant devouring of the Chrono Croc��s entire bloodline power. After all, this was the second-tier bloodline power of a peak ninth-order demon! Devouring it at such a speed put immense pressure on Tang San.


    Fortunately, he seeded. After this, he was confident he could elevate his Chrono Croc bloodline to the ninth order. He wouldn''t face any bloodline insufficiency issues before that.


    In the air, the Red-Crowned Crane and Mei Gongzi paused momentarily as the Chrono Croc exploded. Mei Gongzi was a bit stunned, and the originally fierce sword intent of the Red-Crowned Crane became somewhat chaotic.


    The next moment, he saw Tang San, who had steadied himself, looking up at him. The teleportation array disk in his right hand was lighting up.


    With a resentful shriek, the Red-Crowned Crane pped his wings, and the long sword quivered as it shattered the space rifts assaulting him. In an instant, he flew backward and directly exited the arena.


    He didn''t believe he could contend with two opponents alone, especially when one of them had just pped hispanion to death.


    In the spectator stands, Mao Wenwu turned around and forcefully pped the table in front of his father. The VIP seats had tables with various fruits and snacks.


    "Did you see that? Did you see that? Father, did you see that? If I wasn��t really thick-skinned, you wouldn''t have a son anymore. Now you know how ruthless that guy is, right? How could I have deliberately lost the match? Look at how terrifying he is! If he gets close, it''s over. You know the defense of the Chrono Croc isn''t weak, but he was freaking pulverized!"


    <i>Thwack! </i>Mao Wenwu''s father pped him on the head again. "How dare you m the table in front of your old man!"


    "I..."


    The father-son conversation didn''t affect the mood of the surrounding VIP guests. This was undoubtedly a quick victory. As Mao Wenwu said, that human was genuinely peculiar. He couldn''t be allowed to get close; once he did, it seemed impossible to withstand him! Even a top Golden Mammoth had lost under such circumstances. Who could im their defense was stronger than that of a Golden Mammoth?


    The Chrono Croc n''s leader was also in the VIP section, his face as dark as ink. The Chrono Croc n wascking numbers as it was, and losing an elite young member this way was infuriating. However, the rules of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition were clear. No matter how angry he was, he couldn''t act rashly.


    The match ended, and Mei Gongzi descended from the sky,nding beside Tang San.


    Mei Gongzi didn''t say much about Tang San killing the Chrono Croc. She didn��t entertain any thoughts of sympathy or anything like that. Humans struggled to survive as ves and vassals under the oppression of many demon and nymph ns. Countless humans had died at their hands, and she had also killed many demons herself.


    "I didn''t even get to do much, and it''s already over. That guy''s swordsmanship was quite impressive," Mei Gongzi said in a slightlyining tone.


    Tang San smiled and said, "I''ll let you do more next time."


    He was in a great mood now. The Chrono Croc bloodline imprint was a timely gift, prompting him to consider whether to elevate his cultivation to the ninth order.


    When they returned to Kali City, they would face many difficulties. Mei Gongzi''s rise to power would not be easy. This meant that Tang San needed even more strength to protect Mei Gongzi. It seemed like it was time for him to prepare to break through to the ninth order. Then, he would quickly elevate all his bloodline imprints to the ninth order, preparing for the future ascension to godhood.


    Beforeing to the Ancestral Court, Tang San thought this process would take at least a few years. However, this time frame had been significantly shortened after arriving at the Ancestral Court and gaining numerous resources and opportunities. This was a situation he was happy to see.


    The two stepped off the stage hand in hand. Mei Gongzi asked, "Big Brother Asura, are you heading back directly?"


    Tang San nodded and said, "I must return and continue my cultivation. What about you?"


    "I''ll go back too. The Mysterious Circles of Heaven are profound and expansive; I need to ponder them further."


    Looking at her beautiful face, Tang San truly wanted to spend more time with her, but for the sake of the future, he could only suppress his impulse and nod, saying, "Alright. See you tomorrow."


    He still needed to go to the Aetherhorn Merchant Association to get tickets for hispanions to watch the match. Then there was the cultivation at the Earthshade Sacred Mountain and the Sunborne Sacred Mountain, partially devouring the newly absorbed ninth-order Chrono Croc imprint to elevate his own Chrono Croc imprint to the peak of the eighth-order.... There was a lot to do, and all of it required time.


    Here, the speed of his cultivation was far greater than back in Kali City. Tang San had already decided to prioritize refining the long-distance teleportation ability when he returned and crafted the Space-Time Beacon. This would facilitate future travel between Kali City and the Ancestral Court, minimizing the travel time as much as possible.


    "Brother Xu, are you there?" Tang San activated themunicator Xu Ziran had given him and initiated contact.


    Almost immediately, Xu Ziran''s voice came through themunicator.


    ��Of course, I''m here. Brother Asura, you''re amazing. I never expected this! How did you end up participating in the team battle with the little princess?


    Tang San replied, "It''s a long story. The City Lord brought her to sign up the other day, and I happened to be there registering too. We met there and we decided to fight as a team. Don''t worry, mypanions aren��t participating, it''s just me. I''ll also be careful to keep a low profile."


    ��No problem, no problem. With the city lord''s endorsement, it''s fine even if you''re high-profile. You can just say you''re a vassal of the Peacock Demon n. Brother Asura, do you have time? Can we meet? I''m watching the match now; you probably haven''t left yet.


    Xu Ziran was surprisingly polite, but at the same time, he sounded a bit anxious. Tang San smiled, guessing why the Aetherhorn Deer was eager to meet him.


    "I just came out. I''ll wait for you at the exit."


    It wasn''t long before Xu Ziran, dressed simply, walked out from the za area. Seeing Tang San, he quickly approached with a look of friendliness. "Brother Asura, you''re amazing! You''re winning match after match in both the individual and the doublespetitions. Truly powerful!"


    As he spoke, he gave Tang San a thumbs-up.


    Tang San smiled and said, "I''m just doing my best. It''s also to secure a promising future."


    Xu Ziranughed. "Then you will surely have a bright future. Come, let''s go to our ce to talk. It''s quieter there."


    "Alright," Tang San agreed.


    A luxurious carriage from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association quickly arrived, and Tang San boarded the carriage with Xu Ziran.


    Xu Ziran''s expression was noticeably different from before. Previously, he valued Asura mainly for his connection with the master cksmith, seeing him as a link and intermediary. However, after witnessing Asura��s performance in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, he realized he had made a significant mistake.


    The fact that Asura''s bloodline power could reach beyond the second tier was already astonishing. In Kali City, such a bloodline could be considered top-tier. Moreover, he continuously defeated formidable opponents in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition.


    Xu Ziran watched the match against the Golden Mammoth and found his victory somewhat puzzling. But after witnessing Asura''s fierce battle against the powerful Scorching Sunflower, he truly understood that Asura was genuinely skilled and extraordinarily powerful. Xu Ziran even briefly wondered if this guy was actually human.

 Chapter 498: Xu Zirans Proposal

    <h4>Chapter 498: Xu Ziran''s Proposal</h4>


    What surprised Xu Ziran even more was that Asura teamed up with Mei Gongzi to participate in the doublespetition.


    As the most loyal supporter of the Peacock Demon n, Xu Ziran naturally knew that the Peacock Great Demon King intended for Mei Gongzi to inherit his throne and the position of city lord. Although they did not understand why the Peacock Great Demon King would choose someone with mixed blood, this was the will of the Peacock Great Demon King, and as loyal supporters, they had no choice but toply.


    When Xu Ziran saw that Asura and Mei Gongzi had formed a pair, he was truly shocked. Mei Gongzi being strong was nothing surprising, but their cooperation clearly indicated a deep connection!


    <i>What is going on? Could it be that Asura himself has some rtionship with the city lord?</i>


    Thus, Xu Ziran had initially intended to seek out Asura, but unexpectedly, thetter hade to him first. Naturally, Xu Ziran wanted to find out the specifics in order to understand better how to deal with him in the future.


    "Brother Asura, what brings you to me?" Xu Ziran asked.


    "I have a small favor to ask of you, Brother Xu. You know mypanions. They hope toe and watch this grand event of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. Could you help us get a few tickets for decent seats?"


    Hearing this, Xu Ziran''s face showed a look of realization, and he quickly smiled, "A small matter, a small matter. There are very few good seats left, but worry not, our merchant association has reserved some seats. We��ll just give you some. How many tickets do you need?"


    Tang San said, "Just five."


    On his part, there were his threepanions and his master. Sadly, Du Bai had to sit this one out. Conversely, he definitely had to arrange a seat for Little Cat. If she was in the stands watching the match, Big Cat''sbat power would probably increase by a level. Thus, he required five seats in total.


    "Alright, no problem. I''ll arrange it as soon as I get back. They can watch the fights together tomorrow."


    Hearing Xu Ziran agree so readily, Tang San smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Brother Xu."


    Xu Ziran replied, "No need to be polite. I should be thanking you. You have no idea how many orders we''ve received since you used the teleportation array disc to defeat powerful opponents in the arena one after another. Our merchant association has been flooded with orders. Actually, I was going to contact you about this. The array discs you broughtst time are almost sold out.


    "We had no choice but to raise the prices again, yet the demand still exceeds supply. Brother Asura, if it''s not too much, please ask the array master to make more array discs for us, especially the teleportation ones. They''re incredibly popr right now, and the Ancestral Court is full of wealthy people. Rest assured, even if we end up increasing the price, Master Lou��s percentage will stay the same."


    No one everined about having too much money. Most of Tang San''s profits from selling bloodline array discs had already been spent. He said, "I''ll find Master Louter. Speaking of that, his need for materials has been quite hightely. Making the array discs requires materials, of course. We will take whatever you can provide."


    "That''s no problem," Xu Ziran said, patting his chest with a smile. "Give me a listter, and I''ll prepare everything as soon as possible. I''ll give them to you after your match tomorrow."


    Asura had used a teleportation array disc to consecutively defeat opponents in thepetition, relying on the array disc''s powerful teleportation ability. Naturally, this caught the attention of many, and recently, sales had soared. The Aetherhorn Merchant Association was at the height of its fame, far surpassing itspetitors. Xu Ziran received significant praise, and the Aetherhorn Merchant Association made huge profits, with sales of other products increasing as well. It seemed they were on the path to bing the continent''s top merchant association.


    With the potential profits and Asura''s demonstrated personal strength, how could Xu Ziran''s attitude towards him not change? Even if the Aetherhorn Deer King were here, he would have to be respectful toward Asura.


    Tang San said, "That shouldn''t be a problem. But it will take some time. Master Lou is still researching the bloodline array discs, and I can''t bother him too much."


    "Alright, alright. Understood. Sometimes, fewer items can sell at a better price. We will organize it all to maximize profits and ensure the master gains good returns."


    <i>Isn''t this just scarcity marketing?</i> Tang San chuckled to himself.


    Arriving at the Aetherhorn Merchant Association by carriage, Xu Ziran led Asura to a quiet room. He first had Asura write down the materials needed, then immediately sent his subordinates to prepare them.


    Naturally, Tang San couldn''t let the Aetherhorn Merchant Association provide all the materials needed to make the array discs. He omitted some essential but inexpensive materials he would purchase himself or have his master buy. He couldn''t let them know how low the actual cost of the array discs was.


    After making the arrangements, Xu Ziran asked him, "Brother Asura, do you have any specific goals for thispetition?"


    Tang San shook his head. "Just doing my best. Do you have any suggestions, Brother Xu?"


    Xu Ziran pondered momentarily and said, "I wouldn''t call it a suggestion, but do you know, Brother Asura, if you can make it out of the group stage and into the finals, there will be significant benefits?"


    Tang San feigned a look of surprise. "Please enlighten me, Brother Xu."


    Xu Ziran said, "The Ancestral Court Elite Competition is a crucial event for each major family to select elite talents. Thepetition starts with internal trials within each major n. Whoever stands out in such apetition is undoubtedly proving themselves to their family, thereby gaining more resource allocation in the future.


    "Those who can participate are from powerful ns, and most are at the ninth order. The leap from the ninth order to the tenth is challenging and can be life-threatening if not done correctly. Therefore, achieving this level requires a huge amount of resources. Each race has limited resources, so resource allocation bes crucial. The Ancestral Court Elite Competition, in a sense, is the final decision on resource allocation. The more victories one achieves in the tournament, the more support they will receive from their n."


    Tang San nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.


    Xu Ziran continued, "Once you enter the top sixteen, it��s not just about gaining the attention of major families but also catching the eyes of Emperors. If you happen to be from an Emperor��s n, you might even get personal guidance from them and maybe even be a direct heir, and consequently a major figure within your n. And even if you aren��t, you can still gain the favor of an Emperor. You can then choose to join the Emperor''s n and be an important guest official.


    "They will also provide arge amount of resources for improvement. Therefore, the further you go in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, the fiercer thepetition. Those who have reached the top three have almost always be the leaders of their respective ns and even races. So, the Ancestral Court Elite Competition is even more important than you imagine."


    Tang San said, "I understand a bit now. So, what do you mean for me to do now, Brother Xu?"


    Xu Ziran said, "Something else entirelypared to when youpeted in the Great Beast Fighting Arena. At that time, the Ancestral Court targeted you because of your impact on the human race. Although humans are generally weak, they are numerous. To avoid unnecessary trouble, they aimed to suppress you. But now, you arepeting as an individual; not only do you have noble status, but your bloodline is second-tier or higher. You��re in a different position altogether. If you can gain the recognition of an Emperor in the future, it would be an incredible achievement and could even benefit Kali City."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 499: The Possibility of a Bloodline Beyond the First Tier

    <h4>Chapter 499: The Possibility of a Bloodline Beyond the First Tier</h4>


    With that, Tang San finally understood where his interlocutor was getting. Xu Ziran hoped that he could achieve good results in thepetition, gain recognition from the Emperors, and thereby receive the Emperors'' support for the Peacock Demon n in Kali City.


    Tang San calmly said, "Gaining the recognition of an Emperor is not an easy task. Moreover, I am just a human. Even if I achieve some sess in thepetition, I wouldn''t be <i>that</i> highly regarded by the Emperors, right?"


    Xu Ziran said, "See, that��s not exactly the case. You are no longer an ordinary human. You have already won four matches in the Elite Competition, defeating various opponents, including those with first-tier bloodlines. Yesterday, you defeated a member of the Scorching Sunflower n, who are among the strongest of the strong. If you continue like this, you can advance from the group stage!


    "You may not know this, but statistically speaking, participants who advance from the group stage are likely to be a Great Demon King in the future. As a human, you may not be noticed, but what if you are a Great Demon King? Well, maybe I should call that a Great Human King. Regardless, there has never been such a person in the entire human history! If you can reach that level, how could you not be valued by the Emperors? Moreover, you represent the human race, in a sense. Although humans are weak, they sure have the numbers. Supporting you to be the ruler of the race is not impossible."


    Tang San looked at him, thinking in amazement, <i>You have quite a n! Your goal is simply to hope that I can gain the support of the Emperors, and thus stabilize the Peacock Demon n''s ruling position. </i>


    Not that heined in any way��after all, this was also one of his own goals. To help Mei Gongzi in the future, his strength was still insufficient, and there was certainly strength in numbers.


    "I will do my best," he replied.


    Xu Ziran said, "Brother Asura, since you arepeting together with the little princess, it means that the city lord already recognizes you. You must do your best! Ideally, you should make it out of the group stage. Two or three more victories will get you into the top sixteen. Actually, you might only need two matches if you''re lucky and get a bye. This year''s newly introduced doublespetition is said to be particrly valued by the Ancestral Court, so you and the little princess must work even harder. If necessary, I suggest you give up the individualpetition and focus on the doubles, assisting the little princess. That would be even more significant for Kali City."


    <i>So the goal is just to help Mei Gongzi advance. Did you really need to tell me all that stuff about a Great King and whatnot?</i>


    "Don''t worry, Brother Xu. I will do my best to assist her. She is very strong, and I believe she can go far."


    Xu Ziran sighed softly and said, "After watching the matches these past few days, I understand why the city lord wants the little princess to inherit the throne. She is truly exceptional! Her siblings can''tpare to her. She is not even eighteen yet and already has such strength. In the future, she might be able to restore the glory of the Peacock Demon n. If she bes an Emperor, you will be the one assisting an Emperor."


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "That would be my honor."


    Xu Ziran subtly probed further into his interlocutor''s strength, especially his bloodline, but Tang San skillfully evaded these questions. By the time he was ready to leave, the items Xu Ziran had ordered to be prepared were ready. He didn''t have to wait until the next day; they were given to him before he left, along with the entrance tickets for hispanions, all neatly arranged.


    "Brother Asura, please keep up the good work. When you return victorious, our association will certainly present a gift to congratte you," Xu Ziran said sincerely.


    "Thank you, Brother Xu. I will do my best."


    Putting away the items Xu Ziran gave him, Tang San did not return to his residence but went directly to the Sunborne Sacred Mountain to continue his cultivation. After fusing with the Corpse Devourer Nymph''s bloodline, he still had a lot of room to absorb yin and yang energies.


    Today, when facing the strong opponent from the Chrono Croc n, Tang San had once more relied on a fusion of multiple bloodlines. Under the spiritual shock delivered by the Purple Demon Eyes, the yin-yang energy once again yed a decisive role. Once it entered the enemy��s cirction, the extreme yin power in particr almost instantly neutralized the opponent''sbat strength. Even a Golden Mammoth��s physique was unable to withstand it, so what more could be said about other races?


    The enhancement of yin-yang energy also significantly contributed to Tang San''s overall improvement.


    ording to Tang San''s estimates, the sheer power of his yin-yang energy was roughly equivalent to the seventh order. This meant it wasparable to the seventh order after the fusion of energy from the Sunborne Sacred Mountain and the Earthshade Mountain. On the other hand, in terms of quality... it could no longer be ssified as even a first-tier bloodline.


    Because the Blue Silver Emperor imprint was positioned further back, it was eager to move forward, as if to elevate its own status now that its quality had improved so tremendously. Thankfully, under Tang San''s continuous suppression, it hadn''t conflicted with the other imprints. In any case, the sh was inevitable, and Tang San only hoped to dy it for a while to avoid affecting his participation in thepetition.


    In the future, if the power of the yin-yang energy could be raised to the ninth order, it might be uncontroble. But that would take time. For now, the enhancement of the Blue Silver Emperor brought by the Corpse Devourer Nymph bloodline would allow the yin-yang energy to reach the eighth order. As for the speed... Tang San��s daily absorption of yin and yang energies resulted in a ridiculous cultivation rate. And as long as Tang San could withstand it, the rate wouldn''t drop.


    The biggest problem the Blue Silver Emperor imprint faced right now was its instability. The Blue Silver Emperor acted as a medium to merge and guide the two energies, allowing them to merge into the yin-yang energy vortex. But this vortex had no core, unlike Tang San''s internal energy. Thanks to the Mysterious Heaven Technique, he had been able to develop a soul core, ensuring that no matter how his internal energy increased or decreased, there would be no disorder. The soul core was the absolute central hub for his internal energy.


    Unfortunately, the Blue Silver Emperor imprint could not fulfill that role; its level was simply insufficient. Even after continuously devouring several powerful bloodlines, it only reached the strength of a second-tier bloodline. As for the extremely yin and extremely yang energies? If fully integrated as bloodline imprints, each one would have the strength of a first-tier bloodline all by itself, and their fusion increased this exponentially. The Blue Silver Emperor bing their core was just impossible.


    In this regard, Tang San had a n in mind. To truly stabilize the yin-yang energy, his Blue Silver Emperor had to simultaneously absorb bloodline power from both the Sunborne Nymph Emperor��s lineage and the Earthshade Nymph Emperor��s lineage. It would undergo a stronger evolution by merging these extremely yin and yang bloodline imprints into the Blue Silver Emperor. At that time, the yin-yang energy would truly integrate and evolve, giving birth to a fully cohesive imprint.


    But this fusion would inevitably be challenging. By then, the conflict of the yin-yang energy would not just be an energy conflict but also a bloodline conflict. Tang San was genuinely afraid that he wouldn''t be able to withstand it, so he was worried. Achieving this was genuinely challenging. He could only take it one step at a time, steadily pushing the yin-yang energy to the ninth order first. Later, when his cultivation was more stable, he could consider the ultimate evolution of the yin-yang energy. If this evolution werepleted, the resulting imprint would be a bloodline transcending the first tier, possibly the key to his future ascension to godhood.


    As the saying goes, ns can''t keep up with changes. After arriving at the Ancestral Court, the world truly opened up for Tang San. It made him ren his future cultivation and advancement and taught him how to face this world.


    The rest of the day, until nightfall, was spent shuttling between the two sacred mountains.

 Chapter 500: The Competition Continues

    <h4>Chapter 500: The Competition Continues</h4>


    The first steps could no longer meet Tang San''s cultivation needs. He had climbed to the third level of both the Sunborne Sacred Mountain and the Earthshade Sacred Mountain. As the yin-yang energy vortex strengthened, he could absorb more and more yin-yang energy. His cultivation advancement was still swift. In just two more days, the foundation provided by the Corpse-Devouring Nymph imprint would be nearly fully assimted.


    When he got up for breakfast the following day, his master,panions, and Little Cat were already waiting for him. He had informed everyone the day before that he had secured the tickets. Today, they could all watch the matches at the Ancestral Court za.


    Everyone had been diligently cultivating recently, and having a chance to rx was rare. They were all full of energy and anticipation.


    "Don''t get too excited just yet. When you watch the matches, stay calm and don''tpare your abilities to those of the contestants," Tang San said, handing the tickets to hispanions, throwing a bit of cold water on their enthusiasm.


    "Is it that intense? Looks like they''re in for a shock!" Du Bai, who couldn''t attend the match, said with a hint of schadenfreude.


    "Getting shocked is better than not even having the qualification to get shocked," Gu Li retorted.


    "Hmph!" Du Bai snorted. He was genuinely frustrated. He wanted to watch the matches, too, but his Celestial Fox Vision was too sensitive an issue, and he understood the reason.


    Tang San patted Du Bai''s shoulder and said, "Don''t worry. When we get back, I''ll get you a gift."


    "A gift? What is it?" Du Bai knew that Tang San didn��t make promises lightly, and anything he gave as a gift had to be top-notch.


    Tang San smiled and said, "You''ll find out then. I''m sure you''ll be delighted. But you need to work on your physical fitness. Otherwise, I''m afraid you won''t be able to use it."


    Du Bai said, "Don''t worry about that. Since my spiritual power reached the ninth order, I''ve found that it actually helps me improve my body as well. And here in the Ancestral Court, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is so rich that it��s nourishing me and helping me improve my condition. I''ll keep practicing."


    "That''s good. You continue your cultivation at the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain. Everyone, let��s head out."


    Zhang Haoxuan put on a mask and a cloak; he had to disguise his figure so that the Aetherhorn Merchant Association wouldn''t recognize that the "array master" himself was attending the match.


    They rented a carriage from the White Tiger Hotel and headed straight for the Ancestral Court za.


    The number of guests at the White Tiger Hotel hadn''t decreased despite many contestants being eliminated. Many of the eliminated contestants stayed to watch the remaining matches. They were curious to see who would advance and who would be the eventual champion.


    After two rounds of individualpetition in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, the number of contestants had decreased from over three hundred to fewer than ny.


    There would be three more rounds of matches, and the first ce in each group would be decided. Some lucky contestants might only need two more matches to advance from their group.


    Tang San''s group had an odd number of participants, meaning that after this match, there would be a draw for the next round. The contestant who drew the bye would get a rest and thenpete against the third round winnerter.


    The same applied to the other groups.


    Based on his luck in previous individual matches, Tang San didn''t think he would advance with just two rounds. Moreover, the opponents he was going to face would probably not be weak either.


    He just hoped not to encounter another freakish opponent like the one from the Scorching Sunflower n again. If it hadn''t been for the yin-yang energy that day, he would have had to unleash his full power to have a chance at winning.


    Hispanions and master went to the spectator seats, while Tang San went to the waiting area to meet Big Cat and Mei Gongzi.


    Big Cat appeared hunched over and pale, as if suffering from overexertion. To the other contestants, it seemed like he hadn''t recovered from the severe injuries he had sustained in his previous match.


    Tang San gave him an inquisitive look and whispered, "Little Cat is watching today."


    Big Cat winked at him. Tang San immediately understood.


    Mei Gongzi said, "Big Brother Asura, I asked around for you. In your third group, among the opponents you might faceter, there are two strong ones with first-tier bloodlines, and the other two are rtively weaker. Including you, there are five contestants in total."


    Tang San''s mouth twitched, and he said, "My luck doesn��t seem to be great these days. I hope I don''t run into those strong ones in the next two matches. Well, if I have three matches, I��ll definitely encounter them."


    Mei Gongzi couldn''t help butugh at his grumpy expression. Her smile, usually so rare on her icy face, was like spring thawing the snow and bringing everything back to life. Tang San couldn''t help but be a bit mesmerized.


    "You have to do your best. We all need to aim for the top sixteen," Mei Gongzi said softly.


    Looking at her encouraging eyes, Tang San felt his fighting spirit surge. "I will make it to the top sixteen. I''ll clear the way for you."


    Now it was Big Cat''s turn to feel resentful. "Hey, am I included in these obstacles you''re clearing?"


    Tang San turned to look at him and couldn''t help butugh. "Of course, it doesn''t include you. If we all make it to the top sixteen in the individualpetition, I''ll forfeit no matter who I face between the two of you. If you two meet, then it''ll be up to your abilities. Let''s see who is stronger."


    Big Cat blinked. "You''re being so nice to me?"


    Tang San smiled. "Since I didn''t team up with you for the doubles, consider itpensation. But it would be best not to meet you two too early in thepetition. This way, I can help clear some obstacles for you. If we can meet in the semifinals, that would be perfect."


    Big Cat chuckled bitterly. "Given your luck, that doesn''t seem very likely!"


    Tang San looked at him meaningfully and said, "That''s not necessarily true."


    His luck in thepetition, especially in the individual matches, had been poor because he hadn''t used the Celestial Fox imprint to enhance it.


    In apetition of this level, it would draw unwanted attention if he just breezed through. By having bad luck in the earlier matches and facing strong opponents, no one would suspect he was favored by fortune. So, Tang San found it beneficial to face tough opponents constantly. He could use the Celestial Fox bloodline to enhance his luck when he reached the finals. This way, he could avoid facing Mei Gongzi and Big Cat before the semifinals and also bestow luck upon them. Meeting in the semifinals was entirely possible.


    Tang San did feel guilty for not partnering with Big Cat in the doubles. If he met Big Cat in thepetition, he would forfeit. Of course, if Big Cat faced Mei Gongziter, Tang San would watch closely and wouldn''t allow him to harm Mei Gongzi.


    The third round of the elimination matches had already begun, and by this round, thepetition had be even more intense, even brutal.


    After the first two rounds of elimination matches, Big Cat wasn''t the only one injured. It was not easy to defeat opponents ande out unscathed. Therefore, in today''s matches, many contestants were already fighting with injuries, unable to use their full strength against their opponents.


    But this was also one of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition tests. One needed to have great power and endurance. In such a densely packed schedule, continuing to advance required not just incredible strength but also strong overall abilities.

 Chapter 501: Invincible on Land, The Behemoth

    <h4>Chapter 501: Invincible on Land, The Behemoth</h4>


    Mei Gongzi also informed them that fifteen contestants in the individualpetition had chosen to withdraw before the matches began today.


    This had never happened before in the history of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. Even if they lost, they would lose in the arena. Surrendering was not something the demon and nymph ns would choose lightly.


    However, this year was different. Besides the individualpetition, there was also a doublespetition.


    The rewards for the doublespetition were even more generous than those for the individualpetition. Therefore, for those participating in both and advancing in both, they had to prioritize by this round. Not many could continue advancing smoothly in bothpetitions. After all, every match, on either side, would bring them strong opponents and tough challenges.


    Thus, by this round, some contestants who believed they had a better chance of advancing in the doublespetition gave up the individualpetition. Of course, there were also those whose partners were injured or whose pairs had issues, causing them to abandon the doubles and focus on the individualpetition. But the former was moremon, and thus today saw fifteen individualpetitors withdraw.


    In Tang San''s group, one contestant also withdrew. Tang San only learned this when it was time for the third group topete. This meant that his group had only four contestants left, and he only needed two more matches to advance to the finals. Having one less match to fight was certainly a good thing! And it finally gave him some time to rest.


    On the doubles side, although there were more contestants, there were fewer matches because they were in pairs. It was confirmed that if they won the next two matches, they would advance to the final sixteen.


    As long as one entered the finals, there would be rewards, and the chance to receive tokens of recognition from the emperors. As for higher rankings, luck yed a lesser role; those who made it to the finals were undoubtedly the top elites among their own ns


    In the waiting area, Tang San also saw the opponents he was about to face.


    One of the three contestants from the third group looked familiar; he was the one Tang San had seen in the first round but hadn''t faced yet. ording to Tang San''s guess, he probably wouldn''t encounter this one in this round because he seemed to be the weakest among the remaining four contestants in the third group.


    The other two contestants were a nymph and a demon. If Tang San could choose, he would prefer to face the nymph contestant first, as it would be beneficial for enhancing his Blue Silver Emperor bloodline imprint. With the current state of the Blue Silver Emperor and the addition of yin-yang energy, it should be capable of devouring a first-tier bloodline. Of course, the prerequisite was that it couldn''t be of either the yin or the yang attribute.


    And when he took the stage, it turned out that his luck... was still as bad as ever! He didn''t get the chance to face the nymph he had been hoping to fight. Instead, he would be fighting another powerful member of a demon n.


    When Tang San saw his opponent earlier, he knew this match would be troublesome again. He suspected that the third group was a group of death, as each contestant in this group seemed stronger than thest. They were all from extremely powerful and difficult to deal with races, and that was not even mentioning their own individual strength.


    On thepetition stage, standing at a distance, was a demon contestant who looked human.


    He was about two meters tall, with short, brown hair that looked like steel needles, dark and glossy skin, and no excess fat on his body. His bare arms sported massive, rock-like muscles. Based on appearance alone, he might as well have been a human who really enjoyed physical training.


    However, Tang San knew all too well that someone who looked so human-like must possess a first-tier bloodline, just like the Scorching Sunflower he faced that day. And this one, purely based on aura and steadiness, brought him no less pressure than the Scorching Sunflower. He even seemed quite a bit stronger than the nymph in his group. In other words, of the two matches Tang San would have, this was going to be the more difficult one. Well, if he lost this one, then there would be no second match, so that was one less concern.


    Although he didn''t n on applying good fortune to himself in the group stage, being this unlucky all the time didn''t seem right either!


    Tang San looked up at the sky, wondering if he had used up all his daily luck during the grand auction.


    At this moment, the referee officially announced the start of the match.


    "Begin!"


    The burly male opposite shook both his arms simultaneously. Instantly, his fingernails elongated, turning into what looked like thirty-centimeter des, and his skin turnedpletely dark golden. Though his physique didn''t change, the explosive power radiating from him caused faint silver-ck cracks to appear in the air around him.


    <i>Whoa...</i>


    Tang San, who had seen a lot, instantly understood what was going on. The opponent��s overwhelming power was causing cracks to appear in the surrounding space!


    At this moment, he understood what the opponent was��an entity of unparalleled destructive force. The beast deemed invincible onnd, the Behemoth! A descendant of the fourth-ranked Demon Emperor, the mighty Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor!


    This could well be the strongest in this entirepetition when it came regarding sheerbat power.


    Among the Demon Emperors, the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor ranked fourth. The only ones ahead of him were the Crystal Demon Emperor, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, and the Undying Demon Emperor, who were a Crystal Dragon, Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, and Immortal me Phoenix respectively.


    In terms of sheer power, the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor ranked higher than even the titanic Mammoth Demon Emperor. He could even rank in the top three, considering the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''sbat strength was just average at best.


    The Behemoth n had few members, but they were solidly among the top three in the Empyrean Dominion. They were a terrifying n capable of challenging dragons and phoenixes, and the title of "invincible onnd" was not given lightly. Onnd alone, even dragons and phoenixes were not their match.


    In these three group stage matches, Tang San faced a Golden Mammoth, a Scorching Sunflower, and now a descendant of the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor from the Behemoth n. His luck was unparalleled and unprecedented, possibly in the entire history of thispetition.


    At this moment, his opponent, this powerful member of the Behemoth n, did not appear rxed either. He looked at Tang San with a serious expression, mixed with a hint of apprehension.


    Both the Golden Mammoth n and the Scorching Sunflower n were of the same bloodline tier as him, and yet the human had prevailed. Moreover, that close-range fighting power had left a very deep impression on him.


    The Golden Mammoth had to kneel under that seemingly light palm strike, and the Chrono Croc was directly smashed by a single p. Although this Behemoth had great confidence in his own strength, he didn''t believe his defense was higher than the Golden Mammoth''s.


    Tang San was holding the teleportation array disc, but he didn''t activate it directly this time. The incandescent light reappeared, and at the same time, he took out Sky-Shatterer with his right hand.


    The eyes of the Behemoth contestant suddenly ignited with intense fighting spirit. The next moment, he charged toward Tang San withrge strides, a hazy yellow aura radiating from his entire body. His ws seemed to elongate again��this time not physically, but due to the meter-long energy des extending from their tips.


    At this moment, he was clearly not in an activated bloodline state. The Behemoth was called thus because of its extremely robust physique, after all. The top-tier members of the Behemoth n could exceed twenty meters in height, and even normal adults were over ten meters tall. Their strength, speed, and explosive power were all extremely formidable.

 Chapter 502: A Terrifying Opponent

    <h4>Chapter 502: A Terrifying Opponent</h4>


    This opponent faced Tang San in human form, which was clearly not his strongest state. However, being in human form had its advantages. In this state, his body was smaller and more agile. If he transformed into a Behemoth''s true form, his massive body would be at a disadvantage against the nimble human. What if the human got close? Even with his tough defense, he didn��t believe he could withstand the palm strike that had felled a Golden Mammoth.


    Therefore, upon discovering who the opponent was, he decided to fight in human form. The strength of his physique would be somewhat lower, but he had confidence in his speed and reflexes.


    The distance between them closed instantly. The Behemoth had no choice��his strengthy in close-quartersbat. Otherwise, he really didn''t want to engage in a brawl with someone as powerful as Tang San.


    He stomped heavily on the ground with his left foot, leaping into the air. Well, perhaps "leap" was not the best word; his sheer power propelled him forward at breakneck speed, as if he had been sted forward by an explosion.


    Tang San knew that in terms of strength, he couldn''tpare to this opponent, just like how he couldn''tpare to the Golden Mammoth. Thus, he had to rely on other things.


    While the Behemoth was still in mid-air, he swung his ws. The energy extensions of his ws grew to several meters, and they crisscrossed in the air, leaving deep space cracks in their wake.


    Mei Gongzi could also tear the space apart and create rifts, but that was because her power allowed her to control space directly. Meanwhile, the Behemoth had managed to sh space open purely through power and sharpness. With his ws projecting light des forward and leaving space rifts behind, he effectively blocked every path that Tang San could take to advance. A sh of silver light appeared as the teleportation array disc was activated, but instead of teleporting forward, Tang San actually moved backward. In the next instant, he appeared at the back near the edge of thepetition tform.


    At the same time, his Sky Shatterer had already shot out. He was using the same Meteor Hammer technique asst time; the hammer was connected to a Blue Silver Emperor vine. It drew an arc as it flew, bypassing the energy ws, and then veered off-course in mid-air, flying directly at the Behemoth contestant''s head.


    The Behemoth contestantnded steadily, the energy ws leaving long, deep grooves on the ground.


    Without even looking at Sky Shatterer, he waved his left hand and shed out, sending glimmering energy des toward Tang San.


    Suddenly, something weird happened. The sharp lights he had unleashed froze in mid-air. And as Sky Shatterer collided with them, it was flung back. Meanwhile, the Behemoth��s right hand shed out, generating even more energy des and this time targeting the Blue Silver Emperor vine connected to Sky Shatterer.


    The ability to create concrete forms from one��s bloodline energy, like these des that could remain suspended in the air, was called Bloodline Trace. It was an ability only avable to those with extremely high cultivation and bloodline power of a high enough level to condense outside the body without dissipating.


    Just based on this move alone, Tang San judged that this opponent was likely the strongest he had faced so far.


    What he didn''t know was that this direct descendant of the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor was also the true seed contestant of their group, deemed by the Ancestral Court to be someone who could advance from the group stage.


    As Sky Shatterer was deflected, Tang San tugged at the Blue Silver Emperor vine, pulling back the hammer. However, the Behemoth��s position and timing were simply too good, and the energy des were sorge that the Blue Silver Emperor vine couldn''t avoid them.


    The Blue Silver Emperor vine was instantly cut into several pieces. Fortunately, Sky-Shatterer still flew back to Tang San, thanks to its momentum.


    The moment he grasped Sky Shatterer, Tang San activated the array disk again, this time teleporting directly to the position where the Behemoth had originally entered the stage.


    From the previous few indirect encounters, he understood that without using his divine consciousness, he had no chance in a direct confrontation. This guy''s attack, defense, and explosive power were simply too perfect. The Behemoth''s ws were something he couldn''t withstand head-on. Maybe Big Cat, with the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, could face the Behemoth directly, but he himself was only at the peak of the eighth order and couldn''t do it!


    Such an opponent was truly troublesome. To defeat someone like this, he would have to find another way. It was clear that he couldn''t avoid revealing some of his abilities.


    Tang San let out a helpless sigh. His eyes lit up with a faint golden glow, and the next moment, a pair of golden wings spread out from his back.


    In the stands, Cheng Zicheng couldn''t help but exim, "Golden Roc Transformation?"


    She had never known that Tang San could use the Golden Roc Transformation. How was this possible? This was the only thought in her mind at that moment. What exactly was his bloodline?


    When he first arrived, Tang San used the Wind Tiger Transformation[1]. Yet now that she thought of it, he hadn��t really used abilities rted to the Wind Tiger for a very long time. And now, he revealed the wings of the Golden Roc! How could Cheng Zicheng and the otherpanions not be surprised?


    Previously in battle, Tang San had always shown the Lion-Tiger bloodline, which was recognized as a powerful bloodline. Its exact nature was unknown, but whatever it was, it was just one bloodline power. Now, these wings unquestionably came from a second bloodline!


    <i>A human with a dual bloodline inheritance! </i>This was the thought that all the spectators had at this moment.


    Dual bloodlines were not umon on the Daemon Continent, but generally, having two bloodlines meant both would be rtively thin. Unless the bloodlines themselves were extremely powerful, the end result was usually very weak. There were cases where two bloodlines could mutate together, but the results were mostly failures, sometimes even leading to early death.


    Sessful cases did exist, such as the Sunborne Nymph Emperor and the Earthshade Nymph Emperor. Among the nymphs, the sess rate of bloodline fusion was rtively high due to their inherent trait that allowed them tobine bloodlines with a lower rejection rate. For demons, however, having two bloodlines could easily lead to conflicts, and these conflicts were often deadly��like with the Lion-Tigers.


    At this moment, Tang San clearly disyed a second bloodline, and it was obvious that the two bloodlines coexisted without any conflict.


    "<i>ROAR!!!</i>"


    A blinding white light erupted from behind Tang San, and the massive white silhouette of a Lion-Tiger appeared, letting out an ear-splitting roar.


    The sound waves caused the Behemoth contestant to pause slightly.


    <i>Lion-Tiger? The Lion-Tiger bloodline!</i>


    If Big Cat wasn''t in thispetition, no one might have recognized the Lion-Tiger Golden Force. But Big Cat had used the same ability in the first match, and it had a strong bloodline intimidation effect on powerful opponents. This had caused a massive stir within the Ancestral Court, especially among the various ns of the lion and tiger races.


    They weren''t fools; how could they not see that the Lion-Tiger warrior had resolved the bloodline conflict and truly integrated the two bloodlines, creating a new and powerful one? Moreover, it was very likely a first-tier bloodline!


    This caused many different opinions to arise within the lion and tiger races, and especially after the second match, when Big Cat used his formidable strength to confront and defeat a Golden Mammoth. This practically confirmed that his bloodline was first-tier.


    Now, the same Lion-Tiger Golden Force was being used by a humanpetitor. Although he had to be a noble to participate, this implied that he was originally a vassal of the Lion-Tiger Beast lineage. Of course, Tang San wasn��t worried about that. Even if an investigation was der on, they would only discover that he had registered together with Big Cat.


    1. It was the Wind Wolf Transformation, but the author has since retconned this. ?

 Chapter 503: Lion-Tiger Golden Roc Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 503: Lion-Tiger Golden Roc Transformation</h4>


    But a Lion-Tiger growing wings?


    The Lion-Tiger rising with wings was indeed peculiar, and it was clearly abination of two bloodlines that coexisted without any apparent conflict. In the eyes of the spectator, this human was truly extraordinary!


    If he had a choice, Tang San definitely wouldn''t want to reveal two bloodlines in front of a crowd. This wasn''t his wish. But his opponent was too strong, and if he didn''t reveal the Golden Roc Transformation, he might have to expose even more.


    The space teleportation ability of the Peacock Transformation could asionally be covered up by using the teleportation array disc, but continuous use would cause suspicion. Once the teleportation array disc was studied more, it would be discovered that it couldn��t be used that much or that often, so they would immediately realize something was off.


    The Chrono Croc Transformation''s time control was even more obvious. As for the Pr Luck Domain, it absolutely couldn''t be used in battle. The most critical bloodline to conceal was the Celestial Fox��s.


    The Blue Silver Emperor, which he had used already, was easier to exin. He could pass it off as a special application of a treasure nt, and as long as it wasn''t overused, it wouldn''t attract much attention since it didn''t have particrly strong abilities.


    Moreover, the Behemoth n was known as the strongest onnd. Naturally, in order to defeat them, the best measure to take was to remove the fight from the ground. In other words, take flight and make it an air-to-ground battle.


    So, after a brief consideration, Tang San decided to reveal the Golden Roc Transformation, using his golden wings to assist the Lion-Tiger Golden Force in confronting his opponent. Having two bloodlines wasn''t unheard of, and with the vast human poption, it wasn''t impossible for a unique dual-bloodline individual to appear. Moreover, Mei Gongzi also had two bloodlines, and if she made it to the finals, she probably wouldn''t be able to hide it either.


    If Mei Gongzi hadn''te this time, Tang San probably wouldn''t have made this choice. At worst, he would have just tried with the Lion Tiger Golden Force alone, and if he lost, he lost.


    But with things as they were, he had to do it! Mei Gongzi was here, and he had to protect her. This was crucial for her future in inheriting the position of Peacock Demon n leader. After all, gaining the recognition of the Ancestral Court was essential for her to truly inherit the throne. This was also why the Peacock Great Demon King brought her to participate in thispetition.


    Tang San didn''t know what trump cards Mei Gongzi had, but if a powerhouse like this made it to the finals and faced her, it would surely cause her a lot of trouble. The same applied to Big Cat. Therefore, after careful consideration, he decided that he had to defeat this opponent.


    Moreover, his various bloodlines had already been exposed when facing the Crystal Demon Emperor''s test. Mei Gongzi being here meant he had at his disposal all three tokens of recognition. He had to avoid using the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s token, but the Crystal Demon Emperor''s token would be more than enough to awe the crowd. At least for now, the Crystal Demon Emperor didn''t seem to have any malice toward him. Crystalline brought him some pressure, but at the same time, her being with him meant the Crystal Demon Emperor would take care of him to some extent in the Ancestral Court.


    Thus, Tang San��s Golden Roc Transformation was revealed.


    Not only were his Redemption Academypanions shocked by this scene, but Big Cat��s eyes also widened. However, his emotion was more of envy. Asura was able to actually fly! This was a massive leap in terms of tactical advantage!


    Big Cat wasn''t surprised that Asura had the Lion-Tiger bloodline, and neither was he upset that Asura had profited from the Lion-Tiger n��s predicament. After all, his own evolved bloodline had been practically handed to him by Asura. Without him, the Lion-Tiger n would have still been suffering from the bloodline conflict; how could he have the leisure to feel upset?


    To Big Cat, Asura always had a mysterious aura. Even though he was human, Big Cat never saw him as just a human. He could always do what others couldn''t, and he was the savior of the Lion-Tiger n!


    The only one who remained calm was Mei Gongzi. She had known since their first meeting that he had multiple bloodlines, and she herself also had two powerful first-tier bloodlines. As she listened to the audience''s exmations, she instinctively clenched her fists, silently cheering for him.


    On thepetition tform, the Behemoth contestant turned around.


    The moment he saw the golden wings on Tang San''s back, he couldn''t help but gape in shock, momentarily forgetting to continue attacking.


    <i>Dual bloodlines?</i>


    As one of the outstanding young members of an emperor��s n, he could naturally tell that his opponent wasn''t using a single bloodline. While Winged Tigers were a thing, they were beasts, not demons; moreover, participating in thepetition meant having at least a second-tier bloodline, while they were at best third-tier. And since the wings couldn��t be the ability of a tiger n��s bloodline, then it was clear that the opponent had another bloodline!


    In addition, that Lion-Tiger roar had even stirred a ripple in his bloodline power; though it didn''t have an intimidating effect, it still made him pause.


    The two sides faced each other again, but the atmosphere had clearly be more intense.


    The Behemoth contestant''s muscles swelled a bit as he almost lost control of his emotions, nearly revealing his true form.


    But he forcibly restrained himself. His opponent was already agile, had that teleportation array disc, and could now also fly. If he erged his body, wouldn''t it be easier for the opponent to get close?


    He absolutely couldn''t let Tang San get close. This was thebat strategy he had set for himself before the match. Otherwise, it would be a big problem.


    With the golden wings pping behind him, Tang San soared into the air, rising straight up. The Golden Roc��s bloodline might be just second-tier, but its speed was certainly second to none!


    Tang San''s eyes noticeably brightened.


    All the spectators, including those in the VIP seats, were beneath him at this moment. He had felt this sensation of being high above countless times in his past life, but this was the first time in this life. This was the Ancestral Court, the true core of the Daemon Continent. It was a no-fly zone, except during the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament when such restrictions were lifted. At this moment, feeling the surrounding Sacred Mountains and the countless powerful auras within the Ancestral Court, Tang San took a deep breath.


    <i>One day, I will stand at the pinnacle of this ne and create enough space for humans to live!</i>


    In the next instant, he turned around, reaching top speed as he descended from the sky like a golden meteor, diving straight towards the Behemoth contestant.


    In the stands, Cheng Zicheng held her breath, staring intently at Tang San. As someone who possessed the Golden Roc Transformation, after her initial shock, she was most eager to see how Tang San would use the Golden Roc Transformation on the battlefield. She had the utmost confidence in him. After all, thanks to him, her strength had significantly increased, and she had already cultivated her Golden Wing Wind-Splitting sh to a high level of proficiency. So, what about Tang San? Was he going to use that technique?


    "ROAR!!!"


    Feeling the immense pressureing from the sky, the Behemoth''s blood boiled, and his eyes suddenly turned blood red. Even the hazy yellow light he radiated changed color.


    Bloodlust!


    This was the bloodline talent of the Behemoth n. In the state of bloodlust, theirbat power would significantly increase, yet they could still maintain theirposure. This was their most formidable aspect. Although there were some side effects, almost no opponent couldst until the side effects kicked in.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Blood-red shockwaves surged, and ten energy des shot skyward, drawing a blood-red web in the air. Each de was dozens of meters long, and it left behind ck trails as it sliced through the sky. Like a giant meant to catch a bird, it flew at Tang San.


    The power of this strike wasparable to the attack of an average Demon King. This was the truebat standard of the strongest onnd.


    zing white light was wrapped around Tang San, and a repulsive force erupted. He didn''t attempt to devour it; even if he could absorb some of the Behemoth''s ferocious attack, it would only cause violent conflict within his body, leading to loss of control. Therefore, at this moment, Tang San only used the repulsive force and did not absorb anything.

 Chapter 504: Claw Blade Storm

    <h4>Chapter 504: w de Storm</h4>


    The golden streak flickered and swayed in the air, moving along an extremely bizarre and irregr path. In a split second, it weaved through the myriad of energy des, reaching the Behemoth.


    The Behemoth��s body hair stood on end, and a strong sense of crisis overwhelmed him. He stomped heavily with his right foot, resulting in a violent rumble. Blood-red light burst forth, shooting up ten meters high, covering arge area around him.


    War Stomp wasn''t exclusive to the Golden Mammoth n or even the elephant race; the Behemoth n had it too. Especially in a bloodlust state, War Stomp was their most powerful protective skill.


    The blood-red light surged forward, but the golden streak took an almost unbelievable turn, veering away just before the blood-red light could touch it.


    The Behemoth''s ws followed, sending blood-red energy des chasing after the golden streak.


    But the golden streak made a ny-degree turn upward in an instant, shooting back into the sky with a maneuver so fast that it seemed unreal.


    "What the..." Cheng Zicheng was stunned. As someone who possessed the Golden Roc Transformation, she understood just how difficult that flight maneuver was. She knew she could never do it; the forces involved would cause her bones to snap midway. Did inertia have no effect on Tang San? Was he breaking thews of nature?


    <i>How is this possible?</i> This thought appeared almost simultaneously in the minds of most flying demons and nymphs present. This maneuver defiedmon sense, leaving them all dumbfounded.


    For them, it was indeed impossible. But Tang San was not them.


    First, with the Lion-Tiger Golden Force protecting his body, his defensive power was far superior to ordinary flying species, and his physical strength and toughness were even more so. Second, he had perfect mastery of his own abilities. When making turns, he used the Lion-Tiger Golden Force to st the air and change direction or elerate abruptly, which allowed him to fly in an unbelievably erratic manner. He wasn''t just using a single bloodline ability!


    As far as the spectators could see, the golden streak suddenly bent upward, dodging the blood-red des. The next moment, it flipped back, drawing a downward arc. In the blink of an eye, the human was back in front of the Behemoth.


    A seemingly light palm strike aimed straight for its forehead.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    War Stomp was unleashed again without hesitation.


    A hit to the chest could kill a Chrono Croc and make a Golden Mammoth surrender. What if it hit the head?


    The Behemoth didn''t dare to experiment! He could only unleash his bloodline power for full defense, once again.


    Tang San��s palm surged with white light and the repulsive Lion Tiger Golden Force burst forth, propelling Tang San on a diagonal trajectory. The same scenario repeated.


    In the audience''s view, what they saw was the rapid golden streak constantly shifting through the air like a weaver��s shuttle, continuously flying back and forth, repeatedlyunching attacks on the Behemoth. This forced the Behemoth to continually use War Stomp to prevent the opponent from approaching, while the Behemoth��s own attacks were skillfully dodged with incredible flying techniques.


    All the spectators understood why the Behemoth wouldn''t let Tang San get close. After all, he had even broken the Golden Mammoth''s defense! After the fight against the Chrono Croc, no one doubted the result of Tang San''s first match against the Golden Mammoth anymore. All the spectators agreed that the human indeed had some kind of deadly weapon. If he got close andnded a hit, the consequences would be severe.


    At this moment, Tang San''s incredible flying ability dazzled everyone. This level of flightbined with his mysterious closebat skills gave an almost unbeatable impression.


    How could one defeat an opponent like this? Despite the Behemoth''s strength, he felt incredibly stifled by the repeated assaults. His power was entirely useless, since the opponent refused to engage in a direct confrontation!


    High-speed flight, continuous assaults, repeatedly luring him into using War Stomp. Then, Tang San would quickly fly away, only to return the next moment. The precise timing and control of his flight were simply breathtaking, mesmerizing the spectators.


    In the previous individual and duo matches, Tang San''s disy of strength had already surprised the audience. But it wasn''t until this match that they truly understood��he hadn''t been going all out before! He still had this incredible flying ability!


    In the VIP seats, Mao Wenwu couldn''t help but nce back at his father. Seeing his father intently watching the match, he opened his mouth to say something but ultimately decided against it. After all, who enjoyed being scolded?


    As time passed, Tang San''s continuous assaults, numbering in the dozens, began to deplete the Behemoth''s energy. Although the bloodlust state was incredibly powerful, it was not much different from igniting one��s bloodline power. Once the effect wore off, the bloodline power would temporarily drop.


    Normally, for a Behemoth, this wasn''t an issue, because they could quickly defeat their opponents while in the bloodlust state. But today, against Tang San, it was a significant disadvantage.


    Even though he knew the human was wearing him down, he had no choice. He couldn''t let the opponent get close! He had no desire to find out what that palm strike felt like.


    "ROAR!!!"


    He let out a roar filled with extreme unwillingness. His eyes suddenly zed red, and his body began to uncontrobly expand!


    <i>A second Bloodlust!</i>


    Tang San was taken aback. The opponent''s energy had clearly been depleted significantly, which was his intention, but he hadn��t expected the opponent to be able to use Bloodlust a second time. Moreover, this time the boost was even greater.


    The Behemoth''s body swelled to over twelve meters tall almost instantly, and his terrifying muscles burst through his clothes, exposed to the air. His entire body exuded a blood-red glow and an extremely ferocious aura, and the ws on his hands grew to six meters long.


    In the next moment, his massive body began to spin rapidly, and a terrifying aura burst forth. Blood-red ripples spread, and countless energy des erupted madly from his hands, expanding outward at an incredible speed. The entirepetition stage, with a diameter of two hundred meters, instantly turned red, covered by the blood-red ws.


    w de Storm!


    This was the destructive ability of the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor. This contestant was clearly a direct descendant!


    This moment of eruption made almost all the spectators stand up. This was the most shocking scene since the start of thepetition. The terrifying w de Storm, covering the entire tform and reaching over two hundred meters in height as well, fully disyed the terrifying attack power of the Behemoth n.


    Even dragons would be torn apart.


    Behemoths capable of using a second Bloodlust were absolute prodigies. Only those with the purest bloodline and the best talents could achieve this. Also known as Berserk Bloodlust, it was a truest-resort ability that would leave them weakened for a long time. Nobody had the leisure to take that long to recover, so Behemoths avoided using this move unless their life was truly at stake.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 505: Soaring to Heaven

    <h4>Chapter 505: Soaring to Heaven</h4>


    In other words, in order to defeat Tang San, the Behemoth contestant was simply ignoring the subsequent matches. He had been suppressed too harshly by Tang San''s Golden Roc Transformation.


    His w strikes, which should have hit, were either deflected or dodged by Tang San, making his efforts futile and draining his bloodline power. Thus, seeing that he was about to lose the match, he felt that there was no reason to hold back any longer!


    Being able to unleash w de Storm showcased just how formidable he was. With such a terrifying storm surrounding the opponent, trying to evade was meaningless. Moreover, the w de Storm, space itself was shattered, making escape impossible.


    This scene undoubtedly shocked the entire Ancestral Court Grand za. It had been a long, long while since anyone had seen a Behemoth unleash a w de Storm. Even the nobles in the VIP seats couldn''t help but show expressions of admiration.


    Mao Wenwu''s expression turned ugly. This guy was so strong! Could he withstand such an attack? Probably not. It was too terrifying; to think he had ended up in such a group! This meant that even if he hadn��t lost to Number Six, he would��ve still had a hard time against the Behemoth!


    <i>Thwack!</i>


    He suddenly felt a pain in the back of his head, and as he crouched down and grabbed the nape of his neck, his father''s furious voice came from behind. "Look at him, look at his strength, and then look at you! Useless!"


    "I..." Mao Wenwu looked aggrieved, but he didn''t dare to argue back, because he knew what the result of arguing would be. Was he his father��s son, or was the Behemoth?


    But at that moment, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he turned sharply to look at his father, saying, "Isn''t he still going to lose?"


    His father, the giant Golden Mammoth, was taken aback. Then, he saw it too.


    Amid the vast sea of blood-red light, a point of golden light shot up into the sky, spinning rapidly and breaking out of the area covered in the blood-red.


    The rapidly spinning golden light was wrapped in ayer of bright tinum light.


    The opponent''s desperate effort was also unexpected for Tang San. When he clearly felt the opponent''s bloodline power being increasingly depleted, he thought he was about to win. He hadn��t expected the opponent to have such an outburst.


    But even so... Tang San was once a God King. In terms ofbat experience, even the millennium-old Emperors couldn''tpare to him. When he sensed something was wrong, he made the correct decision instantly.


    At this moment, using spatial teleportation to leave the battlefield was impossible. And if he couldn''t teleport away, he had to rely on sheer speed.


    The Golden Roc imprint was powered up to the maximum, and Tang San��s speed skyrocketed. Although he was almost enveloped by the energy ws in the next moment, with the lightning speed of a Golden Roc, he managed to flee the enclosure in the nick of time.


    Using the momentum of his burst, he controlled his body to spin rapidly, spreading his wings, and kicking the Lion-Tiger Golden Force up a notch at the same time. As he whirled through the air, he fully activated the repulsive effect of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force.


    At that moment, he was like a rapidly spinning tornado flying upward, forcing open a path into the sky before the energy des closed in!


    Beneath him was a sea of blood-red light and shattered space. Feeling the terrifying energy eruption, even though Tang San had escaped, he still couldn''t help but feel a tingling sensation on his scalp.


    It was too terrifying. The Behemoth n was truly terrifying!


    In terms of speed, strength, defense, attack, and explosive power, they were top-notch. This showed just how powerful the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor had to be. And likewise, the tDemon Emperors who surpassed it had to be even more powerful!


    The red energy des below gradually disappeared. The sessive explosions, which hadsted nearly ten seconds, had almost destroyed the entirepetition tform. In the center of the red light, a tall figure gradually appeared, bent over, supporting itself with its ws on the shattered ground, panting heavily.


    Without waiting for the w des topletely disappear, Tang San had already turned around. His speed exploded again. Golden light shed in his eyes, followed by a flicker of purple light.


    The mental shock reached the Behemoth''s sea of consciousness almost instantly.


    Although the Behemoth n was not adept at using spiritual power, their mental defense was very sturdy. While in the bloodlust state, they could even seal off their sea of consciousness, leaving no opening for opponents skilled at spiritual attacks.


    Not for no reason were they known as the strongest beings onnd; when they fought, they quite literally had no weaknesses.


    However, mental sealing was really only possible while using their abilities. And after consecutively using Bloodlust and Berserk Bloodlust, this Behemoth contestant was drained. He could not reach that state a third time.


    He even thought that Tang San had been turned to ashes by his w de Storm. After mastering this move, he knew how powerful it was. The Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor had even personally told him that no opponent of his level could survive if they were caught within its range.


    The Behemoth n was different from most other Emperor ns. Namely, apart from the dragon and phoenix races, they were the only n among all demons to have had a Demon Emperor at any given time in history. There had always been a Behemoth Demon Emperor, ever since the n existed. Even the Celestial Foxes couldn''t achieve this, and it only highlighted the Behemoth n''s deep foundation.


    So, after executing this strike, he believed his opponent was already dead.


    When the spiritual shock of the Purple Demon Eyes struck him under such circumstances, how could he defend against it?


    In almost an instant, his pupils lost their light, he nked out, and he couldn''t even shout to concede.


    The next moment, Tang San descended��or rather dropped��from the sky, falling right next to him. But instead of attacking the obvious target, the head, he lightly ced his right hand on the Behemoth contestant''s back.


    With the Lion-Tiger Golden Force and his internal energy vortex fully activated, when else if not now would he absorb the opponent��s bloodline power?


    The opponent''s immense strength certainly pressured Tang San, but it also allowed him to find the bloodline imprint he most desired!


    Compared to the pure defensive bloodline imprint of the Golden Mammoth n, the Behemoth''sbination of attack and defense, incredible explosive power, Berserk Bloodlust, and War Stomp were far more convenient, and all were abilities Tang San wished to obtain.


    He would have won anyway, even without thest attack; the opponent had zero energy remaining. The reason he had attacked nevertheless, even using the Purple Demon Eyes, was simply that he had to prevent the opponent from conceding.


    He didn''t use his yin-yang energy to disrupt the Behemoth��s bloodline power; instead, he simply started to devour it.


    At this moment, the Behemoth contestant had just ended an outburst of Berserk Bloodlust. It was the time when his bloodline power had been activated to the fullest, to the point of boiling, and was therefore as pure as it could get. When Tang San began to absorb it, he almost instantly felt his internal energy surge uncontrobly, almost pushing him directly into the ninth order.


    As for the Behemoth, he was in a miserable state. The two uses of Bloodlust had already consumed most of his bloodline power, leaving him with no strength to even move, let alone fight. Now, with Tang San frantically absorbing his bloodline, he couldn''t resist at all. His heart felt tight, and when he recovered from his stupor, several seconds had already passed.


    Without hesitation, Tang San hit him with another spiritual shock, causing him topse back into a nk state, then continued his absorption.


    The referee''s view was blocked by the Behemoth''s massive body. ording to the rules of thepetition, the match would only end when one side lost the ability to fight or conceded.


    At this moment, the Behemoth contestant looked like he was barely enduring Tang San''s attack. He didn''t fall unconscious, nor did he concede. Naturally, the match couldn''t end under these circumstances!


    Thus, Tang San continued to forcibly absorb for nearly twenty seconds, ensuring that the newly-formed bloodline imprint reached the peak of the ninth order before stopping.

 Chapter 506: The Father-in-Laws Talk

    <h4>Chapter 506: The Father-in-Law''s Talk</h4>


    When he leaped back andnded on the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood, the Behemoth contestant had already exhausted his bloodline power and copsed.


    There was no life-threatening danger, but having used Berserk Bloodlust and then having his leftover bloodline power absorbed by Tang San, it would take at least ten days, and probably closer to half a month, to recover. And even this speed of recovery was only possible because of the Behemoth''s exceptionally tough body.


    His internal energy circted rapidly within him, suddenly boosting Tang San up to the ninth tier, causing Tang San''s vitality to surge. Fortunately, the internal energy generated using the Mysterious Heaven Technique was inherently bnced and moderate, not revealing too much, but Tang San clearly felt his cultivation level rise significantly. The bloodline imprint he had just absorbed was incredibly potent, and it required ample time to fully assimte. For now, he could only suppress and control it.


    The mouthful of blood he had just spat out wasn''t fake either. Although he had managed to break through the w de Storm using the Golden Roc Transformation and the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, timing it perfectly, the storm was still too ferocious and had injured some of his meridians.


    At this moment, the entire arena was silent.


    The recent scene had been too shocking for everyone. Amid the blood-red energy des that covered the entire arena, a streak of golden light soared into the heavens, breaking through the and hovering in the void. As the bloody lights dissipated, the golden light descended from heaven like a meteor, achieving victory.


    It was still that seemingly light palm strike, once again defeating the enemy. And if there could be some suspicions of dumb luck in the previous matches, today, there was no such thing. Sure, it looked like he had avoided a direct collision and chosen to rely on smart tactics instead, but the result was clear��he had won.


    <i>The human... won?</i>


    At this moment, the spectators who knew Tang San''s race were shocked. When did humans be capable of such powerful strength?


    The Golden Mammoth, the Scorching Sunflower, and now today''s Behemoth��each one of them belonged to a mighty Emperor n, a power to be reckoned with even on the scale of the entire continent. Yet a human had defeated them!


    Moreover, those who followed the group closely even realized that his next opponent wasn''t anywhere as strong as the Behemoth. This meant that in this year''s Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, a human was likely to enter the finals! This was simply unbelievable.


    Tang San received such attention because his opponents were incredibly strong, each one considered a potential finalist. Yet, despite never being favored, he had fought his way forward, continuously defeating three absolute powerhouses.


    After the referee announced his victory, Tang San adjusted the mask on his face and turned to leave the stage.


    In the VIP seats, the nobles had already begun inquiring about his background.


    Meanwhile, as Tang San stepped down from the stage, he found someone was already waiting for him.


    It wasn''t Big Cat or Mei Gongzi, but the ruler of Kali City��the Peacock Great Demon King.


    Tang San didn''t know why this person was allowed toe to the contestant area, but as the head of a first-tier n and the lord of one of the eight major cities of the Empyrean Dominion, the Peacock Great Demon King was undoubtedly a top figure. After all, he had once even repelled an Emperor in Kali City, albeit at the cost of serious injury.


    "Come with me," said the Peacock Great Demon King.


    "Alright," Tang San replied calmly.


    With a sh of silver light, the surrounding space seemed to suddenly fade away; the void shifted, gently gliding past them.


    In the next moment, they had already appeared in another ce. There was no sense of dissonance, as if they��d just naturally stepped in here.


    It was a room��a very rustic, entirely wooden room. The floor was covered with a soft carpet; there was a desk and several cushions beside it. The windows were open, revealing a serene valley enveloped by a spiritual atmosphere. The crisp, fragrant air slowly flowed in from outside, giving this peaceful room an ethereal feeling.


    The Peacock Great Demon King walked to one side of the desk and sat down, pointing to the cushion on the other side.


    Tang San walked over to the cushion and sat down.


    The Peacock Great Demon King skillfully picked up the y pot on the desk, threw in some leaves, and then added water. With a gentle infusion of bloodline power, the water quickly boiled, releasing a faint fragrance that filled the room with a touch of spirituality.


    He poured a cup for Tang San and then one for himself. Putting down the pot, he gestured to Tang San and said, "Try it."


    "Thank you," Tang San responded, picking up the cup and taking a sip. Being an expert in poisons, he naturally wasn''t worried about anything being in the tea.


    The tea was fragrant, cool, and sweet as it entered his mouth. Despite its hot temperature, it fully bloomed, making Tang San feel a refreshing energy fill his entire body, even alleviating the injuries he had sustained earlier.


    Exhaling slightly, feeling refreshed, Tang San sincerely said, "Good tea."


    The Peacock Great Demon King smiled slightly and said, "This is something only the Ancestral Court has. If I remember correctly, you are called Asura, right?"


    Tang San nodded slightly. "Yes."


    The Peacock Great Demon King said, "I find it hard to see through you; you hide your secrets very well."


    "Everyone has their own secrets. I have mine, and you have yours, don''t you?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King sighed lightly, nodded, and said, "Yes, everyone has their own secrets. Are you a member of Redemption?"


    Tang San was slightly taken aback. "You know about the Redemption Society?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King said calmly, "Of course I know. My wife and daughter are both part of the Redemption Society. How could I not know about it?"


    Upon hearing this, Tang San''s pupils contracted momentarily but quickly returned to normal.


    Now it was the Peacock Great Demon King''s turn to be surprised. He had expected the young man in front of him to be more shocked.


    "You know, even though you��re right in front of me, I find it even harder to see through you. Your body''s bloodline aura tells me you''re not even twenty, still in your growth period. But yourposure is that of someone who has experienced a lifetime of trials. Can you tell me why that is?" the Peacock Great Demon King asked with a smile.


    "That, I cannot exin. If you''re surprised that I didn''t react to you knowing Mei Gongzi is part of the Redemption Society, then... I am in fact surprised. But my way of seeing this is pretty simple. Since you brought her to participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, you trained her to her current level, and you��re even nning to pass the city lord position to her, I understand that you don''t mind her secret identity. There is no reason for me to overreact."


    "Very well." The Peacock Great Demon King showed a trace of admiration on his face. "You are the first of the younger generation to make me feel this way. You are right; I don''t mind that she��s a member of the Redemption Society. In fact, I am pleased with it. After all, whether it��s from the perspective of the demons or the nymphs, humans are just too insignificant. They can''t rely on their own race''s abilities, can they? As for those who possess true abilities... Can they still be called humans? To call them mixed-blood humans, or even half-demons or half-nymphs, would be more urate. They also carry the blood of the demon n, so what''s the difference?"


    Upon hearing this, Tang San couldn''t help but furrow his brow. Compared to the previous line, this one impacted him more.


    The Peacock Great Demon King was right. The humans who had a Demonic God Transformation were no longer purely human; they carried the blood of a demon or nymph n. Calling them half-demons or half-nymphs wasn''t incorrect. They considered themselves human, but that was just from their perspective. Of course, there are also human vassals of demon or nymph ns who didn��t actually consider themselves human. These cases were rare, though. Their mothers were often killed by their fathers'' ns, so how could they feel a sense of belonging?

 Chapter 507: Sorry, I Cant Submit to You

    <h4>Chapter 507: Sorry, I Can''t Submit to You</h4>


    "With that said... Humans might be weak, but they are numerous. Moreover, I have always believed that while the heavens deprived humans of cultivation talents, they endowed them with wisdom. Humans are among the most intelligent, if not <i>the</i> most intelligent, of all species. In this aspect, many demons and nymphs who consider themselves strong are far inferior. So, in my view, humans are a very spiritual species.


    "Just like Little Mei''s mother... See, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and it��s not just that. Her spirit captivates me. Throughout my life, she has always been the woman I loved most, by far. This is one of the reasons why I am willing to let her daughter inherit the position of n leader. Since they are both members of the Redemption Society, this means that in the future, humans will stand by their side. At the same time, she is my daughter, with the blood of the Peacock Demon n flowing in her veins. Thus, humans are still serving my n in a sense. Why would I mind that?"


    Listening to the Peacock Great Demon King, Tang San suddenly found himself speechless. From this perspective, it indeed made sense.


    "I heard about your situation. You brought the so-called Shrek Squad to victory and gained noble status, which caused dissatisfaction within the Ancestral Court. You don''t have to worry about this; I''ve already resolved it for you. In fact, the Ancestral Court''s discontentment is merely about not wanting to give humans any hope. They don''t take it too seriously. As I said, humans have no proper way to cultivate and no means of ascension to godhood, so they aren��t seen as any kind of threat. They just don''t want useful servants to have too many ideas."


    "Thank you, City Lord." Tang San bowed slightly to show his gratitude. With the Peacock Great Demon King''s status, resolving this minor issue personally was naturally the best oue.


    "I resolved it on the grounds that you are a vassal of my n... my servant," the Peacock Great Demon King said tly.


    As he spoke, he stared intently at Tang San. "Are you willing to submit to me?"


    After winning against the Behemoth contestant today, the Peacock Great Demon King had immediately sought him out, and Tang San naturally understood his interlocutor��s purpose. He had continuously defeated three powerful opponents, fully demonstrating his potential and strength, so what else could it be?


    "My n will give you support to help you be a god in the future. You should understand how difficult it is to reach the tenth order on your own. It won��t be easy for the Redemption Society to help you do that, and if they��re discovered, someone might just think of eliminating you all. Moreover, submitting to me won''t affect your identity in Redemption. As for me, well, you know I don''t mind," the Peacock Great Demon King said calmly.


    However, Tang San shook his head. "Sorry, I can''t submit to you."


    In an instant, the Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes shed with light. He truly hadn''t expected Asura to give him such an answer. As the leader of the Peacock Demon n, a peak-level Great Demon King, and the lord of a city��a status second only to Emperors��he had extended a sincere offer to a human only to be rejected.


    "Aren''t you afraid I''ll kill you?"


    "You won''t. Besides, I''m not finished. I can''t submit to you because I already have someone I serve."


    The Peacock Great Demon King was stunned for a moment but quickly understood. "You are willing to serve my daughter?"


    Tang San raised his right hand, bit the tip of his middle finger, and a drop of blood emerged. Under his control, the blood outlined aplex rune.


    "I swear on my blood that from today onward, I will be her supporter and protector. Anyone who wants to harm her must step over my dead body. I will never go against her will, and my life will belong to her forever! If I break this oath, may my bloodline punish me."


    The blood-colored rune gradually emitted a faint golden glow. In the next instant, the golden light shed and the rune quickly shrank, disappearing into Tang San''s forehead.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s expression turned slightly peculiar, and he didn''t speak for a long while.


    He had called Asura here to recruit him. Asura''s performance in the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament had fully demonstrated his strength. Such a promising star, and a human at that, would be highly beneficial for the Peacock Demon n. Asura''s abilities were not only visible to him. After this match, it was likely that Emperors would soon attempt to recruit him. That was why he had personally transported Asura from thepetition arena as soon as the match was over.


    He hadn''t expected Tang San to be so clear-minded. A blood oath was the most serious vow on the Daemon Continent. But this young man was perfectly calm andposed when making it, which meant that he had thought everything through.


    "I am the n leader now, so why are you willing to serve her instead of me?" the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but ask. He suddenly felt that with Asura''s blood oath, he had somehow fallen into a weaker position in this conversation.


    Tang San replied, "Because you don''t have long to live, and Mei Gongzi will be the next n leader. Besides, I love her. I was nning to protect her anyway. This blood oath is my promise not to you but to her, effective forever."


    Hearing his blunt words, the Peacock Great Demon King''s expression changed, and the atmosphere in the air grew heavier as he gave off a hint of killing intent.


    "Do you really think I won''t kill you, even though you''ve sworn allegiance to my daughter?" the Peacock Great Demon King said coldly.


    Tang San calmly retorted, "I''m merely stating facts. You will not kill me because it would not benefit you at all. You know I can assist Mei Gongzi and help her restore the status of the Peacock Demon n. Also, let me tell you something: The bloodline conflict problem of the Lion-Tiger n was solved by me, and they are my allies now. Not just Big Cat, but the entire Lion-Tiger n. In the future, they will also be allies of Kali City and Mei Gongzi."


    Hearing this, the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but be moved. He had seen Big Cat''s performance in the previous matches and knew that Big Cat had a first-tier bloodline now... and what that implied. A first-tier bloodline n fully supporting Mei Gongzi would bring immense benefits to the future of the Peacock Demon n.


    "Fair enough." The Peacock Great Demon King''s expression softened, and he poured himself another cup of tea, refilling Tang San''s cup as well.


    "With your current performance, you indeed deserve to be with her. You only need to agree to one condition, and I will allow you to keep doing whatever you��re doing and not oppose you being with Little Mei, provided she is willing," said the Peacock Great Demon King.


    "What is the condition?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King said solemnly, "In the future, when my Peacock Demon n regains its prestige under Little Mei''s leadership, you must support her in choosing an outstanding sessor from among the n elites and not from your own offspring."


    Tang San was taken aback for a moment. Thinking of offspring, he couldn''t help but recall the children he had with Xiao Wu in his previous life. His gaze softened. "Rest assured, I won''t allow my child to stay in the Peacock Demon n. One day, I will take her away so that we can live our own life. It will happen eventually."


    Seeing the look in his eyes, the Peacock Great Demon King suddenly found his words very convincing, for reasons he couldn''t fathom.


    Tang San''s gaze steadied as he looked at the Peacock Great Demon King. "City Lord, I have another question I would like to ask you."


    "Go ahead."


    "Thest time the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor came, he severely injured you, and your injuries are not something you can recover from anytime soon... if at all. If the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperores again, how will you respond? With your strength, you can''t contend with the Ancestral Court, should they decide to support him. So how can Mei Gongzi contend with them? And with trouble knocking, how can the Peacock Demon n be protected? If you give me ten more years, I might have that confidence. But now, I definitely can''t contend with an Emperor."

 Chapter 508: Asura鈥檚 Blood Oath

    <h4>Chapter 508: Asura��s Blood Oath</h4>


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at him deeply and said, "Rest assured. You are right, I don''t have much time left. My bloodline power is drying up, and death is near. But if I hadn''t arranged external matters, how could I let Little Mei inherit the position of n leader knowing the n was doomed? It��s not just for her, but also for the continuation of my Peacock Demon n. Your task is to help her stabilize internally and gain the Ancestral Court''s approval. As for other matters, I will handle them. I have aprehensive n, and with you by her side, I am even more at ease."


    At this moment, the Peacock Great Demon King no longer hid his appreciation for Asura. This young man spoke confidently before him, unaffected by the pressure he exerted. This alone was something none of his n members at his age could achieve, not even Mei Gongzi, whocked the same level of life experience.


    This young human seemed to have a certain charm. During their conversation, the Peacock Great Demon King unconsciously began to regard him as an equal.


    Tang San, on his side, was slightly surprised. It seemed the Peacock Great Demon King had some hidden cards. The situation between him and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was clearly one of life and death. What kind of trump card did he have that he thought could resolve such an issue? If an Emperor decided to start trouble, that was not something that any ordinary trump card could counter.


    "You don''t need to think too much about it. I acknowledge your blood oath, so when the timees, I will tell you everything. You will understand then. There always needs to be someone who knows the truth. This way, staying by her side, you can guide her better and make the best use of everything I leave behind. But... don''t let her know."


    There was a strange light in the Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes, and a proud yetplex gaze.


    "Alright." Tang San nodded. Since the Peacock Great Demon King said he would tell him, it was only a matter of time.


    "I admire yourposure. Keep up the good work and protect her." The Peacock Great Demon King took a sip of tea, but his face suddenly turned pale, and he coughed lightly twice.


    Tang San frowned slightly. With his keen eyes and spiritual power, he could see the Peacock Great Demon King''s problem. In thest battle with the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, he had burned his blood essence too severely, causing it to decay. Once itpletely scattered, it would mean his death. This was an almost irreversible injury, so he didn''t have much time left. If Tang San were still the God King he once was, he could save his father-inw, but in his current state, he was far from capable. And the Peacock Great Demon King''s remaining vitality wouldn''tst until Tang San became a God King once more.


    At this moment, the Peacock Great Demon King said, "I''ll send you back. Don''t return to the arena, just go straight to your residence. Where is it?"


    Tang San nodded slightly. "I''m staying at the White Tiger Hotel."


    Hearing the name "White Tiger Hotel," the Peacock Great Demon King paused slightly, a yful smile appearing on his face. He then extended his right hand to Tang San. "Wee to the Peacock Demon n."


    Tang San extended his hand to shake his. "For Mei Gongzi."


    Silver light shed, and in the next moment, Tang San and the Peacock Great Demon King were outside the White Tiger Hotel.


    At this time, the White Tiger Hotel seemed very deserted, with not even a single guard at the entrance.


    The Peacock Great Demon King patted Tang San on the shoulder and said, "Go on. You can do your best in thepetition. I will announce to the public that you are a guest official of the Peacock Demon n. Don''t worry about your human identity, just help Little Mei achieve better results as much as possible; this will greatly help reduce future obstacles for both of you."


    "Alright, thank you." Getting the Peacock Great Demon King''s definite support was quite helpful, at least for now. After all, Tang San couldn''t possibly submit to any Emperor. At the same time, taking the opportunity today to make a blood oath was also to reassure Mei Gongzi to let him protect her.


    Silver light shed, and the Peacock Great Demon King disappeared. Looking at the ce where he left, Tang San thought to himself, <i>Does this count as getting my father-inw''s approval? Participating in the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament was definitely the right decision. Strength proven in battle is a morepelling argument than anything else. The demons and nymphs truly respect power above all else!</i>


    Tang San turned on themunicator and tried to contact Mei Gongzi. Her voice came through as soon as the call connected.


    ��Where did you go?


    "I had a conversation with your father just now," Tang San quickly said. While he was with the Peacock Great Demon King, space was obviously shielded, so nomunicator could work.


    ��Huh? My father took you away? What did you talk about?


    "He wanted me to swear allegiance to the Peacock Demon n."


    Mei Gongzi was silent for a moment.


    ��Did you agree?


    "No," Tang San replied.


    ��Where are you? I''lle find you now!


    There was unusual urgency in Mei Gongzi''s voice.


    "Did your match start?" Tang San asked.


    ��No, it''s not our turn yet. If you didn''t agree, my father might��Never mind that, just tell me where you are, I''lle over right away.


    "No need, he already brought me back to the hotel. Although I didn''t swear allegiance to the Peacock Demon n, I did swear allegiance to <i>you</i>. So he didn''t do anything to me. Don''t worry, just focus on your match. I won''te over. Your father said many forces might try to recruit me. He will announce that I am now a guest official of the Peacock Demon n.


    ��You swore allegiance to me?


    Mei Gongzi was clearly stunned.


    "Yeah! What''s wrong with a brother swearing allegiance to his sister? I''ll always protect you anyway," Tang San said naturally.


    ��I understand. Sorry, Big Brother Asura...


    Mei Gongzi''s voice on the other side sounded a bit strange.


    "Don''t mention it. Calm your mind, make sure you��re in your best state for the match. By the way, is Big Cat done?" Tang San asked.


    Mei Gongzi''s tone changed a bit.


    ��Yes, the match is over. He is really cunning. He pretended to be seriously injured, and his opponent attacked him fiercely. He kept retreating, then found an opportunity to suddenly explode and kill his opponent in one blow. It only took a few seconds, he just waited for a chance when his opponent was catching his breath to directly take him down.


    Tang San murmured, "Heh, I knew it would be like that. Alright, let''s stop here. Get yourself together and get ready for the match. Good luck!"


    ��Okay, I will. I''ll talk to you after the match.


    Mei Gongzi ended the call, and Tang San didn''t go to the Sunborne Sacred Mountain or the Earthshade Sacred Mountain today. Instead, he returned directly to the hotel. He had sustained some injuries and had just absorbed the Behemoth bloodline, so he needed to adjust and find the best time to integrate it. Moreover, his cultivation had just broken through to the ninth order, and he needed to stabilize his realm.


    Meanwhile, in the Ancestral Court za, Mei Gongzi was a bit dazed. <i>Swear allegiance to me? Did he say he swore allegiance to me?</i>


    Swearing allegiance wasn''t something done lightly; a pledge of allegiance was forever. And it was made under her father''s gaze, so it wasn''t like Asura could just fake it.


    All along, she never understood why Asura would go to such lengths to protect her. He even taught her a divine techniquest time. That technique had an enormous impact, and out of gratitude, she decided to acknowledge him as her brother. But now, her brother even spoke of swearing allegiance, which made her feel not just touched but also something... different.


    The only thing she couldn''t understand was why he was doing this. When they first met, they wereplete strangers, yet he had always protected her and helped her, without showing any ulterior motives.


    Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came to her ears, "Asura has made a blood oath, swearing allegiance to you. Perform well in thepetition. This person is trustworthy and has great potential for the future."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 509: The Plan for a Transcendent Bloodline

    <h4>Chapter 509: The n for a Transcendent Bloodline</h4>


    This was her father''s voice. Mei Gongzi instinctively turned her head to look around, but she didn''t see her father''s figure.


    <i>Wait, what did he say? A blood oath? A blood oath of allegiance?!</i>


    In that instant, Mei Gongzi felt her body tremble slightly. What was a blood oath? It was the world��s most solemn vow! He had actually made a blood oath to be loyal to her?[1]


    She had always doubted Asura to some extent, and he had been trying to prove in various ways that he had no ulterior motives, just a willingness to stay by her side. Now he had even used a blood oath to swear allegiance to her. No wonder her father acknowledged him.... For her, he had paid such a deep price!


    For a moment, Mei Gongzi felt a mix of emotions and even a sense of guilt for her previous doubts about him.


    ***


    Back at the hotel, Tang San went straight to the training room.


    He activated the formation that gathered spiritual energy of heaven and earth, letting it flow naturally into the room. Silently, he circted his internal energy, adjusting his breath through one cycle.


    The tea given to him by the Peacock Great Demon King had clearly been a true spiritual item; its effects were excellent, reducing his injuries significantly. In addition, his advancement in internal energy cultivation generated a vast amount of life energy, which greatly aided in healing his injuries. He was going to recover in no time.


    That Behemoth had been truly fierce! In a frontal sh, Tang San would not have been his match. He had won by exploiting the opponent��s character ws.


    Behemoths were skilled and eager warriors. On the battlefield, their sole objective was to crush their opponents, and anything else was uneptable. But they also were, as the saying goes, all brawn and no brains; the strongest n walking the earth had practically no ws inbat, but when it came to tactics, they were definitelycking.


    So Tang San chose a war of attrition. The opponent had no means to counter Tang San��s flight abilities and could only waste his bloodline power by repeatedly using War Stomp while in his bloodlust state for defense, leading to the gradual exhaustion of his energy.


    Tang San''s flying technique was something few flying races in this world could replicate. More importantly, the deterrent power of his Yin-Yang Palm was immense.


    If Tang San switched ces with the Behemoth, he definitely wouldn''t let himself be worn down like that. Instead, he would conserve his strength, ready to strike. At the moment his opponentnded an attack, he would suddenly burst forth with power. In such a sh, it wouldn''t be easy for the opponent to fly away. In a situation of exchanging injuries, the thick-skinned and tough Behemoth might not suffer too much damage, but the same could not be said about other races. If the Behemoth had fought like that, Tang San might have had to reveal one more bloodline power in order to defeat him.


    In the end, Tang San won through pure tactics and technical skill rather than brute power, defeating his opponent and acquiring an amazing bloodline in the process.


    At this moment, he still had the bloodline imprint of the Golden Mammoth, Mao Wenwu, within him.


    Undoubtedly, both of these were top-tier bloodlines, and both could greatly enhance his physical strength. Before obtaining the Behemoth bloodline, Tang San had already been tempted by the Golden Mammoth one, but now, things were different. The Behemoth bloodline was by far his first choice.


    Moreover, Tang San was also considering whether he could merge both of these bloodline powers into one imprint. Or he might fuse with both, for that matter. Upon advancing to the ninth order, he now had an additional slot, so amodating both bloodline imprints simultaneously wouldn''t be a problem.


    However, it seemed rather redundant to have both. Both had War Stomp and defensive capabilities, so he couldn��t exactly waste a slot just like that. But if he merged them into one imprint, his body probably couldn''t handle it. He didn''t yet have the foundation to fuse two such powerful imprints together.


    Should he first merge the Behemoth imprint? But this thing would undoubtedly be very domineering, and the fusion process would be arduous. There was still the match tomorrow; if the fusion process took too long, it would affect the doubles match, which wouldn''t be good.


    Now, Tang San had much more confidence in merging bloodline imprints than before. The Pr Luck Domain could greatly influence his fortune, and his yin-yang energy could also help with the fusion. However, the yin-yang energy was not yet strong enough to suppress those two bloodlines.


    Therefore, after careful consideration, Tang San decided to wait. He would wait until his yin-yang energy fully advanced to a higher tier, perhaps even evolving into the bloodline that he had envisioned��one surpassing the first tier, a transcendent bloodline! Only then would he attempt to merge the Behemoth and Golden Mammoth bloodlines; this would give him a much higher chance of sess.


    Tang San had also thought about how to elevate the tier of his yin-yang energy. There seemed to be only one way: to merge two specific bloodlines. One would be the Scorching Sunflower bloodline, representing extreme yang energy. The other would be the Earthshade Grass bloodline, representing extreme yin energy. At the same time, he had to evolve the Blue Silver Emperor into a strong, harmonious first-tier bloodline, in order to facilitate the merger. Only then could his yin-yang energy, which was anchored in the Blue Silver Emperor, truly evolve beyond the first tier.


    This would be extremely difficult, but he wasn''t in a hurry. First, he would focus on cultivating and enhancing his yin-yang energy. Once it reached a certain level and his body could better withstand it, he would consider the fusion. The likely sequence would be to first integrate the Behemoth bloodline to enhance his physical strength, and then merge the yin-yang energy into the Blue Silver Emperor, creating a transcendent bloodline.


    He had a general direction, but there were still many challenges to face. This wasn''t something that could be rushed; he needed to wait for better opportunities.


    Having just reached the ninth order, solidifying his foundation was crucial. This elitepetition was extremely beneficial for him, especially since he was constantly facing strong opponents and could absorb their bloodlines. These were all top-tier ninth-order bloodlines! Since they were so high-tier, the imprints would remain in his dantian for a long time; even if he didn��t merge them into his energy vortex, they wouldn''t dissipate on their own.


    This was something Tang San had discovered through continuous experimentation: the lower the bloodline tier, the faster it would dissipate. Conversely, the higher the tier, the more it would linger.


    For instance, the Golden Mammoth imprint he had created a few days ago remained unchanged, as solid as a rock. The Behemoth one, needless to say, would be even more stable. After all, today''s opponent was even stronger than Mao Wenwu.


    Unfortunately, when he faced the Scorching Sunflowerst time, he didn''t dare to absorb his bloodline, fearing it would disrupt his yin-yang energy bnce. That would��ve been a really good opportunity. He could only wait and see if there would be another chanceter. He needed his yin-yang energy to be more stable, anyway.


    ***


    When Tang San awoke from his meditation the next morning, he could still vaguely feel a dull pain in his meridians. The explosive power of the Behemoth was truly overwhelming. He had only been grazed by some of the energy des, yet even after a night of cultivation and the nourishment from the spiritual tea, he hadn''t fully recovered to his best state.


    But today''s match couldn''t be dyed. He valued the doubles match with Mei Gongzi even more than the singles.


    After washing up and changing clothes, when Tang San arrived at the dining hall, he noticed that the atmosphere was a bit off.


    In the dining hall, hispanions were all sitting together, seemingly waiting for his arrival, but no one was eating yet. Zhang Haoxuan was also there.


    When they saw Tang San appear, their expressions were a bit strange. Zhang Haoxuan waved at Tang San.


    Tang San quickly walked over to hispanions and asked in confusion, "Have you all eaten?"


    "No, we''re waiting for you," Wu Bingji said with a smile.


    "Little Tang, you''ve been hiding things from me pretty well!" Cheng Zicheng said with a face full of resentment.


    1. The author seems to have entirely forgotten that Tang San did this in chapter 430 and it��s explicitly stated that she no longer had any doubts about him. ?

 Chapter 510: A Bit Complicated

    <h4>Chapter 510: A Bit Complicated</h4>


    "Ah?" Tang San didn''t react at first, but quickly realized what she meant.


    "Uh... yeah... about that..." Tang San scratched his head. He had indeed forgotten about this. During yesterday''s match, he had disyed the Golden Roc Transformation and showed off an incredible flying ability. Cheng Zicheng, who also possessed the Golden Roc bloodline, was naturally curious and puzzled. Obviously, she had no idea that she herself was the source of Tang San''s bloodline.


    "What exactly is your bloodline? Why didn''t you use the Wind Tiger Transformation in the match? What happened to your wind element control?" Cheng Zicheng asked.


    Tang San smiled bitterly and said, "That''s a long story. It''s a bitplicated to exin."


    Zhang Haoxuan nced at him and said, "I''ve already told them that this matter must be kept strictly confidential. No one can reveal your original Wind Tiger Transformation. Just say it''s a bloodline mutation, plus a second bloodline. Golden Roc Transformation and what''s the other one?"


    "Ah, that would be the Lion-Tiger bloodline," Tang San understood what he meant. His teacher knew that his Mysterious Heaven Technique could absorb multiple bloodline imprints. Tang San had already told him this when he first arrived at the Redemption Academy. At that time, he needed Zhang Haoxuan''s support.


    "Yes, Lion-Tiger and Golden Roc. You don''t need to know anything else right now. Just remember to say this if anyone asks. Two bloodline imprints."


    "The Lion-Tiger Sword Saint''s bloodline?" Du Bai murmured to himself. "Why do I feel like whoever you are with, you seem to gain their Demonic God Transformation?"


    Tang San gave him a side nce, thinking to himself,<i> If only you knew, brother</i>.


    "Let''s eat," Zhang Haoxuan stepped in to ease the awkwardness, inviting everyone to start breakfast.


    During breakfast, everyone was noticeably silent. Tang San quietly finished his meal first. Then, he looked at hispanions and said seriously, "I apologize for keeping some things from you all this time. But please believe me, whether it''s for the Redemption Academy or for everyone, I am fullymitted. There are things I can''t tell you now, but one day, when I have the ability to protect everyone, I will definitely share everything with you."


    Wu Bingji smiled and said, "Tang San, you don''t need to say that. We have always trusted you. Without you, our small team wouldn''t have reached this level, and none of us would have the strength we have now. To us, you are both a teacher and a friend. You''ve always helped and guided each of us. The thing is... You''re the youngest among us, and that��s quite strange.


    "Anyway, we all know you have some secrets, but we''ve never pried because we can feel that your intentions are good. You''ve always given so much to us. No matter what your secrets are, we absolutely trust you. So don''t worry, everyone is just amazed at the strength you showed yesterday. We didn''t realize you had be so powerful, strong enough to stand on par with the top-level powerhouses of the demon and nymph ns."


    "Yeah! I wish we could be as strong as you," Gu Li said with a look of envy.


    Du Bai curled his lips and said, "You? No way that''s happening in this lifetime."


    "What, you think <i>you</i> can? At least I have more fighting power than you," Gu Li retorted.


    "Do you want me to curse you with bad luck?"


    "Hmph!"


    Tang San said somewhat helplessly, "I am indeed a bit different from everyone else, but any ability, if cultivated to the peak, can be extremely powerful. All of you have at least second-tier bloodline talents. Eldest senior brother, your Ice Nymph Transformation should also reach the second tier after what happenedst time. As long as we solve the bloodline strength problem, I believe ourprehension surpasses that of any other race. During this trip to the Ancestral Court, you have all been progressing. One day, if you can reach the Emperor level, you will be stronger than any other Emperor."


    "He''s right. Instead of envying others, we should work harder. Keep pushing!" Du Bai clenched his fist and waved it. Ever since he started climbing the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, his understanding of the Celestial Fox Vision''s fortune control had been growing day by day. Now that he was a four-tailed Celestial Fox, his confidence had greatly increased.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "The speed at which you all are improving is something we couldn''t even imagine in our time. I had a high bloodline strength and worked extremely hard, but at your age, I was still very weak. You should feel fortunate to have met Tang San. Without his help, you wouldn''t have gotten this far. Keep working hard and reach the peak of the ninth tier soon. Tang San will help you reach the tenth order. With your bloodline powers, once you be gods, you''ll be the backbone of our organization. By the way, Tang San, there''s something I need to tell you."


    "Yes, teacher. Please go ahead," Tang San said respectfully.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "As your performance in this elitepetition bes more noticeable, the organization has started paying attention to you. They''re now looking into your background and hope to establish contact with you, maybe even recruit you into the organization. Of course, they''re looking for Asura."


    Tang San was a member of the Redemption Society, but Asura was not. Only those present knew he held both identities.


    Tang San looked at Zhang Haoxuan and asked, "What do you think about it?"


    Zhang Haoxuan smiled and said, "Of course, we��ll keep that part to ourselves. This involves too much. So, when I came back yesterday, I emphasized to everyone the importance of keeping your identity strictly confidential. Not a word should leak out."


    "Thank you for understanding, Master."


    Right now, it was indeed not a good moment to be exposed to the higher-ups of the Redemption Society. With his performance in this elitepetition, if the Redemption Society knew he was one of their own, they would definitely provide him with resources and possibly even a high position. But that would also mean more responsibilities, which Tang San did not want at this moment. Moreover, from the Peacock Demon King''s understanding of this secret society, it was clear that the society was actually not that secret to the demons and nymphs.


    The reason they hadn''t been targeted by the Ancestral Court was simply that the Ancestral Court wouldn��t bother with such a small human organization. But if Tang San achieved impressive results in the elitepetition and proved his talent, and it was discovered he was part of Redemption, it could bring disaster to both Redemption and himself.


    Therefore, Zhang Haoxuan didn''t need to ask Tang San; he already knew how to respond to the organization. Until Tang San had the ability to take the lead of the organization himself, it was best not to reveal his identity.


    "You have the doublespetition too, right? The match is today. Who''s your partner?" Du Bai suddenly asked.


    Tang San replied, "You''ll find out when you watch the match today."


    Since everyone had watched the match for the first time yesterday, they didn''t know that Tang San waspeting alongside Mei Gongzi.


    "No need to watch, it''s the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, right?" Cheng Zicheng snorted. "Little Tang, I have a favor to ask. Can you teach me your flying techniques? Watching you fight that Behemoth yesterday, I was so ashamed. We both have the Golden Roc bloodline, but you''re so much better at flying!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 511: A Powerful Opponent

    <h4>Chapter 511: A Powerful Opponent</h4>


    Tang San smiled and said, "Senior sister, remember I told you before? You need to constantly improve your physical strength. The stronger your body, the more incredible maneuvers you can perform while flying. That''s why I had you climb the Undying Demon Emperor''s Sacred Mountain, to see if you could temper your bloodline and increase your physical strength. I have no problem teaching you how to fly. Oh, by the way, my partner for the doubles match isn''t Big Cat. And by the way, when she''s around, please call me Asura; she doesn''t know my real identity."


    "So mysterious... Why won''t you tell me?!" Cheng Zicheng pouted, but then she brightened at the thought of Tang San teaching her to fly. Watching his Golden Roc Transformation and those incredible maneuvers yesterday had left her in awe. Especially those impossible turns, it was just too cool. If she hadn''t known the eldest senior brother first, she might have fallen for Tang San.


    "It''s about time, let''s head out," Zhang Haoxuan said. "We''ll go separately to avoid anyone linking us to Tang San. Little Tang, you go ahead. We''ll enter the venueter."


    "Okay, Master."


    The group split up temporarily, and Tang San left on his own, taking a carriage to the Ancestral Court za. Before he arrived, hismunicator suddenly rang with Mei Gongzi''s voice.


    ��Big Brother Asura, where are you?


    "I''m on my way, should be there soon. Wait for me at the entrance," Tang San said gently.


    ��Alright!


    For some reason, Tang San felt that Mei Gongzi calling him big brother sounded much more natural today. Could it be because he had met her father? It seemed the Peacock Great Demon King hadn''t given her any negativements about him. After all, he had sworn a blood oath, what could the man criticize about that? He would swear as many blood oaths as needed for her. He would never break a promise to her.


    Soon, the carriage arrived at thepetition entrance. Tang San got off and saw Mei Gongzi standing there gracefully.


    Today, she wore a snow-white long dress and her ck hair flowed over her shoulders, looking incredibly beautiful.


    At this time, the contestants were also entering the venue one after another. When they saw her, their eyes almost always lingered briefly. Of course, they didn''t dare to stare too long, since Mei Gongzi had already demonstrated considerable strength in thepetition. Her luck wasn''t as bad as Tang San''s; she had a fairly smooth journey in the individualpetition, but there were still many people in her group, and she needed two more victories to advance from the group stage.


    Tang San quickly came to her side and smiled, "Have you been waiting for long? Let''s go in."


    "Mm." Mei Gongzi nodded and walked beside him into the venue. As they strolled in, she looked at him and softly said, "Sorry, Big Brother,"


    Tang San turned to her in surprise. "What''s wrong?"


    "Yesterday, my father gave you trouble, didn''t he? And he even forced you to swear a blood oath. I didn''t know it would be like this, I''m sorry!"


    Mei Gongzi''s tone was very apologetic.


    Tang Sanughed. "I wondered what it was. No worries, he didn��t force me to do anything. The oath I made is something I would have done anyway. At least there''s no resistance from your family, and they won''t worry that I have any ulterior motives for helping you. Submitting to my sister? That is my own choice."


    "Don''t call it ''submission.'' I don''t like that," Mei Gongzi said seriously.


    "It''s fine, don''t overthink it. You won''t enve me, will you? The oath can''t be taken back, anyway. Just consider it a brother''s love for his sister. I think it''s good this way. It can also dispel some of your previous concerns. After all, you haven''t seen my true face yet, so consider this a form ofpensation."


    Mei Gongzi looked at him with aplicated expression. Although he wore a mask, his eyes were exceptionally clear, and at this moment, Mei Gongzi saw nothing but her own reflection in his eyes.


    She felt truly guilty for having doubts and fears about someone who was so wholeheartedly devoted to her. Now that he had even made a blood oath, there was really nothing left to question. Instead, she only felt bad about herself.


    Tang San said, "Alright, focus your mind. We are about topete. Our opponents will only get stronger. We will constantly face formidable enemies. I got injured in yesterday''s match and I haven''t fully recovered, so you''ll be the main force today."


    "Mm-hmm, leave it to me. I haven''t used my full strength before. I should be able to handle it alone," Mei Gongzi said earnestly.


    Seeing her expression, Tang San''s heart twinged a little. <i>You can handle it alone? No way, then won��t I be useless?</i>


    But he had no doubt about Mei Gongzi''s words. Her growth rate was rapid, and he himself wasn��t sure of her true strength now. In any case, since the Peacock Great Demon King had fully confirmed her as the heir, it showed that her previous seclusion and the inheritance from the Peacock Demon n had yielded no insignificant results.


    The two had now arrived in the waiting area.


    Although there were more participants in the doublespetition, the eliminations were faster. There were fewer matchespared to the individualpetition.


    So, today they would face the penultimate match of their group. If they defeated two more teams, they would advance from the group stage and enter the top sixteen of the doublespetition. This was still due to their bad luck, having more people in their group. In a group with fewer people, one more win today would secure a spot in the top sixteen.


    As the first topete, they didn''t need to go to the rest area but waited directly in thepetition waiting area.


    The referee''s voice soon sounded. "Get ready to enter!"


    Tang San turned to look at Mei Gongzi. She nodded at him, and in the next moment, her eyes seemed to brighten, filled with intense fighting spirit.


    Looking at her beautiful face, Tang San''s mind was slightly distracted. At this moment, she ovepped somewhat with her past life self. But in this life, she was more ambitious and bore more responsibilities. In her previous life, she always stayed by his side, apanying him, even at the cost of her life. In this life, he would protect her well, always standing by her side as well.


    They ascended the stage together, walking side by side. Neither of them noticed that,pared to the previous two matches, they were now walking closer to each other, just like their growing rtionship.


    At this moment, on the opposite side, their two opponents had also ascended the stage.


    When Tang San and Mei Gongzi saw this pair of opponents, their expressions immediately turned serious.


    The opponents were also a man and a woman, and they looked almost indistinguishable from humans. To the spectators in the stands, it seemed like a civil war among humans.


    The male contestant had a bluish-green diamond-shaped scale on his forehead, emitting a faint cyan glow, which was the only feature distinguishing him from a human. His pupils seemed to be vertical at times. He was about two meters tall, with a well-proportioned body and handsome appearance. Dressed in a cyan outfit with a matching blue-green cloak, he looked elegant and dignified.


    The woman standing beside him wore a fiery red long dress, which contrasted sharply with his blue-green cloak. Her dark red hair flowed in loose waves down her back, and her figure was fiery and alluring. However, her aura was different from the seductive Fox n girls; it was more aggressive. Her dark red eyes seemed to flicker with strange mes.

 Chapter 512: Dragon-Phoenix Pair

    <h4>Chapter 512: Dragon-Phoenix Pair</h4>


    "How do we have such strong opponents in our group?!" Tang San asked Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi replied, "I don''t know. We always left after our matches ended, I didn''t pay attention to our opponents."


    Tang San smiled bitterly. "I thought my luck was bad yesterday, but today is even worse!"


    He regretted not using his luck enhancement beforeing out. This constant misfortune was bing a problem.


    Today''s opponents were even stronger than the ones he faced yesterday. Yes, even stronger than the Behemoth.


    Tang San even suspected that the two in front of him and Mei Gongzi might be the favorites to win this year''s doubles tournament. After all, the Dragon-Phoenix Pair was one of the topbinations in the entire Empyrean Dominion.


    Indeed, the man and woman opposite them were clearly a dragon and a phoenix! The man, based on his aura, was probably a Wind Dragon. The woman was undoubtedly from the lineage of the Immortal Phoenix, a descendant of the Eternal Inferno Undying Demon Emperor.


    Although there wasn''t a Wind Dragon among the Demon Emperors, the top-ranked Crystal Demon Emperor was from the dragon race, which had always been the uncrowned king among the demon races. Throughout the generations, there had always been dragons among the Demon Emperors.


    The Undying Demon Emperor needed no introduction, ranking even above the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor. The title "Eternal Inferno" wasn''t just for show.


    Cheng Zicheng trained daily by climbing the Undying Sacred Mountain, and the female contestant before them was a true Undying Fire Phoenix.


    These two, with their top-tier bloodlines, made for a powerful duo. And it wasn''t even thest match of the group stage! Yet, Tang San and Mei Gongzi encountered them now rather than in the finals.


    Tang San even suspected that the tournament organizers didn''t want humans to advance from the group stage to the finals. In the individual matches, he kept encountering strong opponents, and now in the doubles too. The previous two matches had been rtively easy wins, so what was going on with this one?


    "Big Brother, I will give it my all." Mei Gongzi''s expression was equally serious. She had also identified the opponents. Undoubtedly, this was going to be an extremely challenging match.


    At this moment, the two opponents across from them were also looking at them with very serious expressions.


    Mei Gongzi was the heir of the Peacock Demon n, possessing a first-tier bloodline. Her space maniption had already demonstrated formidable applications in the previous matches. And although Tang San and Mei Gongzi hadn''t seen their opponents'' matches, this Dragon-Phoenix Pair had watched theirs.


    Tang San, needless to say, had just defeated a Behemoth yesterday. It was hard to determine whether a Behemoth was stronger than a dragon or phoenix, given that they were of the same bloodline tier; it mainly depended on individual cultivation. Yet this human had prevailed over an elite among elite Behemoths! How could they not be shocked?


    In particr, that palm strike had left a deep impression on them. They definitely wouldn''t want Tang San to get close.


    Thus, when both sides saw their opponents, their expressions became very serious, knowing this match would be tough.


    All the audience''s attention was focused on their match. Although the other two matches were also exciting, they clearly couldn''tpare to this one.


    As Tang San had predicted, this pair had been the favorites since the start of the tournament. Even if they didn��t end up taking the championship, they were certainly expected to advance far into the finals. They were the seeded yers in Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s group.


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi were the dark horses, while their opponents were the established powerhouses.


    How could such a match not draw attention?


    The Peacock Great Demon King sat in the VIP section, silently watching the arena, his expression also serious. If it weren''t for Asura defeating the Behemoth Beast, he wouldn''t think his daughter had any chance of winning this match.


    He knew very well that this kind of match schedule and draw were far from fair. The Ancestral Court had never shown any goodwill toward the Peacock Demon n. Otherwise, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor wouldn''t have been able to leave Kali City so easily. This time, he brought Mei Gongzi to seize a slim chance, especially after she inherited the ancestral legacy.


    If they could get through this match, most of the goals for this trip would be aplished. But it was up to Asura and Mei Gongzi to see if they could defeat the powerful opponents before them.


    <i>Asura, you always manage to do the impossible, right? Let''s see if you can do it again in this two-on-two match.</i>


    At that moment, the referee on the stage announced the start of the match.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Green and red lights soared into the sky almost immediately from one side of the arena.


    The blinding green light, apanied by violent wind energy, burst out from the dragon contestant, illuminating half the sky on its side. On the other side, a crimson light surged up like roaring mes. The green and red lights were distinctly separate, each covering dozens of meters around thepetitors.


    Seeing the sudden burst of power from their opponents, Tang San couldn''t help but say to Mei Gongzi, "It looks like they''re quite wary of us!"


    Of course they were wary of them��more precisely, wary of Tang San.


    In terms of overallbat power, the dragon and phoenix races were generally not inferior to Behemoths, but in terms of defense, these two were definitely not as strong. If even a top Behemoth couldn''t withstand Tang San''s palm strike at close range, they certainly wouldn''t expect themselves to seed. Especially since Tang San had a teleportation disc; if he teleported close and struck, what could they do?


    So from the very start of the match, the two opponents unleashed their powerful bloodline forces, forming a defensive area that also interfered with the space around them, not giving Tang San any chance to get close.


    Golden wings spread from Tang San''s back as he activated the Golden Roc Transformation again. His superb flying skills yesterday had left a deep impression on all the spectators, so when he disyed the Golden Roc Transformation again, it immediately elicited a wave of cheers from the audience.


    By continuously defeating powerful opponents, Tang San had already begun to gain his own fans.


    Meanwhile, Mei Gongzi''s ck hair turned peacock blue, and a striking golden crown appeared upon her brow. The two exchanged nces, and Tang San took to the sky, with the zing Lion-Tiger Golden Force bursting forth.


    Today, he was at the ninth order!


    Although he had said Mei Gongzi would be the main force in the battle, how could he let his beloved bear most of the pressure in the face of such formidable opponents?


    Tang San''s gaze sharpened, and even the Peacock Great Demon King in his VIP seat could sense that today he was noticeably different from yesterday. It wasn''t just his strength or aura that had changed, but his momentum and mindset.


    As Tang San flew into the air, his eyes scanned the audience.


    At this moment, the members of the Shrek Squad had just settled in their seats. Cheng Zicheng was intently watching the arena, and when Tang San turned to look at her, she immediately understood it was a signal for her. She clenched her fists tightly in nervous excitement.


    Tang San seemed to be telling her, "Watch closely."


    After looking in Cheng Zicheng''s direction, Tang San looked down at Mei Gongzi, and she heard his voice in her ear. She nodded in understanding.


    In the next moment, they moved almost simultaneously.


    With a sh of silver light, Mei Gongzi''s figure vanished. Meanwhile, Tang San burst forward at lightning speed, causing the air to explode with a sonic boom.


    No creature couldpare to the Golden Roc in terms of straight sprint. This was the most potent trait of a peak second-tier bloodline, after all. Although it wasn''t as instantaneous as teleportation, the sheer speed and momentum could only be described as terrifying.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 513: Sacrificial Strike

    <h4>Chapter 513: Sacrificial Strike</h4>


    The dragon and phoenix contestants also erupted simultaneously. They sped their hands together, and the originally separate blue and red lights suddenly converged inward, transforming into a massive blue-red tornado that swept upward. As the saying goes, wind fuels the fire; the fusion of wind and fire turned into a gigantic whirlwind, covering a massive area around them.


    It was not just wind and fire elemental energy, but wind and fire force!


    Before this battle began, they had already decided that under no circumstances could they allow the male human to get close. By maintaining distance, they aimed to limit his abilities. Wind Dragons and Immortal me Phoenixes were both skilled in medium- and long-range attacks. Their abilities, whenbined, were far more than just the sum of their parts. With this duo��s wless cooperation, even a Demon King could hardly contend with them.


    They had even anticipated that Tang San and Mei Gongzi would choose tounch a swift attack. After all, getting close was the only chance for Tang San and Mei Gongzi.


    Silver light flickered, and when Mei Gongzi reappeared, she was right in front of the wind-fire tornado. However, what she held in her hand was no longer the Peacock Plume. It was a slender silver-white feather, with three peculiar eyespots at one end: the Celestial Plume.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi''s eyes had turnedpletely silver-white, and she floated in the airpletely unsupported, as if space itself was holding her up. Streams of both illusory and brilliant silver light flowed from the Celestial Plume,yering upon each other in the air. Each ray of light from the feather was a spatial rift. When these spatial rifts ovepped, not only did they tear space apart but they also created strange distortions.


    As she unleashed this strike, a massive peacock phantom appeared behind Mei Gongzi. It was a silver peacock wearing a golden crown, spreading its wings, and behind it unfolded the splendid disy of a peacock''s tail, towering tens of meters high. The peacock phantom suppressed all the surrounding space, while theyered spatial rifts silently shed down from above!


    In front of the wind-fire tornado, a crack appeared, and that silver crack silently devoured the raging wind and fire forces, drawing them in and splitting them apart.


    The folded space continuously shattered, bursting out with dazzling silver light, but the rift slowly expanded in a short time. Mei Gongzi, with her own strength, had managed to tear a gap in thebined attack of the Dragon-Phoenix Pair!


    The dragon and phoenix contestants couldn''t help but show expressions of astonishment. Even god-level experts would find this difficult! Their eyes suddenly shone brightly; they no longer dared to hold back in the slightest.


    Yet just as they prepared to go all out, driving the wind-fire tornado to devour the spatial rifts and Mei Gongzi together with them, a golden light had already arrived!


    Teleportation was faster than flying, that was an absolute fact, but the speed of the Golden Roc over such a distance was not much inferior to teleportation.


    Facing two opponents, even with the powerful divine weapon that was the Celestial Plume, Mei Gongzi could only open a gap in the wind-fire force for an instant. But that instant was enough for Tang San.


    Without the slightest deceleration, as if he wasn''t afraid of the wind-fire tornado closing and tearing him apart between the wind and fire forces, he charged in without hesitation. He rushed in through that minute gap!


    As he rushed in, he began to spin rapidly. A Golden Roc��s wings were the sharpest of des, and like a sharp wheel of gold, he shed directly into the wind-fire tornado, reaching the dragon and phoenix duo almost instantly.


    All of this happened so quickly that the audience could only see flickering lights.


    Only Cheng Zicheng, who stared unblinkingly at the battlefield, understood that what Tang San was performing was the Golden Wing Wind-Splitting sh she had been arduously practicing! But the speed, power, and explosiveness Tang San demonstrated were far beyond hers. Of course, that was only natural; it was the Golden Wing sh enhanced by the Lion-Tiger Golden Force!


    At the moment Tang San rushed in, Mei Gongzi was already surrounded by silver light and teleported away. The rift that had been shed open also instantly closed.


    <i>ng!</i>


    A piercing metallic sh suddenly rang out. Almost in the next instant, the wind and fire forces dissipated.


    What had happened?


    Spectators with sharp eyes could see the golden light cutting deep into the wind-fire tornado.


    The Wind Dragon contestant stood sideways in front of the Immortal me Phoenix, punching out with a fist and armpletely covered in azure dragon scales. Each scale emitted terrifying wind force as it collided fiercely with the iing Golden Wing sh.


    The golden figure was instantly smashed back to whence it hade from. At that moment, those with particrly sharp ears could hear the sound of bones breaking.


    The Wind Dragon n contestant froze in ce, and it was at this moment that the wind-fire tornado shattered.


    The golden figure was flung backward, but silver light flickered and Mei Gongzi appeared in his path, catching him with both hands.


    At this moment, Tang San''s mouth and nose were bleeding, and even his ears were bleeding from the shock. The pair of golden wings on his back was broken, and both hung limply at his sides. After being caught by Mei Gongzi, he immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, his face as pale as paper.


    "Big Brother, are you alright? You..." Mei Gongzi''s beautiful eyes were filled with panic. She never expected that just one collision would injure someone like Asura so badly.


    Tang San smiled and shook his head, saying, "I''m fine. I''vepleted my task. The rest is up to you."


    It was only at this moment that changes began to appear on the other side��specifically, something was going on with the Wind Dragon.


    The right hand of the Wind Dragon n, which had collided with Tang San��s wings, began to crack, starting from the palm. The azure dragon scales shattered one by one. Along with the scales, the hand and arm itself also broke.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The entire right arm of the Wind Dragon, along with the right shoulder and half of his chest, suddenly exploded!


    The spectators could vaguely see the internal organs through the gap, and not even he himself could tell how many ribs were broken. With a muffled groan, he fell to the ground, spitting outrge mouthfuls of blood.


    Although the life force of the dragon n was extremely strong, it was clear that even if he survived, he no longer had the strength to continue fighting.


    The entire audience erupted in an uproar!


    No one expected that this two-on-two match would begin in such a manner.


    One collision, just one collision, and both sides had ended up severely injured. Tang San had exchanged injury for injury, directly inflicting a serious wound on his opponent. It was his victory in a sense, since that was what he had intended; at the same time, however, he was also severely injured. During the Golden Roc Transformation, his wings were broken, and that rendered the imprint useless. He wouldn''t be able to use this transformation again for at least a month.


    The wings of the Golden Roc Transformation were formed from his back ribs. When the wings broke, his ribs were also broken��not just one, but three on each side, totaling six broken ribs.


    With that said... it was indeed his victory, and it had indeed worked as intended. It was clear that the Wind Dragon was by far the worse off. It only took a quick assessment to understand that Tang San might still have some strength left to fight, but the Wind Dragon contestant certainly did not.


    There were many Demon Kings present, but in terms ofbat experience, let alone them, not even the emperors couldpare to Tang San.


    When Tang San saw that their opponents for this match were a Dragon-Phoenix Pair, he knew it was big trouble. In his previous life, there were legends of the harmony between dragons and phoenixes, and those legends very much held true. The coordination between the dragon and phoenix races was naturally seamless. Though he and Mei Gongzi had some degree of coordination, it couldn''tpare to theirs.


    Moreover, both the dragon and phoenix races had first-tier bloodlines. And to top it all off, the wind and fire elementsplemented each other, and both opponents were at the peak of the ninth order. It was the absolute perfectbination.

 Chapter 514: Slowly Building Coordination

    <h4>Chapter 514: Slowly Building Coordination</h4>


    If it was a contest of sheer strength, unless he unleashed all of his power and cooperated with Mei Gongzi, whom he judged to be strong enough if she went all out, they would barely even have a chance. Moreover, the possibility of both sides getting severely injured was high, and their chances of losing were not small.


    In this situation, a frontal battle was obviously inadvisable. Therefore, in a sh of thought, Tang San came up with a tactic.


    He leveraged the habitual thinking of all normalbatants. Generally speaking, when both sides engage in battle with roughly equal strength, getting a steady footing and making tentative attacks are verymon tactics. Almost no one would go all out from the start. Thus, inplete contrast, he chose to go all out with a sacrificial strike against the opponent.


    Thus, what he had told Mei Gongzi earlier was to create a spatial rift in the opponent''s defense, giving him a chance to rush in.


    Then he used both the Golden Roc Transformation and the Lion-Tiger Transformation to their limits, executing an all-out strike.


    The Golden Wing Wind-Splitting sh was executed without regard for the wings themselves. If they got destroyed, they got destroyed; he would simply take a while to regenerate them. Moreover, he infused the yin-yang energy he had recently cultivated and enhanced into this strike. He also fully utilized both the devouring and and the repelling powers of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force.


    This strike was arguably the strongest Tang San could achieve, and that was whilepletely ignoring his body''s limits.


    In terms of pure cultivation, he was definitely not as good as the Wind Dragon expert, who had peak ninth-order cultivation of a top-tier bloodline. But when it came to a desperate fight, his strike was carefully premeditated, while the opponent had to respond hastily. Everything happened too fast.


    Although the Wind Dragon and Immortal me Phoenix had high expectations for Tang San and Mei Gongzi, they never thought the two could truly be their match. After all, they were even favorites to win this tournament��specially selected elites of their respective ns, looking to demonstrate their strength in the doublespetition.


    Wind and fire assisting each other was the core ability of their duo. It was a perfectbination with one��s wind fanning the other��s mes, and the sheer explosive power of the wind-fire force was quite literally capable of tearing space itself apart.


    They had nned to unleash their wind-fire force from the very first moment, using it for wide-area defense and control, then crush their opponents in one fell swoop. The fiery tornado would give Tang San no chance to get close, while also throwing space into disarray and preventing Mei Gongzi from teleporting. With their overwhelming power andplementary abilities, they were fully confident of defeating their opponents in a short time, thus securing their position.


    However, they never expected that Mei Gongzi had already mastered the Peacock Demon n''s sacred artifact. Under her power, the Celestial Plume forcibly shed open a gap in the forming wind-fire force tornado. Using this gap, Asura fully executed his sacrificial strike, attacking despite the bacsh. That instant burst of power,bined with the protection of wind-fire force dissipating and the fact that he��d been caught off guard, rendered the Wind Dragon powerless.


    One for one! This was a direct exchange.


    Such a development even made many nobles in the spectators'' seats stand up. Those who truly understood the intricacies couldn''t help but marvel, their perception of Asura clearly altered.


    His initial victory had been attributed to luck and whatever other mysterious factors; yet as victories umted, his skill could not help but be noticed. As for this particr moment, in the eyes of many spectators, it was an absolutely thunderous demonstration of immense skill and power. The explosive power, decisiveness, and precise judgment of the situation couldn''t help but move the great nobles of the demon and nymph ns.


    Even the Peacock Great Demon King had a few traces of shock in his eyes. He understood all too well that if he were in Asura''s ce now, he couldn''t have done better.


    At the moment of rushing into the wind-fire force, if the spatial rift Mei Gongzi shedsted even a moment shorter, Asura would have been simply shredded by the terrifying force. The explosive power of the Dragon-Phoenix Pair was something even a god-level being couldn''t withstand, let alone someone who had just freshly reached the ninth tier.


    Yet, in spite of that, he was perfectly calm and resolute, as if everything was within his expectations.


    Moreover, although the Celestial Plume was powerful, Mei Gongzi was not even at the peak of the ninth order, while the opponents were two peak experts withplementary attributes. The spatial rift she had shed open did not reach all the way through to the other team. In other words, when Tang San rushed in, the remaining wind-fire force was broken by himself, and the impact of this could be imagined.


    In the audience, the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint was also present. Though he had no partner for the doubles, he was always there to watch Tang San and Mei Gongzi��s matches. And when he saw Tang San''s sacrificial strike explosion, his eyes couldn''t help but shine with excitement, and he vigorously waved his fist.


    In contrast with Tang San and Mei Gongzi, he had always paid much attention to his own opponent. The Wind Dragon n contestant, who was severely injured by Tang San, was the one he would have faced in the next round in a one-on-one match. He was well aware of this contestant''s strength and had no confidence in defeating him, but Tang San had now solved this problem for him.


    <i>What is strength? This is absolute strength. Not only cultivation butbat experience, awareness, and the ability to seize opportunities.</i>


    Just this move alone made Big Cat feel ashamed. It didn''t believe it could do better than Tang San, and it might not even have the chance to do so against such an opponent.


    With both Tang San and the Wind Dragon n contestant severely injured, the wind-fire force dissipated, leaving only the two female contestants supporting their partners.


    The eyes of the Immortal me Phoenix were filled with killing intent. The Wind Dragon was extremely seriously injured; if it weren''t for the dragon race''s strong vitality, today��s matches might have seen yet another casualty. Even more terrifying was that there was a vague and indescribable force continuously shing within its body. Even with the powerful bloodline of the Wind Dragon n, it was not something he could control, and it was causing the injuries of the Wind Dragon to worsen. If not treated in time, it could genuinely threaten his life.


    In truth, Tang San had nned this strike taking into consideration the Wind Dragon��s protective instinct. And even though his real target was the Wind Dragon, he actually attacked the Immortal me Phoenix directly, banking on the former��s instinct to protect his partner. The reason was simple: the most terrifying ability of the Immortal me Phoenix was its rebirth through mes. If he severely injured the Immortal me Phoenix, she could undergo rebirth; her cultivation would be impacted, but for the time being, she could at least restore seventy to eighty percent of her strength. And if she could still fight, his sacrifice was moot.


    At this moment, with the Wind Dragon incapacitated, the scene turned into a one-on-one between Mei Gongzi and the Immortal me Phoenix.


    Tang San had confidence in Mei Gongzi''s strength. Mei Gongzi wielded the Peacock Demon n''s sacred artifact, the Celestial Plume, and also possessed another powerful first-tier bloodline, the White Tiger bloodline. With these two bloodlines and the artifact, she wouldn''t be inferior to the Immortal me Phoenix contestant.


    Moreover, Tang San knew the condition that the Wind Dragon was in.


    The fighters couldn''t receive treatment until the match ended, and that... depended on whether the Immortal me Phoenix cared about her partner''s life. A Wind Dragon��s endurance couldn''tpare to a Golden Mammoth��s. Without receiving an infusion of life energy one way or another, it would be at most ten minutes until he could no longer be saved. And if Mei Gongzi entangled the Immortal me Phoenix, what was a ten-minute dy?


    "Concede and save him," Mei Gongzi said coldly to the Immortal me Phoenix, following Tang San''s instruction. Her voice was clear and resonant, allowing all the spectators to hear her words.


    A trace of struggle shed in the eyes of the Immortal me Phoenix.

 Chapter 515: Opponent Concedes

    <h4>Chapter 515: Opponent Concedes</h4>


    This simple sentence was also part of Tang San''s strategy. The dragon and phoenix races had always been closely rted; otherwise, this duo wouldn''t exist. At this moment, Mei Gongzi''s statement implied that the Wind Dragon''s injuries could be treated, and timely treatment could save him. This was in fact true; for the dragon race, regenerating a limb wasn''t a big problem... but if he died, that was a <i>very</i> big deal.


    The bloodline inheritance of the dragon race was very difficult to pass on; the number of dragons was quite scarce, and each was therefore extremely precious. If the Wind Dragon died because the Immortal me Phoenix insisted on fighting, it would inevitably affect the rtionship between the dragon and phoenix races. Therefore, Mei Gongzi''s words hit right on the mark.


    At this moment, Tang San had already retracted the broken wings on his back. His entire back was numb from the intense pain, but he still stood up straight with Mei Gongzi''s support, silently circting his internal energy and regting his breath. The strongest ability granted by the Mysterious Heaven Technique was endless generation of life force, giving him a strong recovery speed. Although he was severely injured, he still had some fighting strength, unlike the Wind Dragon.


    Silently, Tang San grasped Sky Shatterer in his hand and let go of Mei Gongzi''s hand, with a faint cold gleam in his eyes.


    The female contestant from the Immortal me Phoenix n almost ground her white teeth to pieces. She never imagined that they would lose this match in such a frustrating manner. However, at this point, she had no other choice.


    "Fine, I concede. Treat him."


    She could keep fighting, but she had no confidence in winning. When Mei Gongzi used the Celestial Plume to prate the wind-fire force, she understood that this opponent was difficult to deal with. It was also hard to say how much strength the male human had left. Her chances of winning were slim.


    Furthermore, her partner was already so severely injured; if they continued to fight, what if he died? And even if he didn''t die, he obviously couldn''t participate in the next round of the doubles match. The Wind Dragon needed immediate treatment from his n for limb regeneration, which was the most important thing.


    When Mei Gongzi heard the opponent agree so readily, she couldn''t help but turn to look at Tang San, seeing a slight smile under his mask. At that moment, she even wondered if he had predicted from the beginning that after severely injuring one of the opponents, the match would end this way.


    When she first realized how powerful their opponents were, Mei Gongzi couldn''t deny feeling nervous. After all, they were facing the famous Dragon-Phoenix Pair!


    But to her surprise, such formidable opponents were dealt with just like that. She herself hadn''t suffered any injuries, while the opponents had already conceded.


    Tang San put away Sky Shatterer and said to Mei Gongzi, "Help me over."


    Mei Gongzi supported him as they slowly walked towards the two opponents. By now, the referee had already announced that Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s team had won the match.


    By the time they arrived in front of the Wind Dragon, who had already fallen into aa, the Immortal me Phoenix had done whatever she could to close his wounds and prevent excessive blood loss. His face was pale as gold paper, with colors of blue and red continuously shifting across it.


    The yin-yang energy was indeed domineering! Once it invaded the opponent''s body, it was very difficult to resist.


    Once this extreme yin and yang energy was no longer kept in check by the Blue Silver Emperor and was injected into the enemy''s body, it would immediately erupt. The two energies would sh with each other, simultaneously triggering conflicts within the opponent''s own yin and yang energy, causing their bloodline power to be intensely disturbed.


    Tang San grabbed the remaining hand of the opponent with his right hand, silently activating his internal energy to absorb the yin-yang energy from the opponent''s body��and, of course, his bloodline imprint. This was a dragon, after all; although the Wind Dragons weren��t the strongest dragons, they were still dragons! And dragons didn��t just have a top-tier n; they were overall a top-tier race!


    In no time, the shifting colors on the Wind Dragon''s face disappeared, and his breathing stabilized, though he remained in a deep sleep.


    "Go back and replenish his life force. There won''t be any life-threatening danger, but he will need time to recover," Tang San said to the Immortal me Phoenix.


    The female contestant from the Immortal me Phoenix n looked at him with cold eyes and said, "I hope you can still participate in the individualpetition. I''ll be waiting for you there."


    After saying that, she picked up her teammate and turned to leave.


    Mei Gongzi also helped Tang San stand up. Feeling the fragrant scenting from her, Tang San was in high spirits. What were a few injuriespared to the clear concern that Mei Gongzi showed? His heart felt like it was melting.


    "Big Brother, how are you? Do you want me to carry you down?" Mei Gongzi asked softly.


    The word "yes" almost escaped Tang San''s mouth, but the image of being princess-carried by Mei Gongzi was too much for him to bear. He suppressed the urge.


    "No need, I''m fine. Just help me down," he said. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, especially his future father-inw, he thought it best to be cautious. There was no rush.


    With Mei Gongzi''s support, the two of them stepped down from the stage together. Below the stage, the Peacock Great Demon King was already waiting for them.


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback upon seeing him. "Father, you��re here!"


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded at her, then quickly approached Tang San and handed him a silver box. "Take this when you get back. It shouldn''t affect your match tomorrow."


    "Thank you, n Leader." Tang San nodded slightly in gratitude and took the box without hesitation. He didn''t need to look to know that it contained something valuable. He had in fact expected that the Peacock Great Demon King might give him something.


    Although the Peacock Demon n''s position in the Ancestral Court wasn''t prominent and they were even suppressed, they couldn''t be underestimated. The Peacock Demon n had a first-tier bloodline and were the backers of the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, making them arguably the wealthiest family. The Peacock Great Demon King definitely had no shortage of valuable items. Otherwise, after burning so much of his life force and bloodline essence, he wouldn''t have survived until now.


    ��Little Mei, take him back," the Peacock Great Demon King said to Mei Gongzi.


    "Alright." Mei Gongzi had nned to do this anyway. With her father''s approval, it was all the more legitimate.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s recognition of Asura made sense, given the immense importance of a blood oath. He understood Asura''s feelings for Mei Gongzi, but so what? With the constraints of the blood oath, he would never betray her. In fact, she couldmand him to do anything at any time.


    Asura proved his abilities through each match, demonstrating that he was not only trustworthy but also had sufficient strength. This increased the Peacock Great Demon King''s regard for him day by day.


    He had already investigated Asura''s entire "career" in Kali City, including how he obtained his noble title. He was amazed by this young man''s growth. Dual bloodlines, and both first-tier bloodlines at that��how had he achieved this? No one knew. In the previous matches at the Great Beast Fighting Arena in Kali City, his bloodline power didn��t even seem to be as powerful as it was now.


    Regarding this, the Peacock Great Demon King had issued strict orders to block any information about Asura, sealing off all rted news.


    From his perspective, Asura seemed to be a prodigy cultivated by the Redemption Society, specifically to assist Mei Gongzi, which was what he hoped to see. Moreover, with the constraint of the blood oath, there was no fear of Asura doing anything detrimental to Mei Gongzi.


    Thus, the Peacock Great Demon King had appeared twice after Asura''s matches, not only to disy his support but also to drive away the emissaries of the various emperors of the Ancestral Court.

 Chapter 516: Healing

    <h4>Chapter 516: Healing</h4>


    Each Emperor had emissaries specifically tasked with scouting talented individuals duringpetitions. If contestants had sufficient potential, even if they eventually lost, they could still gain the Emperor''s favor and be recruited to enhance the Emperor''s forces.


    Since Tang San was human, he hadn''t been given much attention in previous matches. It wasn''t until he defeated the Behemoth in thest round and revealed his dual bloodlines that things changed. Before he stepped off the stage, the Peacock Great Demon King had already driven away all the emissaries who came tomunicate, dering that Group Three, Number Six was his own, from Kali City.


    Naturally, this prevented Tang San frommunicating with those imperial emissaries.


    Today''s situation was naturally the same. Although bound by the blood oath, the Peacock Great Demon King didn''t want Asura to develop funny ideas because of the Emperors'' attention. He intended to nip any and all such possibilities in the bud.


    Even if Tang San had guessed this, he didn''t mind. He had never intended to be recruited by any Emperor.


    By the time Tang San and Mei Gongzi exited the Ancestral Court za, the members of the Shrek Squad and Zhang Haoxuan were already waiting there. They even had carriages prepared.


    Seeing Mei Gongzi supporting Tang San as they came out, everyone quickly approached.


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at Tang San with concern and said, "How are you? Why did you push yourself so hard?"


    Tang San gave a wry smile and said, "I''m not as strong as they are; I couldn''t win without giving it my all. I''m fine, don''t worry. Just broke a couple ribs. I''ll be fine in no time."


    Zhang Haoxuan looked at him, then at Mei Gongzi beside him, and said, "Get in the carriage. We''ll talkter."


    "Okay."


    With Mei Gongzi''s support, Tang San got into a carriage. Mei Gongzi didn''t leave because hispanions had arrived; instead, she followed him into the carriage. Du Bai was about to follow them up but was pulled back by Cheng Zicheng.


    "Why are you pulling me?" Du Bai asked in confusion.


    Cheng Zicheng replied irritably, "Are your eyes there just to fill the holes in your head? Don��t be an idiot, go squeeze into the other carriage."


    Du Bai blinked, surprised, and said, "You mean..."


    Cheng Zicheng ignored him and turned to walk toward the other carriage. Gu Li said mockingly, "Some people, even with four eyes, are stillpletely clueless."


    "Who are you talking about!"


    "Whoever''s clueless."


    Amid their bickering, everyone boarded the rear carriage.


    "Those are your teammates, right?" Mei Gongzi ced a soft cushion behind Tang San. The numbness in his back had begun to turn into sharp pain, so he didn''t dare lean back; he gripped the handle beside the carriage seat and leaned forward slightly.


    "Yes, they are mypanions," Tang San replied softly.


    Seeing the sweat on his forehead and his pale face, Mei Gongzi said, "Stop talking for now."


    "Okay," Tang San agreed, closing his eyes. He started to circte his internal energy, using it to stabilize his previously broken ribs, adjust the damaged blood vessels around them, and nourish them, allowing his injuries to heal.


    In fact, his injuries included not only broken ribs but also internal organs. His injuries from yesterday hadn''t fully healed, and today''s injuries were even more severe. In that previous strike, he had truly given everything he had. Only by doing so could he defeat the enemy.


    The opponent''s injuries were severe, and Tang San had also suffered significant bacsh injuries. If it weren''t for the strong defense of the Lion Tiger Golden Force, with its powerful repulsion effect, he might have been rendered unconscious just like his opponent.


    Even though he was rtively better off, his internal organs had shifted, and he felt as if they were burning. He could only use his internal energy to slowly heal his organs, allowing them to return to their proper ces while slowly regting his breath.


    Under normal circumstances, such injuries, even with Tang San''s experience and the rich spiritual energy of the Ancestral Court, would take over a week to heal. However, since the Peacock Great Demon King had given him that box and assured him that its contents would allow him to continuepeting, he was fairly certain it wouldn��t take that long.


    Now wasn''t the best time to use it for treatment. He would wait until they got back. Before that, he needed to adjust his body and prepare.


    If it weren''t for the concern that spatial teleportation might aggravate his injuries, Mei Gongzi would have directly teleported him back. However, since the hotel wasn''t too far from the Ancestral Court za, the carriage was a more stable option.


    The carriage smoothly arrived at the White Tiger Hotel, and everyone got off. Mei Gongzi carefully helped Tang San down. By now, his clothes were soaked with sweat. The process of adjusting his internal organs and ribs along the way had been incredibly painful. His face was pale, and even his mask felt sticky.


    "You should go back. The guys can take care of me. I''ll be fine," Tang San said to Mei Gongzi at the hotel entrance.


    He obviously wanted Mei Gongzi to take care of him, but he wasn''t sure what state he would be in during his recovery. If his mask identally fell off, it would be a disaster. For now, he couldn''t let her know he was Tang San.


    Mei Gongzi looked at him, then at the others, and nodded gently. "Take good care of yourself. Contact me if you need anything."


    "Alright. You get some rest too."


    Tang San watched Mei Gongzi leave before entering the hotel with Du Bai''s help.


    Du Bai whispered, "What a beautiful girl! Is she the one from the Peacock Demon n?" He had heard Tang San mention Mei Gongzi before.


    "Yes," Tang San nodded.


    Zhang Haoxuan said, "She''s one of our own too."


    Everyone looked at him. Zhang Haoxuan continued, "She is a Blue-ss Redeemer, as well as the daughter of the Peacock Great Demon King and the next heir to the n. She is also one of the most important members of our organization."


    As he spoke, he used his divine consciousness to envelop the space around them. It was time for them to know a few things, but that didn��t mean it could be public knowledge.


    When Mei Gongzi saw him earlier, Tang San didn''t address him as Master to avoid revealing his identity. This was also why he had Mei Gongzi leave first.


    <i>A Blue-ss Redeemer!</i> Hearing this term, everyone''s expressions changed. Moreover, the fact that she was the heir to the Peacock Demon n was even more astonishing. Even the usuallyposed Wu Bingji couldn''t hide his shock.


    "Isn''t she human? How could she be..."


    "It''s a long story. Just remember that all members of the Redemption Society in Kali City will serve her in the future, assisting her in controlling the Peacock Demon n and even Kali City itself. This is thergest and most important operation in the organization''s history. The organization''s strong members will join when the timees. Actually, the reason I''m telling you this is that the time may not be far off."


    As they spoke, everyone headed upstairs, first escorting Tang San to his room.


    "I thought Little Tang fell for that beautiful girl, but it turns out it''s our duty and whatnot. How boring," Du Bai said, closing the door.


    Tang San didn''t exin, instead having Du Bai help him to the cultivation room.


    Zhang Haoxuan frowned and said, "If your injuries are this serious, you shouldn''t participate in the uing matches."


    Tang San replied, "We''ll see. I''ll start healing and see if I can recover quickly."


    He could skip the individualpetition, but he had to apany Mei Gongzi in the doubles. To heal quickly, he might even have to use his divine consciousness.


    "Alright, heal yourself. If you need anything, call us," Zhang Haoxuan said, leading the others out.


    He needed to exin the ns regarding Mei Gongzi''s session to the throne to the others. The reason for revealing it now was that the Peacock Great Demon King likely didn''t have much time left. More importantly, these young people were growing rapidly; by now, their strength was enough to start getting involved in this matter. Since everyone would need to support Mei Gongzi in the future, it was necessary to inform them of the general situation.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 517: Divine Pill

    <h4>Chapter 517: Divine Pill</h4>


    Drawing in the spiritual energy of the cultivation room, Tang San let it envelop his body before taking out the box given to him by the Peacock Great Demon King.


    The surface of the box emitted a faint silver glow and spatial fluctuations, indicating that the contents were in an isted space that prevented any aura from leaking out.


    Tang San took a deep breath to calm the pain within his body, then carefully opened the box, dispelling the spatial power.


    Immediately, a cold aura surged out, causing the temperature in the entire cultivation room to drop significantly. Tang San slowly opened the lid of the box, revealing two crystalline, snow-white pills inside. They were the size of a walnut and emitted a refreshing, cool fragrance.


    They looked more like gemstones, white in color with a faint mist swirling inside. Despite his extensive knowledge of pharmacology, Tang San couldn''t determine what these pills were made of. Clearly, they were concocted from nts unique to this world.


    Tang San activated the Discerning Eye of Heaven. He could see a faint mist swirling around, but under the careful observation of fate, he found nothing amiss. Clearly, these pills would bring him no harm.


    He picked up one pill and ced it in his mouth. Immediately, he shivered as an extremely cold stream flowed down his throat and spread throughout his body.


    Tang San felt as if his body had frozen in that instant; he even felt his spiritual power slowing down.


    He seemed to turn into an ice sculpture at that moment. However, in the next instant, a bit of heat ignited from deep within his dantian, where his bloodline imprints were, spreading throughout his body. Wherever the heat passed, the ice melted. His entire body seemed rejuvenated, igniting with warmth that gradually turned into aforting heat.


    At that moment, the blood flow in his body surged like a mighty river, and his broken bones rapidly mended. His still-disced internal organs quickly returned to their positions under the vigorous flow of blood and energy. His severe injuries vanished at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his overall state improved significantly.


    The bloodline imprints in his dantian emitted dazzling light, as if being thoroughly cleansed by a special power that quietly refined each bloodline imprint.


    Tang San''s recently advanced ninth-order cultivation also quickly stabilized. His blood and energy were purified, and even his sea of consciousness began to boil, with his divine consciousness fluctuating unsteadily as more spiritual power transformed into divine consciousness. He felt a moment of indescribable rity, as if everything in the world made sense.


    Tang San was astonished. Although he knew that whatever the Peacock Great Demon King gave him had to be something good, he hadn''t expected it to be <i>this</i> good.


    What kind of extraordinary natural treasure could provide such immense recovery? His severe injuries were almost healing instantly. This was incredible. No... It couldn''t even be described as a mere natural treasure; it was definitely at the level of a divine treasure.


    At the same time, he could also sense that this pill had great effects for those below god-level, but its effects would diminish significantly for those above god-level. Right now, it was perfectly suitable for him.


    The value of this thing was definitelyparable to that of an ordinary divine item. The Peacock Demoin n truly had profound foundations.


    After three cycles of breathing exercises, the power of the medicine gradually stabilized. Tang San''s injuries hadpletely healed, and his bones continued to mend. At this rate, he would be fully recovered in at most two hours.


    Tang San didn''t dare to rx. Such a precious elixir couldn''t be wasted in the slightest. He continued to circte his internal energy, absorbing the medicinal power and gradually reaching a state of forgetting both self and surroundings. He slowly entered a deep state of meditation.


    At this moment, a faint light shed in his dantian and a small figure quietly appeared in the cultivation room.


    She appeared to be three or four years old, with a face as delicate as a carved jade, her chubby cheeks looking exceptionally cute. Her eyes were crystal-clear, as if they could reflect one''s soul.


    As soon as she appeared, her little nose twitched constantly, as if she were a little puppy sniffing something good. Soon, her eyes lit up as she saw the silver box on the ground.


    She raised her hand to open the box, revealing the remaining pill inside. She blinked herrge eyes, giggled, and grabbed the pill with both hands, stuffing it into her mouth.


    The pill was quiterge for her, and her cheeks puffed up like a little rodent��s cheek pouches as soon as she got it in.


    She seemed to struggle a bit as she slowly swallowed the pill.


    At that moment, her entire skin became crystalline and transparent. Even more astonishing, her three-year-old petite body slowly stretched out, extending her arms and legs. In a short time, she had grown to look five or six years old.[1]


    Her eyes showed a trace of confusion as she looked at her hands and then at Tang San beside her. Gradually, a glimmer of understanding seemed to appear deep within her eyes.


    She turned around, carefully moved closer to Tang San, and gave him a peck on the cheek. Then, with a sh of light, she transformed into a crystal light and disappeared into Tang San''s dantian.


    The night passed without incident. When Tang San awoke from his cultivation, the sky outside was already bright.


    He stretched his body vigorously, and a series of cracking sounds rumbled from his joints. Energy surged within him, making him feel indescribablyfortable. It felt as if, in that moment, his entire being had be transparent.


    All his injuries hadpletely disappeared, and his cultivation had advanced further. More importantly, the bloodline imprints in his dantian had be significantly clearer, and their rtionship seemed more harmonious.


    "Huh," Tang San noticed that the crystal imprint representing Crystalline, which had always been dormant in his dantian, was now much brighter, emitting a radiant glow. The Blue Silver Emperor imprint surrounded by the yin-yang vortex seemed overshadowed by its brilliance.


    The other imprints that Tang San hadn''t yet merged into his energy vortex seemed to have been purified as well.


    These were all valuable imprints! The Wind Dragon imprint, the Behemoth imprint, and the Golden Mammoth imprint��three first-tier bloodlines!


    If Tang San could absorb all three first-tier bloodlines, his strength would undoubtedly take another qualitative leap. However, the arrangement and absorption process posed a problem. He needed sufficient time and physical endurance, first and foremost.


    His father-inw��s gift was truly extraordinary! Unfortunately, his current cultivation was far from enough; otherwise, he could consider saving him.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had burned his blood essence for good. Such a problem could only be resolved if Tang San could be a God King again and be able to use divine energy. Though the pill from yesterday was excellent, it didn''t have such capabilities.


    <i>Damn, that pill was gre��hey, where''s the other one?!</i>


    The silver box in front of him was open, and the second pill had vanished without a trace.


    1. In chapter 397, it��s specified that she already looks to be around six after she eats the entire eggshell. ?

 Chapter 518: Where Did It Go?

    <h4>Chapter 518: Where Did It Go?</h4>


    The initial joy was instantly reced by cold sweat. This was an absolutely rare treasure! He had only taken one pill and yet it had such a significant effect. Where had the other one gone? Could someone havee in and taken it? No... Even if he was in deep meditation, it was impossible for him not to have any awareness and fail to realize if someone approached him.


    His divine consciousness and the Discerning Eye of Heaven would surely have detected anything unusual.


    But theories were one thing and facts were another, and the only fact right now was that the pill was indeed gone.


    <i>What the hell happened? Don��t tell me it just up and left by itself?!</i>


    His good mood instantly dissipated, and Tang San''s face turned somewhat grim.


    He deeply regretted not putting the remaining pill away yesterday. If he had stored it in his spatial ring, this wouldn''t have happened.


    This was something he had to keep to himself; he couldn''t talk about it. Could he go to the Peacock Great Demon King and say "hey, the pill you gave me ran away, can you give me another one?" No way.


    But the pill was basically a life-saving panacea! It could heal severe injuries in a short time, regenerating broken bones and depleted energy all the same. The Peacock Great Demon King gave him two pills, likely intending for him to save one for potential injuries during thepetition. And now, it had mysteriously disappeared.


    <i>What is going on?!</i>


    Tang San felt frustrated, but there was nothing he could do. He could only sigh and move on.


    The sky outside was already bright. Today, there was an individual match. Since his body had recovered, he definitely had to participate. Moreover, if he could defeat his opponent today, he would advance from the group stage to the top sixteen in the individualpetition��enter the finals, in other words.


    And reaching the finals meant starting to earn rewards. The higher he went, the better.


    Now, he, Mei Gongzi, and Big Cat were all one step away from advancing in the group stage. Mei Gongzi needed two more matches, while he and Big Cat needed to win just one more to advance to the finals.


    After a quick wash and change of clothes, Tang San quickly left his room and headed to the dining hall for breakfast.


    Hispanions weren''t around; it seemed they had already finished breakfast and left. They had probably gone to watch the morning matches by themselves; thinking he wouldn''t be able to continuepeting due to his injuries, they hadn��t bothered to wake him up.


    <i>My pill...</i>


    He recalled the cold aura once again.


    As a result, Tang San found his breakfast tasteless. However, having lived through three lifetimes, his mindset was exceptionally stable. After a brief moment of frustration, he stopped dwelling on it. After breakfast, he headed straight to the Ancestral Court za.


    Each group only had one or two matches left, so although Tang San was in the third group and there were three stages, he might have topete second or even first today.


    Fortunately, he wasn''tte. When he arrived at the Ancestral Court za, today''s matches were just about to start. As he anticipated, although other groups still had three contestants, each group had only one match today. So, as a contestant in the third group, he was topete in the first round today. Only in the finals would the three stages merge into one.


    Tang San was thest to arrive. In fact, if he had been a bitter, he would have been considered to have forfeited.


    He rushed into the venue and hurried onto the stage. He didn''t even have time to contact Mei Gongzi or his teammates.


    But the moment he stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted in surprise. Clearly, those who had watched the doubles match yesterday didn''t expect him to be able topete today.


    Tang San''s opponent was equally surprised. When he saw Tang San appearing opposite him, hurried yet clearly energetic, his expression turned grim.


    This opponent seemed to be a male demon. His face was pale, indicating that he had been injured in a previous match and had not yet fully recovered.


    The opponent was tall and exuded a fierce aura, but for some reason, when Tang San looked at him, he could clearly sense a hint of timidity behind his bluster.


    "Begin!" The referee,pletely unconcerned with the contestants'' states of mind, directly announced the start of the match.


    Without a moment��s pause, a sh of golden light appeared behind Tang San, and a pair of intact golden wings spread out, lifting him into the air.


    Since his Golden Roc Transformation had already been exposed, there was no need to hide it. Combining the speed of the Golden Roc Transformation with Tang San''s flying skills and the domineering toughness of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force resulted in a perfect war machine. They granted him immense explosive power and attack speed, the best way to counter the average opponent.


    However, just as Tang San was about tounch an aerial assault, his opponent took a step back and shouted loudly, "I concede!"


    Tang San''s face showed a look of astonishment, but he quickly realized what was happening. He spread his wings and just hovered in mid-air, a faint smile appearing on his face.


    After weathering the storm, his luck was finally turning for the better!


    He didn��t take long to understand why his opponent had conceded. Their group was exceptionally strong, with contestants from the Golden Mammoth n, Scorching Sunflower n, and Behemoth n. Each of them was a favorite, and any of them could advance into the finals. However, they were all unlucky enough to encounter Tang San��or rather, Tang San was unlucky to encounter them.


    Tang San had been continually battling the wolves, while the other contestants in his group were pecking at each other like little chicken. This opponent naturally had a few victories under his belt if he was able to show up on this stage, but whatever he had done couldn''tpare to the intensity of Tang San''s previous battles. He was by far no match for Tang San''s earlier opponents, so how could he possibly beat Tang San?


    Seeing the human unscathed and using the Golden Roc Transformation again, while he himself was still injured, the opponent had no other choice. Well, there was a choice: dying. He knew that Tang San was not any kind of saint, seeing how he had instantly killed a Chrono Croc in a previous match.


    This contestant had dared toe on stage today thinking that Tang San had been severely injured yesterday and would likely forfeit today''s match. If Tang San gave up, he would automatically advance to the top sixteen in the finals, far exceeding all expectations. He might even attract the favor of an Emperor.


    Tang San had already caught the attention of the Emperors'' emissaries in the previous rounds, whereas his opponent today, although one step away from advancing, had not faced strong opponents before and therefore had not garnered much attention. Now was his chance!


    But you can��t be lucky forever.


    Seeing that the human looked perfectly healthy and sound, as if he had never been injured, the contestant didn''t dare to take any chances and directly conceded.


    "Group Three, Number Six wins. Congrattions on reaching the finals."


    The referee announced Tang San''s victory, which meant he had be one of the top sixteen in this year''s Ancestral Court Elite Competition. In other words, he was one of the top sixteen people below the tenth order in the Ancestral Court.


    As for the absolute champion among the sixteen, that was truly unpredictable. At this level, factors like some races suppressing others in terms of attributes,bat experience, and even luck would all affect the subsequent matches. Naturally, the injuries each contestant umted in previous matches would also impact the oues.


    Of course, even if one lost in the first match of the finals, being able to enter the top sixteen was already proof of their strength and allowed them to attract the attention of the Ancestral Court.


    Moreover, Tang San entering the top sixteen as a human was unprecedented in the history of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition.


    Humans were a vassal race with no cultivable bloodline to speak of!


    However, at this stage, no one would tamper with the fairness of thepetition, especially since the Peacock Great Demon King had personally stated that Tang San was his vassal. Moreover, in the final stages of thepetition, the Emperors themselves woulde to watch the matches.

 Chapter 519: Big Cat鈥檚 Opponent

    <h4>Chapter 519: Big Cat��s Opponent</h4>


    Chapter 519: Big Cat��s Opponent


    Tang San retracted his wings and descended from the air, letting out a long sigh of relief. As far as the individualpetition was concerned, making it into the top sixteen counted as fulfilling what he��de here to do.


    If Big Cat and Mei Gongzi could also make it into the top sixteen, that would of course be the best oue. If the draw paired him against them, Tang San would choose to forfeit, giving them valuable rest time and allowing them to advance further.


    The best scenario would be not to draw them from the get-go, allowing Tang San to help them defeat one or two more opponents and meet in the higher ranks. As for him, he had done his job, so he didn��t mind retiring when needed.


    That was the case for Big Cat as well; as long as he could make it into the top sixteen, he would gain the attention of both the lion and tiger races.


    After the previous matches, Big Cat had already been contacted by several envoys of the emperors, but he declined to engage with them, citing his need to focus on thepetition.


    This was actually what Tang San had told him to do. The only ones who would truly give him full support would still be his own race... or races. Although the lion and tiger races had previously expelled the Lion-tiger race, Big Cat was now proving the strength of the Lion-tiger race''s bloodline to them. As long as they weren''tplete idiots, they would know what to do.


    Once Big Cat made it to the finals, it would fully demonstrate his potential. In spite of their overall foundations, getting someone in the top sixteen was in fact something neither the lion nor the tiger race had achieved in many years. If Big Cat managed to do so, the Golden Lion n''s God-ying Sword would undoubtedly belong to him, and he would receive the full support of the lion race.


    As for Mei Gongzi, making it to the top sixteen wasn''t enough.


    Tang San and Big Cat could be considered the dark horses of thispetition, but Mei Gongzi was not. She was the direct descendant of the Peacock Great Demon King, with a true and proven first-tier bloodline. It was normal for someone like that to make it into the top sixteen; if she wanted to be noticed, she needed to go further.


    She needed to prove herself not just for her personal future, but also in order to be acknowledged as the sessor of the Peacock Demon n and demonstrate her ability to defend Kali City.


    As Tang San stepped off thepetition stage, he ran into Big Cat, who was preparing to step onto it.


    The first three matches were for the first, second, and third groups. Naturally, the next three matches would be for the fourth, fifth, and sixth groups.


    Tang San walked toward Big Cat, raising his right hand. Big Cat also raised his hand to give him a high five.


    "Wait for me in the finals," Big Cat said, his eyes zing. His fighting spirit had reached its peak.


    "Good luck!" Tang San didn''t say much, just firmly shook his hand.


    The two brushed past each other, and Tang San returned to the waiting area where Mei Gongzi was already waiting. Seeing him, she approached directly.


    "Everything alright?" she asked him with a smile.


    Tang San nodded. "Couldn��t be better."


    Mei Gongziughed. "I didn''t expect my father to be so generous and give you the Celestial Spirit Pill. This is a secret concoction of the Peacock n, specifically for those below god level. As long as you��re still breathing, then no matter how bad the injuries, it will help you recover. Though it''s meant for those below god level, it��s actually ssified as a divine item. My father said he gave you two. As far as I know, there are only about a dozen left altogether."


    <i>Yeah... He DID give me two...</i> Tang San thought with a bitter smile.


    "Do you know who your opponent is today?"


    Mei Gongzi replied, "Yes, it��s a pretty strong nymph. But I''m confident."


    "That''s good." Tang San smiled slightly. "When I saw you with the Celestial Plume yesterday, I knew you''d be fine. But you still have another individual match after this, it''s going to be tough."


    "No worries, there''s a day of rest before the finals. Besides, I have a Celestial Spirit Pill too!"


    Mei Gongzi had finally let go of the cold expression she used to have, at least when she was with him.


    Seeing her smile, Tang San''s heart felt soft. "Still, be careful. Don''t get hurt."


    At this moment, Big Cat had already stepped onto thepetition stage.


    Compared to when he first arrived for thepetition and was ignored by everyone, Big Cat had now gained some poprity through his outstanding performance.


    The overall strength of his group was weakerpared to Tang San''s group, but that was really only rtive to the group of monsters Tang San faced. Big Cat��s group also had its share of strong contenders. Yet even so, Big Cat dwarfed them all.


    Not only did he disy incredibly domineering strength, but he also used tactics, feigning weakness and injury. This went to show that not only was he strong and brave, but also intelligent, cunning, and ruthless. All these were the qualities of a true leader, and they naturally caught the attention of others.


    However, up until now, neither the lion nor tiger races had approached him, and there were naturally many reasons for this.


    There were internal issues within the lion and tiger races, as well as problems between the two races. But of course, the most important reason was that Big Cat had not yet entered the final stage of thepetition.


    Only by advancing out of the group stage could he truly prove himself. And the match he was facing now would determine that.


    Big Cat had fought for many years in the Great Beast Fighting Arena in Kali City, umting extensivebat experience. The more critical the match, the calmer he became; his gaze was deep and serene as he walked onto the stage, exuding an invisible sense of pressure.


    With each battle, his mastery of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force grew more proficient, continually pushing his understanding of the transformation to new heights.


    The Lion-Tiger bloodline possessed the abilities of both the lion and tiger races and could fuse them in a way that the whole was more powerful than the sum of the parts. And after resolving the bloodline conflict, it had fully surpassed both its parent bloodlines, reaching the first tier.


    At this moment, Big Cat''s opponent had also stepped onto the stage��another male demon.


    At this stage of the individualpetition, it was evident that thebat strength of the demons was on average superior to that of the nymphs. This could be inferred from the number of remaining contestants: about seventy percent of those still in thepetition were demons.


    In this aspect, demons had always had an advantage. This was why the topmost rulers of the Ancestral Court had always been Demon Emperors; they had the bigger fist, simple as that.


    The demon powerhouse opposite Big Cat exuded a cold aura. When it stepped onto the stage, it seemed to absorb all the light, casting the entire battlefield into darkness.[1]


    Big Cat knew his opponent well by now, and so did everyone else. It was from a very unique bloodline, a mutant demon n known as Dark Devil Monarchs. This n had extremely few members, as they could only be born under very special circumstances.


    Dark Devil Monarchs had wolf demon blood but were not pure wolf demons. They also had the bloodlines of other powerful ns mixed in.


    The mixed bloodline was invaded by dark energy[2] causing the conflicting bloodlines to merge in a strange way and form this unique bloodline.


    It looked humanoid and was about three meters tall, with dark skin. It had a ferocious wolf''s head with crimson eyes. Its purple-ck mane extended from its head down to its back. It was bare-chested, revealing dark muscles covered with a scale-likeyer that looked as tough as bronze.


    The bloodline of a Dark Devil Monarch could be either first-tier or second-tier, due to the instability of the mutation. Some Dark Devil Monarchs had first-tier bloodlines, while others had second-tier ones. They were even rarer than Lion-Tigers, and just like thetter, they were not epted by the demon races. However, while Lion-Tigers had been marginalized due to being considered cursed, Dark Devil Monarchs were extremely ferocious and cruel, and they were feared for good reason.


    They lived by consuming the flesh of demons, and especially loved hunting down powerful ones. They believed that only by devouring powerful bloodlines could they be stronger. Naturally, the n had countless enemies. Yet, they still hadn''t perished, demonstrating how formidable thebat power of the Dark Devil Monarch n was.


    They feared nothing and lived for ughter.


    1. A reminder that we decided to use ��it�� when the gender is not specified and/or the author decided to use the non-human third-person pronoun, which is in fact rather often. ?


    2. There is no exnation thus far as to what this dark energy is. The word for ��energy�� in this specific case is also different from what we��ve thus far tranted as elemental energy, spiritual energy etc. (which is the usual qi) and is actually used in IRL physics to refer to energy in such contexts as ��conservation of energy�� and so on. In fact, the original term here is close to the astronomic term for ��dark energy�� but has one extra character in the ��dark�� part. ?

 Chapter 520: Devil

    <h4>Chapter 520: Devil</h4>


    The Dark Devil Monarch had murdered its three previous opponents, tearing them apart and devouring them in in sight on the stage.


    If not for the Ancestral Court''s belief that such opponents would stimte the progress of young powerhouses from various ns, they would have already taken action against it.


    However, the Dark Devil Monarch n had received assurances from the Ancestral Court that it would be allowed to leave safely after thepetition, which was why it had to participate.


    Big Cat had also killed two opponents, although in a less deranged way.


    Another contestant had initially reached this stage, but due to severe injuries, it announced its withdrawal from thepetition.


    Therefore, today''s match would determine who would advance to the next round, and it was closely watched. Whoever could defeat the other would secure a spot in the final. And the loser... likely a spot in the Netherworld.


    Big Cat and the Dark Devil Monarch were considered among thispetition''s most ferocious contestants. In this sh of two fierce fighters, who would emerge victorious?


    On one side was an entity filled with a dark aura. On the other, an eruption of domineering, white-hot force.


    The battle hadn''t even begun, and the atmosphere was already tense.


    "Let the match begin!" With the referee''s announcement, this crucial match finally started.


    Big Cat''s pupils suddenly turned into vertical slits, and in the next instant, it stomped the ground fiercely, letting out a deep roar.


    He shot toward the opponent like a cannonball.


    The Dark Devil Monarch on the opposite side emitted a ck, almost viscous aura and suddenly lunged forward. Its ws extended from its fingertips like ck lightning, leaving behind a string of inky shadows. It also pounced on Big Cat.


    The two sides quickly closed the distance. Just as they were about to collide, the shadows behind the Dark Devil Monarch suddenly split apart, forming six figures that, together with the main body, surrounded Big Cat.


    Each figure appeared extremely real, and in an instant, the sky was filled with shing w shadows.


    Viscous ck energy streams surged up, sealing off all possible escape routes for Big Cat.


    Reaching this stage of thepetition undoubtedly meant that this Dark Devil Monarch''s bloodline was a first-tier one.


    The corrosive dark energy it emitted wildly expelled other elemental properties in the air, making the entire world darken.


    At this moment, a deafening roar resounded.


    Big Cat''s body suddenly expanded, and he instantly transformed into a towering figure over five meters tall.


    His strong body burst out of his clothing, and dazzling tinum force erupted outward.


    Due to his roar, the seven figures momentarily hesitated.


    Big Cat''s eyes shed with divine light the next moment, and his heavy sword swept out horizontally.


    This swift sh was devoid of any shiness, but it was incredibly fast and carried unparalleled, intense force.


    With that Lion-Tiger Roar, Big Cat''s momentum had already peaked.


    This was the result of battle experience and self-control.


    Big Cat''s bloodline power might notpare to the top-tier bloodlines of the Dragon or Phoenix ns, but he was not inferior in manipting bloodline power.


    Besides his formidable strength, he had countless life-and-death battle experiences.


    Each battle could mean death, and hisbat experience was nearly always gained on the brink of death.


    Therefore, no matter the opponent, he could maintain absolute calmness and know precisely when and how to unleash his power to the fullest.


    Without any reservation, his sword swept out, generating a circle of radiant tinum force.


    Those dark figures almost instantly disintegrated under its power, but then turned into viscous ck streams that swept toward the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, seemingly trying to attach themselves directly to it.


    At this moment, the Lion-Tiger Golden Force burst forth with mighty tinum light.


    The surging ck streams immediately dissipated by more than a third. They seemed to panic and instantly dissipated, regrouping not far away to form the silhouette of the Dark Devil Monarch.


    The next moment, Big Cat''s heavy sword was raised high, and white-hot mes descended from the sky, shing toward it like a torrent.


    The Dark Devil Monarch''s eyes flickered with a crimson glow as its figure shed backward; an afterimage was shattered by the sword light, but that was all, an afterimage.


    Big Cat''s gaze sharpened. He had locked onto his opponent earlier yet still struck an afterimage. This meant the opponent could forcibly break free from the lock of his attacks.


    "Devouring? That is interesting." The Dark Devil Monarch''s raspy voice emerged, crimson light flickering in its eyes. In the next moment, its entire body turned dark red. Behind it, a dark red halo expanded, transforming into a bloody moon, tinting everything around it dark red.


    As Big Cat saw the dark red hue, he felt his breath quicken and chest tighten. The follow-up attack he intended tounch came to an abrupt halt.


    The Dark Devil Monarch''s figure melded into the blood moon behind it. A cold, hoarse voice followed. "You''re strong, worthy of my full strength. Witness the power of the Blood Moon Monarch!"


    The stench of blood surged abruptly, and the entire arena seemed to turn dark red. Countless anguished screams echoed from all directions, and at that moment, Big Cat seemed to see numerous souls rushing toward him from all sides. His gaze turned chaotic, and his aura became unstable.


    Below the stage, seeing the blood light surrounding Big Cat, Tang San couldn''t help but frown slightly, and his gaze turned icy.


    "Big Brother, what is this ability?"


    Mei Gongzi sounded more and more natural when calling Tang San "Big Brother."


    Tang San said deeply, "This is a cruel and bloody ability. You can call it... the Bloodstained Domain. I believe this ability requires extensive ughter, continuously collecting blood, and enduring the curses of those whose blood was taken, forming a domain ability. It cannot be achieved without thousands of kills. Once trapped in it, the opponent will be affected by the bloody curse, which impacts the mind. Meanwhile, the Dark Devil Monarch using this domain will be stimted by the curse, entering an even stronger state. I believe that��s what he calls the Blood Moon Monarch."


    "Such a cruel ability exists?" Mei Gongzi shivered, looking at the blood color in the stands and feeling the thick scent of blood, suddenly feeling a bit suffocated.


    Tang San raised his hand to block her view. "Don''t look, and don''t try to sense it. This Dark Devil Monarch deserves to die. And if their entire n cultivates this way, they all deserve to die. They won''t have a good end, either. Cultivating this Bloodstained Domain requires constant killing, devouring blood, and increasing the power of the resentment curse. This makes them very powerful, but it also makes them susceptible to bacsh.


    "Because it goes against the natural order, I suspect it��s extremely difficult for their n to be gods. The heavenly tribtions they face must be immensely powerful and terrifying. And if one does ovee the tribtion, it won''t be a god but a divine devil. To think the Ancestral Court allows such beings to exist... Are they unafraid of the emergence of a divine devil whose sole purpose in existence is to destroy everything?"


    "Can Big Cat win?"


    Tang San gently shook his head and frowned. "I don''t know."


    Here, he couldn''t interfere with the match. Countless Demon Kings and Great Demon Kings were watching. If he used his divine consciousness to interfere and got caught, it would be a huge problem. This Bloodstained Domain was extremely difficult to cultivate, but its power was immense. Whether Big Cat could win within this domain depended entirely on himself.

 Chapter 521: Bloodstained Domain

    <h4>Chapter 521: Bloodstained Domain</h4>


    At this moment, Big Cat''s mind had already be confused within the Bloodstained Domain. Countless piercing screams reminded him of every single opponent who had died under his sword. He could see them��they had all turned into vengeful spirits and were pouncing toward him, trying to exact revenge.


    Big Cat swung his heavy sword forcefully, sending out waves of strong sword energy, trying to disperse these vengeful spirits. But the more he did this, the more he felt that wraiths were pouncing on him. The bloody aura around him grew even denser.


    Big Cat suddenly turned around, his heavy sword fiercely shing into a pair of blood-red ws. Then he staggered back from the force of the sh, and the immense power, apanied by an overwhelmingly bloody aura, began to erode his body.


    Five w marks appeared on his back; the opponent''s ws had brutally torn through the defense of his Lion-Tiger Golden Force.


    The corrosive aura that gave off an intense bloody scent drilled into his body, wreaking mad havoc and causing Big Cat to groan. The Lion-Tiger Golden Force protecting him became chaotic.


    The most formidable aspect of the Bloodstained Domain was its weakening effect on both mind and body. Within this domain, the Blood Moon Monarch, whose entire body had now turned blood-red, grew increasingly powerful, while the opponent grew weaker by the minute.


    The monarch licked the tip of its ws. "Haha, this scorching blood is the sweetest I��ve had! Merge into my domain and be a part of it! This will make my domain even stronger. It''s your honor!"


    Its voice was filled with evil!


    A brilliant sword aura shed in an instant, but what greeted it was a blood-colored wave. The sword aura unfolded in a blood-red light, but the Blood Moon Monarch had already disappeared without a trace.


    Big Cat''s gaze grew even fiercer, and the wailing of the vengeful spirits in his ears became increasingly piercing.


    His chest heaved violently, and his brows were filled with a look of struggle. His spirit seemed on the verge of copsing at any moment.


    But at this moment, he grasped his sword hilt with both hands, reversed the heavy sword, and thrust it into the ground, holding the hilt tightly. The Lion-Tiger Golden Force burst outward, forming ayer of protective force that enveloped him.


    Sharp ws struck fiercely on the Lion-Tiger Golden Force barrier behind him, causing the barrier to sway violently. Yet it did not give out; even in the face of such incredible force, Big Cat��s all-out Lion-Tiger Golden Force was able to prevail.


    Meanwhile, the Blood Moon Monarch clearly felt a powerful threat from the heavy sword embedded into the ground, as if the opponent could counterattack any instant. So, after the attack, its figure quickly disappeared into the domain.


    But this time, Big Cat did not swing his heavy sword; he just stood there, forcibly calming himself down.


    At this moment, he kept asking himself a question


    <i>Why? Why do I have to kill? Why do I have to kill?</i>


    Repeating the same question over and over again, he used his inner voice to repel the wails of vengeful spirits from the Bloodstained Domain. These wails appeared directly in his sea of consciousness, and during his constant self-questioning, he focused all his mind on the question he asked himself, ignoring the wretched howls of the vengeful spirits.


    This was the manifestation of battle will. Having endured countless hardships and battles, Big Cat''s will could not be any firmer. Had it been someone with less experience, even if they were stronger than him, they would likely have lost themselves in the Bloodstained Domain by now. The terrifying aspect of this domain was that no matter how strong one was, if one''s will was not firm, one would still fall into its trap.


    <i>Why do I have to kill? Why do I have to kill?</i> Big Cat kept questioning himself, as if on behalf of the vengeful spirits.


    Due to this, the Bloodstained Domain''s influence on his mind weakened. This allowed Big Cat''s Lion-Tiger Golden Force to flow more smoothly.


    <i>Bang, bang, bang!</i>


    Attacks came one after another, the fierce onught causing the Lion-Tiger Golden Force to emit incandescent halos here and there, but Big Cat remained immovable. He simply let the opponent attack him and allowed his Lion-Tiger Golden Force to deplete.


    The Blood Moon Monarch was somewhat surprised. It was the first time facing such an opponent.


    Although its Bloodstained Domain was active at all times and it kept attacking without pause, its energy consumption was minimal. Prolonging this battle would surely lead to the opponent''s death. Yet the opponent stood there like a stone pir, seemingly unaffected by the domain, a situation it had never encountered before.


    Demons generally had fierce personalities, and which one of them didn''t have some hidden mental issues? And the Bloodstained Domain was pervasive, and it wasn��t really an illusion; it was truly formed by countless vengeful spirits. Every drop of blood the Dark Devil Monarch absorbed contained the powerful resentment of the dead.


    That was the exact point of acquiring such a domain, in fact. For that reason, a Dark Devil Monarch always made its targets fall into absolute terror before brutally ughtering them. The stronger the fear at the time of death, the greater the resentment after death.


    Under such circumstances, the power of a Dark Devil Monarch''s Bloodstained Domain could grow almost without limit. Although this sometimes caused Dark Devil Monarchs to sumb to madness, it was considered true tempering. Only through such constant tempering could one truly be a fabled divine devil.


    Although Big Cat was trapped by the domain andpletely passive, he remained calm and posed a threat, making it afraid to continue attacking. This was the first time it had encountered such an opponent.


    However, the Blood Moon Monarch had carried out countless killings and was not in a hurry. It hadplete confidence in its Bloodstained Domain. This domain had obliterated many strong beings, some even stronger than the Blood Moon Monarch itself. The more time passed, the greater the effect of the domain. No matter how firm one''s will was, they would all be affected under the roars of countless vengeful spirits.


    However, Big Cat even made it feel some admiration and greed in this state��admiration for his firm will and greed because as the Bloodstained Domain absorbed the blood of strong beings, it would be stronger. ording to the teachings of the n, it would reach the next level when the domain contained the blood of over ten thousand beings. This required the presence of a powerful vengeful spirit as the main soul, making the domain more stable and preventing it from copsing unto itself.


    Once it reached the level of sacrificing over ten thousand beings, the power of this domain would soar. This would be the foundation for its transformation into a true divine devil. In its eyes, this Lion-Tiger was the perfect candidate to serve as the main soul of its Bloodstained Domain.


    <i>Why do I have to kill? Why do I have to kill?</i> Big Cat neither knew nor cared to find out the Blood Moon Monarch''s thoughts; in his mind, he just kept repeating this question.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Another attacknded, finally breaking a hole in the Lion-Tiger Golden Force. Five w marks appeared once more on Big Cat''s back, tearing his flesh. Blood-red light crazily invaded his body.


    The intense pain made Big Cat feel as if he had returned to the first kill of his life.


    His spirit seemed to return to that time.


    It was a fierce battle. His opponent was also very strong, and he was still very young. Yet the tip of his heavy sword did not drop a single millimeter, and neither did his will to fight. Even though he was already covered in wounds, his gaze remained firm.


    He had to win, defeat his opponent, kill him, and get the prize money. If he didn''t earn the money, his n wouldn''t be able to buy the treasures needed to supplement their life force, and his n members would die.


    For his kin, he had to kill his opponent. He had to achieve victory!


    <i>Yes... That��s why I��m doing it. I��m doing it for my kin.</i>


    <i>For Little Cat, for Sky Cat.... For the entire Lion-Tiger n. To protect my own, I will kill everyone that stands in my way. If I have to be a killer, for those I love, then so be it!</i>

 Chapter 522: Extinguishing the Blood Moon

    <h4>Chapter 522: Extinguishing the Blood Moon</h4>


    Suddenly, Big Cat abruptly opened his eyes, and in that instant, his eyes were filled with madness and wild abandon.


    The Blood Moon Monarch was preparing to attack again, and it was overjoyed at the sight. To it, this was a sign that the opponent��s mind had been invaded by the domain and hadpletely fallen into chaos. It wasn''t even in a hurry tounch an attack anymore, knowing that once the opponent''s mind was in disarray, he would exhaust his bloodline through mad outbursts of power and eventually be devoured by the Bloodstained Domain, leading to his death.


    It even felt regretful that Big Cat hadn''t held out a bit longer. The longer Big Cat could persist, the more qualified he would be to serve as the main soul of its domain!


    "Kill, kill, KILL!!!"


    From the first "kill" to the third, Big Cat''s deep roar gradually grew louder.


    The Lion-Tiger Golden Force, which had been weakening under constant attack, suddenly burst out with a dazzling tinum light, but it was not the pristine color it used to have. A blood-red hue appeared within the incandescent light. Then, white and red intertwined, forming a strange pale pink.


    When this pale pink light erupted, a bizarre scene unfolded.


    The surrounding blood-colored domain began to condense madly toward Big Cat, causing his aura to swell wildly.


    <i>What is this?! </i>The Blood Moon Monarch stared in astonishment at the scene, clearly sensing that its domain''s power was being wildly devoured by the opponent. At the same time, its power was rapidly weakening.


    As the Blood Moon Monarch''s domain was devoured by Big Cat, the blood-colored aura was absorbed into his body. At the same time,yers of ck fog continuously spread outwards from his pores, as if his body was filtering the energy and expelling the impurities. The ck fog churned and transformed into eerie phantoms, resembling demon faces flickering and shifting.


    Tang San''s eyes suddenly brightened as he witnessed the scene. He seemed to understand something and could not stop himself from eximing, "This is... Haha, Big Cat, you''re amazing!"


    <i>Roar��</i>


    The Blood Moon Monarch grew anxious on the stage, as it could clearly feel its power being rapidly drained. It suddenly lunged forward, ws extended, attacking Big Cat with all its might.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    The pink force burst forth, and the powerful counterforce directly sent the Blood Moon Monarch flying. And as it flew, it felt something...


    Fear.


    It felt fear for the first time.


    At the moment of impact, it sensed its power being drained at an even faster pace. The change was actually visible thanks to the Bloodstained Domain��the blood-colored aura covering the entire stage quickly grew thinner, while the ck fog grew denser around Big Cat.


    An indescribable fear spread within it. It suddenly opened its mouth, about to shout for surrender, as the situation had clearly spiraled entirely out of control. The Bloodstained Domain, cultivated through relentless ughter, was actually being absorbed by the opponent!


    "ROAR!!!"


    As if sensing what it was about to do, a deep roar suddenly erupted from Big Cat''s mouth, drowning out its voice of surrender.


    Although they could obviously see the Blood Moon Monarch trying to concede, the judges outside the arena remained unmoved. If Tang San could discern the nature of the Blood Moon Monarch''s domain, how could the god-level judges fail to do so? Nearly every demon and nymph harbored deep aversion toward the Dark Demon Monarch n. Seeing that one of them was about to get its rightfuleuppance, why would they stop the match now? Dying in thepetition wouldn''t be considered a breach of the Ancestral Court''s promise.


    Then Big Cat''s cold voice sounded.


    "I will avenge you. There is a cause for every grievance and a debtor for every debt. Go!"


    When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with a frenzy for ughter.


    The heavy sword thrust into the ground was slowly drawn out. As its tip pointed at the Blood Moon Monarch, the ck fog around Big Cat emitted countless piercing screams, transforming into faces as ck as ink that crazily rushed toward it.


    "NO��" The Blood Moon Monarch howled madly. But no one could stop this from happening now.


    Countless ck phantoms rushed into its body, causing it to swell; bumps and boils appeared on its skin, as if many small creatures were trying to burst out from within.


    All the blood-colored aura surged into Big Cat''s body, bing part of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, while the ck fog merged into the Blood Moon Monarch''s body, draining its life force.


    The pink light Big Cat radiated grew more and more vibrant, and his aura continued to soar. In that instant, his cultivation and spiritual power surged to the absolute peak of the ninth order, and he almost lost control.


    He didn''t even fully understand what was happening to him. At that moment, his heart was filled with intense killing intent, and he even felt the urge to ughter every living being around him.


    But then, another voice echoed in his heart, reminding him of <i>why</i> he needed to kill. It was not to quench his thirst for blood; it was to protect his kin, to protect his loved ones


    This was his purpose for killing. Without this goal, he would not take lives.


    <i>Crack...</i>


    The Blood Moon Monarch''s skin had lost its vibrant, bloody color, reverting to its original reddish ck. Then, it began to shatter, piece by piece, as if it had been corroded from the inside by the ck fog. Its entire body began to melt down, turning into a pool of nauseating pitch-like liquid; even its sea of consciousness was not spared.


    At this moment, Big Cat finally made his move. Fierce pink force suddenly shed out from his heavy sword; pink mes filled with intense killing intent swept through, engulfing the ck liquid. The force turned into mes, burning the puddle.


    "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. You have had your revenge. Now go in peace."


    All the ferocity and darkness gradually faded, leaving only the pervasive killing intent lingering around Big Cat.


    The killing intent was gradually suppressed, and the referee, who had stepped back on the stage, was in shock as he looked at Big Cat. At this moment, Big Cat felt like a volcano that could erupt at any moment. With such immense killing intent contained within, what kind of scene would it be if it exploded?


    Thankfully, when all the pink force re-entered Big Cat''s body, his state seemed to stabilize gradually. All traces of the killing intent disappeared, except for a hint of pink remaining deep in his eyes.


    Only then did the referee remember to announce his victory, signaling that he would be able to participate in the finals.


    Now, Big Cat was the center of everyone''s attention.


    How had he done it? How had he devoured the energy from the Blood Moon Monarch''s domain? What would happen now that he had devoured it? There were no answers. Even the Great Demon King powerhouses couldn''t understand Big Cat''s state.


    In any case, the fact was that he had won and was now one of the finalists.


    All those who had entered the top sixteen had solemn expressions. This was an extremely difficult opponent. Not only had he defeated a Dark Devil Monarch in its strongest form, but it seemed that he had also absorbed some of its power, and nobody knew what impact it would have on his strength.


    What kind of power would he disy in the uing finals?


    Big Cat slowly walked off the stage, taking each step very slowly as if he were afraid of stepping on ants.


    Tang San was already waiting at the exit. As Big Cat descended the final step and looked at Tang San before him, his tense body rxed slightly.


    At that moment, Tang San raised his right hand and pointed at the center of Big Cat''s forehead. <i>"Stay true to your heart!"</i>


    A cool stream of energy instantly drilled into the center of Big Cat��s forehead, entering his sea of consciousness.

 Chapter 523: God-Killing Domain

    <h4>Chapter 523: God-Killing Domain</h4>


    The overwhelming killing intent in his sea of consciousness suddenly seemed to sense something and began to shrink inward, merging. It no longer disturbed Big Cat''s emotions. The pink in his eyes finally started to fade.


    Tang San''s face showed relief and even a hint of admiration as he gave him a thumbs-up. "Don''t say anything, don''t think about anything. Hold on to your inner resolve, gather all your killing intent, and don''t let it out. Try to control it. Right now."


    As he spoke, he nodded to Mei Gongzi.


    A silver light shed from Mei Gongzi��s hand, enveloping the three of them. The next moment, they were in the waiting area.


    Big Cat immediately sat cross-legged and began to meditate.


    Seeing him instantly enter a meditative state, Tang San''s smile deepened.


    "Big Brother, what''s wrong with him? Will he be alright?"


    Tang San smirked. "Wrong? Haha, there��s nothing wrong with him. If anything, you might even say he has incredible luck."


    If anyone present could understand Big Cat''s state, it would be Tang San. Only he fully knew what was happening, even more than Big Cat himself.


    What was Big Cat��s life like?


    He had fought in the Great Beast Fighting Arena in Kali City for many years, killing countless opponents and engaging in countless battles. Naturally, he hade to possess a strong killing intent. This killing intent itself was a part of his power, a type of spiritual pressure.


    If two opponents of equal abilities and strength face off, the seasoned killer will almost invariably win. Such is the power of killing intent. Killing intent makes one more fearless, unrestrained, and aggressive in battle. It��s an important part of momentum, making attacks more ferocious. To put it simply, the fearless win the fight, and killing intent is a crucial factor in this.


    The killing intent within Big Cat was undoubtedly strong, and more importantly, his acts of killing had meaning in his heart. He was not a wanton murderer; his actions were for the survival of his n and the improvement of his people''s lives. Thus, despite having intense killing intent, he was never controlled by it. Only someone like this could acquire the title of Sword Saint.


    In today''s battle, he faced the Dark Devil Monarch in its strongest form��the Blood Moon Monarch. The Blood Moon Monarch''s power also came from killing, but it killed for the sake of killing; it thoroughly enjoyed ughter, and as far as purpose was concerned, its only purpose was to use the resentment of those it murdered to increase the power of its bloody aura. The bloody aura generated by negative emotions was the core of its Bloodstained Domain.


    While trapped within the Bloodstained Domain, Big Cat constantly reinforced his will, reminding himself why he killed, so as not to be influenced by the negative emotions within the domain. And the reason it worked was that while he was indeed a killer, these negative emotions were entirely foreign to him.


    As his body came close to copsing, but his spirit was still fighting, a strange state emerged. The Lion-Tiger Golden Force actively devoured the killing aura while rejecting all negative emotions and energies. This caused the Bloodstained Domain to split.


    The core killing aura merged into Big Cat''s body, bing a part of his power. This was why Big Cat was filled with killing intent. The energy contained within this killing intent further propelled his power''s evolution.


    The other negative emotions, out of control, backfired on the Blood Moon Monarch, leading to the subsequent tragedy.


    The various negative energies remaining within Big Cat were incinerated by his killing intent and the Lion-Tiger Golden Force. And once the Blood Moon Monarch died, the resentment left behind by those it had killed was resolved and thus dissipated; their souls were finally at rest.


    And this was how Big Cat won the match.


    Not only that, but he absorbed a killing aura far greater than what he originally possessed. This killing aura condensed within him, bing pure killing intent. But because he had always stayed true to his heart and maintained a firm will, despite the massive killing aura, he did not allow it to control him. His slow movements were due to his constant effort to control himself, to avoid being overwhelmed by the killing aura and descending into madness. Once out of control, it would be truly troublesome, and he would lose himself.


    Tang San''s relief and joy were due to Big Cat''s pure killing intent and firm will. This had allowed Big Cat to unconsciously cultivate an ability Tang San himself possessed in his past life. Though it might notpare to a God King��s ability, for a warrior like Big Cat, this ability was extremely precious and would elevate him further, allowing him to truly stand at the pinnacle of his level.


    This ability was called the God-Killing Domain!


    Sensing Big Cat''s withdrawn killing aura, the corners of Tang San''s mouth curved up slightly. When Big Cat was merging with the killing aura, Tang San gained some insight as well. He used his divine consciousness to help Big Cat guide the killing aura down the right path, ultimately integrating it into his own power. At the same time, this killing intent ignited the domain aura sealed within Tang San��s divine consciousness, allowing his reborn body in this world to graduallyprehend the God-Killing Domain.


    Big Cat''s firm killing intent was centered on protection. But wasn''t Tang San also protecting something?


    Subconsciously, he looked at the beautiful person beside him, his gaze growing even more tender.


    <i>If the whole world threatens her... I will fight the whole world.</i>


    Mei Gongzi was observing the meditating Big Cat and didn''t notice the change in Tang San''s gaze. She said, "How do you know everything?"


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "I read a lot of books."


    The end of this match undoubtedly elevated Big Cat''s status in the individualpetition, making him even more famous. However, due to his absorption of the Bloodstained Domain''s power, there was now an element of unpredictability. For that reason, although he had advanced, no envoys came forward to interact with him. They wanted to see if Big Cat couldpete normally in the next round, especially in the finals.


    Meanwhile, thepetition continued, and next up was Mei Gongzi''s turn. Only a few matches were left until the finals.


    "Are you ready?" Tang San asked her.


    Mei Gongzi lifted her chin slightly, in a somewhat arrogant disy, and smirked. "Of course."


    Her eyes were filled with a desire to fight. Asura and Big Cat had won their matches against very strong opponents, and it was her turn next. How could she let them steal all the glory?


    Although she had another opponent to face after this, two matches in total to enter the finals, she was confident in herself.


    Tang San nodded at her. "Good luck. And safety first!"


    Big Cat was at a critical moment, and Tang San couldn''t leave his side, so Mei Gongzi went to the waiting area alone to prepare for her match.


    Today''s matches were all very exciting and even brutal. There had already been instances of mutual destruction.


    Those who had a bye this round and wouldpete in the next actually hoped to see such situations��they could advance to the finals without even having to fight. What a wonderful thing that would be!


    Mei Gongzi stood calmly in the waiting area, waiting for her turn. Her heart gradually stabilized, her fighting spirit was strong, but she became increasingly calm.


    Herpanions'' strength was great motivation for her. She had apetitive nature from the get-go, and she had no intention of letting Tang San and Big Cat steal the show. They had already advanced to the finals; now, it was her turn.


    "Group Nine..."


    The referee''s voice rang out, and Mei Gongzi''s eyes brightened. She took long strides toward the stage.


    And although Tang San stayed by Big Cat''s side, his heart ascended the stage with Mei Gongzi.

 Chapter 524: True Zero Ice Seal

    <h4>Chapter 524: True Zero Ice Seal</h4>


    Mei Gongzi''s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at her opponent on the other side. Her final match would be against a nymph, but this opponent was another demon. And just looking at her made Mei Gongzi''s pupils contract slightly.


    It was a woman with a delicate and beautiful appearance, yet exuding a cold aura. She looked three or four years older than Mei Gongzi, and she was dressed in a white long dress, giving off a feeling as cold as snow.


    What Mei Gongzi hadn''t told Tang San was that this opponent was her strongestpetitor in their group. She was also a member of the phoenix race, but was a representative of the Ice Phoenix n, not the Undying Demon Emperor''s lineage.


    The Ice Phoenix n was not as famous as the Immortal me Phoenix n within the Empyrean Dominion, nor were they as powerful. The Undying Demon Emperor came from the Immortal me Phoenix line, while the Ice Phoenix n neither had an Emperor now, nor had they ever produced one in the entire history of the n.


    But this did not mean the Ice Phoenix n was weak. They were one of the few ns recognized as having a first-tier bloodline despite never having had a Demon Emperor rise from among their ranks. They were known for their ability to freeze the world ten thousand kilometers around them, and even though they had the same attribute and simr abilities, their power and reputation were far above the Ice Maiden n.


    They were favored by the ice element and naturally at odds with the Immortal me Phoenix lineage. The Immortal me Phoenixes were powerful and had the support of an Emperor, and they suppressed the Ice Phoenix n, causing them to decline. However, being of the same phoenix race, the Immortal me Phoenixes did notpletely annihte them.


    The Ice Phoenix warrior before Mei Gongzi was the best of this generation, and she was known as the Ice Angel. She had defeated many strong opponents to reach this point.


    This match, while not thest of Group Nine, was the decisive one in terms of strength. The other contestant was a nymph who had a bye this round and was nowhere near as strong in terms of bloodline or individual power as Mei Gongzi and the Ice Angel.


    Of course, this was assuming they didn''t both end up severely injured.


    "Begin the match!"


    With the referee''smand, the battle officially began.


    The Ice Angel radiated a crystalline glow, and a pair of snow-white wings unfolded behind her. As the wings spread, an overwhelming cold erupted from her, and a blizzard instantly enveloped the entire area.


    She had clearly studied Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi had simply dominated every previous match, and in thest doubles match, she and Tang San defeated the Dragon-Phoenix Pair, astonishing all the spectators.


    Knowing the Peacock Demon n''s mastery over space, she wasted no time, using her powerful area control ability from the start, willing to expend significant energy to seize the initiative.


    Each snowke in the blizzard was filled with immense power. No matter where Mei Gongzi teleported, she would face the brunt of the blizzard.


    Mei Gongzi calmly grasped the Celestial Plume in her right hand and walked step by step toward her opponent. A faint silver halo rippled around her.


    The blizzard''s coverage area expanded, sweeping toward her.


    But then, a strange scene unfolded. As the blizzard entered the range of the silver halo around her, it simply vanished, leaving no trace behind. It was as if she and the blizzard were part of two different worlds.


    She continued to move forward without any pause. Every step brought her closer to her opponent, and no matter how fierce the blizzard became, it would silently disappear once it entered the silver glow.


    In the VIP stands, the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but show a look of surprise at this sight.


    He was certain that before following him here, Mei Gongzi''s understanding of spatial control had not reached this level. At this moment, she was like a gateway to another dimension. Whatever approached her would be swallowed by the space around her, unable to affect her as if she truly wasn''t in this ne. And more importantly, she was doing so naturally, effortlessly.


    The blizzard was powerful enough that it produced slight cracks in space, but wherever Mei Gongzi passed, these small spatial cracks would heal. The silver aura around her emitted a faint glow, making her appear even more stunningly beautiful.


    Seeing this, a smile appeared on Tang San''s face.


    In this life, she seemed to have a much higher level ofprehension than in her previous one. Since practicing the Mysterious Circles of Heaven with him, her mastery and understanding of space had reached an entirely new level. It was as if he had broken through a barrier for her, allowing her to step into another world.


    Of course, this was also rted to the item she held. Tang San knew very well how rare space-attribute artifacts were. Even in a divine realm, they were extremely precious.


    The Celestial Plume was a bridge for Mei Gongzi tomunicate with space. Thanks to this bridge, she had a more harmonious understanding of and interaction with space.


    At this moment, she seemed to have be a part of the space element; the beloved child of space. She wasn��t making an effort to control space. It was as natural as breathing.


    The inheritance of the Peacock Demon n was nowpletely integrated into her own power. This was a remarkable achievement andid a solid foundation for her future.


    As Mei Gongzi approached in this state, the Ice Angel''s gaze became visibly more tense. She took a deep breath, pped her wings, and slowly rose into the air.


    In the next instant, her wings turned ice-blue and slowly pped forward, silently sending out countless crystalline blue lights. Each point of light seemed to contain a unique presence, like living ice, full of strange vitality.


    Hundreds of points of blue light spread and covered the area, freezing the surrounding space wherever they passed.


    True Zero Ice Seal!


    This was a powerful ability of the Ice Phoenix n, and "true zero" referred to absolute zero. With the Ice Angel''s cultivation, she couldn''t achieve <i>actual </i>absolute zero, but she could at least reach a hundred degrees below freezing. And in this ultra-low-temperature state, the flow of all elements except for ice would slow down��including space.


    Each crystalline blue point was a speck of its bloodline power, equivalent to a drop of its blood. Obviously, using True Zero Ice Seal was truly draining for her. But the pressure she felt from Mei Gongzi forced her to make this choice. She didn''t dare to confront her opponent head-on, as she didn''t know what kind of attack Mei Gongzi might unleash if she got close.


    Just the day before, she had used the Celestial Plume to forcibly create a spatial rift amidst the wind-fire force tornado, giving her partner an opportunity. That scene had left an extremely deep impression on the Ice Angel. Although it was just a momentary spatial rift, that rift split apart a wind-fire force tornado that had behind it the full power of the Dragon-Phoenix Pair!


    At this moment, facing True Zero Ice Seal, Mei Gongzi finally stopped. Her delicate face tilted slightly upward, and the three eyes on the Celestial Plume in her hand emitted a silver glow. With a gentle movement of her arm, she drew a circle in the air.


    This was her first time using the Mysterious Circles of Heaven in battle. Before this match, she hadn''t even thought of using this divine skill taught by Asura. But for some reason, with the momentum she had built step by step, when facing the opponent''s powerful attack, she almost instinctively drew this arc.


    The circle she drew was wless, and everything around seemed to stir with it, making Mei Gongzi appear even more ethereal. The silver glow of the Celestial Plume was soft and captivating, and the silver halos seemed to be working toplete this circle.

 Chapter 525: Mei Gongzis Mysterious Circles of Heaven

    <h4>Chapter 525: Mei Gongzi''s Mysterious Circles of Heaven</h4>


    A thinyer of frost had already formed on Mei Gongzi''s clothing, but the silver circle simply erased the motes of blue filling the air.


    It was as if they were in this world, yet at the same time, they were not. The silver circle connected this world to another unknown world; it gave off an abrupt feeling, yet at the same time seemed strangely harmonious.


    The Ice Angel''s eyes became dazed for a moment; she had never faced such a situation before. That was one of the most powerful innate abilities of the Ice Phoenix n. How could it be canceled out so easily? When her n elders taught her how to use this ability, they told her that space itself should freeze under True Zero Ice Seal.


    <i>How can her attack nullify my True Zero Ice Seal?! Does that mean her elemental control surpasses mine? But how��s that possible? There hasn''t been a Demon Emperor in the Peacock Demon n for a long time, so her bloodline shouldn��t be...</i>


    While these thoughts shed through her mind in just an instant, Mei Gongzi had already drawn closer.


    The usage of True Zero Ice Seal resulted in the Ice Angel''s blizzard weakening instantly, as the former consumed an absolutely massive amount of energy. And when the motes of icy light of True Zero Ice Seal vanished, the Ice Angel��s defense and control abilities dropped to their lowest.


    At this moment, the Celestial Plume in Mei Gongzi''s hand was already rippling withyers of silver waves, silently taking control of the surrounding space. She now appeared like a fairy radiating silver light, and that silver light made the blizzard entirely vanished.


    Ayer of blue light suddenly lit up around the Ice Angel, transforming into a crystal-clear, coffin-like ice barrier that protected her from all sides. But it was futileyers of silver light enveloped her, turning her into a silver cocoon.


    Mei Gongzi''s understanding became clearer as Tang San''s words echoed in her mind. She was supposed to work together with space, not against it. And at this moment, the space around her had no cracks, only folds and wrinkles.


    These strange folds were the strongest of chains and cuffs, rendering the Ice Angel immobile. Although this spatial force couldn''t harm the Ice Phoenix in her strongest defensive state, she hadpletely lost control of even her own movements, let alone the battlefield.


    The next moment, silver light shed, and the Ice Angel disappeared into thin air. When she reappeared, she was already off the stage.


    The match was over.


    Undoubtedly, this match was the least dramatic of all today''s matches and ended the fastest. Yet the entire process left the audience dumbfounded, with many not even understanding what had happened before the match was over.


    The phoenix demons in the audience, members of the Ice Phoenix n, Immortal me Phoenix n, and some other ns as well, were all simply dumbfounded by this development. What they had expected to be a fierce battle ended just like that.


    Although the Ice Phoenixes were not the strongest among their race, a phoenix was still a phoenix��far beyond the level of ordinary demons and nymphs. Yet despite that, the Ice Angel seemed to have no chance of fighting back. This was particrly clear the moment Mei Gongzi neutralized the True Zero Ice Seal; despite being at the same level of cultivation, Mei Gongzi could suppress a member of a phoenix n through sheer elemental control, leaving her utterly powerless to fight back.


    The phoenix and peacock demons had been fighting for the title of King of All Birds for countless years. When the Peacock Demon Emperor was alive, shepletely suppressed the phoenix race, and for that reason, the entire race harbored resentment toward the Peacock Demon n. But after the fall of the Peacock Demon Emperor, the Peacock Demon n could no longer produce a Demon Emperor, while the phoenix race continued to flourish and produced multiple Demon Emperors. Eventually, the phoenixes felt that it was below their dignity to even interact with the likes of the Peacock Demon n.


    Mei Gongzi''s performance today could only be described as stunning. That perfect circle she drew shocked everyone.


    At this moment, not only were the phoenix race warriors shocked, but even the Peacock Great Demon King felt a bit dumbfounded. That move wasn''t something he had taught her!


    She was his daughter, and no one knew her level of strength better than he did. Yet, in that instant, when Mei Gongzi drew that circle, he witnessed how she perfectly merged with the surrounding space. Instead of Mei Gongzi fighting the Ice Angel, it was space itself going against the Ice Angel and kicking her out, which resulted in her loss.


    <i>When did she be able to do this? When has her mastery of space reached such a level?</i>


    This sense of merging with space was something even he, a Great Demon King, couldn''t achieve! In other words, while she was still far below him in terms of cultivation level, Mei Gongzi was clearly superior in terms ofprehending and using the space element.


    <i>Could this be the result of receiving the ancestral inheritance and gaining the true recognition of the divine artifact? She might indeed be the hope of the Peacock Demon n and be the new Peacock Demon Emperor!</i>


    In Mei Gongzi, the Peacock Great Demon King saw hope��true hope!


    This was far, far beyond his expectations. With such a foundation, her future growth would be extremely rapid. At this moment, he even regretted bringing his daughter to participate in this Ancestral Court Elite Tournament. Had he known her abilities were at such a level, he should have let her hide and cultivate quietly until the day she became a Demon Emperor and shocked the entire continent. Even if it meant handing over Kali City to the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, it wouldn''t matter.


    That guy only barely ascended to be a Demon Emperor by a stroke of luck; if Mei Gongzi could be a Demon Emperor, however, she would be far beyond his league. Her Phoenix Demon blood guaranteed that she would have incredible abilities. After all, the former Peacock Demon Emperor was on par with the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. The Celestial Fox controlled fate and fortune, while the Peacock grasped heavenly secrets.


    Watching his daughter step down from the stage, stunningly beautiful as she held the Celestial Plume, the Peacock Great Demon King felt as if something was stuck in his throat and pressed his lips tightly together.


    In the waiting area, Tang San''s smile grew even brighter. When he saw Mei Gongzi use the Mysterious Circles of Heaven in such a natural way, he knew the oue of the match was already decided. No one could stop Mei Gongzi from reaching the finals.


    She had grown faster than Tang San had anticipated. Her intelligence andprehension left Tang San in awe. With just one piece of guidance from him, she had made such significant progress. The Mysterious Circles of Heaven seemed tailor-made for her. The fact that she had performed it so effortlessly meant she had already achieved some measure of proficiency in it.


    When Tang San was a God King, his powerful divine technique Unpredictable Storm, which was based on the Mysterious Circles of Heaven, could trap even other God Kings. This technique was one of the things that allowed him to be the strongest God King, a King among God Kings!


    In a sense, the Mysterious Circles of Heaven was Tang San''s core divine technique. Mei Gongzi achieving basic proficiency so quickly had greatly exceeded Tang San''s expectations.


    This short match brought him a level of shock no less than what Big Cat had done just a little while before.


    In the stands, the members of Redemption Academy were equally dumbfounded.


    They were not familiar with Mei Gongzi, but by watching the matches of Mei Gongzi and Tang San, they hade to an understanding regarding the strength of this Peacock Demon princess. However, today��s matchpletely overturned their understanding.


    They had originally thought their own improvement was fast, but seeing a peer reach such a level filled their hearts with an overwhelming sense of urgency.

 Chapter 526: You Missed the Excitement

    <h4>Chapter 526: You Missed the Excitement</h4>


    They used to think Tang San was the odd one out, so they didn''t expect Mei Gongzi to have the same extraordinary abilities. In other words... it wasn''t something only Tang San could achieve. There were other geniuses in this world, and Tang San and Mei Gongzi were human too! If they could do it, why couldn''t the Shrek Squad? Why couldn��t other people do it too?


    With a flicker of silver light, Mei Gongzi appeared in front of Tang San out of thin air.


    They exchanged smiles, he gave her a thumbs up, and Mei Gongzi, feeling a bit proud, lifted her chin slightly before bursting intoughter. Her gaze became even gentler as she looked at him.


    Everyone had witnessed her power just now, but only she knew that it was her Big Brother Asura''s guidance that set her on the right path. Without learning the Mysterious Circles of Heaven, she couldn''t have understood the profound meaning of space and the rtionship between herself and space, so how could she truly integrate with space? Now, she was a true love child of space; since space was everywhere, so was she.


    The Mysterious Circles of Heaven had allowed her to reach this enlightenment, elevating her understanding to another level.


    It was only now, as she executed the technique in a perfectly natural manner, that she realized the Mysterious Circles of Heaven was not just a defensive technique, but also a foundational technique for cultivating other space-rted ones. This "little trick" as Asura called it, was incredibly powerful. What a precious divine technique it was, and yet he had taught it to her without reservation!


    At that moment, Big Cat, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, exhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes.


    "Thank you," he said, looking at Tang San and nodding in gratitude.


    "How are you?" Tang San asked.


    Big Cat replied, "I''ve gained control for now. It''s a very peculiar power. It feels like I''ve suddenly gained a lot, but it��s going to be difficult to rein in."


    Tang San said, "When you use this power in the future, you must remember to always stay true to your heart. Never let your inner killing intent disturb you. Always bear in mind the conviction that strengthened your will when you first gained ess to this power. That way, you can control it and make it a power you can wield."


    Big Cat stood up, looking at Tang San in surprise. "You seem to know an awful lot about this ability. Have you seen it before?"


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "You can call it the God-Killing Domain. Under its influence, all your abilities will be enhanced, and it will also intimidate your opponents. It''s simr to the Bloodstained Domain used by the Dark Devil Monarch, but purer, untainted by resentment and other such emotions. It won''t backfire, but you must be careful not to let the killing intent blind you."


    "God-Killing Domain? That''s a good name." Big Cat''s eyes lit up, and he couldn''t help but praise it. "You know... I often feel like you can do anything and know everything...."


    "<i>Uh-huh</i>." Mei Gongzi nodded in agreement. She felt the same way.


    Tang Sanughed and said, "Then you can consider me an all-knowing, omnipotent god. And your god of fortune, too. Anyway, let��s go. Our matches are over; we can head back."


    Big Cat was a bit surprised. "Did I meditate that long? Mei Gongzi''s match is over too?"


    Tang Sanughed. "You missed an exciting match. If you get to fight her in the future, you''ll see."


    Big Cat also grinned. "Let''s hope the lots don��t pit us against each other too soon."


    "Hard to say, now that we��re in the finals. With the three of us taking up three of the sixteen spots, the chances of fighting each other aren''t low. We''ll see how it goes. Hopefully, we won''t end up facing each other in the first round. After that, we''ll leave it to fate."


    They were not all <i>that</i> likely to meet each other in the first round, but in the second round, with only eight people remaining, they might need some... luck to avoid each other. The best scenario, of course, would be for them to only meet in the semifinals. This way, two of them could make it to the finals, which would be the ideal oue.


    Of course, the opponents in the finals would undoubtedly be stronger.


    While Mei Gongzi''s match was happening, Tang San went to watch some of the other matches. There were indeed some very strong contestants, and Mei Gongzi wasn''t the only one with a divine weapon.


    At this moment, several figures entered the waiting area and immediately scanned the entire area. Since there were only a few contestants left, the waiting area appeared quite empty. Their gazes quickly locked onto Tang San and the other two, and they immediately strode toward them.


    It was clear that they were focused on Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi looked at Tang San, who smiled slightly and said, "Let''s go."


    Before those emperors�� envoys could approach, a silver light shed around Mei Gongzi, Tang San and Big Cat, and in the next moment, they disappeared.


    Mei Gongzi''s control over space had be increasingly refined, and now, she could teleport with others no problem. Although she couldn''t teleport over long distances just yet, she could do it instantaneously.


    The moment they popped up outside thepetition venue, Big Cat said, "I''ll go ahead! I need to stabilize this God-Killing Domain. You two take your time!"


    As he spoke, he sprinted off and quickly disappeared from Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s sight.


    He wasn''t an idiot, and he could naturally tell Tang San''s feelings for Mei Gongzi. It had been obvious since Tang San chose her over him for the duopetition. Moreover, Mei Gongzi''s ability to continuously defeat strong opponents and advance to the finals made Big Cat hold her in even higher regard. Such a powerful woman was rare.


    Seeing Big Cat leave, Mei Gongzi looked at Tang San and said, "Big Brother Asura, thank you."


    Tang San smiled and said, "I swore to serve you, so there''s no need to thank me. You are my master, after all."


    Mei Gongzi''s cheeks turned slightly red. "What master? You know you can''t just make blood oaths like that."


    Tang San replied helplessly, "If I didn''t, would your father let me go? Besides, I did it willingly. I would never betray you anyway."


    Mei Gongziughed. "Then if I be the city lord in the future, I''ll make you the deputy city lord."


    "That won��t be necessary. Just let me be your personal guard... to protect you closely," replied Tang San.


    Mei Gongzi clearly didn''t catch his implication. "Wouldn''t that be too much trouble for you? That sounds unfair."


    Tang San smiled, "There''s no trouble at all. Where are you going now? Back to your ce?"


    Mei Gongzi was about to say something when a familiar voice came from behind. "Yes, we��re going back."


    They turned around to see none other than the Peacock Great Demon King.


    Tang San felt a bit helpless. <i>Why is he here again?</i>


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s expression looked somewhatplicated as he approached them. He nodded at Tang San, then raised his hand, enveloping himself and Mei Gongzi in silver light, and they disappeared.


    With Mei Gongzi gone, Tang San felt a sudden sense of loss.


    <i>She just left like that! Oh well, it is what it is. There''s still the doublespetition tomorrow.</i>


    The individualpetition had already entered the finals, and tomorrow''s doubles match would determine whether they could advance from their group. If they advanced, this would be enough for Mei Gongzi to make a name for herself, making it easier to gain the Ancestral Court''s recognition. It would be best if they could win a championship, of course. At that point, if the Ancestral Court wanted to target the Peacock Demon n, they would have to consider whether they might be facing a future Demon Emperor.


    From what Tang San had observed of the Demon Emperors he had encountered, it was unlikely that they would interfere with Mei Gongzi''s growth unless it was absolutely necessary. After all, there was a subtlepetition between the demon and nymph races. Having more Demon Emperors than Nymph Emperors would naturally be advantageous for the former. The Solstice Empire might end up having to bow to the Empyrean Dominion.

 Chapter 527: The Bottleneck of Yin-Yang Energy

    <h4>Chapter 527: The Bottleneck of Yin-Yang Energy</h4>


    After tomorrow''s doublespetition, the qualifying situation would be clear. There was one more final round for both the individual and doublespetitions to determine the final spots for the finals. Then, the intense finals would begin.


    The opponents in the finals were going to be on another level entirely. Those who made it to the finals not only were elite but also received the full support of their ns, so it was hard to predict how powerful they would be. However, Tang San remained confident in himself and Mei Gongzi, especially after Mei Gongzi''s sudden enlightenment today, which greatly increased her strength. He had also regained some abilities from his previous life, thanks to Big Cat being enlightened to the God-Killing Domain.


    All in all, this visit to the Ancestral Court was taking much longer than Tang San had initially expected. Of course, this was primarily due to Mei Gongzi. Without her, he would have returned to Kali City long ago. However, the gains from this trip were substantial, andid a solid foundation for his future breakthrough to godhood. Once he returned to Kali City, he would quickly transform these new gains into directbat power, allowing himself and hispanions to make furtherprehensive improvements. Then he would prepare for the big step��bing a god once more.


    Today''s matches ended quite early, so Tang San didn''t return to the hotel but went straight to the Sun Sacred Mountain. The yin-yang energy still needed some cultivation in order to reach the perfect level for integration.


    Tang San had a premonition that if he could truly integrate the ultimate yin and yang into a new, powerful imprint, it might surpass even the fused imprint of the Behemoth and the Golden Mammoth. It could be the core imprint for his future breakthrough to the tenth order. However, the difficulty and danger of this integration were correspondingly enormous.


    Not until midnight did Tang San finish his cultivation between the Sunborne Sacred Mountain and the Earthshade Sacred Mountain and returned to the hotel.


    The hotel room was silent. Tang San quietly consolidated the yin-yang energy he had gathered, adjusting them carefully.


    The yin-yang energy was increasing rapidly, so much so that the energy he had previously absorbed to nourish the Blue Silver Emperor imprint was no longer sufficient. As the quantity of yin-yang energy increased, it became denser, but this also meant he couldn''t afford even the slightest instability. Any conflict could cause significant trouble.


    Tang San knew he needed to pause his cultivation of the yin-yang energy, not only because the fusion medium that was the Blue-Silver Emperor wascking, but also because his body was nearing its limit in terms of endurance.


    Once yin-yang energy was cultivated in his dantian, he could use it to increase the power of almost all his other abilities. An example of that was how Tang San could infuse the yin-yang energy into his Golden Wing Wind Splitting sh when he attacked the Wind Dragon contestant.


    However, the more potent the yin-yang energy became, the more it affected the bloodline imprints. It impacted not just Tang San��s use of the imprints�� abilities, but also the imprints themselves.


    The best solution would be topress the energy within his Blue Silver Emperor imprint and only activate it when needed. However, even if the Blue Silver Emperor imprint could withstand it, his dantian might not. His meridians were also nearing their limit when he circted the yin-yang energy.


    This meant he needed to strengthen his physique to continue cultivating the yin-yang energy.


    The constraints of cultivating this ultimate ability were indeed great, but Tang San didn''t feel discouraged. The difficulty only proved its immense power.


    For that matter, the Behemoth and Golden Mammoth imprints were also too powerful. Fusing them was still not feasible, and it was for the exact same reason. Thus, the first order of business was stabilizing his energy and improving his physique, but that was also not something that could be done in the short term.


    So what could he do right now to ensure victory in these matches?


    He had considered everything on his way back today. After the final match of the doublespetition tomorrow, he would have a two-day rest period. And during this time, he decided to attempt something else.


    Two days were not enough to fuse the Behemoth and Golden Mammoth imprints, but it might be possible to fuse another imprint��the Wind Dragon imprint he obtained from the Wind Dragon n.


    The Wind Dragon n''s bloodline was also first tier. However, since the Wind Dragon n had never produced a Demon Emperor, it wasn''t considered particrly strong among the first-tier bloodlines. Naturally, Tang San wasn''t willing to waste a spot in his dantian solely for the Wind Dragon imprint. He needed to merge it with one of the other imprints.


    He had a total of seven: Discerning Eye of Heaven, Lion-Tiger, Golden Roc, Chrono Croc, Blue Silver Emperor, Crystalline, and Peacock Demon. Since he had now reached the ninth order, he still had two vacant spots.


    Among the seven imprints, the Discerning Eye of Heaven was the core ability, and it also came with the powerful Pr Luck Domain. The Lion-Tiger Transformation and Peacock Transformation were high level even among first-tier bloodlines, while the Blue Silver Emperor housed the yin-yang energy, making it crucial for the future. Crystalline upied one imprint, and Tang San couldn''t do anything about that. For now, she didn''t seem to harm him and even provided some help at times, so he decided to leave it be.


    Thest two were second-tier bloodlines: the Chrono Croc and the Golden Roc.


    Although inferior in terms of sheer bloodline power, these two imprints were very practical. The Golden Roc Transformation''s flight ability was excellent forbat and movement, while the Chrono Croc Transformation held the profound secret of controlling time.


    With that in mind, it was pretty obvious what he had to do with the Wind Dragon Transformation. The Golden Roc Transformation was the most suitable for a fusion.


    Both had flying capabilities, and adding control over the wind element to the Golden Roc Transformation would significantly enhance its flight ability. Moreover, although the Wind Dragons weren''t the strongest among dragons, they were still dragons. The dragon n''s powerful innate physique would significantly enhance his own.


    Tang San didn''t know what the fusion would result in, but there was always some risk in merging different species. However, he didn��t expect it to suppress the Discerning Eye of Heaven, other first-tier bloodlines, or the yin-yang energy. And even if the fusion resulted in negative effects, he could simply abandon it and have Cheng Zicheng help him regain the Golden Roc Transformation imprint.


    The only thing he regretted right now was not having that second pill from the Peacock Great Demon King. Otherwise, with a magic panacea that could almost bring the dead back to life, he would have no qualms attempting anything.


    With this thought, Tang San made up his mind. After tomorrow''s doublespetition, he would attempt the Wind Dragon��Golden Roc fusion in order to enhance his physique and continue cultivating the yin-yang energy.


    Having rified his thoughts, he gradually entered a state of deep meditation.


    Time always seemed to feel insufficient. It felt as if he had just started meditating when his internal clock woke him up.


    He opened the window and looked at the faint light rising in the east, beginning his practice of the Purple Demon Eyes.


    While cultivating, Tang San couldn''t help but find it amusing. Even in his previous life, his cultivation wasn''t as urgent as it was in this life. The responsibilities he bore in this life were enormous. Mei Gongzi had a special status; without sufficient strength, how could he protect her? He could only keep pushing himself to improve quickly.


    When Tang San finished his cultivation, washed up, and arrived at the dining hall, all hispanions were there, obviously waiting for him. Zhang Haoxuan was absent today, probably busy with something else.


    "Hey, Little Tang! How did you get to know the Peacock Princess?" Du Bai eximed, winking at Tang San as soon as he saw him. "She��s incredible!"

 Chapter 528: You Can Also Be A Knight

    <h4>Chapter 528: You Can Also Be A Knight</h4>


    Yesterday''s battle had left everyone deeply impressed by Mei Gongzi''s formidable strength.


    Tang San replied, "It''s a secret."


    He thought to himself, <i>I met her in another life. Can��t exactly tell you that, can I?</i>


    "She''s really strong. And I think she��s even younger than me..." Cheng Zicheng remarked.


    Tang San asked, "Are you guys going to watch the match today?"


    If they wanted to watch the match, they needed to go early to get in. On the other hand, as a contestant, Tang San didn''t need to queue up and could go in through a dedicated entrance.


    Wu Bingji said, "We discussed it after we got back yesterday. We decided not to watch the matches and focus on cultivating instead. Watching the matches these past few days has been a bit overwhelming. Compared to these strong contestants from various ns, we''re still far behind. We need to use this time to improve ourselves."


    Tang San nodded. "That makes sense."


    The Ancestral Court Elite Competition featured the strongest below the tenth order on the Daemon Continent. Now, the remaining contestants were almost all first-tier bloodline powerhouses. Each one was extraordinarily strong, so it was natural for hispanions to feel pressured. That was the whole point. The Ancestral Court held this tournament to inspire the younger generation to strive for greatness.


    Gu Li said, "We''re really far behind. I need to reach the ninth order as soon as possible."


    Seeing how affected they were, Tang Sanforted them, "No need to rush. After this tournament, we''ll return to Kali City and digest all we''ve gained. Everyone''s strength will improve more than you can imagine."


    Cheng Zicheng said, "In any case, you have to teach me your flying techniques. They''re really cool. If I had your flying skills, I''d be satisfied."


    "No problem," Tang San said with a smile.


    After breakfast, everyone went their separate ways. The Shrek Squad went to the Sacred Mountains they��d chosen for cultivation, while Tang San headed straight to thepetition venue.


    When he arrived, Mei Gongzi was already there.


    They were always the first group topete, so they didn''t go to the waiting area and went straight to the preparation area instead.


    "What did your father say to you when you went back yesterday?" Tang San asked Mei Gongzi.


    Today, she wore a light blue long dress, which added to her noble demeanor.


    Mei Gongzi said, "He just asked where that move came from."


    Tang San asked, "So what did you tell him?"


    Mei Gongzi chuckled softly, "Of course, I didn''t give you away. I just said that it came naturally to me yesterday, and I didn''t know how it happened. I just followed the feeling I got from the Celestial Plume. My father was puzzled and reminisced for a while, saying that even our Demon Emperor ancestor never used such a technique. He told me to practice it well because it has tremendous potential. If used well, it could be the ability that brings me up to god level or even Demon Emperor level in the future."


    Tang Sanughed. "He sure knows what he��s talking about."


    "But <i>someone </i>initially told me it was just a little trick."


    "Hey, hey, it really is just a little trick! It''s not a big deal. It only works like that for you because you have great talent and you use it well."


    Mei Gongzi rolled her eyes at him. "I don''t believe your nonsense. It''s a divine technique. You can''t fool me. But I am curious, where did you learn it?"


    Tang San said, "It''s just innate knowledge."


    Mei Gongzi pouted. "You''re so annoyingly secretive."


    "Because I can''t exin it clearly! I will tell you everything in the future, but that��s in the future."


    <i>The hell would you say if I told you we have a destined connection from a past life and I know these abilities from my previous life? You would definitely think I''m talking nonsense.</i>


    Mei Gongzi huffed, but a smile appeared on her face. "Our opponents today are really strong. You need to be careful."


    Tang San nonchntly replied, "It''s fine, you''re here. I''ll just rely on you. Your strength yesterday probably scared them off."


    "Not at all. Today''s pair is really strong. They''re the seeded team of our group."


    Tang San asked, "Wasn''t the seeded team the Dragon-Phoenix Pair?"


    Mei Gongzi replied, "Can''t there be two seeded teams? Besides, this group might be even harder to deal with because it''s a demon-nymphbination."


    "A demon-nymphbination? Huh, that��s rare." Tang San was immediately curious. They hadn''t encountered such abination before. From this tournament, it was clear that while the Empyrean Dominion and the Solstice Empire appeared harmonious on the surface, there were underlying tensions, and both sides were secretlypeting against each other.


    A teamposed of demon and nymph ns is indeed interesting. Moreover, the participants are all first-tier and second-tier bloodline powerhouses.


    "What ns are they from?" Tang San asked.


    Mei Gongzi replied, "Their team is called the Dragon Knight Duo. It''s made up of a member from the Fire Dragon n and a member from the Scorching Sunflower n. They are also known as the Dragon Flower Duo."


    Upon hearing that they would face yet another Scorching Sunflower, Tang San''s expression turned serious. He had a hard-fought battle against a Scorching Sunflower contestant before, so he knew very well how powerful they were. A duo consisting of a Scorching Sunflower and a Fire Dragon would be a formidable opponent.


    Although the Fire Dragon n didn''t have a Demon Emperor, their mastery of fire was not inferior to that of the Immortal me Phoenixes. Moreover, the strong physique of the dragon racepensated for thecking physical power of the Scorching Sunflower n. The twoplemented each other perfectly, possessing the power to burn the heavens and boil the earth.


    "Theirbination is known as the second most fiery team in this tournament. You should be mentally prepared," Mei Gongzi said.


    "The second?? If they are just second, then who��s first?!" Tang San asked, mouth agape.


    Mei Gongzi replied, "The team in the first ce is formidable. They are considered the favorites to win the doublespetition, and I believe they will be one of our toughestpetitors in the finals. One of them is from the Immortal me Phoenix n, the other from the Parasol Tree n. They are the descendants of the Undying Demon Emperor and the Parasol Tree Nymph Emperor."


    Tang San blurted out, "The phoenix roosting on the parasol tree? Whoa, that really is abination!"


    "Yes, that''s why they are even harder to deal with. That pair is considered the sessors of the two Demon Emperors. They usually cultivate together andplement each other perfectly. The rtionship between the Undying Demon Emperor and the Parasol Tree Nymph Emperor has always been good. If these two join forces, they are at the pinnacle among the Emperors. It''s said that they once sparred with the Crystal Demon Emperor, which ended in a draw."


    Tang San eximed in surprise, "The Perching Phoenix Duo can only fight it to a draw? This Crystal Demon Emperor really is terrifying. No wonder the other Emperors didn''t dare make a sound when it showed up to take something back at the auction...."


    Mei Gongzi nodded and said, "Yes! That''s exactly why it''s called the strongest Emperor."


    "You know what, let''s not think about that for now. We should focus on defeating the Dragon Flower Duo. Do you have any ideas?"


    Mei Gongzi looked at him and said, "I''ll follow your lead."


    Feeling her reliance on him, Tang San''s mood improved instantly. "Alright, just follow mymands. You said something about a Dragon Knight, huh? Today, you can also be a knight, if you know what I mean."


    Mei Gongzi was initially stunned, then her eyes lit up. "Can we? No, I don��t think that��s right..."


    Tang San feigned annoyance. "Hmph, your words say that, but your face says something else. You''ve been wanting to do this ever since you saw my wings, haven''t you?"


    "No, no, what are you talking about? I��ve never thought about that...." Mei Gongzi shook her head repeatedly, but a smile was already forming at the corner of her mouth.


    "Be careful not to get motion sickness," Tang San joked.


    "Shut up and let��s go."


    At this moment, the referee had announced that the match was about to begin. Tang San and Mei Gongzi stepped onto thepetition stage together.

 Chapter 529: The Dragon Knight Duo

    <h4>Chapter 529: The Dragon Knight Duo</h4>


    As they stepped onto the stage, a wave of cheers erupted from the audience. With a string of victories behind them, bothpetitors had captured the audience''s attention��one had already secured a spot in the finals, while the other was virtually guaranteed to advance.


    As for their human identities, few in the audience paid attention to that detail. Many strong individuals from various ns also had human appearances. Most of the audience could hardly imagine that real humans could participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, while those in the know had other priorities��securing the loyalty of these powerful humans, for instance.


    On the other side of thepetition stage, a man and a woman also stepped up. Both were about two meters tall, and their powerful auras even caused the light around them to distort.


    The woman was tall and strong, and looked heroic rather than delicate. A diamond-shaped, bright red dragon scale shimmered on her forehead. The man was leaner, with faint red light flickering in his eyes.


    "A female dragon!" Tang San said softly. It was clear that the femalepetitor was from the Fire Dragon n and the malepetitor from the Scorching Sunflower n.


    "Yes, a female dragon. What''s the matter?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Tang San said, "That''s just wrong. Look at us, we��re doing things the proper way."


    Mei Gongzi rolled her eyes at him. "We''re in apetition. Are you really going to let me ride you? Is that okay?"


    Tang San said, "What''s wrong with a brother carrying his sister?"


    This was their first close interaction, and he couldn''t be happier. A husband giving his wife a piggyback ride was perfectly natural.


    "Then I won''t hold back," Mei Gongzi said with a smile, clearly not overthinking it.


    "No need to be polite, go ahead. Or we could go their way and you could let me be the Peacock Knight. Hehe," Tang San couldn''t help but tease her.


    "In your dreams!"


    At that moment, the referee announced the start of the match. "Begin!"


    "ROAR!" An intense dragon roar suddenly echoed as the female Fire Dragon stepped forward, her body rapidly expanding in the next instant.


    Dragons naturally had perfect transformation abilities, allowing them to turn directly into their original forms. The Wind Dragon from the other day had been unlucky, not even having time to transform��or perhaps not even intending to��before being instantly defeated by Tang San.


    The female Fire Dragon in front of him looked at Tang San with obvious hostility. Her body swelled and in an instant transformed into a massive dragon over fifteen meters long. Her wings spread wide, and her roar shook the heavens and earth, while her scales emitted a dazzling ze. Every scale seemed to overflow with fire elemental energy.


    The Scorching Sunflower youth leapt up andnded on the fire dragon''s back. Vines with blooming sunflowers rapidly grew, attaching themselves to the dragon''s wings and along its neck. The surging fire force illuminated half the arena, exuding an aura that seemed to be capable of burning the heavens and boiling the earth.


    Tang San nodded to Mei Gongzi. "Come up!"


    Mei Gongzi, looking a his widespread golden wings, was a bit stunned and instinctively asked, "How do I do that?"


    Tang San''s mouth twitched, and he said, "I can''t transform! I''ll carry you on my back!"


    "Ah?" Mei Gongzi then remembered they were human and couldn''t transformpletely like the dragon and phoenix ns. She had instinctively thought Asura was omnipotent, but now she realized there were in fact things he couldn''t do.


    Seeing the fire dragon on the opposite side already taking to the sky, Tang San urged Mei Gongzi, "Hurry up!"


    Mei Gongzi didn''t have time to think about it and quickly climbed onto Tang San''s back. Just as she was about to ask how they would fight this way, Tang San''s golden wings pped, lifting them both into the air.


    Mei Gongzi could fly on her own with her Peacock Transformation, of course, but this was her first time being carried like this.


    Tang San''s back was broad and strong, and for some reason, lying against his back gave her a natural sense of security.


    With a p of his golden wings, Tang San ascended much faster than the fire dragon.


    On the opposing side, the Dragon Knight Duo''s appearance was truly dazzling, while Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s piggyback stylecked visual impact. If anything, they looked ratherical.


    At this moment, Tang San silently felt the softness on his back and Mei Gongzi''s fragrant scent, his mind bing a bit distracted.


    "How do we fight like this?" Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but ask.


    "Ah?" Her call brought Tang San back to full awareness. "Oh... I''ll lend you my strength. Once they are high enough in the air, use your spatial power to bind them and throw them down," Tang San said.


    "Can this work? The energy intensity is too high, I''m afraid I��m not strong enough," Mei Gongzi said doubtfully. Under the opponents�� intense mes, space itself was being distorted by the heat. In such a state, using spatial power to bind them seemed nearly impossible.


    Tang San said, "Trust me. You can do it. Use the Celestial Plume."


    As he spoke, the Peacock Transformation imprint within Tang San had already begun to glow. In an instant, Mei Gongzi felt a surge of mighty bloodline energy suddenly pouring into her body. In that moment, the Peacock Crown on her forehead burst into dazzling brilliance, and she instinctively raised her head.


    The peacock wings almost instantly spread out, ovepping with Tang San''s golden wings, making them look like one four-winged being. At the same time, Mei Gongzi felt her perception of space suddenly soar. She wrapped one arm around Tang San''s neck, freeing the other hand to grasp the Celestial Plume.


    Dazzling golden light burst from her entire body, andyers uponyers of silver ripples spread out.


    At that moment, she felt as if she had be the true ruler of space. Her cultivation had not only risen to the pinnacle of the ninth order, but she also felt as though she were transcending space itself. This was clearly touching the threshold of the god level!


    <i>How did he do this? How could he give me such a huge boost? Even between members of the same n, this shouldn''t be possible!</i>


    What Tang San was doing was quite simple. He had activated his Peacock Transformation, and through the physical connection between them, he was transferring his internal energy to Mei Gongzi. Like this, his entire internal energy could be filtered through the Peacock Transformation imprint and used to support her.


    With his cultivation advancing to the ninth order, Tang San''s control over his own cultivation and understanding of bloodline power had greatly increased. He finally had the confidence to use the bloodline imprints to convert the internal energy produced using the Mysterious Heaven Technique. So now, he was not only a powerful warrior but also a powerful support, provided the supported person had a bloodline he also possessed.


    Mei Gongzi was the first test subject, but he was entirely certain that this would work. If he hadn��t been, Tang San wouldn''t have chosen this course of action.


    What he had said earlier about relying on Mei Gongzi wasn''t just talk. Whoever the opponent was, Tang San really nned to y second fiddle and allow her to do the work.


    This method allowed the power of two to concentrate into one. Before yesterday, Tang San could have only boosted Mei Gongzi to the peak of the ninth order. But with Mei Gongzi''s recent understanding of the Mysterious Circles of Heaven and the mysteries of space, she was only short of the process of tribtion and breakthrough to reach the god level. Herprehension of spatial mysteries had actually reached the level of a god.


    Under these circumstances, influenced by Tang San, Mei Gongzi''s cultivation naturally increased. Even without Tang San using his divine consciousness to influence her��given the numerous spectators, he couldn��t risk that��she could be considered a bona fide tenth-order cultivator.


    Moreover, she held the Celestial Plume in her hand, a true divine artifact. And now that she was powering it with the actual energy of a god, even Tang San couldn��t tell how powerful a spatial force she could unleash.


    The Peacock Crown on her forehead gradually turned tinum, and Mei Gongzi''s eyes also became silver. She felt it��a new realm, a new world where the entire space was hers to control.

 Chapter 530: Binding the Dragon Knight

    <h4>Chapter 530: Binding the Dragon Knight</h4>


    Countless silver lightsyered upon each other in the surrounding space, transforming into a vast expanse of silver radiance that spread outward.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi and Tang San seemed to merge into one entity, their terrifying spatial power causing the very heaven and earth to change color.


    On the opposite side, the two powerful fire-attribute opponents had already erupted in mes. Massive columns of fire and dragon mes were furiously shooting toward them.


    Mei Gongzi gently waved the Celestial Plume in her hand, opening one illusory space door after another. As the zing fire columns rushed toward them, they were swallowed one by one by the space doors, vanishing to who knew where. No matter how fierce the mes, they needed to hit their target to have any impact. But now, in the face of the space doors opening one after the other, they were renderedpletely ineffective.


    On one side, there were endless silver light doors, and on the other, massive fire columns. The aerial battlefield became incredibly dazzling, mesmerizing those who watched.


    Mei Gongzi''s peacock wings had turned silver, shining brilliantly in contrast to Tang San''s golden wings. The gold and silver colors burst forth with dazzling brilliance.


    For her, this moment felt just... wonderful. It was an unprecedented sense of control, as if the entire world''s space was under hermand, and everything fell within her grasp.


    As the silver light doors opened and closed, her proficiency in wielding spatial power increased by the second. With the guidance and amplification of the Celestial Plume, the spatial doors continuously corrected and stabilized the spatial distortions caused by the burning mes.


    In terms of consumption, she and Tang San were clearly using less energypared to their opponents, who were frantically firing columns of me. The space doors transported their attacks away rather than resisting them. As for the teleported fire columns, they erupted in the distant sky, dispersing as a rain of fire.


    "Roar��"


    The Fire Dragonpetitor clearly realized they would be exhausted if this continued. pping her dragon wings, she suddenly charged toward Tang San and Mei Gongzi.


    Tang San smiled slightly, not in any hurry. How wonderful it was to carry Mei Gongzi like this! If anything, he wanted this match to go on for a little longer! Even if he could quickly defeat the opponent now, he had no intention to do that. Besides, keeping Mei Gongzi in this state for a longer time would greatly help her deepen her understanding of space.


    With his golden wings, Tang San soared higher, quickly increasing the distance between them and their opponents.


    The dragon race was strong, but in terms of flight speed, none of their ns couldpare to the Golden-Winged Roc at the same level. Moreover, even if Tang San and Mei Gongzi didn''t fly, as long as they didn''t enter the burning space, Mei Gongzi could still teleport.


    The standoff turned into a chase. The Fire Dragon soared into the sky with a majestic aura and dazzling fire columns, continuously pursuing Tang San and Mei Gongzi. Meanwhile, Tang San handled the flying while Mei Gongzi constantly summoned spatial doors to teleport the fire columns away.


    The battle between the two sides was truly spectacr.


    The Tang San and Mei Gongzibination shifted from their previous individualist, hard-hitting style to a war of attrition based on perfect cooperation.


    Tang San held tightly onto Mei Gongzi''s legs as he flew through the air, while Mei Gongzi continuously experienced the spatial power at the god level,prehending and manipting the space.


    The other twopetition arenas were even affected by their battle. Thepetition tform was two hundred meters in diameter, but once they took to the sky, their flight range far exceeded that. As a result, the other two matches had to stay on the tform. Who would be crazy enough to fight for airspace with the two pairs duking it out like that?


    It was the Dragon Flower Duo fighting the Peacock Princess and the human who��d just beaten a Behemoth! Which one of the others could just ignore the pirs of fire and the random spatial doors?


    The two sides continued their chase, one spitting mes and the other dodging them. For the time being, there was no clear winner.


    "Big Brother, how should I bind them? My spiritual power is running low," Mei Gongzi said softly to Tang San while continuously summoning spatial doors.


    In terms of bloodline power consumption, they did have an advantage, but Mei Gongzi was now controlling space at a level far beyond her own. Tang San could enhance her perception of space by transferring over his own internal energy through the Peacock Transformation imprint, but he couldn''t solve her spiritual power consumption problem. Well, he <i>could</i> use his divine consciousness to help her, but that would be too obvious.


    "Every time you open a space door, you connect to a single spatial coordinate. How about you try to reopen all those you opened and closed, since you already know the coordinate? That ought to do the trick."


    Although Tang San was more than willing to keep carrying her, he had to consider her endurance. They couldn''t afford to overdo it.


    "Reopen all of them at once?" Mei Gongzi was taken aback, but then she understood what he was hinting at. "Let me see... "


    As she spoke, she started to act. The Celestial Plume in her hand generated motes of silver light that filled the air, and a strange scene unfolded.


    One illusory space door after another silently appeared��the doors she had previously opened to teleport the fire columns. Suddenly, hundreds of space doors floated in the air above the entirepetition arena.


    The dense fire element in the air seemed to find hundreds of outlets, quickly dissipating, causing the redness in the sky to diminish and the temperature to drop sharply.


    The female Fire Dragon immediately sensed something was wrong. She let out a mighty dragon roar and pped her wings with full force, charging toward one of the spatial doors.


    The Celestial Plume danced in the air, forming a circle of silver light, faintly carrying the essence of the Mysterious Circles of Heaven. The coordinates left when the space doors were opened were suddenly connected under the guidance of the Celestial Plume. Each spatial coordinate was linked to the next one in a perfect chain.


    "Converge!"


    One by one, the illusory space doors were shattered by the Fire Dragon and melted by the mes of the Scorching Sunflower, but more and more space doors appeared, the powerful spatial force creatingyers of bindings, making the Fire Dragon''s wings stiff and unable to p.


    Among their desperate struggles, the spatial doors shattered one after the other, but the Dragon Knight Duo also fell from the skies.


    Mei Gongzi''s face was pale at this moment. Even with Tang San''s support, exerting control over space to such an incredible extent had still exhausted her. Both her spiritual power and bloodline power were weakened.


    But at that moment, a very peculiar force suddenly surged from Tang San. The surrounding space-time seemed to be calm and serene again. The spatial rifts caused by the battle were instantly repaired, and Mei Gongzi felt a strong space elemental energy mixed with another strange energy flow into her body, giving her a sense of fullness.


    Silver light burst from the Celestial Plume, and the power of her spatial binding suddenly increased.


    With a loud boom, the Dragon Knight Duo crashed heavily onto the tform, resulting in a big impact crater. The dragon''s body was massive and obviously heavy, and although she was incredibly tough, she was left seeing stars. As for her defensively ineptpanion, even less needed to be said��he was lucky to even stay conscious.


    Mei Gongzi wanted to ask Asura what that power was, but the next moment, she felt him p his wings, bringing them down rapidly. With the incredible speed of the Golden Roc, Tang San reached the Scorching Sunflower almost the instant theynded, while thetter was dazed from the impact.


    His hand, which the entire audience was familiar with and focused on, reached the Scorching Sunflower. It only took a gentle touch��the Scorching Sunflower trembled violently, then the vines and sunflowers copsed one by one. He returned to human form, writhing in pain.


    At the same time, Mei Gongzi naturally wouldn''t miss such an opportunity. The Celestial Plume in her right hand directly touched the Fire Dragon��s head, binding it with spatial power.


    The match was over!

 Chapter 531: That is the Power of Space-Time

    <h4>Chapter 531: That is the Power of Space-Time</h4>


    Tang San''s measure regarding the Scorching Sunflower was simple. He didn''t even need yin-yang energy; a surge of pure yin energy was sufficient. It wasn''t much, but it was enough to cause a riot in his bloodline. Tang San himself had experienced this feeling before, so he knew all too well what it felt like.


    However, the Scorching Sunflower n had a bloodline that inclined toward the extreme yang, so an influx of yin energy could trigger a storm of yin-yang energy within their body, which was a significant problem. Tang San didn''t want to make a mortal enemy out of the Scorching Sunflower n, so he only infused a small amount of yin energy. Even so, resolving it would take them quite some time, making it impossible for the nymph to continue fighting.


    The all-new Three-Five Combo thus defeated these strong opponents, smoothly advancing to the finals of the doublespetition.


    When Mei Gongzi turned to look at Tang San, she smiled.


    This battle was much easier than she had imagined; moreover, she had experienced another level of spatial control and gained many new insights, all thanks to him.


    The two floated down onto thepetition tform together, and the referee announced the end of the match.


    They exchanged a smile and disappeared in a sh of silver light, not giving any envoys a chance to approach.


    Having consecutively defeated both the Dragon-Phoenix Pair and the Dragon Knight Duo, they had won over many spectators with their strength. The audience was now cheering loudly.


    Although they were not the only ones to enter the finals of both majorpetitions, the abilities they disyed had already made them popr contenders in the minds of the audience. Many spectators had begun to inquire about their origins, and many high-ranking officials in the VIP seats had already learned about their human bloodline and their connection to Kali City, ruled by the Peacock Demon n.


    "Big Brother, what energy did you transmit into my body at the end? I felt something very peculiar. Besides spatial power, there was also another kind of power that seemed to match it perfectly," Mei Gongzi asked eagerly as they exited the Ancestral Court za. She could still feel the strange changes that power was causing in her body.


    Her spiritual power wouldn''t recover quickly, but she had already recovered most of the bloodline power she had used. Moreover, under the influence of that other mysterious energy, she felt as if her bloodline power was subtly evolving.


    "That is spatiotemporal power, the fusion of time and space. Space and time are inseparable; they can interact, influence each other, andplement each other. Space without time is isted, while time without space is continuously fleeting. Only when theybine can they turn decay into magic, bing the greatest of powers."


    Tang San spoke to Mei Gongzi at a slow pace and in a decisive tone, hoping she could clearly remember what he was saying.


    As Mei Gongzi''s understanding of spatial power deepened, Tang San felt that her level ofprehension was incredible. In this context, adding some more knowledge wouldn''t be forcing it but ratherying a solid foundation for her future advancement to godhood.


    "The power of time? Like the Chrono Croc?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Tang San replied, "Not exactly. The Chrono Croc controls pure time, whereas what I transmitted to you was the energy of harmonized time and space, able to blend seamlessly with space. This represents a higher level of temporal power. In the future, when your spatial control reaches a certain level, to progress further, you will need to understand time, even if your bloodline doesn''t inherently possess this power. You mustprehend the profound principles between space and time.


    "Luckily, you have the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s bloodline, and it��s strong enough to let your body withstand these two forces. In the future, I will guide you so that you can integrate time control into your spatial power. By then, your foundation will significantly improve. But to truly understand the fusion of time and space, you need to reach the tenth order first."


    Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but ask curiously, "What about you then? How do <i>you</i> control it?"


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "I don''t. I actually rely on something external for that purpose. I have a rare time-space artifact, and the power just now was transmitted to you through it."


    The artifact he mentioned was naturally the huge Space-Time Beacon. Although it hadn''t been refined yet, Tang San could already extract some energy from it.


    Mei Gongziughed and said, "The title of ''omnipotent'' should be given to you instead of the Crystal Demon Emperor. In my eyes, you are already omnipotent."


    When she said this, for some reason, Tang San felt the imprint from Crystalline inside him slightly tremble. He quickly said, "Heh, just consider me a walking encyclopedia. I don��t dare to im to be omnipotent. I''m not even at the tenth order yet."


    Tang San knew that Crystalline and the Crystal Demon Emperor were connected, and had a hunch that they were in fact <i>rted</i>. It was best to say as little as possible about this foremost Emperor to avoid trouble. This being could effortlessly contend with multiple Emperors.


    "Alright. You don''t have a match tomorrow. Will youe to watch mine?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Tang San had no matches for the next two days, as the final stage of thepetition would only start the day after tomorrow. Mei Gongzi still had one more individual match, but her opponent was nothing to write home about.


    "I have an important cultivation task to undertake and I need to seclude myself for two days, so I won''t being tomorrow. But I ampletely confident in your strength. Be careful on your own. I''ll meet you before the big event. Let''s hope we don''t face each other too early in the finals."


    "Alright. Be careful during your cultivation and don''t rush too much."


    "Don''t worry, I know what I��m doing. Actually, this is also part of my preparation for the finals. I''ve also observed potential opponents in the finals over the past two days. The final matches will be on another levelpared to the group stage. They will certainly receive more support from their respective ns once they enter the finals. Our matches will be tougher, so you need to be mentally prepared."


    "Hehe, I think we can manage. We will definitely win."


    After bidding farewell to Mei Gongzi, Tang San didn''t go to the Sacred Mountain this time. Instead, he returned directly to the White Tiger Hotel. He also sent a message to Zhang Haoxuan, informing him that he would be in seclusion for two days to reflect on the gains from his recent battles.


    He prepared some fresh water in the cultivation room and then rxed for an hour to fully recover from the exertion of the battles, ensuring his spirit was in peak condition before starting his seclusion.


    Two days should be enough, and improving his cultivation couldn''t be dyed.


    Mei Gongzi also returned to her residence.


    The Peacock Great Demon King was already waiting in the room. This time, he hadn''t brought her back immediately after the match, instead choosing to return to the residence first.


    "How did you manage that level of control over space?" the Peacock Great Demon King immediately asked upon seeing his daughter.


    Mei Gongzi replied, "It was Asura who transmitted some of his bloodline power to me, which amplified my bloodline power. Then, the Celestial Plume allowed me ."


    "He can amplify your bloodline power?" the Peacock Great Demon King said in surprise.


    "Yes. I don''t know how he does it, but he can. The feeling of controlling space just... something else. It felt as if I reached apletely new level." Mei Gongzi reminisced about her sense of space during the battle, her heart still racing at the memory. The sensation of controlling all the space around her was truly unforgettable.

 Chapter 532: Asura is Too Mysterious

    <h4>Chapter 532: Asura is Too Mysterious</h4>


    "That is indeed another level, already touching the threshold of godhood. Even your spatial control at that time had a hint of divinity. Otherwise, how could you withstand thebined impact of the Fire Dragon and the Scorching Sunflower, two top-tier fire-attribute bloodlines working in harmony?"


    "Godhood, you say?" Mei Gongzi was stunned for a moment, as she hadn''t thought in that direction before.


    "Indeed. Let me say this again: your opponents both had a first-tier bloodline, and both were fire-attribute ones. Theirbination is not as simple as one plus one equals two. Being able to restrain such opponents with spatial power means there was a significant level difference between you. That''s the only exnation. This Asura is really not simple! Even now, I can''t figure out his true abilities," the Peacock Great Demon King said, frowning.


    "He has already sworn a blood oath, don''t you believe him? I also found him mysterious before, but he has never shown any malice toward me and he has always been helping me. There won''t be any problems. Please don''t make things difficult for him," Mei Gongzi said.


    The Peacock Great Demon King said in a deep voice, "Knowing yourself and your enemy is very important. Yes, the blood oath has a strong binding effect, but it doesn''t mean everything. My biggest concern is that he might be sent by another Emperor to deliberately get close to you. If that''s the case, then it''s troublesome."


    "He is human!" Mei Gongzi retorted.


    The Peacock Great Demon King said, "I am concerned <i>precisely</i> because he is human. How can a human cultivate to his level? Is it possible without the guidance of a powerful figure? To be honest, I��m even left wondering what kind of mighty being can produce such a powerful student.


    "Your Redemption Society clearly isn��t capable of producing such an outstanding human. Therefore, I have serious doubts about his origins. When you are with him, try to find out more about his background. Until we know where hees from, I can''t be at ease."


    Mei Gongzi looked at her father, frowned slightly, and nodded gently.


    Regarding Asura''s origins, how could she not be curious? But as they spent more time together, Asura had beenpletely open with her, going as far as to swear a blood oath, not to mention that divine technique she had taught her. This naturally dispelled her doubts about his good intentions. The only problem was that she had never seen Asura''s true face. For some reason, he didn''t want her to see his real appearance. This was a thorn that always remained in her heart.


    "Alright, go rest. No matter what, today, you touched the god level. You need to properly meditate on your insights; they will greatly help you in future breakthroughs. Meanwhile, I will keep an eye on Asura''s situation. Whatever it is, we can deal with it after thispetition. You must strive to get a good ranking in either the individual or doublepetitions. Both, if possible. The strength you have shown has already attracted attention, and we can no longer turn back. The best way to gain the Ancestral Court''s recognition is to make them wary of you. When they believe you might be an Emperor in the future, we will have some leverage. As for other matters, you don��t need to worry; I��ll handle everything for you."


    ***


    Tang San��s internal energy circted, flowing smoothly and rapidly within his body. Now that his cultivation had reached the ninth order, everything about his internal energy had improved tremendously. Originally, the ninth level was the pinnacle of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. It wasn''t until he became a god that he developed it to an even higher level.


    The bnced and peaceful energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique gradually calmed him down and brought his state to perfection. In his dantian, each imprint was stable in its position, radiating a bright glow.


    Without using the yin-yang energy, Tang San first activated the Pr Luck Domain of his Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    The cultivation room instantly turned ck and white, the mystical changes in fortune causing ck and white lights to flicker around him.


    The most powerful aspect of the Pr Luck Domainy in giving good fortune to oneself and misfortune to others. If it was powered by divine energy, then mere control of fortune could allow him to defeat an opponent without doing anything else; they��d probably trip against their own feet and punch themselves in the face if he so desired.


    The leader of the Ice Maiden n, Huang Bingbing, was far beyond his level, and yet he was able to suppress her for a short time using this powerful domain.


    The effects on his cultivation were also quite remarkable. Without the Pr Luck Domain, the fusion of yin-yang energy wouldn''t have been possible.


    With the blessing of fortune, Tang San''s luck was at its peak. Only then did he cautiously activate the Wind Dragon imprint stored within his dantian, slowly bringing it toward the energy vortex.


    Once it touched the vortex, the Wind Dragon Transformation imprint was naturally drawn into it, moving slowly toward an empty position. However, Tang San''s will immediately took control.


    The radiance of the Lion-Tiger Transformation burst forth, suddenly transforming into a ball of tinum light that enveloped the blue-gold light of the Wind Dragon imprint. Then, with a sh of silver light from the Peacock Transformation, it was instantly moved to the position of the Golden Roc imprint.


    Under Tang San''s stimtion, the Golden Roc imprint shone with golden light, directly swallowing the Wind Dragon imprint while it was restrained by the Lion-Tiger Transformation.


    The goal was to fuse these two imprints, but Tang San aimed for the Golden Roc Transformation to devour the Wind Dragon Transformation, not the other way around.


    This was why he was so cautious while performing the fusion today.


    He had carefully considered this decision. Although the Wind Dragon Transformation was a first-order bloodline, it wasn''t particrly powerful among the dragon race; since it wasn''t an overwhelmingly dominant force, the devouring process would be rtively less challenging.


    The characteristics of the dragon race were just too distinct. If he just happened to pop out a draconic transformation, it would be noticed right away. Since he had already exposed the Golden Roc Transformation, using it to mask the Wind Dragon Transformation''s aura was the best choice. Furthermore, he had mastered the Golden Roc Transformation''s abilities thoroughly. If the Wind Dragon Transformation caused the traits of the Golden Roc Transformation to disappear, it would bring him quite a bit of trouble. Additionally, there was the matter of Cheng Zicheng. He needed to help her cultivate in the future, so losing the essence of the Golden Roc Transformation would be problematic.


    Therefore, after thorough consideration, Tang San decided to use the method of "the snake devouring the elephant[1]" to devour the Wind Dragon imprint.


    Relying solely on the Golden Roc imprint wouldn''t be possible, but with the support of numerous first-tier bloodlines, the impossible could be possible.


    Sensing the threat, the Wind Dragon imprint glowed with blue light, starting to struggle violently. However, with the Lion-Tiger Golden Force present, there was no escape. This force had both repelling and devouring attributes, so it was perfect for both defense and containment. At this moment, the Lion-Tiger imprint was directly devouring the energy of the Wind Dragon imprint.


    Once filtered by the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, the devoured energy became much more obedient. In this state, the Golden Roc imprint began to digest and absorb the energy and characteristics of the Wind Dragon imprint.


    The spatial power of the Peacock Demons assisted from the side. When the Wind Dragon imprint struggled too fiercely and the Lion-Tiger Transformation couldn''t control it, the Peacock Transformation would step in to seal it temporarily, allowing the Lion Tiger Golden Force to adjust before continuing to devour.


    This was equivalent to two first-tier bloodlines and one second-tier bloodline ganging up on another first-tier bloodline. Additionally, the powerful Pr Luck Domain also belonged to a first-tier bloodline, and the fortune it produced was naturally aligned with Tang San��s will.


    Thus, the entire fusion process went even more smoothly than Tang San had anticipated. The Wind Dragon imprint kept struggling but could never break free from the restraint of the two first-tier imprints. The Peacock Transformation constrained it, while the Lion-Tiger Transformation devoured it, their coordination remarkably seamless.


    Tang San had initially prepared to use yin-yang energy to suppress the Wind Dragon imprint if necessary, but it seemed that wouldn''t be needed now.


    1. This originates from the idiom "A snake swallowing an elephant," which describes excessive greed. It traces back to the ssic of Mountains and Seas, in which it��s mentioned a Ba snake that devours elephants and it takes three years to digest the bones of an elephant. ?

 Chapter 533: Golden Roc-Wind Dragon Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 533: Golden Roc-Wind Dragon Transformation</h4>


    As the energy of the Wind Dragon imprint was devoured by the Golden Roc imprint, thetter began to undergo a metamorphosis. Arge amount of energy escaped from the imprint, nourishing Tang San''s body. The energy of the dragon bloodline strengthened his physique.


    The Golden Roc imprint now had a touch of cyan staining its original golden color. The two colors intertwined and collided, merging with each other and also seemingly devouring each other.


    The Wind Dragon imprint had already begun to release its energy. If the Golden Roc imprint could not gradually devour it, then it would be useless. It would not be worth keeping for Tang San.


    But the Golden Roc, as expected, was a top existence among second-tier bloodlines. The Golden-Winged Great Roc had been practically equal to the Phoenix since ancient times. However, no Great Roc had ever ascended to the position of Demon Emperor; they had always been suppressed by both Phoenix and Peacock.


    At this moment, as it devoured the bloodline power of the Wind Dragon, the Golden Roc imprint began to rapidly transform. In addition to changing color, it also gradually grewrger, with its aura bing more prominent.


    Gradually, the touch of cyan disappeared, and the original deep golden color of the Golden Roc imprint lightened, turning toward a pale gold. At the same time, its power significantly increased.


    Seeing the smooth fusion of the Golden Roc and Wind Dragon, Tang San felt relieved and stabilized his state. He controlled the Peacock Transformation and Lion-Tiger Transformation to assist it, allowing the Golden Roc imprint to continue devouring the other and strengthening itself.


    The target was a first-tier bloodline imprint at the peak of the ninth-order, and the devouring process was somewhat lengthy. However, the benefits it brought Tang San were immense. His internal energy became noticeably more vigorous, and his physical strength increased ordingly. Under the baptism of the wind element, the speed of his energy vortex and the cirction of his internal energy also improved.


    Tang San did not forget topress his internal energy as much as he could. He did not want to reach the ninth-order peak immediately after devouring the Wind Dragon Transformation. He was not yet ready to face tribtion and be a god.


    Therefore, he tried to use up the Wind Dragon bloodline power by infusing more of it into his flesh, blood, and meridians, while minimizing the increase in his cultivation level by continuouslypressing his internal energy.


    Meanwhile, his divine consciousness continued to strengthen under the nourishment of his spiritual power, allowing him to gain more precise control over himself. The entire cultivation process proceeded exactly as he had envisioned.


    And while Tang San was cultivating, the Ancestral Court Elite Competition continued.


    The individual and doublespetitions each went through the final round of group matches, and the top sixteen for bothpetitions were finally determined. To absolutely nobody��s surprise, Mei Gongzi emerged sessfully from the ninth group, defeating her opponent.


    Thus, Tang San, Big Cat, and Mei Gongzi upied three of the top sixteen spots in the individualpetition, sessfully entering the finals. On the other hand, in the doublespetition, Tang San and Mei Gongzi had also qualified, bing one of the top sixteen pairs.


    Next, they would face even stronger opponents.


    The venue at the Ancestral Court za was reconstructed. With plenty of manpower avable, the threepetition stages in the arena were merged into one giant tform, five hundred meters in diameter, overnight.


    In the finals, every match would be incredibly important and correspondingly intense, so it would be a great loss if they were to be held simultaneously. Thus, each match would be conducted individually.


    The top sixteen had already emerged, but the matchups were still unclear. The draw would be conducted on the day of thepetition to ensure fairness and prevent anypetitor from preparing in advance. Therefore, no one knew who they would face in the top sixteen.


    ***


    The final stage of thepetition was about to begin.


    Early in the morning, Big Cat arrived at the Ancestral Court Square, full of energy.


    The waiting area had also been modified. Instead of severalrge waiting areas for thepetitors to rest and wait, each finalist now had their own exclusive rest room. This ensured that thepetitors could rest adequately without being disturbed.


    Everypetitor who made it to the final stage was an absolute prodigy, watched by many influential individuals. The top sixteen were practically guaranteed to be Demon or Nymph Kings, some of them even Great Demon or Nymph Kings. Who would dare to ignore such powerful figures?


    Maybe one in a hundred had a chance of bing a Demon or Nymph Emperor, but even that small chance was still a chance. As for those who did not reach the finals of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition... they had no such possibility. Only finalists received substantial resource support from their respective races. Bing an emperor required more than just cultivation; it also required a vast umtion of resources. Where did these resourcese from? Naturally, from the n and race one pledged loyalty to. That n, and perhaps the entire race, would invest resources. Reaching the finals demonstrated talent and potential, and would be the perfect springboard to propel them in the right direction.


    Both the Peacock Great Demon King and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had once reached the finals of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. Although neither had won in the end, the Peacock Great Demon King had be the leader of the Peacock Demon n, and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had then found an opportunity to ascend, ultimately bing an Emperor. This illustrated the importance of reaching the finals of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. It meant thesepetitors were recognized to have the most basic qualifications to reach that level.


    Beforeing to the Ancestral Court, Big Cat never imagined he could even participate, much less reach the finals in such apetition.


    He had heard legends about the Ancestral Court Elite Competition when he was in Kali City. At that time, he was almost invincible in the Great Beast Fighting Arena, and some of the more experienced demons had told him that truly strong ones did not stay in the Great Beast Fighting Arena of their cities, or even the Ancestral Court��s, but went to participate in the Elite Competition. That was the true pinnacle tournament of the Daemon continent.


    But back then, he had not resolved his bloodline conflict issue and had not even dared to think about participating.


    As his bloodline advanced to the first tier, he truly saw an opportunity. And now that he was able to apany Asura here, now that he not only participated in thepetition but simply plowed through his opponents, he realized that this was a truly new starting point in his life��and a new beginning for the Lion-Tiger n.


    By entering the top sixteen, his initial task waspleted. He had proven his potential to the lion and tiger races. After all, besides him, no other lion or tiger demon contestant had made it to the top sixteen. The top sixteen was almost exclusively the stage for the descendants of Emperors��those from ns with an Emperor, or even actual progeny of an Emperor. This time, he, Tang San, and Mei Gongzi were the only three contestants who were not descendants of Emperors.


    Therefore, he could be truly proud of himself. From now on, every victory in a match would be a significant step forward. He even hoped that he might encounter Tang San or Mei Gongzi early, so at least one of them could make it to the top eight or even the top four.


    Through thispetition, he saw Tang San''s strength even more clearly. He believed his own progress was already fast, but Tang San seemed to progress even faster. Even the princess of the Peacock Demon n was the same.


    These past few days, he had rested well and had basically mastered the God-Killing Domain. Having a domain ability was the symbol of a Demon King, yet he already had his own domain. How could this not excite him? Therefore, he was eagerly looking forward to thispetition. He also wanted to see if he could continue to advance in the final stage.


    He had just tried to contact Tang San using themunicator but had not received a response. He didn''t know if Tang San hadn''t set out yet or what the situation was.

 Chapter 534: Tang San Emerges

    <h4>Chapter 534: Tang San Emerges</h4>


    Mei Gongzi also hadn��t arrived yet, or at least he hadn''t seen her.


    Today was the first day of the final stage of the individualpetition, with a total of eight matches, meaning the top sixteen would be narrowed down to eight. It was still an elimination tournament, with the winners advancing. Naturally, beingte resulted in an automatic forfeit.


    Big Cat did not choose to rest in his own room but stood at the entrance, eagerly waiting for Tang San''s arrival.


    Having reached the final stage, he felt both excited and a bit uneasy. Asura was his anchor; with him present, Big Cat��s confidence and fighting spirit were more robust.


    At this moment, he saw Mei Gongzi''s figure.


    Today, Mei Gongzi looked exceptionally stunning. She wore a silver-white long dress, with faint silver light rippling on it, disying strange patterns. As she walked, it seemed as if she was traversing through the void, giving him an elusive feeling��as if she existed not only in this space but also roamed another dimension.


    This was not actually Mei Gongzi��s ability, but rather an effect of her long dress. Clearly, the dress was no ordinary item.


    Her ck hair flowed down her back, and the silver dress added to her noble aura, making her beautiful like the radiant moon. She also wore a silver crown, with a bright silver gem in the center that shone brilliantly, emanating strong spatial fluctuations. It seemed as if an invisibleyer of spatial power enveloped her whole body.


    Big Cat blinked, feeling a sudden bitter taste in his heart.


    There was no doubt that Mei Gongzi''s attire was not just for appearance. It was a symbol of wealth and the profound heritage of the Peacock Demon n.


    She looked beautiful, but beauty was one thing and the fact that every item she wore was a top-tier artifact was another thing altogether. Coupled with the Celestial Plume she had used before, which was a bona fide divine item, she was armed to the teeth for the finals.


    Indeed, the Peacock Demon n did not have a Demon Emperor, but in terms of wealth, they were not inferior to any other n. Since she had reached the finals, the Peacock Great Demon King had every justification to bring out these treasures of the Peacock Demon n for her to wear.


    Mei Gongzi''s attire exuded grand nobility, coupled with the intimidating presence of formidable equipment.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi noticed Big Cat. It seemed that the marvelous equipment she wore had no impact on her behavior; with a sh of silver light, she immediately teleported in front of him.


    "Big Cat, where''s my big brother? Has he arrived?"


    Big Cat was stunned for a moment and said, "No, I haven��t seen him and I can''t reach him."


    A trace of anxiety shed in Mei Gongzi''s eyes. "I can''t reach him either. He said he would be in seclusion for two days. I hope nothing''s wrong." As she spoke, she tried to contact Tang San again with themunicator, but there was still no response.


    "How about I go look for him?"


    "Let me go. I''m faster."


    With that, the silver patterns on her dress rippled, and the next instant, she was gone.


    After a dozen teleportations, she appeared outside the White Tiger Hotel.


    Although most guests had gone to the Ancestral Court Square to watch the matches, there were still staff members at the White Tiger Hotel.


    When she appeared at the hotel entrance in her splendid attire, the guards were stunned. With her silver crown and dress, Mei Gongzi looked like a goddess descending upon the earth.


    Mei Gongzi, however, didn''t pay attention to them and directly entered the lobby.


    As soon as she entered, someone eximed in surprise, "Princess?"


    Mei Gongzi was about to teleport directly to Tang San''s room but stopped when she heard the call. Turning her head, she saw an unfamiliar face.


    "Do I know you?" Mei Gongzi asked with a frown.


    Xu Ziran replied respectfully, "I am Xu Ziran from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association. I have seen Your Highness before at a celebration. You seem to be looking for something; might I ask what it is?"


    "I am looking for Asura. Have you seen him?"


    Xu Ziran smiled wryly and said, "I am also here to wait for him. Actually Brother Asura is a great friend of our association. With the finals approaching, we have brought some medicines for him to use during thepetition."


    "He hasn''te out?"


    "Hmm, not yet. Thepetition is about to start; maybe he has already gone to the venue?"


    "No. That is where I��ming from, and he is not there."


    Xu Ziran felt just as anxious as Mei Gongzi.


    Asura had already entered the top sixteen, and in his mind, Asura��s status was no longer just that of a business coborator. He was well aware of what entering the top sixteen meant. The Peacock Great Demon King had already sent people several times to ask for information about Asura, indicating that the young man was far more .


    However, he hadn''t expected that the princess, the heir to the n leader, would personallye to find Asura. Considering that Asura participated in the pairpetition with her, his status in Xu Ziran''s mind rose once more.


    "Anyway, let me check what��s going on," Mei Gongzi said, and with a sh of silver light, she disappeared again.


    When she reappeared, she was in Tang San''s room. At that moment, waves of dragon roars surged, and Mei Gongzi felt a mighty surge of bloodline power rushing toward her.


    "ROAR��" A grand dragon��s roar burst forth, and the door to the cultivation room suddenly opened. She saw a figure about to step outside.


    "Big Brother��" Mei Gongzi called out instinctively.


    The figure inside sensed her presence and immediately stopped; a hurried voice said, "Don''te over, I''m not dressed."


    Mei Gongzi''s steps stopped abruptly, and her face flushed.


    But she didn''t have to wait long. A few secondster, Asura walked out of the cultivation room. His clothes were very much on, and the mask still covered half of his face.


    <i>How did he get dressed that quickly?! Oh... Right, he probably just didn''t have his mask on....</i>


    Mei Gongzi immediately understood and realized what she had missed. If she had been a step quicker, she might have seen his true face. She felt a pang of regret and couldn''t help but scold him. "Thepetition is about to start. Why haven''t you left yet?"


    Tang San smiled wryly and said, "I didn''t expect it to take this long either!"


    Indeed, he had encountered some issues during cultivation. It wasn''t that something went wrong, but rather, some strange changes urred after integrating the Wind Dragon imprint.


    As he controlled the Golden Roc imprint to gradually devour the Wind Dragon imprint, the Golden Roc imprint underwent many strange changes, increasing in size until it was evenrger than the Lion-Tiger one. The energy it emitted caused Tang San''s body to transform.


    The Wind Dragon bloodline seemed to have a strangepatibility with Tang San himself. After merging, the Golden Roc imprint��or rather, the new Dragon Roc imprint��allowed him to undergo aplete rebirth. His body underwent a sort of cleansing, which significantly enhanced his physique. And though he was a pure-blooded human, his bloodline aura had a touch of draconic energy added to it.


    Tang San''s extensive cultivation experience allowed him to understand what was going on, more or less. Although he had been reincarnated into this world,pletely losing his physical body, his divine consciousness from his previous life remained and it subtly altered his current body. He was slowly awakening abilities from his past life, and it wasn��t just those rted to the Mysterious Heaven Technique.


    In his previous life, he had many interactions with powerful dragons from that ne, and even his sons and grandsons acquired draconic bloodlines one way or another. Therefore, his own bloodline naturally had an affinity with dragon bloodlines. When he merged with dragon bloodlines, they offered him far more potent enhancements than other types of bloodlines.

 Chapter 535: The Approval of the Crystal Demon Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 535: The Approval of the Crystal Demon Emperor</h4>


    But if that was the case... Could this be the reason behind the Crystal Demon Emperor seemingly favoring him and giving him Crystalline?


    After his transformation, he needed to stabilize his condition. So, after washing up and changing clothes, he saw that it was still early and resumed meditating. Unexpectedly, he entered a deep meditation state, only waking up when he sensed the spatial changes outside. He might have missed today''s match if it hadn''t been for Mei Gongzi''s arrival!


    He hadn''t been wearing his mask earlier, so he used the excuse of not being dressed to buy himself some time. Seeing that Mei Gongzi understood, he chuckled and did not bother to offer further exnations.


    "Let''s hurry up and go. We can''t miss the match; the most important thing today is the draw, right?"


    Mei Gongzi rolled her eyes at him. "Oh, so you didn��t forget?!"


    Time was indeed of the essence, and she couldn''t afford toin about him hiding his face from her. A silver halo enveloped them as they began a series of teleportations.


    ***


    Ancestral Court za.


    Staff had alreadye to notify them to prepare for the draw. Big Cat anxiously waited; Tang San and Mei Gongzi hadn''t returned yet!


    Not participating in the draw would mean forfeiting today''s match and thus the qualification for the finals. What could he do?


    "Please proceed to the draw. It is about to start," the staff urged again.


    The draw for the final stage was presided over by Emperors, and no one could change the schedule.


    Big Cat gritted his teeth and was about to go when a sh of silver light appeared. Mei Gongzi, in her splendid attire, and Tang San, in whitebat clothes, stood before him.


    Big Cat let out a sigh of relief. "Damn, you made it just in time. Let''s go." There was no time to say anything else; they had to go for the draw.


    Led by the staff, they walked along the corridor together. The other contestants were already waiting to draw lots.


    The draw was held in the VIP area.


    Today''s VIP area had been altered. The original VIP seats were moved to the sides, while the center now featured sixteenrge VIP boxes, prepared for the sixteen Emperors.


    Not all Emperors woulde to watch the matches, but the seats had to be reserved.


    In front of the VIP boxes, a tform for drawing lots had been set up.


    Even bfore getting close, Tang San''s heart trembled slightly as he looked towards the tform.


    On the draw tform stood a single figure. His presence alone attracted the attention of all the spectators and contestants.


    It was a young man who looked to be in his twenties, with deep blue eyes as profound as the ocean and long white hair flowing down his back all the way to his ankles. His appearance was extremely handsome, his skin like jade, and his whole being radiated a strange brilliance. A faint halo surrounded him, as if shielding him from the mortal dust.


    Around him, Tang San saw an overwhelming mass of fortune, as if he was the core of the entire world.


    The moment Tang San sensed the young man��s presence, he instantly dissipated the Pr Domain he had activated within himself to enhance his fortune.


    This person was none other than the true ruler of the Ancestral Court, held in high regard by both the demon and the nymph races��the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, the master of destiny!


    Only he could possess such overwhelming fortune. Only he could appear as if he were the core of the entire world.


    Tang San hadn''t expected that this person would personally host the draw ceremony today. With him there, Tang San dared not use the Discerning Eye of Heaven to increase his and hispanions'' luck. In front of this figure, any maniption of fortune would bepletely exposed.


    Tang San tried to keep his mind as calm as possible, his divine consciousness restrained to the absolute minimum, and his aura retracted. He slightly lowered his head, no longer looking at him, trying to minimize any presence in front of this Emperor.


    In the finals, with the Emperors watching, the risk for him obviously increased significantly! He wondered how the Crystal Demon Emperor would view him.


    Tang San suddenly had a thought.


    At this moment, the draw had already begun. The contestants who arrived before them were stepping up to the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, drawing lots from the barrel. After drawing, they stood in line in front of him.


    Tang San and the other two arrivedst, so naturally, they would be thest to draw.


    Mei Gongzi turned to him and asked, "Brother, are you a bit nervous?"


    Tang San forced a smile and said, "It''s alright. I didn''t expect His Majesty the Master of Destiny to personally oversee the draw."


    Mei Gongzi said in confusion, "It''s always been this way. It''s to ensure the fairness of thepetition, to prevent any contestant from bribing the strong members of the Celestial Fox n for fortune enhancement."


    Tang San suddenly understood; it was a tradition. However, in front of this particr Demon Emperor, he truly felt a bit nervous.


    He had faced several Demon Emperors before, but none put as much pressure on him as this one.


    Although it was said that the Celestial Fox n had no realbat ability, that did not apply to this particr member. There was a reason he was second only to the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    Eost importantly, when facing other Emperors, Tang San was confident his secrets wouldn''t be discovered, but in front of this master of destiny, he truly had no absolute assurance.


    The drawing proceeded quickly, and soon it was Big Cat''s turn. He approached the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor and drew a lot.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor gazed at him with calm and profound eyes, nodded slightly, and said, "The fate of your n is changing because of you. Well done."


    No matter how rebellious Big Cat''s personality was, he felt somewhat apprehensive at this moment and respectfully said, "Thank you for the encouragement, Your Majesty."


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor didn''t speak further. Big Cat quickly took his lot and, without looking at it, moved to the side.


    Next, it was Mei Gongzi''s turn. She approached the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor and drew a lot in a casual manner.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor looked at her, a strange and mesmerizing light shing in his eyes. Behind Mei Gongzi, Tang San tensed up instantly. Soon, however, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor��s gaze returned to normal.


    "I cannot yet see if destiny will reappear. If it does, the peacock will be reborn." His voice was only audible to Mei Gongzi, causing her to tremble slightly. She looked at the seemingly young man in front of her, who had actually been ruling the Ancestral Court for who knew how many years, and bowed slightly in respect.


    Mei Gongzi then went to line up, leaving Tang San as thest. With only one lot left in the barrel, Tang San stepped forward, drew it out, and also bowed slightly to the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor looked at him and slightly frowned. "You have received the Crystal''s approval?"


    "Yes," Tang San replied humbly.


    "It''s been a long time. Interesting," the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said with a hint of a yful smile.


    After bowing again, Tang San quickly went to stand beside Mei Gongzi.


    Earlier, when he thought of the Crystal Demon Emperor, he suddenly came up with a way to conceal his aura. He infused his energy into the Crystal Mirror and drew out its aura, allowing it to subtly surround him.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor might probe the human Asura, but would he probe a person with the aura of the Crystal Demon Emperor?


    It was normal for contestants in the top sixteen to be favored by Emperors. But the Crystal Demon Emperor was by far the foremost among them, and being chosen by it meant something truly special. Even the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, the master of destiny, would hesitate to probe such a person too deeply.

 Chapter 536: The Fight for the Quarter-Finals

    <h4>Chapter 536: The Fight for the Quarter-Finals</h4>


    It turned out his judgment was correct. He clearly felt the divine consciousness of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor sweep over him, and when it sensed the aura of the Crystal Mirror, it withdrew.


    Tang San had been ready to poke Crystalline awake if push came to shove. He didn''t know exactly what Crystalline was, but she was definitely rted to the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    Fortunately, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor didn''t seem to pay <i>that </i>much attention to him.


    In fact, Tang San had received the recognition of the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, though it wasn''t directly from the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor himself. He could��ve used that token instead, but he preferred not to; the risk that came with it was too great.


    With the drawing over, he had passed this hurdle. Next was checking the lots they had drawn.


    Tang San had no more grand thoughts about it. After seeing the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, he knew that he could only rely on his normal luck for the draw. It didn''t matter who he faced. If he faced Mei Gongzi, he would just concede, letting her advance to the top eight. He could use their participation in the pairpetition as an excuse.


    However, when the draw results were announced, Tang San was somewhat surprised.


    Had his luck turned around?


    The final draw results for the top sixteen in the individualpetition showed that he, Mei Gongzi, and Big Cat would each face different opponents. The three of them wouldn''t meet in the first round.


    Tang San and Big Cat were ced in the first bracket, and luckily, even if they met, it would be after both entered the top four,peting for a spot in the finals.


    Mei Gongzi, in the meantime, was in the second bracket. For Tang San or Big Cat to face her, they would have to reach the finals.


    Undoubtedly, this was the best possible draw for the three of them.


    After facing many strong opponents in the group stage and making progress at great expense, luck was finally on their side.


    Indeed, luck and misfortune are two sides of the same coin. After so much misfortune, luck would eventuallye.


    Faced with such a draw result, the three of them were naturally overjoyed.


    As for thepetition itself... it would begin directly.


    Today, the first of the three topete was Big Cat.


    Big Cat would bepeting in the first match, and his opponent was undoubtedly strong; anyone who made it here could not possibly be weak.


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi returned to the resting area, which this time was arranged next to the VIP seats. They could clearly see thepetition tform, allowing them to rest while watching the match.


    Big Cat, on the other hand, went straight to the waiting area to prepare for the first match.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor returned to his box, which was the seventh from the left.


    The two central boxes were likely reserved for the Crystal Demon Emperor and the Sunborne Nymph Emperor, the strongest of the demon and nymph races.


    ��Big Brother, our luck is really good today. The draw went well! If we can meet in the finals, that��ll be great!


    Mei Gongzi was clearly excited.


    They were in different resting rooms but could of course talk through theirmunicators.


    Tang San replied, "Be cautious. The Emperors are watching. Be prepared for the match."


    Today, there would be four matches in each bracket. Tang San wouldpete in the third match of the first and Mei Gongzi in the second match of the second.


    If Big Cat won today, he would face the winner of today''s second match in the quarter-finals. If Tang San won, he would face the winner of the fourth match.


    In other words, they wouldn''t face each other until the semifinals.


    Tang San didn''t know how many Emperors hade to watch today, and he didn''t dare to use his divine consciousness to probe. But he guessed it wasn''t just the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. After all, besides the three of them, the rest were all descendants of living Emperors.


    "The first match of the final stage is about to begin. Contestants, please enter the stage."


    On thepetition tform, a Great Demon King referee was already standing. Judging by his features, he was from the Golden Mammoth n.


    In the final stage, referees on the tform would always be ready to stop the match at any time. Since those who made it to the finals were the prodigies of their respective ns, they couldn''t afford any loss of life. No contestants had ever died in the final stage of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition.


    Big Cat stepped onto thepetition tform from one side, dressed no differently from what he wore during the group stage. However, when his opponent stepped onto the tform, he immediately seemed a bit shabby inparison.


    There was no helping it; the Lion-Tiger n was just... poor. They didn''t even have proper weapons made by a good craftsman, let alone divine artifacts. In contrast, his opponent could be described as armed to the teeth.


    When his opponent first appeared, Big Cat couldn''t even recognize its race.


    It was a three-meter-tall, sturdy figure, entirely encased in heavy armor. The armor was adorned with many gemstones, radiating multicolored brilliance. The weapon in its hand was a five-meter-long spear, emitting a chilling aura��clearly not an ordinary item.


    During the draw, this opponent had not been wearing this equipment. Now that it was fully armored, Big Cat had to carefully examine it and, taking into ount its build, finally recognized his opponent.


    It was a strong contestant from the Solstice Empire''s nymph race, also a descendant of a current Emperor. That Emperor had cultivated into a nymph from a piece of zed ss, ultimately sitting upon an Emperor��s throne. It was known as the Thousand-Faceted zed ss Nymph Emperor.


    zed ss was a very peculiar gem with a translucent luster. A nymph born from zed ss had the innate ability to reflect various attacks. Although not all abilities could be reflected, it was still very powerful. Thebat style of the zed ss Nymph Emperor was also highly unpredictable, hence the title "Thousand-Faceted." Naturally, they were very difficult to deal with.


    Among the Nymph Emperors, the zed ss Nymph Emperor was ranked fifth.


    The opponent in front of him, having made it to the finals, was clearly not an easy opponent. Moreover, the richest n among the nymphs was the zed ss n, and there was a good reason for that. This n had yet another incredible innate ability: discovering mineral deposits.


    Thergest coin manufacturing factory on the Daemon Continent belonged to the zed ss n. Therefore, it was no surprise they had vast resources. The extravagant attire of the opponent before him was, of course, nothing more than a disy of immense wealth.


    The Skyway Merchant Association of the Solstice Empire, which Tang San had encountered before and where Fatball made the business calls, was backed by the zed ss n.


    Faced with such a well-funded opponent, Big Cat''s pupils contracted. He instantly raised his guard. Even without considering his opponent''s innate abilities, the equipment alone was formidable, likely imbued with various powers, making this opponent very tricky to handle.


    "Big Cat of the Lion-Tiger n from Kali City versus Gu Lan of the zed ss n from zed City, the match begins!"


    In the final stage, they finally announced the names. Clearly, they were taken much more seriously than in the group stage.


    After announcing the start of the match, the Great Demon King referee retreated to the edge of the tform, activated a shield ability of sorts, and proceeded to observe the contestants.


    The final stagepetition stage was muchrger than the previous ones, with a diameter of five hundred meters. The opponents appeared as nothing more than small dots, requiring focused vision to see clearly. Such arge arena provided ample space forbat.


    Big Cat took a deep breath and let out a thunderous roar, his body rapidly expanding. In an instant, he transformed into a giant warrior over five meters tall, striding toward his opponent.

 Chapter 537: Eye of the Thunder God

    <h4>Chapter 537: Eye of the Thunder God</h4>


    Gu Lan of the zed ss n raised its spear, gripping it by the middle with its right hand. Its body glowed with a strange light, and in the next instant, the spear was thrown, flickering in the air before disappearing into thin air.


    Big Cat immediately felt an overwhelming sense of danger enveloping him.


    What was this vanishing trick?


    Big Cat didn''t dare to be careless. He raised his heavy sword, releasing Lion-Tiger Golden Force, and dazzling white light burst from his body. In the next instant, his pupils contracted, and he shed out fiercely with his sword.


    With a resounding ng, Lion-Tiger Golden Force erupted and the spear was sted back, but at the same time, Big Cat felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and his entire body was paralyzed. Currents of electricity coursed through him.


    At that moment, Gu Lan pressed a silver gem on its helmet, and in the next instant, it teleported near Big Cat, catching the spear mid-air and charging at Big Cat like lightning.


    Big Cat was paralyzed, but the powerful properties of Lion-Tiger Golden Force allowed him to recover quickly. As Gu Lan''s spear neared his chest, a fierce light burst from Big Cat''s eyes, and he swung his heavy sword upward, unleashing <i>more</i> Lion-Tiger Golden Force.


    "Boom!"


    Both retreated simultaneously. Big Cat fell into paralysis again, but his opponent was also affected. The powerful repellent force of Lion-Tiger Golden Force sted it back over ten meters, and its arms were numb.


    This strike was not just Big Cat''s own strength but also the power absorbed from the previous collision. Combined with the repellent effect of Lion-Tiger Golden Force, the explosive power was quite formidable.


    However, Gu Lan''s recovery appeared to be significantly faster than Big Cat''s, and moreover, its armor absorbed most of the impact. The lightning spear in its hand flew out again, heading straight for Big Cat''s chest.


    The lightning spear''s paralyzing ability was just too strong. Even with the formidable Lion-Tiger Golden Force, Big Cat couldn''t defend against it before, and this time was no different. Moreover, the lightning spear would disappear upon release, turning into a sh of lightning that struck instantly.


    Big Cat raised his heavy sword horizontally, his blood and energy surging as he forcefully resisted.


    <i>ng!</i> He staggered back, his body paralyzed once again. After shing with the lightning spear three times, the paralysis was getting worse and worse.


    Although he hadn''t paid special attention to this opponent before, Big Cat was pretty damn sure that no one had used such a weapon in previous matches. The fact that it was able to deal so much damage to him meant that it was likely a divine artifact!


    Gu Lan pressed the silver gem again, and when it reappeared, it was already behind Big Cat. It clenched its fists and struck Big Cat''s back with both fists at once.


    Lion-Tiger Golden Force erupted with a powerful repellent force, but strangely, the incandescent astral energy that hit Gu Lan''s armor instantly turned transparent. The white light rebounded exactly as it touched the armor, reflecting back onto Big Cat.


    With a muffled groan, Big Cat was sent flying by the blow.


    The zed ss n''s innate ability: reflection!


    At this moment, a yellow gem on Gu Lan''s right arm shed. The lightning spear, which had been knocked into the air by Big Cat, suddenly plummeted as if drawn by a powerful force, descending straight toward Big Cat.


    The entire process was incredibly fast and flowed smoothly like water.


    Big Cat''s Lion-Tiger Golden Force was powerful, but the paralysis caused by the lightning spear was too severe. This time, he didn''t dare to take it head-on. Enduring the surging blood within his body, he stomped his right foot and dashed out at an angle.


    The yellow gem on Gu Lan''s right arm glowed even brighter. It suddenly swung its arm, guiding the lightning spear to change direction and chase after Big Cat. At the same time, its armor emitted a ssy luster once more. Some kind of energy erupted from its back, propelling it like a multicolored cannonball toward Big Cat.


    There was no way to dodge anymore; the lightning spear was too fast. Helpless, Big Cat had to sh out with his heavy sword again, deflecting the lightning spear. But in the next moment, Gu Lan collided with him from the side, sending him flying. In his paralyzed state, even his Lion-Tiger Golden Force couldn''t fully protect him, and this blow made him spit blood.


    Any spectator could see that Big Cat was at a significant disadvantage in terms of equipment. His opponent, relying solely on its armor and lightning spearbined with the zed ss n''s innate ability, suppressed him so much that he couldn''t exert his full strength.


    "Big Brother, at this rate, Big Cat might lose. His equipment is really... We should have gotten him some better gear from Father before the match."


    "No, that would be a mistake. This is his inevitable path. By this point, all the ns are fully supporting their contestants who made it this far. No... He should face this battle as it is. If he can win under these circumstances, then the lion and tiger races will have to respond, whether they like it or not. After this match, we can approach them."


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback. "You think Big Cat can win?"


    At this moment, Big Cat was beingpletely suppressed on the stage, repeatedly knocked away by Gu Lan. His Lion-Tiger Golden Force was bing erratic, clearly at a disadvantage against the opponent��s own innate ability.


    Tang San gave her a light smile. "Just watch. Big Cat is a seasoned warrior; his fighting spirit is strong and he won''t be easily defeated. In terms of equipment, he''s certainly not on par with his opponent. But the biggest problem for the zed ss n contestant is itsck of explosive power. As long as it can''t defeat Big Cat in one shot, Big Cat still has a chance."


    The situation on the field was indeed very unfavorable for Big Cat, and he was being suppressed. However, Tang San had a clear understanding of Big Cat''s resilience and fighting spirit. To think he would lose just because he was being suppressed would be a grave mistake.


    Gu Lan of the zed ss n had top-grade equipment and innate abilities; it had numerousbat techniques and it could suppress Big Cat. However, its explosive power wascking. The zed ss n''s innate ability was passive, reflecting the opponent''s abilities only when attacked. The rest depended entirely on the equipment.


    The lightning spear was indeed powerful, and the armor too. Even if they weren''t divine artifacts, they were close. The lightning spear, in particr, could prate even the first-tier bloodline''s Lion-Tiger Golden Force. However, itcked the explosive power to break through Big Cat''s powerful defense and force him to concede, let alone take him out in one blow.


    Big Cat was steadily retreating. For every sessful block, he was hit a few times. But he focused on avoiding a direct hit from the lightning spear, knowing that even the Lion-Tiger Golden Force couldn''t prevent its paralyzing effects. A direct hit would be disastrous.


    Gu Lan''s attacks were relentless, with its armor continuously converting its energy into various elemental attributes to empower its attacks on Big Cat and assist the lightning spear. The yellow light from its right hand guided the spear, allowing it to strike from tricky angles, making defense difficult.


    Big Cat''s scattered Lion-Tiger Golden Force could barely defend. From a visual standpoint, it seemed only a matter of time before his defenses werepletely breached.


    In the VIP seats, the powerful Golden Lion n and Golden Tiger n members frowned. They could see Big Cat being suppressed, and they were well aware that this was only happening due to his inferior equipment.

 Chapter 538: Endurance

    <h4>Chapter 538: Endurance</h4>


    Gu Lan relied solely on its reflection ability to contend with Big Cat, but the Lion-Tiger Golden Force had not only repulsion but also absorption. The absorption ability could counter the zed ss n''s ability to some extent. If Big Cat didn''t attack directly, he could absorb Gu Lan''s bloodline power and strike at empty space, continuously depleting Gu Lan''s bloodline. What then?


    The problem was that Gu Lan''s equipment was so overwhelmingly superior that Big Cat couldn''t even reach Gu Lan and use the absorption effect directly.


    The leader of the Golden Lion n was in the VIP seats, watching this scene with a flickering gaze, his broad lion paws opening and closing restlessly.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Big Cat was knocked flying again, spitting out another mouthful of blood. The heavy sword in his hand was already covered in chips and scratches from the continuous collisions. The lightning spear not only had a strong paralyzing effect but was also extremely sharp. This was why Big Cat didn''t dare let it pierce him.


    This time, Gu Lan did not pursue him. It had realized its problem. Despite appearing to have the upper hand in a series of attacks, it could clearly feel that its opponent, though steadily retreating, was not panicking in the slightest. Moreover, the Lion-Tiger Golden Force gave him incredible toughness. Despite Big Cat spitting blood multiple times, it was clear he hadn''t sustained any critical injuries.


    Meanwhile, Gu Lan''s own bloodline power consumption was not insignificant. It had to use bloodline power to activate its equipment, after all


    As expected of someone able to enter the finals, its strength andbat experience were undoubtedly substantial. During the group stage, it used the capabilities of its armor with exceptional skill. And the lightning spear in its hand, the Eye of the Thunder God, was indeed a divine artifact.


    Of course, divine artifacts had different levels, and the Eye of the Thunder God was not nearly as powerful as Mei Gongzi''s Celestial Plume, but it was still a divine artifact! Its paralyzing lightning effect had a defense-ignoring property. While not an absolute defense bypass, it rendered most defenses ineffective.


    Gu Lan had only revealed this divine artifact upon entering the finals today, aiming to swiftly advance to the top eight.


    When Gu Lan drew Big Cat as its opponent, it was quite excited. Big Cat was one of the rare contestants in the top sixteen without any backing. Although he had shown considerable strength in previous matches, hecked wide-range attack capabilities and divine artifacts, making him one of the easiest opponents in the finals.


    But what Gu Lan didn''t expect was the sheer strength of Big Cat''s Lion-Tiger Golden Force''s defense and resilience. Despite Gu Lan having the upper hand, it continuously took minor injuries, which were slowly draining its bloodline power.


    This couldn''t continue; otherwise, it��d risk being counterattacked and losing everything.


    Realizing its predicament, Gu Lan decisively stopped. It grasped the Eye of the Thunder God in its right hand, and the gemstones on its armor lit up one by one. Its massive bloodline power surged, infusing the Eye of the Thunder God, causing golden lightning to flicker around it.


    At the center of the Eye of the Thunder God, right where Gu Lan held it, was a gemstone, the core of the artifact. The name "Eye of the Thunder God" actually referred to this gemstone. It was said that an extraordinary divine lightning had been sealed in this stone by the power of an Emperor, and the stone was then set into the shaft of this spear.


    As bloodline energy poured into the gemstone, more and more power umted into the spear. Dazzling lightning illuminated Gu Lan��s translucent armor, making it shimmer brilliantly.


    One good thing about being knocked back was that Big Cat had a little time to get himself together. Gu Lan''s pause gave him a chance to catch his breath, and he made sure to use it; ny now, he had somewhat recovered from the paralysis.


    He didn''t counterattack while Gu Lan was gathering energy. Instead, he took a deep breath and stabilized his Lion-Tiger Golden Force.


    But deep in his eyes, a hint of red appeared, filled with murderous intent.


    Gu Lan kept its eyes fixed on Big Cat, not worried about an attack at this moment. If Big Cat attacked, it would just mean an even better opportunity. Its innate reflection ability would suppress its opponent, allowing it to unleash the full power of the Eye of the Thunder God and end the match.


    But Big Cat didn''t attack. Instead, he was also gathering his strength, just like Gu Lan.


    Gu Lan knew it couldn''t dy any longer. When it saw the hint of red in his opponent''s eyes, it felt a sense of unease.


    The Eye of the Thunder God had now transformed into what seemed like a bolt of pure lightning, emitting blinding golden shes.


    Gu Lan shouted, "Die!"


    The Eye of the Thunder God in his hand vanished, and the next moment, a massive bolt of lightning appeared before Big Cat.


    At that moment, he saw the blood-red light in Big Cat''s eyes suddenly burst forth.


    When Gu Lan saw the sudden surge of blood-red light, its heart seemed to skip a beat. As it was momentarily dazed by its opponent''s imposing presence, the lock on Big Cat that the Eye of the Thunder God had was broken.


    Big Cat��s figure flickered strangely. The Eye of the Thunder God seemed to pierce him clean through but then... the impaled figure dissipated! The real Big Cat had already dashed toward Gu Lan at lightning speed.


    He had dodged! He had actually dodged it!


    Throughout the prolonged battle, Gu Lan had repeatedly used the lightning spear to attack Big Cat, while thetter had always tried to block it rather than dodge, making it seem like hecked the speed to evade the Eye of the Thunder God.


    Yet when Gu Lan unleashed its strongest strike, Big Cat managed to dodge! Even before the red light appeared in his eyes, his body had already moved instinctively. The strange steps left behind multiple afterimages, and the only thing pierced was a shadow. The Eye of the Thunder God, having lost its spiritual lock-on, could no longer continue to pursue him.


    Blinding red light suddenly erupted from Big Cat, and in the next moment, he was in front of Gu Lan.


    Gu Lan quickly raised its hand and pressed the silver gemstone on its armor, intending to teleport and retrieve the Eye of the Thunder God.


    But Big Cat had been waiting for this moment for too long. How could he let Gu Lan escape just like that?


    "Roar��"


    A massive Lion-Tiger beast''s silhouette emerged behind Big Cat. As this roar echoed out, terrifying red light enveloped the entire battlefield, including Gu Lan.


    Gu Lan felt an intense, frenzied, icy killing intent hit its heart, causing its movements to slow down involuntarily. Meanwhile, Big Cat''s speed surged again. His heavy sword, imbued with Lion-Tiger Golden Force, came crashing down with unstoppable ferocity.


    At the critical moment, Gu Lan instantly activated its innate ability, and a halo of zed luster burst out.


    The zed ss n''s bloodline was rated as first tier precisely because of its reflection ability. No matter how strong the attack, it would be reflected with equal strength. Even if the zed ss Nymph was injured, the opponent had to consider whether they could withstand the same injury.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Gu Lan was struck by the sword head-on and sent flying. The silver gemstone on his armor was also struck off.


    Big Cat was hit by the reflected power and also sent flying, spewing a mouthful of blood.


    Gu Lan bore the brunt of the attack, but its armor mitigated most of it. Big Cat,cking such defense, could only use his bloodline power to absorb a small part of it. The impact still struck him hard.


    Gu Lan spat out a small mouthful of blood, both shocked and furious. The silver gemstone that enabled it to teleport was no longer usable, and repairing the armor would be quite costly. It was also injured by Big Cat''s powerful strike, which had prated the armor''s defense. Much of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force had been stopped by the armor, but a good part of it still impacted Gu Lan.

 Chapter 539: Advance, Big Cat!

    <h4>Chapter 539: Advance, Big Cat!</h4>


    Gu Lan was injured, but Big Cat''s rebound injuries had to be much worse. Such a frenzied attack was suicidal...


    Just as Gu Lan thought this, it saw Big Catnd. Blood sprayed from his mouth for who knew how many-eth time, yet he was already charging again! The incandescent light on his heavy sword was only growing brighter, and the blood-red in his eyes deepened. The blood aura covering the battlefield around them grew even more intense.


    <i>Is he crazy? He didn��t even take the time to breathe and steady himself... This is suicidal!</i>


    Gu Lan was shocked and hastily activated its bloodline power, using its reflection ability once more.


    <i>Boom��</i>


    Both were sent flying again. A crack appeared in Gu Lan''s armor, and Big Cat spat out blood yet again. The bacsh was so strong that his right hand was split open, and blood was flowing freely.


    However, the moment Big Catnded, he bounced up again, shifting the heavy sword into his left hand. With a fierce swing, he charged at his opponent once more.


    These shes were undoubtedly brutal, but precisely for that reason, the spectators were absolutely thrilled. It was ferocious, truly ferocious!


    Meanwhile, Tang San''s eyes showed a hint of admiration as he softly said to Mei Gongzi, "Big Cat has won!"


    Indeed. When Big Cat dodged the critical strike from the Eye of the Thunder God, Tang San knew hisrade was going to win.


    In this match, Big Cat''s victory wasn''t due to sheer strength but experience��rich battle experience. He made use of every single little opportunity to turn the tide and achieve victory.


    Had it been a battle of pure strength and bloodline abilities, Big Cat could still have won, although it would��ve been a difficult match. He had an advantage in that the Lion-Tiger Golden Force was able to counter the reflection ability to some extent. But Gu Lan also had its armor and a true divine weapon; the poorly equipped Big Cat stood practically no chance in a sh like that.


    Therefore, Big Cat chose another path.


    When Big Cat sensed the formidable threat of the Eye of the Thunder God, he chose to endure. He used the Lion-Tiger Golden Force more for defense than offense. This was why Gu Lan felt it had been suppressing its opponent yet at the same time couldn''t truly deal a critical blow to Big Cat.


    The zed ss Nymph Emperor was known for its manifold abilities, hence the title of Thousand-Faceted, and its descendants naturally inherited itsbat style. But as Big Cat stood on passive defense, letting himself be pushed back by the opponent, he carefully observed Gu Lan''s fighting style.


    Just as Tang San had pointed out to Mei Gongzi, Big Cat realized that while his opponent''s weapon and strength were formidable, theycked the overwhelming explosive power to deliver a decisive blow. This made him more determined to endure and continuously withstand his opponent''s attacks in order to wear it down.


    It was painful, and this time, his injuries were in no way an act. He was indeed badly hurt. But Big Cat also discovered two things in the process. First, each time he got hurt, his killing intent grew stronger. Second, under this stimtion, his physical strength and bloodline power increased. As his bloodline power was forcefully activated beyond its limits, his recovery rate also increased.


    This was the inherent effect of the God-Killing Domain. With this realization, Big Cat felt more confident; he thus grit his teeth and endured until his opponent sensed something was wrong and decided to end it all in one full-power strike.


    By then, his God-Killing Domain had long been ready to erupt. When the Eye of the Thunder God burst forth, his killing intent surged, forcibly severing Gu Lan''s connection to its weapon. While Big Cat couldn''t handle the Eye of the Thunder God directly, he managed to disrupt Gu Lan''s connection to it. His strange footwork, naturally, came from Tang San''s teachings: Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.


    His richbat experience told him that baiting his opponent intounching an all-out strike was the best opportunity for him, and his decision turned out to be the perfect one.


    In an instant, he turned the tables, preventing his opponent from reiming the Eye of the Thunder God or teleporting away. What followed was a head-on sh, which was Big Cat''s forte.


    Though his opponent had strong defenses and therefore fared somewhat better when they collided, each time Big Cat took a severe rebound hit, his God-Killing Domain only grew stronger. Outwardly, it suppressed his opponent; inwardly, it stimted his own potential. Thus, each of his attacks grew heavier and fiercer.


    He wasn''t thinking about how he would handle the next match if he was severely injured; his only focus was on winning this fight. Driven by the killing intent swirling in his heart, he saw only the opponent in front of him. Each strike of his heavy sword was stronger than thest.


    <i>ng!</i>


    On the sixth sh, where both sides were grievously injured, Big Cat''s heavy sword could no longer withstand the intense impact and shattered into pieces, leaving a deep wound on his shoulder.


    But he did not stop attacking. Now that he had no weapon, he resorted to his fists.


    Gu Lan waspletely stunned by its opponent''s relentless attacks. Its valuable armor was now heavily damaged, while its opponent, who looked like a blood-soaked monster, continued his frenzied assault. The armor''s defensive power was waning and Gu Lan��s injuries were worsening, yet its opponent''s attacks grew increasingly fierce and relentless.


    Seeing Big Cat''s ferocious face, Gu Lan finally began to feel fear.


    It could feel cracks forming in its zed ss body, and the effectiveness of its reflection ability was diminishing. The zed ss Nymphs�� ability required their body to be intact for optimal performance.


    Once a gemstone is cracked, it��s no longer valuable.


    Gu Lan��s power waned, allowing more of its opponent''s attacks to strike true.


    <i>This guy is a lunatic!</i>


    <i>Boom��</i>


    Both were once again sted apart by the rebound.


    This time, the glow of Gu Lan''s armor hadpletely dimmed. Big Cat''s tiger ws had torn open gashes on its chest, exposing the translucent "flesh" beneath.


    Meanwhile, Big Cat''s already injured right hand waspletely fractured due to the reflection ability. And yet he did not stop!


    "AARGH!"


    As soon as hended, he didn''t even stop to catch his breath before charging again, now with his left paw. The madness in his attack sent a wave of bloodthirsty aura straight to Gu Lan''s mind.


    The intense killing intent finally touched the most cowardly part of Gu Lan''s heart.


    "I surrender, I surrender!" Gu Lan shouted.


    The referee, a Great Demon King who had been waiting nearby, immediately stepped in. With a wave of his hands, a gentle force wrapped around Big Cat, pulling him aside and neutralizing the attack.


    Gu Lan copsed to the ground, gasping for air. In terms of injuries, he was definitely not doing anywhere near as bad as Big Cat, but that was irrelevant. His spirit was broken.


    At the same time, Big Cat��s right hand and forearm were fractured; he had six or seven broken ribs in his chest, severe internal injuries, and his eyes werepletely bloodshot. His body was drenched in his own blood, but his ferocious aura had only intensified.


    As Tang San had predicted, the God-Killing Domain in the hands of a true warrior like Big Cat was much like the proverbial wings given to a tiger.


    This was Big Cat''s first time using the God-Killing Domain on the battlefield, and yet he was instantly able to make best use of it. He didn''t let the God-Killing Domain explode immediately; instead, he let it simmer within, constantly stimting himself and making his body stronger under the influence of the killing intent. This allowed him to endure until now, pushing his opponent to the brink with sheer killing intent.


    The referee Great Demon King personally supported Big Cat, raising his still-intact left hand high. "Big Cat of the Lion-Tiger n wins!"


    He didn''t even bother to look at Gu Lan. A contestant who showed cowardice and didn''t fight to the end was not worth his attention.

 Chapter 540: Golden Lion King

    <h4>Chapter 540: Golden Lion King</h4>


    Gu Lan sat dazed on the ground, not even bothering to pick up its Eye of the Thunder God. Its expression was a mixture of emotions. This battle had not only cost it the chance to advance into the finals, but also shattered its fighting spirit. Yet looking at its blood-soaked opponent, it felt an overwhelming fear that eclipsed even the massive sense of humiliation. It was pure, unadulterated fear.


    Big Cat had won, securing this crucial victory and bing the first contestant in the top sixteen to advance to the quarter-finals. Of course, to achieve this, he had paid a huge price.


    He had been quite badly beaten during the group stage, yet when everyone thought he would be the weaker one, he disyed even greater strength and defeated the opponent in the round of sixteen. Who was to say he wouldn''t do the same in the quarter-finals and fight with even greater strength than before?


    <i>Roar��</i>


    Big Cat roared toward the VIP seats where the lion and tiger demons were seated. Although the roar caused more blood to gush from his wounds, he didn''t care. At this moment, the pent-up frustration from many years seemed to bepletely released, leaving him with a sense of exhration and rity. To him, his injuries were insignificantpared to this newfound sense of enlightenment, which clearly marked the fact that he had reached an entirely new level.


    The first match of the round of sixteen was exceptionally brutal, with both sides sustaining heavy injuries. The winner, against all expectations, was the Lion-Tiger n contestant��not the rich and powerful one, but the one without any backing. This was undoubtedly an unexpected upset, but it was also unquestionable that Big Cat had now firmly ced the Lion-Tiger n on the historical stage of the demon and nymph races. This was a match witnessed by Emperors, after all!


    The arena was cleared, and both contestants left the stage.


    As Big Cat walked off the stage, the effects of the God-Killing Domain began to fade, and intense weakness apanied by severe pain started to set in.


    Tang San was already waiting for him at the exit, but he wasn''t alone. There was also a burly male with long golden hair standing there.


    As Big Cat walked down the stage with the help of the staff, Tang San turned to the burly man with golden hair beside him and asked, "n Leader, are you satisfied with my choice for your n?"


    The man beside him was none other than the leader of the Golden Lion n, the Golden Lion King.


    The Golden Lion King had arrived toward the end of the match, apanied by the same Golden Lion who had conducted the auction for the God-ying Sword at the Ancestral Court''s grand auction.


    When thetter saw Asura, he knew why thetter was waiting there. The human had fulfilled his promise.


    During the auction, Asura had promised to bring a capable sessor for the God-ying Sword to the Golden Lion n within seven days. But when they met afterward, he told the Golden Lion that his partner, the one who would wield the God-ying Sword, would participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament. What better way to prove his worthiness than through the tournament?


    Naturally, the Golden Lion n had been watching, observing each of Big Cat''s matches. As they saw Big Cat defeat strong opponents and advance step by step, they became genuinely interested. After all, despite Big Cat being a Lion-Tiger, he carried the blood of the Golden Lion n. Their initial rejection of Big Cat''s Lion-Tiger heritage gradually turned into recognition with each of his victories.


    When Big Cat sessfully advanced to the top sixteen, the Golden Lion King had no doubts that he was qualified to inherit the God-ying Sword.


    However, Big Cat''s identity as a member of the Lion-Tiger n still made the Golden Lion n wary. After all, this involved the tiger demons as well. Fully supporting Big Cat would mean acknowledging and even aiding the Lion-Tiger n, allowing them to join.


    The lion and tiger races were different. The tiger race had the towering presence of the White Tiger Demon Emperor to hold the fort. Meanwhile, the lion demons couldn''t afford another failure, or they would truly fall into decline.


    But after witnessing today''s battle and seeing Big Cat defeat Gu Lan with his immense strength and battle experience, the Golden Lion King had no more hesitation.


    He was a straightforward person. Now that he had made an official decision, he didn��t wait a single minute longer than necessary.


    The Golden Lion King nodded to Tang San and said, "Our n will reward you generously. Big Cat, I am Gong Wudi, the leader of the Golden Lion n."


    Thetter part was directed at Big Cat, and the n leader''s expression was solemn yet tinged withplexity as he looked at the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint.


    Big Cat was filled with mixed emotions as well.


    He had personally experienced the indifference of the lion and tiger races toward the Lion-Tiger n; he had seen them ignore his n''s descent into near-extinction, treating them as cursed without a hint of sympathy orpassion. How could he not be angry? How could he not be in pain?


    Yet at this moment, he also felt immense pride. Through his own strength, he had made the foremost figure of the lion race acknowledge him and his legacy.


    Overwhelmed by these feelings, Big Cat was momentarily speechless.


    Tang San stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Big Cat is seriously injured. Let''s treat him first to avoid dying the subsequent matches."


    "Right." Gong Wudi nodded, signaling to the Golden Lion beside him.


    The Golden Lion who had conducted the auction handed a porcin bottle to Big Cat, saying, "This is our n''s sacred healing medicine, the Golden Pill. That should ."


    Big Cat looked at it but did not reach out to take it. His gaze was defiant, and despite his lower cultivation level, his blood-soaked presence made even the stronger Demon King feel a shiver of fear.


    Tang San stepped forward, took the medicine, and said apologetically to Gong Wudi, "n Leader, I will take him back to the rest area to begin treatment immediately to prevent his injuries from worsening."


    His match was the third one today, so there was still time. The round of sixteen was bound to take a while to conclude.


    "Yes," Gong Wudi nodded.


    Tang San then supported Big Cat, helping him toward the rest area. He had his own matchter, so he couldn''t take Big Cat back to the hotel, but Big Cat''s injuries needed immediate attention. Fighting someone so powerful and well-equipped could not be done with no consequences.


    Back in the rest area, Tang San helped the nearly unconscious Big Cat sit down. He first used his internal energy to seal off the blood vessels around the more severe wounds to prevent excessive blood loss, then took out the medicine bottle.


    There was only one pill inside, which to Tang San only confirmed that it was extremely valuable. It looked like a piece of gold and felt quite remarkable to the senses.


    He took it out and ced it in Big Cat''s mouth.


    Big Cat did not refuse the pill. Despite his deep-seated hostility toward the lion and tiger races, he knew that for the Lion-Tiger n to truly grow, it was necessary to mend that rtionship.


    "Thank you," he said.


    The moment he swallowed the pill, his bloodline power instantly felt thicker, and his aura recovered somewhat.


    "Why thank me?" Tang San smiled. "Rest well. In the next match, you probably won''t have to go on stage bare-handed."


    With the Golden Lion King personally recognizing Big Cat''s abilities today, it meant Big Cat would be allowed to wield the God-ying Sword. Having that divine weapon in hand would undoubtedly make Big Cat even more formidable.


    Big Cat weakly raised his left hand and lightly pounded his chest, expressing that words were unnecessary; everything was understood. Then he closed his eyes and used his bloodline power to activate the pill''s healing properties.

 Chapter 541: Tang San鈥檚 Turn

    <h4>Chapter 541: Tang San��s Turn</h4>


    Seeing that Big Cat was now in stable condition, Tang San stood up.


    Mei Gongzi came to his side and said, "Big Brother, go and handle your match. I''ll watch over him."


    The second match of the round of sixteen was underway, and Tang San''s match was the third, so he needed to head to the waiting area.


    "Okay." Tang San nodded and turned to leave.


    Mei Gongzi''s voice came from behind, "Good luck... and be careful."


    Tang San turned back with a smile, giving her a thumbs-up before heading toward the waiting area. Big Cat had advanced to the quarter-finals; now it was his turn.


    He went into the waiting area and silently waited for his turn topete.


    At this moment, the second match was in full swing. From Tang San''s position, he couldn��t see what was going on due to the height of the battle stage, but he could see countless flickering lights and feel the surging bloodline power on the stage.


    It was clear that the sh between the two contestants had reached a fever pitch. It was only natural; at this stage, thepetitors�� fighting spirit was more intense than ever. Making it to the top sixteen was already a significant milestone, but havinge this far, who wouldn''t want to advance further under the watchful eyes of the Emperors?


    The top sixteen and the top eight were entirely different things, as were the top eight and the top four. As for those who reached the finals and the one among them who took the championship, they would undoubtedly draw the attention of all the Emperors, to the point where they might fight for the allegiance of the champion. If not for this, how could a divine weapon like the Eye of the Thunder God appear on stage?


    The reason Big Cat could make the Golden Lion King personallye to greet him was that he could defeat an opponent who had a divine weapon without using one himself, which fully demonstrated his immense strength and potential. This gave the Golden Lion King hope��maybe one day an Emperor would rise that would support his n.


    Tang San focused his mind, but it was not in order to actively sense the situation on the stage. Instead, he closed his eyes to rest and focused on himself.


    The only item he had that could truly be called a divine item was the Spacetime Beacon. However, he wouldn''t use it in front of the Emperors. If they discovered its true function, they might confiscate it. Since he was a human with no backing, any of them could simply act without hesitation.


    So, what other weapons could he use? Not many. Even Sky Shatterer was insufficient for this level ofpetition. Now that he was fighting the top sixteen elites of the continent, he had to assume his opponents would have at least one divine weapon.


    Without a divine weapon, he had to rely on his own strength. With the Emperors watching, it was even more challenging to conceal his abilities while still winning the match.


    First, he definitely couldn''t use the Discerning Eye of Heaven, including the Pr Luck Domain. Under the watchful eye of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, any use of these abilities would be immediately noticed.


    He had used the Golden Roc Transformation before. Although it had evolved after absorbing the Wind Dragon''s bloodline, it was still fundamentally the same and could be used without much concern. The Lion-Tiger Transformation was the same. These two abilities had been at the core of his tactics in previous battles. Could he reveal a third bloodline now? That would certainly not be optimal.


    The yin-yang energy vortex was hidden and extremely hard to detect, but it couldn��t be used directly. But then, if his opponent was too strong and he couldn''t win with just the Lion-Tiger and Dragon Roc Transformations, which ability was he supposed to use?


    There were only two options left: time and space.


    Over this period, Tang San''s overall strength had significantly increased. In addition to reaching the ninth order, his bloodline imprints had also made great strides. But he had to figure out the optimal way to use his newfound power in directbat, and since he was not at that stage just yet, he really might have to reveal a new ability.


    Although he didn''t particrly value the individualpetition, and he was still fully intent on letting either Big Cat or Mei Gongzi win, a favorable draw meant that he could clean up some of their opponents and be more certain that they would advance.


    As he gradually came to a decision about his course of action, the intense bloodline fluctuations on the stage gradually subsided. The second match of the round of sixteen had concluded.


    Tang San��s eyes narrowed. He had elevated his internal energy, spiritual energy, and physique to their peak. His divine consciousness was retracted, carefully hidden in the depths of his sea of consciousness under a powerful shield of spiritual power.


    For today''s battle, he would need to disy some genuine power, but not <i>that</i> part of his genuine power.


    A staff member approached him, signaling him to wait. The contestants from the previous match were exiting from the other side, and the stage needed some cleaning and fixing to ensure it was ready for the next match.


    At that moment, Mei Gongzi''s voice came through his earpiece.


    ��Big Brother, good luck!


    "Don''t worry," Tang San replied softly. Knowing that Mei Gongzi was watching filled him with determination.


    After about five minutes, the staff signaled that he could step onto the stage.


    The third match of the round of sixteen��Tang San''s turn!


    With steady steps, maintaining a consistent rhythm, Tang San slowly walked onto the stage.


    He immediately became the focus of everyone''s attention.


    Today, there was only one stage, so all the spectators, including the Emperors, were watching the same match.


    Although he didn''t know how many Emperors were present in the VIP boxes, he knew that this was the greatest gathering of powerful beings on the entire Daemon Continent.


    As he stepped onto the stage, Tang San felt a surge of exhration. After more than a decade in this world, he was finally standing on its highest stage, under the gaze of its mightiest beings. At that moment, he stood tall, his bearing elegant yet proud��a pride that belonged to humanity.


    <i>Demons and nymphs treat humans as mere pawns. But from today onward, the tide will turn. In the future, I will make all of them witness my strength. One day, I will lead humans to stand at the pinnacle and rival the demon and nymph races."</i>


    ***


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor sat in his VIP room, calmly observing the matches outside.


    As Tang San took the stage, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor��s attention immediately focused on him.


    <i>"This is the one favored by the Crystal. Since when did that person favor a human? But I have to admit, the choice is indeed impressive. A human making it to the top sixteen in the individualpetition is unprecedented."</i>


    He had all of Tang San''s past records. Upon discovering Tang San''s connection with the Crystal Demon Emperor, he had specifically reviewed them, finding this human quite intriguing.


    This human''s fortune appeared strange to him, fluctuating between strong and weak, elusive and erratic.


    But just as Tang San stepped onto the stage, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was momentarily dazed. He seemed to glimpse an explosive surge of fortune, but it flickered briefly and then vanished silently as if it had never appeared.


    "This human is truly unique," mused the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    At his level, with his massive power and centuries of life, very few things could pique his interest. After all, he could be considered the foremost figure in the Ancestral Court. The Crystal Demon Emperor or the Sunborne Nymph Emperor might be more powerful inbat, but in terms of influence, they were leagues behind him. A human capturing his attention would certainly be a point of interest to the other Demon Emperors.


    As for what kind of being Tang San was... Some of the audience definitely assumed he was from a powerful demon or nymph n, but how could an Emperor not know better? For the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, just one nce was enough to tell that Tang San was a true-blue human.

 Chapter 542: Ji Guanlin

    <h4>Chapter 542: Ji Guanlin</h4>


    Tang San naturally knew that he was the center of attention at this moment, but his focus was already on his opponent across the field.


    Seeing this opponent, Tang San''s pupils contracted slightly. Enemies really walked the same narrow path, and they were bound to meet whether they wanted to or not.


    Where did his Wind Dragon bloodlinee from? It was obtained when he severely injured the Wind Dragon contestant with his yin-yang energy. But that Wind Dragon was not alone; he had a teammate, a female from the Immortal me Phoenix n.


    When the match ended, the Immortal me Phoenix had bitterly threatened him and Mei Gongzi, saying they would meet again in the individualpetition. Unexpectedly, in the first match of the top sixteen, he was actually facing her.


    During the draw earlier, Tang San had been wholly focused on how to deal with the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor and hadn''t paid much attention to the other contestants. Only now did he realize whom he was up against.


    "We meet again."


    Although they were separated by hundreds of meters, he could hear her voice with perfect rity. He smiled calmly. "Yes, we meet again, and it��ll end up in the same way."


    The Immortal me Phoenix replied coldly, "I hope your strength is on par with your bber."


    As she spoke, she raised her hand and pressed it against her forehead.


    In the next moment, three golden lines emerged from her be, extending upward into her hairline. Her red hair was instantly dyed with ayer of gold, and it surged and flew like dancing golden-red mes.


    At the same time, her eyes also turned golden-red, and a scorching aura burst out instantly.


    Seeing those golden lines, Tang San''s expression became serious. He understood that this was simr to Mei Gongzi''s Peacock Crown.


    In the Peacock Demon n, what did the Peacock Golden Crown represent? It represented the qualification to inherit the Peacock King title in the future! It was a manifestation of a powerful bloodline, and so its appearance on a member of the Immortal me Phoenix n naturally implied a simr situation. Moreover, the changes in her case were more evident than what happened with Mei Gongzi, which meant that her bloodline power was likely among the greatest in the Immortal me Phoenix n.


    Tang San was even somewhat relieved that when facing their wind-firebination earlier, he had chosen to severely injure the Wind Dragon with a sacrificial strike. Otherwise, if this opponent had fully disyed her strength, it would have been a real pain for them.


    What Tang San didn''t know was that his opponent was not only a leader among the young generation of the Immortal me Phoenix n, but <i>the</i> leader. Her name was Ji Guanlin, and she had been designated to be a sessor of the Undying Demon Emperor!


    To be designated as a sessor naturally meant inheriting the title of the Undying Demon Emperor and bing an Emperor herself. This showed just how extraordinary her talent was.


    She had always been nurtured with the best resources in the n and given the best support. However, Ji Guanlin had shown not only exceptional talent since childhood but also a strong rebellious streak.


    As it often happens with talented people, her personality was proportional to her talent.


    In theory, her future spouse had to be from the same n, in order to ensure the purity of her bloodline and the strength of her offspring. As a direct bloodline inheritor of the Undying Demon Emperor with an extremely strong bloodline, this was not just a rmendation but her duty.


    But that was not the case. During one of her journeys, she met that Wind Dragon contestant, and the dragon and the phoenix quickly fell in love.


    It was said that the union of Dragon and Phoenix was a good omen. Both were extremely powerful races with strong genes, and their future offspring would unquestionably inherit remarkable talents from either side.


    But the problem was that Ji Guanlin was no ordinary Immortal me Phoenix! She was designated as the next sessor of the Undying Demon Emperor. There could be no mistakes; how could her spouse be from another n? Moreover, the Wind Dragon n was not particrly strong among the dragon ns. Had it been a member of the Fire Dragon n, the Immortal me Phoenix lineage might have found it more eptable.


    This caused a huge uproar in the Ancestral Court, almost leading to a sh between the dragon and phoenix races.


    But Ji Guanlin''s personality was extremely strong. Naturally, she wouldn''t have been selected as a future Undying Demon Emperor if she wasn''t strong-willed. She was determined to be with the Wind Dragon youngster; she was willing to give up her session rights for him, and she even threatened to take her own life.


    Thus, she was severely punished by the Immortal me Phoenix n, not only stripped of her inheritance rights but also expelled from the Immortal me Phoenix lineage. Another descendant with the Phoenix Golden Mark was chosen as the sessor.


    Naturally, Ji Guanlin was greatly dissatisfied with this. In her view, the one who reced her was inferior in talent and strength, and her future potential was equallycking. Why could they rece her? But she had made her bed and had no choice but to lie in it.


    After leaving the Immortal me Phoenix n, she quickly realized that this bed was full of thorns. Without the n''s support, all her cultivation resources were cut off, and due to him being a direct cause for the conflict between the dragon and phoenix ns, her Wind Dragon partner also lost his support.


    This Dragon-Phoenix Pair had suddenly be a Dying Penniless Pair.


    This was especially tough for Ji Guanlin, who had grown up with only the best of the best resources from the Immortal me Phoenix n. The sudden drop in supply severely affected her cultivation speed. Based on her original progress, she should have had a chance to reach the tenth order two or three years ago. But until now, she still hadn''t tried to take that step. No matter how rebellious she was, she knew that tribtion crossing was not easy. The stronger the bloodline, the more dangerous the lightning tribtion, and a single mistake could be fatal.


    Therefore, she and her boyfriend, the Wind Dragon, came to participate in thispetition for two main reasons. First, because the doublespetition gave the Dragon-Phoenix Pair a significant advantage. Second, because the rival who reced her was also participating. She wanted to use her strength to prove to the Immortal me Phoenix n that she was the best choice for the sessor and reim her inheritance rights. She believed that if she won the championship, then no matter how displeased the n was with her previous actions, they would never let her be recruited by other Demon Emperors.


    At the same time, if they could achieve good results in the doublespetition, it would also convince the n that the Wind Dragon contestant''s potential was enough to give him the right to be their son-inw, and in all fairness, the wind-firebination was in fact incredibly powerful.


    However, things didn''t go as nned. Just when they were at the peak of their ambition, and the Wind Dragon had even given up the individualpetition to focus on performing well in the doubles, they encountered.


    They weren��t even able to make good use of the Wind-Fire Tornado.


    Ji Guanlin had been considering finishing them off with this onebination attack and hiding her strength for the finals. But Asura''s sacrificial strike and the Peacock Princess��s powerful spatial abilities forcefully broke through the Wind-Fire Tornado and severely injured her partner.


    To save his life, Ji Guanlin had topromise with Asura and the Peacock Princess, losing the match in an incredibly humiliating manner. And with that, they failed to advance to the finals of the doublespetition.


    It was only natural that Ji Guanlin hated Asura and the Peacock Princess to the core. She threatened them, reminding them that they would eventually meet in the individualpetition.


    During the draw, she saw them and silently prayed to face one of them. And her prayers were answered: she drew Asura. The opportunity for revenge hade.


    In terms of strength, Ji Guanlin was one of the strongest below the tenth order in the entire phoenix race. Her strength was indeed much greater than that of the Wind Dragon contestant. She had chosen him for his appearance and because his wind aided her fire. Did she regret it now?


    Deep down, she did.

 Chapter 543: Phoenix Fire Rain

    <h4>Chapter 543: Phoenix Fire Rain</h4>


    Without the support of her n, her cultivation speed significantly decreased. If this continued, her future chances of bing an Emperor were extremely slim. Thus, this Ancestral Court Elite Competition was the most important opportunity in her eyes. As long as she could win the championship or at least the semi-finals, even if her n still didn''t want her, she was certain that she would gain the favor and support of other emperors, who would provide her with enough resources for cultivation.


    The doublespetition was already lost; failure in the individualpetition was not an option. With old grudges coupled with a new purpose, how could she not be filled with intense killing intent when facing her enemy on thepetition stage?


    Sensing the terrifying aura of her bloodline, Tang San''s expression also turned serious. His opponent''s strength was so formidable that it would be challenging to contend with her if she used a divine weapon.


    To his surprise, Ji Guanlin actually didn��t take out any weapons. Instead, the blinding golden-red mes continued to rise and intensify as if there was no end.


    tinum-colored force burst from Tang San''s body; it was the Lion-Tiger Golden Force. A pair of radiant golden wings unfolded behind him��the same Golden Roc wings that had brought him victory in the previous matches.


    No one noticed the dense scales under the sharp Golden Roc feathers.


    Tang San suddenly soared into the air with a p of his wings, and his opponent also unfolded a pair of massive phoenix wings behind her. Compared to Tang San''s, her wings were muchrger, with a wingspan of over fifteen meters. With a powerful p of these wings, the golden-red mes turned half the sky the same color.


    The zing golden-red mes continuously devoured all the fire element in the air, and the golden lines on her forehead grew even brighter.


    In the sky, red clouds were faintly gathering, a clear sign of impending tribtion clouds. Ji Guanlin had clearly reached the absolute peak of the ninth order and was ready to undergo tribtion at any moment.


    In another ce, she wouldn''t dare to fight with all her might, as it could attract tribtion clouds, which would be a huge problem without proper preparation. But here, at the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, she didn''t need to worry about that. With so many Emperors present, tribtion clouds couldn''t do anything to her. The Emperors could easily disperse the clouds.


    Ji Guanlin let out a loud phoenix cry, and her massive wings pped violently. Instantly, countless golden-red light points shot toward Tang San.


    A closer look would reveal that these were golden-red mes shaped like phoenix feathers, filling the entire sky. Each golden-red feather looked almost tangible, and they spread out like an opening, directly enveloping Tang San.


    Tang San squinted slightly and instantly moved out. With a fierce p of his wings, his speed surged.


    After devouring the Wind Dragon bloodline power, his Golden Roc imprint evolved to the first tier. It improved the wings significantly in terms of both endurance, due to the dragon blood, and instant eleration, due to the increased control over wind.


    The sudden eleration produced a piercing sonic boom, and Tang San shot forward like a zing arrow.


    The rain of feathers was extremely dense; even the best flying skills wouldn��t allow the user topletely avoid it. But Tang San had no intention of doing that; instead, he used the repellent aspect of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force to deflect the Phoenix Fire Rain in front of him, heading straight for Ji Guanlin like a meteor chasing the moon.


    With his previous experience fighting the Scorching Sunflower, Tang San knew that when he was against opponents with such powerful bloodlines, he couldn''t let them fully unleash their abilities. The best way was to defeat them in the shortest time possible.


    However, as he rushed out of the fire rain''s coverage and charged toward Ji Guanlin, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.


    The feathers that should have been deflected or destroyed were in fact very much intact and clung to his Lion-Tiger Golden Force. Even stranger, the fiery feathers seemed to be generating an inexplicable force that pulled them together. It caused a chain reaction��the more feathers gathered in one ce, the more powerful this force seemed to be.


    Arge number of me feathers were now rapidly converging toward Tang San. He felt like a bird caught in a giant; his speed was continuously decreasing and his momentum weakening as he was surrounded by the scorching heat and more and more fiery feathers swept toward him.


    <i>What a powerful innate skill!</i>


    Tang San immediately understood the situation he was facing. Ji Guanlin''s move was extremely ingenious and incredibly powerful. The feathers appearing scattered was nothing more than an illusion; in fact, they were all connected. This most certainly required a tremendous amount of bloodline power, but the results were obvious to anyone. There would be no escape if he were caught by these powerful fire feathers imbued with Phoenix True Fire. What would follow was, undoubtedly, an even more violent attack.


    Keenly aware of the danger, Tang San made a quick decision. He suddenly pped his wings, slowing down together with the entangling fire feathers. Then, with one more p of his wings, he propelled himself in the opposite direction, fleeing away from Ji Guanlin.


    The fire feathers wereing at him from all directions, clearly meant to catch him in a cage. As he stopped abruptly and flew in the opposite direction, the feathers clinging to his Lion-Tiger Golden Force kept going with the momentum for an instant, then were drawn along with Tang San.


    The surrounding feathers also recoiled and converged toward Tang San once more. By the time he was a thousand meters away, a huge tail of fire was trailing behind him like the tail of aet.


    Seeing this, even Ji Guanlin was momentarily stunned. She had never seen an opponent doing something like this.


    This was the Phoenix Fire Rain, a secret technique of the Immortal me Phoenix n that was only taught to those like her, who had the qualification to be the sessor of an Emperor.


    It was an all-epassing wide-area technique that could control the flow of an entire battlefield, and once a number of feathers clung to someone, escaping was practically impossible. And once the enemy was enveloped by Phoenix True Fire, there could be only one oue: they would be reduced to ashes. This was why she had ignited her Phoenix Golden Mark right at the start.


    Tang San hadn''t paid much attention to her, but she had always watched Tang San and Mei Gongzi. She was, of course, wary of Tang San''s incredible flying speed. In terms of flight speed, neither the phoenixes nor anybody else really couldpare to the Golden Roc n. Moreover, Tang San had also demonstrated immense strength in previous matches. Thus, she hoped to restrict himprehensively right from the start.


    Even if the Phoenix Fire Rain didn''t burn him to death, it could at least damage his wings, preventing him from flying orunching a powerful attack like the one he had done during the doubles match. Mid-to-long-range attacks were the specialty of the Immortal me Phoenix lineage, and if she got the chance to strike, she would do so ruthlessly.


    However, Tang San''s extremely quick reaction thwarted her n. The Phoenix Fire Rain stuck to the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, and dozens of feathers were continuously burning Tang San''s force. Even if Tang San deactivated it, the mes would follow his energy into his body and burn him from within. They were extremely troublesome.


    But right now, this Phoenix Fire Rain could only follow behind like aet��s tail, unable to cling to him. As long as he kept flying, the fiery feathers could only follow him.


    Although the Phoenix Fire Rain was relentless, any energy detached from its source would eventually deplete. Tang San was expending physical effort to fly, while Ji Guanlin was using up her Phoenix True Fire.


    Suddenly, Tang San turned around in the air and instantly flew back toward Ji Guanlin, bringing the Phoenix Fire Rain trailing behind him.

 Chapter 544: Another Sacrificial Strike

    <h4>Chapter 544: Another Sacrificial Strike</h4>


    In the VIP part, a tall man with short golden-red hair saw this scene and couldn''t help but show a look of surprise. He muttered, "Well, that��s new. Who would��ve thought of such a method to get away from the Phoenix Fire Rain? Alright, Guanlin, let me see how you handle this."


    This man who had the right to sit in a room next to the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor��s was the third-ranked person in the Empyrean Dominion��the leader of the Immortal me Phoenix n and the King of Phoenixes, the Eternal Inferno Undying Demon Emperor.


    Ji Guanlin''s stubbornness back then had truly angered him, to the point where he even expelled his youngest daughter from the n. However, he was still her father, and Ji Guanlin had always been his favorite since she was young. If not for his indulgence, she wouldn''t have developed such a rebellious personality. But regret was toote; the Undying Demon Emperor could only hope that his daughter would mature through the hardships she faced outside.


    This Ancestral Court Elite Competition was a massive opportunity for Ji Guanlin, but nothing more than a stepping stone for her in the Undying Demon Emperor��s eyes. Although the other sessor''s qualifications were not much inferior to Ji Guanlin''s, that one was not his direct blood rtive. Even as a Demon Emperor, how could he not have his own selfish desires?


    Through her experiences outside, his daughter had clearly matured a lot. Although she hadn''t broken through to the tenth order yet, her foundation was extraordinary. And for a gifted heir like her, tempering was very important. It was quintessential for her future growth. As for that Wind Dragon, her so-calledpanion, it didn''t matter much in the Undying Demon Emperor''s heart. If she became an Emperor, who could stop her from being with him? In fact, what did it matter even if his daughter had ten otherpanions in the future? As long as she bore a pure-blooded descendant that could be her heir, that was enough for the n.


    Now that she had reached the top sixteen, Ji Guanlin had a real chance to showcase her abilities and prove herself. Although the Undying Demon Emperor didn''t believe his daughter could ultimately win the championship, as long as she could enter the top four, that would be enough. He could bring her back to the n at that time. In fact, he didn''t even <i>want </i>her to win the championship, because he knew Ji Guanlin too well. If she won, her pride would soar to an all-time high. A moderate setback like this would be good for her personality.


    Therefore, when he heard that their Dragon-Phoenix Pair had lost in the doublespetition, the Undying Demon Emperor was actually secretly pleased. The defeat proved the inadequacy of the Wind Dragon, and it was indeed because the Wind Dragon��s defenses had been breached and he had been severely injured that they had lost. This would inevitably cause his daughter to reconsider her rtionship with the Wind Dragon youngster.


    Indeed, no one knows a daughter better than her father.


    He had personallye to watch today''s match because he wanted to see how much Ji Guanlin had improved after these years of tempering outside.


    The eruption of Phoenix Fire Rain, with its powerful offensive and control, made the Undying Demon Emperor very satisfied. The Phoenix Fire Rain looked simple but was actually extremely difficult to execute. The most crucial part was that the Phoenix True Fire needed to be abundant; each fire feather had to be imbued with it. Phoenix True Fire was the real star of the show.


    What surprised him was this human youth''s strength. His control over his flight was at an incredibly high level, and the Undying Demon Emperor had never seen anyone do something like this to counter his n��s abilities. This made his expression turn somewhat grim. If other Demon Emperors with flying abilities faced him in the future, wouldn''t they be able to mimic this method to counter his Phoenix Fire Rain?


    Thus, he now hoped Ji Guanlin could deliver a heavy blow to Tang San, showing these people that the fire of a phoenix wasn''t just for show.


    In fact, Ji Guanlin was doing just that.


    As she faced the approaching Tang San, the massive wings behind her had shrunk to a third of their original size due to her use of the Fire Rain. But at the same time, the golden marks on her forehead had be exceptionally bright.


    Her eyes flickered with golden-red light, and she pped her wings violently. She didn''t retreat; facing Tang San''s charge, likely a sacrificial strike, she chose to confront it head-on. In an instant, she transformed into a massive golden-red phoenix, charging relentlessly at Tang San.


    This put Tang San in a situation where he was being attacked from both front and back. Once he collided with Ji Guanlin, the Phoenix Fire Rain following behind would engulf him instantly. As for Ji Guanlin, these mes were her own, so how could they bring her harm?


    At this moment, Tang San was once again in a disadvantageous position. The golden-red sky seemed to havepletely enveloped him.


    But as they were about to collide, Ji Guanlin noticed the look in Tang San''s eyes.


    There was no panic, only a chilling coldness.


    This coldness sent a shiver down Ji Guanlin''s spine, and her bloodline aura was momentarily suppressed.


    At that instant, purple-golden light burst forth from Tang San''s eyes. The blinding purple-golden light pierced Ji Guanlin''s eyes like lightning bolts.


    This was an instant mental shock, an unavoidable attack.


    Ji Guanlin felt her sea of consciousness surge violently, and half of her mes dissipated instantly. This attack was too sudden and too powerful.


    Tang San''s wings pped more vigorously, increasing his speed. Seizing this moment, he forcibly charged in. In an instant, they collided fiercely.


    Rushing forward, Tang San brought with him a gust of wind. In an instant, the force surrounding him seemed to change color. Before the purple-golden light in his eyes had fully receded, he was already in front of Ji Guanlin.


    His hands circled before him, and a strange power burst forth, creating a void in the Phoenix True Fire in front of Ji Guanlin. He pped his wings forcefully and propelled himself forward, then instantly folded his wings as he pierced through the curtain of fire. His right palm flew directly at Ji Guanlin''s chest.


    Everything happened in but an instant.


    No one had expected Ji Guanlin to suddenly lose control of her Phoenix True Fire. The spectators, including the nobles in the VIP seats and even the Emperors in the VIP rooms, all sensed Tang San''s powerful burst of spiritual power.


    At that moment, his spiritual powerpletely overpowered Ji Guanlin''s, unleashing an incredibly strong spiritual shock.


    Ji Guanlin, being a formidable warrior, responded to this shock with golden ripples emanating from the Phoenix Golden Mark on her forehead, quickly stabilizing her sea of consciousness. And even before it was fully stabilized, she activated her innate ability.


    Intense golden-red mes erupted��not outward but inward, causing her entire body to burn fiercely.


    When Tang San''s palm struck her chest, he felt an incredible heat. Even with the protection of the yin-yang energy and the resistance of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, he was still affected.


    Of course, Ji Guanlin didn''t have it easy either. Tang San''s palm strike included not only the yin-yang energy but also the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, along with a little bit of teleportation. Yes, after careful consideration, Tang San decided that if a third bloodline was to be discovered, the space attribute was the most suitable. After all, he came from Kali City, home of the Peacock Demon n, and participated in the doublespetition with the Peacock Demon n''s little princess. The most reasonable way for someone like him to have a third bloodline was, of course, from the Peacock Demon n.


    Therefore, when she ignited herself, Tang San instantly activated his spatial power, forcibly transmitting his attack''s force directly into Ji Guanlin''s body.


    At the same time, his wings spread open again, preventing him from plunging in like a moth into a me. Instead, he drew circles with his hands once more, using the Mysterious Circles of Heaven.

 Chapter 545: The Undying Demon Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 545: The Undying Demon Emperor</h4>


    The surrounding mes silently extinguished within the Mysterious Circles of Heaven. His technique didn''t have the sense of grand power that Mei Gongzi''s did, but it was smooth and efficient. It was not the moment for him to hide his divine techniques; if he got enveloped by the fierce mes, he would truly be in trouble. The space around him was distorted by the fire, making it hard to teleport, so he had no choice.


    As Tang San rushed out of the Phoenix True Fire''s encirclement, a loud phoenix cry echoed from Ji Guanlin''s position.


    Tang San''s internal energy circted at top speed, while the yin-yang vortex swirled inside him. It took considerable effort to extinguish the Phoenix True Fire on his wings, and his face was flushed, a sign of fire poisoning.


    Phoenix True Fire was extremely powerful, ranking even above the Scorching Sunflower Nymphs�� Sr True Fire. After all, although the Sunborne Nymph Emperor originated from the Scorching Sunflower n, it only had the strength it had because of mutations, while the Immortal me Phoenix n had multiple generations of Demon Emperors. In terms of heritage, the Immortal me Phoenix was undoubtedly one of the foremost on the Daemon Continent.


    Tang San��s internal energy operated silently, and the yin-yang vortex ground away at the fierce mes. The cycle of extreme yin and yang had be stable after continuous cultivation. Even if he was exposed to such extreme yang fire, he could still partially digest it. Additionally, after fusing with the Wind Dragon bloodline, the toughness of his body had greatly increased, and the invasion of the fire was not that profound, so even though he looked to be in trouble, the actual harm was minor.


    On the other hand, Ji Guanlin was not doing so well. The intense Phoenix True Fire burning around her fluctuated violently, even bursting into clusters of sparks, which indicated her unstable condition.


    When she activated her innate ability, Tang San instantly knew what she was doing. The Immortal me Phoenix n was named "Immortal" because their innate ability was Nirvana Rebirth!


    The phoenix could be reborn in true fire. Although it didn''t grant actual eternal life, as long as they still had Phoenix True Fire, they could go through a rebirth and heal even the most severe injuries.


    Of course, Nirvana Rebirth touched upon the very essence of life. Although it could be used repeatedly, the more it was used, the greater the cost.


    Ji Guanlin''s reaction was undeniably quick. When Tang San used his spiritual power to strike her, she sensed the danger. Although her spirit hadn''t fully recovered, her body instinctively used Nirvana Rebirth. During a phoenix''s rebirth, the surrounding Phoenix True Fire was at its strongest. This was naturally a defensive measure, but in this particr situation, it was also an opportunity to strike back at Tang San.


    However, Tang San''s had more fights than she��d had meals in her lifetime. Upon realizing her attempt at rebirth, he immediately ended his attack, used the Mysterious Circles of Heaven to neutralize the surrounding Phoenix True Fire, and quickly retreated, preventing her counterattack from seeding.


    Meanwhile, Ji Guanlin''s Nirvana process was far from smooth at this point. Tang San had used teleportation to inject a strand of yin-yang energy into her body at the critical moment when her rebirth was beginning.


    The yin-yang energy was extremely domineering. Once out of Tang San''s control, it naturally caused a violent conflict. Most importantly, Ji Guanlin''s Phoenix True Fire was of extreme yang nature. The sudden imbnce from the injected yin-yang energy caused her to endure agony simr to what her boyfriend had experienced before. It even affected her Nirvana process, leading to her bloodline power bing unstable and on the verge of exploding.


    One could see the distorted silhouette within the zing Phoenix True Fire, with mes surging and exploding into sshes of light rain, apanied by Ji Guanlin''s painful screeches.


    The spectators were all stunned. In particr, those who understood the process of an Immortal me Phoenix''s rebirth were dumbfounded. What had happened? What kind of attack did that Asura''s palm strike carry to cause a problem with the Nirvana Rebirth?


    The Great Demon King referee was in a dilemma. It was clear that Ji Guanlin was in a very bad state, but the match wasn''t over yet. If he stopped the match now, it would mean Ji Guanlin''s defeat. Although she had been expelled from the Phoenix Demon n, she was once the Undying Demon Emperor''s sessor!


    Thus, he instinctively looked toward the VIP room where the Undying Demon Emperor was seated.


    A sigh echoed, and in the next moment, a golden-red figure appeared out of thin air beside Ji Guanlin. A brilliant golden-red light pir enveloped her.


    Tang San immediately sensed that all the energy he had injected into Ji Guanlin, including the Lion Tiger Golden Force and the yin-yang energy, had vanished. Ji Guanlin had turned into a pure mass of Phoenix True Fire.


    Beside the zing golden-red fire pir stood a figure who appeared to be a middle-aged man. He stared at Tang San for a moment with a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Interesting little fellow."


    Just being gazed at by those golden-red eyes, Tang San felt as if his soul was burning. He instinctively lowered his head, forcibly controlling his restless divine consciousness.


    "Greetings, Your Majesty."


    Naturally, the one who intervened to resolve Ji Guanlin''s dire situation could not be any other than the Eternal zing Undying Demon Emperor.


    This top-tier powerhouse casually demonstrated his overwhelming strength. With a mere gesture, he incinerated all the foreign energies Tang San had injected into Ji Guanlin, leaving only the pure Phoenix True Fire.


    The Undying Demon Emperor said indifferently, "She lost. If you have time, you can visit my Immortal Pce. Indeed, you��re an interesting little fellow."


    With that, the golden-red light around him shed, enveloping Ji Guanlin, who had turned into mes, and they both turned into a stream of light, returning to his room.


    The mespletely receded just before they entered the room, as if extinguished. With the vision of his Discerning Eye of Heaven, Tang San faintly saw that the Phoenix True Fire Ji Guanlin had turned into was being taken into the sleeve of the Undying Demon Emperor.


    <i>He is indeed a top-tier being!</i> Although Tang San couldn''t sense with his divine consciousness, he could feel the terrifying energy fluctuations from the opponent. In a divine realm, this man would be a peak Second ss God!


    To cultivate to this level in an ordinary ne was truly astonishing.


    Only once this was over did the Great Demon King referee announce the result of the match.


    "Asura wins!"


    Tang San let out a long breath and nodded to the referee before turning to step off the stage. Red streams of air continued to flow out from his body; the fierce yang poison of the Phoenix True Fire was being slowly expelled.


    This match seemed easy, at leastpared to the previous two, but in reality, it was anything but easy.


    The key to victoryy in his instantaneous burst of the Purple Demon Eyes, using the Purple Extreme Divine Light to forcibly break through Ji Guanlin''s mental defenses and severely injure her sea of consciousness.


    Tang San''s greatest strength right now wasn''t any of his first-tier bloodlines but his spiritual power.


    His spiritual power had reached the peak of the ninth order for years now. After reaching this peak, his excess spiritual power had beenpressed, purified, and transformed bit by bit into divine consciousness. The process was incredibly slow, but it was nheless gradually restoring his divine consciousness.


    As his divine consciousness was strengthened, his control over his spiritual power naturally became stronger, which allowed him topress it more and more and therefore fit more of it in his sea of consciousness.


    Therefore, although his spiritual power had not transformed into divine consciousness, something that could only happen with the divine tribtion, he far surpassed other peak ninth-order powerhouses in terms of total spiritual power.


    In the previous matches, he hadn''t deliberately used his spiritual power inbat, so for Ji Guanlin, the strike of the Purple Extreme Divine Light was utterly unexpected. Moreover, at that moment, Tang San had also integrated his newly revived God-Killing Domain into the attack.

 Chapter 546: The Top Favorite Appears

    <h4>Chapter 546: The Top Favorite Appears</h4>


    The Purple Demon Eyesbined with the God-Killing Domain instantly broke through her mental defenses,pletely suppressing her on the spiritual level and giving him a chance to exploit.


    His yin-yang energy was still not particrly powerful, so if Ji Guanlin had been in peak condition, she could have kept it under control. However, her sea of consciousness was too chaotic, due to being exposed to Tang San��s unadulterated killing intent. Coupled with Tang San''s sharp spiritual power attacking from all directions, this killing intent paved the ground perfectly for the invasion of the yin-yang energy, making Ji Guanlin unable to resist and nearly causing her own Nirvana mes to burn her to death.


    The Undying Demon Emperor sensed the dire situation and had to intervene.


    As the leader of the Immortal me Phoenix n and a Demon Emperor, his word wasw. But even so, it was quite embarrassing to be forced to intervene and save his daughter, who had long been expelled from the n. Luckily, the same pride that caused him to feel embarrassed prevented him from simply smacking Tang San into the ground in front of everyone. And most importantly, when he took a moment to observe his daughter''s condition, he actually became somewhat interested in Tang San.


    Following Big Cat, Tang San also sessfully entered the quarter-finals, but he also exposed his powerful spiritual power.


    Of course, to Tang San, it was worth it. Without this sudden full-force strike, he would have had to pay a huge price to defeat Ji Guanlin once shepleted a Nirvana Rebirth. He might not have seeded even with the help of spatial abilities.


    What puzzled him was that Ji Guanlin, like Big Cat before, appeared in the battle in practically a beggar''s outfit, without any powerful weapons. The Immortal me Phoenix n was definitely not poor! How could their direct descendant, who made it to the top sixteen to boot, have no items to use?


    Of course, he didn''t know that Ji Guanlin was in this sorry state because she had been expelled from the n and all her treasures had been taken back, allowing him to gain this advantage.


    In any case, what mattered was that Tang San had defeated his opponent and sessfully advanced to the quarter-finals.


    As he stepped down from thepetition stage, he let out a long breath. Entering the quarter-finals, it��d only take one more win and he could join Big Cat in the semi-finals.


    Moreover, this match appeared rtively easypared to his previous three. Especially with Ji Guanlin disying such a grand aura, no one expected him to win so quickly, and it looked all the more effortless inparison. This would undoubtedly put great pressure on his next opponent.


    Tang San had another, more important reason to unleash his full power this time and no longer hide his spiritual power��to minimize his energy consumption in the match. He and Mei Gongzi had a doubles match tomorrow. If he got injured and couldn''t recover by tomorrow, how would he face the inevitably powerful opponents in the doubles match?


    Compared to the singles match, he valued the doubles match more. It was the match he and Mei Gongzi werepeting in together!


    Returning to the rest area, he found Big Cat still meditating in the lotus position but looking much better. All his wounds had stopped bleeding, and a faint golden light surrounded him, clearly a result of the pill the Golden Lion King had given him. His aura was stable; one more day of rest and he would be like new.


    Mei Gongzi came up to him, smiling. "You were amazing, Big Brother."


    Tang San smiled wryly. "Let me tell you, this really was pure luck. She didn''t know I was able to use spiritual attacks, so I took the initiative."


    "Alright, stop humble-bragging and let''s watch the next match. The winner will be your next opponent, after all. I remember from the draw earlier that the top favorite in thispetition is fighting next. He��ll probably win and you��ll have to fight him after that, so we must watch this one."


    "Oh? The top favorite?" Tang San was taken aback. He hadn''t really taken the time to learn about his opponents. He only found out who they were at the start of each match and then began to strategize against them. In a way, this was a show of confidence. After reaching the ninth order, could there be any opponent of the same cultivation that he could not contend with?


    This was the confidence of a former God King.


    But seeing Mei Gongzi''s serious expression, it was clear that the next opponent had to be extraordinarily powerful.


    In this Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, he had already encountered many strong opponents, especially those with first-tier bloodlines and Demon Emperor legacies. Each of them was tough to deal with and brought him considerable trouble. He had to use variousbat methods to face them and ultimately emerge victorious.


    Among so many powerful beings, what kind of strength would the one called the top favorite possess? Would it be significantly stronger than all his previous opponents?


    Even at the peak of the ninth-order, strength clearly varied. Ji Guanlin, who had just given him a lot of pressure, was a truly fine example. The purity of her Phoenix True Fire was incredibly terrifying. Even now, he was still expelling the fire poison from his body.


    In this forest of strong contenders at the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, to be recognized as the tallest tree, one''s strength had to be universally acknowledged. What kind of being would have that level of strength?


    At this moment, on thepetition stage, the fourth match was about to begin.


    Since Tang San and Ji Guanlin''s battle took ce in the air, it didn''t cause much damage to the arena, so there wasn''t a need for extensive repairs. Bothbatants had already stepped onto the stage.


    The first thing Tang San saw was an extremely burly figure, a familiar sight to him. It was from a race he had faced before.


    He would��ve been virtually indistinguishable from a human male if he wasn��t two and a half meters tall and a rather odd color. His bulging, steel-like muscles betrayed his extreme strength, and his hands were simply massive. The air around him was slightly distorted, a result of the immense power of his muscles. This showed just how terrifying his physical strength was.


    Although he was humanoid, Tang San immediately recognized him as a powerful member of the Behemoth n, undoubtedly the heir of the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor.


    Tang San had personally faced the might of a Behemoth before. In terms of sheer physical strength, even the dragon and phoenix races did notpare. The name Sky-Splitting was well-deserved.


    "Is it him?" Tang San asked Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi shook her head.


    <i>Huh? Not him? Then...</i>


    This Behemoth contestant was obviously stronger than the one Tang San had faced before. If it wasn''t him, then his opponent had to be truly terrifying, and that opponent....


    Tang San squinted his eyes, looking toward the other end of thepetition stage, several hundred meters away.


    Another contestant emerged there, looking even more humanpared to the Behemoth contestant. Standing about 1.8 meters tall, he had a slender and upright build. His fairplexion, handsome features, and ck hair neatly tied in a ponytail made him appear like a handsome human youth. His bright ck eyes were extraordinarily striking. He exuded no aura whatsoever, appearing just like an ordinary human who did not cultivate.


    Tang San was stunned for a moment. At first nce, he couldn''t identify the opponent''s race. One reason was the distance and the fact that he couldn''t use his spiritual power to observe from afar. Another reason was that the opponent had no discernible racial traits; even to a human, he looked perfectly human.


    "What race is he? Is he from a n we��ve dealt with before?" Tang San asked in a low voice.


    Mei Gongzi shook her head and said, "We haven''t faced anyone like him before. He''s from the Tenebrous Dragon n, and he is hailed as an unparalleled genius. The Tenebrous Demon Emperor once said that he is able to bring forth the night even at midday and reign over it as the Eternal Night Sovereign!"


    This young man was the heir of the sixth-ranked Eternal Night Sovereign, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.

 Chapter 547: Dark Domain

    <h4>Chapter 547: Dark Domain</h4>


    "The Tenebrous Demon Emperor often said that at the same age, he was not as good as his grandson. Yes, this is his actual grandson. His name is Meng Dede, and he has climbed to the tops of twelve Emperor Sacred Mountains and obtained tokens from all of them. He currently holds the most tokens among the younger generation. Once we reach the tenth order, we are no longer eligible to climb the mountains, so he is also regarded as the number one among the younger generation on the Daemon Continent.


    "Right now, there are fifteen Sacred Mountains, and the three he hasn''t climbed are the Crystal, Celestial Fox, and Sunborne Sacred Mountains. He couldn''t climb the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain because hecks fate-rted abilities. He attempted the Crystal Sacred Mountain but couldn''t ascend the final step. As for the Sunborne Sacred Mountain, he hasn''t even tried because his grandfather has a feud with the Sunborne Nymph Emperor and forbade him from going, fearing treachery. Otherwise, he��d be the one most likely in history to climb all the Sacred Mountains."


    He gained recognition from twelve Emperors, and he was only one step away from conquering the Crystal Sacred Mountain.


    That was indeed interesting.


    Tang San had the recognition of three Sacred Mountains, two of which Meng Dede had not obtained. However, he knew that the criteria for each Sacred Mountain varied. To meet the requirements of multiple Sacred Mountains and gain recognition from multiple Emperors, one had to possess extremely strong abilities in every respect.


    Of course, in the end, true strength was only proven on the battlefield, but even so, he was truly interested in this Meng Dede. Next, Meng Dede would face a Behemoth even stronger than the one Tang San had faced. This battle would reveal some clues, so it was worth his full attention.


    As Mei Gongzi exined Meng Dede''s background to Tang San, the fourth match of the top sixteen had already begun.


    "Roar��"


    The Behemoth let out an angry roar toward the sky but did not reveal his true form, instead charging toward his opponent in his humanoid shape.


    Terrifying power erupted with his first step, causing the ground of thepetition stage to copse and creating a ten-meter-wide pit. He shot toward Meng Dede like a cannonball, arms outstretched, sharp ws extending and gleaming with a dark golden sheen.


    The overwhelming pressure was palpable even to the spectators. His physique carried a sense of boundless, unstoppable force.


    Meng Dede appeared very calm. As the distance closed to two hundred meters, his clothes began to move as if stirred by a non-existent wind.


    At that moment, his eyes turnedpletely ck��there was no white, only deep darkness.


    He made a circr motion with both hands, pressing forward, and instantly, a ck hole with dark purple ribbons of light appeared out of thin air in front of him. It generated a powerful suction force, meeting the Behemoth''s charge.


    Having made it to the top sixteen, thetter was undoubtedly one of the best among the younger generation. Facing the ck hole, his charge did not slow even for an instant. His arms came together over his head and he shed down fiercely, sending dozens of meters long de rays plummeting from the sky towards the ck hole.


    The collision happened in an instant. Faced with the invincible Behemoth ws, the ck hole was torn apart. Strangely, the shattered ck hole transformed into purple-ck bands of light, spiraling up to entangle the Behemoth youth.


    At the same time, Meng Dede lightly tapped the ground with his foot, leaping into the air. A pair of ck dragon wings unfurled behind him, the scales standing up as he burst forward.


    Instantly, the purple-ck bands of light doubled in size, enveloping his opponent like an inescapable.


    But the Behemoth was not easily dealt with. He snorted coldly, his body spinning as he struck out with one w after another. Razor-sharp des erupted, tearing the purple-ck bands of light to shreds, with many more w rays shooting toward Meng Dede.


    Meng Dede did not dodge. Instead, more purple-ck bands of light danced out to meet the de rays. Although the rays could slice through the bands, they weakened during the process, and by the time they reached Meng Dede, they had dissipated into a gentle breeze.


    "What strong corrosive power," Tang San remarked in surprise.


    Indeed, the Behemoth''s de rays were incredibly sharp and powerful, but they were corroded by the power imbued in the purple-ck bands, dissolving during the attack.


    This ability indicated that Meng Dede had reached the level of merging with darkness! To control the darkness element to this degree, even during a daytime battle, meant he was truly a master of darkness.


    Moreover, it wasn''t just simple elemental control. When Meng Dede pped his wings, he clearly released domain abilities. The Dark Domain''s effect was straightforward: it enhanced the darkness element.


    However, with Tang San''s experience as a God King, he knew that the simpler the domain, the deeper the understanding of the elements it required, something even gods couldn''t always achieve. Such a domain might not seem strong initially, but it would evolve with the user''s cultivation, which was truly terrifying.


    Meng Dede''s ability to master such a domain at his age showcased his extraordinary talent. No wonder the Tenebrous Demon Emperor praised him so highly.


    At this moment, on the battlefield, the Behemoth attacked like a frenzied meat grinder, but Meng Dede was like a vast swamp. No matter how the Behemoth charged, he couldn''t break free from Meng Dede''s control. His dragon wings pped, not to engage in aerialbat but to generate endless streams of dark bands, covering his opponent incessantly.


    Pure darkness, pure corrosion. That darkness was like a vast, slowly enveloping the opponent.


    This was a confrontation between brute force and control. Meng Dede appeared perfectly calm, as if everything was under his control. He was not even showing signs of making an actual effort, yet despite the Behemoth''s powerful attacks, it could not break free from the encircling dark tentacles.


    On Meng Dede''s forehead, a faint dark purple halo surged, and waves of spiritual power expanded outward, guiding the darkness elemental energy. Even the ground of thepetition stage turned purple-ck under the invasion of darkness, bing like a swamp and making it difficult for the Behemoth to move. Undoubtedly, the arena would need significant repairs after this match before it could be used again.


    The Behemoth clearly sensed the danger. If this continued, his bloodline power would eventually be exhausted. Meanwhile, his opponent was continuously drawing in darkness toward the stage and was in fact consuming far less energy.


    The battle-hardened beast of thend understood that he could wait no longer!


    The dark golden color in his eyes suddenly deepened, and his body emitted a burst of golden light. Almost instantly, his humanoid form swelled, and countless sharp dark golden des erupted from his body.


    This was the signature ability of the Behemoth n, the w de Storm.


    Tang San had faced this terrifying attack before, and the w de Storm unleashed by this Behemoth contestant was undoubtedly even fiercer.


    The raging energy des tore through the very fabric of space, shredding the countless dark bands into pieces, which were then devoured by the spatial rifts.

 Chapter 548: Dual Domains

    <h4>Chapter 548: Dual Domains</h4>


    The frenzied energy des swept toward Meng Dede.


    In the face of this intense attack, Meng Dede still did not reveal his true form. He simply looked at his opponent with icy eyes, then raised his right hand and coldly uttered one word.


    "Wither!"


    In an instant, all the purple-ck bands of light turned bright purple, appearing to be dissolving. They then quickly turned from bright purple into pitch ck, plunging the entire area covered by the Dark Domain into a colorless abyss.


    Whether it was the sharp energy des or the spatial rifts they had created, they all seemed to copse and dissolve in that instant, withering and falling.


    Within a diameter of about two hundred meters, the surface of thepetition stage actually sank by a whole two meters!


    The dark golden color of the Behemoth suddenly darkened further, and even its fur began to lose its luster, bing curly andckluster due to the withering effect.


    "Rooooaaarrrr!!!"


    Meng Dede let out a dragon''s roar toward the sky.


    The withering darkness turned bright again��back to brilliant purple. In that purple world, he stood in the air like a heavenly demon, looking down at his opponent below.


    The massive Behemoth was sinking into the ground bit by bit, as the overwhelming purple rushed toward him madly. Having used the w de Storm, he was now in a weakened state. How could he possibly break free from this dark assault again?


    Tang San couldn''t help but gasp when he saw this development. "Second domain!"


    Yes, the transformation between purple and ck was clearly no longer the simple Dark Domain but another domain, Wither!


    The most terrifying thing was that Meng Dede''s two domainsplemented each other. Everything within the range of the Dark Domain withered even faster, and conversely, all that withered eventually turned into darkness, further reinforcing the domain.


    Now Tang San understood why the Eternal Night Sovereign, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, would say that Meng Dede could disy the power of an Eternal Night Sovereign even at midday. Indeed, with his level of mastery over his own abilities and two such powerful domains, not even the average tenth-order demon or nymph could be his match. If he reached godhood in the future, he would undoubtedly be an extraordinary existence.


    Most importantly, Tang San��s next opponent would be this young Eternal Night Sovereign, Meng Dede.


    The Behemoth contestant on the stage finally conceded. If he didn''t, his opponent might just strike the killing blow.


    The invincible beast of thend had lost the match without even making contact with his opponent. What a tragedy!


    But in the face of absolute strength and a remarkably talented opponent, words were meaningless.


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor was only ranked sixth among the Demon Emperors. If the Nymph Emperors were included, he might not even make the top ten. His grandson, on the other hand, was a whole different story. If Meng Dede managed to be a Demon Emperor in the future, the status of the Tenebrous Dragon line would be greatly elevated, far beyond its current sixth ce.


    Moreover, no other Emperors could hope to draw them to their side, since he was already the direct heir of a Demon Emperor.


    On the stage, Meng Dede, having defeated the Behemoth, showed no trace of pride. His expression remained unchanged, as if this was something only natural. In the next moment, he slowly turned around, looking in a certain direction.


    Many spectators followed his gaze and saw, in an inconspicuous area, a masked person. It was none other than the previous match''s victor, the one who defeated the Immortal me Phoenix, Asura!


    Meng Dede''s gaze was quite peculiar. Even from a distance, Tang San could see the look in his eyes��it was an expression of curiosity. No hostility, just pure, intense curiosity!


    In the next match, Tang San would face the top favorite of the individualpetition. And given the strength Meng Dede had just disyed, Tang San knew trouble wasing.


    Meng Dede''s Dark Domainbined with the Withering Domain had been too much for the Behemoth to break through. Could Tang San fare any better?


    Without a doubt, this was the strongest opponent Tang San had encountered in thepetition, bar none!


    In terms of element control, he surpassed even Mei Gongzi. The darkness element seemed to have be part of him, or rather, he had be part of the darkness. He was a true child of darkness. Defeating this guy with his current mixed abilities seemed almost impossible. In today''s match, the Behemoth contestant had lost without even forcing Meng Dede to reveal his trump cards. If Tang San fought like he had until now, Meng Dede would likely defeat him next, then Big Cat, and finally Mei Gongzi, to win the individualpetition.


    For the first time since participating in thispetition, Tang San felt a strong surge of fighting spirit and anticipation for a match.


    Mei Gongzi, who was right beside him, clearly sensed his change in emotions. Instead of being discouraged by his opponent''s strength, it seemed as though his fighting spirit was soaring!


    At this moment, Tang San seemed like a different person. Those around him could feel a sense of grandeur and strength emanating from him.


    Both sides stepped down from thepetition stage, and the repairing works began. Naturally, it wasn''t feasible to have ordinary workers do it, as that would take days. Several Demon and Nymph Kings with earth elemental abilities stepped onto the stage to quickly restore it. Although it wouldn''t look as good as before, it would be good enough forpetition.


    Perhaps influenced by the change in Tang San''s aura, Mei Gongzi was also filled with fighting spirit, as it would soon be her turn topete.


    Tang San and Big Cat had both defeated their opponents and advanced to the quarter-finals. How could she let them steal all the glory?


    "Big Brother, I''m heading to my match."


    Tang San brought his emotions under control and turned to Mei Gongzi with a smile. "Alright, good luck!"


    "You guys are so strong, but I will definitely make it to the quarter-finals too. Let''s meet in the finals."


    After saying this, Mei Gongzi turned and walked away.


    Watching her graceful figure disappear from sight, Tang San''s heart became unusually calm.


    Today''s victory, or rather his progress in the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, had gradually brought him onto the grand stage of this ne. Undoubtedly, there were many things about him that interested the various demon and nymph races. In the future, he would have to face many challenges alongside Mei Gongzi. He could no longer retreat, and he could no longer hide. He could only be stronger, as quickly as he could, if he wanted to be able to face all the changes and crises. In this world, strength was ultimately king!


    At that moment, sensing a change in the aura behind him, Tang San turned to see Big Cat had finished meditating and opened his eyes.


    He still looked a bit weak, but that would soon pass. Yet there also seemed to be something different about him; he had aplex expression on his face.


    "How are you?"


    Big Cat replied wryly, "Pretty good, my injuries have mostly healed. With a bit more rest, it shouldn''t be a big problem."


    "You seem troubled. Are you still holding a grudge against the Golden Lion n?"


    "It''d be impossible not to. After all, they and the other lion and tiger ns treated us in such a way that our n faced the danger of extinction. Since childhood, I have never considered myself rted to the lion or tiger races, nor did I think I would gain their recognition. I only feel resentment toward them. And when I wanted to be strong, it was just to show them whether our Lion-Tiger n is truly a cursed n or it is they who are blind to the actual truth."

 Chapter 549: Nethermoon Flower Nymph Clan

    <h4>Chapter 549: Nethermoon Flower Nymph n</h4>


    Tang San nodded and said, "If you don''t want to cooperate with them, then you don''t have to. Given your current position in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, they can''t do anything to you. Finding support from other Emperors is also an option."


    Big Cat gave another wry smile, shaking his head. "It''s toote. I''ve epted their favor, and it''s toote to regret it now. I didn''t expect that pill to be so precious."


    Tang San was taken aback. He immediately caught the meaning behind Big Cat''s words. "It has other effects besides healing, doesn��t it?"


    Big Cat nodded silently and said, "It purifies the bloodline... and turns it into a golden bloodline. I don''t know the exact value of this pill, but just imagine that it can evolve a normal lion or tiger demon��s bloodline! If the bloodline is not golden to begin with, the pill can make it golden, and if it is golden, it will be far more pure and powerful. In my case, the golden bloodlinees from a mutation, and not because my parents had one. That is the case for the entire Lion-Tiger n; after all, the golden ns value their bloodline greatly and only marry within the n. You wouldn��t see a Golden Lion and a Golden Tiger together[1].


    "What this pill did for me was not just increase the power of my bloodline; I can feel that the bloodline itself is much purer now. I thought it hit the absolute limit after you helped me fuse my dual bloodlines, but now, I am sure it can evolve even more. This gift is too significant, so much that I can''t back out now."


    Tang San''s eyes showed a hint of realization. "The Golden Lion King truly knows when to act decisively. To offer such a precious pill as a gesture of goodwill shows how much they value your abilities."


    Big Cat propped himself against the wall and stood up, letting out a long breath. "At this point, I have no other choice. So be it; this is also a faster path to improvement for me. After thepetition ends, I''ll go back and talk to them. I will do what I have to do for our Lion-Tiger n."


    Tang San nodded. "Whatever ns you have, wait until you be the Lion-Tiger Demon Emperor. By then, the Lion-Tiger n will truly be the ruling n of both lion and tiger demons. After all, you have aplete inheritance."


    "All of this is because of you. There''s nothing more to say. You are forever the benefactor of our Lion-Tiger n. Whatever you need, just say the word. Don''t hesitate. I''d go through fire and water for you."


    Tang San patted his strong shoulder. "Cut it with that benefactor talk. We are brothers."


    "Yes, we��re brothers!"


    Big Cat finally showed a smile. It was clear that he felt better now.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi stepped onto thepetition stage. As her stunning appearance graced the stage, the audience fell silent.


    The fourth match had been the quickest and easiest among the first three matches today. Meng Dede''s formidable strength left a profound impression on the audience. Even thend''s mightiest beast, the Behemoth, couldn''t touch the hem of his clothes, being defeated almost effortlessly by this mysterious Tenebrous Dragon��s dual domains. When Meng Dede''s match ended, there were already cheers for the champion. The top favorite certainly lived up to the expectations.


    With that, the first bracket was concluded.


    Now, Mei Gongzi''s appearance signaled the start of the second bracket matches.


    Mei Gongzi also left a strong impression on the audience. This princess of the Peacock Demon n, capable of controlling space, possessed extraordinary strength. She had reached the finals not only in the individualpetition but also in the doublespetition, so how could she not be? She also wielded the Peacock Demon n''s heritage divine weapon, the Celestial Plume.


    So far, only two pairs of contestants had entered both the individual and doublespetitions and reached the final stages. Tang San and Mei Gongzi were one pair, and the other pair included Meng Dede, who had just finished his match. It was clear that this Tenebrous Dragon intended to reach the finals and win bothpetitions.


    The draw for the doubles final stage had not yet been held, so nobody knew who would face Meng Dede''s pair. However, in the next round of the individualpetition, Tang San was sure to face this top favorite.


    Mei Gongzi stood calmly on thepetition stage, but behind that calm gaze was intense confidence. Big Cat and Tang San had both won their matches and advanced to the quarter-finals, which greatly motivated her. She firmly believed she could defeat her formidable opponent and advance to the next round.


    At this moment, her opponent had also arrived on the stage. This contestant was from the Solstice Empire, a nymph!


    Thepetition results showed that the nymph races were indeedgging behind the demon races in terms of individual strength. Most of the top sixteen contestants were demons. This one, however, was an exception.


    Standing opposite Mei Gongzi was another woman, shrouded in shadows and wearing a ck cloak, giving off a mysterious aura.


    Mei Gongzi had naturally obtained information about the top sixteen contestants from her father, so she knew exactly who her opponent was once the draw wasplete.


    This contestant was a descendant of the Earthshade Nymph Emperor''s original n��the Nethermoon Flower n.


    The Nethermoon Flower n and the Scorching Sunflower n were known as the two ruling ns of the Solstice Empire. However, their abilities could not be more different. The Scorching Sunflower n fought with the ferocious and yang-dominant Sr True Fire, while the Nethermoon Flower Nymph n''sbat style was more sinister and cold, excelling in closebat rather than the long-range attacks of the Scorching Sunflower n.


    The Nethermoon Flower Nymphs'' Nethermoon Sting was known as their most dangerous attack method. For Mei Gongzi''s opponent to reach the finals, her most dangerous attack method had to be truly dangerous


    The Great Demon King referee announced the start of the fifth match.


    "Begin!"


    No sooner had he finished saying that than the Nethermoon Flower took a step forward. Her silhouette faded in a strange way, as if she was merging into the shadows, and immediately disappeared. Where she vanished, shadows suddenly thickened and spread out, causing the entirepetition stage to darken as if all light were being swallowed.


    Mei Gongzi reached out with her right hand, and the Celestial Plume fell into her palm. She wasn''t worried about her opponent''s invisibility. She controlled space, and as her understanding of spatial power deepened, any spatial fluctuation was within her grasp. No matter how well her opponent hid, as long as there was a spatial disturbance, she could find her immediately.


    The cold shadowsyered upon each other, duplicating endlessly. The chilly aura flowed and swirled in the air. The ovepping shadows resembled thick fog, constantlyyering upon each other and advancing.


    The atmosphere turned eerie, and the temperature on the entirepetition stage rapidly dropped.


    Tang San watched intently. This was the first time he had seen a Nethermoon Flower in action, but he had often gone to the Earthshade Sacred Mountain to absorb yin energy and was very interested in the Nethermoon Flower n. If he wanted toplete his n for a transcendent bloodline in the future, the Scorching Sunflower n and the Nethermoon Flower n were the primary targets.


    The mysterious aura of the Nethermoon Flower n was cold and sinister, and at the same time seemed to hide terrifying power.


    But Mei Gongzi remained motionless, standing still as the overwhelming shadowy aura enveloped the entire arena and advanced towards her. She stood there like a statue,pletely unmoved.


    The shadow pressure drew closer and closer: two hundred meters, one hundred and fifty meters, one hundred meters...


    1. In 335-336, it��s actually specified that he is the progeny of a Golden Lion and a Golden Tiger and he has a golden bloodline from both sides of the family. ?

 Chapter 550: Battle with Nethermoon

    <h4>Chapter 550: Battle with Nethermoon</h4>


    At that moment, a ghostly blue spike silently appeared behind Mei Gongzi. Almost instantly, it sped forward like a sh of light, stabbing toward her waist.


    This ghostly light appeared very abruptly, attacking even before the shadows from the other side had reached full expansion.


    This caused the audience''s hearts to jolt, but in the next moment, they saw Mei Gongzi''s figure silently disappear under the attack of the Nethermoon Sting.


    Yes, Mei Gongzi also vanished.


    The ghostly blue spike shed and disappeared. The Nethermoon Flower did not reveal herself on the stage after the failed attack. Instead, countless ghostly blue lights began to appear among the dense shadows, as if they were the eyes of countless terrifying entities lurking within the shadows, ready to devour anyone. The shadows spread rapidly, seemingly about to cover the entire stage.


    At this moment, the sky suddenly brightened. Brilliant silver light illuminated the stage below, making the dense shadows look a bit brighter and more transparent.


    There were silver gates of light in the sky, neatly arranged side by side. Within each gate, mysterious silver halos swirled like vortexes. And atop these gates, Mei Gongzi''s figure reappeared.


    In an instant, as if pulled in by the spatial gates in the air, the shadows below surged upward, carrying countless ghostly blue spikes, sweeping upwards to cover everything.


    The silver gates of light swayed and twisted slightly. When the shadows rushed toward the gates with their chilling aura, they were silently vanquished. No matter how many shadows and ghostly blue lights attacked, they seemed to be swept into another world, disappearing without a trace, unable to leak out even a bit.


    But at that moment, a ghostly blue shadow suddenly appeared behind Mei Gongzi once more. Vine-like branches spread out and countless blue flowers bloomed; spikes shot out from their stamens, nketing the sky behind her.


    Mei Gongzi''s delicate figure vanished into the air like a popped soap bubble, causing the attack to miss. Meanwhile, the Nethermoon Stings that had pierced the spatial gates exploded, transforming into extreme yin energy that surged through the gates, causing them to disintegrate.


    It was an extremely high-level sh; bothpetitors were using their bloodline powers to the fullest to pressure the opponent and maximize their own advantages.


    One advantage that Mei Gongzi had was that her energy consumption was considerably lower than the Nethermoon Flower��s. At the same time, however, thetter��s extreme cold yin aura enveloped the entire arena. The yin energy was everywhere, and no matter where Mei Gongzi teleported within the field, she would be tainted by the extreme yin energy.


    For a while, Mei Gongzi''s figure kept flickering in the air, opening spatial gates to swallow the yin energy and Nethermoon Stings released by the Nethermoon Flower. On the other side, the ghostly blue shadows kept sweeping through, destroying the spatial gates, and the yin energy over the arena only grew colder and stronger.


    They seemed to be in a stalemate.


    Big Cat stood next to Tang San, watching the match. "I can''t tell who''s got the advantage right now. What do you say?"


    Tang San shook his head. "It''s hard to say, honestly. The Nethermoon Flower is very powerful. Although she doesn''t have the fierce attack methods of the Scorching Sunflowers, her yin energy will invade you invisibly. If it��s not handled properly, being tainted by this yin energy will be a massive problem. It��s the kind of insidious poison that umtes and gradually weakens the opponent. And since she''s daring enough to use such arge-scale technique, she must have some kind of divine item that powers her. Otherwise, the consumption of this extreme yin energy would be enormous.


    "Little Mei is using the teleportation ability of the spatial gates to transfer this yin energy out, continuously consuming her opponent''s bloodline power. Even with a divine artifact enhancing it, bloodline power has its limits. Every bit of yin energy consumed is one less bit she has. Both are looking for opportunities in this stalemate to deliver a fatal blow. Little Mei''s spatial attribute, in a sense, prevails over these extreme attributes. No matter what kind of attribute it is, the result is the same when faced with spatial changes.


    "In other words, from the looks of it, Little Mei still holds the upper hand. She also has a divine artifact, and her Celestial Plume has never fully unleashed its true power. I don��t believe it��s just about enhancing spatial control. After all, this is the heirloom treasure of the Peacock Demon n, which once produced a Demon Emperor."


    Big Catughed. "Your rtionship sure is progressing, you weren��t calling her Little Meist time. They say love makes you lose rity, but you''re seeing things clearly."


    Tang San smiled slightly in response. "It''s precisely because I care that I must see things clearly."


    As they spoke, the battle in the arena became more intense. The dense shadows had gradually turned light blue, with countless ghostly lights surging upward.


    The Nethermoon Flower''s true form did not reappear, while the gates of light in the air began to change. More spatial rifts appeared, and the ovepping spatial rifts collided fiercely with the dense shadows. The spatial gates swallowed the shadows and teleported them who knew where, while the shadows erupted to obliterate the spatial rifts. It seemed that both sides had entered a contest of bloodline energy.


    Mei Gongzi continued to hover in the air above the center of the stage, with the Celestial Plume in her hand constantly emitting silvery glimmers, causing spatial rifts to bloom in the air. It was as if she had created a forbidden zone in the sky, impervious to the surging cold aura.


    Through this method, she minimized the influence of the extreme yin energy. However, she did not press downward; the spatial rifts would dissipate after reaching a certain height due to the continuous impact. The stalemate persisted.


    Mei Gongzi remained calm andposed, her long dress fluttering. She looked like a fairy amidst the silver light.


    The yin energy below continuously consumed but quickly gathered again, seemingly endless.


    Surrounded by silver light, Mei Gongzi seemed to have entered a special state. Spatial energy gathered from all directions and flowed ording to her will, manifesting as spatial gates or rifts, blocking the surging yin energy. She seemed determined to exhaust her opponent, banking on the fact that thetter��s bloodline energy would be consumed first.


    As Tang San had predicted, Mei Gongzi had the upper hand in terms of consumption. Her spatial attribute used teleportation rather than absorption, so she didn''t need to counteract or process the yin energy within her own body. On the other hand, her opponent, the Nethermoon Flower, had to use extreme yin energy to break the spatial gates. This was an explosive method that required plenty of energy under any circumstances, and even more so considering that arge part of the yin energy was teleported away and only the leftovers shed with the gates and rifts.


    In this war of attrition, the Nethermoon Flower Nymph was at a disadvantage. Furthermore, the spatial rifts prevented the yin energy from reaching Mei Gongzi. Continuing in this manner, Mei Gongzi had a high chance of winning. With both sides supported by divine artifacts, the attribute suppression gave her the upper hand. Thus, she was in no hurry and had no issue continuing this way.


    At that moment, the mass of yin energy below suddenly copsed inward. The next instant, a massive yin energy tornado shot up into the sky, shattering the spatial rifts and shaking space itself as it swept toward Mei Gongzi.


    The Nethermoon Flower could no longer hold back.

 Chapter 551: White Tiger Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 551: White Tiger Transformation</h4>


    Facing the massive yin energy tornado, Mei Gongzi had no intention of confronting it head-on. With a wave of the Celestial Plume and a sh of silver light, she vanished again, unaffected by the space disruption caused by the tornado.


    Recently, with her deepening understanding of the space element, her control of space had evolved from tearing space to creating space. This evolution was crucial. So, when her opponent disrupted space to prevent her from teleporting, she used the Celestial Plume and her insights to create a spatial gate amidst the chaos, ensuring a stable teleportation. She had been researching how to calm down chaotic space and make it usable, and it seemed that she had made significant progress.


    The yin energy tornado missed, and the pervasive yin energy didn''t disperse again but rapidly converged and copsed inward once more. The extreme yin energy gathered in one spot, and soon, the chilling aura that had filled the arena condensed, re-forming into a human shape��the true form of the Nethermoon Flower.


    The reason she no longer continued to use her wide-area ability was that she realized Mei Gongzi would keep teleporting and eventually oust her. A war of attrition would ultimately be to her disadvantage, as her consumption was clearly greater than Mei Gongzi''s and would eventually lead to a loss.


    After weighing the situation, she immediately changed tactics, retracting all the extreme yin energy back to herself and reappearing in her true form.


    Both parties faced each other in the sky. The Nethermoon Flower raised her hands to her sides, each holding a ghostly blue spike. In front of her forehead floated a ghostly blue bead, like a third eye, emitting a chilling light.


    The Nethermoon Eye, a divine artifact of the Nethermoon Flower n, could condense and purify yin energy. It was a powerful auxiliary item. This exined why she had dared to generate yin energy so recklessly and also reim it quickly without wasting her bloodline power.


    Reaching the final stage meant receiving significant attention and support from her n. Unlike the expelled member of the Immortal me Phoenix n, this contestant was no exception.


    The ghostly blue light of the Nethermoon Eye gathered, and in the next moment, it moved. Blue light burst from her back, propelling her like lightning toward Mei Gongzi.


    She reasoned clearly that if she did not use wide-area abilities with high energy consumption, she could rely on the Nethermoon Eye to continuously restore her bloodline power. Even if the opponent kept teleporting to evade her attacks, at worst, the war of attrition would end in a draw. For the Peacock Princess to win, she had to engage in closebat, but the Nethermoon Flower innately excelled at closebat, and given the opportunity, she could slowly poison the opponent with yin energy. She firmly believed that although the Peacock Princess seemed to handle the situation well due to her spatial abilities, she couldn''t have possibly avoided all the yin energy.


    In her view, Mei Gongzi couldn��t keep evading forever. While spatial abilities restrained her to some extent, her extreme yin energy continuously affected Mei Gongzi as well.


    Seeing her opponent''s choice, Mei Gongzi seemed to understand the situation. She didn''t teleport away. Instead, the Celestial Plume in her hand flickered, transforming into a silver light that pointed at the opponent.


    The battle of bloodline power turned into closebat.


    Both moved at incredible speed. Seeing Mei Gongzi choosing closebat, the Nethermoon Flower was delighted. As it thrust her spikes forward, nine spikes instantly materialized, attacking from different directions like a demonic spear formation.


    Mei Gongzi remainedposed. She drew a circle with the Celestial Plume in her hand, and the Mysterious Circles of Heaven caused the spikes�� trajectory to gopletely off.


    <i>You think you��re the only one good at closebat? Heh.</i>


    The Nethermoon Flower charged forth and countless spikes emerged from all over her body. She was clearly intending on using her body to directly ram Mei Gongzi, and it was also clear that being hit by any one of these spikes could end the match.


    The Peacock Demon n was known for their powerful spatial control abilities but rtively weak bodies. This wasmon knowledge.


    In the Nethermoon Flower��s view, Mei Gongzi had no other option but to teleport. As long as that happened, she had her chance. She had already locked onto Mei Gongzi��s aura with the Nethermoon Eye. No matter where she teleported, the Nethermoon Flower��s continuous attacks would follow. Although the five-hundred-meter arena was not small, for people at their level, the distance could be crossed in the blink of an eye. In closebat, her yin energy would continuously sap at Mei Gongzi��s strength, ultimately leading to her victory.


    What happened next shocked everyone.


    The Celestial Plume in Mei Gongzi''s hand suddenly disappeared, and at the same time, the shimmering silver light vanished.


    Facing the porcupine-like Nethermoon Flower, Mei Gongzi did not dodge. Instead, she did the unthinkable opposite. She opened her arms wide, as if to embrace her opponent!


    The silver light surrounding her body was no more; recing it was a white-hot, incandescent light. The white light condensed into te-like shapes all over her body, transforming the delicate fairy into a valiant warrior d in a full suit of armor.


    When the Nethermoon Stings struck the white light armor, they might as well have struck a city wall; they were not even able to scratch it, let alone prate. The full-force charge, with the Nethermoon Eye locked onto Mei Gongzi''s aura, was done with the expectation that she would teleport and would have to be pursued. And as they shed head-on instead, the Nethermoon Flower was immediately caught in Mei Gongzi''s embrace.


    This unexpected development left herpletely bewildered.


    <i>What?</i>


    In the next moment, immense power apanied by fierce killing intent pressed in, tightly constricting her body.


    From one of the VIP rooms, an astonished voice emerged. "White Tiger Heavenly Armor?!"


    The resplendent, exquisite, and yet fiercely murderous white armor was indeed one of the renowned abilities of the Sky-Piercing White Tiger Demon Emperor��the White Tiger Heavenly Armor.


    The White Tiger Heavenly Armor might not rival the Golden Mammoth Demon Emperor��s hide in terms of sheer defense, but it had both offensive and defensive functions. It came with the ability known as White Tiger��s Seven Kills. When the ovepping killing intent erupted, it allowed the user to instantly unleash seven times their pure power, destroying the opponent''s body and spirit alike.


    When the White Tiger Demon Emperor unleashed White Tiger��s Seven Kills, even the higher-ranked Demon Emperors would avoid direct confrontation. In terms of explosive power, the White Tiger Demon Emperor was unmatched among all Emperors. Even the Crystal Demon Emperor, who had literally every ability in existence, had to mimic White Tiger��s Seven Kills to counter it��nothing else was effective.


    Who could have imagined that a princess of the Peacock Demon n would use the White Tiger Heavenly Armor and White Tiger��s Seven Kills? This explosion of power was so unexpected that it stunned not only the Nethermoon Flower but also the observing nobles and Emperors.


    Only Tang San, at this moment, showed endless tenderness in his eyes.


    Facing the Nethermoon Flower, Mei Gongzi held the upper hand. Even without using her secondary bloodline, she could have defeated her opponent. Unleashing her secondary bloodline ensured a quicker victory, that much was true. But Tang San understood that she was doing this to share his burden and the pressure of having multiple bloodlines.

 Chapter 552: Mei Gongzi Advances

    <h4>Chapter 552: Mei Gongzi Advances</h4>


    In previous matches, he had disyed two bloodlines, and... he was the only one to do so. Apart from him, no other contestant had revealed a second bloodline. Thus, it made him stand out like a sore thumb. Now, Mei Gongzi was disying the bloodline of the White Tiger Demon Emperor along with that of the Peacock Demon n. With two top-tier bloodlines in one person, all attention naturally focused on her, significantly reducing the pressure on Tang San.


    The Nethermoon Flower, trapped due to her own misjudgment, had lost her chance. The terrifying killing intentpletely sealed her off. The sevenfold power and incredible killing intent of White Tiger��s Seven Kills left her no opportunity. Her body copsed in Mei Gongzi''s embrace, and all her spikes shattered. The killing intent sted her spirit, rendering it powerless, and Mei Gongzi reverted to the Peacock Transformation to bind her tightly in a separate space.


    This was quite the merciful course of action. Otherwise, being hit head-on by White Tiger��s Seven Kills at such close range would have resulted in being torn to pieces.


    The match ended with Mei Gongzi''s victory, and she advanced smoothly to the quarter-finals!


    The entire audience was in an uproar. White Tiger and Peacock Demon, dual bloodlines! Since when did the White Tiger Demon Emperor and the Peacock Demon n have such a close rtionship?


    Even the highest-ranking members of the Ancestral Court, the Demon Emperors and Nymph Emperors, couldn''t help but turn their attention to the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s VIP box��thetter hade to watch today''s matches.


    Possessing two top-tier bloodlines and being able to exhibit top-level power with both, Mei Gongzi was now at the very center of the attention.


    In his own VIP box, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor sat with aplex expression, killing intent flickering in his eyes.


    He knew better than anyone where Mei Gongzi had gotten her second bloodline from. While his former lover was a human, she had the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s bloodline!


    <i>This girl is the descendant of the former Peacock Demon Emperor and the White Tiger Demon Emperor! Two first-tier bloodlines! And since she is able to use the Celestial Plume, she must have gained the Peacock Demon n''s inheritance. With the abilities she demonstrated today, her control over space, and her ability to use the White Tiger Heavenly Armor and White Tiger��s Seven Kills, her future is limitless. She absolutely has the potential to be a Demon Emperor.</i>


    <i>No wonder that guy chose her as his sessor. In the future, if she truly grows and inherits everything from him, I will no longer have a chance to take Kali City.</i>


    <i>I can''t wait any longer. After the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, I must make a move on Kali City immediately. As for this girl, she must be crushed in the cradle. She must not be allowed to mature, no matter the cost. Even if it means offending the White Tiger Demon Emperor.</i>


    With this match concluded, Tang San, Mei Gongzi, and Big Cat all advanced to the quarter-finals of the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament. They upied three of the eight spots, and they wouldn''t face each other in the next round. This was undoubtedly the best possible oue.


    When Mei Gongzi stepped off the stage, Tang San was already waiting for her. Watching her approach, Tang San sighed softly and said, "You didn''t need to do that. It will only increase the pressure on you."


    Mei Gongzi smiled slightly and shook her head. "If I want to go further, I��d have to show it sooner orter. It''s fine. This way, I could win faster. If I got injured today, what would we do about our doubles match tomorrow? Now I''m worried about you. The day after tomorrow, you''ll face Meng Dede. Are you confident?"


    Tang San smiled wryly and said, "I''ll do my best. He''s not easy to deal with."


    Meng Dede was indeed difficult to deal with. That child of darkness was truly the strongest opponent he would have in this Ancestral Court Elite Tournament.


    The two returned to the rest area together. Big Cat had left after watching Mei Gongzi''s match; he needed to rest and recover from his injuries. Mei Gongzi possessing the White Tiger Transformation greatly surprised him. With his evolving golden bloodline, he thought that he might not beat Asura, but he should at least be stronger than Mei Gongzi. Seeing her White Tiger Transformation, he fled in embarrassment.


    The biggest weakness of the Peacock Demon n was their rtively weak bodies, but with the addition of the all-epassing, offensive and defensive White Tiger Demon Emperor bloodline, that weakness was no more. How could he have the confidence to fight her?


    "As far as I see, you can��t use both at the same time. You have to switch between them, right?" Tang San asked Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi nodded slightly. "This is also why I''m curious about your abilities. Why can you use several abilities at once without any bloodline conflict?"


    "My situation is different from yours. My core power isn''t actually any of these bloodline powers. Each bloodline ability for me is just a different manifestation of the same thing."


    Mei Gongzi frowned. "Is there any way I can solve this? If I could use both bloodline abilities simultaneously, my strength would greatly increase."


    Tang San thought for a moment and said, "Don''t rush. You only have two bloodlines, so I believe there might be a solution. I''ll think of a way, but it will have to be gradual, not something that can be achieved overnight."


    "Alright."


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi did not linger; they both returned to their residences to rest. Today''s battles were clearly different from the previous ones. After entering the final stages, the opponents became much more difficult to deal with. Especially with the support of their respective ns��their equipment was orders of magnitude better. It was easy to imagine that once the quarter-finals started, their opponents would be even more heavily armed.


    Today, Tang San had carefully observed his next opponent for the first time. Meng Dede''s strength was the first among all the opponents he had encountered in this tournament to make Tang San feel major trouble iing. To put it simply, he was someone Tang San might not be able to defeat without revealing some of his core abilities that had to be kept secret at all costs.


    Meng Dede was halfway into the god level. To be more urate, he was deliberately suppressing his cultivation; otherwise, he would have already broken through. His understanding of his element was the deepest Tang San had seen among anyone he had met in this world. Mei Gongzi''s understanding of space was growing daily, and her progress was undoubtedly fast, but there was still a differencepared to Meng Dede''s understanding of the darkness element.


    Meng Dede was the very embodiment of darkness. He wasn''t just manipting an element; he practically had an elemental physique. Such an opponent was indeed difficult to deal with.


    Tang San needed to carefully consider how to confront this formidable opponent in their next match. Their confrontation wasn''t limited to the singles tournament. With Meng Dede''s presence, his pair was also likely to advance smoothly. And sooner orter, Tang San and Mei Gongzi would inevitably face them.


    Tang San was already satisfied with his achievements in the individual tournament. He had never aimed to win the championship; that would draw too much attention. He didn''t want to be the focus of the Emperors until his strength was up to par.


    However, for the doubles tournament, he was determined to win the championship for Mei Gongzi. This was their first coboration and a revival of the legendary partnership from his past life. He genuinely wanted to win this championship, from the bottom of his heart.


    Therefore, Meng Dede was the opponent he had to defeat, the biggest obstacle for him and Mei Gongzi. He was also an obstacle for Big Cat. If Tang San lost to Meng Dede in the next individual match, Meng Dede would then face Big Cat, who had a high chance of advancing to the semifinals.

 Chapter 553: A Formidable Opponent

    <h4>Chapter 553: A Formidable Opponent</h4>


    Even if Big Cat could obtain the God-ying Sword from the Golden Lion n, Tang San still didn''t believe Big Cat could defeat Meng Dede. What made Tang San wary of Meng Dede the most was how effortlessly he had defeated the Behemoth. Throughout the match, Meng Dede didn''t use any weapons or equipment. As the direct descendant of the Tenebrous Demon Emperor and a once-in-a-century genius of the Tenebrous Dragon n, could he reallyck the support of his n? The direct heir of a Demon Emperor without a divine item? That was obviously impossible.


    The only reason Meng Dede didn''t use any such items was that his opponent wasn''t strong enough to warrant it. It was that simple.


    Therefore, for Tang San to win, he had to factor in Meng Dede''s potential use of artifacts or find a unique strategy to defeat him. But that was challenging since Meng Dede excelled at controlling the battlefield with his darkness elemental domain. In his previous life, Tang San was also a master of control, so he knew how troublesome a control-type fighter could be on the battlefield. Any tactics used against such an opponent would be difficult to execute effectively due to their overarching influence.


    He really needed to think carefully about which abilities to reveal and what techniques to use to defeat this opponent, and hopefully seriously injure him. Ideally, he could solve the problems of both the singles and doubles matches in one go.


    Thinking of this, a rarepetitive fire ignited in Tang San''s eyes. His eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint shing in them.


    Mei Gongzi returned to her residence, and the Peacock Great Demon King had also returned, no longer continuing to watch the matches. Mei Gongzi''s opponents in the second bracket of the individualpetition were strong, but there was no one remotely on the same level as Meng Dede. She wouldn��t meet her strongest opponent until the semifinals, and her next opponent was simr in strength to the one she had just faced.


    "Why did you reveal the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s inheritance today? I can sense that the White Tiger Demon Emperor is now paying attention to you," the Peacock Great Demon King asked, frowning slightly.


    "It''s nothing. I just thought it would be better to reveal the Celestial Danceter. I''m more confident in the Celestial Dance now. Today''s opponent wasn''t easy to deal with, and I was worried that a prolonged fight would affect tomorrow''s doubles match."


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at her deeply. "I can guess what you''re thinking. It''s already done, so let''s leave it. But you need to understand why I asked you to use the White Tiger Transformation''s bloodline powerter. It''s because it should be used at a higher level to make the White Tiger Demon Emperor value you more. By cing the Celestial Danceter, aren''t you telling all the observing Demon Emperors that in your heart, the White Tiger Transformation is not as important as the Peacock Transformation?"


    Mei Gongzi responded naturally. "That''s the truth! Don''t you want me to think that way?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King paused, then said, "Of course, I want <i>you</i> to think that way, but it depends on the asion. For you to secure your position as my sessor, and especially as the city lord, the support of the White Tiger Demon Emperor is crucial. He has significant influence in the Ancestral Court, and even Emperors ranked above him must give him some respect. If he supports you as the lord of Kali City, your position will be much more stable. Of course, that will still be in the name of the Peacock Demon n, as the Ancestral Court won''t allow the White Tiger Demon Emperor to have a second territory. This bnce must be carefully managed."


    Mei Gongzi slowly nodded, then softly said, "Father, is your health...?" She sensed a hint of urgency in the Peacock Great Demon King''s words.


    The Peacock Great Demon King shook his head and said, "I''m fine, don''t worry. For the sake of our n and for you, I won''t die easily. I have to finish what needs to be done."


    "Is it really irreversible?" A trace of sadness shed in Mei Gongzi''s eyes.


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked deeply at his daughter, sighed softly, and said, "I have never been a good father. I want to hold on, but no matter what, it''s impossible. I''ve burned my Golden Crown. Unless there is an existence higher than the Demon Emperor to reverse the situation, it''s irreversible. But this is part of my n. Even if I stayed alive, I wouldn''t be able to protect Kali City; after all, I can''t be a Demon Emperor. But you can. As long as you withstand the initial pressure and be an Emperor in the future, our Peacock Demon n''s status will stabilize, and we can firmly hold onto Kali City. This is what I most hope to see. For this, what does death matter?"


    Mei Gongzi could feel the determination in his tone and lowered her head, "I will try my best. But if there is any hope, I want you to live. I will shoulder my responsibilities, whether for the Peacock Demon n or for humanity."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded in relief and said, "It''s best that you think this way. By the way, focus on the doublespetition as well. You should spend more time with that Asura. You both have strong abilities, but you need better coordination. The essence of the doubles tournament is mutual cooperation. Although you have had some cooperation before, it is not yet enough. This will limit your performance in theter matches. I have high hopes for this Asura. You should also focus on winning him over. With that blood oath, he will surely be your right-hand man in the future."


    Mei Gongzi nodded lightly, her mind recalling all the events that had urred between her and Asura during thepetition.


    Whether it was Asura guiding her cultivation, teaching her the Mysterious Circles of Heaven, or making the blood oath and apanying her throughout the journey, eventually leading them both to the finals, she had gained more understanding and trust in this "Asura." Apart from not yet seeing his true face, everything else was impable, and regarding that, Mei Gongzi believed he had his reasons for not revealing it to her just yet.


    <i>Why is he so good to me?</i>


    Often, when someone suddenly treats another person exceptionally well, it''s hard to adapt. In Mei Gongzi''s perception, Asura had been exceptionally kind to her from the first time they met, always protecting her. She even felt that this person would do anything for her. But where did this devotione from? Why exactly? Was it because of her looks? Through their interactions, she didn''t think he was a shallow man who would swear a blood oath just for the sake of a pretty face. There had to be some other reason. However, her only human rtive in this world was her mother, who also didn''t know where this Asura came from. Her mother had asked Mayor Zhang Haoxuan, but thetter��s answer was also ambiguous, only telling them that Asura was trustworthy. That was all.


    The Peacock Great Demon King went to rest. His health was poor, and he had to spend a lot of time in meditation to keep his lifeforce from depleting too quickly. He also needed substantial quantities of treasure nts to maintain his current state. Only the wealth of Kali City could support this.


    Mei Gongzi dialed Tang San''smunicator. "Big Brother, are you avable now?"


    ��Yes, I am. What''s up?


    Obviously, for Mei Gongzi, he was always avable.


    Mei Gongzi said, "My father mentioned that we should work more on our coordination in the doubles matches. I think he''s right. If you''re willing, can we discuss this? Tomorrow, the finals will start, and our opponents will only get stronger. We need to coordinate better."

 Chapter 554: Mutual Integration

    <h4>Chapter 554: Mutual Integration</h4>


    Tang San actually wanted to tell her that their tacit understanding was natural, at least from his side. He could cooperate with her in any situation. But he obviously had noints about spending more time with Mei Gongzi. They arranged to meet in the afternoon at the White Tiger Hotel.


    Their individual matches had ended before lunchtime. So, after having lunch at their respective residences, Mei Gongzi came to the hotel to find Tang San in the afternoon.


    Tang San weed Mei Gongzi into his room and closed the door. He offered her a seat, poured a ss of water for her, and handed it to her.


    "How do you n for us to improve our coordination?" Tang San asked with a smile.


    Mei Gongzi nced at him and said, "Shouldn''t you be the one to n that?"


    Tang Sanughed and said, "When did you bezy?"


    Mei Gongzi shook her head and said, "It''s not about beingzy. It''s just that I know I''m not as good as you in this area, so why overthink it? Your abilities are unique, and I don''t know how to coordinate with you."


    Tang San nodded and said, "Actually, you don''t need to worry too much about our coordination. In the doubles tournament, if we face strong opponentster, I''ll support you. You take the lead, and I''ll assist. Just like before, I can be your wings, your power source, supporting all your battles. We be one, integrating our abilities to unleash the strongestbat power."


    Mei Gongzi blinked. "Is it that simple?"


    "What else?"


    Mei Gongzi pouted. "Then I came here for nothing?"


    Tang Sanughed. "How could it be for nothing? Let''s try circting our energies, and you''ll understand what I mean. Follow me to the cultivation room."


    As he spoke, he stood up and walked toward the cultivation room. Mei Gongzi took a sip of water, put down the ss, and followed him.


    Tang San sat down at the far end of the cultivation room and pointed to the ground in front of him. Mei Gongzi sat down opposite him.


    Tang San raised his hands to her seriously and said, "Give me your hands. I''ll guide you."


    "Okay." Mei Gongzi raised her hands as instructed. Their palms pressed together. As he felt the smoothness of her skin, Tang San''s gaze became even gentler.


    Mei Gongzi felt the warmth of his palms. She had no romantic thoughts; she simply found the touch of his handsforting.


    Tang San said in a deep voice, "Rx yourselfpletely. Rx your body, your bloodline power, and your spiritual power. I''ll guide the flow. This way, when we coordinateter, we can achieve better results without any energy waste."


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback and asked, "Is that even possible? Can different bloodlines connect?"


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "Others might not be able to, but I can. Trust me."


    "Alright." Mei Gongzi nodded, closed her eyes, and gradually rxed, letting Tang San''s hands draw her palms closer.


    Watching her closed eyes, her longshes resting on her eyelids, the peaceful Mei Gongzi looked so enchanting. Tang San''s heart softened even more.


    Perhaps it was a bit early, but as he pondered how to defeat Meng Dede earlier, he had already thought of some possibilities. To firmly stand on the core stage of the Daemon Continent, he would have to show his true skills.


    <i>Come, my love, let me guide you to feel the union that we had in our previous life.</i>


    As he thought this, Tang San slowly closed his eyes, and the aura around him began to change subtly.


    His sea of consciousness slowly opened, and the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique gently flowed through his palms into Mei Gongzi''s body.


    Mei Gongzi felt the warm energy transmitted from Tang San''s palms. This warm energy was veryfortable, but she could clearly feel that it was not bloodline power. Bloodline power would not be so gentle and always carried specific characteristics, whereas the energy Tang San transmitted had no bloodline traits; it was just pure, warm energy that was bnced and harmonious. As this energy circted within her body, it made her feel exceptionallyfortable, as if she were soaking in a hot spring, and all her fatigue melted away. Even without her control, her bloodline did not reject this energy at all.


    She could even feel her two different bloodline powers bing more harmonious under the influence of this warm energy.


    Although there was no attribute conflict between the Peacock Demon bloodline and the White Tiger one, both were powerful first-tier bloodlines, and thus did not harmonize well with each other. This was why Mei Gongzi could not use both Demonic God Transformations simultaneously and had to switch between them.


    But now, under the influence of this warm energy, she felt her two bloodlines beginning to grow closer. In fact, she even had the distinct impression that the two were starting to merge.


    <i>Is this really possible? Perhaps this energy is the core ability that allows Asura to use multiple bloodline abilities at the same time.</i>


    Mei Gongzi was smart and quickly understood what was going on. The fact that he could use this energy also exined why he could transmit energy to her and amplify her abilities.


    Now, under the cleansing of this energy, Mei Gongzi clearly felt her bloodline power growing increasingly close to the energy transmitted by Asura. Along with this came the familiar spatial energy fluctuations from Asura.


    This spatial energy belonged to the Peacock Demon bloodline imprint. Under the guidance of his internal energy, Tang San''s Peacock Transformation energy gradually made contact with Mei Gongzi''s; they started sensing and recognizing each other.


    This was what Tang San had just mentioned��allowing their abilities to connect so thatter, when he assisted her, he could provide her with better energy support.


    But this was clearly not Tang San''s entire purpose for today.


    As their Peacock Transformation bloodlines intertwined, Mei Gongzi could clearly feel her aura merging with Tang San''s. Their connection grew increasingly intimate, almost as if they were bing one.


    This was understandable. Tang San''s Peacock Demon bloodline power was initially absorbed from her, after all. And with the added connection of his blood oath, their bond deepened further. Their rtionship naturally became even closer, linked by the bnced and harmonious energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. This was exactly what Tang San hoped to achieve.


    Gradually, in this state of mutual integration and extremefort, Mei Gongzi entered a meditative state where she forgot herself and her surroundings.


    Tang San also felt his aura merging with Mei Gongzi''s, filling his heart with indescribable warmth. He reminisced about the times he and Xiao Wu used to cultivate together simrly, though those times were different from now.


    <i>Xiao Wu, my love, I can finally be together with you like this again.</i>


    Tang San''s gaze grew even gentler, but at this moment, his sea of consciousness fully opened, revealing his divine consciousness within.


    When he first arrived, his divine consciousness was as small as a grain of rice. Now, it had grown to the size of a pigeon egg. If not for the constant protection of his powerful spiritual power, he would have found it challenging to continue concealing this divine consciousness.

 Chapter 555: Infusion

    <h4>Chapter 555: Infusion</h4>


    It was under the control of his divine consciousness that his spiritual power, despite being so powerful, had not triggered a breakthrough to the tenth tier. It was also what allowed him to use the Purple Demon Eyes at full power in a single instant to dominate the Immortal me Phoenix.


    His divine consciousness was no longer in a weakened state, where using it even slightly would result in lengthy recovery. With Tang San''s constant nurturing and multiple fortuitous encounters, his divine consciousness had now initially stabilized, allowing him to use abilities that only divine consciousness could handle.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face as he quietly guided a trace of his divine consciousness into Mei Gongzi''s sea of consciousness, gently stirring it.


    Instantly, Mei Gongzi''s eyebrows furrowed slightly as her sea of consciousness began to ripple under the stirring of the divine consciousness.


    Tang San''s outflow of divine consciousness began to increase. What he needed to do was simple: help Mei Gongzipress her spiritual power so that her sea of consciousness could hold more. This was in preparation for her future breakthrough to the god level.


    As a former God King, his understanding of spiritual power could not be any deeper. When breaking through to another level, spiritual power yed a decisive role, actually even more important than internal energy��or bloodline power, in this world. The level of one��s spiritual power determined one��s potential at the god level and beyond.


    Taking advantage of this opportunity today, he decided to help Mei Gongzipress her spiritual power, enhancing her foundation in this area.


    Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power was already very high. After receiving the Peacock Demon n''s inheritance, her spiritual power had reached the peak of the ninth order. Moreover, through his probing, Tang San discovered that there was a faint trace of divine consciousness within Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power. However, this was not the same as his divine consciousness carried over from a previous life; otherwise, Mei Gongzi would have memories of her past life. Instead, it originated from this world. In other words, she had already begun to develop divine consciousness without even reaching the god level. This was a very peculiar phenomenon.


    Tang San cautiously made slight contact with that trace of divine consciousness and immediately understood its origin.


    It originated from her divine artifact, the Celestial Plume, which clearly had its own level of spirituality. This trace of divine consciousness signified Celestial Plume''s recognition of Mei Gongzi. After the artifact epted a master, it produced this divine consciousness as feedback. It seemed that Celestial Plume was of an even higher level than Tang San had initially judged.


    The trace of divine consciousness created by the Celestial Plume was clearly wary of Tang San''s divine consciousness. However, the blood oath Tang San had sworn earlier yed a crucial role at this moment. The blood oath he had made for Mei Gongzi was imprinted in Tang San''s sea of consciousness, and his divine consciousness naturally carried the aura of the blood oath.


    Thanks to the aura of the blood oath, not only did Mei Gongzi''s sea of consciousness acknowledge his presence, but even the trace of divine consciousness from Celestial Plume gradually epted him, ceasing to resist.


    Tang San briefly sensed the trace of divine consciousness and stabilized it within Mei Gongzi''s sea of consciousness. He could help Mei Gongzi sort andpress her spiritual power, but he couldn''t interfere with her divine consciousness. Once divine consciousness was born, its future growth was extremely important to the host and could only be achieved through the host''s own cultivation.


    The most incredible aspect of divine consciousness was itsck of spatial constraints, meaning the size of the sea of consciousness didn''t matter. When one reached godhood, their sea of consciousness evolved into a sea of divine consciousness. In theory, a strong person''s divine consciousness could grow infinitely, reaching the ends of the universe.


    Of course, this was only theoretical; not even Tang San��s original divine consciousness was that strong.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face, his expression glowing with a gentle divine light. With each flicker of light in his eyes, the spiritual power infused into Mei Gongzi''s body grew stronger.


    Gradually, Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power waspressed into a smaller and more harmonious form, with a crystalline core of spiritual power gradually forming in the process. Tang San wouldn��t have dared to create a spirit core for her just like that, but with the presence of the Celestial Plume''s trace of divine consciousness, things were different. The divine consciousness stabilized and controlled her spiritual power, allowing the spirit core to form naturally. With a spirit core, it would be much easier to cultivate spiritual power and restore the sea of consciousness in the future.


    Everything went more smoothly than expected. This was the benefit of their mutualpatibility; Tang San couldn''t have achieved this with someone else.


    The dual infusion of internal energy and spiritual power also made their auras increasinglypatible. After helping Mei Gongzi stabilize the spirit core, Tang San guided the release of spiritual power from the core tomunicate with her bloodline power. This would make it easier to control the bloodline power with the enhanced spiritual power.


    The formation of a spirit core might seem simple, but on the Daemon Continent, very few could achieve it, even among the most powerful. This difference was due to the ipatible cultivation system. On the Daemon Continent, both demon and nymph races focused more on bloodline cultivation, after all.


    Meanwhile, in Tang San''s former world, the methods for cultivating spiritual power were better in terms of both variety and quality. Moreover, as a former God King, his understanding of spiritual power and divine consciousness was unparalleled. Things like this were easy for him, but even an Emperor of this world may not be able to replicate them.


    With these taskspleted, Mei Gongzi''s cultivation would undoubtedly advance further. With the birth of the spirit core, as long as she practiced diligently, using both the White Tiger Transformation and the Peacock Transformation simultaneously would no longer be a problem.


    Afterpleting these tasks, Tang San didn''t stop. He stabilized his own state, ensuring he was in the best condition. Then, using his spiritual power as a guide, he directed a trace of Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power to reverse into his own sea of consciousness.


    Tang San''s sea of consciousness was obviously muchrger than Mei Gongzi''s, and the spiritual power within was much more solid. Under the protection of his spiritual power, Mei Gongzi''s strand of spiritual power slowly entered the core area of his sea of consciousness.


    If it were anyone other than Mei Gongzi, having their spiritual power invade his own to such an extent would be extremely dangerous for Tang San. But that <i>was</i> Mei Gongzi, and he had no such concerns.


    Tang San''s entire sea of consciousness seemed to breathe rhythmically, with an overall pulsation of spiritual power. However, he didn''t hesitate at all and slowly imprinted Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power onto his divine consciousness.


    The moment Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power was imprinted onto Tang San''s divine consciousness, his body shook violently, and he couldn''t help but tremble. It felt as if someone had seared his brain with a hot iron, causing intense pain that made his entire sea of consciousness spasm. His spiritual power surged and instinctively tried to repel the intrusion.


    Tang San had already prepared for this. He forcibly controlled his divine consciousness, repelling the outeryers of his spiritual power and allowing Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power topletely imprint onto his divine consciousness without any resistance.


    With this strand of spiritual imprint on his divine consciousness, there would be a deeper, more direct connection between him and Mei Gongzi than the blood oath. The blood oath only restricted him, but this spiritual imprint would allow him to sense any danger Mei Gongzi faced at any time. If her vital signs showed intense fluctuations, he could immediately sense and locate her, assisting instantly. Through this spiritual connection, he could even help her directly with his divine consciousness.


    At the same time, this also meant that Tang San was opening his divine consciousness to her. If Mei Gongzi wanted to harm him, she could potentially destroy his divine consciousness through this connection. He would never open himself up like this to anyone except his wife.

 Chapter 556: First Night Together

    <h4>Chapter 556: First Night Together</h4>


    Enduring the excruciating pain of his divine consciousness being invaded, Tang San gradually used his divine consciousness tomunicate with this strand of spiritual power. He carefully analyzed and unraveled the marks it left on his own spiritual power��the marks of Mei Gongzi.


    Gradually, Tang San''s divine consciousness began to undergo some changes, some wondrous changes. Countless memories and insights surged from within his divine consciousness, lingering in his mind.


    His perception expanded rapidly with the emergence of these insights.


    Only Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power could stimte his divine consciousness in this way. They were lovers beyond time and space; no matter howpletely she had forgotten him after her rebirth, there was still that invisible bond between them.


    Countless memories surged through Tang San''s sea of consciousness, causing his divine consciousness to tremble continuously. Yet, the presence of these memories gradually made his expression rx and fill with tenderness.


    He didn''t notice the passage of time.


    When Mei Gongzi reopened her eyes and awakened from her meditation, the sky outside was still bright.


    She felt an indescribablefort throughout her body, as if she had soaked in a hot spring and then had a good sleep, feelingpletely refreshed and rejuvenated.


    Next, her spirit was invigorated, and she immediately felt a difference in her spiritual power. The world seemed to have be brighter, and her perception of it hadpletely changed.


    Blinking, she focused her inner vision on her sea of consciousness. Mei Gongzi immediately noticed a mote of silver light in her sea of consciousness��it looked like a small crystal emitting a soft glow. Her spiritual power was gathered at its center, leaving arge empty space. The overall density of her spiritual power seemed to have increased significantly. She could sense the space element from a far greater distance than she used to.


    <i>What is this...? What happened to me? What happened to me?</i>


    Instinctively, she looked at Asura.


    Compared to her rejuvenated expression, he lookedpletely different. His face was noticeably pale, and even his clothes seemed soaked with sweat, making him appear utterly exhausted.


    Although she didn''t know the process, Mei Gongzi could guess that he had helped her improve, but it had drained him significantly.


    At that moment, as if he had sensed Mei Gongzi''s awakening, Tang San''s eyelids twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.


    The instant their eyes met, Mei Gongzi felt a sudden jolt, as if she��d been touched by a little bolt of lightning. Instinctively, she felt a newyer of connection between her and Asura, a particrly familiar and intimate sensation. She remembered feeling this way before... the first time she met Little Tang at the academy. Why did Asura suddenly give her the same feeling?


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "Awake? We need to hurry."


    "Huh?" Mei Gongzi blinked, not quite understanding.


    Tang San said, "It''s already morning. We still have to participate in the doubles match! We can''t waste time. Go freshen up first."


    "The next day? I stayed here all night?!"


    Mei Gongzi''s face instantly turned red. What would her father think about her not returning all night? Even though they were just cultivating...


    But thinking about the match, she couldn''t afford to dwell on it. She quickly rushed into the bathroom to freshen up.


    Watching her hurried figure and apple-red cheeks, Tang San smiled slightly and jumped up from the floor. He stretched his body forcefully, and the fatigue in his eyes dissipated. Instead, a gleam of divine light shed through his eyes, and a smile appeared on his lips.


    <i>Meng Dede, huh? Just wait!</i>


    After Mei Gongzi finished freshening up, Tang San did the same and changed his clothes. At least to Mei Gongzi, his fatigue seemed to havepletely vanished, and he appeared vibrant again.


    When the two of them came to the dining hall for breakfast, they encountered the Shrek Squad, who had just finished eating and were about to head to the Sacred Mountains for cultivation.


    Seeing Tang San and Mei Gongziing for breakfast together, everyone put on a peculiar expression.


    Du Bai, of course, wanted to say something, but Wu Bingji grabbed him.


    "Go ahead and eat. We''ll be leaving now." Wu Bingji stopped the others from asking questions with a nce, greeted Tang San and Mei Gongzi, and hurriedly left.


    "They didn''t misunderstand something, did they?" Mei Gongzi''s pretty face turned red again.


    Tang San thought to himself, <i>Let them misunderstand, it doesn''t matter.</i> But he said, "It''s fine. They must know we''re preparing for the doubles match and were cultivating together. I''ve stayed up all night cultivating with them before, it''s normal."


    Hearing this, Mei Gongzi''s expression rxed a bit.


    As they ate breakfast, Mei Gongzi asked softly, "Big Brother, what did you do to mest night?"


    Tang San was startled and quickly replied, "Huh? I didn''t do anything!"


    "I mean the cultivation! I feel my spiritual power is different."


    "Ah, yes... of course. The cultivation! I helped youpress your spiritual power and direct its flow, so your control over it will be stronger. This will help you control your own abilities and the space element better. Your overall spiritual power hasn��t decreased at all; it��s just be morepact. Next, you need to cultivate to get more volume and fill up your entire sea of consciousness again. Once youplete this step, you''ll beying the foundation for reaching godhood, and you can prepare for a breakthrough to the tenth order."


    Mei Gongzi stared at him in amazement. "Helping someone elsepress their spiritual power? Is that even possible? I don��t think even my father can do that!"


    Tang Sanughed. "Just a little trick, nothing special."


    Mei Gongzi knew it was definitely more than just a little trick, but she also knew that asking him more wouldn''t yield much. After all, he also imed that the Mysterious Circles of Heaven was just a little trick.


    "Aren''t you too tired? Can you stillpete today? If not, we can forfeit the doubles match."


    Tang San shook his head with a smile. "Sinceing to this world, I''ve never felt better than I do today. Don''t worry, I''m fine. No one can stop us."


    Mei Gongzi looked at him in surprise. "Don''t push yourself too hard!"


    Tang San smiled. "I''m not pushing myself. I''m telling the truth. Don''t worry, I''ve never lied to you. I''m really feeling great, better than ever."


    Mei Gongzi felt a bit confused after hearing his words. She clearly remembered how weak he seemed before! Although he appeared fine now, that earlier weakness couldn''t have been fake, right?


    But with thepetition time approaching, there was no room for further inquiry. After breakfast, Mei Gongzi directly teleported herself and Tang San to the Grand Ancestral Court za.


    During the teleportation, she noticed even more changes. Her control over space had be smoother, the teleportation distance had significantly increased, and the range of her perception had increased as well. She had gained so much in just one night!


    The audience seats were already packed when they arrived at the Ancestral Court za. The doubles matches were even more exciting for the spectators than the individual ones. After all, it wasn��t just individual strength that mattered; equally important, and maybe even more important, was the synergy between partners. Many spectacrbos and battles emerged under such conditions, providing a visual feast for the audience.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 557: White Tiger Demon Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 557: White Tiger Demon Emperor</h4>


    Now that the finals were starting, the matches were undoubtedly going to be more thrilling. Yesterday''s individualpetition had fully demonstrated this. How could they not hold high expectations for today''s doubles matches?


    The process was almost the same as yesterday. After arriving, they had to wait for the draw.


    A total of thirty-twopetitors, forming sixteen pairs, entered the final stage. This was twice the number of participants in the individualpetition.


    Tang San immediately spotted Meng Dede, whose strength had left a deep impression on him. Beside Meng Dede was a woman, also dressed in ck. Judging by her aura, she seemed to be of the same n.


    The darkness element was indeed difficult to pair with other attributes. Its corrosive nature was too strong, and if not handled well, it could easily harm the darkness-attribute person��s teammate. Therefore, pairing with someone of the same attribute was better.


    Of course, if they could truly encounter a partner with a light attribute on the same level as Meng Dede, they could work on an opposite prity move, which would be another situation altogether and result in incredible explosive power. However, the likelihood of this was very low. After all, having a Child of Darkness didn''t necessarily mean there was a Child of Light. It was not easy to find someone with such a pure elemental talent, and the light attribute was alsoparatively rare.


    Meng Dede was probably the main fighter, while his teammate was just serving as support. Even so, because of Meng Dede''s formidable strength, they were also the top contenders for the championship in the doublespetition.


    If he won in bothpetitions, he would undoubtedly be the number one figure among the younger generation. Not only would the Tenebrous Dragon n support him, but the entire dragon race would also provide immense support. In the future, when he achieved the status of Emperor, he would be a leading figure. There were even rumors that if the Crystal Demon Emperor fell and left no sessor, the strongest figure of the Empyrean Dominion would very likely be him. This went to show just how extraordinary Meng Dede''s talent was.


    Among all the contestants, besides Meng Dede''s group, the most noticed were actually Tang San and Mei Gongzi. There was no other reason��they had both made it to the quarter-finals in the singlespetition.


    In the individual matches, no one believed that either of them could pose a threat to Meng Dede''s domination. However, the doubles matches were different. Individual prowess was less important than coordination and synergy.


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi had both advanced to the quarter-finals of the individual matches, and they seemed to trust each other quite a lot. They were more powerful together than they were separately; that went without saying.


    Being able to participate in both doubles and individual matches, and making it to the final stages in both, Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s strength was highly recognized. Thus, public opinion was that they were the most likely to challenge Meng Dede''s position in the doublespetition.


    "It looks like we''re the hot contenders now, everyone''s watching us," Mei Gongzi whispered to Tang San.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Then they must all be hoping not to draw us. Do you think we might get matched with Meng Dede''s team in the first round?"


    "Huh?" Mei Gongzi was taken aback. "No way."


    Tang San smiled. "It''s fine, it would be good to draw them. Two matches in one, no? It would save me some effort in the individual matches."


    "Don��t be stupid. Wish for something better."


    Tang Sanughed, "It''s okay! I have you, don''t I? If we really draw them, I''ll just have to rely on you, <i>hehe</i>."


    Mei Gongzi gave him the side-eye, but she knew that the probability of drawing Meng Dede was rather low. After all, there were sixteen pairs. Their luck couldn''t be <i>that </i>bad.


    Everyone had arrived, and the next step was the lineup for the draw. Surprisingly, today''s draw ceremony was not presided over by the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor; he did not seem to be attending today''s match. Instead, a handsome middle-aged man was on the podium.


    Compared to the gentleness of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, he had a forbidding aura. Even though he was just standing there with a calm expression on his face, his sheer presence made the contestants feel like they couldn''t even lift their heads to face him.


    Mei Gongzi and Tang San stood further back, looking at him. Tang San quietly asked Mei Gongzi, "Is he who I think he is?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded lightly. "My bloodline power tells me it��s him."


    The person responsible for the draw was none other than the fourth-ranked Demon Emperor of the Empyrean Dominion, the Heaven-Crossing Earth-Piercing White Tiger Demon Emperor.


    And... Mei Gongzi''s grandfather.


    Upon seeing him, Mei Gongzi''s expression clearly changed, and the look in her eyes became moreplicated. She had never met this grandfather of hers; all she knew from her mother was that she had run away from him a long time back.


    As the draw approached, Mei Gongzi became noticeably nervous, instinctively lowering her head and hiding behind Tang San.


    Finally, it was their turn to draw. Tang San stepped forward and approached the White Tiger Demon Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty," as he began to draw a lot.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor nced at him, then looked at Mei Gongzi, who had her head lowered behind him, and coldly asked, "Where is that girl Su Qin?"


    Mei Gongzi shivered, but she eventually raised her head. When the White Tiger Demon Emperor saw her stunning face, he was momentarily dazed but quickly regained hisposure.


    "Mother... Mother is in Kali City," Mei Gongzi said.


    "Why hasn''t shee back to see me?"


    "She told me that... she couldn''t face you."


    "Because she had you back then?" The White Tiger Demon Emperor''s voice rose slightly, causing the surrounding contestants to nce over.


    Mei Gongzi lowered her head and said nothing.


    "Go fight now," the White Tiger Demon Emperor said indifferently, waving his hand to signal them to leave.


    Tang San led Mei Gongzi away quickly. The aura of this White Tiger Demon Emperor was truly extraordinary. Among the many Demon Emperors he had seen, this one definitely had the greatest killing intent, and by arge margin.


    Descending from the podium, Mei Gongzi gently patted her chest. "That scared me to death."


    Tang San quicklyforted her, "It''s okay. However, it seems your grandfather still cares about your mother. Otherwise, he wouldn''t havee out to see you right after you showcased the White Tiger Transformation yesterday. Taking charge of the draw must be something he volunteered for."


    Mei Gongzi nodded and said, "Mother said that Grandpa was actually very good to her. However, she was a human and faced a lot of exclusion there, which made her rebellious from a young age. Later, she joined the Redemption Society and refused the marriage Grandpa arranged for her. Then she had me and was too afraid to see Grandpa, so she ran off to Kali City with Father."


    Tang San frowned, feeling that it couldn''t be that simple. If the White Tiger Demon Emperor had really been good enough to his future mother-inw, she wouldn''t have left and never returned. There had to be some other reason.


    Regardless, he could feel that the White Tiger Demon Emperor bore no malice toward Mei Gongzi.


    Returning to their seats, they waited for the draw results.


    While Mei Gongzi was still trying to regain her calm after being impacted by the powerful aura of the White Tiger Demon Emperor, the draw results were announced.


    In the first group, the names of Asura and Mei Gongzi appeared.


    Then, their opponents were revealed.


    It was Meng Dede��s pair.


    When Mei Gongzi saw the draw result, she couldn''t believe her eyes. She rubbed her eyes and then turned to Tang San. "No way! We really drew them?! Remind me, why did I pair up with you and your stupid luck?!"

 Chapter 558: The Ultimate Showdown

    <h4>Chapter 558: The Ultimate Showdown</h4>


    Indeed, the two hot favorites for the doubles championship were meeting in the first match of the round of sixteen.


    The Three-Five Combo against the Tenebrous Dragon duo.


    It was a sh of titans.


    Upon seeing the draw results, many of the other contestants breathed a huge sigh of relief. When they looked at Tang San and Mei Gongzi again, there was a hint of schadenfreude in their eyes.


    Tang San also felt a cold aura, and when he turned his head, he met Meng Dede''s gaze.


    He��d only expected to fight the guy the next day, yet here they were, about to sh right here and now.


    Tang San gently patted Mei Gongzi''s shoulder and said in a deep voice, "We will face whateveres our way. There''s nothing we can''t resist."


    Mei Gongzi calmed herself down and looked at him. "What should we do?"


    Facing the biggest favorite in thepetition all of a sudden made her a bit nervous, especially after watching Meng Dede''s match yesterday. This was only the round of sixteen! If they lost today''s match, it would mean not even making it to the quarter-finals. Furthermore, Tang San would face Meng Dede in the individual matches tomorrow. If they lost today, the chances of him winning tomorrow were slim. It was highly likely that Meng Dede would defeat all three of them, cutting their progress short.


    Tang San smiled and reassured her, "Let''s go with the n we discussed yesterday. I''ll support you, and you take the offensive."


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath. "I have one ability I''ve never used before. It''s the strongest ability of our Peacock Demon n, the Celestial Dance. It can intercept destiny to a certain extent and apply it in battle. But I''ve only just begun to master it and can''t fully control it yet. I need the Celestial Plume to assist me. I can support you too."


    "No, it''s okay. I''ll support you. You attack freely, and I''ll help with defense and support. In today''s battle, don''t use the White Tiger Transformation; just stick with the Peacock Transformation. When necessary, I''ll guide you. And when I do, you must trust mepletely. No matter what kind of power I use on you, don''t resist it."


    "Alright!"


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Mei Gongzi agreed immediately. Asura had done so much for her, and thanks to his blood oath, her trust in him was as solid as could be.


    As she looked into his calm eyes, Mei Gongzi''s heart gradually settled. Apanion''s steadiness could often influence the other. No matter how powerful the enemy was, they hadn''t reached godhood, had they? As long as the opponents weren��t proper gods, there was a chance of victory.


    Thinking of this, Mei Gongzi''s mood gradually calmed. She silently adjusted her bloodline power and spiritual power, trying to get herself into the best possible condition to perform at her peak in the uing match.


    As soon as the draw results were announced, the entire audience erupted. To the spectators, what should have been a highlight of thest match was now happening in the round of sixteen. But this also showcased the fairness of the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament. Draws were supposed to be random, weren''t they?


    The Three-Five Combo versus the Tenebrous Dragon duo, a sh of titans, was about to begin.


    Today, Big Cat hadn''te to watch the match due to recovering from injuries. Otherwise, he would have been just as nervous.


    Since they were drawn to be the first match, Tang San and Mei Gongzi were led to the waiting area by the staff.


    Meng Dede and Meng Dede''s team should be waiting on the other side of thepetition stage.


    The referees appeared. Unlike the individual matches, this time there were two referees, both Great Demon Kings. Clearly, this was because the overallbat power in the doubles matches was higher, and the Ancestral Court was worried that one referee wouldn''t be able to control the match if it got too intense.


    Reaching the top sixteen meant they were the elite of the elite. For the Ancestral Court, such losses were uneptable. Thus, the unspoken rule was that no contestants could die in the final stages.


    At a staff member''s signal, Tang San and Mei Gongzi took the stage together.


    On the other side, Meng Dede also went up. As it turned out, hispanion was not just from the same n, but his actual sister��Meng Deshi.


    The moment both sides stepped onto the stage, a wave of cheers erupted around them. From the moment the draw ended, the audience had been eagerly anticipating this match.


    As the first match of the day, it instantly sent all the spectators into a state of excitement.


    Whoever won this match would most likely be the final champion. Moreover, tomorrow''s individual match featured a confrontation between Tang San and Meng Dede. Today''s oue would undoubtedly impact the matches tomorrow. If one side was seriously injured, tomorrow''s match might not even be held. Thus, all the attention was focused on today''s match.


    For the audience, Mei Gongzi''s dual bloodline was also a hot topic. Yesterday, she won easily, directly defeating a contestant from the Nethermoon Flower n, showcasing the powerful White Tiger Transformation. Her poprity was not much lower than Meng Dede''s.


    As for Asura, he gave the audience aplex feeling. His bloodline abilities didn��t seem to be any more powerful than those of his opponents; in fact, in some cases, they were even weaker. However, he always managed to end the battles by cutting off the opponent''sbat power in close-quartersbat. He didn''t seem that strong, yet here he was, among the top sixteen in both the individual and the doubles matches.


    The two referees stood on either side of the field. Once both sides were in position, one of the Great Demon Kings said in a deep voice, "Try to avoid casualties during the match. Begin."


    If this match weren''t between these two teams, that sentence wouldn''t have been said. It was added because both teams were indeed very powerful. These Great Demon Kings understood better than the average audience that anyone who reached the top sixteen in the individual matches was definitely not a mediocre fighter, let alone people like Asura, the Peacock Princess, or Meng Dede, who were among the final eight.


    Although Asura seemed to have no particrly powerful abilities, they could not forget the opponents he had defeated in the group stages. The Golden Mammoth, the Behemoth, the Scorching Sunflower��each of them was a popr contestant expected to reach the finals, yet they all lost to him. How could a weakling have done something like that? It was absurd.


    Meng Dede, the top favorite to win both tournaments, was even more impressive. From the beginning of thepetition until now, he had clearly never used his full strength, winning every match with ease. So, in today''s sh of titans, who would emerge victorious?


    Even the emperors in the VIP boxes were very interested, and each had their own theories and favorites.


    In the VIP section, the Peacock Great Demon King sat up straight, his eyes fixed intensely on thepetition stage.


    A somewhat cold voice reached his ears. "Do you think your daughter can win?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King turned to look at the edge of his VIP box and replied coldly, "Of course."


    The voice from the other box spoke up again. "I don''t think so. Meng Dede is the dragon race''s greatest hope, and he is supported not only by the Tenebrous Dragon n. With the Crystal Demon Emperor''s vitality gradually declining, the dragon race needs to cultivate someone who can rival the Crystal Demon Emperor to secure their top position among the demons. In terms of talent, Meng Dede is the most likely candidate and is determined to win this championship."


    The Peacock Great Demon King said indifferently, "Then let''s wait and see. My daughter''s talent is not inferior."


    "Aren''t you afraid that her excellent talent might lead to an untimely death?" retorted the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    "Are you threatening me?"

 Chapter 559: Support and Ascension

    <h4>Chapter 559: Support and Ascension</h4>


    "If that��s what you think, then yes," the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor said coldly. "If her talent wasn''t that exceptional, I might spare her for Su Qin''s sake. But since her talent is so great... Do you think I''d raise a tiger that could bite meter? Please. You think I won''t act against her just because she has the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s bloodline? You had her use the White Tiger bloodline just to threaten me, and let me tell you: it won''t work. The White Tiger Demon Emperor won''t interfere with Kali City''s matters. That''s the Ancestral Court''s decision."


    The Peacock Great Demon King said coldly, "Then bring it on. You''ll see why I chose her as my sessor. Letting her showcase her abilities is to make you realize she''s a threat, yet you''ll have no way to deal with her. Do you really think I am stupid?"


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting such a response from the Peacock Great Demon King. "I don''t know where your confidencees from, but let''s wait and see. First, pray that your daughter wins today''s match. Or perhaps you should pray she loses. If she loses, I might consider sparing her."


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes flickered, and he said nothing more, focusing all his attention on thepetition stage.


    With the referee''s announcement of the start, today''s main event officially began.


    On one side of the stage, the siblings Meng Dede and Meng Deshi simultaneously released deep purple auras��Dark Domains. Meng Deshi could also use this domain!


    When they activated it together, the two domainsplemented each other, merging and surging forward. The deep purple swept across the stage, causing the air to feel heavy and dispersing and corroding all other types of elemental energy.


    On the other side, Tang San stepped forward and ced his right hand on Mei Gongzi''s back.


    Mei Gongzi felt a rich and gentle power flow into her body. Her bloodline power surged instantly; the sensation was the same as what she had experienced in thest doubles match, but this time, the amplification was significantly greater.


    She could sense the areas being eroded by darkness in the distance, hearing thement of space, and feeling the presence of a vast expanse of space.


    The Celestial Plume in her hand quivered in the air, and the three eyes emitted a soft silver glow. All the surrounding space elemental energy immediately swarmed toward her.


    The enhancement Tang San provided her was not only in terms of bloodline power, but also spirit. She felt as if she had merged with Tang San behind her. The familiarity she had felt before became deeper and more moving, as if two warm arms were embracing her and lifting her up.


    All the anxiety, fear, and other negative emotions vanished in an instant, leaving only a profound sense of inner strength.


    Her sea of consciousness spread out, with the crystal core radiating light. Behind her own spirit core, she felt an evenrger core that was continuously injecting vast amounts of spiritual power into her.


    In the spectators'' view, Tang San seemed to have disappeared into the shadow behind Mei Gongzi. Her entire body radiated a brilliant silver light, which expanded into beams of silver rays. Under the cover of that silver radiance, she looked holy, as if she were the very messenger of heavens. The dazzling silver light illuminated the surrounding space, causing it to start showing slight distortions. These distortions blocked the darkness onught from the opposite side, forcibly resisting the Dark Domain and preventing it from crossing the midpoint.


    Space shed with darkness.


    Mei Gongzi didn��t have a domain of her own, yet she somehow managed to hold back a union of <i>two</i>patible domains. Although the sea of darkness was still advancing slowly, the overwhelming momentum it had before was significantly curbed.


    On Mei Gongzi''s forehead, the Peacock Golden Crown radiated brilliant light. The deep golden color turned into tinum, adorned with even more splendid patterns that almost covered her entire forehead. Her eyes, once peacock blue, now shimmered with a dazzling silver hue. Her delicate body slowly floated upward, and the Celestial Plume in her hand acted like a magic wand, guiding a massive amount of space energy to converge toward her.


    At this moment, the entirepetition stage seemed to be split in two: one side was a deep purple, and the other was a dazzling silver. The two powerful elements shed, creating a strange sense of mutual oppression that was truly spectacr. The five-hundred-meter diameter stage looked like a division between two realms, showcasing the formidable strength of both sides. This was no longer the power of the ninth order; there was no doubt that both sides had touched the threshold of divinity, and not any ordinary divinity, at that.


    Meng Dede and Meng Deshi also floated up. From the corners of Meng Dede''s eyes, faint purple ripples spread outward. His right hand slowly pushed forward, and instantly, the dark power surged and roared, pouring out like a tide, breaking through the center and forcibly crashing into the silver light on the opposite side.


    During the confrontation, it became clear to him that while the opponent was powerful, it wasn''t domain power, just pure elemental control. The difference between a domain and power that did not condense into a domain was significant. A domain elevated the element that was its attribute, and as an elemental avatar, who had a deeper understanding of elemental control than Meng Dede?


    The intense darkness suddenly rushed into the silver area, immediately causing a depression at the center of the silver light. Like a purple-ck dragon, it then broke through the center, rampaging forward.


    Mei Gongzi''s eyes shone with silver light as she waved the Celestial Plume with her right hand. The vast spatial power rippled into many silver rings, enveloping the massive ck energy.


    One after another, the silver ripples were eroded and disappeared in the darkness, but more silver ripples continued to appear, causing the darkness to quietly disappear. It was as if the dragon was being slowly devoured by space.


    The next moment, Mei Gongzi''s Celestial Plume suddenly shed vertically, and instantly, a line of silver light appeared in front of her. The silver light line split space open, revealing a silver portal with splendid light edges.


    A simr portal appeared in another ce��right behind Meng Dede and Meng Deshi. In the next instant, all the silver light suddenly dispersed, and a silver figure materialized out of thin air, carving out a silver space in the world filled with darkness as it directly appeared behind the two.


    A spatial door had been opened within the Dark Domain! And within the space impacted by this door��s energy, the Dark Domain was ineffective!


    Even Meng Dede didn''t expect Mei Gongzi to choose such a move, but as he sensed the spatial fluctuations behind him, he instantly turned around.


    Mei Gongzi had already appeared out of nowhere; the Celestial Plume in her hand transformed into countless energy des, enveloping Meng Dede and his sister. The vast space power originally on the other side of the stage surged out from the spatial door behind her, fiercely impacting the surrounding dark domain. It forcibly opened up a wide area within the Dark Domain, isting Meng Dede and his sister from their own domain!


    This scene could only be described as miraculous. The audience, who initially didn''t think highly of Mei Gongzi and Asura��s chances, couldn''t help but gape. With just this move, Mei Gongzi demonstrated her mastery over space, seemingly on par with Meng Dede''s control over darkness. It was an incredibly bold and daring move to fight deep within the enemy''s domain.


    Faced with this situation, Meng Dede didn''t panic. He pulled Meng Deshi behind him and grasped the air with his right hand, and a pitch-ck long saber appeared in his hand. The de shed out, and purple-ck saber energy erupted in the air, destroying the silver des filled with space power. The Dark Domain surged inward, pressuring the space bubble created by Mei Gongzi in order to prevent her from using her full force against Meng Dede. Instead of focusing on attacking, she now had to resist the encroaching dark domain.

 Chapter 560: Star Shift

    <h4>Chapter 560: Star Shift</h4>


    Mei Gongzi moved with incredible speed, her figure flickering as more spatial des poured out from the Celestial Plume, continuously flying at Meng Dede. Thetter, however, firmly held his saber like a shield in front of him, not counterattacking but guarding himself tightly.


    Darkness and space erupted into a fierce sh, and in no time, the battle between the two sides had reached boiling point.


    At this point, even the two Great Demon King referees couldn''t intervene.


    The outer area of thepetition stage waspletely shrouded in darkness. But within the Dark Domain, there was a strange silver zone. Inside this silver zone, not a trace of darkness existed, and the two sides were continuously shing and fighting at the border of this area.


    Tang San and Meng Deshi seemed to have be invisible; they were hiding behind Mei Gongzi and Meng Dede, purely providing support.


    Mei Gongzi''s spatial des grew increasingly fierce, forcing Meng Dede to retreat continuously. The sharp edge of the Celestial Plume kept slicing through his des of saber energy, and deep purple dragon scales appeared on Meng Dede''s skin to resist the sharp spatial des.


    Meanwhile, the Dark Domain continued to press inward, causing the battle space to shrink.


    At this moment, no one could determine the superiority of either side; all that could be felt was the intensity of their sh.


    In Mei Gongzi''s eyes, silver light flowed, and each spatial de was more intense than thest.


    Finally, Meng Dede''s saber lights seemed unable to block the spatial des anymore. A silver light shed, leaving a gash on his shoulder. Even the tough dragon scales shattered under the sharp edges.


    But at the same time, the surrounding barrier of spatial power also shattered, and a massive amount of darkness elemental energy surged inward.


    The silver light in Mei Gongzi''s eyes condensed, and a circle of silver radiance bloomed behind her, forming a silver halo that enveloped both her and Tang San. Before the surging darkness could engulf them, they vanished into thin air once again.


    As the Dark Domain contracted, the silver radiance expanded on the other side, once again blocking the dark onught and creating a small corner of light covering about one-tenth of the stage.


    The first sh between the two sides had ended. On the surface, it appeared that Meng Dede was injured. A purple-ck aura flowed over his wound, devouring the invading spatial energy, but Meng Dede''s expression grew serious.


    He narrowed his eyes slightly, and his ck saber pointed diagonally at the ground. Dragon roars echoed��low and terrifying roars as if from the depths of Hell, striking fear into the audience��s hearts.


    Behind Mei Gongzi, a gigantic peacock silhouette appeared, its entire body a dazzling silver and its proud head held high. Mei Gongzi slowly raised the Celestial Plume in her hand, and three brilliant silver lights shot up from the feather��s eyes, merging into the silver peacock.


    The silver peacock radiated brilliant light from its entire body. Its tail feathers fanned out instantly, releasing countless silver rays that transformed into sparkling silver starlight.


    Meng Dede gripped his saber with both hands, while Meng Deshi transformed into her true form, a massive ck dragon over ten meters long. Lowering her head, she propped him up.


    All the darkness around them instantly condensed toward the ck saber, which absorbed it like a sponge. A hundred-meter-long purple-ck light de formed, and the entire sky around it seemed to darken.


    As it turned out, the previous sh, which looked like a sh of supreme techniques, was nothing but a probing skirmish! Right now, both sides were truly ready to unleash their ultimate moves. This was the disy of their formidable bloodline powers.


    The expressions of the two Great Demon Kings standing on either side of the stage were peculiar. Was this a battle at the ninth order? Even god-level experts couldn''t put on such a show. These four contestants were clearly not gods, yet thebat power and bloodline abilities they were disying were not just at the tenth order but beyond it!


    It was understandable of Meng Dede; he had been the dragon race��s greatest prodigy since childhood, the Tenebrous Emperor''s most beloved grandson. He had shown exceptional talent from a young age, progressing rapidly step by step, and was hailed as not only the heir of the Tenebrous Dragon n but even a possible recement for the Crystal Demon Emperor.


    But this girl from Kali City, from the Peacock Demon n that hadn��t had a Demon Emperor for a few generations now... How was she so powerful? She wasn��t even a true demon, but a human hybrid! And yet it was this girl that was forcing Meng Dede to take a match seriously for the first time and go all out! Just this alone ced her above every other contestant.


    In her previous matches, Mei Gongzi had not disyed such strength. And in this match, at least for now, it seemed she even held a slight advantage, having just injured Meng Dede.


    "ROOOARRR!!!" The low dragon roar suddenly became high-pitched. The enormous de of purple light descended from the sky, as if to ignite the entire void with darkness, fiercely falling straight down toward Mei Gongzi.


    No one doubted that if this dended on the stage, it would split the entire stage in two. The audience directly facing the terrifying de beam even began to panic, jumping up in fear that the beam might go off the stage and affect them.


    The two Great Demon King referees exerted their power simultaneously, each creating a strong barrier around the stage. Even at their level, they felt a hint of threat from this de.


    But at that moment, the silver peacock''s tail feathers emitted a dazzling silver light. In the next instant, the entire stage seemed to be illusory, giving the impression that the sky and earth were spinning.


    The terrifying de beam inexplicably turned around, shing into the void. In an instant, it was far away, leaving behind a gigantic ck streak in the sky.


    The Peacock Demon n''s divine technique, Star Shift!


    Yes, with Tang San''s support, Mei Gongzi used this divine technique for the first time. This was a divine technique that required not only tenth-order cultivation at the very minimum, but also exceptional talent��its use was conditioned by the Peacock Golden Crown, so not everyone could use it even among the Peacock Demon n.


    Back then when the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor attacked Kali City, it was the Peacock Great Demon King who, with the umted fortune of Kali City and the heritage of the Peacock Demon n, used Star Shift to repeatedly block the attacks. This ultimately led to a mutual defeat, forcing the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor to retreat.


    The Star Shift that Mei Gongzi executed was not as powerful as the Peacock Great Demon King��s, but it clearly captured the essence of the technique.


    Feeling the changes in the rotating space, Mei Gongzi''s eyes grew even brighter. Her heart was filled with pride and gratitude��pride in herself and gratitude for the one supporting her from behind.


    Without his full support and enhancement of her bloodline and spiritual power, she couldn''t have used Star Shift. And it wasn��t just the fact that she was able to use it in this match; now that she had experienced it, her understanding of it deepened massively. Once she broke through to the tenth order, this technique would allow her to immediately be an absolute powerhouse among Demon Kings. It also opened a smooth path for her to ascend to the Demon Emperor level!


    "Star Shift?! This is Star Shift! The divine technique of the Peacock Demon n! When the Peacock Demon Emperor was still around, it was said that she could use Star Shift to reflect any and all attacks. Incredibly powerful! I never expected to see Star Shift appear again in the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament. This is simply..."


    When Star Shift appeared, even those in the VIP boxes were shocked, and the Peacock Great Demon King most of all. He thought that he knew his own daughter best, yet even he had never imagined that Mei Gongzi could use Star Shift at her level of cultivation. This was beyond incredible; it was absolutely astonishing.

 Chapter 561: Black Horned Dragon King

    <h4>Chapter 561: ck Horned Dragon King</h4>


    Since she was capable of using Star Shift, it meant that her breakthrough to the tenth order would no longer face any obstacles, even though she was currently using it under Asura''s augmentation. The Peacock Great Demon King knew the process of learning Star Shift all too well; the most challenging part was the first time. Once basic proficiency was achieved, using it again was merely a matter of having enough energy to do it. Had Little Mei alreadyprehended spatial power to this extent? At this moment, the Peacock Great Demon King felt that he had nothing more to teach her.


    On the stage, Mei Gongzi almost instinctively wanted to turn around to look, but that familiar voice echoed in her ears. "Don''t look, just focus onprehension."


    "Okay." Mei Gongzi nodded lightly.


    With Tang San''s power supporting her, she had now entered a mystical state��not godhood, but something superior to it.


    In a moment of inspiration, she gently waved the Celestial Plume in her hand, releasing three silver beams again, which re-entered the gigantic peacock phantom in the sky. The silver radiance bloomed once more, and the sparkling starlight reappeared.


    Although she could now use Star Shift, she could only redirect the opponent''s attack without controlling the exact direction, much less being able to reflect it back at the attacker. Even so, it was quite enough. She wanted to seize this opportunity to deepen her understanding and solidify her proficiency with this divine technique.


    Cultivating spatial power to the extent of being able to use Star Shift could be well considered actual mastery. She was truly merging with space, controlling space, and guiding space; she was bing the Child of Space!


    In terms of talent, she was clearly not as gifted as Meng Dede, but she had someone supporting her. With Tang San''s assistance the previous night and today''s continuous input, she was forcibly pushed to this level.


    Yesterday, Mei Gongzi had asked him why she couldn''t use two bloodline abilities simultaneously and if there was a way to solve it. In just one night, Tang San had already helped her solve this problem. Now that her control over her own abilities was so refined, was it still impossible to tap into two different bloodlines simultaneously?


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi felt that everything Asura did seemed to have a deep meaning. No matter what problem she faced, as long as she handed it over to him, he could solve it smoothly. Unconsciously, she had developed a reliance on him. In her mind, the scene from when she was first recognized by the Celestial Plume resurfaced: she was standing on a high tform, with him right beside her.


    Her anxiety hadpletely vanished, leaving only immense confidence in her heart.


    In the air, riding on the back of the dark dragon that was Meng Deshi, Meng Dede''s eyes widened and his pupils contracted. His full-power strike had just been pped away by Mei Gongzi, causing him to feel a tremendous shock.


    Although he hade to participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, he had never believed there would be an opponent capable of stopping him. Along the way, the opponents he faced were certainly not weak by normal standards, yet they were still far inferior to him. Before thispetition, his usual opponents were god-level powerhouses, and all were from the dragon race! He had been suppressing his breakthrough in order to build a solid foundation, even aiming to leap directly to the Great Demon King level.


    He was determined to win this tournament. To motivate him, the dragon race even offered an incredible divine artifact as the champion''s reward. This was why Meng Dede entered thepetition.


    Geniuses are proud, and Meng Dede was no exception. So, when faced with a true challenge to his abilities, he wasn''t angry or anything else; he was excited. Extremely excited. Moreover, Mei Gongzi was so beautiful that the first moment he saw her, he even had some other thoughts.


    But those fleeting thoughts were now instantly suppressed. His intensepetitiveness made his bloodline feel as if it were boiling.


    <i>I will defeat you!</i>


    Meng Dede''s long saber quivered slightly, and the dark purple de light red up again. Under him, waves of dark energy surged, and the immense domain power expanded once more.


    <i>You can use Star Shift, huh? Let��s see how you do that in the eternal night with no stars!</i>


    The Dark Domain erupted wildly, even stronger than before. Meng Dede''s eyes gleamed and a strange energy radiated from his pupils, a peculiar soul attack. The energy rippled out, spreading quietly from his sea of consciousness.


    Mei Gongzi had already prepared to use Star Shift once more, but suddenly felt her mind bing somewhat dizzy.


    The next moment, however, a more powerful surge of spiritual power flowed into her sea of consciousness, firmly guarding her spirit core.


    "Roar��"


    "Roar��"


    A low roar and a high-pitched, intense dragon roar sounded almost simultaneously.


    Invisible energies shed in the air��it was spiritual power versus spiritual power!


    An instantter, the ck dragon descended from the sky, diving straight toward Mei Gongzi.


    The ability Meng Dede had just used was Soul Shock. As it turned out, he was notcking in terms of spiritual power either. As the most exceptional talent of the dragon race, he simply had no weak points.


    Yet his Soul Shock was interrupted by that low roar, and in the collision of spiritual attacks, he was surprised to find that he did not have the upper hand. He then noticed the man who had been silently following Mei Gongzi, always by her side, with one hand on her back. That roar hade from him!


    The dragon dived, and the saber shone. The dark purple de light became even more brilliant under the stimtion of the Dark Domain.


    Mei Gongzi''s Celestial Plume quivered in her hand; a beam of silver light shot up into the sky, and the dazzling silver light instantly illuminated the space.


    The saber light silently vanished. In the face of Star Shift, nothing could remain. The silver sword light also arrived in an instant, piercing straight toward Meng Dede''s forehead.


    Meng Dede seemed to have anticipated this change. A bright purple spike suddenly emerged from his forehead, striking the silver sword light and dissolving it. In the next moment, the bright purple spike transformed into a purple-ck horn, causing the surrounding darkness elemental energy to boil instantly.


    Space energy plummeted instantly, and the entire sky turned dark!


    There was a good reason Meng Dede had such exceptional talent and was hailed as the foremost of the younger generation, the future of the dragon race. His bloodline was far more than just that of a Tenebrous Dragon.


    Like the Crystal Demon Emperor, he was a Solitary with a unique, mutated bloodline. The Tenebrous Demon Emperor had given his new kind the name of ck Horned Dragon King!


    The horn was like a beacon of darkness, ushering in eternal night!


    The overwhelming darkness turned the sky above the entire Ancestral Court za pitch ck. Meng Dede''s ck eyes had been glowing with purple light, but they turned blood-red in an instant, and his aura surged.


    Even more terrifying, dark clouds began to swirl in the ck sky, with dark red lightning shing rapidly.


    This clearly indicated the emergence of tribtion clouds, a sign that he was about to undergo a tribtion at any moment.


    The appearance of the horn shocked the world. Stimted by Star Shift and inspired by Mei Gongzi, Meng Dede was finally revealing his true form and terrifying power!


    His power had reached an uncontroble level, even summoning tribtion clouds, a sign that he was about to undergo a tribtion to ascend to godhood!


    Seeing this, the other contestants were both shocked and delighted. If Meng Dede defeated Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s team and then ascended to godhood, it would mean he could no longer participate in the subsequent matches. This would effectively leave both teams out of thepetition! Obviously, it was the best oue for the rest of them.

 Chapter 562: Blood Slaughter Devil Spear

    <h4>Chapter 562: Blood ughter Devil Spear</h4>


    Meng Dede, who was diving downward, paused and looked up at the eternal night sky.


    His cold red eyes shed, and with a grasp of his right hand, the ck saber vanished, reced by a long spear. The spear was a crystalline blood-red, with the shaft covered in dark red scales. It was over four meters long, and the tip seemed to swirl with boiling blood. It also emitted a soul-shaking, eerie wail.


    Raising the spear in his hand, he pointed it at the sky, and a beam of blood light shot up instantly. The mournful howls of vengeful spirits filled the entire arena in an instant.


    The tribtion clouds forming in the sky dispersed just like that. The bolts of lightning vanished.


    A hint of disdain shed in Meng Dede''s eyes, as if saying, <i>"Before I decide to undergo a tribtion, not even the heavens can bring it upon me."</i>


    Tang San''s voice sounded in Mei Gongzi''s ear. "Be careful, that spear is an absolutely evil weapon. It was forged by using the spirits of at least ten thousand strong beings during its forging. It''s far more powerful than an ordinary divine artifact. He''s using the weapon''s power to tell the heavens that this level of tribtion is nothing to him, and that a stronger tribtion should be sent in the future. This guy is too arrogant."


    Mei Gongzi nodded lightly. Facing the diving Meng Dede, she did not retreat. Instead, she took a step forward, rising into the air.


    Her delicate body spun in the air, and a pair of silver-white wings spread out behind her.


    Suddenly, everything around her looked strange and illusory.


    Beneath her, there seemed to be faint streams of golden-silver energy flowing, making everything around her appear like a dreamscape. The golden-silver energy lifted her delicate body higher, and the Celestial Plume in her hand radiated brilliant light. Strange lights and shadows surrounded her, and the giant peacock above her head suddenly spread its wings and dived down, merging into Mei Gongzi''s body.


    She looked even lighter and brighter now, like a feather of silver light floating in the pitch-ck eternal night, illuminating everything around her.


    The Celestial Plume in her hand now looked no longer like a sword; it was finally as gentle and flexible as a feather is supposed to be, and it was dancing gracefully along with Mei Gongzi��s mysterious steps, causing everything around her to slow down.


    Meng Dede and Meng Deshi were diving down at full speed, yet their motion suddenly turned jerky and repetitive. It was as if they were stuck in a loop.


    For the first time, a look of surprise appeared in Meng Dede''s blood-red eyes. He felt that the entire space around him was changing. Even under the suppression of his advanced Dark Domain, the Eternal Night Domain, the space element was silently reviving and invading his domain like gentle rain piercing through mist. The girl dancing below him seemed to be in control of everything. Her eyes were no longer silver but a deep, dark tinum, casting a strange light that made the entire Ancestral Court za seem like her stage.


    A VIP box door opened. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor walked out with a solemn expression.


    Another door opened, and an old man with a hooked nose, dressed in ck, stepped out.


    Then the door of the central box opened as well, and the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, the true ruler of the Ancestral Court, walked out. It appeared that he was in fact here today, and he had merely yielded the role of master of ceremonies to the White Tiger Demon Emperor.


    Not far from him, the door to the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s VIP box also opened, and the imposing and stern Heaven-Crossing Earth-Piercing Emperor also stepped out.


    The usually calm eyes of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor showed a trace of shock. "The light dance of a fairy treading upon the secrets of heaven... Has the Celestial Dance finally reappeared in this world?"


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor murmured, "The Celestial Fox controls fate, the Peacock Demon peers into the heavenly secrets. It really is the Celestial Dance."


    The Peacock Great Demon King was still seated, but at this moment, this Great Demon King that was probably the strongest of his generation, the mighty patriarch of the Peacock Demon n and lord of Kali City, was in tears.


    Xu Ziran from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association was also in tears in the spectator area.


    The Celestial Dance, peering into heavenly secrets and stealing them in order to survive. The peak period of the Daemon Continent was when the Celestial Fox and Peacock Demon Emperors coexisted. It was during that era that the demon races surpassed the nymph races to be the true rulers of the Daemon Continent.


    However, there had only been one Peacock Demon Emperor. And after she passed away, the Celestial Dance vanished from the world��only to unexpectedly reappear during this Ancestral Court Elite Competition.


    "ROOOAAAARRR!!!"


    An intense dragon roar pulled everyone''s thoughts back to the present.


    The gold and silver colors had spread across the sky, dissipating the Eternal Night Domain. Light was returning to the world.


    Meng Dede''s expression turned grim. The bright purple-ck horn on his forehead glowed intensely. His Eternal Night Domain was immensely powerful, yet it was gradually fading under the influence of this girl��s dance! That strange power filled him with a sense of dread, as if she could see through his very being and know all his secrets.


    He slowly raised the blood-red spear in his hand, causing the space around him to copse rapidly, forcefully creating a blood-red area. Terrifying blood-colored currents surged, and Meng Dede''s movements became smooth again.


    Meng Deshi returned to human form, hiding behind him.


    "Blood ughter!" Meng Dede growled.


    The Blood ughter Devil Spear in his hand emitted a piercing wail, and countless blood-colored shadows surged forth. The horn on his forehead now emitted blood-red light instead of purple. His body began to swell, growing a meter taller instantly. Muscles bulged, tearing through his clothes. Dark red veins pulsed irregrly on his skin, and an extremely terrifying aura surged like wildfire.


    Meanwhile, Mei Gongzi sensed that something was off. The three eyes on the Celestial Plume in her hand lit up simultaneously. She gently swung it while spinning around, sending a golden-silver beam toward Meng Dede.


    The beam was very peculiar, weaving through the blood-red shadows and somehow always finding a gap as it headed straight for Meng Dede.


    A crisp snap echoed, and at the same time, a deep, bloody mark appeared on Meng Dede''s chest, with dark red blood gushing out.


    Under the Celestial Dance, the Celestial Plume was no longer a sword but a whip.


    Meng Dede''s blood-red eyes stared at Mei Gongzi; he was seemingly unfazed by the pain. He fiercely shook the Blood ughter Devil Spear, and countless illusory red shadows surged forth.


    In the sky, the endless spread of blood red temporarily suppressed the golden-silver energy, rendering it unable to rise further. The entire sky seemed polluted. Then the Blood ughter Devil Spear thrust forward, unleashing a ring blood light that descended instantly, reaching Mei Gongzi in a sh.


    After all, Mei Gongzi had only just begun to grasp the Celestial Dance. Her cultivation was not at the god level, so she was unable to harness its true divine nature. She could only rely on the power of the golden-silver energy to amplify herself.


    The Blood ughter Devil Spear, being a demonic weapon, could suppress the golden-silver energy to some extent. Moreover, Meng Dede had cultivated the mighty bloodline of the ck Horned Dragon King to the point where a breakthrough to godhood was imminent; this incredible bloodline power allowed him to regain the upper hand.


    With a crisp sound the Celestial Plume struck the tip of the Blood ughter Devil Spear.


    "Contamination!" A cold voice echoed.


    Instantly, ayer of blood spread over the Celestial Plume, greatly diminishing its spiritual power. The golden-silver energy apanying Mei Gongzi''s movements also weakened.


    The bloody energy surged, and the golden-silver energy receded.


    With a thunderous boom, Mei Gongzi was violently shaken and sent flying backward, falling directly toward the ground.


    The bloody light intensified instantly, devouring the remaining golden-silver energy in the air. Even more bloody light burst from the Blood ughter Devil Spear, and Meng Dede let out a piercing dragon roar.


    His wings spread open, and he dived toward the falling Mei Gongzi like a bolt of blood-red lightning.

 Chapter 563: An Unexpected Development

    <h4>Chapter 563: An Unexpected Development</h4>


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi felt a wave of nausea emanating from her chest. Both the Celestial Plume and her body were being eroded by the bloody aura and countless vengeful spirits were surging toward her. If not for the golden-silver energy''s protection, she would have already been corroded into blood pulp.


    At that moment, a calming voice sounded in her ear.


    "Rx."


    In the next instant, the massive crystal core connected to the smaller one floating in her sea of consciousness suddenly radiated a brilliant light.


    Time stood still.


    Mei Gongzi vaguely saw starlight��real starlight this time, from the boundless cosmos. It was as if she was suddenly connected to another world. A pair of strong hands wrapped around her waist from behind, drawing her naturally into a tight embrace.


    In the next moment, time seemed to resume, but what Mei Gongzi experienced were countless fragmented images shing through her mind. Each fragment was blurry, and yet she felt an intimate connection to them.


    She felt dizzy and dazed, and her spirit core was shaking violently. However, the warmth of those arms and the gentle power of the huge crystal core stabilized everything about her.


    A point of starlight suddenly brightened in her spiritual world. In that moment, she seemed to see an ancient world, a pair of embracing figures, and endless feelings....


    A red glow suddenly expanded within her mind, and the Celestial Plume in Mei Gongzi''s hand disappeared. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, her hands slowly reached toward each other above her head. Though her movements seemed slow, they were extraordinarily mystical, like when she had previously conjured the Mysterious Circles of Heaven.


    The moment her palms joined, a red beam shot up from her hands.


    Meng Dede��s bloody light exuded a vicious aura and was apanied by the wails of countless vengeful spirits. But the light emerging from Mei Gongzi''s hands, though also blood-colored, was vast and grand, filled with majesty and righteousness.


    The blood-red light suddenly rose. None of the spectators, including the Emperors, sensed the overwhelming power in that blight. But the moment it made contact with Meng Dede��s light, a strange scene unfolded.


    The wails of the vengeful spirits turned toments. The boiling frenzy of the Blood ughter Demon Spear faded, and all the ferocity and darkness seemed to be cleaved apart.


    Meng Dede''s fierce gaze turned to astonishment almost instantly. He suddenly jerked his back, forcefully flinging Meng Deshi off and sending her flying out of the arena.


    The two bloody lights collided and crossed in an instant. One of them seemed to bepletely split open, dissipating into the sky.


    For a moment, time and space seemed to freeze.


    All the fragments floating in Mei Gongzi''s mind stopped moving and gradually turned to illusions. In her mind, she seemed to hear Asura''s voice again.


    <i>"Today, I feel great, better than ever."</i>


    The two Great Demon King-level referees stared in astonishment at the scene. When the image in front of their eyes froze, they instinctively wanted to intervene. But at that moment, it seemed everything had already ended.


    <i>BOOM!</i>


    It wasn''t the sound of a collision between fighters, but the sound of Meng Dede falling from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground!


    <i>ng!</i>


    The broken Blood ughter Demon Spear fell to the ground, turning into dark metal, devoid of any demonic aura.


    A vast and mighty aura soared into the sky, sweeping away the malevolent aura brought by the Blood ughter Demon Spear. The entire sky cleared up; the tribtion clouds that had once more started to form silently dissipated.


    The entire arena was silent. All the spectators felt as if they didn''t know what had happened. In fact, they truly didn''t understand why everything had suddenly changed. How had Meng Dede, who clearly had the upper hand and wielded a powerful divine weapon, been suddenly defeated?


    Down on the stage, Meng Dede seemed like he was trying to move, but in fact his body was just twitching, and he was unconscious. Fortunately, the Blood ughter Demon Spear had blocked most of the attack, preventing his body from being split in two. Even so, his condition was dire, and he was bleeding like a fountain. The Blood ughter Demon Spear was his life weapon, perfectly integrated with his body and spirit. Its destruction, along with the dispelling of its demonic and vengeful aura, caused a fundamental injury to him, even causing the horn on his head to crack.


    A dark figure suddenly appeared on the stage, and a purple-ck halo enveloped Meng Dede. At the same time, a gloomy gaze fell upon Mei Gongzi, who stood there with closed eyes and a pale face.


    The next instant, however, another person appeared in front of Mei Gongzi, protecting her��it was Tang San.


    A terrifying pressure surged forth like a tidal wave, crashing down on Tang San and Mei Gongzi.


    "Do you intend to sully the fairness of the Ancestral Court?" A cold voice rang out, followed by a surge of murderous aura descending from the sky, tearing through the immense pressure and standing in front of Tang San and Mei Gongzi.


    Even with the neer facing away from him, Tang San could feel the terrifying and domineering killing intent.


    The one who had appeared beside Meng Dede was naturally his grandfather, the Eternal Night Sovereign Tenebrous Demon Emperor. And standing in front of Tang San and Mei Gongzi was the Heaven-Crossing Earth-Piercing White Tiger Demon Emperor. These two Demon Emperors were ranked fifth and sixth, respectively.


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s voice was as cold as a cier. "I am sullying it? Then how about them?"


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor was unperturbed. "This is apetition, and apetitor��s skill turned out to be inferior to another��s. I don��t see where the problem is."


    "Do you know he is the dragon race''s chosen one?" said the Tenebrous Demon Emperor. His gaze shifted to the main VIP box, where the Ancestral Court''s strongest and the current leader of the dragon race was seated.


    "I only know that thispetition is held under the auspices of the Ancestral Court, and thepetition must be fair. Everyone is watching you, so what are you nning to do?"


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor looked at Meng Dede, whoy on the ground with his body still twitching. He pressed his right hand in the air, and a dark halo enveloped Meng Dede. "He''s crippled, and it will be tough for him to ever reach godhood. This loss will be ounted for."


    The surrounding air suddenly darkened, and in the next instant, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor vanished into thin air.


    A match that ended with two Demon Emperors confronting each other was extremely rare in the history of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. The Tenebrous Demon Emperor had to leave��not because he was afraid of the White Tiger Demon Emperor, even though thetter was ranked higher, but because he was indeed in the wrong. Under the watchful eyes of the entire Ancestral Court, he couldn''t do anything. But enmity had been evidently forged.


    The Peacock Demon n had gained another powerful enemy!


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor turned around and looked at his granddaughter. At this moment, Mei Gongzi had fallen unconscious and was being held by Asura.


    The visible half of Asura��s face was pale as paper.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor frowned but didn''t say anything. He simply nodded and vanished.


    It was only then that the audience erupted in an uproar.


    <i>They won! </i>


    The Peacock Princess and Asura actually won, defeating the Meng Dede and Meng Deshi team in spite of thetter borrowing the power of tribtion lightning and demonic weapons to fully unleash their strength!


    What intrigued the audience the most was the red light that destroyed Meng Dede��s divine weapon. To block and suppress a divine weapon, one could rely on overwhelming strength, but destroying onepletely was nowhere near as simple. Moreover, it was clear that the power of Asura and the Peacock Princess didn��t remotely count as "overwhelming" when they faced someone like Meng Dede. This suggested that she actually might possess a divine artifact even stronger than the Blood ughter Demon Spear, and it was this divine artifact that had unleashed a burst of power, destroying the demonic weapon and severely injuring Meng Dede.

 Chapter 564: Father-in-laws Invitation

    <h4>Chapter 564: Father-inw''s Invitation</h4>


    When did the Peacock Demon n��s vaults get so deep? Meng Dede had been nurtured with immense care and a mountain of resources not just by his n, but by the entire dragon race. No matter what, the foundation of the Peacock Demon n couldn''tpare to that of the dragon race!


    The beams of blood-red light were both incredibly clear: one filled with hatred and negativity, the other with vast majesty and a killing intent carrying a righteous aura that cleansed the demonic energy, clearing the heavens and earth. This was not something an ordinary divine item could achieve. Even the Emperors in the VIP boxes were astonished.


    As he carried Mei Gongzi down from the arena, Tang San''s face regained a bit of color. He looked down at the person in his arms. She was just exhausted in terms of spiritual power and bloodline power, nothing serious. A bit of rest and she would be all good.


    What was that red light? Nobody else knew but him. It originally belonged to Mei Gongzi... and also to him.


    In Tang San''s previous life, he held the seat of Sea God that came with a powerful divine artifact, the Sea God''s Trident. After years of nurturing, the Sea God''s Trident further evolved into a transcendent divine artifact, the peak of power among items.


    Besides the Sea God''s Trident, Tang San actually had another divine artifact, which was also the mark of a powerful divine seat. Before he even became a God King as the Sea God, the previous holder of this divine position had already be a God King and possibly the strongest God King in terms of individualbat prowess: the Asura God.


    The Asura God possessed a divine sword that governed thews of the God Realm, and he had the right and duty to bestow judgment upon anyone in the God Realm. The powerful Asura Godter intended to give his divine seat and the Asura Sword to Tang San, but the Sea God had been first to make contact, and Tang San didn''t have the ability to hold two divine seats simultaneously. Ultimately, the Asura God''s seat was passed onto Xiao Wu on behalf of Tang San, allowing him to borrow the Asura God''s power when necessary.


    As his divine consciousness gradually recovered, Tang San''s overall abilities were also restored. Besides the Mysterious Circles of Heaven, he could also utilize some of his other past life abilities.


    Mei Gongzi had lost all memories of her past life after reincarnation, but her bond with the transcendent divine artifact remained and a connection could be reestablished through Tang San''s divine consciousness. Tang San made use of this her past connection, borrowing a sliver of the Asura Sword��s power to defeat Meng Dede.


    In his past life, before Xiao Wu''s fall, Tang San tried everything to save his wife''s life but ultimately failed. Helpless, he used all means to ensure his wife would sessfully reincarnate and her spirit would not dissipate. Finally, he left a trace of the Asura Sword''s divine intent in Xiao Wu''s true spirit.


    A spirit could not contain a divine artifact per se, but this trace of aura actually protected her true spirit. This ensured her sessful reincarnation and endowed her new body with exceptional talent��in particr, a natural affinity for using the sword.


    Under the intense pressure of Meng Dede��s assault, Tang San made contact with the trace of divine intent hidden deep within Mei Gongzi''s soul, enabling her to establishmunication with the Asura Sword and borrow a fraction of its power from afar.


    Although this action would attract attention, the benefits were immense. First, it ensured victory over Meng Dede. No matter how powerful the Blood ughter Demon Spear was, it was nothing before the Asura Sword, not to mention the sword''s righteous judgment ability was highly effective against demonic weapons. Second, invoking this trace of divine intent allowed Mei Gongzi to reestablishmunication with the Asura Sword. The sword would be able to pinpoint her location ande to find her; its divine intent would grow stronger as it approached, and its protection would increase. And once this transcendent divine artifact truly arrived by Mei Gongzi''s side, even Emperors would find it difficult to harm her.


    This ne was certainly strong, but its divine artifacts still fell shortpared to the divine artifacts of an actual divine realm, not to mention transcendent ones.


    To reestablishmunication between Mei Gongzi and the sword, Tang San had consumed a significant amount of his divine consciousness, but he didn��t mind. He preferred to help Mei Gongzimunicate with the Asura Sword rather than summoning his own transcendent divine artifact. To him, nothing was more important than protecting Mei Gongzi.


    In his previous life, he had failed to protect Xiao Wu, leading to her eventual fall. In this life, the way he viewed things waspletely different. He used to have many responsibilities, as he had to protect his divine realm, among other things. But in this life, when he was reborn and saw Mei Gongzi for the first time, he had already decided to protect only her. Nothing else mattered.


    And once this connection was set, it would be a matter of course for Mei Gongzi to be a god. If the tribtion lightning wanted to harm her, it would have to contend with the sword intent of the Asura Sword.


    In her unconscious state, Mei Gongzi looked very peaceful, her delicate face a bit pale. Looking at her wless beauty, all Tang San wanted was to lean down and kiss her. Of course, it was just a thought. He would wait until she came to him of her own free will.


    When he walked down from the arena, the Peacock Great Demon King was already waiting there, wearing a peculiar expression.


    Seeing Tang San carrying Mei Gongzi down, he quickly stepped forward and put a pill into Mei Gongzi''s mouth. Tang San recognized it as the same kind that had been given to him before.


    Although it was somewhat extravagant to use this on Mei Gongzi, since she wasn��t really injured, Tang San had no intention of stopping it. To him, using any treasure for Mei Gongzi was worth it.


    The Peacock Great Demon King did not take Mei Gongzi from Tang San but instead waved his right hand. A silver light enveloped both Tang San and Mei Gongzi, and in a sh, they swiftly left the scene.


    When they reappeared, they were in a ce unfamiliar to Tang San��a spacious room with a faint scent of incense. The Peacock Great Demon King didn''t speak but pointed to a side door.


    Understanding, Tang San carried Mei Gongzi into the room there, carefully cing her on the bed and covering her with a nket. He arranged her long hair to one side, ensuring she wasfortable, before stepping out and gently closing the door.


    The Peacock Great Demon King still stood in the living room, calmly watching as Tang San did everything.


    "You are very mysterious," said Tang San��s future father-inw.


    Tang San looked at him calmly and replied, "There''s nothing mysterious about it. Everything I do is to protect her."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded. "I believe you. I don''t know why you��re doing this or where your feelingse from, but I trust you."


    As he spoke, he pointed to a nearby sofa, indicating for Tang San to sit down.


    Tang San did not stand on ceremony and went to sit on the sofa.


    The Peacock Great Demon King murmured, "I originally had only a forty to fifty percent chance. But after today''s battle, it should be over seventy percent."


    Tang San didn''t ask what he meant, because he knew that the Peacock Great Demon King had brought him here to tell him something important. Exnations would follow in due time.


    The Peacock Great Demon King lifted his head, his eyes zing as he looked at Tang San, and said, "I don''t have much time left. My greatest regret in this life is not being able to be an Emperor, not inheriting the legacy of my ancestors, not leading the Peacock Demon n back to the pinnacle. This wish may now depend on Little Mei. With you by her side, I feel increasingly assured. I don��t know who you are and why you��re doing this, but I now believe in you.


    "Perhaps you only made contact with her because the Redemption Society ordered you to, but I can see that you genuinely care for her. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have made a blood oath so easily. I brought you here today because there are things you need to know that are crucial for her future, as well as the resurgence of the Peacock Demon n and... your own survival. If you truly care for her, then stay by her side and help her lead. Help her be the true master of Kali City. Help her restore the glory of the Peacock Demon n. In doing so, you will also help humankind."

 Chapter 565: Three Gifts (Part 1)

    <h4>Chapter 565: Three Gifts (Part 1)</h4>


    Tang San looked calmly at the Peacock Great Demon King, the n leader whose life essence was continuously draining. At this moment, he sensed a bit of sincerity from him. The Peacock Great Demon King��s gaze was as deep as the sea, and when he spoke about his limited time, there was no regret or reluctance; it was as if he was just talking about an ordinary matter.


    "Please go ahead," Tang San said.


    The Peacock Great Demon King took a deep breath and said, "I don''t know your origins, but that doesn''t matter. Your abilities are the strongest I''ve seen among humans, and there are many mysterious aspects about you. I suppose you are a talent nurtured with great effort by the Redemption Society. Your only shoring is that you have no foundation, no backing. The Redemption Society cannot provide these things for you... but Kali City can."


    Tang San nodded lightly.


    "Little Mei carries the bloodline of our Peacock Demon n and is my designated sessor. After this Ancestral Court Elite Competition, her prestige will greatly increase, both in Kali City and here in the Ancestral Court, minimizing the resistance she will face when inheriting the throne. Her only issue is having human blood. No one with human blood has ever be the master of a main city. The pressure she will face in the future will be massive. And this pressure... I will need you to help her bear."


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s voice grew much lower. "Before I leave, I''ve prepared three gifts for you. First is the support of the upper echelons within Kali City. I''ve ruled Kali City for many years and I have conducted a thorough purge. Now, the major ns of the city are more or less united. With this Ancestral Court Elite Competition, Little Mei gaining their support should not be an issue. This is especially the case for the Golden Deers and Aetherhorn Deers; they have long been intertwined with the Peacock Demon n in both prosperity and decline. They are smart and will see from thispetition that Little Mei inheriting the throne is the best choice.


    "However, internal n issues will be a bit troublesome. Even though Little Mei has gained the approval of the Celestial Plume and passed the ancestral test, the internal factions in the n won��t abandon their ambitions and unite just because I say so. What I can do is ensure that the Great Demon Kings won''t intervene lightly. You need to work with Little Mei to clear the other obstacles, but I will ask you not to resort to excessive killing. Do you understand what I mean?"


    Tang San nodded slowly. "I understand."


    The Peacock Great Demon King continued, "The second gift rtes to Little Mei''s mother. She is also the Saintess of your Redemption Society, right? She was once dearly loved by her father, the White Tiger Demon Emperor, but she fled from an arranged marriage, which led her to leave the Ancestral Court. Otherwise, she would still be the little princess of the White Tiger Demon Emperor. However, today, the White Tiger Demon Emperor stepped forward to protect you. This shows that he still acknowledges both Su Qin and Little Mei. After all, the White Tigers are very few, since the lineage itself is a mutation, and the White Tiger Demon Emperor has no sessor.


    "Your Lion-Tiger npanion, from my observations, has already been targeted by the lion race. The tiger demons will not sit idly by, but their true leader is the White Tiger Demon Emperor. Little Mei''s performance today clearly outshines yourpanion''s. Although her human bloodline is an issue, it doesn''t exclude the possibility of gaining the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s support. This depends on how youmunicate with him in the future. If you can gain the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s support, then Little Mei''s position as the City Lord will be more than half secure. This will also greatly benefit your standing in the Ancestral Court."


    Tang San nodded again, understanding what the Peacock Great Demon King was getting at. The White Tiger Demon Emperor was a crucial ally they needed to win over for Kali City''s future. If this Demon Emperor supported Mei Gongzi''s session, his presence held a lot of weight in a lot of matters.


    The Peacock Great Demon King paused briefly before continuing, "The biggest challenge you''ll face in the future is the Ancestral Court Council��s deliberation. When someone wants to take over a city, they need the approval of the Ancestral Court Council. For powerful ns, especially those with a Demon Emperor backing them, the council deliberation is just a formality. But for a n like ours, without an emperor, it''s a fierce struggle.


    "Only by ensuring a favorable vote from the Ancestral Court Council can Little Mei rightfully be the city lord. And ording to the Ancestral Court''s rules, within a year of inheriting the city lord position, Little Mei needs to report to the Ancestral Court and undergo a trial to confirm her qualification as the ruler of Kali City. She needs the agreement of at least half of the Demon Emperors to inherit the position."


    Tang San asked, "So, only the Demon Emperors need to vote, and it doesn''t involve the Nymph Emperors?"


    "We''re not in the same country; the nymphs can''t meddle in the internal affairs of the demons. Of course, gaining support from some Nymph Emperors would certainly help, but you have to be aware of the potential bacsh. The nymph races and the demon races are ostensibly united, but they are actually in constantpetition, especially since the nymphs are currently in a weaker position. The demon races would naturally be reluctant to allow them to meddle in the internal affairs of the Empyrean Dominion. With things being as they are, out of the nine Demon Emperors, Little Mei needs the support of at least five to secure the session."


    The Peacock Great Demon King furrowed his brows, clearly showing some concern in his eyes. "Today, you heavily injured Meng Dede, and that has deeply offended the dragon race. I don''t know what that red light was, but I''m certain it wasn''t Little Mei''s power; it was yours, right? It must be an extraordinary divine artifact. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have been able to sever the Blood ughter Demon Spear. That spear has been with the Tenebrous Dragon n for countless years and was once the weapon of the Tenebrous Demon Emperor himself. When it was passed down to Meng Dede, it was already famous, and its significance as an heirloom cannot be understated.


    "Yet this weapon was broken by your hand, and you''ve even potentially severed Meng Dede''s path to further advancement. You saved Little Mei and you should not regret that move, but the fact of the matter is that you��ve created a powerful enemy. After all, among the nine Demon Emperors, the Crystal Demon Emperor and the Tenebrous Demon Emperor are both from the dragon race. The possibility of them supporting you is practically nonexistent. Although the Crystal Demon Emperor doesn''t participate much in Ancestral Court��s affairs, as long as he is alive, he remains the strongest being on the Daemon Continent. Everyone has to consider his stance."


    Hearing him mention the Crystal Demon Emperor, Tang San couldn''t help but feel a strange sensation. The Peacock Great Demon King had every reason to believe that the Crystal Demon Emperor would not help his daughter, but Tang San was not so certain!


    Crystalline had hatched and seemed to be growing splendidly, although she was mostly asleep. And with her in-between, it was hard to say what the future rtionship with the Crystal Demon Emperor would be like. Moreover, thetter was the only one who had a rough idea of how many bloodlines Tang San possessed. Although Tang San was wary of him, for some reason, he felt that the Crystal Demon Emperor didn''t harbor any hostility.

 Chapter 566: Three Gifts (Part 2)

    <h4>Chapter 566: Three Gifts (Part 2)</h4>


    The Peacock Great Demon King continued, "Out of the nine, two are out of the question. There are seven left, and among these seven, you must gain the support of five. This is very difficult, very difficult indeed.


    "The attitude of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is crucial. He is the true ruler of the Ancestral Court and the master of fate. To sessfully inherit the position of city lord, you must obtain his support. If he decides to oppose you, then most of the other Demon Emperors are likely to follow suit. Conversely, if he supports you, the more neutral Demon Emperors are also likely to do the same.


    "With that in mind, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is the one you must actively seek in the future. As for how to establish a good rtionship with him, that entirely depends on yourselves. But I can tell you that the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor loves talent. If you can win at least one championship this time, the likelihood of gaining his support will greatly increase. He has always considered the development of the demons and nymphs alike as his responsibility, and he will support anything that benefits both.


    "The Celestial Foxes themselves aren��t anything special in terms of directbat. So how could they be a top n? It is because they have always made the right investments in various powerful beings. All the Demon Emperors, and even the Nymph Emperors, have benefited in one way or another from the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. The Celestial Fox n will naturally continue to do so in their legacy.


    "In any case, as long as you can win the championship, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s support for you will not be criticized. You will have earned this through your own strength.


    "If you can secure the support of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, along with the White Tiger Demon Emperor, you''ll have the foundation you need to go through the evaluation of the Council. The support of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor can offset the influence of the Crystal Demon Emperor, and although the White Tiger Demon Emperor is not very well-liked, his actualbat power might be even stronger than his ranking suggests. It is said that he once fought the Undying Demon Emperor to a draw. With the support of these two, your chances of gaining the support of the other Demon Emperors will be higher.


    "The one who will definitely oppose you without a second thought is the Undying Demon Emperor. In ancient times, the ns of the phoenix race and our Peacock Demon n have alwayspeted for the title of King of All Birds. When our Peacock Demon n had an Emperor that held the secrets of heaven, we fully suppressed them. Obviously, the Undying Demon Emperor has little wish for those times to return. In other words, with things as they are, at least three Demon Emperors will oppose you."


    A wry smile appeared on Tang San''s face. Who knew what the other Emperors would say? As for the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor that the Peacock Great Demon King mentioned, it was the one Tang San least wanted to face.


    Before he regained his God King powers, the less he dealt with this one, the better. Otherwise, it would mean significant trouble if his secrets were discovered.


    Helping Mei Gongzi inherit the position of lord of Kali City seemed more difficult than he had initially imagined.


    The Peacock Great Demon King paused for a moment, then continued, "I am actually quite confident about getting the Celestial Fox''s support. The main reason is that Mei Gongzi has truly mastered the Celestial Plume and obtained the n��s heritage.


    "There is an old saying in the Ancestral Court: ''The Celestial Fox controls fate, while the Peacock peers into the secrets of the heavens.'' These two things work perfectly in conjunction. Fate connects the present to the future, while knowing the so-called secrets of heaven is knowing the future. They naturallyplement each other.


    "The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor actually truly began to rule the Ancestral Court during the time of my ancestor, the Peacock Demon Emperor. When fate and destinybine, they can control the future of the demon and nymph races. Little Mei can now glimpse the secrets of the heavens, and the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor understands better than anyone the benefits of having such an ally for the Celestial Fox n. It would also allow him to have a much better grasp on the Ancestral Court."


    Tang San��s eyes narrowed. "Can the Celestial Plume really see the future?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded and said, "Yes, but it requires the user to be a god first. It needs divine consciousness and also... life force. Excessive use can damage one''s essence. This is why my ancestor, the Peacock Demon Emperor, had a short lifespan; she peered too much into destiny."


    Hearing this, Tang San immediately frowned. Peering into the secrets of heaven inevitably led to the bacsh from said heaven. This was an extremely troublesome matter. The heavenly ways wereplex, elusive, and mysterious��they were, after all, the fundamental power that organized the universe. Even when he was a God King and seemingly in control of everything, he couldn''t save Xiao Wu''s life because her condition was precisely a result of such a bacsh. She used her body to take on that bacsh while helping him.


    Therefore, anything involving this aspect triggered a strong reaction in Tang San. Perhaps in the eyes of the Peacock Great Demon King, the ability of the Celestial Plume to peer into destiny was a divine technique, but to Tang San, it was no different from unleashing a terrifying savage beast to defend you from a much weaker savage beast. He would never let Mei Gongzi use it to peer into the secrets of heaven. No, this wasn''t safe; he had to find a way to destroy the Celestial Plume. He could not allow it to exist.


    Of course, if the Peacock Great Demon King knew what Tang San was thinking, he would be furious. The Celestial Plume was the supreme divine artifact of his n, and the way their legacy was passed on.


    The Peacock Great Demon King continued, "Once you have the support of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, the chances of sess are quite high. Now, with that said... I mentioned earlier that I have prepared three gifts for you, but I only told you about two. As for the third gift, do not tell Mei Gongzi, or at least not now. Wait until she has firmly secured the position of city lord, and then consult her mother first."


    Tang San was taken aback. "What do you mean?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes narrowed slightly. The next moment, he began tomunicate with Tang San through voice transmission.


    Tang San had been perfectly calm up until now, even as he heard about the secrets of heaven and whatnot. As the Peacock Great Demon King spoke inside his head, though, his eyes widened, and his expression immediately betrayed the immense shock he was feeling.


    Seeing his expression, the Peacock Great Demon King''s lips curled up slightly. Clearly, he was rather pleased to see the unperturbable Asura loseposure. "Now you understand why I chose Little Mei as my sessor, right? There is absolutely no way anybody expects this, and <i>this</i> is my real trump card. You made that blood oath and you''ve shown enough strength, so you are qualified to know this secret. You''re also smart, so you should know how to use it. Before I die, I will reveal this trump card andy the groundwork for you."


    At this moment, Tang San was indeed exactly as shocked as he appeared. In his mind, the majestic and dignified person in front of him hadpletely transformed into what humans usually called a "scheming bastard." It was painfully clear that despite approaching death, this peerless Great Demon King could still y everyone around him like a fiddle.


    "Since you have this trump card, why didn''t you reveal it earlier?" Tang San couldn''t help but ask.


    The Peacock Great Demon King replied calmly, "I have my pride. For the sake of my n, I can certainly do things I dislike, but from my own perspective, I don''t want to use such means. Life and death are trivial; we just do what we must. In truth, there are no winners among us."


    Tang San looked at his interlocutor with aplex expression, not knowing what to say for a moment. However, he couldn''t help but gain more respect for him. This Peacock Great Demon King truly was a legendary figure! The third gift surprised even a seasoned strategist like Tang San��he had devised quite a few sessful schemes himself, yet this approach still gave him a sense of amazement. No wonder the old peacock could remain calm when faced with life and death and the immense turmoil in Kali City. This trump card was truly formidable!


    "Remember everything I''ve told you today. In the uingpetitions, keep working hard and give it your all. You must win a championship. Your path should be clear after defeating the Meng Dede duo in the doublespetition, and you��re most definitely in the top four in the individualpetition. Mei Gongzi should have no problem entering the top four, either. Then, it will depend on the subsequent matches. Currently, your situation looks perfectly favorable, but you must remain cautious. Because you defeated Meng Dede, your next opponents might receive more support from their races. Can you use that power again?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 567: A Mans Eyes Dont Lie

    <h4>Chapter 567: A Man''s Eyes Don''t Lie</h4>


    Tang San shook his head.


    The power of the Asura Sword was not easy to wield. Using it this time had cost Tang San dearly. He had consumed a massive amount of his divine consciousness, merging it with the seed left in Mei Gongzi''s soul in order to activate the divine intent. The process didn��t do much to Mei Gongzi, but it most certainly drained Tang San.


    On the bright side, the greatest benefit was reestablishingmunication between Mei Gongzi and the Asura Sword, and setting a coordinate for the sword. With this coordinate, the sword woulde from distant space to meet her. The next time they wanted to use the sword''s power, Mei Gongzi would need to be a god, but by that time, they could provide the sword with a much more urate location and speed up its arrival.


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded and said, "Time waits for no one. I can''t give you much time. After the Ancestral Court Elite Competition ends, I will take you back to Kali City immediately to prepare everything for her session. The next one to three months will likely be myst. While your performance has created greater possibilities for the future, it has also shortened our preparation time, so be prepared."


    "I understand. But if possible, I hope you can dy as long as possible, allowing me to make more thorough preparations."


    "How much time do you need?"


    Tang San smiled wryly. "Three months would only allow me to make some basic preparations. If we had a year, it would be much better. In a year, she should be able to reach the tenth order. Once she bes a god, she will have a much better chance of protecting herself."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded and said, "I might be able to get you a year. I''ll try, in any case. But by then, I will likely be gone. The Ancestral Court Council meeting will have to depend on you."


    Tang San nodded in response. "Understood."


    "Alright, there''s not much I can give you. I feel you don''t need anything from me. But I can tell that you genuinely like Mei Gongzi. I''m not a spring chicken myself, and a man''s eyes don''t lie. She might not even realize it, but when you look at her, your eyes are filled with emotions only men understand: affection, love, a desire to protect.... That''s why you were willing to make a blood oath for her, isn��t it? It somehow seems to me as if you��ve known her for a long time...."


    Tang San nodded again. "You��re not entirely wrong. In this world, there''s nothing more important to me than protecting her. As long as I''m alive, no one can harm her."


    The Peacock Great Demon King said, "I only hope that in the future, when you both truly grow up, you will treat my n well. As you promised, the position of the Peacock Demon n leader should be passed down to one of the outstanding juniors of my n. You will have to lend a hand when ites to nurturing them."


    "In the future, I will take her with me and leave this ce altogether. The Peacock Demon n will belong only to the members of the Peacock Demon n."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The Peacock Great Demon King was obviously surprised by his words and hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "I don''t know why, but I find your words trustworthy."


    Tang San smiled slightly. "Every word I say is sincere."


    Looking at the masked young man in front of him, the Peacock Great Demon King suddenly felt a strange sense that this young junior seemed to be on equal footing with him at this moment. In fact... in that instant, Asura''s gaze made him feel as if a majestic Demon Emperor was sitting before him, looking down upon everything from a ce nobody could reach.


    When Tang San returned to the White Tiger Grand Hotel, the astonishment in his heart hadn''tpletely faded. Thest "gift" mentioned by the Peacock Great Demon King had shocked him greatly. It was something he had never anticipated, not even a bit. He just hoped that it wouldn''t affect Mei Gongzi''s emotions in the future.


    There was also the issue of the Celestial Plume. It was not just a spatial artifact but also had the ability to peer into the secrets of heaven. This was problematic. Tang San was well aware of what scrutinizing destiny entailed.


    This artifact was not allowed to exist! Although losing it would affect Mei Gongzi''s control over spatial power, once the Asura Sword arrived, it would offer her power far superior to the Celestial Plume. The problem was how to deal with the Celestial Plume in the short term; for now, it couldn''t be destroyed. Otherwise, the Peacock Demon n would instantly turn hostile.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s frankness today had rified Tang San''s thoughts considerably, giving him more confidence. It was just as the man had said: time waited for no one. After thepetition, they had to return to Kali City immediately to make some ns. They had to get stronger, and they had to get stronger <i>now</i>.


    He couldn''t wait for hispanions to grow. He had to quickly help Mei Gongzi improve her cultivation. Breaking through to the tenth order himself was not something that could be done in a short time, but helping Mei Gongzi advance would be much easier. With a trace of divine intent from the Asura Sword, coupled with the power of the Celestial Plume and Mei Gongzi''s own foundation, she should have no problem passing the tribtion.


    As for himself, he needed to establish that teleportation array to the Ancestral Court he had been thinking of. In order to truly be stronger and make his own preparations for advancement, theplete fusion of yin-yang energy and the Blue Silver Emperor��in other words, creating a transcendent bloodline��was essential. Hence, he needed to visit the Sunborne Sacred Mountain and the Earthshade Sacred Mountain regrly. The Ancestral Court was indeed an excellent ce for cultivation.


    For now, he decided to focus on finishing thepetition.


    Returning to the cultivation room, Tang San sat cross-legged and meditated.


    Although waking up that seed of divine intent greatly depleted his divine consciousness, there were benefits as well. The Asura Sword he himself had once wielded was a transcendent divine artifact, after all. The stimtion it gave to his divine consciousness allowed it to actually elevate. At the same time, his sea of consciousness expanded. This meant his divine consciousness was temporarily weakened, but the space for his spiritual power had increased, causing his spiritual power to swell significantly. He needed topress it again to prevent a breakthrough, and then condense some more of it.


    His physical strength and internal energy had been enhanced after merging with the Wind Dragon bloodline, and with this breakthrough in spiritual power, his cultivation hadprehensively improved. Tang San was not in a hurry to continue breaking through; instead, he wanted to stabilize his cultivation.


    The bloodline imprints of the Behemoth and the Golden Mammoth were still waiting for him to merge them. In fact, if these two bloodlines could be fused sessfully, they might produce a transcendent bloodline as well.


    However, the difficulty of merging them would undoubtedly be immense. Both were first-tier bloodlines, and though they shared some characteristics, they also had many differences. Merging them into one was no easy task. Of course, if he was sessful, Tang San''s physical strength would be the strongest below godhood. Even ordinary gods would be simply unable topare in terms of pure physical strength.


    Once his physical strength increased, he could consider working on the yin-yang energy as well. At the same time, he would need to acquire the necessary bloodlines in advance and enhance the Blue Silver Emperor itself. These preparations were also troublesome, requiring time and opportunity.


    The night passed without incident.


    The next morning, Tang San awoke from meditation and called Mei Gongzi. Her voice immediately came through.

 Chapter 568: Entering the Semi-finals

    <h4>Chapter 568: Entering the Semi-finals</h4>


    "How are you? Is your physical condition okay?" Tang San asked. Although he knew Mei Gongzi should be fine, he couldn''t help but be concerned; he had to hear it from her to feel reassured.


    ��I''m feeling great. Yesterday felt like just a nap. Did we really win? I still can''t believe it. Big Brother, how did you do it?


    Tang San smiled and said, "You''ll find outter. Can youpete today?"


    ��No problem. Actually, I feel better than ever. My spiritual power seems to have increased a lot all of a sudden. Even my body seems to have undergone some changes. Last night, I had a long, long dream. It felt like I saw many things, and when I woke up this morning, I realized I had been crying. But I can''t remember what the dream was about no matter how hard I try.


    Hearing this, Tang San''s heart ached. He said softly and tenderly, "If you can''t remember, don''t force it. Maybe you''ll recall itter. Meng Dede was seriously injured yesterday, so I don''t think I have a match today. I''lle to cheer you on."


    "Great!"


    Meng Dede''s injuries from yesterday definitely wouldn''t allow him to continue in thepetition, so Tang San''s match to enter the semifinals was essentially resolved. He was the first to advance to the semifinals in the individualpetition.


    On the other hand, both Big Cat and Mei Gongzi had to face strong opponents. Only by defeating them could they join him in the semi-finals.


    After ending the call, Tang San went to the dining room and found hispanions waiting for him.


    When they saw Tang San, everyone''s expressions turned somewhat strange, including Zhang Haoxuan��s


    "Little Tang, I heard... you won yesterday?" Du Bai asked somewhat uncertainly.


    Tang San nodded.


    "You made it to the top eight in the individualpetition, and you also made it to the top eight in the doubles. And your next opponent is out, so you��re practically in the semifinals now."


    Tang San sat down and smiled. "I suppose."


    Du Bai shook his head, clearly shocked. "I always knew you were strong, but when did you be this strong? Take me under your wing, Little Tang."


    Tang San said with a wry smile, "You think I can just feed you skill by the spoonful? You should cultivate and practice by yourself and get better. When the right opportunityes, it will naturally help you."


    "Help us out too," Gu Li couldn''t help but say.


    Seeing everyone''s expressions, Tang San didn��t know whether tough or cry. "Seriously, guys, we are partners, so of course I��ll help you. But we can''t rush things. Let''s take it step by step. Don''t worry, we''ve gained a lot of good things from the Ancestral Court this time. After thepetition, we''ll go back home as soon as we can and figure out how to use these things to grow stronger."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Everyone nodded, their faces showing clear excitement.


    At this moment, Zhang Haoxuan looked at Tang San and transmitted, <i>"The high-level members of the organization want to meet you."</i>


    Tang San''s heart stirred.<i>"Do they know I''m part of the organization?"</i>


    <i>"I haven''t told them yet, but they know you''re from Kali City. After all, you''ve been fighting alongside Mei Gongzi. They''ve asked me to arrange a meeting with you and the high-level members of the organization."</i>


    Tang San understood that the Redemption Society had seen his strength and wanted to recruit him.


    Shaking his head, he said, <i>"Not now. I don''t have time to deal with the organization''s matters at the moment. After thepetition, I will immediately return to Kali City with Mei Gongzi to prepare for her session as city lord. Nothing is more important than that. How about this, Master, you tell the organization that I am Mei Gongzi''s vassal, bound by a blood oath, and sworn to be loyal to her. I only listen to her."</i>


    Zhang Haoxuan was taken aback for a moment, but then he nodded in understanding. <i>"That''s actually a good idea. Mei Gongzi''s excellent performance in thispetition will surely increase her reputation within the organization. Those who were skeptical about her inheriting the city lord position are now starting to support her. I''ll convey your message. But... you have been part of the organization for a long time. Don''t you have any future ns within the organization? I told you before... I believe you are the future of humankind."</i>


    <i>"You did, Master, but you know as well as I do that Kali City will be very important for us humans. Only by controlling Kali City can we secure enough living space for our kind; otherwise, everything is just empty talk. Let me first help Mei Gongzi stabilize her position. Then we can talk to the organization about building Kali City into a haven for humans. As long as we establish a foothold there, there will be opportunities in the future for humans. We will not be bullied for much longer."</i>


    Zhang Haoxuan nodded. <i>"To be honest, when the organization made ns for Kali City in the early years, we never thought it could actually seed. At that time, the estimated probability was less than one percent. It was a shot in the dark, basically, and nobody expected that it would actually hit something. You''re right, if we can take Kali City, it will be a milestone for both the organization and humans om gemera;."</i>


    <i>"Exactly. Thank you for understanding, Master."</i>


    <i>"Alright, hurry up and eat. You''re going to thepetition venue?"</i>


    <i>"Today, both Big Cat and Mei Gongzi have matches. I want to go watch and cheer for them; after all, their matches are very important."</i>


    After having breakfast, Tang San went to the Ancestral Court Grand za again. To avoid being recognized, he wore a hooded coat and pulled the hood over his face. After all, his masked appearance was too easily recognizable.


    The Ancestral Court Grand za was, as usual, packed with people due to the ongoing matches.


    Yesterday''s two-on-two battle was still the hot topic among the spectators.


    After the battle between the Asura Peacock Pair[1] and the Tenebrous Dragon Duo, although the subsequent two-on-two matches were exciting and intense, the fighters were noticeably weaker. This Asura Peacock Pair had now truly be the most eye-catching presence in the audience''s eyes.


    Asura and the Peacock Princess were undoubtedly the biggest dark horses of thispetition. After yesterday''s matches, both of them had entered the quarter-finals of the individual matches.


    Moreover, Asura''s opponent in today''s match would be Meng Dede.


    After yesterday''s match, it was clear that he would be unable to continuepeting today. In other words, Asura had already advanced to the semifinals. This meant that, at worst, they would finish as a semifinalist and a quarter-finalist, respectively, in the individual matches. On the other hand, they had already defeated the biggest favorites in the doublespetition.


    Having defeated the most favored team and seemingly without significant injuries, they undoubtedly became the new favorites in ce of the previous ones.


    In the individual matches, with the former favorite Meng Dede out of the picture, Mei Gongzi''s odds now became the highest of allpetitors.


    After all, in the eyes of all the spectators, it was Mei Gongzi who had crushed Meng Dede yesterday. Therefore, she was the favorite in today''s match. Almost all the spectators believed that as long as Mei Gongzi was not too injured or exhausted from yesterday''s doubles match, she would surely win today''s quarter-final and advance to the next round.


    Mei Gongzi''s stunning beauty, the incredible strength she disyed in the matches, and her status as the heir of the Peacock Demon n instantly made both her and the Peacock Demon n the hottest topics.


    Asura''s situation was quite different. In the doubles match, he had simply supported Mei Gongzi and never made a move himself. Although everyone understood that Mei Gongzi''s ability to disy such immense strength was in no small part due to his help, Mei Gongzi was the one who controlled space, used the Peacock Demon n��s divine artifact, and somehow delivered a cataclysmic blow to end the match. Therefore, everyone automatically assumed that Asura''s role in the doubles match was just that of an assistant.


    1. The raws use the term "Three-Five Combo," but the problem is that nobody knows this word apart from Tang San. It would also be very weird for them to have registered under this name, so we are recing the term with something that could have been invented by the spectators. ?

 Chapter 569: I Am Yours, So What鈥檚 A Divine Weapon

    <h4>Chapter 569: I Am Yours, So What��s A Divine Weapon</h4>


    Of course, advancing to the quarter-finals of the individualpetition meant that no one would underestimate his strength anymore. However, his poprity was far behind Mei Gongzi''s.


    And this was exactly what Tang San wanted. Mei Gongzi needed to inherit the position of lord of Kali City and required not just individual prowess, but also prestige. As for him... he needed none of that. He just had to be the proverbial strong man standing behind a stronger woman.


    Tang San did not go to his waiting room but headed straight to the stand-by area.


    In the stand-by area, Big Cat stood there calmly, with his eyes closed, resting.


    In the quarter-finals, he was in the first match, so he��d simplye here directly.


    Sensing Tang San''s arrival, Big Cat opened his eyes. Upon seeing him, a knowing smile appeared on his usually calm and stern face.


    The two made eye contact, and Big Cat nodded at Tang San, who immediately grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. "Good luck."


    Big Cat''s eyes were filled with intense fighting spirit. "Heh, don��t worry about me!"


    "I''ll see you in the next round then," Tang San said with a smile, waving at hisrade before turning to leave.


    If Big Cat could defeat his opponent today, he would also enter the semifinals. His opponent in the semifinals would be Tang San. The two of them wouldpete for a spot in the final to contest the championship with the winner from the other half.


    He returned to the waiting rooms, but found that Mei Gongzi had not arrived yet. Her match waster, so it was fine for her toe a bitte. There were no other contestants around.


    This was no surprise. Big Cat and his opponent, who were set to have the first match, were already there waiting for it to start. Tang San''s opponent was unlikely to fight him today, or any other day, so it was no shock that he wasn��t around. As for thepetitors in the second bracket, there was still time until their matches were supposed to begin, so none of them had shown up just yet.


    Themunicator rang.


    ��Big Brother, are you there?


    "Already here," Tang San responded.


    A sh of silver light, and the next moment, Mei Gongzi was by his side.


    Her rosy face was glowing with healthy radiance, and her eyes were bright, showing that she was in excellent condition. However, there seemed to be a hint of confusion in her gaze, as if she was contemting something.


    "How are you feeling?" asked Tang San.


    "Pretty good..."


    It only made sense that she was confused. While she and Asura used that powerful move, she saw countless fragmented images��memories, she was certain that they were memories. She was also certain that the dream she hadst night was rted to those memories, yet... she simply could not recall any of them.


    She didn��t understand where these memories came from, but at the same time, she felt they were very, very important to her. It seemed that there was something in those memories that made her feel particrly close to them.


    So ever since waking up, she had been trying to recall them. But to her frustration, no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn''t remember those things.


    At the same time, the Celestial Plume she now had control of and her incredible intuition made her even more certain that those memories were important. It was as if these memories were not received from somewhere, but rather an inherent part of her soul that was somehow awakened during yesterday''s match.


    <i>"Big Brother, what was thatst move we used yesterday?"</i> Mei Gongzi asked Tang San through divine consciousness.


    <i>"The power of a divine weapon."</i>


    <i>"A divine weapon? Can I see it?"</i>


    <i>"Not yet. I don��t actually have it on me; I��ve only borrowed a bit of its power. When you be stronger, it wille to us. Then you''ll be able to see it."</i>


    Mei Gongzi frowned. <i>"I don''t know why, but I feel like this divine weapon you mentioned is very important to me. It might even affect my future."</i>


    Tang San chuckled. <i>"Why, of course it will. A powerful divine weapon can certainly make a difference. It could help you even more than the Celestial Plume."</i>


    Mei Gongzi''s eyes grew wide. <i>"Are you saying the divine weapon is for me?"</i>


    Although she didn''t yet know what the divine weapon was, if just borrowing a bit of its power could sever the Blood ughter Devil Spear��a renowned and powerful divine artifact��and severely injure Meng Dede, then this divine weapon had to be extraordinarily powerful. How could Asura simply give something like that to her?


    Tang San smiled gently. <i>"I''ve already sworn a blood oath to serve you. I''m already yours, so naturally, my things are yours too! It''s a matter of course, don��t you think?"</i>


    Mei Gongzi was stunned, feeling a strange sensation in her heart. He was saying these unbelievable things so casually that one might think he was talking about serving breakfast.


    Her affection for Asura had been growing day by day. This person was always by her side like an older brother, solving all kinds of problems for her. Although the time spent with him during thispetition was not long, nowhere near as long as her previous seclusion, she could clearly feel that her progress was even faster than during her seclusion. It was almost unbelievable. Every hint he gave her, every bit of help, seemed more effective than even her father''s advice.


    He was mysterious and powerful, so much so that she didn''t know his limits. To others, it seemed like she had defeated Meng Dede in yesterday''s battle, but she knew all too well that the victory wasn''t hers. Whether it was the significant boost in her power, enabling her to exert her abilities much better, or the final decisive blow, it was all thanks to Asura.


    At the same time, she had another feeling, especially after sensing those fragments yesterday. In her consciousness, it seemed there was another person who was incredibly important to her, someone who should be by her side. Because of that presence, she felt her heart tighten, preventing her from fully releasing her emotions.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I won''t use that blood oath to bind you,"<i> </i>Mei Gongzi said softly.


    Tang San smiled. "You don��t have to."


    Indeed, she didn��t have to. He was only too willing.


    He actually knew that after the Asura Sword connected to Mei Gongzi, she might have some sense of her past life. It was a feeling brought about by that seed of divine intent. However, she couldn''t fully recover her memories��or at all, for that matter. She had undergone proper reincarnation, and not even a single shred of a memory was left. She may feel some familiar sensations, but remembering anything was simply impossible.


    Moreover, Tang San didn''t want Mei Gongzi to regain her past life memories just yet. In this life, she was a new version of herself, even though her soul was the same as before. He didn''t want her to choose to rekindle their past rtionship solely because of those memories. Instead, he wanted her to fall in love with him in this life first, and then regain her memories. Only then would there be no regrets, and she could return to him wholeheartedly.


    Tang San was absolutely confident he could achieve this because he would always be by her side, caring for her in every possible way. No one in this world would treat her better than he would.


    Finally, Mei Gongzi changed the topic, feeling a bit shy. "Big Cat is up."


    Indeed, at this moment, the contestants on both sides had stepped onto the massive stage.


    At first nce, Big Cat appeared no different from before, but upon closer inspection, one would notice his gaze showed much more confidence, and his demeanor was even moreposed.


    Tang San could sense that after this match, it would likely be Big Cat''s opportunity to undergo tribtion and ascend to godhood. It was clear that the Golden Lion n had reached an agreement with him and were now acting as his supporters.


    At this moment, Big Cat''s opponent also appeared. It was a humanoid figure, tall and slender, with a height simr to Big Cat but much thinner. Its skin had a faint golden sheen, and even its eyes were light gold. It had long arms and legs, and its entire body exuded a cold aura.

 Chapter 570: Adamant Nymph

    <h4>Chapter 570: Adamant Nymph</h4>


    "What race is this?" Tang San hadn''t studied the opponent much, so at first nce, he couldn''t tell what it was.


    "This is an Adamant Nymph[1]," Mei Gongzi whispered.


    Tang San''s heart stirred, "A descendant of the Indestructible Adamant Nymph Emperor?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded and said, "Yes. The Adamant Nymph Emperor ranks rtively low among the Nymph Emperors, but it��s a very troublesome opponent. Even the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor couldn''t do much against it. They are said to have dueled many times. Although the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor <i>technically</i> won, he couldn''tpletely break through its defenses or injure it in any significant way. The Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor called it a stone in atrine��both stinky and hard. This descendant of the Adamant Nymph Emperor must be quite strong to make it into the quarter-finals."


    Tang San nodded slightly.


    The Adamant Nymph had an extremely tough body, and more importantly, strong immunity to pretty much all attributes. Whether it was water, fire, wind, or whatever else, none of it had any effect on it.


    However, Big Cat was actually quite fortunate to encounter such an opponent. His own abilities were adept at dealing with tough opponents. He didn''t rely much on any elemental attribute. This match was inevitably going to degenerate into a slugfest, which was in fact perfect for Big Cat.


    Big Cat had likely acquired the God-ying Sword and could use this Adamant Nymph opponent to get used to it.


    Those like the Adamant Nymphs had no fancy tricks; their matches were straightforward collisions, a contest of strength. With Big Cat''s continuous improvements and the support of the lion race, he was vastly different from before. In a contest of pure strength, he had a significant chance of winning.


    The two opponents faced each other. As the referee announced the start of the match, this head-on battle began instantly.


    The Lion-Tiger Golden Force on Big Cat surged out almost immediately.


    The white-hot Golden Force was noticeably more solid, and the originally pure tinum color now faintly showed a hint of gold. Ordinary spectators might not see it, but Tang San, who also possessed Lion-Tiger Golden Force, noticed it instantly. He knew this was likely due to Big Cat''s bloodline being influenced by the Golden Pill, which caused it to evolve to a certain extent. The Lion-Tiger Golden Force based on a golden bloodline was definitely more powerful than that of an ordinary Lion-Tiger. The lion race and the Golden Lion n had made a significant investment this time!


    Yesterday, before parting ways with the Peacock Great Demon King, Tang San specifically asked him about the Golden Pill. The Peacock Great Demon King told him that the pill was basically divine medicine, but it came with major limitations. First, it had to be refined using the essence blood of a person with a golden bloodline, which was incredibly precious to begin with. Second, a single Golden Pill required almost the full amount of essence blood. This was because it could only be made from the blood of one individual��the blood could not be mixed.


    A Golden Pill was equivalent to the life of a golden-blooded individual. These were extremely rare even within the golden ns. Obviously, nobody was willing to use all their essence blood to create a pill for others. Thus, the ingredient was the essence blood of individuals who died an untimely death; once their rtives and the n approved it, this blood would be used to refine a Golden Pill.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Third, the sess rate was not high, so the number of Golden Pills was extremely limited. They were the most precious treasure of a golden n, and it would only be awarded to absolutely exceptional individuals from within that n. One would not even see it at auctions��and there was another reason for it, beyond its sheer value. The fourth limitation was that a Golden Pill refined from the essence blood of a certain n could only be used by that n and other ns of the same race; others could not use it.


    The Golden Lion King giving the Golden Pill to Big Cat was a gesture made with clear intentions. Big Cat, with his incrediblebat prowess and willpower disyed in the matches, had earned the Golden Lions�� recognition. Additionally, they had realized that this Lion-Tiger Sword Saint indeed possessed a first-tier bloodline, which was exactly what the Golden Lion ncked the most. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm, and with the God-ying Sword as a token of their promise, they chose to invest in Big Cat, or rather, in the entire Lion-Tiger n.


    So, even though it had only been two days, with the support of the Golden Pill, Big Cat��s bloodline power had reached a new level. The might of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force had significantly increased.


    The Adamant Nymph spread its arms to its sides, and its skin began to turn crystal clear. It sprang up and charged straight at Big Cat with incredible speed.


    Big Cat coldly watched his opponent. He made a grasping motion with his right hand, and a dark golden light appeared in his palm. A massive heavy sword fell into his hand, and as he held it, it seemed perfectly natural��as if it had been custom-made for him. A chilling killing intent erupted from him almost instantly.


    He held nothing back; the God-Killing Domain was immediately activated to the fullest.


    At this point in thepetition, he didn''t need to hold anything back. After all, if he won this match, he would meet Tang San in the semi-finals.


    As if stimted by the God-Killing Domain, the God-ying Sword in Big Cat''s hand suddenly emitted a meter-long dark golden sword light. The chilling killing intent burst forth instantly. He took a step forward into the void and fiercely shed at the Adamant Nymph. In that moment, his entire body seemed to merge with the God-ying Sword. With one sh, it was as if he was cutting through the entire world.


    The Golden Lion King in the VIP seats saw this scene and couldn''t help but bristle up, instinctively clenching his fists. At this moment, the sword light bursting from the God-ying Sword made him feel as if he were seeing the glory of the sword''s previous master.


    Although Big Cat''s cultivation was far inferior, at this moment, the coordination between his God-Killing Domain and the God-ying Sword was simply perfect. The sword, inherently filled with a killing aura, appeared even sharper under the enhancement of the God-Killing Domain!


    In his VIP box, the White Tiger Demon Emperor was silently watching the match. When he saw Big Cat unleash this sh, his eyes shed with a bright light, and his feline pupils gleamed.


    The Adamant Nymph didn''t dodge. It raised its arms, and the spectators noticed that at some point, a pair of armguards had appeared on its forearms.


    With a loud bang, the Adamant Nymph was sted back seven or eight steps, while Big Cat did not even flinch.


    The fierce killing intent expanded unabated. Big Cat barely paused for half a second before moving forward once more, unleashing seven consecutive strikes. Each sh from the God-ying Sword was heavier than thest! The terrifying sword light and sword intent, stimted by the God-Killing Domain, seemed to envelop the entire arena in a chilling atmosphere. There wasn''t any particrly grand or magnificent disy, but each sh felt as if it struck the hearts of the spectators, causing their hearts to waver, captured by the overwhelming killing intent.


    The Adamant Nymph didn''t dodge. In fact, after being locked onto by the God-Killing Domain, it <i>couldn''t</i> dodge. Its greatest strengthy in its defense, which it now utilized to the fullest. Though it was forced to retreat step by step, it didn''t seem to suffer any injuries.


    A closer look, however, revealed that the pair of armguards now bore several deep indentations.


    The Adamant Nymph ncked for nothing; in fact, one would be hard-pressed to find a wealthier n. These armguards were a divine artifact, crafted from adamant and thus perfectly matching the wearer. Yet the Adamant Nymph warrior now wore a bitter expression; clearly, things were not going well.


    Big Cat''s attacks were ferocious, and the sharpness of the God-ying Sword was closely tied to the user''s fighting spirit. The stronger the user''s fighting spirit, the stronger the killing intent and sharpness the sword could unleash.


    The most terrifying aspect of the God-ying Sword was that it had no other abilities; no long-ranged attacks, no attribute enhancement, nothing. It was considered a divine weapon solely because of its toughness, sharpness, and the killing intent it radiated. With the enhancement of the God-Killing Domain, all these characteristics were pushed to the extreme, and as it was empowered by the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, the sword was simply unmatched. Even the defense of the Adamant Nymph fell short.


    1. Just a reminder that the "adamant" here is the legendary indestructible material that has been mentioned in chapter 361 when the Indestructible Adamant Nymph Emperor was introduced. Yes, this is where the equally legendary MCU "adamantium"es from. ?

 Chapter 571: Shared Joy

    <h4>Chapter 571: Shared Joy</h4>


    This Adamant Nymph warrior''s defense was as strong as the armguards it wore, but its opponent''s attacks were relentless, like the surging waves of the Endless Blue. As it retreated step by step, the pressure it felt was not only physical but also mental, amplified by the God-ying Sword and transmitted directly into its sea of consciousness through the God-Killing Domain. The terrifying killing intent oppressed its sea of consciousness, making it extremely painful. The Adamant Nymph could only do its best to endure.


    Big Cat''s previous matches had been the same��constant suppression and frenzied attacks from start to finish. The God-ying Sword in his hand carried a bit of the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer technique Tang San taught him,bined with the devouring and repelling effects of the Lion-Tiger Golden Force. Each sh he delivered made his connection with the divine sword stronger, and the Lion-Tiger Golden Force, the God-Killing Domain, and the God-ying Sword gradually merged. In other words, each sh only made the next sh more powerful!


    Behind Big Cat, the enormous figure of a Lion-Tiger appeared, constantly letting out frenzied roars. The intense killing intent actually caused ripples in the atmosphere. At the same time, the light in Big Cat''s eyes grew stronger and stronger. He felt that his attacks were incredibly smooth and satisfying. At this moment, he was at his absolute peak; never in his life had he felt so strong.


    He was also at the peak of the ninth order, and he was now starting to feel the threshold of the next level.


    Yesterday, the Golden Lion King had assured him that regardless of the oue of the uing matches, the Golden Lion n would fully support his breakthrough to godhood.


    This acknowledgement from the Golden Lion n, low-profile though it was for now, made him feel quite ted. He knew clearly that at this moment, he had begun to stand at the peak. As long as he became stronger, the entire lion race would be his vassals. The Lion-Tiger n would no longer be a cursed n they despised but a truly powerful entity.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The Adamant Nymph was shed and sent flying by his blow; one of its armguards shattered and a deep indentation appeared on its arm.


    Big Cat took a deep breath. He grasped the hilt of the God-ying Sword with both hands, and the God-Killing Domain suddenly contracted. At the same time, his Lion-Tiger Golden Force surged to its peak.


    In the sky, dark clouds began to form. Big Cat''s eyes burst with tinum light as he shouted, "Die!"


    The match ended in the next moment. The Adamant Nymph contestant was simply smashed off the stage, and the fact that it was only left with a deep gash on its torso rather than being chopped in half could only be attributed to its astonishing defense. The divine weapon''s advantage and Big Cat''s power reaching an unprecedented peak, practically the level of a half-step god, left no room for doubt or suspense.


    Big Cat was in the semifinals!


    This match did not overly excite the audience; there had been no heart-wrenching back-and-forth and very little shiness. However, true experts could see that Big Cat and the divine sword in his hand had reached a state of unity. With the enhancement of the God-Killing Domain, his physique, bloodline power, and spirit were fully aligned, and he could hardly be closer to a breakthrough to godhood. Once that happened, his value would skyrocket. No n would refuse a tenth-order powerhouse.


    When Big Cat returned to the waiting area, Tang San was already there waiting for him.


    "Congrattions," Tang San said with a smile.


    A smile also appeared on Big Cat''s stern face. "The same to you."


    The two raised their right hands and pped them together, saying nothing more. After all, they were both men; what other words were needed?


    The referee on the stage was announcing that since Meng Dede could no longerpete, Asura automatically advanced to the next round. Since they were in the same bracket, Big Cat and Asura would meet in the first match,peting for a spot in the final.


    With the first bracket''s semi-finalists decided, the next matches would determine the semi-finalists for the second bracket. And the first topete was the current top favorite of the entire Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, Mei Gongzi!


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    This time, Big Cat didn''t rush to leave. Instead, he stood in the waiting area with Tang San to watch the uing match.


    "I heard you performed a miracle yesterday and took down Meng Dede," Big Cat said.


    Tang San smiled and nodded. "Just got lucky, I guess. It''s all thanks to her skill."


    Big Cat nced sideways at Tang San. "Is that so? I wasn''t there, but I''ve heard about the whole process. It didn''t seem like her power to me."


    Tang San also threw him a long-eyed re. "Why so serious? She and I are partners; when we��re fighting as a team, we are more powerful. It makes sense, no?"


    "Heh, I suppose it does. It''s a pity there''s no three-on-three match; otherwise, the three of us together would be great."


    "Maybe there will be a chance in the future. And speaking of the future, what are your ns after thepetition? Will you stay with the Golden Lion n? I guess once thepetition is over, some Emperors might want to recruit you. Have you thought about how to respond?"


    "Yes, I won��t respond at all. I''ll stay with the Golden Lion n temporarily. They''ve agreed to help me break through to godhood. Once that��s done, I''ll leave the Ancestral Court."


    "To go back and get your n?"


    "No, what for? My n is living quite well. I don''t think there''s any ce that would make them feel morefortable than Golden Valley. Actually, I just asked the Golden Lion King for supplies. As for leaving Golden Valley, forget it."


    Tang San asked in surprise, "You''re not taking the Lion-Tiger n to join the Golden Lion n? That would be the best for you in your current situation."


    Big Cat firmly shook his head. "You humans have a saying: when drinking water, don''t forget the one who dug the well. The Peacock Demon n''s power shift ising, and from the way you are with her, it''s clear you will inevitably get involved. How could we leave at a time like this? You will face immense pressure, and I will stand with you. The Lion-Tiger n will stand with you too."


    Tang San looked at him deeply. He neither epted, nor refused; he simply raised his hand to pat Big Cat''s broad shoulder. Indeed, they were both men. What other words were needed?


    Big Cat''s meaning was clear. Without Asura, there would be no "current situation" for him or the Lion-Tiger n. Had it not been for Asura helping them solve the bloodline conflict, the n would have been facing extinction. Now, Big Cat had be strong and reached an agreement with the Golden Lion n, but he could not and would not forsake his friend and benefactor. He would stay in Kali City to help Asura and face all the challenges together. This was the Lion-Tiger n''s way of repaying Asura.


    The moment Asura solved the life-threatening issue of the Lion-Tiger n and saved Little Cat, Big Cat and the entire Lion-Tiger n became his most steadfast ally.


    At this moment, cheers suddenly erupted around the arena. The thunderous cheers were all for one person.


    Today, Mei Gongzi wore a long white dress thatplemented her peacock blue hair, looking stunningly elegant.


    From being an unknown contestant at the start of thepetition to bing the top favorite, she had earned the audience''s recognition through her strength. This made the spectators re-evaluate the Peacock Demon n, which once had a Demon Emperor but now was confined to a corner. Undoubtedly, Mei Gongzi was seen as an extraordinary genius of the Peacock Demon n.


    Mei Gongzi walked onto the stage with a calm gaze. Compared to when she first entered thepetition, she was now full of confidence, confidence in her own strength.


    Constantly facing strong enemies, gainingbat experience through these battles, and with Tang San''s help, continuously improving her strength. She constantly refined her abilities and found new ways to use them. Thispetition not only earned her fame but also allowed her strength to soar.

 Chapter 572: Three out of Four

    <h4>Chapter 572: Three out of Four</h4>


    Her strength and confidence added a touch of nobility and power to her already stunning appearance. Just standing on the stage made her the center of attention.


    Many eyes focused on Mei Gongzi as she gazed across at her opponent.


    He was a male over two meters tall, with ordinary features and narrow eyes. His face had some strange markings, purple lines that twisted and turned, giving off an eerie feeling. His hair was also purple.


    He was the type of person whom you��d instantly run away from if you saw him on a dark alley. And you��d be right to run��he was well-known because he had the highest kill count in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. Five contestants had already died at his hands.


    When his gaze fell on Mei Gongzi, his pupils narrowed, and his sinister aura intensified, clearly exuding killing intent.


    As the saying goes, enemies often meet on a narrow road. Yesterday, Tang San and Mei Gongzi severely injured the Meng siblings. And today, her opponent in the individualpetition was a dragon race contestant.


    It had to be said that the dragon race was indeed a powerful race; having three members in the quarter-finals was no joke. Meng Dede was eliminated due to severe injuries, but in the second bracket, there were two other dragons��one in front of her, and another who wouldpete in the next match.


    The contestant in front of her belonged to a less favored branch of the dragon race, the Poison Dragon n.


    The reason for his high kill count in the previous matches was, obviously, his highly toxic nature. The Poison Dragon n was notrge; it only had a few members, but the most powerful one served as a guest elder in the Tenebrous Emperor''s Pce. Thus, the entire Poison Dragon n was under the protection of the Tenebrous Emperor.


    The Poison Dragon in front of her was originally a support yer, Meng Dede��s adjutant of sorts. He was here to clear up some obstacles so that Meng Dede wasted less time on matches. Unexpectedly, he was still in thepetition, while Meng Dede had been not just eliminated but downright crippled.


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    Although this person appeared to be filled with fierce killing intent, he actually felt a bit happy about Meng Dede''s severe injury. The reason was simple: Meng Dede had been the chosen sessor of the Tenebrous Emperor. Now, the Tenebrous Emperor had no choice but to find someone else. If he could perform better in thepetition, or even defeat the one who severely injured Meng Dede, wouldn''t that earn him the Tenebrous Emperor''s support?


    Among the dragon race, the most powerful was naturally the Crystal Demon Emperor. However, the Crystal Demon Emperor rarely dealt with the daily affairs of the race and had never designated a sessor. Thus, the support of the Tenebrous Emperor was particrly important for the dragon race, so this Poison Dragon��s thoughts were perfectly reasonable.


    Moreover, although Meng Dede lost yesterday, he didn''t think he would lose as well. After all, his unique toxic attribute made it so that none of his opponents could casually approach him.


    The referee observed both contestants and, seeing that they were ready, announced the start of the match.


    This match was undoubtedly the most anticipated one in today''s quarter-finals. Mei Gongzi had beenpeting continuously every day, in both individual and doubles matches. Although she defeated Meng Dede yesterday, she ended up unconscious, and it was unclear how much she had recovered. The audience was curious to know if she could use that red light attack again, and if she could do it alone. If so, the championship was basically in her bag.


    And Mei Gongzi did not disappoint. When the referee announced the start of the match, she raised her Celestial Plume.


    Silver light flickered, and a streak of red suddenly shone.


    Immediately, the entire arena erupted in excitement.


    The Poison Dragon''s pupils instantly contracted. The toxic breath he was about to spew at her instead sprayed onto the ground in front of him. The dense, dark-purple toxic mist quickly enveloped him instead. Not only did it act as a shield of sorts, ensuring that the opponent couldn��t approach to melee range, but it also blocked perception to some extent.


    Yesterday, he had watched the match and witnessed the terrifying power of the vast red light Mei Gongzi released at the end, which even split the Tenebrous Dragon n��s famous demonic weapon in two.


    So, when he saw the red light emanating from Mei Gongzi''s Celestial Plume, how could he not be afraid? He had asked his elders about the red light yesterday, and they spected that it must be a powerful divine weapon, though no one knew exactly what it was. There were no records of it even in the Ancestral Court��s archives.


    The red light not only shattered the demonic weapon but also eradicated all the vengeful spirits within. Although Meng Dede survived, his cultivation method relied on the Blood ughter Devil Spear; his cultivation base waspletely wrecked. The vast righteous energy left by the red light was gradually dispelled only thanks to the personal intervention of the Tenebrous Emperor.


    Just as the Poison Dragon spewed a lungful of toxic breath in front of him, that streak of red light rose again, looking identical to when it struck down Meng Dede.


    But the red light only flickered for a moment beforepletely disappearing. Instead, silver light gate after silver light gate opened,pletely encircling the Poison Dragon.


    Intimidated by the red light, the Poison Dragon had released that toxic mist that blocked perception. The problem with that was <i>his </i>perception was also partially blocked. By the time he realized something was wrong, the silver light gates had alreadypletely surrounded him.


    Toxic mist surged out��a toxin, he believed, strong enough to corrode even space itself.


    Unfortunately for him, while the toxic mist could indeed corrode everything it touched, that took <i>time</i>, and most of it was simply transferred away by the space gates before being able to do anything. Each space gate emitted a powerful suction force, continuously absorbing the poison he released.


    The space gates surrounded him, but Mei Gongzi had already vanished. Only dense spatial cracks descended from the sky.


    At their level, losing the initiative was almost equivalent to losing the opportunity. The Poison Dragon''s toxins were terrifying, but in order to be effective, the opponent had to actually make contact with them.


    Mei Gongzi relied on the most basic spatial ability, teleportation, avoiding direct confrontation. She consumed her opponent''s strength while attacking with spatial rifts, never giving him a chance for a head-on sh.


    When the power of space sealed off all possible escape routes for her opponent, the oue of the match was already decided.


    After over fifteen minutes of attrition, the Poison Dragon was confined to a space norger than three meters by the space gates. Completely bound, he had no choice but to swallow his frustration and concede.


    If he had managed to release his toxic mist all over the arena from the start, he would definitely have had a chance. He was a peak ninth-order dragon, and his toxins were something even Meng Dede couldn��t scoff at. But influenced by the impression of Mei Gongzi''s powerful performance in the previous battle, he had inadvertently given her more than five seconds to set up her trap. How could he stand a chance?


    With this victory, Mei Gongzi smoothly advanced to the semi-finals!


    To the ordinary spectators, this match seemed like a crushing victory. But in reality, it was nothing more than outscoring the opponent. Mei Gongzi hadn��t even used the Celestial Dance or the White Tiger Transformation; she��d simply relied on tactics. Her mastery of the space element seemed to grow stronger every day.


    Her foundation was undoubtedly important, and the full support of the Peacock Great Demon King and the relentless assistance of a former God King ensured her rapid improvement.


    And with this, Tang San, Big Cat, and Mei Gongzi had all advanced to the semifinals!

 Chapter 573: Tang San Concedes

    <h4>Chapter 573: Tang San Concedes</h4>


    In the next round, Tang San would face Big Cat, while Mei Gongzi wouldpete against the winner of today''s final match.


    As for the doublespetition, Mei Gongzi had no concerns. After she and Tang San defeated Meng Dede and Meng Deshi, there were few opponents left who could even put up a fight, let alone pose a threat to them.


    In the individualpetition, Tang San and his team had already achieved great sess, fully meeting their goals. Tang San''s initial aim was for him, Mei Gongzi, and Big Cat to at least reach the top sixteen. Reaching the top sixteen was essential to gain recognition from the Ancestral Court, and for Big Cat, it meant gaining the recognition of the lion race.


    Now, they had all reached the semifinals, continually defeating powerful opponents. Undoubtedly, they had be the focus of everyone''s attention, especially Mei Gongzi, who was the current favorite to win the championship. Even if the audience didn''t know that Big Cat was also theirrade, they at least knew Asura was Mei Gongzi''s partner in the doublespetition. A doubles pair reaching the semifinals in the individualpetition meant they were undoubtedly the favorites to win the doubles championship as well.


    Before this Elite Competition began, the Ancestral Court Council did not actually expect a participant to win both the individual and the doubles championships. Winning both requiredpeting every day; no matter how strong one was, could they ensure they wouldn''t get injured in the matches? None of thepetitors was a pushover, after all. Unless one was in top condition constantly, even being the strongest did not guarantee continuous victories. And with this elimination format, losing one match meant losing everything.


    Yet Asura and the Peacock Princess advanced step by step under such conditions and finally reached their peak. With things as they were, it seemed that nothing could stop them anymore. It was almost unthinkable that participants that were not even pure-blooded demons or nymphs could get this far.


    At the same time, the Celestial Dance of the Peacock Demon n had reappeared on the continent, bringing this once-glorious n back into the Ancestral Court''s focus.


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    Although the higher-ups knew that this was the result of the Peacock Great Demon King''s efforts, it wasn��t like the man was participating himself. The fact that his descendant was able toe this far was a testament to her strength and determination.


    As for Asura and the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, they wereplete dark horses. The former��s origins were unknown, but he clearly possessed two powerful bloodlines, while thetter belonged to the cursed Lion-Tiger n and yet did not seem to suffer from any kind of curse.


    Although their brilliance was somewhat overshadowed by Mei Gongzi, reaching the semifinals of the individualpetition still proved them to be absolute peak powerhouses.


    Yet after the individualpetition ended, an unexpected event urred in the doublespetition the next day.


    The Asura Peacock Pair faced a powerful nymph duo and won the match, but Asura got injured. Moreover, his injury seemed severe. After this match, the audience who had bet on them to win the doubles championship were greatly disappointed, and the odds plummeted.


    What made these people even more desperate was that the next day, in the semifinals of the individualpetition, Asura withdrew due to his severe injury.


    Yes, he forfeited the match against the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, allowing him to advance directly to the finals.


    On theplete opposite, Mei Gongzi had nothing but smooth sailing; her superior strength and Celestial Dance ensured that she advanced to the individualpetition finals after trampling on a powerful opponent in the semifinals.


    ***


    "Why?"


    Big Cat had an unwilling and unconvinced expression on his face as he confronted Tang San, who had just opened the hotel door for him. Although Tang San looked somewhat pale, he didn''t seem incapable of fighting in the slightest.


    "I''m injured! And tired. I need a break!" Tang Sanined with a cheerful smile.


    Big Cat angrily replied, "I was nning to have a fair fight with you in the arena. Even though I know I''m not your match, I wanted topete and see where my strength stands. And don''t you want to meet her in the finals? Why are you forfeiting?"


    Tang San first invited him to sit down in the living room.


    "Hey, don''t get mad. If we want to spar, we can do that anytime, no? Besides, after so many days ofpetition, I''m really tired. I got some internal injuries in the match against Meng Dede, so resting for a day is better. Do you think beating Meng Dede was easy?"


    He was not actually incapable of fighting, but he was not lying either. The battle with Meng Dede had exhausted Tang San''s divine consciousness and spiritual power significantly. At the same time, however, being able to awaken the divine intent of the Asura Sword not only benefited Mei Gongzi but also helped him further refine and purify his spiritual power and divine consciousness.


    Big Cat still looked a bit unwilling and wanted to say something, but Tang San continued, "The doublespetition was supposed to be us teaming up. I prioritized love over friendship, so I have to apologize for not being able topete by your side. How could I face you in the arena? My heart has already lost to you. So don''t worry about it. Besides, in a real fight, I might not even beat you now. You have a divine weapon, <i>hehe</i>."


    Seeing Tang San''s rxed smile, Big Cat replied sullenly, "Pft, as if... You know this isn��t right. Anyway... Is your body okay?"


    Tang San nodded and said, "Don''t worry, it won''t affect tomorrow''s doubles match."


    His decision to forfeit the individualpetition was well-considered. The most important reason was what he had just told Big Cat: he had already decided that if he faced Big Cat in thepetition, he would forfeit. He had agreed to the doublespetition but then backed out at thest minute for Mei Gongzi, leaving Big Cat hanging. Although Big Cat didn''t say anything, Tang San couldn''t pretend it didn''t happen. So, he had to show his stance.


    Moreover, he secretly had Zhang Haoxuan contact the Redemption Society to take advantage of this opportunity and make a huge profit.


    The Redemption Society''s financial situation wasn''t great; otherwise, they wouldn''t have coveted their array discs. Tang San had Zhang Haoxuan inform the Redemption Society that he would concede the match against Big Cat. Coupled with his apparent serious injury in the doubles match and today''s forfeit, the odds of him and Mei Gongzi winning the doubles championship had dropped sharply in the past two days.


    With the help of these few matches, as long as the Redemption Society managed things well, they would surely make a huge profit. No matter how weak they were, the Redemption Society had enough of a foundation to lead humanity for so many years. They could most certainly take advantage of this without anyone being the wiser; after all, the demons and nymphs betting on these matches had plenty of money.


    Thus, his sudden injury and forfeit actually hit a couple of birds with one stone. And as long as he and Mei Gongzi won the doubles championship, it would be enough to establish her reputation as the new top genius, greatly benefiting her in taking over the Peacock Demon n.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San��s face. He patted Big Cat on the shoulder and said, "You should prepare well for the finals now. Little Mei has made great progress these days. Her understanding of space is truly profound, and she has made great strides recently. She is close to fully integrating her two bloodlines. The killing intent of the White Tiger Demon Emperor is even above your God-Killing Domain, though I don''t know how much Little Mei hasprehended on that side. Anyway, be careful if you face her."


    Big Cat nced at him and snorted. "Alright, alright, I''m going back. Take care of yourself. When we get back home, you must spar with me properly, and you can''t go easy on me. You have to give it your all."

 Chapter 574: Break Through Sooner

    <h4>Chapter 574: Break Through Sooner</h4>


    Tang Sanughed bitterly and said, "When we get back home? After thispetition, you better be sure the Golden Lion King will keep you there until you break through. You are already at that critical point, so you have to stay with the Golden Lion n and make your breakthrough there. And after you reach the tenth order, how will I be able to fight you?"


    Big Cat blinked, realizing it might be true. "Then you should break through sooner too. With your abilities, you should be able to do that easily, no? That threshold should be no problem for you."


    In his eyes, Asura was a near-omnipotent being. He had no doubts that his friend would st through the tribtion.


    Tang San harrumphed. "If only it were that easy. It��s going to be insanely difficult for me. You know I have more than one bloodline, plus a few other things I haven��t revealed yet. They are useful in thispetition, but when ites to crossing the tribtion, they aren��t just useless; they��ll actually cause me <i>more</i> problems. Oh well, I have to work hard."


    What he didn''t say was that although bing a god was extremely difficult, once he did reach that point, it would mark the beginning of apletely different path, and once he embarked on that path, all obstacles in front of him would be swept away. By then, Big Cat would no longer be able to catch up.


    The god level was just the <i>real</i> first step on his quest to recover his past life abilities.


    After sending Big Cat away, Tang San returned to his cultivation room to continue cultivating. The rest he took that day was indeed beneficial. His sea of consciousness, previously disturbed due to calling upon the Asura Sword, had calmed down. Although his divine consciousness and spiritual power seemed weaker, they were more concentrated than before, and his sea of consciousness had expanded again, allowing him to amodate more spiritual power.


    The Ancestral Court Elite Competition was nearing its end. Whether Big Cat or Mei Gongzi won the individual championship, it was a good thing, but it didn''t matter much. The doublespetition was where he and Mei Gongzi were determined to win. Even if Mei Gongzi got second ce in the individualpetition,bined with the doubles championship, it would be enough to catapult her to the pinnacle of fame. The Peacock Demon n would greatly benefit from it as well.


    The rewards would undoubtedly be substantial, and it would also be easier to gain the support of the Emperors.


    As for what happened next, that depended on their actions after returning. The Peacock Great Demon King didn''t have long to live; otherwise, he wouldn''t have exined things so thoroughly that day.


    The gains from this trip to the Ancestral Court were simply immense, and they needed to digest everything well after returning. And the one who benefited the most was actually Tang San himself. He had be far stronger, and most importantly, he had rified his thoughts and knew what steps to take next.


    Although things were bing more urgent, especially helping Mei Gongzi control Kali City, which would be fraught with difficulties, he actually felt more confident than before.


    The only thing that was outside of his control was the time they had to put things in order. He hoped that, as the Peacock Great Demon King had promised earlier, they could gain more time to grow. If he could really get a year, he was confident he could prepare everything and help Mei Gongzi reach the god level.


    Calming his thoughts, Tang San entered a meditative state.


    ***


    The next day, the doublespetition continued.


    It was the semifinals; those who won today would face each other on the stage for the ultimate prize!


    Those who made it to the final four were undoubtedly strong. Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s opponents were no exception.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Tang San''s severe injury in the previous match had drastically decreased their odds of winning the doublespetition. They were no longer the top favorites. After all, the doublespetition was a two-person event; if one was missing, no matter how strong the other one was, it was nearly impossible to achieve a good result in such a match.


    However, when the match began, the audience saw Asura appear together with the Peacock Princess on stage, in what seemed to be perfect condition.


    As it turned out, he really was in perfect condition.


    He still chose to support Mei Gongzi from behind, just as during the previous match, simply channeling his power into her. Meanwhile, Mei Gongzi once more performed the Celestial Dance with the Celestial Plume, demonstrating almost divine mastery over space. From start to finish, she suppressed her opponentspletely, even using spatial power to divide the battlefield and prevent them from coordinating.


    They won the match without even breaking a sweat and smoothly advanced to the finals.


    When the match ended, the audience was in an uproar. The previously underdog Asura Peacock Pair once again demonstrated their strength. Although Asura had been eliminated from the individualpetition, stopping at the semifinals, Mei Gongzi was still running strong. Many in the audience believed Asura''s presence behind Mei Gongzi was of little consequence and she had won the match primarily by her own strength. But in any case, they had advanced to the finals. As the biggest dark horse of thepetition and the most dazzling star, Mei Gongzi had reached the finals in both the individual and doublespetitions!


    Even the Peacock Great Demon King hadn''t anticipated such an oue when he brought his daughter to the Ancestral Court. Yet the fact was undeniable��Mei Gongzi was in the run for a twofold championship, and she was getting closer and closer to the threshold of the tenth order.


    After the doubles semifinals, Tang San sent Mei Gongzi back to rest. He had no concerns about the uing final between her and Big Cat��hisrade knew how important she was to him and would not truly harm her even if he won. Mei Gongzi also understood Tang San��s rtionship with Big Cat, and she was well aware that Big Cat and the Lion-Tiger n would be staunch supporters when time came for her to rule Kali City. Naturally, she would restrain herself as well.


    They both knew that this was practically a spar among friends, and it didn''t matter who won the championship��the title would stay in the family.


    As for the doublespetition, Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s opponents in the finals were strong, but clearly not as formidable as Meng Dede and his sister. By this point, nothing could stop them from winning the championship.


    Everything was moving in a positive direction. Tang San had already nned that right after thepetition ended and they received their awards, he and Mei Gongzi would immediately return to Kali City with the Peacock Great Demon King.


    He had also discussed with the Shrek Squad they would stay here a while longer to continue climbing the Sacred Mountains and enhance their strength. They would return once they felt they had umted enough. Zhang Haoxuan would also stay here temporarily, making array discs and maintaining contact with the Aetherhorn Merchant Association to umte wealth and exchange for the materials they needed, while also looking after and guiding the Redemption Academy students.


    Cultivation was significantly faster here in the Ancestral Court. This was especially the case for someone like Du Bai��if he returned to Kali City, his improvement would end uppletely dependent on Tang San. Here, he could climb the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain to properly experience fortune and misfortune and improve on his own.


    The greatest advantage humans had over other races was their wisdom. Du Bai might be a goof, but he was not an idiot and he had truly goodprehension. What he needed more were opportunities. The fortune power Tang San had given him earlier had allowed him to break through, and for the time being, staying here to cultivate was better.


    ***


    The highly anticipated finals of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition were finally about to begin.


    Tang San arrived early at the Ancestral Court za. Although he was no longer apetitor in the individualpetition, he had a seat in the VIP section, just like the other top sixteen contestants.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had arrived even earlier, and when he saw Tang San, he approached right away.


    Tang San nodded in greeting. "Nice to see you."

 Chapter 575: The Finals

    <h4>Chapter 575: The Finals</h4>


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked in good spirits; it seemed as if the joy of recent events made him forget about the fact that he was in the process of dying.


    He nodded to Tang San and said, "I really didn''t expect it! Little Mei actually made it to the finals in bothpetitions."


    Tang San replied, "She has great talent andprehension, and she works extremely hard."


    The Peacock Great Demon King gave him a deep look.


    "You also deserve a lot of credit. You gave up the individualpetition, right? I originally thought you two would meet in the finals."


    He had naturally been informed about the rtionship between Big Cat and Tang San, but he hadn��t expected thetter to forfeit his ce in the finals just like that.


    Tang San smiled bitterly and said, "It''s better for me to stay low-key. Let her shine alone. Otherwise, it might attract more envy."


    "Judging by your life signs, you''re about the same age as Little Mei, but your maturity makes me feel like I''m talking to a peer. Can you tell me why that is? You are the most unusual human I''ve ever seen."


    Tang San shrugged. "An old head on young shoulders?"


    "Perhaps. What do you think about today''s match?"


    He changed the topic proactively. Since Asura had made the blood oath, he had no doubts about this mysterious human. He was still curious about his origins and his abilities, but he had to be satisfied with the scenario where Asura had been raised by the Redemption Society specifically to assist Mei Gongzi.


    Moreover, he could deeply feel the young man��s sincere feelings for Mei Gongzi.


    At first, he was unwilling to ept it. In his mind, Mei Gongzi was the heir of the Peacock Demon n''s legacy. Even if she married, it should be within the Peacock Demon n to ensure the continuation of their bloodline. However, with thispetition, Mei Gongzi''s sessive transformations, Asura��s performance in the matches, and the blood oath, his views gradually changed.


    He knew very well the extent of his daughter''s abilities, but precisely because of this, he understood that in some matches, his daughter shouldn''t have won. Especially when she confronted Meng Dede��he knew best of everyone that was not her power. And if it wasn''t hers, then it had to be this young man''s.


    The more he observed Asura, the more he felt that the young man was an unfathomable being. Having such a person assisting his daughter, with the assurance of the world��s strongest contract, the blood oath, would greatly benefit Mei Gongzi''s future.


    A faint smile appeared on his face, and the expression on the Peacock Great Demon King''s face gradually rxed as he waited for Tang San''s response.


    Tang San said, "It doesn''t matter to me who wins the championship. Purely from a strength perspective, Big Cat is somewhat inferior to Little Mei. But in terms of will and fighting intent, Big Cat is far superior. You should know that he has received assistance from the Golden Lion n; with his purified bloodline and the God-ying Sword, he does stand an actual chance. However, I still favor Little Mei to win. Because we are all friends, they won''t go for the kill, and in a situation where they can''t kill each other, Big Cat''s strength will be more restricted than Little Mei''s. She is slightly stronger anyway, so the likelihood of her winning the championship is greater."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded slightly as he listened to Tang San''s analysis. The young man��s assessment was likely even more urate than his own, considering he was most familiar with Mei Gongzi and Big Cat''s currentbat abilities.


    At this moment, sounds were emerging from the various private rooms. The Emperors had arrived. Almost every Emperor in the Ancestral Court was here today to watch this final battle.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Mei Gongzi and Big Cat had both stepped onto the stage, standing on opposite sides.


    Today, Mei Gongzi was wearing a long silver dress, and her ck hair turned peacock blue the moment she stepped onto the stage.


    On the other side, Big Cat wore a set of armor and held the God-ying Sword. Even if the armor wasn''t a divine artifact, it certainly seemed extraordinary, probably a gift from the Golden Lion King.


    Although the difference between champion and runner-up was just one ce, it was always the champion who was remembered. Who wouldn��t want the glory?


    At this moment, the referee stepped onto the stage.


    A beam of white light descended from the sky,nding precisely in the center of the arena.


    Seeing this, both Mei Gongzi and Big Cat couldn''t help but be moved. The one presiding over the final match was none other than the Heaven-Crossing Earth-Piercing White Tiger Demon Emperor.


    Having him officiate was quite an interesting choice. Big Cat, as part of the Lion-Tiger n, also had the bloodline of the tiger race, and the White Tiger Demon Emperor was the patriarch of the race, the true ruler of all tiger demons.


    Even less needed to be said about Mei Gongzi��she was the man��s granddaughter, a direct bloodline descendant.


    In other words, both finalists had some connection to the White Tiger Demon Emperor.


    When this Emperor appeared, the audience had a strange feeling that the tiger race seemed to be the biggest winner of this Ancestral Court Elite Tournament''s individualpetition.


    Whether Mei Gongzi or Big Cat won the championship, both carried the tiger race''s bloodline. Though neither was a pure tiger demon, they were still half tigers!


    In previous tournaments, those who made it to the end were mostly from powerful races like the dragons and the phoenixes. When had it ever been the tiger race''s turn? Even the White Tiger Demon Emperor himself hadn''t made it to the finals of the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament in his time.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor''s cold gaze swept across Big Cat and Mei Gongzi on either side. Both of them bowed to him in respect.


    "Go on, show your strength. Give it your all. This is a great opportunity for you," said the normally taciturn Emperor, giving them a rare piece of advice.


    If anyone could see his eyes at this moment, they would notice a clear softness when he looked at Mei Gongzi.


    Even as an Emperor, the White Tiger Demon Emperor had never thought that Mei Gongzi, who possessed his bloodline, would make it to the finals of the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament and reach the finals in the doublespetition. Although the Peacock Great Demon King was the one who brought her, she still carried the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s bloodline!


    The White Tiger n was considered noble within the tiger race, but it was not the strongest overall; the Golden Tiger with its golden bloodline held that title.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor only became a Demon Emperor thanks to a mutation in his bloodline;bined with numerous fortuitous encounters, it allowed him to reach the pinnacle of power. However, most of his offspring were ordinary White Tigers, and none of them was able to be his true sessor despite the training and resources he provided.


    It was precisely for this reason that Emperors who<i> could</i> continue their lineage did not want to offend such an entity. A ruler without sessors has nothing to tie them down; how can they be restrained by anything?


    But in thispetition, Mei Gongzi disyed extraordinary strength and showed that she still had plenty of unexplored potential. Although she mostly used the abilities of the Peacock Demon n, this only served to highlight her extraordinary gifts. And when she <i>did</i> use the White Tiger Transformation, it turned out that she was just as proficient with the White Tiger Demon Emperor��s abilities.


    With proper cultivation, if she truly became an Emperor in the future, she would primarily represent the Peacock Demon n, but she could not deny her tiger demon heritage. Why couldn''t a Demon Emperor with a dual bloodline support two races?


    One of the main reasons the Peacock Great Demon King had brought Mei Gongzi topete and hoped she would perform well was, in fact, that he hoped she would impress the White Tiger Demon Emperor. His support could prove decisive in her bing the ruler of Kali City.


    When he saw the White Tiger Demon Emperor actually descending upon the stage to referee this match, the Peacock Great Demon King smiled.

 Chapter 576: Winning the Championship

    <h4>Chapter 576: Winning the Championship</h4>


    Although an Emperor always officiated the finals, the decision on which Emperor would do so was made internally by the Ancestral Court Council. The White Tiger Demon Emperor had definitely insisted on doing it, possibly even using up some old favors.


    This clearly demonstrated his approval of Mei Gongzi. Although Big Cat also had the tiger race''s bloodline, how could he be closer than Mei Gongzi, who carried the bloodline of the White Tiger Demon Emperor himself? Clearly, he was there for Mei Gongzi. Even if she lost the match, he would protect her. And with him present, Mei Gongzi wouldn''t need to worry about safety during her time at the Ancestral Court.


    "Begin," the White Tiger Demon Emperormanded coldly. In an instant, both Big Cat and Mei Gongzi could clearly feel a majestic aura enveloping the entire arena, isting thempletely from the outside world. Neither breath nor sound could prate the arena.


    Big Cat unsheathed the God-ying Sword, and his pupils turned into vertical slits almost instantly. On the other side, Mei Gongzi waved the Celestial Plume, andyers of spatial gates quietly opened around her.


    A fierce battle was about to erupt!


    Big Cat took a deep breath, white light faintly swirling around him. The God-ying Sword in his hand emitted a dazzling glow. The tinum-colored sword aura was tinged with a faint red, and his eyes also turned red. His aura surged, with the Lion-Tiger Golden Force reaching its peak. The God-Killing Domain naturally activated, and murderous intent crazily condensed within.


    At that moment, Big Cat stood there like a brewing storm, visibly gathering a tremendous amount of strength.


    On the other side, Mei Gongzi was slightly taken aback. Such a buildup from her opponent meant that the next move wouldn''t be a probing strike but an all-out attack.


    She too took a deep breath, and her feet trod the stage gracefully as she danced amid the spatial gates. The Celestial Plume weaved through the air softly, linking the spatial gates together inyers uponyers.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi seemed to have merged with the space around her, giving off an impression of being both illusory and powerful.


    Big Cat grasped the hilt of the God-ying Sword with both hands and slowly raised it. And with that motion, the frenzied killing intent and his own bloodline aura converged into the sword. Instead of expanding outward, his power actually condensed!


    At this moment, he seemed to havepletely merged with the God-ying Sword in his hand. One could faintly see a giant sword rising into the air, towering above the stage. All of Big Cat��s energy was contained within himself, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter.


    It was clear he intended to end the battle with one strike, simr to Tang San''s sacrificial strike in the past.


    On the opposite side, Mei Gongzi seemed toe to a realization. Her long silver dress fluttered gracefully, and theyers of spatial gates revolved around her. The sky above her began to darken, yet at the same time, it glistened with starlight. The interior of the rotating spatial gates also began to deepen in color, and as they surrounded her, it seemed as if she were at the center of a massive ck hole.


    This strange transformation created a strong visual impact. Both sides were clearly building up their strength, and the championship could very well be decided with the next strike.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor, watching from afar, couldn''t help but frown. Could such a simple and violent fighting style truly showcase their strengths?


    They had fought countless battles to reach this point, so why did they seem so hasty?


    Only Tang San understood what was actually going on.


    The Peacock Great Demon King was initially startled, but within a few moments, he smiled. He, too, had understood.


    At this moment, both sides seemed to have reached the peak of their power buildup. The next instant, Big Cat roared, and a giant image of a Lion-Tiger appeared behind him. He gripped the heavy sword with both hands and shed down fiercely.


    A sky-shattering beam of light carried unparalleled killing intent as it descended toward Mei Gongzi.


    In that instant, Mei Gongzi''s figure quietly vanished, her graceful dancing body swallowed by the ck hole behind her and disappearing without a trace.


    At this moment, the entire sky turned pitch ck, with only the tinum light beam fiercely shing into the ck hole.


    The ck hole spun wildly, scattering the massive beam into countless tinum-colored sword lights. Yet the lights remained, shing into the ck hole one after the other. The tinum light des shed with the star-studded darkness, one being constantly consumed, the other shifting unpredictably.


    "Roar��"


    Big Cat roared again and the Lion-Tiger image behind him suddenly disintegrated, transforming into a stream of light that poured into the tinum light beam. In an instant, the beam intensified, and light seemed to flow from Big Cat''s eyes as his aura reached its peak.


    It seemed as if his entire being was burning at that moment. Faint golden light shot from his eyes, his bloodline boiled fiercely, and the tinum light grew brighter. The God-ying Sword emitted an unparalleled, dazzling beam.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The ck hole finally shattered under the wild power of the greatsword, turning into countless ck light strips that scattered around. The tinum light beam shed down, dividing the entire arena in two, like a divine de splitting heaven and earth.


    But on the other side, his opponent''s figure was no longer. The massive arena was split in half, but he had lost track of his opponent.


    Star Shift could not only redirect the opponent''s attacks but also relocate the user.


    With an explosive force that was not far from a sacrificial strike, Big Cat had ultimately broken through the Star Shift thanks to the power of the God-ying Sword. However, he couldn''t lock onto Mei Gongzi while she performed the Celestial Dance. How could one see the secrets of heaven so easily?


    A silver light flickered quietly, a light gate opened in the air, and Mei Gongzi stepped out from nowhere.


    But when she reappeared before the spectators, her peacock blue hair had turned pure white, and even her figure seemed to have grown taller. The silver dressplemented her white hair, adding a touch of sharpness and nobility, along with a strong aura of killing intent.


    The White Tiger Transformation!


    Yes, after using the Celestial Dance to block the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint��s ultimate strike, Mei Gongzi had switched to the White Tiger Transformation. This transformation significantly enhanced her defense and physical abilities, perfectly absorbing the aftermath of the previous attack.


    Her pretty face was almost as pale as her hair, but it was clear that she was in much better shapepared to Big Cat, whose aura was rapidly fading on the other side.


    Watching Mei Gongzi descend from the sky, Big Cat used the God-ying Sword to prop himself up, blood faintly dripping from the corner of his mouth. He nodded to her.


    "You win."


    With these words, he turned and leapt off the stage, leaving just like that.


    At this moment, the White Tiger Demon Emperor seemed to understand something. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Mei Gongzi descending from the sky and radiating an aura not unlike his own. A stream ofplex emotions shed deep in his eyes as he announced, "The champion of this individualpetition is Mei Gongzi from Kali City!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    In the audience, Tang San frowned. He��d been there when she registered, and she didn��t let him see the name she��d registered under. As it turned out, it was Mei Gongzi, so... why had she been reluctant to show him? Could it be that there was more to this name than she let out?[1]


    Mei Gongzi looked at Big Cat''s departing figure, a strange light shing in her eyes. She instinctively nced toward the VIP seats and saw the masked man whose lips were now curved into a smile.


    It felt like a dream; this was the only feeling in her heart.


    1. In chapter 30 there��s a phrase that may or may not be foreshadowing: when she says "I��m called Mei Gongzi," that is the actual phrasing from the raws; she does not say "my name is" but "I am called." Do what you want with that information. ?

 Chapter 577: The Champions Glory: Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 577: The Champion''s Glory: Mei Gongzi</h4>


    When she first arrived at the Ancestral Court, she never thought about what fame she might earn; she only aimed to do her best. Yet step by step, she had moved forward, ultimately winning the championship with her own strength.


    The strength she now possessed was vastly different from when she first arrived; describing it as worlds apart was not an exaggeration.


    The Star Shift she had just used had significantly improved since the first time. If the first time was just a rudimentary grasp of the technique, now she had clearly achieved basic mastery. This improvement was closely linked to her understanding of spatial power, her enhanced physical condition, and especially her increased spiritual power.


    And all of this was thanks to <i>him</i>.


    She had won the championship. This meant she would receive tokens from all the Emperors, as well as the best reward.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor walked slowly to her and said in a deep voice, "Raise your right hand and listen to the cheers."


    Only then did Mei Gongzi react; she slowly raised her right hand, which was still transformed by the White Tiger Transformation, and spread out five wed fingers in a greeting to the audience.


    Seeing the raised hand, the White Tiger Demon Emperor finally smiled. This was something he had never achieved in his time, yet now his descendant had done it. Yes, she was his descendant, his granddaughter; the White Tiger bloodline had taken the highest stage.


    The voice of the White Tiger Demon Emperor echoed in Mei Gongzi''s mind. <i>"Good child, better than your mother."</i>


    Mei Gongzi turned to look at him. At this moment, she knew exactly what to do and softly said, "Thank you, Grandfather."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor didn''t say much more. In the next instant, he transformed into a beam of white light and soared into the sky, disappearing without a trace.


    A tsunami of cheers erupted as the barrier set by the White Tiger Demon Emperor vanished.


    On the lips of all the spectators, there was only one name!


    "Mei Gongzi!"


    Tang San had already stood up in the VIP section, and so had the Peacock Great Demon King, who was sitting next to him. Listening to the cheers and watching the girl standing in the center of the arena with her right hand raised high, Tang San��s face was lit up by a gratified smile. Meanwhile, the Peacock Great Demon King was in tears, unable to control his emotions any longer.


    The championship was an unprecedented glorious achievement for the Peacock Demon n. With this Ancestral Court Elite Competition championship, Mei Gongzi''s session to the throne would be much smoother. With this championship, the chances of neutral Emperors supporting her would greatly increase. With this championship, she would find it much easier to be the new Peacock Great Demon King, and then... the new Peacock Demon Emperor.


    All their efforts had not been in vain; all the opportunities were finally moving in the direction he hoped for.


    At this moment, the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but feel a mix of emotions.


    He had never feared death; even when facing his greatest enemy, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, it was with a mindset of indifference to life and death. But at this moment, he really didn''t want to die because he hoped even more to see Mei Gongzi lead the Peacock Demon n to regain peak status in the Empyrean Dominion; he hoped to see her be the new generation��s Emperor, to see the Peacock Demon n rise again, and to see the brilliance of the Celestial Plume shining in the sky.


    Mei Gongzi''s pretty face was slightly flushed. She was surrounded by the attention of demon and nymph spectators, yet she was human. Yes, whether it was the Peacock Demon n or the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s bloodline, neither was the bloodline she truly acknowledged in her heart. The one she truly identified herself with was the human bloodline from her mother.


    As a human, she stood at the pinnacle of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. As a human, she became the top genius on the Daemon Continent.


    The Ancestral Court Elite Competition was also known as the cradle of Emperors. Although not every champion could be an Emperor and not every Emperor had been a champion, in the tournament''s history, no Emperor had emerged without first being one of the top sixteen.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi was standing at that height; the door to the future had opened, and it was full of light.


    Meanwhile, Big Cat had also arrived at the VIP section, and he stood beside Tang San.


    Tang San turned to look at him, and saw that Big Cat had a slight smile on his face. "What are you looking at? Is it wrong to admit I''m not as good?"


    Tang San smiled helplessly and shook his head.


    Big Cat said irritably, "It''s still better than what you did, no?"


    He had originally intended to concede directly, but that wouldn''t have sat well with the lion race, so he had ended up choosing this approach. Going all-out with a full-power strike seemed fine, but it wasn''t the best way to showcase his fighting spirit. Moreover, the God-Killing Domain was a power that grew stronger with battle, not an instant burst ability. In other words, he didn''t <i>actually </i>go all out. Otherwise, even if Mei Gongzi managed to win, she would have paid a price, possibly affecting tomorrow''s doubles final.


    Tang San had given way to Big Cat, and Big Cat returned the favor to Mei Gongzi in the final. Such isradery, right?


    Big Cat sighed and said, "In any case, if I��m to be honest, even if I <i>did</i> go all out, I wouldn��t be her match. Her understanding of space is too great, her spiritual power is above mine, and the Celestial Plume is higher level than the God-ying Sword. In a prolonged fight, I wouldn''t be her opponent. Plus, she has the White Tiger Transformation to boost her physique. My chance of winning was less than ten percent. She''s really strong, and this victory is well-deserved. It''s different from our fight; you could have won, yet you chose not to."


    Tang Sanughed. "How do you know I could have won? You''re much stronger now than you were back then. You are the Lion-Tiger Sword Saint, invincible below the god level."


    "The hell are you talking about? Are you mocking me? You, Mei Gongzi, and even Meng Dede before he got injured are all clearly above me. You all seem to be at the god level even if you''re not. Well, whatever. When I do be a god, I will be able to fully integrate the golden bloodline and transformpletely. <i>Then </i>we can have a proper fight again. Let''s see if you can still beat me once that happens. You have to break through as well!"


    Tang San smiled bitterly. "You and I know I want to, but it''s not that simple."


    The Peacock Great Demon King was naturally privy to their conversation, and when he heard Tang San��s words, he said solemnly, "If you want to break through to the tenth order, tell me what resources you need. Kali City will provide them."


    Tang San nodded slightly. After this tournament, he knew he had fully gained the approval of the Peacock Great Demon King. While the man was still alive, he needed to quickly resolve the internal conflicts in Kali City.


    Mei Gongzi was on the stage for a full half hour, basking in the cheers of the audience, before finally popping out of existence.


    The awards wouldn''t be given today; they would wait until after the doubles final. After all, the champion''s reward was a divine artifact. If Mei Gongzi received another artifact now, there would be no need for the doubles final.


    Spatial abilities were particrly useful for avoiding public attention. When Mei Gongzi arrived beside Tang San and the Peacock Great Demon King, her pretty face was flushed with excitement. After all, she was still just a teenage girl. Having won the individual championship, the release of all the pressure left her feeling exhrated.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    She looked at Tang San, then at Big Cat, and softly said, "Thank you."


    Tang San smiled and said, "Don''t thank us just yet. We still have a match tomorrow. Save the excitement for after we win the doubles championship."


    Hearing his words, Mei Gongzi''s excitement subsided a bit. She nodded to him lightly, and the confidence in her eyes grew even stronger.

 Chapter 578: The Unfathomable Secrets of Heaven

    <h4>Chapter 578: The Unfathomable Secrets of Heaven</h4>


    In terms of true strength, Big Cat was indeed no longer her match. Although he had held back in this fight, her victory was well-deserved. Big Cat holding back had the biggest benefit of not affecting their state for tomorrow''s championship match.


    Mei Gongzi''s victory today had undoubtedly made them the favorites to win again tomorrow.


    The Peacock Great Demon King used his spatial power to teleport the three of them away. The Ancestral Court Square was now packed, with countless spectators wanting to get a close look at the new champion. Teleportation was the most prudent way to leave.


    This time, the Peacock Great Demon King did not take Mei Gongzi to his own quarters, but instead transported all of them to the White Tiger Hotel and then left, saying they should discuss the strategy for tomorrow''s finals. Big Cat wisely left as well, saying he woulde back tomorrow to cheer them on.


    Tang San quietly brought Mei Gongzi through the mostly empty hotel and into his room.


    He closed the door behind him, and when he turned around, they were face to face.


    Mei Gongzi''s pretty face still had a faint blush. Her beautiful eyes were filled with a mix of emotions as she looked at Tang San. But when she saw the mask on his face, she restrained herself.


    "Big Brother, thank you. I couldn''t have won the championship without you."


    Tang San shook his head lightly. "No need to thank me. This is the result of your own efforts. Next, once we finish thepetition, we need to return to Kali City as soon as possible."


    As he spoke, he led her to the living room, and they sat down.


    Mei Gongzi''s agitated mood gradually calmed down. Tang San smiled and said, "You are now at the ninth order, and your understanding of spatial power has reached a deeper level, touching the threshold of divinity. But you shouldn��t rush to break through. Building a solid foundation first will get you more benefits during the breakthrough. I don��t know how much you were told about this, but... Transitioning from the ninth order to the tenth is a crucial process. It''s not like the previous breakthroughs; you are quite literally shedding your mortal shell to be a god."


    Previously immersed in the joy of winning the championship, Mei Gongzi had not given this matter any thought. Her gaze now turned serious as she listened to Tang San''s exnation. She found his guidance to be even more detailed and wise than her father''s at times.


    "During the transformation from human to god, the entire body undergoes a baptism. The tribtion lightning is essentially a stimulus for the body and also cleanses it, but the primary transformation urs from within. Therefore, the more solid your foundation before this transformation, the greater the benefits you''ll gain during the breakthrough. This will enhance your potential at the god level, allowing you to progress further in the future. What you need to do next is to continue deepening your understanding of spatial power whilepressing your bloodline power and spiritual power as much as possible, dying the tribtion. Also... I suggest you start focusing more on the White Tiger Transformation."


    "Since this bloodline could produce a powerful Emperor, it naturally follows that its inherent potential is certainly not inferior to the Peacock Demon bloodline. In battle, you mainly rely on the Peacock Transformation, but it��s about time to change that. Now that you have advanced in both body and spirit, you can truly attempt to bring the two bloodlines together. If you reach the sameprehension and proficiency with the White Tiger Transformation that you have with the Peacock Transformation, the difficulties you face during the tribtion will increase, but so will the benefits once you seed.


    "The White Tiger Transformation provides physical protection and momentum, while the Peacock Transformation offers myriad changes and insights into the secrets of the heavens. These twoplement each other and will bring you even more unique advantages. Also, make sure to ponder on that sh of sword intent you sawst time; it is crucial for you. It''s an artifact far more powerful than the Celestial Plume, and it will be your true weapon in the future."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Listening to Tang San, Mei Gongzi''s eyes sparkled. She nodded, but then she chuckled softly. "Can''t you let me be happy for a bit? I just won the championship, you know?"


    Tang San paused and then chuckled as well. "Heh, you��re right. We''ll talk about itter then."


    Mei Gongzi shook her head and smiled at him, "Go ahead, I know you''re saying all this for my sake."


    "Alright." Tang San nodded. "In any case, there''s just one more thing I must emphasize to you."


    Seeing his serious expression, Mei Gongzi also restrained her smile.


    "You must use the Celestial Plume''s ability to peer into the secrets of heaven sparingly, or preferably not at all."


    Mei Gongzi was stunned. The ultimate ability of her Celestial Dance was to gain insights into the future, and these insights could be used both in directbat and outside it. In some aspects, it was even more powerful than the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s control over fortune. Now, Tang San was telling her not to use it; wouldn''t that turn the ultimate ability of the Peacock Transformationpletely useless?


    Seeing her puzzled expression, Tang San sighed and said, "I heard some things about the Celestial Plume from your father. Do you know why the ancestor of the Peacock Demon n, the Peacock Demon Emperor, had such a short lifespan, much shorter than other Emperors? Do you know why the lifespans of the Peacock Demon n leaders have always been short, in spite of their high cultivation? It''s all rted to the Celestial Plume."


    "The Celestial Plume''s ability to see destiny is indeed extremely powerful. But do you know? Even Emperors, with all their power, can''t truly see the future. Even higher-level beings can''t. The secrets of heaven must not be revealed. Trying to forcefully see them brings bacsh, and this bacsh is inevitably fatal. So I��m saying this again: use it as little as possible, preferably not at all. I haven''t decided what to do with the Celestial Plume yet. But in the future, I''ll give you a much stronger divine item in exchange, one that''s better suited for protecting you. The bacsh caused by peering into destiny stems from a power of the ultimate level; no power of this world can undo it."


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback. "Is it that serious?"


    Tang San replied very seriously, "It��s even more serious than I can exin. Anything else is manageable, but not this. There''s nothing I can do about it.... In fact, there��s no one that can."


    Tang San had been a God King, yet even then, at the very height of his power, he could do nothing to save his wife. She forcefully peered into destiny and altered it in order to help him through a crisis, and she bore the bacsh of the cosmos all alone. At the time, Tang San didn''t know what she had done, and by the time he found out, it was toote. Only after that did he understand how much she had sacrificed for him.


    Mei Gongzi could sense his tension at this moment. It was the first time she had felt such an emotion from Tang San. Even when facing the formidable opponent that was the Tenebrous Dragon Meng Dede, he had always appeared confident. But now, his nervousness was evident, and his eyes even showed a hint of fear, something Mei Gongzi had never seen before.


    "Big Brother, I want to promise you, but I can''t be sure I can do it. If ites to a matter of life and death, if Kali City is under a great threat, I can''t ignore such a powerful ability. Please understand," she said softly.


    "You have me. As long as I''m by your side, I won''t let anyone threaten you," Tang San said earnestly.


    Mei Gongzi gently shook her head and said, "But I still don''t even know what you look like. I feel that you''re someone I can rely on, and I feel your kindness toward me. But this mask is always a barrier between us. Why can''t you take it off and let me see your face?"


    "If I let you see my face, can you promise not to use the Celestial Plume��s ability in the future?"


    Mei Gongzi blinked. "Do you want me to swear an oath?"

 Chapter 579: I Will Show You My True Face After the Finals

    <h4>Chapter 579: I Will Show You My True Face After the Finals</h4>


    "No," Tang San blurted out, "If you truly face a life-threatening situation and I''m not there to help you, then of course, you should use it to save your life. You don''t need to swear an oath."


    Mei Gongzi said, "Then take off your mask and let me see."


    Tang San hesitated. He really didn''t know how Mei Gongzi would react if he took off his mask and showed her his face. After all, he was actually two or three years younger than her. He couldn''t exin how someone so young could have all the abilities he had.


    He was even more afraid of damaging the good rtionship he had painstakingly built with Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi said, "Still unwilling? Big Brother, I don''t understand why you are like this. Do you think I would care about your appearance? You''re underestimating me."


    "It''s not about my appearance," Tang San said with a bitter smile.


    Mei Gongzi paused, then her eyes widened as she thought of something. "I actually know your real identity, don��t I?"


    Tang San remained silent. A woman��s intuition is indeed frightening.


    Mei Gongzi stared at him, trying to find clues from his expression, but she couldn''t figure out who he could be. She understood from his silence that they indeed knew each other, but she could not for the life of her recall anyone like him.


    She slowly raised her hand, reaching for Tang San''s mask.


    Tang San raised his hand to stop hers and finally made a decision. "Let''s do it this way: tomorrow is the doubles final. After that, I''ll show you. Just wait one more day, so it doesn''t affect tomorrow''s match, okay?"


    Mei Gongzi lowered her hand, realizing that one more day indeed wouldn''t make a difference. She nodded slowly. "Alright. Tomorrow then. But you have to keep your word."


    Tang San was actually very nervous at this moment. The thought of taking off his mask and showing Mei Gongzi his true face made him anxious.


    "Then you must remember what I just said: never look into the secrets of heaven, no matter who asks you to do it. Not even for your father. The bacsh is no small matter."


    Mei Gongzi nodded, "Okay. I''ll try not to use it."


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face. He really wanted to hug her! Unfortunately, now was not the time. Once he took off the mask and she saw and epted his true identity, they could move further in their rtionship. He would be her right-hand man, her closest confidant. He would make her fall in love with him in this lifetime as well; he would be her lover, and he would stay by her side as they both grew stronger��until they reached the God King level once more and went home together.


    At this moment, Tang San felt warmth in his heart. Everything was moving in the right direction. This tournament had been quite beneficial for them. Not only had he and Mei Gongzi gotten stronger, but they had also be far closer.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face, apanied by a soft glow in his eyes. "Let''s discuss tomorrow''s strategy."


    "Okay!"


    In fact, their opponents in the doubles match were unlikely to be stronger than Meng Dede and his sister. And now, they were even stronger than when they faced Meng Dede. The doubles championship was practically in their grasp.


    Tang San''s thoughts even drifted back to Kali City, contemting the steps to take upon their return to make the most of their gains. Additionally, he needed to help Mei Gongzi improve further, understand the White Tiger Transformation, and harness more of its power, making her stronger and achieving godhood sooner.


    Time passes by quickly when you��re in goodpany.


    They talked until evening, starting with the strategy for tomorrow''s match and moving on to Tang San helping Mei Gongzi review her abilities, teaching her how to use the two bloodlines together and enhance the White Tiger Transformation. All of this was extremely useful for Mei Gongzi.


    Her progress had indeed been significant, and herprehension of higher-level abilities surpassed even Tang San''s expectations. All she had to do was further umte strength and prepare for the breakthrough.


    It wasn''t until after dinner that Mei Gongzi returned to her quarters and Tang San was left alone in his room.


    Tomorrow, after the match, he would reveal his identity to her. How would she react then?


    At this moment, Tang San really couldn''t calm down. He worried that Mei Gongzi might overreact upon discovering that Asura was actually Tang San, or that any budding feelings she had might dissipate upon learning his true identity. After all, it meant he had been hiding his identity from her and deceiving her. Moreover, she had previously asked Asura to find Tang San for her.


    Thinking back, when Asura asked her for a bubble tea cup, she didn''t give it to him but she did give it to Tang San instead. Finding out that Asura and Tang San were the same person might make her feel deeply embarrassed.


    At this moment, his feelings were even moreplicated than when he faced the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    <i>What should I do? I can��t even freaking calm down.</i>


    But he also understood that this mask had be the only true barrier between him and Mei Gongzi. If he didn''t take it off and show her who he was, their rtionship would likely never progress further.


    So be it. Since he had already promised her, there was no turning back. He could only take things one step at a time.


    Thinking about this, Tang San couldn''t help but feel his face flush and his heart race. He could only hope that Mei Gongzi would ept the fact that Asura was actually Schoolyard Sweeper Tang.


    That night felt particrly long for Tang San.


    ***


    The city also didn��t sleep, but for an entirely different reason. The entire Ancestral Court was in a state of excitement, and Mei Gongzi''s name resounded in every corner.


    The top figure of the younger generation wasn''t from the dragon or phoenix races, or even from the Behemoth n, but from the Peacock Demon n.


    Phoenixes and peacocks had always fought for the title of King of Birds; they were never at peace. Eventually, the phoenix race gained the upper hand, leading to the decline of the Peacock Demon n.


    No one could have anticipated that so many years after the Peacock Demon Emperor''s death, a girl with human, Peacock Demon, and White Tiger bloodlines would be the one to rise to the pinnacle.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Many strong figures in the Ancestral Court now believed that Mei Gongzi had some kind of unique bloodline mutation. The biggest issue with mutated bloodlines was that they found it extremely difficult to produce viable offspring, but in exchange, some of these mutations resulted in power far beyond the original bloodline.


    Moreover, both the Peacock Demon and the White Tiger bloodlines were first tier, and since there was no apparent conflict between them, her strength was to be expected. She also possessed remarkableprehension, having even mastered the Celestial Dance of the Peacock Demon n and achieved initial proficiency in Star Shift, an ability that typically required god-levelprehension of space and divine consciousness. All these showcased her extraordinary talent.


    She even defeated the formidable heir of the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, Meng Dede, thus bing the leader of the younger generation. Additionally, she had stunning looks and a noble demeanor.


    Overnight, Mei Gongzi had be the most sought-after figure in the entire Ancestral Court.

 Chapter 580: The Final Referee: Master of Fate

    <h4>Chapter 580: The Final Referee: Master of Fate</h4>


    So when morning came and the final match of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, the doubles final, was about to begin, the entire Ancestral Court za was already packed. Ticket holders flooded into the venue, while those without tickets waited outside. Even though they knew Mei Gongzi would likely use her spatial abilities to teleport into the arena, they still held onto a one-in-a-million hope to catch a glimpse of her.


    At the same time, waiting here meant they could get the final result of the match immediately after it ended. That was enough for them. They were here to witness a historic moment!


    This was the first time doubles matches were held in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. And now, it looked like there would be a double champion. Whether this could be replicated in the future, nobody knew, but it was certainly a historic event.


    Today, the weather in the Ancestral Court was somewhat gloomy, with thick clouds creating a slightly oppressive atmosphere. However, this didn''t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd. They were filled with anticipation, eager for the grand battle to begin, and hoping for an exciting final showdown between the powerful teams.


    Tang San entered the Ancestral Court Grand za the old-fashioned way, wearing just a hood. Although he also possessed the Peacock Transformation, he preferred to keep that information to himself.


    As one of the top four contestants in the individualpetition and Mei Gongzi''s partner, there were many rumors about him, and his poprity was quite high. But as long as he took off his mask, no one would recognize him. After all, Mei Gongzi��s partner was the masked Asura.


    Under his "disguise" as Tang San, he entered without anyone bothering him.


    Feeling the crowd''s fervor, Tang San couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. The demon and nymph races revered nothing but power. The continuous emergence of strong figures from the Empyrean Dominion and the Solstice Empire was closely tied to the inherent belligerence of their people. Combined with their innate advantages and bloodline cultivation, it led to today''s grand spectacle.


    This made him unconsciously think of the Hell Garden, that ce where heaven and hell coexist on Earth. Although he didn''t know how the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had achieved it, he understood that demons and nymphs bing the most powerful beings on the had a lot to do with the convergence of fortune. It was this fortune that drove them to continuously grow stronger.


    In the future, if humans were to have a ce in front of the demon and nymph races, they would have to find a way to break this cluster of fortune.


    Therefore, the Hell Garden was a ce Tang San would definitely visit once more in the future, and it had to be before reaching the tenth order. Once he became a god, entering it would probably be impossible. Divine energy entering that separate space might trigger something, which was why the Ancestral Court''s Great Beast Fighting Arena conducted survival challenges there strictly for those below the tenth order.


    He had to visit that ce again. With his current strength, entering it might reveal some more things to him. Moreover, with the experience fromst time and the existence of the Pr Luck Domain, there were very few things in the Hell Garden that could threaten him.


    In thispetition, Tang San had never used the Discerning Eye of Heaven''s abilities, ensuring that his control of fortune remained his personal secret. He didn''t even try to get a better draw for himself, fearing that the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor might discover his situation. But once he was in the Hell Garden, these abilities would be absolutely quintessential.


    Tang San was the first to arrive at the waiting area. Mei Gongzi hadn''te yet, so he sat there and waited silently, having already put his mask on in a secluded corner.


    Today''s final wouldn''t be difficult; they were well aware of their opponents.


    At that moment, a silver light flickered, and a graceful figure appeared beside him.


    "Big Brother!"


    The familiar and pleasant voice made Tang San smile widely. Mei Gongzi was wearing the same long silver dress, and she was also smiling sweetly at him.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    She looked in top condition, evidently having rested well the previous night. The victory in the individual championship had brought her increased confidence, and her aura and demeanor had changed. Being the absolute best of the younger generation and a potential future Demon Emperor had indeed changed her.


    Her voice reached his ears through sound transmission. "Last night, I worked on the White Tiger Transformation and, as you suggested, I kept trying to switch between the two bloodlines, looking formon points. I really discovered some interesting things. Once I trulybine them, my strength will surely increase again. The stronger and more diverse the bloodlines, the more powerful you be! No wonder you''re so strong!"


    Tang San smiled and nodded. She was indeed very smart and quick to understand.


    Mei Gongzi asked curiously, "Big Brother, how many types of bloodline abilities do you have?" Even she didn''t know how many bloodline abilities Tang San currently possessed.


    "Once we get back after thepetition and the awards ceremony, I''ll tell you everything."


    Thinking that he would take off his mask and show her his true face today, Mei Gongzi''s eyes lit up, and she smiled widely. "Alright!"


    After today''spetition, he indeed needed to have a good talk with Mei Gongzi, hoping she would ept his true identity. Once they won the championship, she would be able to protect herself, so many of his misgivings would be no longer. Moreover, they would need to work together even more from now; what they wanted to achieve could not be done without close and seamless cooperation.


    At this moment, the arena was already crowded, and many eyes were on the waiting area. However, due to the way it was set up, only those in the VIP section had a clear view of it.


    In Tang San and Mei Gongzi''s waiting area, it was just the two of them, while their opponents were in the waiting area on the other side.


    Standing side by side, they naturally became the focus of attention even from the VIP section.


    Tang San suddenly sensed something and nced toward the VIP box above. He had just faintly felt a divine consciousness sweep past them, and it was clearly unfriendly��it gave him a chilly feeling.


    Their excellent performance in thepetition, consistently advancing with great vigor, had brought them to the finals. This had certainly earned them the admiration of powerful beings like the White Tiger Demon Emperor, but it also attracted some malice.


    After all, the opponents of the Peacock Demon n far outnumbered their supporters. Even with their newfound power and support, the road ahead would still be very difficult.


    A figure descended from the sky on thepetition stage,nding in the center.


    Faint light flickered around him, giving off a strange feeling. And when he appeared in the center of thepetition stage, Tang San''s expression immediately became more serious.


    Among the many Emperors, if there was anyone he dreaded the most, it would definitely be the one who appeared to have nobat ability but ruled over the entire Ancestral Court��the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, the Master of Fate.


    He hadn''t expected this figure to appear on thepetition stage. Could it be that he was going to personally referee this match? How would he do that if he couldn��t really fight?


    When the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor appeared in the center of the stage, the entire ce fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. All eyes were immediately drawn to him.


    His gaze swept over the audience; a faint smile appeared on his face, and instantly, all the spectators felt as if they were bathed in a spring breeze, as though they were blessed by fate.


    "Master of Fate! Master of Fate! Master of Fate! Long live Your Majesty!"


    Cheers echoed continuously throughout the Ancestral Court za.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor raised both hands slightly, and immediately, the entire ce quieted down. All eyes were focused on him.

 Chapter 581: Nine Sun Sword

    <h4>Chapter 581: Nine Sun Sword</h4>


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor smiled and said, "Today is thest match of this tournament. Both the individual and the doublespetitions have shown the talents and strengths of the younger generation. Especially in this first edition of the doublespetition��we''ve seen the mutual understanding and cooperation between the young contestants. To honor this sentiment, I will personally referee today''s championship match. Please, both teams, step onto the stage."


    <i>So the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is really personally refereeing....</i>


    Hearing his words, Tang San couldn''t help but feel a chill in his heart. In front of this person, especially during the battle, he was afraid he couldn''t hide his abilities well enough!


    But there was nothing he could do. He was here, so no matter what, he had to face things head-on.


    Mei Gongzi and Tang San left the waiting area and quickly stepped onto thepetition stage, with their opponents also stepping onto the stage.


    Standing opposite Tang San and Mei Gongzi was a strong team; they hadn��t had any byes or weak opponents, and they��d fought their way to this final stage. It was an extremely umonbination of a demon and a nymph.


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi had previously encountered the Perching Phoenix Duo, but this pair was different, a rather peculiarbination. On the demon side was a tall, slender male who looked sharp and upright, his gaze fixed on Mei Gongzi. Beside him stood a female in a red dress, looking somewhat in but very serious and focused. She stood half a step behind the man, clearly showing that the demon male was the leader of this team.


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi already knew what team this was. The male belonged to the Red-Crowned Crane lineage, a direct disciple of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. The Red-Crowned Cranes hadn''t even participated in the individualpetition; a few were in the doublespetition, and this one had managed to reach the finals. His partner, the female contestant from the nymph side, hailed from the Scorching Sunflower n. She was the only female participant from her n in this entirepetition.


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi had faced more than one Scorching Sunflower before, and they��d concluded that these nymphs were indeed extremely powerful. Even Tang San had a tough time dealing with the one he met in the individualpetition.


    Their opponents in the final match of the doublespetition were indeed a unique pair. Regarding their particrities, Tang San and Mei Gongzi had also gathered some information.


    The Scorching Sunflower yed a support role, while the Red-Crowned Crane was the main attacker, using her power to increase the power of his sword.


    On the surface, thisbination seemed strong but not the strongest, appearing weaker than the Dragon-Phoenix Pair or the Perching Phoenix Duo. But with that said... how could there possibly be weaklings in thispetition, much less at this level?


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As both sides appeared on stage, facing each other, a palpable tension filled the air.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s gaze swept over both sides. "Contestants, be ready. If the oue is decided, I may end the match and dere a victor before anyone gets gravely injured."


    <i>How will you know that for sure? By manipting luck?</i>


    Tang San had some doubts in his heart, but in any case, this figure was the foremost in the Ancestral Court. He surely knew what he was doing. Tang San suppressed his aura, trying to make himself less noticeable.


    Seeing that both sides indicated they were ready, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor signaled the start of the match. "Begin!"


    Tang San''s figure flickered, and he once again positioned himself behind Mei Gongzi to support her, while she took the main attack role.


    This was their best way to cooperate, and it also concealed Tang San''s abilities most effectively.


    The gentle energy of the Peacock Transformation flowed into Mei Gongzi''s body, causing her to radiate with a silver light; her peacock blue hair fluttered lightly, filling Tang San''s nose with her faint fragrance.


    On the other side, the Scorching Sunflower girl swayed like a willow in the wind, and vines grew out from her body. Then her humanoid figure vanished as her entire body transformed into vines; they wrapped around the Red-Crowned Crane, forming ayer of crimson vine armor.


    The Red-Crowned Crane pointed into the void, and a long sword appeared in its hand. The swords of the Red-Crowned Crane Demons were a transformation of their own long beaks. They were nurtured from a young age, growing stronger as the Red-Crowned Cranes�� own power increased.


    Among them, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s sword reigned supreme��a divine weapon forged from a Demon Emperor��s beak.


    At this moment, when the Red-Crowned Crane shook his long sword, nine red light clusters, each resembling a small sun, appeared on the de, emitting a zing radiance. Coupled with the crane demon��s armor, they caused massive heat waves to radiate from his entire body.


    Nine Suns Sword!


    The incredibly sharp sword aura, apanied by intense heat, made the crane demon appear as if he were burning. With a sharp bird cry, a pair of wings unfolded behind him


    Though separated from their opponents by hundreds of meters, he did not move a single step. Instead, he simply thrust his sword into the void.


    This seemingly simple sword strike appeared to pierce through space, and the extremely sharp sword intent arrived in front of Mei Gongzi in an instant.


    <i>So fast!</i>


    Mei Gongzi hadn''t even deployed her spatial power before the opponent''s sword intent arrived.


    It wasn''t sword aura, but pure sword intent��a spiritual attack.


    Mei Gongzi''s eyes shone brightly, and the Celestial Plume in her hand quivered. The space in front of her instantly becameyered and ethereal, constantly shifting.


    As the sword intent approached her, the light around her seemed to be swallowed, giving the impression that space was copsing.


    The surging sword intent then shot skyward��Star Shift.


    With Tang San''s assistance and her recent insights into Star Shift, Mei Gongzi was now able to use it more or less freely. And as it turned out, this signature divine technique of the Peacock Demon n clearly wasn''t just for countering physical attacks but could neutralize <i>all </i>forms of attack.


    The sharp sword intent was redirected into the sky, like a twisted pir of light that shot straight into the clouds. This impressive visual effect showcased the intensity of the sword intent.


    Tang San stood right behind Mei Gongzi, feeling the changes in the sword intent, and couldn''t help but be slightly moved.


    The Scorching Sword Pair, as they were nicknamed, was not merely the Scorching Sunflower''s heat to imbue the Red-Crowned Crane��s sword. These two had clearly been together for more than just a day or two; they had likely been together since the beginning of their cultivation.


    The strength of that sword intent surpassed the god level. It gave off a feeling of being one with nature��one with the heavens. It was an incredible level of attainment for a swordsman.


    With this result in mind, it was clear that the heat of the Scorching Sunflower did not merely serve to amplify the power of the Red-Crowned Crane��s sword in battle, but also to temper the sword. After who knew how many years of tempering, the sword formed from the crane demon��s long beak had been refined to the level of a divine weapon.


    Furthermore, the tempering did not only refine the sword itself but also the spiritual power of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s sessor, and that was what allowed him to possess such incredible sword intent.


    This opponent was more difficult to deal with than expected. No wonder they could defeat so many powerful opponents!


    Just as the initial contact was made, the nine light clusters on the Nine Suns Sword shone brilliantly. The Red-Crowned Crane tapped the ground with his toes, his wings suddenly pped, and in the next moment, he shot toward Mei Gongzi and Tang San like a bolt of lightning.


    Wherever he passed, the air distorted intensely, and the scorching heat made the surrounding space extremely unstable.


    At that moment, Tang San''s voice echoed in Mei Gongzi''s mind.


    <i>��sh with him head-on.</i>


    Without hesitation, Mei Gongzi engaged into the Celestial Dance, the Celestial Plume in her hand glinting silver as she faced the attack.


    The sharp sword aura shed and vanished, arriving directly in front of Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi''s delicate body slightly shifted, and the edge of the Celestial Plume made contact with the tip of the opponent''s sword.


    With a crisp "ding," Mei Gongzi felt a surge of scorching airflow carrying a sharp sword intent into her body. Meanwhile, the Red-Crowned Crane felt theyered spatial fluctuations attacking him, poised to tear him apart.

 Chapter 582: Hand in Hand

    <h4>Chapter 582: Hand in Hand</h4>


    The scorching airflow surged and burned the constantly shifting spatial power, dissolving it.


    At the same time, the sharp sword intent within Mei Gongzi''s body was immediately washed away by the spatial power rotating at high speed, and the scorching sword intent silently dissipated. Indeed, Star Shift merged offense and defense wlessly.


    Both sides retreated simultaneously, but in the next instant, thousands of energy des appeared almost simultaneously as bothunched an all-out offensive.


    Tang San did not interfere directly; he simply continued to channel his internal energy into Mei Gongzi through the Peacock Transformation, and his spiritual power permeated her sea of consciousness as he used his spirit core as a transmitter, enhancing her spiritual power.


    During thispetition, Mei Gongzi''s cultivation, spiritual power, and insights had all greatly improved. But how could these insights be integrated into her own abilities? Nothing was better than practice, practice facing powerful opponents. Therefore, for this final match, the stage was hers; this match was the best training for her.


    Tang San himself did not need such battle experience; he had far more experience than anyone else. Thus, his only purpose now was to help Mei Gongzi seed.


    Mei Gongzi used the Celestial Plume in her hand as a sword as she wove through space using the Celestial Dance. Despite the high temperature that caused space to distort, she used her divine weapon to open spatial gate after spatial gate, rift after rift, and fought the opponent using Star Shift.


    The Red-Crowned Crane''s sword aura was extremely sharp, but it could not break through the defenses of Mei Gongzi''s Celestial Plume. Both sides unleashed countless energy des, and the air screamed as they cut through it, yet neither side showed any signs of being overwhelmed,


    The sword intent in the Red-Crowned Crane''s eyes remained sharp, showing no fear even though he was facing the individual champion. Instead, he fought with increasing bravery, and his sword intent grew stronger and stronger.


    However, he noticed that his opponent was the same. The energy des formed from her spatial power were extremely sharp, and under the draw of her strange dance, spatial power continued to gather even under the burning heat of the Sr Fire. Moreover, his sword intent seemed to have no effect on her, her physical strength was extremely strong, and with the guidance of Star Shift, she could handle the energy des that her Celestial Plume didn��t catch.


    What he didn''t know was that at this moment, in addition to using the Peacock Transformation, Mei Gongzi also used the White Tiger Transformation for defense and to enhance her fighting spirit. She was actually attempting to merge the two bloodlines mid-fight and have them support each other!


    Energy de crossed with energy de as the auras of both sides continuously shed.


    The strength of the Red-Crowned Crane''s sword intenty in its ability to pierce even the void. And with the locking power of this sword intent, no matter how Mei Gongzi maneuvered and shifted her position using spatial power, the opponent could always lock onto her, and the energy des would still reach her even through the distorted space.


    As the Nine Suns burned, the Red-Crowned Crane''s long sword became brighter and sharper by the moment, and every move seemed to rend the space asunder. Under the scorching temperature, the sword itself appeared to be slowly reducing in size, yet its power only grew with every moment that passed.


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    It was evident that this was a kind of cultivation method developed by the Scorching Sunflower and the Red-Crowned Crane together, and its effects were in for everyone to see.


    Even with the Celestial Plume, the sharp sword aura was bing increasingly difficult for Mei Gongzi to handle. If not for the White Tiger Transformation''s physical strength, she might not have been able to endure it.


    Yet even in the face of such pressure, Tang San did not give her any support other than pure bloodline power and spiritual power. Mei Gongzi, in turn, did not retreat in the face of pressure, continuously using her own sword intent to neutralize the opponent''s offensive.


    Tang San seemed calm andposed as he stood behind her, but in reality, his attention was entirely on the chief referee standing at the edge of the field. Evenpared to the mighty opponent in front of them, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was the truly terrifying one! It was most important not to let him see through Tang San��s secrets.


    "Ha!" With a loud shout, the Red-Crowned Crane, who had been attacking continuously, suddenly pulled back his long sword and flew backward.


    His armor rapidly melted into his skin, bing like a secondyer of crimson skin. He raised the long sword in his hand, which suddenly burst into dazzling brilliance. In that instant, even the Nine Suns became indistinguishable; there was only the long sword emitting fierce sword aura, and behind it, a pair of fierce red eyes that burned like two suns.


    The Scorching Sunflower��s tempering did not just refine the sword but also the wielder. The two had cultivated together since childhood for this precise moment, and now, the results of their efforts were on full disy.


    The two staked everything��the scorching mes burned even their very essence. They did not hesitate for even a second.


    The Red-Crowned Crane knew very well that although they seemed to have gained the upper hand, Mei Gongzi''s defense was very steady. Thanks to the properties of Star Shift, Mei Gongzi''s energy consumption was significantly lower than theirs. On the other hand, he could not maintain the Nine Suns Sword state for too long. Once it reached peak temperature, the sword itself would be consumed, and he had to end things quickly. Otherwise, his sword would be turned to nothingness and it would take an inordinate amount of time to create a new one.


    Mei Gongzi was stronger than they had imagined. Ordinary spatial power couldn''t block their attacks, but Mei Gongzi used the changes in space toyer uponyer neutralize their attacks. Additionally, the magical Star Shift always managed to deflect their fierce sword aura and intent, preventing sustained harm to her.


    Mei Gongzi had been on the defensive, but very steadily, giving them no opportunity to exploit.


    This was the strategy that Tang San and Mei Gongzi had discussed. Facing an opponent with extremely sharp attack capabilities, they decided to counter with a war of attrition. It was clear that the opponent had a trump card; if they engaged head-on and the opponent seized an opportunity, the result would be a lot less than desirable.


    Otherwise, it was clear that in terms of overall strength, the opponent was inferior. Even though they undoubtedly had better coordination, Tang San and Mei Gongzi had a significant advantage in spiritual power, not to mention their elemental attributes. The Red-Crowned Crane indeed had a first-tier bloodline, but it was rtively weak among first-tier bloodlines. The Scorching Sunflower, despite her strength, could not make up for this shoring.


    Even if the twoplemented each other, could theypare to thebined bloodline power and spiritual power of Tang San and Mei Gongzi? Hardly. With that in mind, Tang San felt that adapting to the opponent��s attacks rather than going for a rigid offensive was the best solution. Eventually, the Scorching Sword Pair would be the one to fall.


    Moreover, defending while enduring the impact of the sword intent was highly beneficial for Mei Gongzi; in the process, she would gain a better understanding of her two bloodlines and how to use them together.


    The Red-Crowned Crane clearly realized that continuing like this was futile, so he abruptly paused for a moment, then erupted with power!


    It understood that to defeat Mei Gongzi and Tang San and win the championship, it had tounch an unparalleled powerful attack at its peak to crush the opponents.


    He was well aware that the opponents had some kind of supreme divine artifact, the weapon that had defeated Meng Dede. He also felt the sword intenting from it��how could an heir of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor not feel it? But it was a gamble he had to take, and his gamble was that Mei Gongzi could not use that sword intent again, at least for a while.


    And indeed, his bet was correct. Mei Gongzi indeed could not use it again. Not only was it not her ability, but even for Tang San, the price for using the Asura Sword once more was not something he could pay casually.


    But did being unable to use it mean they would lose the match? That... remained to be seen.


    Tang San extended his right hand, grasping Mei Gongzi��s right wrist. In that moment, with his body pressed against her back, he even felt the contraction of her back muscles upon contact.


    Mei Gongzi could sense his presence, clear as daylight.


    For some reason, her heart fluttered when she sensed this presence, and at the same time, she also felt an unusual sense of reassurance.

 Chapter 583: Double Champions

    <h4>Chapter 583: Double Champions</h4>


    At this moment, the Red-Crowned Crane exploded with power.


    The intensely burning sword aura burst forth almost instantly. The terrifying sword intent soared to the heavens, and the Red-Crowned Crane and the Scorching Sunflower contestant vanished simultaneously. What remained was a single sword light��a sword light that could shock the heavens and make ghosts and gods weep. Man and sword as one; man and heaven as one!


    In that moment, the Red-Crowned Crane even felt an exhrating sensation, as if he had pierced through the firmament and broken through the bottleneck that had always troubled him.


    This was the absolute pinnacle; the strongest strike he had everunched in his entire life. Even if it meantpletely burning off his long beak, consuming his life force, and requiring a long time to recover afterward, he had no regrets. Being able to unleash such a strike before reaching the god level would bring unparalleled benefits when he <i>did</i> reach that level in the future.


    The earth-shattering sword light descended from the sky, clearly much stronger than Big Cat''s strike in yesterday''spetition. After all, this was thebined power of two individuals, forged through years of sword cultivation��a true desperate strike. It contained an explosive power that seemed poised to obliterate everything in its path.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi moved. She gently moved the Celestial Plume in her right hand, the shimmering silver light tracing a beautiful arc in the air.


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    The silver light was not intense, but the arc carried a sense of perfect bnce and calmness. The soft light arc gently moved upward, creating faint silver ripples in the air.


    On one side there was a young man��s explosive release of power that sacrificed everything, further ignited by his fiery partner. On the other, another young man��s hand was guiding his lover��s as she painted the sky, drawing a perfect circle.


    One side was fierce, the other serene.


    And the next moment, they shed.


    Mei Gongzi''s delicate body leaned into Tang San''s embrace. At that moment, she felt her body, bloodline, and spirit hadpletely merged with Tang San��s. They were no longer separate; even their heartbeats were in the same rhythm.


    <i>You are me, I am you.</i>


    The silver ring of light radiated a gentle glow in the air. That extraordinary, almost <i>impossibly</i> powerful sword strike silently vanished within that peaceful circle.


    Yes, it vanished just like that, disappearing without a trace, leaving no mark behind.


    Mysterious Circles of Heaven!


    This time, just like the first time she��d done it, Tang San personally guided Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi��s eyes were radiant, and she even felt that she had advanced; her understanding of space had been elevated to another level.


    That circle seemed to open up a gate to a new world, a new sky. It erased the intense sword light like a cloud erasing the moon reflected in a pond, leaving no trace behind.


    Not a hint of sword intent touched them.


    The perfect unity of physique, bloodline, and spirit allowed Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power to fully transcend to another world at that moment. And although it fell back in the next moment, she had felt a lot in that fleeting instant.


    She sensed the incredibly powerful auras in each private box and the multitude of weak ones around her.


    <i>Divine consciousness... This must be what divine consciousness feels like.</i>


    She didn''t know how Tang San had done it, but she was absolutely certain that at that instant, when Tang San''s spiritual powerpletely fused with hers, their spiritual power had transformed into divine consciousness, enabling them to draw this perfect circle. This was a true divine technique, in every sense!


    In the air, the Red-Crowned Crane''s figure reappeared, and the Scorching Sunflower also appeared beside him. They were both pale as paper, and their fiery momentum was nowhere to be seen. They floated down to the ground, looking at their opponents that were now standing side by side, hand in hand. They lowered their heads in despair.


    The match was over. Even without the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s announcement, the match had already ended, and the oue was already decided.


    Then the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s melodious voice rang out. "Asura, Mei Gongzi, congrattions. You are the winners of this doublespetition!"


    Tang San instinctively turned his head to look at the Demon Emperor, feeling slightly shaken.


    When announcing the victory, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had ced Tang San''s name first, not Mei Gongzi''s. Had he... sensed something?


    When using the Mysterious Circles of Heaven, Tang San relied entirely on the fusion of his own spiritual power with Mei Gongzi��s, using the power of the blood oath as a conduit. This temporarily elevated their spiritual power to the level of divine consciousness, ultimately neutralizing the opponent��s desperate strike.


    This conveniently allowed him to avoid using another bloodline power and prevent the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor from probing his secrets. And yet... it seemed thetter had still sensed something.


    Yes, Tang San utilized the power of the blood oath. As a former God King, he understood such oaths very well. He had willingly made the blood oath for Mei Gongzi partly because it allowed him to better protect her, to sense immediately when she was in danger, and partly because it could serve as a medium to enable their powers tobine.


    Mei Gongzi turned to look at Tang San.


    They had won. They had won. Absorbed in her enlightenment, she hadn��t even paid much attention to what had happened.


    She looked down at her hand and the hand holding hers.


    When performing the Mysterious Circles of Heaven, he held her right hand with his right hand, but now as they stood side by side, he was holding her right hand with his left.


    She had a peculiar feeling��as his hand held hers, it felt so natural, as if it was meant to be. As if it should have always been this way.


    Tang San looked at her too, with a smile on his face, showing no intention of letting go. Since he had already decided to take off the mask and let her know everything, there was nothing to hold back.


    He had held her as they used the Mysterious Circles of Heaven. Now, he was holding her hand, and he would inevitably hold her heart.


    In any case, by using a divine technique to neutralize the opponent��s strongest strike, they had finally won the match. All the glory belonged to Mei Gongzi, who was standing forward with Tang San slightly behind her; the thunderous cheers almost instantly resounded through the heavens.


    Double champion��both in the individual and the doublespetitions, Mei Gongzi had achieved the highest honors. Undoubtedly, at this moment, she had reached the pinnacle of her life.


    Her delicate body quivered slightly, but the warmth from therge hand holding hers made her turbulent emotions feel like they had found a safe harbor. At this moment, her eyes became a little moist.


    Since childhood, within the Peacock Demon n, she had always been an outcast. Only her mother brought her warmth. Her father was strict at that time, urging her to cultivate continuously for as long as she could remember.


    Gradually, her mother had told her many things, narrating the tragic stories of humans. As she grew older, she began to understand her responsibilities as a human. Her childhood never seemed to be associated with happiness; perhaps only while helping her mother sell milk tea in the shop did she feel somewhat rxed.


    On the surface, she was the little princess of the Peacock Demon n, but no one had ever regarded her as a n member. In their eyes, she was a mongrel with lowly human blood.


    She had always held back her anger, working hard to prove herself. When the Peacock Great Demon King realized that she was more diligent than her peers, even without his urging, his strictness gradually faded.

 Chapter 584: Fated Tribulation

    <h4>Chapter 584: Fated Tribtion</h4>


    Most of her time was spent improving herself, diligently cultivating, striving to be stronger, all to protect her mother and to one day stop being ridiculed. The cold stares and mockery around her were her motivation to move forward. She wanted to show everyone with her abilities that being human was not a weakness; humans could be strong too.


    At this moment, she stood at the highest point of the young generation on the Daemon Continent. Years of internal repression and frustration seemed to havepletely released at this instant. Tears uncontrobly streamed down her fair cheeks. If not for that warm hand, she feared she would lose control and cry out loud.


    Tang San stood silently beside her, smiling as he watched her. To him, cheers and glory were unimportant. He only wished for her well-being and happiness, and that was his greatest joy.


    In his eyes, there was only her, only that figure. His heart had long been filled with her, in his previous life and in this one as well.


    He could feel her hand was somewhat cold, but she was certainly feeling warm. The tension he felt within her was slowly easing up. And although she was crying, there was a stubborn pride in her eyes, her red lips tightly pressed together, and her delicate body quivering slightly.


    "Congrattions to you both."


    A gentle voice caught their attention.


    Even though the cheers of the audience grew louder and louder, they could not drown out this soft voice.


    Tang San bowed slightly, saluting the person before him, the one whom he feared the most. "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor looked at him calmly. "You have a great tribtion in your destiny, do you know that?"


    Tang San was slightly taken aback but felt a chill in his heart.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor continued, "You are very strange. When I first saw you, I felt you were strange. Your destiny is unusual; it��s almost unthinkable for me to be unable to see it clearly. But I can sense that your tribtion is approaching. This is what I can see. The tribtion precedes fortune; only by oveing it can you achieve your fortune. It seems to be a path to the heavens. Whether you can pass this tribtion is up to you."


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi had alsoe to her senses and couldn''t help but ask eagerly, "What kind of tribtion is it?"


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor smiled and said, "I only control destiny; I do not peer into the secrets of heaven. That, as far as I know, is your job, youngdy. And speaking of that, your fate is also peculiar. He is yourpanion, and when you are by his side, your destiny will soar."


    He drew a long breath, then continued. "This is a unique moment; who knows if anyone will ever be double champion again? With that in mind, consider this a little gift from me."


    As he said this, his gaze turned back to Tang San. "I hope to see you again in the not-too-distant future."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty." Tang San nodded slightly and saluted him again.


    Without a doubt, the words of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor stirred up a great wave in his heart. This so-called Master of Destiny, a person capable of controlling others�� fate in the literal sense, would not say such things without reason.


    What Tang San couldn''t determine was whether the tribtion mentioned was something the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor himself would bring upon them or if it was a tribtion inherently present in his destiny.


    Although he also possessed the Celestial Fox Vision, Tang San himself had no awareness of this. However, he was now fairly certain that the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had not manipted his fate.


    The words of the Master of Destiny had already made Mei Gongzi turn pale. There were too many legends about him, and even though his words were somewhat ambiguous, no one would doubt them.


    <i>What kind of tribtion will befall Asura?</i>


    The excitement of just winning the championship felt like it had been doused with cold water. Mei Gongzi gripped Tang San''s hand tighter.


    Tang San smiled at her. "It''ll be fine. For you, I''ll live well."


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath. "After receiving the award, we''ll leave immediately and have my father take us back. Once we''re back in Kali City, we should be safe."


    "Okay," Tang San replied softly, his eyes faintly gleaming.


    In fact, Tang San had long suspected the actual cause of the tribtion mentioned by the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. He was too conspicuous; as a human, he was simply too dazzling.


    Even though he had tried to keep a low profile, being in the semi-finals of the individualpetition and winning the doubles championship was still very attention-grabbing. Moreover, he was different from Mei Gongzi. Mei Gongzi was ultimately a representative of the Peacock Demon n, but what about him? He had registered as a human from the get-go, and though not everyone knew that, they were bound to find out sooner orter.


    Was it possible for a human to achieve such things in the Ancestral Court? And if it was possible, was it <i>permissible</i>? A human with no real backing reaching this point... How could it not arouse apprehension?


    He hadn''t originally nned to participate. Even if he was going to, it was just to see how strong the younger generation of demons and nymphs was. But Mei Gongzi''s arrival changed his mind. He wanted to apany her, help her, and safeguard her in thepetition.


    Thus, he had deliberately avoided thinking about the consequences that a high ranking would bring. But thepetition was over, and the consequences were finallying.


    <i>Well, bring it on. If it''s going to happen, let it happen. I am no longer powerless to resist.</i>


    Under the guidance of the staff, Tang San and Mei Gongzi went to one side of thepetition stage to wait. Next, the top sixteen contestants from the individualpetition and top sixteen pairs from the doublespetition would take the stage. The award ceremony was about to begin.


    The one responsible for presenting the awards was still the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    The Master of Destiny once again stepped to the center of the stage, pressing his hands down lightly, and instantly, the entire audience fell silent.


    "This Ancestral Court Elite Competition ising to an end. As with previous years, it is a grand event for the Ancestral Court and the entire Daemon Continent. We have witnessed the brilliance of the younger generation gradually bloom and seen many future stars. Especially those of you who are now on the stage. I hope you will soon continue to climb to new heights.


    "In thispetition, besides the traditional singles event, we have specially included a doubles event to encourage our various ns to abandon prejudices and cooperate with each other. We are pleased to see many cross-nbinations and even demon-nymphbinations that have demonstrated the effect of one plus one being greater than two. For years, the Ancestral Court has been researching the integration and cultivation of different bloodlines. When individual strength reaches its limit, perhaps cooperation with aplementary partner can lead one to achieve greater heights. In the future, the doubles event, and even team events, will gradually appear in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. We hope all ns will continue to strive for excellence."


    His calm voice spread throughout the Ancestral Court za, invisibly stirring the audience''s emotions and filling them with excitement.


    "The next Ancestral Court Elite Competition will continue to undergo reforms, starting with the addition of team events. The exact number of participants has yet to be determined and will be decided after the Ancestral Court Council''s deliberation. However, it has been decided that the next Ancestral Court Elite Competition will no longer have bloodline tier restrictions. Any bloodline can participate.


    "Selections will start from the major cities, and top contestants wille to the Ancestral Court for the finalpetition. So regardless of your bloodline, as long as you believe you have the strength and means to defeat your opponents, you can register. The future Ancestral Court Elite Competition will be renamed the Daemon Continent Elite Competition, and it will be an opportunity for all young people, of all races, to rise."


    These words caused the entire audience to erupt in excitement. It was well known that the Ancestral Court Elite Competition had always been dominated by those with high-tier bloodlines. Even those who believed they had exceptional talent andbat abilities could not participate if their bloodline tier was not up to par. Such a rxation of the rules was undoubtedly a great opportunity for ns with lower-tier bloodlines, giving them at least a chance to showcase themselves.


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    How could this not make those with lower-tier bloodlines ecstatic? The honor of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition was incredibly important to the younger generation.

 Chapter 585: Conclusion and Award Ceremony

    <h4>Chapter 585: Conclusion and Award Ceremony</h4>


    Although those who ultimately reached the finals would mostly be from high-tier bloodlines, at least the lower-tier bloodlines now had a chance. And more importantly, they had a chance to be noticed.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor once again raised his hands and motioned to the crowd, and the entire audience fell silent.


    "You, young people aspiring to participate in the Daemon Continent Elite Competition... You must work harder than you ever have in the following years. You <i>might </i>just change your destiny.


    "With that said, next we will present the awards to the finalists of this tournament. First, we will give out the rewards for the toppetitors. The contestants who made it to the top sixteen in the individual and doublespetitions, pleasee forward."


    The top sixteen had already received the most important reward��the recognition of the Sacred Mountains, the fact that the Emperors had witnessed their prowess. Different Emperors had different criteria, but they usually prioritized certain bloodlines. After all, the strength of those who made it to the top sixteen usually didn''t differ too much. Even someone like Meng Dede, despite his strength, had been eliminated in the doublespetition�� round of sixteen.


    There were also contestants who were not recognized. If a contestant made it to the top sixteen by luck of the draw and their strength was not up to par, or they didn��t show enough growth potential, they might not catch the eye of an Emperor. Conversely, if a strong contestant was eliminated due to bad luck, they might still be acknowledged by multiple Emperors.


    The first to be awarded were those with the lowest achievements��those who were eliminated in the round of sixteen. In other words, there were eight contestants from the individualpetition and sixteen from the doubles, for a total of twenty-four. However, only eighteen coulde to receive their awards. The remaining six, mostly due to serious injuries, could not attend. Their rewards would be sent directly to them.


    Meng Dede and his sister did note. Meng Dede was severely injured, but the reason for Meng Deshi''s absence was unknown.


    Trays were brought onto the stage, and the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor personally handed them to the contestants.


    Each tray contained one or more tokens of recognition from Emperors. In addition to the tokens, those who had gotten this far received a unified reward��ten amethystine coins! It didn��t sound like much, but the amethystine coin was the highest-level currency on the continent! Even when auctioning divine artifacts, amethystine coins were not used for purchasing, which only served to highlight their rarity and value.


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    Amethystine coins almost never circted in the market because they were extremely precious in and of themselves. They were considered invaluable treasures for cultivation. Those who possessed amethystine coins rarely sold them or used them as currency. Instead, they kept them to absorb their pure energy during cultivation.


    After receiving their rewards, the contestants left the stage under the guidance of the staff, and the number of people on stage significantly reduced.


    Next were the rewards for those who had reached top eight, and they were noticeably more substantial. Firstly, the number of Emperor tokens increased significantly; almost all contestants received recognition from multiple Emperors. This was the case for both the individual and the doubles contestants. Moreover, the reward in amethystine coins increased to fifty!


    It seemed that the organizers hadn��t bothered to prepare personalized rewards for these people, but none of them had the slightest intention to protest. Absolutely no one had amethystine coins to spare, so how could they refuse?


    "Next, we will present the rewards for the top four. Please enter."


    The top four meant those eliminated in the semi-finals��two pairs from the doublespetition and two contestants from the individualpetition, among whom Tang San.


    Walking out with him was a contestant from the Poison Dragon n. As they walked out together, the contestant gave Tang San a cold nce, with a hint of disdain on his lips.


    Tang San pretended not to notice and casually walked forward.


    The rewards for the doublespetition seemed more significant at this point because it involved two participants, yet each person��s reward was the same as in the singlespetition. This was why many strong contestants chose to participate in the doublespetition alone and why some opted to forfeit the singlespetition early to conserve strength for the doubles.


    Six trays were brought onto the stage, and the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor personally handed them to the contestants.


    Tang San received his tray, neatly arranged with six Emperor tokens. Yes, six. The Poison Dragon standing beside him only had three.


    Tang San quickly identified which Emperors the tokens belonged to.


    The championship reward included tokens from all Emperors; this was the mandate of the Ancestral Court. Since Tang San was already the doubles champion, he would receive a full set. The six tokens before him were from Emperors who genuinely acknowledged his abilities��the ones who had already made their decision before today''s event.


    The six tokens belonged to the Destiny Master Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, the Unbreakable Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor, the Heaven-Crossing Earth-Piercing White Tiger Demon Emperor, the Cloud-Soaring Sword Saint Demon Emperor, and��unexpectedly��the Sun-Nurtured Sunborne Nymph Emperor and the Earth-Suppressor Earthshade Nymph Emperor.


    The first four were within Tang San''s expectations. He already had a token of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, so this was the second one. The Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor''s token was somewhat surprising; he had expected something from the Mammoth Demon Emperor instead. The Sword Saint Demon Emperor��s Sacred Mountain had also recognized him before, and the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s token likely came due to Mei Gongzi.


    But the tokens from the Sunborne Nymph Emperor and the Earthshade Nymph Emperor were truly unexpected. And having a token from one of them was one thing, but both? There was absolutely no way this was a coincidence. Could they have sensed his Yin-Yang energy?


    Their tokens were also interesting: a small pink flower and a small gray-blue flower. They emitted seemingly gentle energy waves, but when Tang San scanned them with his spiritual power, he immediately sensed the violent energy within.


    These were likely actual flowers produced by the two top-ranked Nymph Emperors.


    It seemed that the Scorching Sunflower and Nethermoon Flower contestants he had defeated had said something to their ns, or maybe the yin-yang energy he��d left within them had been detected.


    In any case, that was a concern forter. Since they��d handed him tokens, it was likely that they didn��t view him with enmity.


    Tang San had received the greatest number of tokens among those eliminated in the semifinals. After all, gaining recognition from the Emperors was not an easy task. These tokens were not given lightly. Possessing a token meant that if he chose to pledge allegiance, that Emperor would surely ept.


    In addition to the six tokens, the top four contestants received another reward: a storage ring. It had a purple gemstone that shimmered with innate light. A quick scan with his spiritual power revealed the energy fluctuations within.


    It was filled with amethystine coins, and there were a <i>lot</i> of them. A total of two hundred coins, four times the amount given to the top eight contestants!


    Tang San had always been curious about amethystine coins. He had heard that Emperors used them for cultivation, but this was his first time actually seeing them. Although he didn��t get any specific item, he also had noints whatsoever about the amethystine coins.


    Next were the runners-up.


    Only three were on the stage this time: Big Cat, the runner-up in the individualpetition, and the Scorching Sword Pair, who had just lost to Tang San and Mei Gongzi in the doublespetition.


    The three contestants stepped forward together. Among the others, only Tang San had remained on stage; the staff had led the others off. Soon, Tang San and Mei Gongzi would receive their champion rewards��Mei Gongzi twice over


    Big Cat and the Scorching Sword Pair approached the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor and bowed.


    Trays were brought forward, and Tang San immediately noticed that the tray in front of Big Cat had more tokens than the others.

 Chapter 586: The Ten Divine Items (Part 1)

    <h4>Chapter 586: The Ten Divine Items (Part 1)</h4>


    Big Cat had received the recognition of six: the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor, the Heaven-Crossing Earth-Piercing White Tiger Demon Emperor, the Golden Mammoth Demon Emperor, the Cloud-Soaring Sword Saint Demon Emperor, the Thousand-Faceted zed ss Nymph Emperor, and the Indestructible Adamant Nymph Emperor. These were also six tokens, matching Tang San''s previous achievement. Almost all of them were emperors skilled in attack and defense.


    However, apart from the tokens, the runner-up reward no longer included anything else. There was no ring and no amethystine coins; besides the tokens, the tray was empty.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said, "Wait aside for now, there will be other rewards for you shortly."


    The three contestants, led by the staff, stepped aside.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor turned his gaze to Tang San and Mei Gongzi, smiling, "Come up together. Your rewards will be given together."


    This naturally referred to the two champion titles of Mei Gongzi and the one champion title of Tang San.


    The two of them stepped forward together and stood before the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor looked at Mei Gongzi and smiled, "I never expected the Peacock Demon n to rise again. The Celestial Fox controls destiny, the Peacock peers into the secrets of heaven. Once, our two ns guided the direction of the Daemon Continent. I am truly happy for the revival of the Celestial Plume. I look forward to you leading the Peacock Demon n to new heights, guiding the demons and nymphs alongside me."


    Mei Gongzi bowed slightly. "Thank you for your recognition."


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor nodded at her, then turned his gaze to Tang San. As he looked at Tang San again, there was aplex expression in the eyes of the Master of Destiny.


    "I don''t know why, but you give me a very special and elusive feeling. As the so-called Master of Destiny, I obviously don''t like this feeling. The reason I gave you advice earlier was not because of you, but because of her. Her fate seems intertwined with yours, closely linked. If something happens to you, it will greatly affect her. But the future of the Ancestral Court needs her. Therefore, I will not interfere with your fate. It will depend on yourself."


    Tang San did not speak; he only bowed slightly again.


    In the face of this being, it was best to speak less. He had been as careful as possible, but the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor could still sense something from him. Some things were truly beyond control.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor waved his hand, and the staff brought two trays. Compared to the previous trays, these were significantlyrger.


    On the trays, radiant and resplendent, were the tokens from the various emperors.


    Nine Demon Emperors, seven Nymph Emperors��a total of sixteen emperors'' tokens were neatly arranged on the trays. The difference was that Tang San''s tray had one set, while Mei Gongzi''s tray had two sets, totaling thirty-two tokens.


    After observing the energy fluctuations within each token for a moment, Mei Gongzi suddenly looked at the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, can I exchange these tokens for one favor from you?"


    Even though the thirty-two tokens in front of her represented the collective recognition of the strongest beings of the era, she still spoke without wavering for a second.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor seemed to know what she was going to say. He shook his head, however. "No. Destiny cannot be easily interfered with, especially certain special destinies. Everything should be arranged by the heavens themselves. Let destiny run its course."


    Mei Gongzi was about to say something more but found herself unable to speak.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said loudly, "Next, we will present the final rewards. Reaching the finals proves your strength and fortune are top-notch, and you are the future pirs of the Ancestral Court. The Ancestral Court has specially selected ten divine items to reward you. As for which one that is, well, insight is also a part of strength, so you��ll have to make the decision yourself. Each of you can choose one. The champions choose first, followed by the runners-up. Of course, Mei Gongzi can choose twice."


    Yes, this was the final reward, the selection of the ten divine items.


    All contestants knew beforehand that the champion would be rewarded with a divine item, but the fact that the runner-up also had divine items to choose from delighted the three runners-up present, especially the Scorching Sword Pair in the doublespetition, who would get one artifact each.


    Of course, among the ten divine items, some were stronger and some weaker. As long as the champion had enough insight, they would surely pick the strongest artifacts. But there were ten artifacts in total! The champion could only choose three, leaving seven for the others to choose from. Even if the individual runner-up chose first, they could still pick from six artifacts, making the runner-up reward almost as good as the champion''s.


    Mei Gongzi''s ability to speak was unsealed, but at this moment, she could no longer say anything.


    Tang Sanforted her with his eyes. He understood that Mei Gongzi had just wanted the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor to bless him with fortune. But even if the Master of Destiny had been willing, Tang San wasn��t. He understood Mei Gongzi''s good intentions, but if a fate link formed between him and the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, it would not be easy to break free from it.


    Carts were pushed onto the stage��the ten divine items were to be selected on-site, it seemed.


    Tang San was not worried at all about thepetition of insight. Even among all the Emperors present, none couldpare to his abilities in this regard. What good things had he not seen before?


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor smiled and said, "You can observe these artifacts up close shortly. I will not exin them to you. Only after you have made your choices will I tell you what the artifacts are and their functions."


    As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the red cloths covering the carts quietly disappeared, revealing crystal cases beneath them.


    Yes, all the items were in crystal cases that perfectly isted their aura. In other words, they could neither touch nor observe the items with their spiritual sense, so judgement had to be done based on sight alone.


    Mei Gongzi looked at the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor and couldn''t help but say, "Your Majesty, how is the champion advantaged then?"


    Although they could choose first, without knowing the abilities of the artifacts or sensing their aura, that advantage was greatly diminished.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor smiled and said, "Well, they��re not. But here��s another thing I haven��t told you: since you��re the first in history to win the doublespetition <i>and</i> the first to be twice-champion, you will be granted a third divine item. That makes a total of four for you and your partner."


    <i>An extra item? Four divine items?!</i> Hearing this, Mei Gongzi remained silent. Those were divine items, not cabbages! Even if they had to choose blind, being granted an extra item more than made up for it.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor raised his hand, signaling them to start observing the artifacts. "You have ten minutes."


    At this moment, no one would be polite. There were only five of them, so they simply walked forward together, starting their observations from different positions.


    Tang San remained silent throughout, understanding that this selection was indeed very advantageous for them. He and Mei Gongzi would choose four artifacts first, then Big Cat would choose one, and then the other runners-up would pick among the remaining five.


    Reaching the first crystal case, Tang San carefully observed the divine item inside.


    It was something rather peculiar��it looked like a funnel made of metal. It was palm-sized, had no embedded gemstones or anything, and... well, it looked just like an ordinary funnel.


    With the crystal cover isting it, he couldn''t sense any aura from it, and spiritual power couldn''t prate the crystal. Divine consciousness might, but he wasn��t stupid enough to use it; having divine consciousness meant being a god, which would naturally cause him, and by extension Mei Gongzi, to be instantly disqualified.

 Chapter 587: The Ten Divine Items (Part 2)

    <h4>Chapter 587: The Ten Divine Items (Part 2)</h4>


    After a brief contemtion, Tang San looked at the second divine item. This one appeared even stranger; it looked like a stone, with an amber-like luster and irregr in shape, twisted and contorted as if it had been squeezed and kneaded.


    Tang San paused for a longer time this time, then moved on to the third divine item.


    Mei Gongzi followed, also observing carefully, but she realized that her observations weren��t yielding much of an insight. At least for the first two items, she couldn��t make sense of them or guess what they were.


    Tang San arrived at the third divine item. It was a mirror, round and slightlyrger than a palm. Its surface was slightly convex and it appeared to be carved from a special crystal, with a circle of metal around it, engraved with intricate patterns. Among the first three items, this one was definitely the most visually appealing.


    Tang San didn��t stay too long and continued to the fourth divine item.


    At this moment, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s voice rang out, "Eight minutes remain."


    This reminder was not for Tang San and Mei Gongzi, but for the Scorching Sword Pair, as they had been unable to move away from the first item, staring at it with barely concealed excitement. Big Cat was next to them, also eyeing the item with obvious interest.


    By this time, Tang San had arrived in front of the fourth divine item. Seeing this item, his eyebrows raised slightly. It was yet again something he��d never expected: a book, ancient in appearance and with a dark golden case. The book was full of extremelyplex writing, though he was certain that the characters did not belong to any knownnguage on the Daemon Continent. The dark golden surface shimmered brilliantly, making it very eye-catching.


    This time, Tang San did not leave immediately but stood before the crystal case, carefully observing it as if trying to find some clues.


    He spent a full three minutes before moving on, longer than the time he had spent on the previous itemsbined.


    Mei Gongzi, unable to discern the significance of the book, had already moved on, continuing to observe the items ahead. She and Tang San could choose four items, so there was a lot of room for selection.


    Tang San stopped in front of the fifth crystal case. Inside was a saber, its de crimson and emitting a faint glow. Strangely, the crimson saber appeared to be in a semi-ethereal state, giving a vague and unreal feeling. It also vibrated slightly, as if it was about to break out of the crystal case once it was opened.


    Tang San pondered briefly. A flicker of a different color appeared in his eyes, and a slight smile on his face. Then, without hesitation, he moved to the next item.


    The item inside the sixth case looked rtively normal, by this point. It was a crystal, about the size of a human head. It emitted a purple radiance that filled the crystal case, reflecting and refracting at strange angles.


    This was probably the ore used to refine amethystine coins. It made sense for a piece this massive to be considered a divine item; it clearly contained immense energy.


    Tang San had obtained amethystine coins, so it was easy for him to check the energy of this crystal without breaking the rules. He simply took out an amethystine coin from the storage ring he had just acquired and sensed it with his spirit.


    The amethystine coin was only slightlyrger than a fingernail, with no carvings and perfectly round. As Tang San injected his spiritual power into it to sense its energy, his face briefly showed a hint of astonishment, which he quickly reced with his usual calm expression. He then put the amethystine coin back into the ring and moved on to the seventh case.


    By now, Big Cat and the Scorching Sword Pair had already moved past them from the other side, continuing to observe the other items.


    Inside the seventh case was clothing��a pair of gloves, specifically. One was ck, and one was white. Tang San observed them carefully, even bringing his face close to the crystal case, lingering for a full minute. He was no longer certain if they were just gloves or proper gauntlets. They did not rest t; rather, it was as if there were invisible hands inside them, and they looked perfectly three-dimensional. Were they made from a tough material? Yet the two gauntlets looked very simple and seemed to be made of leather, with no ethereal glow or anything special about them.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Mei Gongzi had seen the gloves before Tang San, but she hadn��t noticed anything special about them. Now, she was observing the item inside the tenth case, which the Scorching Sword Pair had looked at excitedly.


    Tang San moved to the eighth case. Inside was a knife... or rather, a miniature sword, about seven inches long, crystal-clear and emitting a faint golden glow. The small sword floated within the crystal case, its extraordinary nature evident. In terms of appearance, this was easily the best among the eight items he had seen so far.


    Tang San only nced at it briefly before stepping forward to the ninth case.


    Inside the ninth case was a pair of shoes��yes, shoes, a rarity among divine items. They were a perfect ck at first nce, but glowed with a faint purple radiance. As the radiance shifted and rippled, intricate patterns could be seen on the surface of the shoes, clearly indicating their extraordinary nature.


    Tang San thought for a moment, then continued walking until he stood beside Mei Gongzi.


    Seeing him approach, Mei Gongzi said, "Take a look at this."


    Looking at the item inside the tenth case, a glint of realization shed in Tang San''s eyes. This item was quite easy to recognize, and he immediately understood what it was. No wonder the Scorching Sword Pair were so excited.


    Inside the case was something that looked like a spike. It glowed with a subdued light, a chilling glow that made one��s hair stand on end. Around it, strands of invisible energy seemed to weave and intersect. What was this energy? Sword intent, incredibly sharp sword intent. And this spike-like object? It was a beak, the beak of a Red-Crowned Crane!


    Tang San didn''t know why this beak was in the hands of the Ancestral Court, but clearly, this must have been left by the ancestors of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. A beak like this being a divine item indicated that it once belonged to a god��and for it to be presented like this, it was even likely that it originated from a Demon Emperor. So why was this item not in the hands of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor?


    If this item fell into the hands of the Scorching Sword Pair, it would undoubtedly be of immense help to the Red-Crowned Crane.


    Tang San smiled. What a treasure, truly a treasure! The Ancestral Court must have prepared this item specifically for those two.


    Having examined all ten items, Tang San was confident.


    All ten were extraordinary, but they varied in level. Different items had different functions, and suitability was key. Naturally, there was also the matter of value; one high-value item could easily be worth two of the lesser ones.


    Mei Gongzi came to Tang San''s side and asked softly, "How should we choose?"


    "Do you have any particr favorites?"


    Mei Gongzi shook her head. "Besides the amethyst stone and that beak, I can''t tell what the others do. How can we choose?"


    "Shall I choose then?"


    "<i>Hmph</i>. Why do you always seem like you know what you��re doing, even when you��re in front of something new?"


    In spite of her words, Mei Gongzi was clearly confident in Tang San''s knowledge. Such matters were best left to him.


    Tang San nodded at her, indicating she could rest assured.


    While they chatted, Big Cat and the other two were still observing. Big Cat finished first; seeing that Tang San and Mei Gongzi had already finished, he hurriedly walked over and asked Tang San in a low voice, "What should I chooseter?"

 Chapter 588: Choosing Divine Items

    <h4>Chapter 588: Choosing Divine Items</h4>


    Tang San''s lips moved slightly as he transmitted a few words to Big Cat. Big Cat understood immediately, smiling broadly and giving him a thumbs up. At this moment, Big Cat''s mood was absolutely great. He had already gotten the God-ying Sword, and now he was about to get yet another divine item! How could he have ever expected that beforeing to the Ancestral Court?


    Moreover, with only Tang San and Mei Gongzi choosing before him, Big Cat waspletely confident that if there were an item suitable for him, Tang San and Mei Gongzi would not take it for themselves. After all, they were on the same side.


    "Time''s up," the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor announced.


    The Scorching Sword Pair had also finished their observations and returned to stand beside Tang San and Mei Gongzi, waiting.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said, "You have all observed the ten divine items. Now, let''s begin the selection. Mei Gongzi, you choose the first one."


    As the absolute champion, Mei Gongzi had the first pick... and the second, and even the third.


    Mei Gongzi looked at Tang San, who whispered something to her. She immediately stepped forward to the tenth case. Under the shocked gaze of the Scorching Sword Pair, she said to the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, "I want this one. I use a sword, and this is very suitable for me."


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was slightly surprised and said in a deep voice, "Are you sure about your choice? Once you choose, you cannot change your mind."


    "Yes, I''m sure." Mei Gongzi didn''t quite understand why Tang San was asking her to choose this one. After all, it was not particrly useful for them, but it was easily the best choice for the Scorching Sword Pair. By selecting it, they would unquestionably offend the Red-Crowned Crane n led by the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. Even so, she still followed Tang San''s advice without question and chose the item.


    The Red-Crowned Crane opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn''t. It was the champion''s right to choose first.


    As the crystal case opened, a terrifying sword intent, as keen as a razor, shot skyward. Mei Gongzi waited momentarily until the sword intent dissipated, then stored the ck beak into her storage bracelet.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said, "You should be able to tell that this beakes from a Red-Crowned Crane. It was left in the Ancestral Court by the Sword Saint Demon Emperor from two generations ago. That ancestor exchanged it for a precious treasure to ensure his sessor could ascend to the throne. He also promised to redeem it for twice its value. Well... until now."


    This statement was essentially implying that the Red-Crowned Crane n was quite poor and had not umted enough resources over the years to redeem this divine item.


    For this beak to appear in the selection of divine items, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor must have made efforts and promises to the Ancestral Court. Yet unexpectedly, Mei Gongzi was the one to choose it.


    The reason it was brought out was that the Sword Saint Demon Emperor hoped his sessor would win the championship and choose it first. Moreover, this beak was clearly less significant to other races than it was to the Red-Crowned Cranes. Taking it would undoubtedly invite resentment.


    However, Asura had Mei Gongzi choose this beak. The reason was unclear, but one thing was certain: This item being in the vaults of the Ancestral Court was an entirely different thing from it being in the hands of others.


    "Now, please choose the second and third divine items, together with Asura."


    Regardless of their choices, the selection of divine items had to continue.


    Tang San walked to Mei Gongzi''s side and stood with her. First, he indicated for Mei Gongzi to pick the item inside the fifth case��the crimson saber that appeared somewhat ethereal. Then he himself went to the fourth case and chose the dark golden book.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was somewhat surprised and said, "I didn''t expect you to choose this way. The Holy ze Saber is a good item, a rare spirit-type weapon. It can be integrated into one''s sea of consciousness and, after the birth of divine consciousness, into the divine consciousness itself, and it specializes in cutting through the opponent''s spiritual power. However, its overall energy is the lowest among these ten divine items."


    Mei Gongzi looked somewhat stunned at Tang San, but Tang San still nodded at her. Mei Gongzi nodded to the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, indicating that she wanted this item. Since Tang San had asked her to choose this item, it had to be suitable��what for, she didn��t know, but she fully trusted Tang San to know.


    Upon hearing the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s exnation, Big Cat also frowned. It seemed that the items chosen by Tang San and Mei Gongzi were not particrly useful. Could it be that Tang San was mistaken?


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor looked at Tang San again and said in a deep voice, "The item you chose is excellent; I thought you would overlook it. Among all ten divine items, if I had to choose, I would choose this one. The Tome of Duplicates��it is named thus because it allows you to record and use others'' bloodline abilities. Unfortunately, it is an imperfect artifact, so the abilities are not as strong as the originals. There''s only one Crystal Demon Emperor, that''s for sure. But it doesn''t reallye with any drawbacks and the abilities can be used at practically no cost, so it''s actually a very good item.[1]"


    This should''ve been great news, but Tang San showed no emotional change; he simply took the Tome of Duplicates and said nothing.


    The dark-golden cover of the book emitted a gentle glow; it was not particrly bright, but it gave off a peculiar feeling. Now that he was holding it, Tang San''s demeanor seemed to change slightly.


    Next was the selection of the fourth divine item, which was the additional reward for Tang San and Mei Gongzi. Without hesitation, Tang San chose the sixth item, the enormous purple crystal.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor looked surprised and said, "Compared to other choices, this one seems rather unwise to me. You may have guessed that this is the raw material for amethystine coins, but the coins are only useful for cultivation at the god level and above. They are of little use to you now. Can you tell me why you chose this?"


    Tang San said, "Because I don''t know the functions of all ten divine items, this one is the only one that gives me some certainty. Instead of guessing about the uncertain ones, it''s better to choose something I know I want."


    A hint of disappointment shed in the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s eyes. He nodded and signaled to Big Cat. "You can make your selection now."


    Big Cat stepped forward, nced at Tang San, and hesitated slightly.


    He didn''t know how to choose, but Tang San had already told him which item to pick. However, based on the four items Tang San and Mei Gongzi had chosen, they didn''t seem particrly impressive.... The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor certainly wouldn''t lie, would he?


    Aside from the Tome of Duplicates, which the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor praised, Tang San and Mei Gongzi had chosen the beak, the Holy ze Saber, and the piece of amethyst. Thetter three seemed far too ordinary.


    But his hesitation didn''tst long. Seeing Tang San''s calm expression, he gritted his teeth and walked to the mirror-like item.


    Once taken out of the case, the mirror didn''t seem to change much. It shimmered with a faint glow and felt warm to the touch.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said, "This is a good choice, very suitable for you. This is the Heart-Protecting Divine Mirror, suitable for embedding in any armor. It can generate strong protective power, protecting the heart in particr. Moreover, besides physical defense, it also guards the mind against external interference and internal demons alike."


    Hearing the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s praise, Big Cat had no more misgivings and happily put away the Heart-Protecting Divine Mirror.


    1. This paragraph has been almost entirely rewritten and does not reflect the original. The decision was made based on information from future chapters, where it is made clear that the use of the book is in factpletely different from what is originally exined here��the current exnation reflects future appearances of the book. Given the information to date, it is fairly clear that it''s not the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor making a mistake, or an intentional plot device, but rather an error on the author''s part. ?

 Chapter 589: This Is Not An Exchange

    <h4>Chapter 589: This Is Not An Exchange</h4>


    Then it was the turn of the gloomy-faced Scorching Sword Pair to choose. To everyone''s surprise, the Red-Crowned Crane demon walked up to Mei Gongzi and said in a deep voice, "We have two selection slots. If there''s something you want to choose, you can tell me. I can exchange two divine items for the Red-Crowned Divine Sword you have obtained."


    The Red-Crowned Divine Sword was obviously the beak of the ancestor Sword Saint Demon Emperor.


    Mei Gongzi was stunned, and her beautiful eyes revealed a look of realization. She turned to look at Tang San, her eyes full of admiration.


    Exchanging one for two, turning four items into five. This was obviously the smartest choice. No wonder Tang San had her choose this way.


    However, to Mei Gongzi''s surprise, when she looked at Tang San, she saw him shaking his head.


    Not exchanging one for two? This made no sense. The Red-Crowned Divine Sword was indeed not very useful to them, far less effective than it would be when used by the Red-Crowned Crane, and it wasn��t like thetter was their enemy.


    The face of the Red-Crowned Crane instantly turned grim.


    "Make your selections," came the voice of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    In front of this Ancestral Court ruler, no matter how much resentment the Red-Crowned Crane felt, he couldn''t express it now. He and his Scorching Sunflower partner stepped forward together, choosing the brilliant small sword and the funnel from the first case respectively.


    "That is the Primal Chaos Funnel, known for having thergest space among all storage items. In terms of actual value, it is actually the crown jewel of all ten divine items this time. Not only does it have a huge capacity, but also has the ability to absorb the opponent''s spiritual power and divine consciousness during battle, greatly affecting the opponent''s performance. This is one of the most treasured items of the Ancestral Court, and the highest reward for thispetition.


    "The sword is the Holy Light Divine Sword, from the distant Holy Clear Sea. It��s an item passed down by the Holy Light n��it should be obvious from the name that it is a light-attribute item, and most suitable for beings with a simr attribute. It matches well with the Scorching Sunflower n, and when you use it, your me will be imbued with that holy light. Your choices are very good."


    "Alright, since you have all made your choices, today''s award ceremony concludes here. The Ancestral Court Elite Tournament is nowplete."


    The announcement from the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor signaled the sessful conclusion of this tournament.


    The remaining four divine items disappeared with a wave of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s hand, and he vanished simultaneously.


    Mei Gongzi looked at Tang San, who pulled her along towards the two contestants of the Scorching Sword Pair.


    The Red-Crowned Crane looked at Tang San and Mei Gongzi with an icy gaze as they approached.


    "You did this on purpose. I��m not sure why, and it doesn��t matter, honestly. If you are willing now, I can still exchange the two items we got for the Red-Crowned Divine Sword. You must have heard the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s exnation. Both of these items are very powerful, especially the Primal Chaos Funnel."


    Tang San silently shook his head and said, "Beforeing to thepetition, I climbed the Sword Saint Pce and received guidance from the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. I am grateful for that. The Sword Saint Demon Emperor then gave me the Sword Saint Order. We chose this Red-Crowned Divine Sword not for profit, but to give something back to the Sword Saint Pce."


    As he spoke, he took the Red-Crowned Divine Sword from Mei Gongzi and handed it to the Red-Crowned Crane. "Please deliver this item to His Majesty on my behalf. This is the Peacock Demon n''s token of respect for the Sword Saint Demon Emperor."


    The Red-Crowned Crane stared at Tang San, utterly bewildered. Not exchanging it for two excellent items but instead <i>gifting </i>it to the Sword Saint Pce? What the hell was this man thinking?


    After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "What do you want?"


    Tang San shook his head once more. "Nothing. Just ry my exact words to His Majesty."


    The Red-Crowned Crane looked at Tang San, then at the Red-Crowned Divine Sword. Finally, he epted the sword. This divine sword was too important for the Sword Saint Pce and for him personally; it was even the key to bing a Demon Emperor in the future. That was why he was willing to exchange not one, but <i>two</i> powerful items for it.


    Yet, Asura and the Peacock Princess didn''t want anything in return and just gave it to him. What a turn of events...


    The resentment almost instantly vanished, and the Red-Crowned Crane asked, "How about we give you one item?"


    Tang San smiled and said, "No need, no need. This is our Peacock Demon n''s gesture of friendship. We are all from the avian demon lineage, so there��s no need to be polite. Anyway, we need to leave quickly, or the spectators will swarm us. Let''s go."


    With that, he motioned for Big Cat toe to their side. After nodding to the Red-Crowned Crane and the Scorching Sunflower, Mei Gongzi initiated teleportation, transforming all three of them into a beam of silver light and disappearing into thin air.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Looking at the Red-Crowned Divine Sword in his hand, the Red-Crowned Crane couldn''t help but feel bewildered. <i>Are there really such good people in this world? How could anyone give away such an important item just like that?</i>


    The Red-Crowned Divine Sword might not mean much to other races, but for the Red-Crowned Crane n, it was a foundational divine item! Moreover, they��d kept the other two items, one of which was the top reward. For some reason, even though they��d lost the championship, he felt that he and his partner were the biggest winners of thepetition.


    "Stop thinking about it, just go back and give it to His Majesty," the Scorching Sunflower said gently.


    "We didn''t even introduce ourselves. I swear, some people..." The Red-Crowned Crane stomped his foot, feeling a mix of emotions.


    ***


    Meanwhile, with a sh of silver light, Tang San and his group reappeared outside the Ancestral Court za.


    Big Cat couldn''t help but look at him weirdly. "You just gave it away? Why didn''t you take the items?"


    Tang San replied, "Because I have a very strong desire to keep living. Compared to the items, the friendship of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor is more important. Big Cat, let''s part ways here. I look forward to your breakthrough."


    Big Cat wouldn''t be leaving the Ancestral Court for now. He would be advancing toward the god level with the help of the Golden Lion King. Now he had two divine items, and with the full support of the lion race, a breakthrough was imminent. And given the tier and power of his bloodline, once he did break through, he would immediately be able to obliterate other gods in a fight.


    Big Cat nodded at him and said, "Alright, let''s stay in touch. Once Iplete my breakthrough here, I''lle to Kali City to find you."


    In front of Mei Gongzi, he didn''t mention the name Golden Valley.


    After bidding farewell to Tang San and Mei Gongzi, he left immediately.


    "Big Brother, we need to leave the Ancestral Court quickly. From what the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor hinted, it seems the Ancestral Court intends to act against us. We can''t stay."


    A sense of impending crisis had lingered in Mei Gongzi''s mind since the awards ceremony.


    If someone else had spoken of such a crisis, she would have dismissed it as mere drivel. As the heir to the Celestial Plume, she had the ability to see the future, and if there was danger, she would sense it to some extent. But the one speaking was the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, the Master of Destiny. They couldn''t afford <i>not</i> to believe him.


    Tang San calmly said, "Don''t panic. We definitely need to leave. But since it''s a cmity on that level, trying to avoid it might not be feasible. Let''s return to the hotel first and make use of the items we''ve obtained before we leave."


    As they spoke, a sh of silver light appeared, and the Peacock Great Demon King was suddenly beside them. He said in a deep voice, "Follow me immediately. Thepetition is over, and we must leave quickly to avoid any action from the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. We need to hurry and leave."


    Tang San replied, "City Lord, we can''t rush. Whoever intends to harm us must have guessed that we would leave immediately. Do you think they are not prepared for it? With that in mind, we mustn''t be hasty. In the Ancestral Court, even a Demon Emperor must think twice before acting. We should make use of the items we''ve just obtained first; it will make our next steps easier."


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at him in surprise. Tang San nodded to him and said, "Please trust me. I wouldn''t gamble with my own life or Little Mei''s life."

 Chapter 590: Fusing with the Holy Blaze Saber

    <h4>Chapter 590: Fusing with the Holy ze Saber</h4>


    "Alright. Let''s return to your hotel first." A sh of silver light enveloped them, and they disappeared. When they reappeared, they were in Tang San''s room at the White Tiger Hotel.


    This precise long-distance teleportation fully demonstrated the Peacock Great Demon King''s power, something Mei Gongzi couldn''t achieve yet.


    Tang San nodded to the Peacock Great Demon King. "Please guard us."


    "Alright." The Peacock Great Demon King, having experienced countless situations, had calmed down by now.


    Tang San led Mei Gongzi directly into the cultivation room, indicating for her to sit cross-legged opposite him.


    Facing each other, Tang San said, "First, calm your mind. We left through teleportation. In terms of manipting space, not even the Ancestral Court has someone better than your father. So, to those who want to harm us, we have disappeared without a trace. Actually, if we just wanted to save our lives, we could find a Sacred Mountain close to us to depend on. But doing so would mean you could never inherit the position of the Peacock Demon n leader. To be the leader of the n, you can''t depend on any Emperor, because you are destined to be an Emperor yourself."


    Mei Gongzi silently nodded. This was also why she wanted to leave immediately.


    "Leaving the Ancestral Court means we might be hunted, but now everyone has lost our trail. They will think we''ve fled and will pursue us immediately. This time gap works to our advantage. So first, stabilize your mind, and let''s make use of these two items."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As he spoke, Tang San took out the enormous amethyst crystal and motioned for Mei Gongzi to take out the Holy ze Saber.


    Under the influence of Tang San''s calm demeanor, Mei Gongzi''s anxious mind gradually stabilized. She looked at Tang San and said, "Big Brother, you promised to show me your true face after today''spetition. Don''t forget."


    Tang San replied, "Let''s do this first, alright? I don''t want my appearance to affect your mood right now."


    "Hmm..." Mei Gongzi did not insist at this moment and just nodded silently.


    Tang San pointed to the Holy ze Saber in front of her and said, "The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s exnations for the divine items were all urate. This Holy ze Saber was indeed the lowest-level among them; it barely qualifies as a divine item. But that��s not relevant. What matters is whether you��re able to use its powers to do something meaningful. Otherwise, even the best divine weapon is nothing but a wall hanger.


    "This Holy ze Saber is actually the most suitable for you among all those items. It can directly integrate into your sea of consciousness, significantly enhancing your spiritual power while transforming it, allowing you to develop some divine consciousness even before you achieve godhood. Remember the divine item we used to defeat Meng Dede? That is a transcendent divine item, one that you will truly need to master in the future. The other function of the Holy ze Saber is to strengthen your connection with that sword, allowing it toe to you faster and enabling you to borrow some of its power.


    "With the Holy ze Saber guarding your sea of consciousness, it will greatly benefit you when you break through to godhood. This is why I chose it. Although it is not an especially powerful divine item, it is perfectly suitable for you."


    Mei Gongzi believed him, but she immediately wanted to ask why Tang San had such an urate understanding of the Holy ze Saber''s functions. He couldn��t have seen it before, could he?


    But before she could ask, Tang San continued, "Concentrate, use your spiritual power to guide the Holy ze Saber, and then drop a tear onto the de."


    A strange expression appeared on Mei Gongzi''s pretty face. "A... what? Not blood, but tears? You want me to cry?"


    Tang San helplessly said, "Just imagine we are being attacked, I am seriously injured, and I am about to die."


    "Don''t say that." Mei Gongzi instantly raised her hand to cover Tang San''s mouth, but the next moment, her face turned red, and she withdrew her hand.


    "I... I really can''t cry!" she said with a distressed expression.


    Tang San pondered momentarily and said, "Let me tell you a story."


    "What?" Mei Gongzi looked at him in surprise.


    "Once upon a time, there were a boy and a girl who grew up together, like siblings but without being actual siblings. The boy wouldb the girl''s long hair, and whenever she was in danger, he would always step forward to protect her. He guarded her every moment as she grew up.


    "As they grew older, they gradually realized that their feelings for each other were no longer those between a brother and sister; it was the love between a man and a woman. And as it turned out, the girl was actually an old rabbit demon who had cultivated into human form. To truly be human, she needed a bloodline transformation, which would beplete once she reached a certain level of power. Once that happened, she could be together with the boy.


    "They went through many years together, their strength growing continuously, and their love deepening. But the enemies they faced were formidable. Finally, in a confrontation with powerful foes, they were surrounded. At that time, the girl was just one step away frompleting her transformation, but the enemies they encountered were too strong, to the point where the boy could no longer hold on.


    "At thest moment, the boy sacrificed his life to protect the girl, urging her to escape. But the girl didn''t leave. At that moment, she burned her own lifeforce, turning into a part of the boy''s body; shepletely destroyed her millennia of cultivation to be his strength, sacrificing herself for him.


    "At that moment, what was in her mind was the boy''s promise to her that anyone who wanted to harm her would have to step over his dead body. Looking at him, the girl thought in her final moments that he had protected her all his life, and now she was willing to use everything she had to protect him. Because he loved her more than life itself, and she loved him no less!"


    A crystalline tear formed, silently falling onto the zing Holy ze Saber.


    Mei Gongzi opened her mouth, about to say something, when the Holy ze Saber in front of her suddenly shone brightly, illuminating the entire cultivation room with its radiant light.


    Amid the dazzling light, Mei Gongzi clearly saw that the eyes of the young man sitting opposite her were also filled with tears.


    "Boom��" A surge of scorching warmth instantly rushed into Mei Gongzi''s sea of consciousness. At this moment, her heart was filled with emotion.


    Tang San''s voice came to her ears, "Embrace the source, focus your mind, and remain calm. Hold true to your heart."


    The fiery energy surged into her sea of consciousness, making Mei Gongzi feel as if her entire sea of consciousness was burning, boiling, and surging violently. Yet, strangely, there was no pain. Instead, the intense heat brought aforting sensation, making her sea of consciousness expand rapidly yet feel more stable than ever.


    Using tears to bond with a divine item��this was something only Tang San dared to suggest. Not even an Emperor, not even the Master of Destiny himself, could fathom such a method.


    Tears are the flow of the soul, the expression of the spirit, the deepest sincerity within.


    And as Mei Gongzi''s tears were filled with emotion, the Holy ze Saber received that same emotion. The tears, imbued with her pure heart and kind nature, carried all the most beautiful aspects of her being.

 Chapter 591: The Role of Amethystine Coins

    <h4>Chapter 591: The Role of Amethystine Coins</h4>


    Therefore, the Holy ze Saber recognized its master so swiftly and directly it was unbelievable. It integrated itself into Mei Gongzi''s sea of consciousness, allowing her to fully merge with it immediately.


    Mei Gongzi''s spiritual power continued to surge, and as it surged, it was rapidlypressed under the influence of the Holy ze Saber. This newly integrated divine weapon directly became the guardian of her sea of consciousness, continuously elevating and enhancing her spiritual power.


    This was no longer just a weapon for battle; more importantly, it was an aid to her sea of consciousness, a part of her spirit. Even though it was a divine item of the lowest tier, the transformation it brought about by fully integrating into her body with no resistance was enormous. Mei Gongzi''s spirit core began to undergo a transformation, and some divine consciousness started to emerge.


    With the eyes of her consciousness, she saw a faint red glow flickering within her spirit core. This was the first time she had noticed it. That faint red glow seemed to sense the transformation of her spiritual power, bing noticeably brighter.


    The Holy ze Saber seemed to sense the aura of that faint red glow and quivered for a moment. In the next instant, it became even more stable and then transformed into a vast red light that filled the sea of consciousness, all rushing toward the spirit core as if it had found its destiny, like rivers converging into the sea!


    Tang San quietly ced his right hand on Mei Gongzi''s forehead, silently sensing her changes, and a faint smile appeared on his face. Tears of emotion were indeed the best way to let such a spiritual divine weapon recognize its master, and the effect was even better than he had expected.


    One by one, amethystine coins silently floated up, hovering around Mei Gongzi and emitting a faint purple halo.


    Outside, the Peacock Great Demon King was maintaining a spatial barrier that isted the room from the outside world. At this moment, he too sensed something and cast his gaze toward the cultivation room, only to see at least fifty amethystine coins floating in the air.


    The corners of the Peacock Great Demon King''s mouth twitched. Even though he controlled the extremely wealthy Aetherhorn Merchant Association, he would never be willing to use so many amethystine coins for cultivation!


    The reason amethystine coins were so precious was that they were used to nurture divine consciousness. Yes, divine consciousness! Therefore, only god-level experts found it meaningful to use amethystine coins for cultivation.


    But the production of amethystine coins was so low that very few could actually afford to use them for cultivation. Even Emperors were the same. For example, one of the poorest Emperors, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, would never be willing to use amethystine coins for cultivation. Most of his allocation from the Ancestral Court went to support the Red-Crowned Cranes.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The Red-Crowned Cranes were almost all martial fanatics and were not skilled in business. It was normal for them to be poor. Otherwise, how would they have been unable to redeem the Red-Crested Divine Sword after so many years?


    This time, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor had put in great effort to get the Ancestral Court to offer the Red-Crested Divine Sword as a reward, only to have it snatched away by Tang San.


    And even among the Emperors that <i>could</i> afford it, nobody would use more than ten amethystine coins at a time, and they wouldn��t do that every day. Who would use fifty amethystine coins to help others cultivate?


    <i>Wait, those are for nurturing divine consciousness! Could it be that...?</i>


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s perception of Tang San changed further. What was the origin of this human? Could the Redemption Society really cultivate such a being? If the Redemption Society could really produce a few more like him, humanity might truly rise! Allowing the Redemption Society to operate in Kali City��was it really good for the demon race? After all, humans were so numerous!


    <i>Forget it, no need to think so much. Life��s short anyway, might as well enjoy the show. My sessor even has human blood, so there��s no point acting against humans.</i>


    The amethystine coins emitted a faint purple halo, a strange, ethereal light. The soft purple hue it radiated gave off a very peculiar feeling. This purple light was gentle yet firm, and the radiance it emitted was very peaceful. Silently, it flowed into Mei Gongzi''s forehead, being absorbed by her sea of consciousness.


    Tang San''s own eyes also lit up, and purple light flickered within as he absorbed the energy from the amethystine coins in the air.


    This was a unique energy capable of nurturing divine consciousness. Tang San could clearly feel his divine consciousness in his spirit core being influenced and slowly growing stronger!


    His spirit core was running at full st, and it was absorbing the energy with all its might to strengthen his divine consciousness.


    Facing a potentially deadly danger, he couldn''t care less about exposing some of his abilities in front of the Peacock Great Demon King.


    Tang San''s spirit core absorbed the purple energy like a bottomless abyss, at a speed at least ten times faster than Mei Gongzi''s. The amethystine coins floating in the air quickly lost their color, and when their internal energy waspletely depleted, they silently turned to dust.


    Through absorption, Tang San discovered that the energy within the amethystine coins was somewhat simr to the divine spirit energy of the Divine Realm, but not quite the same. It also contained some strange spiritual fluctuations and will, seemingly rted to the nar ruler of this world. It was a very unique and peculiar thing.


    In any case, this was extremely beneficial to the restoration of his divine consciousness, and it was why Tang San wanted that huge piece of amethystine.


    No divine weapon couldpare to the benefits of strengthening his own divine consciousness. After absorbing the Wind Dragon bloodline, which caused his body to evolve again, his endurance also increased. Although he had not yet be a god, the restoration of his divine consciousness had been going somewhat faster.


    However, it was only <i>somewhat</i>. Hecked a direct source to replenish his divine consciousness, and he was relying only on the conversion of spiritual power. This was something that could not be done directly, and neither could it be sped up; the conversion rate from spiritual power to divine consciousness was extremely low, so even though his spiritual power was immense and its cultivation was fast, his divine consciousness could only recover slowly.


    Now, the amethystine coins provided the nutrients most needed by his divine consciousness. The more Tang San''s divine consciousness recovered, the more memories and abilities from his past life would be restored. And although his body was not at the god level yet, during the process of absorbing the amethystine coin''s energy, he was invisibly restoring his God King level divine consciousness.


    The amethystine coins were rapidly consumed; in just two hours, the two hundred coins were no more. Ny percent of the energy had been absorbed by Tang San, while Mei Gongzi, who was still merging with the Holy ze Saber, only consumed ten percent. Of this energy, most was devoured by the red glow in her spirit core.


    <i>Damn, these amethystine coins are truly wonderful!</i>


    Tang San took a deep breath, feeling the divine consciousness in his sea of consciousness grow more than twice its original size, and couldn''t help but secretly rejoice. Of course, he also understood that the value of the amethystine coins he had absorbed could probably afford him a divine item or two. He just <i>had</i> to figure out where the Ancestral Court''s amethystine mines were located, or at least where they created these coins!


    Due to the changes in his divine consciousness, Tang San''s divine sense was also significantly elevated, and he was now vaguely sensing many things he couldn''t perceive before. But looking at the huge amethystine crystal in front of him, Tang San decided to refrain for now. After all, he was not yet at the god level. No matter how massive his sea of consciousness was or how well he could control it, he couldn''t allow his divine consciousness to grow too strong before he became a god. That would lead to the copse of his sea of consciousness.


    His divine consciousness was right now at the strongest level he could contain within his sea of consciousness before breaking through.


    Focusing on his divine consciousness, Tang San silently felt the changes it had undergone. His sea of consciousness rippled quietly, and he immersed himself in meditation, delving into the memories from his past life.

 Chapter 592: The Array

    <h4>Chapter 592: The Array</h4>


    During her cultivation, Mei Gongzi''s spiritual perception was exceptionally clear. She could clearly feel the expansion of her sea of consciousness. It was only now that she understood that before reaching the god level, one could enhance their sea of consciousness to such an extent. <i>No wonder Asura is so powerful; his spiritual power must have already reached this level. So he��s had divine consciousness for a while already?</i>


    Under the infusion of the Holy ze Saber, her spirit core was continuously undergoing qualitative changes, bing entirely different from before.


    At the center of her spirit core, even thest trace of the Holy ze Saber��s light had disappeared. What had appeared instead was a small red sword standing upright, tip-down.


    At first, it was just a faint shadow, but as the Holy ze Saber integrated and supplemented it with arge amount of energy, the shadow gradually became clearer, transforming into this blood-red small sword. And from that moment, this small sword was the center of her sea of consciousness. When Mei Gongzi''s consciousness infused into the small sword, she could vaguely sense that in a distant ce, there seemed to be an extremely terrifying existence resonating with the aura of the small red sword. Yet within that terrifying aura, she could sense great gentleness and closeness towards her, and it seemed that through the small red sword, she had established a connection with it.


    <i>That should be the so-called transcendent divine weapon Asura mentioned. He is truly an extraordinary person! How could he know so many things and possess so many magical abilities? And I��ve never even heard of a transcendent divine weapon, so how could he possess one, much less give it to me?</i>


    It was at times like this that she had to remind herself about the blood oath. Otherwise, how could she not have doubts about him? But with the abilities he��d shown, it made no sense for him to go through all that just to harm her, so she believed in him.


    Sinceing to the Ancestral Court and being with him, her cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. Mei Gongzi even felt that breaking through to god level was no problem for her now. Although her bloodline cultivation hadn''t reached the peak of the ninth order, her spiritual power was incredibly strong, enough topensate for theck of bloodline power. But it was not the time yet; Asura had once told her topress her power as much as possible and dy the tribtion in order to gain the greatest benefits.


    Mei Gongzi remembered this very well and would certainly follow his advice.


    And... she had to see what his true face looked like.


    Mei Gongzi unconsciously thought of the moment in the final match when he held her hand and drew that arc. That was the true essence of the Mysterious Circles of Heaven! She thought she had a good grasp of the technique, but it was only now that she began to possess divine consciousness that she truly understood. At that time, Asura must have used a trace of divine consciousness to activate the technique!


    He already possessed divine consciousness long ago. He was definitely stronger than she had imagined. She unconsciously recalled the scene when she was acknowledged by the Celestial Plume. She was high above, attracting everyone''s attention, and he was right by her side.


    <i>Big Brother, why are you so good to me? And what about that story just now? What happened to the boy and the girl?</i>


    The sky gradually darkened. The awards ceremony had ended before noon, yet Tang San and Mei Gongzi were still there, cultivating until dusk.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had been waiting outside for them. He had plenty of time to meditate and think up strategies, and he realized that Tang San''s approach was correct. Leaving immediately would only make them a clear target.


    This buffer would surely confuse their opponents. Although the divine consciousness of Emperors was extremely powerful, there were so many Emperors in the Ancestral Court that they could not recklessly use their divine consciousness to scan ces randomly.


    But after so much time had passed without any clues, they would surely guess that he and his group had not left the Ancestral Court but were still within it.


    And once that happened, even if they wanted to leave, they would face an inescapable. The only uncertainty was how many enemies they would have to face.


    As various strategies ran through his mind, the energy fluctuations from the direction of the cultivation room silently disappeared. He turned his head to look, and saw that the light filling the cultivation room was no more.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi walked out of the cultivation room together.


    For some reason, when the Peacock Great Demon King saw them again, he clearly felt that they had both changed somewhat. Especially his daughter��her eyes had a faint, strange red glow flickering deep within them. That red glow gave him a slightly unsettling feeling.


    Tang San nodded slightly to the Peacock Great Demon King and said, "City Lord, we can prepare to leave."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded back. "Do you have any ideas?"


    "Please have someone from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association bring some items. I can set up an array to greatly enhance your spatial transmission ability. We''ll aim to teleport a great distance in one go and then continue from there. If we can break through the encirclement in this way, that would be the best oue."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded and said, "Alright. What do you need?"


    Tang San wrote down a list, and the Peacock Great Demon King immediately contacted the Aetherhorn Merchant Association to handle it.


    Tang San asked Mei Gongzi to rest aside while he cleared a space in the living room and began using his bloodline power to draw on it.


    Silver light merged into the floor, outlining strange patterns.


    When the Peacock Great Demon King returned after instructing the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, he immediately saw the lines Tang San was drawing. And he noticed that the power being used... was clearly the bloodline power of the Peacock Demon n!


    Looking at Tang San, the Peacock Great Demon King''s expression turned somewhat peculiar. Although he had already seen some questionable things, seeing the young human use the Peacock Demon n''s space-attribute bloodline power without any reservations still gave him a strange feeling.


    <i>How can he do this? There are others with multiple bloodlines, but this is something else altogether. Whether it��s the Lion-Tiger, Golden Roc, or Peacock Demon, each of these is a powerful bloodline. How can he possibly use them like this? And... does he have other bloodlines as well?</i>


    Now was not the time to ask, however, so the Peacock Great Demon King kept his questions to himself. He just sat quietly aside, watching.


    And the more he watched, the more surprise filled his eyes. Although he couldn''t fully understand the intricacies of the array Asura was drawing, he could tell that it was an extremelyplex teleportation array that drew upon the Peacock Demon bloodline power specifically. He could sense his power reacting to it, and as he watched, he even felt that his understanding of spatial attributes was growing deeper.


    In other words, the array created by this young man had not just tactical value, but <i>educational</i> value to the Peacock Great Demon King! What did this entail? It entailed that this array surpassed his understanding of spatial power!


    <i>How is this possible?</i>


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s expression grew increasinglyplex as he looked at Asura. Even though his assessment of Asura had been quite high to begin with, he now realized he still didn''t understand enough. Asura was even stronger than he had judged.


    Mei Gongzi was also watching intently, silently feeling the changes in her sea of consciousness, adapting to the presence of divine consciousness.


    A hint of confusion marred her expression. Whenever she infused her consciousness into the small red sword that was generating divine consciousness, she could vaguely see fragmentary images. They weren''t clear, and she couldn��t tell what was going on with them, yet she could faintly sense that these images were rted to her. As she looked at them, she felt the impact they had on her spirit.

 Chapter 593: The Shock of the Ancestral Court

    <h4>Chapter 593: The Shock of the Ancestral Court</h4>


    Mei Gongzi was intently watching the lines Tang San was drawing. And just like the Peacock Great Demon King, she felt that her understanding of spatial power seemed to be increasing and undergoing some changes.


    When the people from the Aetherhorn Merchant Association brought the items Tang San had requested, the array on the living room floor, with a diameter of five meters, was almostpleted.


    Tang San had requested some metals and gems. He cut the metals and gems into appropriate shapes and sizes and began embedding them into the array diagram on the floor.


    There was a specific sequence to the embedding, requiring the infusion of bloodline power and spiritual power. Each time a gem or piece of metal was embedded, the array would undergo some invisible energy changes, forcing the Peacock Great Demon King to increase the energy of the barrier he had set up to prevent energy fluctuations from leaking out.


    Misty silver light gradually began to rise from the array.


    "Will this array remain after we teleport away?"


    Tang San shook his head. "No, this is a one-time teleportation array. It will be destroyed after we teleport away. Even if the ones intercepting us are Emperors, at most, they can use their divine consciousness to observe the surroundings of the Ancestral Court. They <i>might</i> be able to detect our departure, but it��s simply impossible for them to stop it. At most, they can chase us as soon as they discover it. And if we teleport far enough, breaking through their blockade will be easier."


    The Peacock Great Demon King took a deep breath, somewhat relieved. But then, his line of questioning continued in another direction. "Is it possible to make it permanent?"


    Tang San replied, "I need to do some research to find the optimal arrangement, and of course it will require more materials. Each teleportation consumes a lot of energy, after all. But suppose we have sufficient materials in the future, plus enough space to set up an ultrarge teleportation array. In that case, it''s not impossible to teleport directly from Kali City to the Ancestral Court."


    The Peacock Great Demon King felt as if his understanding was being overturned. As the absolute master of space in this generation and the leader of the Peacock Demon n, he most definitely could not achieve this, and he was quite certain that even his ancestor, the Peacock Demon Emperor, could not. The knowledge of space that the young man before him disyed far exceeded what the Peacock Demon n had.


    "Although I don''t know how you obtained the bloodline power of our Peacock Demon n, if we can return safely... I will grant you a position within our n. I hope you can��"


    Tang San cut him off. "I need to set up the formation''s core. Thank you, City Lord, but I really don''t need any position. Being Little Mei��s personal guard is enough for me."


    As he spoke, he threw out six gems, eachnding at one of the array''s six corners. Immediately, the previously misty silver light surged brightly, turning the entire room into a sea of silver.


    "Enter the array," Tang San said in a deep voice.


    The Peacock Great Demon King and Mei Gongzi quickly stepped into the array.


    Tang San had the Peacock Great Demon King stand at the center of the array and said to them, "In a moment, we will infuse the array with our bloodline power together. As I said, this is a single-use array; I set the direction, but the distance we can teleport depends on how much bloodline power we infuse. Ideally, we shift across two or maybe even three main cities."


    The Peacock Great Demon King��s eyes widened.


    Teleporting across three main cities meant they could directly cover one-third of the distance from the Ancestral Court to Kali City! Never in his life had he ever heard of something like that. Even a master of space like himself, giving it his all, would need fifteen to twenty leaps to reach Kali City, and he would have to rest and recover in between.


    Teleporting one-third of the way in one go would definitely be beyond all their opponents'' expectations.


    "Begin!"


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    They infused the array with their bloodline power following Tang San''s instructions. Instantly, the silver light on the array surged, growing intensely. A terrifying silver halo expanded in the air, almost instantly breaking through the barrier previously set by the Peacock Great Demon King.


    The silver light shot up from the White Tiger Hotel, piercing the sky.


    Before a giant statue on a peak of the Ancestral Mountains surrounding the Ancestral Court, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor stood quietly, with his eyes closed.


    At the moment the silver light erupted within the city, his eyes opened, his already released divine consciousness suddenly intensified, and a trace of a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Found them!"


    But in the next moment, his cold expression turned to astonishment. The silver light shed and vanished instantly. He could clearly feel something piercing through his divine consciousness, then crossing space and disappearing in a sh.


    Although he could tell the direction in which the other party had left, the teleportation seemed almost... <i>infinite</i>.


    <i>How could this be possible? How far have they teleported?</i>


    Nobody understood the Peacock Great Demon King��s abilities better than his old enemy, and he was naturally aware that the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t possibly teleport this far!


    But the facts were right before him, and reality was as it was. They had disappeared, shifting instantly beyond his divine consciousness''s perception range.


    The entire Ancestral Court was rmed. Almost immediately, a figure appeared in the sky above the White Tiger Hotel. A fierce killing intent burst forth, enveloping the entire hotel. The divine consciousness probes that followed were all repelled by this killing intent, unable to prate further.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor hovered coldly in the air, his divine consciousness silently enveloping the White Tiger Hotel, a strange look shing in his eyes.


    "How was this done? Long-distance teleportation? Since when did the old peacock have such abilities?"


    In the next moment, several figures appeared near him but did not approach.


    A powerful voice sounded, "White Tiger, what''s going on?"


    "Teleportation, I suppose. It seems like an array, but it was destroyed."


    "Can we take a look?"


    "No!"


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor''s response was immediate and decisive. A fierce killing intent burst forth, intimidating everyone around.


    Those formidable figures gradually dissipated, each harboring their own thoughts. But there was no doubt that they were all affected by the intense spatial fluctuations earlier. They had never felt such strange spatial fluctuations before.


    Many things were well known, such as the feud between the Crystal Phoenix n and the Peacock Demon n. Since bing an Emperor, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had been constantly devising ways to target the Peacock Demon n, with his sights firmly set on Kali City. All the Emperors were aware of this, and some even tacitly approved. After all, there were only so many main cities, and only an Emperor could be fully certain that their rule would not be disputed by others. This was an unspoken rule.


    The Peacock Great Demon King bringing his daughter to participate in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition was thus unexpected for many demon ns. The battle between the Peacock Great Demon King and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor in Kali City was no secret, and those who paid attention knew all too well how it had ended. The Peacock Great Demon King had suffered severe injuries and was even on the verge of death, which had caused quite a stir among the upper echelons of the Ancestral Court.


    After all, the former Peacock Demon Emperor had been the most powerful space element user, and her ability to peer into the secrets of the heavens was not something that could be replicated. Even the Ancestral Court, especially the demon ns of the Empyrean Dominion, did not wish to see such a powerful n perish. Therefore, some powerful figures had warned the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor to be patient and wait. If the Peacock Great Demon King passed away, action could be taken. At that time, the Peacock Demon n would naturally be unable to resist.


    But no one had expected that the Peacock Great Demon King, who was critically injured and at risk of death, would take apletely different approach and bring his daughter topete. Everyone understood this was a demonstration to the Ancestral Court, showcasing his sessor. Interestingly enough, this sessor was not only <i>not</i> a pure-blooded descendant, but even possessed human blood!

 Chapter 594: Long-Distance Teleportation

    <h4>Chapter 594: Long-Distance Teleportation</h4>


    What the Ancestral Court did not expect was that this seemingly delicate girl would st through walls and ride high waves to attain the championship in both the individual and the doublespetitions.


    This was the first time the Ancestral Court Elite Competition had doubles matches! Naturally, Mei Gongzi was the first double champion, and it didn��t take much brainpower to understand that this was much more challenging than winning either of the titles alone. Throughout the tournament, she had no time to rest, facing strong opponents every day and constantly needing to win. Even one mishap or injury affecting performance could lead to elimination.


    Yet, under such circumstances, Mei Gongzi had ultimately imed the double championship crown, bing the number one young talent among the demon and nymph races.


    Such a talent inheriting the Celestial Plume meant what for the future? It meant that the next leader of the Peacock Demon n might well be an Emperor once more.


    The ones most unwilling to see this were the phoenix race. The peacocks and phoenixes hadpeted for the title of King of the Birds for many years, and the phoenixes had ultimately won. The phoenix race had two Demon Emperors right now, an incredible achievement. How could they willingly watch the Peacock Demon n rise again?


    Therefore, the entire Ancestral Court was instantly in turmoil when Mei Gongzi won her first championship. The Ancestral Court Council decided to sit and wait, though there were undercurrents and changes. Most remained observant, but some had their own ideas.


    It was fully expected that once the awards ceremony was over, a fight would ignite once more. But at that moment, the Peacock Great Demon King, his daughter, and her partner all disappeared together. That was, of course,pletely within expectations��only for those expectations to be overturned as those chasing them realized they had not, in fact, left the city!


    Just as night began to fall, all the strong figures in the Ancestral Court felt a sudden burst of space energy, the likes of which they had never experienced, leaving everyone astonished. Such intense spatial fluctuations��it was clearly a long-distance teleportation, but what kind of distance was this? How could the Peacock Great Demon King possess such an ability? How did he manage to control that massive amount of energy and the resulting spatial fluctuations without being an Emperor?


    Therefore, many top-tier experts came to the White Tiger Hotel, wanting to see if there were any clues left behind.


    However, the White Tiger Demon Emperor, filled with fierce killing intent, would not allow anyone to approach. The White Tiger Hotel was his property, and with him guarding it, no one could get close unless they wanted to confront him directly.


    The unwee guests dispersed, and the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s eyes flickered. The next moment, he was in the room where Tang San had stayed.


    Even though the people had left, the room still retained extremely intense spatial fluctuations; space itself seemed twisted and illusory, though the aftereffects were slowly dissipating.


    The floor bore burnt marks, as well as a number of items that clearly showed what had been done here��gems, metals, and crisscrossing lines on the floor, now severely damaged and beyond repair.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had used the power of an array to teleport away quickly. But when and how did he acquire such an array? The remaining traces showed it was incrediblyplex. Even the Ancestral Court had not mastered such techniques.


    Silently feeling the changes in the space elemental energy, memorizing the peculiarities of these spatial fluctuations, the White Tiger Demon Emperor narrowed his eyes, showing a contemtive expression.


    ***


    While the Ancestral Court was shocked by the long-distance teleportation, somewhere extremely far away, intense silver light surged. In the next moment, three figures appeared out of nowhere andnded quietly in the middle of the wilderness.


    The Peacock Great Demon King released spatial power, enveloping Tang San and Mei Gongzi as they floated down. His eyes could not hide his excitement.


    Because he had the most powerful space maniption abilities of his time, his feelings were the most profound.


    During the recent teleportation, he distinctly felt spatial changes he had never experienced before. It was a wonderful process of integrating with space and gently folding it before crossing through the folds rather than using brute force to tear open a channel to the destination.


    The feeling of merging with space was something he had never experienced before, and it was truly wonderful. He even had some enlightenment from it. After being severely injured, this was the first time he had the thought of wanting to live longer. If he could frequently observe such spatial changes, he might touch that threshold in the near future! Achieving the rank of Demon Emperor by mastering space would be extraordinary. By then, how could the Crystal Phoenix possibly threaten him?


    However, no matter how he thought about it, it could only be a fleeting thought. He knew very well that he couldn''t survive. The injuries sustained after burning his essence had shattered his spirit core and damaged the essence of his bloodline, causing his life essence to continuously drain away.


    As he turned to look at his daughter, there was even a hint of envy in his eyes. If he had a protector and mentor like Asura back in the day, how could he have fallen to this state? He might have umted power and made a name for himself in one fell swoop.


    "City Lord, we need to hurry and continue teleporting. We should return to Kali City as soon as possible."


    Tang San''s voice snapped the Peacock Great Demon King out of his thoughts. He nodded.


    "Alright, I''ll recover a bit, and then we''ll start again."


    There was no way to set up another teleportation array; it would take too long, giving the opposing forces from the Ancestral Court time to catch up. But he could still teleport with his own power. Although the distance would be shorter, it would still be much faster than flying.


    Mei Gongzi looked at Tang San and saw the seriousness in his eyes. Remembering what the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had said before, her heart couldn''t help but tighten.


    "Big Brother, are you alright? Should I use the Celestial Plume to sense the changes in the future?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    "No," Tang San immediately and decisively refused. He would never let Mei Gongzi use the Celestial Plume like that. The bacsh was unpredictable, even for someone like him, and if a major issue arose, it would be disastrous. After going through so much to find his beloved, he couldn''t let her take such a risk.


    The Peacock Great Demon King calmed his mind and focused on recovering from the earlier consumption, silently sensing their location at the same time. By observing the stars, he could roughly determine their current position and decide the direction for the next teleportation.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    A quarter of an hourter, the Peacock Great Demon King gathered his strength and said in a deep voice, "Prepare, we are setting off again."


    The previous long-distance teleportation had taken a significant toll on him, even elerating the loss of his life essence. But at this moment, there was no time to worry about that. They needed to return to Kali City first. Mei Gongzi''s double championship would garner more support in the city, and he had to take them back and firmly establish Mei Gongzi as the new n leader if he wanted to continue his ns.


    Huge silver-white wings unfolded from the back of the Peacock Great Demon King; peacock plumes appeared one by one, transforming into swirling silver light. Dense spatial fluctuations surrounded the three of them, forcibly opening a spatial passage that extended into the distance.


    Silver light flickered in the Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes as he prepared to initiate the teleportation.

 Chapter 595: Pursuit of the Eternal Night Sovereign

    <h4>Chapter 595: Pursuit of the Eternal Night Sovereign</h4>


    However, at this moment, a deep voice suddenly echoed.


    "This ends here."


    Everything around them suddenly turned ck. Even the brilliant silver light of the space element was quietly extinguished at this moment. Everything around them was shrouded in darkness; the light of the stars and moon was obliterated, and endless darkness seemed ready to swallow the three of them, covering everything.


    The pupils of the Peacock Great Demon King, Tang San, and Mei Gongzi almost simultaneously contracted. The immense pressure and the terrifying auraing from all directions instantly caused their hearts to sink. There was only one person on the entire Daemon Continent who could do something like this.


    The Eternal Night Sovereign, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.


    The Peacock Great Demon King never imagined that even after teleporting such a long distance, an enemy would still follow. Even more surprising was that it wasn''t their arch-enemy, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, but the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.


    Compared to the ninth-ranked Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, there was no doubt that the sixth-ranked Tenebrous Demon Emperor was much more terrifying. He was a veteran Emperor, and a dragon to boot! In terms of both strength and experience, he far surpassed the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. Moreover, it was nighttime now, and there was a very good reason he was known as the Eternal Night Sovereign. At night, even Demon Emperors ranked above him might not be able to defeat him.


    The Peacock Great Demon King took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Is it Your Majesty, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor? May I ask why you are blocking our way?"


    The voice of the Tenebrous Demon Emperor came from all directions, "Do you even need to ask? Your daughter ruined my most outstanding sessor, cutting off the lineage of the Tenebrous Demon Emperor. Why <i>wouldn��t</i> I be blocking your way? Tonight, you will die."


    "Your Majesty, wait a moment," the Peacock Great Demon King called out loudly. "May I ask how you caught up with us? I believe that since we teleported so far, even an Emperor shouldn''t be able to catch up immediately... unless you already knew our destination."


    "You only say that because you don''t understand Emperors," the Tenebrous Demon Emperor said calmly. "Every Emperor has their own domain, and in that domain, they are absolute rulers. Your biggest mistake was choosing to leave during the night. The night belongs to me. In the darkness, your departure and the light you created became the most obvious target. I didn''t catch up; <i>you </i>brought me here. You illuminated the night and left shadows, naturally bringing me along. Anyway, no point wasting time here. With your cultivation, even the Celestial Plume cannot help you against me. As long as it��s night, even if you somehow be an Emperor in the next three seconds, you won''t escape my grasp."


    <i>He followed us using our... shadows in the night? I never expected him to be so terrifying...</i>


    The Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but gasp. His heart sank to the bottom. With the Tenebrous Demon Emperor here, all their ns had been for naught. Even in Kali City, where he could leverage the city''s power, he couldn''t resist this one.


    At that moment, he suddenly saw Asura move to Mei Gongzi''s side, shielding her behind him.


    The surrounding darkness deepened, and the immense pressure from all directions, filled with dense darkness elemental energy, pressed inward, rendering the Peacock Great Demon King''s control over spacepletely useless. The space elemental energy was rapidly extinguished.


    This was absolute power suppression. Even if the Peacock Great Demon King had been in peak condition, he would have had no chance of fighting back. And not only was he severely injured, but it was nighttime, so the Eternal Night Sovereign was even more powerful than usual.


    Tang San looked at the Peacock Great Demon King and said in a deep voice, "Prepare for teleportation. I''ll break through the night, and you can take us away."


    The Peacock Great Demon King was stunned. Even he couldn''t break through this extinguishing darkness! No matter how extraordinary the young man was, he wasn''t even a god yet. How could he achieve this?


    Then he saw a sh of light in Asura��s hand��there was now a small item in it. Asura raised his hand and threw the item into the sky.


    It was a small and delicate sword that didn��t look special in any way.


    But the next moment, it radiated incredible sharpness, so much so that even looking at it made one��s eyes hurt. The sudden sharp aura sliced through the sky as if intent on tearing the entire world apart!


    "The Sword Saint''s token? <i>Hmph,</i> do you think he would act for you��"


    But just as the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s mocking words echoed, a deep voice interrupted him. "Tenebrous, bullying the weak is rather unbing of an Emperor, don��t you feel?"


    The next moment, the small sword suddenly erged, and the already sharp edge became even more astonishingly sharp, cutting through the very fabric of space. In the dark night, it forcibly opened a rift!


    "Sword Saint, are you seriously opposing me?" the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s angry voice rang out.


    Seizing the moment of this incredible sword strike, the silver light shed, and the Peacock Great Demon King instantly teleported away with Tang San and Mei Gongzi.


    Then a figure emerged from the darkness��indistinct and radiating a faint purple glow. Raising his right hand before his face, he held a small sword between his index and middle fingers.


    His expression was very grim. A sword strike like this couldn��t be taken casually, even if he was an Emperor.


    Although the Sword Saint Demon Emperor ranked below him, his strength couldn''t be measured by mere rankings. What the Tenebrous Demon Emperor didn''t understand was why the Sword Saint Demon Emperor would intervene for people who had nothing to do with him, even going as far as to attack him directly.


    Meanwhile, at the Sword Saint Pce, the Emperor in question opened his eyes. It was as if two shes of cold lightning were reflected in his pupils, and he slowly lowered his hand.


    "If they can survive, they will be absolutely outstanding."


    What the Tenebrous Demon Emperor couldn''t understand was already causing turmoil in Mei Gongzi''s heart during the teleportation.


    At the moment the astonishing sword radiance rose, she finally understood why Asura had said that the friendship of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor was far more important than one or even two divine weapons. She hadn''t expected to get an answer to this question so fast and in such a direct manner.


    The two of them had a total of four tokens from the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. If the Sword Saint Demon Emperor was willing to intervene four times on ount of these tokens, it was indeed worth far more than two divine weapons.


    Forget about two, even if they had <i>ten</i> of the greatest divine weapons in hand, they couldn''t contend with the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, but the Sword Saint Demon Emperor could.


    Silver light flickered, and when they reappeared, they were in another location. Due to haste, the Peacock Great Demon King''s teleportation hadn��t taken them far, but they were still several kilometers away from the original location.


    "He''lle again soon. Prepare for another teleportation," Tang San said as he took the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s tokens from Mei Gongzi.


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    She was indeed intelligent��the moment she figured out his intentions, she immediately took out the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s tokens and had them ready for him.


    Tang San calmly looked into the distance. In the dark, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s pursuit speed was simply ridiculous. Their teleportation left traces in the night, and these normally inconspicuous traces were quite literally beacons for him to follow.


    Without any hesitation, Tang San threw out yet another small sword, and the astonishing sharpness reappeared. This time, even before the night fully descended, the massive sword radiance had already cleaved through the void.


    Arge hand formed from darkness reached directly for the sword radiance. The Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s icy voice echoed across the sky, "I want to see how many times you can make him strike for you."


    The sword radiance grew explosively, rising with the wind, and its sword intent soared to the heavens, shing straight at the giant dark hand. The moment the dark hand collided with the sword radiance, an intense shockwave erupted, shaking the heavens and earth. The Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s dark hand was cleaved apart by the sword radiance, dissolving into nothingness.


    Taking advantage of this brief moment, the Peacock Great Demon King quickly executed another teleportation, once again disappearing with Tang San and Mei Gongzi.

 Chapter 596: Take Care of Yourself

    <h4>Chapter 596: Take Care of Yourself</h4>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The violent collision between the darkness and the sword radiance created a terrifying explosion of energy.


    Silver light flickered as the Peacock Great Demon King exerted all his strength to teleport Tang San and Mei Gongzi away again. Although he knew that such teleportations were ultimately futile��as soon as the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s tokens were used up, they would still fall into the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s grasp��any extra moment of life, any additional time they could buy, might give them a chance.


    The Peacock Great Demon King pushed himself to the limit, teleporting as far as he could.


    Tang San took out the third sword token and threw it without hesitation.


    ***


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor raised his right hand again, a strange light shining in his eyes. He could sense thoughts[1]ing from his token far away.


    It was a very peculiar intention, a wave of belief transmitted through the token.


    <i>"What is the sword?"</i> This was the question from the first sword token.


    <i>"The sword is justice!"</i> This was the answer from the second.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor could be sure that this thought did note from the Peacock Great Demon King, but from the young man he had once acknowledged.


    <i>What is the sword? Someone actually dares to ask me of all people what the sword is?</i>


    When the first thought came, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor found it amusing. As the strongest swordsman of his time, who understood swords better than he did? But in spite of that, he still acted without hesitation. A gift that grand could not be received without any reciprocation, and he had the ancestors'' honor to uphold.


    But when he received the second message, he couldn''t help but be moved.


    <i>The sword is justice? What is justice?</i> he pondered.


    And then, the third thought came through.


    <i>"The sword is judgment!"</i>


    As he felt the will behind this thought, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s eyes instantly brightened. <i>Judgment!</i>


    In that instant, he seemed to grasp something he��d been long missing.


    His right hand grabbed at the void, and a beam of light appeared within. The next moment, he and his sword became one, shooting out like a bolt of lightning. At the same time, a terrifying sword radiance shed through the void. This time, it was an attack from the Red-Crowned Divine Sword!


    <i>The sword is justice, the sword is judgment!</i>


    This seemed to be what he had been searching for all along. So, what else was there?


    <i>What else?</i>


    As he unleashed this strike, he even felt a sense of eagerness within him.


    ***


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    In the distance, Tang San activated the third sword token.


    In the void, a gigantic Red-Crowned Crane seemed to appear, carrying unparalleled sharpness, crashing fiercely into the darkness. This time, it was as if the entire void shattered; thousands of sword beams erupted, blocking all routes of the night��s invasion.


    Silver light flickered, and they teleported again.


    When the Peacock Great Demon King saw the Red-Crowned Crane appearing in the void, merging with the sword, he was shocked but also had a glimmer of hope in his eyes.


    Could it be that they really had a chance to escape? That was clearly the full support of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, even though it wasing from afar! Even the Eternal Night Monarch wouldn''t easily fend off an all-out attack from another Demon Emperor.


    Indeed, when they reappeared after teleporting again, the darkness did not immediately follow.


    The fourth sword token appeared in Tang San''s hand, and he said to the Peacock Great Demon King in a deep voice, "Please rest for a moment and prepare to teleport as far as you can."


    The Peacock Great Demon King didn''t speak; he just closed his eyes to restore his energy. None of them knew how long the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s full-force strike could hold back the enemy.


    This time, it indeedsted quite a while, a full two minutes. When the pervasive darkness descended again, the voiceing from within was tinged with frustration.


    "I want to see how many more tokens you have!"


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor was filled with anger. Had the Sword Saint Demon Emperor gone mad? Even if the other had whatever tokens, it should have been one strike and done. But three times in a row, and the third time a full-force attack? Why? He had never heard of any connection between the Sword Saint Demon Emperor and the Peacock Demon n.


    In any case, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor himself was not here, and intervening remotely required a medium. Emperors were not omnipotent, after all. These people had to rely on the sword tokens, and they only had so many. Once the sword tokens were exhausted, Tang San and the others would still face certain death.


    Then he saw Tang San throw out the fourth sword token.


    Tang San''s divine consciousness fluctuated, and he attached a message to the sword token.


    The massive figure of the Red-Crowned Crane appeared once more, this time even clearer than before.


    Seeing this, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s expression changed drastically. From the increasingly clear figure of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, he could sense that thetter was heading in his direction.


    The sword radiance, like a flowing ribbon, cut through the void. A calm voice resonated in the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s heart, <i>"The sword breaks allws!"</i>


    <i>Breaks allws?</i>


    This had always been the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s pursuit! It was also the direction he had always worked toward. These five simple words spoke directly to his heart. At this moment, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor felt an itch he couldn''t scratch, wishing he could immediately sit down with the young man and discuss the true meaning of the sword.


    Silver light shed again, and the teleportation was initiated once more. After a brief period of rest, the Peacock Great Demon King was able to teleport Tang San and Mei Gongzi even farther. With the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s full support from afar, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor would surely be affected for a longer time.


    However, both Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Great Demon King knew that the sword tokens were exhausted. Once the night descended again, they would have no chance of escape. Therefore, their expressions were grim. Even if the Peacock Great Demon King could perform another timely teleportation, it would not take them far enough. With the shadow following, they would be caught in an instant.


    "We have to fight," the Peacock Great Demon King said as the Peacock Golden Crown slowly emerged on his forehead.


    Tang San turned to the Peacock Great Demon King, and his lips moved as if he were saying something, but Mei Gongzi was surprised to find that she couldn''t hear his voice. Then she saw Tang San raise his hand, and in his palm, there was another token. A fifth sword token!


    <i>Where did he get a fifth one?</i>


    This was the sword token Tang San had received when he had climbed the Sword Saint Pce and ultimately gained the recognition of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. Naturally, Mei Gongzi had no way of knowing about it, but she didn��t dwell on it too much. The important thing was that he had it. And even though this was likely thest one, she felt a slight sense of relief upon seeing it. Even if it only bought them a little more time, it meant they could live a bit longer.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s expression was somewhat strange at this moment. He looked at Tang San, wanting to say something, but hesitated.


    Tang San gave him a calm nod. Then, to Mei Gongzi''s astonishment, he came over to her, opened his arms, and embraced her.


    Because there was no warning, Mei Gongzi didn''t even have time to react before Tang San was already holding her.


    He had a pleasant scent, fresh and elegant. Despite facing life and death, Mei Gongzi found herself feeling oddly at peace.


    Then his voice whispered in her ear, "Take care of yourself."


    1. The original word here is rather difficult to trante; it does mean ��idea/thought�� in the normal sense, and it is used like that, but it also refers to intention and will; it implies that what is transmitted is not just a in message but something full of intent. ?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 597: Descent of the Sea God

    <h4>Chapter 597: Descent of the Sea God</h4>


    Mei Gongzi suddenly felt that his voice seemed to have changed, somewhat familiar yet also strange. It was familiar because she felt she had heard it before, but strange because it did not seem to belong to the Asura she knew.


    In this brief moment, in the distance, the endless night once again obscured the light of the stars and moon, slowly arriving, spreading like dark clouds across the sky.


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor didn''t even make another sound, but the overwhelming darkness was filled with an equally overwhelming intent to kill.


    Tang San nodded to the Peacock Great Demon King, then raised the fifth sword token in his hand!


    The sharp sword light shot up to the sky, carrying an unparalleled, brilliant sword intent, along with a strong and intense energy fluctuation. It carried the will of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. Once again, it transformed into a Red-Crowned Crane that charged straight at the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.


    Tang San closed his eyes slightly, smiling as he murmured to himself, "The sword is sacrifice!"


    Silver light flickered, and before Mei Gongzi realized it, it had already enveloped her and the Peacock Great Demon King. But this time, it did not envelop Tang San. Mei Gongzi wanted to stretch her hand to grab him, only to realize that she was restrained��restrained by her father''s spatial power!


    Thest thing she saw was only that tall, straight back disappearing before her. And then... there was only silver light.


    Time seemed to slow down.


    But in that instant, she clearly felt as if something most important in her heart had vanished into thin air.


    "NO��" she shouted.... Or at least she tried to shout, but in the spatial channel, though her lips moved, no sound came out.


    He never turned back to look at her, because he feared that if he did, he wouldn''t be able to bear the parting.


    She was worried because of the words of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, but he understood far more than she did from these words.


    The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had likely noticed something about Tang San, and even this pursuit was likely tacitly approved by him.


    If Tang San escaped this pursuit, he would have a chance. If he didn''t, it would mean extinction. This seemed to be what the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor wanted to tell him. After all, he was human. He was different from Mei Gongzi; she clearly inherited the Peacock Great Demon King''s bloodline, as well as the White Tiger Demon Emperor��s. But even the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor couldn''t tell what was going on with Tang San. Though he had shown two bloodlines, he was not affiliated with either of those ns... and what about his other abilities?


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor was certain toe, considering what they��d done to his sessor. And if they didn��t teleport fast enough, far enough, even the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor might arrive, and that would spell death for them, no ifs and buts.


    Thus, understanding the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s intentions, Tang San began preparing. The divine items he��d chosen and the Red-Crowned Divine Sword he had gifted were all part of this preparation.


    But Tang San knew that to escape the death trap described by the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, these alone wouldn''t be enough. All his preparations would certainly be within the grasp of the Master of Destiny. No... To seek life on the brink of death, to have even the slightest chance at survival, he had to break free from the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor��s control.


    So, when the sword tokens were exhausted, he stayed behind. He chose to face the danger himself, even if it meant fighting an Emperor. With his current abilities, it basically amounted to striking a stone with an egg, but it was also the key to whether he could truly establish himself in this ne.


    This was the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor��s message��if he could survive the pursuit of an Emperor, then he would be qualified to aim at bing the strongest in this ne. It meant he would have a chance to protect himself and that the Peacock Demon n would have an opportunity to rise again. With the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s abilities, he could certainly see the blood pact between him and Mei Gongzi, so at least for now, he would consider Tang San part of the Peacock Demon n and let him do what he wanted.


    <i>BOOM!</i>


    The darkness and the sword light collided again, resulting in a rain of light filled with unparalleled, brilliant energy. The terrifying energy affected an area dozens of miles in diameter, causing the entire sky to tremble violently. This was a sh between two Emperors!


    It would have extinguished all life within that range if it had been on the ground.


    Even Emperors had their limitations; they were bound by the constraints of the Ancestral Court, and they dared not easily affect the continent''s ecosystem. Thus, their shes could only ur in the sky.


    Amid that violent collision, Tang San''s eyes lit up; two motes of golden light appeared in his pupils. The golden radiance overflowed, spreading from his eyes to his forehead and then down his entire body, enveloping him in golden light.


    During this process, his aura began to surge rapidly.


    An illusory golden figure emerged behind him, soaring upward from two meters to five meters, then to ten meters, twenty meters, and then finally stopping at a height of one hundred meters.


    The light figure was illusory, but the fluctuations of its divine consciousness made the space that had just experienced a violent collision seem to quiet down.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The endless darkness that seemed capable of annihting everything halted. A purple figure stepped out of the void against the backdrop of darkness, eyes full of shock as it looked at the huge golden figure not far in front of it.


    The hundred-meter-tall golden figure''s face was unclear, but it could be vaguely seen that he wore golden armor, had a tall and slender figure, and had long blue hair flowing behind him. In his hand, a trident shone with brilliant golden light, causing the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s heart to tremble.


    The strange fluctuations of divine consciousness seemed to suppress the entire space around him. Even as an Emperor, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor felt his divine consciousness quiver at this moment.


    An Emperor! This was without a doubt the aura of an Emperor, and he seemed to be no ordinary Emperor!


    Although it didn''t seem to be the true body, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s heart was filled with unparalleled shock. He knew better than anyone that this Emperor was not someone from the Ancestral Court, but an unknown existence... an existence of truly high caliber!


    "Who are you?" the Tenebrous Demon Emperor asked in a deep voice. At the same time, the endless darkness, apanied by the dull luster of the Withering Domain, gathered behind him. The originally dark sky turned into a deep purple, and a massive purple vortex coiled and swirled behind him.


    A strange voice seemed to emanate from the void. "I am the Sea God!"


    With these simple words, the massive golden figure slowly raised the gigantic trident in his right hand, pointing it at the sky.


    Immediately, a brilliant golden light shot up into the sky, piercing the heavens and illuminating the darkness.


    The entire space violently trembled, and the earth below quaked, but the terrifying divine consciousness emanating from the Sea God seemed to suppress everything.


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor dared not be negligent. He held his hands in front of him, and a purple-ck orb appeared in his grasp.


    It looked like a crystal ball with countless lights and shadows swirling inside. Instantly, dragon-shaped shadows as ck as ink surrounded the Tenebrous Demon Emperor��nine shadows flickering into being.


    This was his most powerful divine weapon, the Nine Tenebrous Dragons!


    As the name implied, the Nine Tenebrous Dragons contained the souls of nine Tenebrous Dragons. One of these was even the soul of a Demon Emperor, while the rest were the Great Demon Kings!


    Legend had it that if the Nine Tenebrous Dragons orb actually came to include the souls of nine Demon Emperor dragons withplementary attributes, it could transcend the very ne and be aplete, independent realm!


    Faced with this unknown Emperor, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor had immediately pulled out his strongest weapon, which revealed the great apprehension he had toward the being in front of him.


    At that moment, the radiant golden trident flew at him seemingly out of nowhere; thousands of golden rays pierced the darkness, heading straight for the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.


    The Sea God''s divine technique��Fury of the Masses!

 Chapter 598: Mysterious Arrival, Mysterious Departure

    <h4>Chapter 598: Mysterious Arrival, Mysterious Departure</h4>


    An indescribable, overwhelming pressure shocked the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, especially as he could clearly feel that his control over the darkness element seemed to dissipate under this terrifying aura. The golden light emitted by the trident seemed to have a natural, strong suppressive force, making it hard for him to breathe.


    Even when facing Demon Emperors ranked above him, he had never felt this way. At this moment, he was beyond shocked. Not daring to be negligent, he fully activated the Nine Tenebrous Dragons in his hand. Nine dragon souls surged out from the Nine Tenebrous Dragons, transforming into shadows that wildly swirled in front of him, blocking the golden rays.


    The darkness and golden light touched and vanished, as if they were melting, but more dark power continuously flowed into the nine shadows, replenishing their consumption.


    The massive golden figure did not pause either. The golden trident in his hand moved in seemingly illusory patterns, and golden light rings floated out��one above, one below, one to the left, and one to the right. In an instant, dozens of golden rings floated over.


    When the nine dragons released by the orb touched these rings, they were immediately trapped as if in a cage, unable to move. More golden rings directly surrounded the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor��s heart tightened as he felt the tremendous pressure. Even his divine consciousness was forcibly locked at this moment, making him feel as if he couldn''t even move his thoughts.


    He still wanted to put all his power into the Nine Tenebrous Dragons, but those golden rings had already surrounded him, rendering him immobile.


    Unprecedented fear instantly filled his heart. He had never expected such an opponent to exist. He was the Eternal Night Sovereign, and within the darkness, he was supposed to be at his strongest state, yet under the oppressive force of that terrifying golden trident, he felt as if he couldn''t muster any strength at all.


    The overpowering pressure confined the Tenebrous Demon Emperor and all his power within that small area. Then he saw the golden figure slowly raise the golden trident that made his heart palpitate intensely.


    A strong killing intent instantly surrounded him, locking his divine consciousness. The Tenebrous Demon Emperor even felt that he would bepletely destroyed in the next moment. He desperately tried to struggle, but in the face of the golden rings encircling him, he couldn''t break free at all, not even a bit.


    What to do? How could this happen? For the first time in countless years, he felt his emotions were out of control. He never expected such a powerful opponent to appear, one so strong that he couldn''t resist at all.


    ***


    A sh of silver light, and the Peacock Great Demon King appeared out of thin air in the wilderness with Mei Gongzi.


    "No!" Only now could Mei Gongzi''s voice shoot out of her throat, and with that, she broke into sobs.


    She wanted to struggle, but she was firmly restrained by her father. At that moment, she suddenly felt as if something within her had been extinguished.


    "No!" Mei Gongzi cried out once more. She could now feel what it was that she had lost��the power of the blood oath!


    The bond between her and the Asura had been severed. It waspletely gone. And the severing of the bond meant only one possibility: the one at the other end had perished.


    Tears uncontrobly streamed down. She finally understood why Asura and her father had been speaking in secret. He clearly intended to stay behind for her and her father, bearing everything alone. And although she didn''t know how he had done it, it was clear that the Tenebrous Demon Emperor wasn��t following them anymore.


    But neither did Asura.


    The Peacock Great Demon King seemed to sense something as well. "He came from mystery and returned to mystery. He was your fated benefactor. What a pity...."


    He genuinely felt regret for that young man. He had entrusted him with everything, revealing his deepest secrets. Unfortunately...


    From beginning to end, Asura had remained calm, repeatedly using the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s sword tokens to block the Tenebrous Demon Emperor. Until finally, they managed to escape.


    Without pausing, he grabbed his daughter, ignoring her cries. Silver light rose again, sweeping them up, and they teleported away, disappearing once more.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ***


    Blinding sword light streaked across the night sky. When an Emperor traveled at full speed, their speed was absolutely astonishing.


    In the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s heart, it felt as if something was boiling.


    <i>What is the sword?</i>


    That voice had to pose the question, and that voice had given him many answers: <i>the sword is justice, the sword is judgment, the sword breaks allws, the sword is sacrifice.</i>


    Simple exnations, but each one touched his soul, filling the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s heart with a strong impulse.


    After the fifth sword token was activated, he once again struck with all his might across the void. He even cursed the Tenebrous Demon Emperor in his heart.


    But he knew he was probably toote��the distance was simply too great. The Peacock Great Demon King''s first teleportation was too far. What puzzled him was why the clever young man, having already summoned him, didn''t have the Peacock Great Demon King teleport in the <i>opposite</i> direction, back to the Ancestral Court. If he used the time gained from the five tokens to teleport back, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor might have reached them in time to help.


    The next moment, he had the answer. He saw a brilliant light in the distance, moving just a little slower than his own speed. That light was the divine consciousness of an Emperor. Yes, an Emperor!


    That was clearly the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    <i>To think that two kids plus the Peacock Great Demon King managed to have two Emperors chase them... Damn. I have to say, that is impressive.</i>


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor elerated with all his might, chasing the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    At this moment, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor seemed to sense his presence and slowed down.


    The distance between them gradually shortened until they were flying side by side.


    "Your Majesty Sword Saint, you are..." Although the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was also an Emperor, he was the youngest and weakest. He was very respectful toward the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, especially since thetter��s power did not quite match his ranking.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor said in a deep voice, "Are you going after those from the Peacock Demon n?"


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor replied in a deep voice, "Indeed, my n has a blood feud with the Peacock Demon n."


    "Let''s catch up first. Tenebrous is already chasing them over there. I just felt the call of the sword token and fought him across space. Now, I''m afraid..."


    Hearing this, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was shocked. He had no idea that the Tenebrous Demon Emperor had also taken action, so he couldn''t help but frown. "What, did the Tenebrous Demon Emperor also make a move?"


    "Weren''t you all in agreement?" the Sword Saint Demon Emperor asked in confusion.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor shook his head. "No. This is bad, let''s go quickly!"


    He did want to kill the Peacock Great Demon King, but he hadplex feelings toward the man��s daughter. After all, while it was <i>his</i> daughter, she also happened to be the only child of the woman he loved the most! If she died, what would the love of his life do?


    Although Mei Gongzi''s talent was astonishing and she clearly posed a great threat, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had not made up his mind to kill her. His target was the Peacock Great Demon King. No matter how talented Mei Gongzi was, she was not yet at the god level, and without that level of power at the minimum, it was impossible for her to hold Kali City.


    In this situation, as long as he killed the Peacock Great Demon King and took control of Kali City, everything would be much easier to handle.


    However, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor never expected that the Tenebrous Demon Emperor would personally take action. Was it just for Meng Dede? That was impossible. The Emperors took great pride in their status, so how could he p his own face like that? And now, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor had activelye to protect the Peacock Demon n, making the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor even more puzzled.


    But no matter what, they had to catch up first.


    The two Demon Emperors exchanged no more words; they fully elerated, flying at their fastest speed.


    In this full-speed flight, the difference between them became apparent. Both the Crystal Phoenixes and the Red-Crowned Cranes were avian demons, obviously fast flyers yet neither particrly known for their speed. But the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, in his state of unity with the sword, was moving significantly faster than the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    At this moment, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor had no intention of waiting for others; he simply darted forward with all the speed he could muster.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor chased with all his might but could only watch as the distance between them grew. He was helpless; after all, the other was a veteran powerhouse. Moreover, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s cultivation seemed even higher than the rumors said. This Sword Saint was known as the poorest Emperor of his time, yet he was in no waycking in cultivation!


    Finally, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor seemed to sense something. Sword light surged and he instantly shed over.


    A pitch-ck figure hovered in the sky. Even though the figure did not move a single finger, the sheer aura of darkness it radiated filled the space around it, even darker than night itself.


    It was the Eternal Night Sovereign.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 599: You Havent Taken Off Your Mask Yet

    <h4>Chapter 599: You Haven''t Taken Off Your Mask Yet</h4>


    If it were daytime, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor would even be confident in defeating him, but at night, his chances of winning were only one or two in ten, <i>at best</i>. This was the difference between the Eternal Night Sovereign at noon versus midnight.


    "Where are they?" The Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s cold voice rang out. The sword light retracted, transforming into a human figure that appeared not far in front of the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s face remained icy as he hovered in midair. "Which one of them are you <i>actually</i> asking about?"


    "That young man, the one called Asura," the Sword Saint Demon Emperor said without hesitation.


    "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust," the Tenebrous Demon Emperor said tly.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s pupils contracted, and his sword intent surged. He suddenly had a realization. <i>The sword is sacrifice!</i>


    He clearly remembered the young man''sst message to him. Sacrifice. Had he really sacrificed himself?


    Although he was a step behind the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was still in time to hear their exchange. "What about the Peacock Great Demon King and his daughter?"


    "They escaped," said the Tenebrous Demon Emperor indifferently.


    "They... what?!"


    Upon hearing this answer, both the Sword Saint Demon Emperor and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor felt incredulous. In front of a veteran Emperor, how could the Peacock Great Demon King escape? He wasn''t in Kali City, now was he?


    They both naturally overlooked people like Asura and Mei Gongzi. No matter how talented they were, champions of the elitepetition and whatnot, they were still just some kids from the younger generation. Anyone below the god level wasn''t even on their radar.


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor had personally pursued them, at night no less, yet they had managed to escape? This was not just surprising, but downright absurd.


    The Tenebrous Demon Emperor coldly said, "That young man called Asura invoked some special powers to block me, allowing them to escape. They should have returned to Kali City by now."


    The Ancestral Court had very strict rules. Even Emperors couldn''t act arbitrarily against a main city. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had a somewhat legitimate reason for causing trouble before, but now, he had no reason to act. The Peacock Great Demon King said they would be safe once they returned to Kali City, and he had good reason for it.


    Even for the Ancestral Court, reiming control of a main city wasn''t an easy task.


    Asura had allegedly invoked some special power to block the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, allowing the Peacock Great Demon King and his daughter to escape. This left the Sword Saint Demon Emperor and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor feeling absolutely stunned. But the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor felt a slight relief; at least the girl was still alive.


    "I''m leaving." The Tenebrous Demon Emperor seemed unwilling to continue the conversation. His icy gaze swept over them before he transformed into darkness, disappearing into the night.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor stood in ce, closed his eyes, and extended his divine consciousness around him.


    A momentter, he sensed the remnants of a powerful divine consciousness. Clearly, a battle had taken ce here��a very intense sh between two divine consciousnesses, specifically. However, the remaining traces were very weak, leaving little evidence.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was also quietly sensing the surroundings. His divine consciousness wasn''t as strong as the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s, so he perceived less of what had urred. But the fact that the Tenebrous Demon Emperor failed to capture the Peacock Great Demon King and his daughter still left them both in disbelief.


    An Emperor wouldn''t lie; it was a matter of dignity. Moreover, there was no point for the Tenebrous Demon Emperor to lie, either; it was easy for them to uncover the truth with a little investigation. So... if he said that they had escaped, then they had escaped.


    In the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s mind, he reconstructed the scene: Asura, at the cost of his life, had triggered the explosion of a divine weapon or something simr. This barely blocked the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s path and severed his lock on the Peacock Great Demon King and his daughter, preventing the Tenebrous Demon Emperor from seeding in his pursuit.


    For a young man who wasn''t even a god, it was something to be proud of.


    But on the other hand, he had given them five sword tokens. So why had those two youngsters refused toe to the Sword Saint Pce to seek his aid? Even though he had helped them from afar, the fact that they had returned the Red-Crowned Cranes'' imperial treasure without any strings attached made it so his help didn''t actually count as repayment.


    And that young man named Asura... When the Sword Saint Demon Emperor first sensed him climbing the Sacred Mountain in the Sword Saint Pce, he greatly admired him. And today, Asura''s understanding of the sword impressed him, truly impressed him. Unfortunately, it was all toote. Asura used his life to truly illustrate to him what it meant for the sword to be a sacrifice.


    It was a pity he hadn��t gotten to see Asura''s final strike, but to be able to block a Demon Emperor while not being a god himself... Even in death, he had every reason to be proud.


    As he gazed in the direction of Kali City, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s eyes wereplicated. He had originally nned to intercept the Peacock Great Demon King outside the Ancestral Court, kill him, capture Mei Gongzi, and then take over Kali City. This was the decision he had made after meeting the Peacock Great Demon King that day. But in the end, he had let the tiger return to the mountain. Kali City was the main city the Peacock Demon n had managed for many years, and even as an Emperor, he had to be cautious. The injuries he sustained from hisst visit hadn''t fully healed yet. It seemed that more nning was needed.


    "Your Majesty Sword Saint, I am returning as well."


    "Alright. Let''s go back together."


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor exchanged a nce, then simultaneously rose and flew toward the Ancestral Court.


    The two figures disappeared into the distance, and the divine consciousness in the air slowly dissipated, as if nothing had happened here.


    About half a day after the three Demon Emperors left, the sky brightened. The sunlight bathed the earth, bringing warmth and the breath of life.


    Under the bright sunlight, the air suddenly twisted slightly. It was a very faint distortion, almost impossible to notice unless observed from a very close distance.


    After a few seconds, the air twisted slightly again.


    Gradually, the frequency of the distortion��s appearance increased, eventually changing from intermittent to continuous, and from a single point of distortion to an area. Time and space seemed to be strange; the distorted area appeared incongruous with everything around it.


    Suddenly, light and shadows flickered, and all the distortions converged toward a single point. A figure appeared out of thin air, and all the twisted light and shadows instantly gathered toward it.


    The mask on Tang San''s face had disappeared, revealing his true appearance. He waspletely naked, and every single hair on his body had vanished, indicating that his previous experience had been anything but usual.


    The distorted light and shadows fluctuated faintly on his chest��an effect of the Spacetime Beacon he had obtained at the grand auction.


    The Spacetime Beacon slowly settled on his chest, and another ring of distorted light emerged. Arge amethyst appeared out of nowhere, floating above Tang San''s head. A faint purple halo descended, injecting pure, purple light into his forehead.


    This was a silent wilderness, devoid of people or beasts. In fact, even if there were normally demonic beasts in this area, after the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s visitst night, no creatures would dare to approach this ce, which now seemed like a forbidden zone, for a good number of days.


    The purple halo continuously flowed in, and some items drifted out of the Spacetime Beacon one by one��among them Tang San''s two storage rings.


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    Tang San''s forehead continued to absorb energy, like a bottomless pit. Therge amethyst gradually dimmed.


    By the time night fell again, the crystal had be entirely dull. It fell onto the ground and rolled to the side, now nearly transparent.


    Tang San''s eyelids trembled slightly��even his eyshes had disappeared!


    As his eyelids twitched, his skin began to crack, starting from his eyelids and extending across his body, turning into fragments that scattered in the air. Fresh, tender skin emerged, giving him a rather eerie appearance.


    ***


    Kali City.


    With tearful eyes, Mei Gongzi stood by the window, repeatedly murmuring, "Big Brother, you haven''t taken off your mask yet. How could you leave me like this?"

 Chapter 600: Revived

    <h4>Chapter 600: Revived</h4>


    A long time passed��to Tang San, it felt infinite.


    He remained in a very peculiar state. When everything was gone, leaving only a bit of his divine consciousness, he was in a state somewhere between existence and void.


    After all, he wasn��t even a god. How could he possibly contend with an Emperor? No matter how much knowledge and experience he had from his past life, without a proper foundation in <i>this</i> life, it was impossible to fight against an Emperor of this world. The gap between them was simply too vast.


    However, he certainly wouldn''t give up because of this. Even without the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s reminder, he had already begun preparing long ago.


    For Mei Gongzi, he had given up being low-key, instead apanying her topete and win. But during this process, Tang San had already considered the dangers that he and Mei Gongzi might face after thepetition. After all, the Peacock Demon n no longer had the status it��d had under the rule of the Peacock Demon Emperor.


    As the saying goes, the tree that stands out in the forest will be toppled by the wind. Without a strong backer, it was obvious what they would face.


    They could seek help from those Emperors who might be beneficial to them, but in doing so, the Peacock Demon n would have to side with their benefactor and would never be able to stand independently like before.


    Whether it was the White Tiger Demon Emperor or the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, their protection wouldn''t be unconditional. This wasn''t what the Peacock Great Demon King wanted, nor what Mei Gongzi wanted. Tang San was even more unwilling to let his beloved be dependent on others.


    Therefore, he had long been preparing for their departure.


    Why hadn��t he let hispanions leave with them, why had he separated from Big Cat? It was all for this final moment.


    Tang San didn''t know which Emperor might be against them, and he wouldn''t have been surprised if it had been the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor himself. Therefore, his hypothetical enemy had always been an Emperor.


    In his previous life, he had two godly seats: one was the Sea God seat, and the other was the Asura God seat, which his wife held on his behalf.


    Both godly seats were at the God King level, and each possessed their own innate divine weapon. After countless years of nurturing, they had both be transcendent divine artifacts. The Asura God''s innate divine weapon was naturally the Asura Divine Sword, which Tang San had connected to through Mei Gongzi and had used to decisively defeat Meng Dede.


    So what about himself? Tang San, being the reincarnation of the God King, had never lost his connection with his own innate divine weapon. However, during his reincarnation and rebirth, it was impossible to carry a transcendent divine artifact with him, so he hade alone, leaving the transcendent divine artifact elsewhere.


    As his divine consciousness gradually recovered, his connection with the transcendent divine artifact was naturally reestablished. After all, if he could help Mei Gongzi connect with the Asura Sword, how could he not connect with his own super divine artifact? This was his true trump card, the one trump card that allowed him to actually contend with Emperors.


    The Sea God''s Trident, also known as the Golden Trident!


    Although what he could summon now was still a projection, the power of the Sea God''s Trident that he could summon was far beyond that of the Asura Sword. After all, this was his own divine weapon, the one he��d used the longest; moreover, in terms of distance, the Sea God''s Trident was also much closer.


    During thepetition, Tang San never even entertained the thought of using the Sea God''s Trident; this trump card could not be revealed. But he knew that he would end up using it. Thus, the amethystine coins he had absorbed had enhanced his divine consciousness and strengthened his connection with the Sea God''s Trident.


    Long-distance teleportation was the first step in escaping from the Ancestral Court, but Tang San never thought that such teleportation alone would allow them topletely evade pursuit. If it were that simple, there would have been no need for the Master of Destiny to give a reminder.


    Tang San understood well that the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor''s words were not just a reminder but also a form of pressure. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor might not target Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Demon n, but his inability to see through Tang San meant he would not leave him unchecked.


    A cmity worthy of being mentioned by the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was sure to be a <i>truly</i> terrifying cmity.


    Therefore, Tang San had already made preparations before setting out.


    To escape the control of the Master of Destiny, the simplest way was to make his own destiny vanishpletely. If he had no destiny, then the Master of Destiny naturally had no reason to bother with him.


    Therefore, Asura had to die. Only through Asura''s death would the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor no longer be locked onto Tang San''s fate.


    How could he, thus, achieve this? Of course, it was simple. He had to die.


    The appearance of the Sea God was still just an illusory figure, but to the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, it brought immense pressure. If just an illusory figure caused such great pressure for the sixth-ranked Demon Emperor, then what about the real body of the Sea God?


    To the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, Asura was nothing but a vessel, a medium for the Sea God, or rather the Sea God''s messenger. A vessel that was not divine just yet could not contain divine power at that level; after unleashing such power, the vessel would naturally shatter.


    And shatter he did!


    Asura truly perished, at least in that final moment. But it was Asura who perished; the real Tang San quietly disappeared into a spatial-temporal point, to reappear only when the pre-programmed spatial-temporal point arrived.


    Everything was nned down to the tiniest detail. At the moment of Asura''s demise and Tang San''s disappearance, his life truly vanished, leaving only a bit of his divine consciousness essence stored in the amethyst.


    His lifeless body was preserved in one spatial-temporal point by the Spacetime Beacon, while his divine consciousness was separated elsewhere. In other words, at that moment, with the Sea God''s power as cover, ny-nine percent of his divine consciousness was used to sustain the Sea God''s power, while the remaining one percent was isted in the amethyst.


    @@novelbin@@


    Such a phenomenon would appear as true death in this ne. Even the power of the blood oath would dissipate��not that it would��ve done anything otherwise. The oath had been done to reassure Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Great Demon King, as well as to establish a connection between him and Mei Gongzi. But it was not <i>truly </i>binding; how could it be binding to a divine consciousness like Tang San��s?


    And when everything was over, his body was returned to its original ce by the Spacetime Beacon, and the amethyst happened to appear there. At the moment of their contact, his divine consciousness returned to his body, and with the immense energy of the amethyst nurturing that minuscule bit of divine consciousness still inside it, Tang San was able to be reborn.


    This sounded simple, but in reality, to deceive any Emperor, let alone an Emperor who controlled fate, was unimaginably difficult. Without the experience of a former God King, precise control over his divine consciousness, and absolute confidence, Tang San wouldn��t have dared to attempt this.


    In this process, even the slightest mistake could prevent his divine consciousness from returning, resulting in his true death. His divine consciousness would be forever sealed within the amethyst, with no telling when he could be revived.


    Therefore, before undertaking this, Tang San had activated his Pr Luck Domain to its fullest extent, greatly enhancing his fortune. He perfectly utilized the Spacetime Beacon to ensure contact between his body and the amethyst.


    When he opened his eyes and looked at the sky, he found it full of stars. He had died at night, and he hade back to life at night.


    Tang San himself did not know how many days had passed since the incident.


    The surroundings werepletely silent, with not even the sound of insects or birds, clearly due to the lingering fear from the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s earlier presence. With that in mind, it was likely that it hadn��t been <i>that</i> long.


    His body felt weak and limp. Although his divine consciousness had returned and was mostly restored thanks to the amethyst, further adjustments were still needed. Fortunately, the amethyst''s nurturing of his divine consciousness was indeed powerful. Otherwise, Tang San would have had to rely entirely on the Spacetime Beacon to sustain his remaining bit of divine consciousness. In that case, he had no idea how long it would��ve taken to fully restore his divine consciousness to its previous state.

 Chapter 601: Return to Golden Valley

    <h4>Chapter 601: Return to Golden Valley</h4>


    Supporting himself to get up, Tang San silently sensed the changes in his body.


    Dying and being reborn was not as in and simple as it sounded. Some of his own <i>self </i>had already disappeared when he��d chosen reincarnationst time. And now that his divine consciousness had returned, although it had reignited the me of life, it didn��t help his body much; he still needed to gradually recover.


    Moreover, summoning the trident and truly utilizing the power of the Sea God had consumed a tremendous amount of his energy, almost depleting the majority of the foundation he had umted over the years.


    But it wasn''t without benefits. Firstly, although his divine consciousness was greatly weakened, its level had been somewhat restored due to the influence of the Sea God''s aura. While it was now lower in energy, it was higher in terms of divinity.


    Secondly, using the Sea God��s Trident allowed the transcendent divine artifact to better confirm his location; it was now moving much faster and would arrive much sooner.


    Finally, after being baptized by the Sea God''s power, the ovep between his current body and his previous one had increased significantly, allowing his body to undergo a true transformation.


    The power of this ne was still great, and Tang San needed more time toprehend it and integrate it with the power from his previous life.


    He sat cross-legged in meditation, and when he woke up again, daylight had already broken. Tang San activated a bloodline imprint and a pair of wings unfolded behind him, lifting him into the sky.


    Among all the bloodline imprints, the first to be revived was the Dragon Roc. This ce was not suitable for a prolonged stay; there was nothing here for him. He thus decided to return to the Golden Valley. There, he could peacefully restore his cultivation and digest what he had gained in the Ancestral Court.


    The massive amethyst had lost most of its energy, but Tang San still kept it rather than throwing it away. He found that, perhaps due to itsrger size or maybe because it was in its raw form, it differed from the amethystine coins.


    Once the energy inside the amethystine coins was exhausted, they would shatter and turn to dust. By contrast, this piece of amethyst seemed to slowly absorb energy from the surroundings, gradually restoring itself.


    Although the recovery was slow, it was still gradually happening. This item was incredibly helpful for his divine consciousness; With it, Tang San''s divine consciousness had recovered by over two-thirds, even with the increase in level. Without it, it would have been seriously troublesome; it would have taken him at least a year to return to normal.


    The evolution of his divine consciousness also allowed it to better nurture his spiritual power. His strength was gradually recovering by the moment. On the other hand, Tang San wasn''t in a hurry to restore all his bloodline powers; instead, he used his divine consciousness to slowly cleanse his reborn body.


    He didn''t need to look with his eyes; his divine consciousness could vaguely sense some changes in himself. The most obvious change was that, due to his rebirth and the influence of his divine consciousness, his appearance had undergone slight adjustments, making him look more like he did in his previous life. Among these adjustments, his hair color had changed to the sea blue of his past life.


    Unless someone was very familiar with him and saw him face to face, they would have a hard time recognizing him. With the changes in his eyes and hair color, and especially if he wore a mask, no one would be able to identify him as Asura.


    Although his strength had decreasedpared to before, he was confident that he would recover soon. Moreover, he had taken a significant step toward regaining the strength he��d had in his previous life. Given enough time, he was confident that he could restore the splendor of his former God King self. Of course, the most crucial step was undergoing the tribtion to be a god.


    Thus, he needed to prepare for that critical moment. For him, there might only be one chance. To avoid interference from this ne and sessfully undergo the tribtion, he needed to utilize every avable resource.


    It took him two whole days to reach Golden Valley. The consecutive teleportations had left him fairly close to the Kali Mountains before his "death," but due to his decrease in cultivation post-rebirth, he had no choice but to take it slow.


    Passing through the linked arrays, he returned to that familiar ce. And as soon as he entered the Golden Valley, Tang San immediately felt the overwhelming breath of life energy surging toward him.


    In terms of sheer energy, the Golden Valley couldn''tpare to the Ancestral Court. But the difference was that the energy in the Ancestral Court was a torrent of mixed-attribute energies, while the one in the Golden Valley was pure life energy.


    The new Golden Tree, nourished by various means, was growing increasingly robust.


    "Who goes there?" A deep voice rang out, and immediately several figures surrounded Tang San.


    Tang San nced at his sea-blue hair and couldn''t help but feel a bit helpless. "It''s me. Asura."


    The ones surrounding him were strong members of the Lion-Tiger n.


    After resolving the bloodline conflict, the strength of these adult members of the Lion-Tiger n had grown by leaps and bounds. With first-tier bloodlines and the abundant life energy in Golden Valley, their fur looked crystalline and shiny, their bodies were strong, their vitality flourishing, and their eyes filled with fierce and sharp light.


    "Benefactor?" The leading Lion-Tiger nsman looked at Tang San with some uncertainty. After taking a closer look, he seemed to decide that he was indeed Asura. "Uh... It��s good to see you, but... why is your hair blue? Is that the trend in the Ancestral Court now?"


    Tang San replied helplessly, "It''s due to cultivation. Is everything okay in the valley? Is the elder here? I have something to discuss with him."


    "The elder is here. I''ll take you to him."


    The Lion-Tiger nsman quickly led Tang San into the valley.


    At that moment, the Lion-Tiger n''s Grand Elder was under the ancient golden tree, drinking water infused with its essence, enjoying the nourishment of life energy.


    "Benefactor, what''s going on with you?" The Grand Elder didn��t pause for a second before recognizing Tang San. Although Tang San��s hair color had changed and his appearance was somewhat different, the old demon still had keen senses.


    Tang San smiled wryly. "I encountered some... situations, so my body underwent some changes. But it''s okay, I''ll recover in a while."


    Hearing this, the Grand Elder became a bit anxious. "Big Cat, Little Cat, they..."


    Tang San quickly said, "Don''t worry, Elder. They''re all fine."


    Tang San then detailed how Big Cat participated in the Ancestral Court''s Elite Competition and won second ce in the individualpetition, thus gaining the lion race��s recognition. Big Cat now possessed the God-ying Sword and the Heart-Guarding Divine Mirror, and was preparing to undergo his tribtion in the Ancestral Court.


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    Hearing his words, the look in the Grand Elder''s eyes grewplex.


    Undoubtedly, Big Cat bing stronger and having the potential to be a god was a great thing for the Lion-Tiger n. However, their time in Golden Valley had been an unprecedented period of prosperity for the entire n. Here, everyone could live well, and with the nourishment of life energy, the entire n was thriving.


    Big Cat gaining the lion race��s recognition meant the Lion-Tiger n finally had a path forward. But leaving here to join the Golden Lion n... was that truly a good thing? The Grand Elder wasn��t so sure, and neither was anyone else.


    Tang San said solemnly, "For long-term development, cooperation with the lion race is for the best. Big Cat has proven through thepetition that the Lion-Tiger n''s bloodline is a true first-tier bloodline, capable of producing Demon Emperors. The Lion-Tiger n will surpass both the lion and the tiger races in the future. And if Big Cat does be a Demon Emperor, then the Lion-Tiger n will truly be reborn. I think it''s worth a try, and Big Cat thinks so too. He is determined to move in that direction."


    The Grand Elder nodded silently and said, "He is right. I''m old and no longer have the drive. But he''s still young, and I canpletely trust the future of the Lion-Tiger n to him. I will guard the rear for him. Once he breaks through, he can take the young ones from the n with him. Benefactor, may I ask if the old, young, and women can stay here, at least to ensure the Lion-Tiger n''s bloodline survives? In case..."

 Chapter 602: Rainbow Skyfire Liquid

    <h4>Chapter 602: Rainbow Skyfire Liquid</h4>


    "Of course." Tang San interrupted him. He understood the Grand Elder''s concerns. After all, the Lion-Tiger n had faced many hardships and had only recently resolved their bloodline conflict. It waspletely natural for this diligent and hardworking Grand Elder to be worried.


    "Golden Valley will always be the home of the Lion-Tiger n."


    "Thank you, Benefactor." The Grand Elder was about to bow to Tang San, but thetter stopped him.


    "Grand Elder, I will be staying here for a while to heal my injuries and to strengthen the defenses of Golden Valley."


    With the growth of the ancient golden tree, the life energy within the valley had be increasingly strong. Although the illusion arrays could still conceal this area and prevent life energy from leaking out, the life energy was affecting the vegetation around the valley. When Tang San returned, he noticed that many nts were growing much more luxuriantly than those in more distant areas. If this attracted attention, it would be a major problem.


    His current cultivation level was far beyond what it had been when he first set up the illusion arrays. Both his strength and resources were much more abundant. It was necessary to reconfigure the arrays, expanding the range of Golden Valley and better containing the life energy to prevent any leakage. This would also more effectively iste everything within the valley.


    Moreover, he needed to process his gains from the Ancestral Court, which would also involve significant energy fluctuations, so the level of instion required was also much higher.


    "No problem. If there is anything the Lion-Tiger n can help with, just let us know. The young ones in the n see you as an idol. They are all willing to follow you."


    "Good. I��ll take you up on that." Tang San wouldn''t stand on ceremony. There were indeed some tasks that required manpower, and everyone had to earn their daily bread.


    For the next entire week, he was busy setting up the arrays. Using various resources he had brought back, he expanded and enhanced the illusion arrays around Golden Valley, increasing their number to eighty-one and creating a muchrger array. This ensured that even an Emperor flying overhead wouldn''t notice anything amiss below if they didn''t directly enter the array.


    At the same time, he enhanced the Spirit Summoning Array''s power, providing more energy to the Golden Tree to aid its growth.


    After a week, Tang San''s various bloodline imprints had mostly recovered. Only his divine consciousness had not yet returned to its optimal state.


    He wasn''t in a hurry. Although his divine consciousness was weakened, its recovery rate was much higher than before. Afterpleting the arrangements in Golden Valley, it was time to thoroughly absorb the good things he had obtained earlier.


    Tang San did not want to feel again the sense of powerlessness he��d felt while being chased by the Tenebrous Demon Emperor. But in the future, he would inevitably face beings of this level, so he had to make preparations to withstand such power.


    The Chrono Croc essence blood and the Golden Roc essence blood he obtained in the Ancestral Court had already been given to Gu Li and Cheng Zicheng. Last time he returned, he used the Fox Tail Relics to enhance the bloodlines of the Crimson Fox girls. As their bloodlines were purified, their strength increased significantly. The weakest among them was now at the fifth order, and Red One had even reached the seventh order.


    On the Daemon Continent, the strength of one''s bloodline was the best indicator of their potential power. Thus, by purifying their bloodline, the Fox Tail Relics had raised the ceiling of their cultivation, which was about as important as it could be.


    Aside from these items, the most important one was the Spacetime Beacon. It wasn''t just a nascent divine artifact but could even be considered a transcendent divine artifact. Even though he hadn��t yet refined it, Tang San had already used its power multiple times.


    Besides the Spacetime Beacon, there was also the massive ck Crow Stone. Tang San had long thought about how to use it.


    Moreover, with his current cultivation level, he could reforge Sky Shatterer, and truly make good use of the properties of the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron. Whether for refining the ck Crow Stone into ck gold or working on the Spacetime Beacon, a suitable tool was essential. Thus, after careful consideration, Tang San decided first to reforge the hammer.


    Tang San chose a suitable location to install his "forge" and had the Crimson Fox girls guard the perimeter, while he set up several istion arrays inside to block sound and energy before starting the forging process.


    The most important characteristic of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron was that it couldn''t be forged using external force; its intense heat could burn through any material. To forge it, one needed to temper it with spiritual power, ideally with divine consciousness, in order to unleash its true power.


    The original Sky Shatterer could be described as merely half-baked; it had been turned into the shape of a hammer, but it wasn��t truly forged. Tang San''s previous cultivation was insufficient, so he hadn''t bothered to attempt it either, merely using the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron to purify his spiritual power and the hammer as, well, a warhammer.


    But now his divine consciousness had recovered significantly, and its level had also increased, making it possible to forge the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron.


    Sky Shatterer floated quietly in front of Tang San. Due to the instion arrays, the temperature inside the cave had noticeably increased.


    Tang San enveloped Sky Shatterer with his spiritual power, silently sensing its changes.


    Heavenly Fire Essence Iron was the most powerful fire-attribute metal, extremely active by nature. Its intense energy waves were arrogant and fierce, capable of even burning divine consciousness.


    Since Tang San had previously guided it many times with his spiritual power, Sky Shatterer had a rtively close spiritual connection with him and did not reject his spiritual power.


    A faint smile appeared on Tang San''s face as purple light flickered in his eyes. His spiritual power, enhanced through the Purple Demon Eyes, directly enveloped the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron.


    The Heavenly Fire Essence Iron vibrated slightly for a moment before intense heat burst outward. While it was true that only spiritual power could forge it, the strength of that spiritual power mattered. The metal could quite literally ignite spiritual power, even turning it into its own nourishment by burning it.


    Tang San remained calm andposed; he hid a bit of his divine consciousness within his spiritual power, then suddenly injected it into the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron.


    Immediately, Sky Shatterer started to vibrate intensely.


    The bit of divine consciousness prating its core was equivalent to a foreign entity attempting to take control of it. Naturally, it resisted, and intense mes erupted instantly.


    A strange scene appeared. As the mes burst out, they transformed into seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, flickering continuously. With each change in color, the temperature increased a bit, madly burning in an attempt to incinerate Tang San''s divine consciousness.


    If this had happened before his divine consciousness evolved under the influence of the Sea God��s Trident, Tang San would have struggled to withstand it. But now, his divine consciousness was different; it had been imbued with a touch of God King-level aura.


    No matter how the mes burned, Tang San''s divine consciousness remained unmoved. On the other hand, the piece of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron began to change in size under the intense burning. Impurities turned to ash, and the fiery seven-colored mes kept changing.


    Tang San sensed the fluctuations of the mes. His divine consciousness was affected, but under the scorching of these seven-colored mes, that bit of divine consciousness became increasingly brighter. It felt as if it was being purified.


    Previously, only his spiritual power could be purified, due to his insufficient cultivation. Now, even his divine consciousness felt this purification. Instead of being rmed, Tang San was delighted and immediately injected more of his divine consciousness into the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, allowing it to continue burning.


    The volume of his divine consciousness shrank, but it became increasingly bright and dazzling. At the same time, the seven-colored mes of the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, fueled by the burning of his divine consciousness, also grew hotter and more radiant.@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 603: God-Hunting Crossbow

    <h4>Chapter 603: God-Hunting Crossbow</h4>


    Outside the cave, the Crimson Fox girls noticed faint seven-colored light flowing inside, as if some precious treasure was emitting its brilliance within. They dared not be negligent and guarded the entrance nervously.


    Tang San didn''t know how much time had passed when he felt that his divine consciousness was no longer being purified. Only then did he slowly retract his divine consciousness.


    The volume of his divine consciousness had shrunk by a third, but it felt much purer and stronger. As it entered his spirit core, he could clearly feel that. The process by which spiritual power was automatically absorbed, filtered, and transformed into divine consciousness was also somewhat faster. If Tang San wished, he could now initiate the tribtion with his divine consciousness.


    Of course, that was impossible. When he used the Sea God''s power that day, it caused the ne to reject him. Attempting the tribtion now would be courting death. In fact, there were very few ces on the Daemon Continent truly suitable for his tribtion.


    The refinement of his divine consciousness was naturally beneficial to Tang San. Although its volume was now much smaller than when he was in the Ancestral Court, the overall energy of his divine consciousness had returned to its original state, and its purified state was even better than before.


    Light flickered in Tang San''s eyes, faintly revealing a hint of the grandeur he once had in the God Realm.


    The brilliance gradually dimmed, and his eyes returned to their clear state. His divine consciousness converged inside his spirit core, and with a single thought, hepletely concealed his divine consciousness within.


    Then, Tang San silently sensed his bloodline imprints. All of them seemed to have been affected to some extent. Even the yin-yang vortex seemed to have been influenced by the strange mes of the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, bing less vtile.


    The calmest imprint was the one upied by Crystalline, who had been dormant all along. Even when Tang San "perished," she remained dormant in his body, not showing any reaction.


    Tang San had actually hoped that if Crystalline truly had any connection with the Crystal Demon Emperor, it would leave his body due to his death, thus resolving the hidden danger. But throughout, this crystal imprint showed no change, as if it hadn''t sensed anything.


    After making sure his divine consciousness was well and truly hidden, Tang San finally looked at the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, which had undergone a tremendous transformation.


    The original Sky Shatterer had disappeared, and what remained was a mass of seven-colored liquid. Yes, liquid. At this moment, the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron had turned into a puddle of seven-colored metallic liquid, quietly flowing on the ground. Where it passed, it did not burn the ground, but seven-colored mes rose from it, looking very strange.


    With a thought, the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron��or rather the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid, as Tang San called it, leapt up from the ground and floated toward him. Tang San extended his right hand, and the mass of metallic liquid, slightlyrger than a fist,nded in his palm.


    It didn''t feel hot, only somewhat warm, but as the seven colors rippled, he could still sense the tremendous heat within.


    This wasn''t a simple cup of molten metal, but a mixture of mes. There was fierceness, profundity, and wildness, but also calmness and purity.


    The strange thing was that the seven different attributes blended perfectly, creating this unusual transformation.


    Tang San''s hand moved slightly, and immediately, the seven-colored liquid spread across his hand, forming something like a glove.


    Tang San touched the ck Crow Stone beside him, and the stone began to melt upon contact.


    Tang San withdrew his hand, unable to help but marvel. This me was no mundane me; it was true divine fire.


    No one on this ne recognized it, but in Tang San��s previous divine realm, the Fire God��one of the seven elemental gods��had his divine weapon forged from this material. And this incredibly rare material existed on this very Fn.


    Even as it was now, this mass of seven-colored liquid was alreadyparable to the divine artifacts of this ne. And things could get better��although Heavenly Fire Essence Iron was rare on the Daemon Continent, it wasn''t unique, as evidenced by the reactions to its appearance at the auction. This meant Tang San might be able to acquire more Heavenly Fire Essence Iron. If he continued refining it into this Rainbow Skyfire Liquid, he had no idea what its future potential might be.


    This liquid had been infused with his divine consciousness and could be easily controlled with his spiritual power, like an extension of his will.


    "Heh, interesting..." Tang San''s lips curved into a smile as he ced his right hand on the ck Crow Stone.


    The refinement of ck gold was a veryplex process. Even with an amazing tool like Sky Shatterer, it required constant hammering, using the high temperature of the mes and the force of the hammer to remove impurities. This was especially the case with such arge piece of ck Crow Stone, whose quality was much higher than that of normal ck Crow Stone, making the refinement process even more difficult.


    But at this moment, all Tang San did was ce his right hand on the ck Crow Stone.


    The Rainbow Skyfire Liquid quietly flowed, infiltrating the surface of the ck Crow Stone, which then began to undergo a transformation, melting just like the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron had melted before!


    Under the influence of the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid, the entire piece of ck Crow Stone turned to liquid. The impurities naturally disintegrated and disappeared during the melting process, leaving only the ck gold within.


    The ck gold was also liquefied, of course, and it flowed on the ground, but the Heavenly Fire Liquid restricted it, preventing it from flowing away or burning the ground.


    This method of purification was much easier than hammering and seemed to be more effective. The terrifyingly high temperature of the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid directly turned the ck Crow Stone into the purest ck gold.


    Next, shaping became much easier. Tang San used Lion-Tiger Golden Force inbination with the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid to mold the refined ck gold into the desired shape. He then absorbed the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid back into his body and started putting together the pieces of ck gold.


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    Due to the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid��s refinement, the quality of this ck gold was extremely high. More importantly, it also contained a trace of Tang San''s spiritual power, making every piece of metal feel like a part of his body, allowing him to sense its every subtle change.


    This was the power of the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid. The metal it purified had spiritual power conductivity by default.


    The ultimate goal in metal refinement was to endow it with life, transforming it into an actual living entity. The metal refined by the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid also had this vital activity, and it was thanks to a trace of Tang San''s spiritual power, making its life an extension of Tang San''s will.


    As he watched the massive finished product take shape, a faint smile appeared on Tang San''s lips. He then began to inscribe arrays on it. With the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid, this process became extremely easy. The originallyplex arrays werepleted in a very short time under the control of his will.


    Finally, a giant crossbow��or rather a ballista, four meters wide and three meters long, appeared in front of Tang San, emitting a dark golden luster.


    Additionally, there were three bolts beside it.


    One heavy crossbow with three bolts.


    "Let''s give you a name. What should it be?" Tang San''s lips curved upward into a sneaky smile. "Let''s call it the God-Hunting Crossbow."


    Looking at the finished product, he was very satisfied. He deactivated the istion arrays he had previously set up and called out, "Red One, you all cane in now."


    "Yes, Master." The Crimson Fox girls, led by Red One, filed in.


    The intense heat had already dissipated. When they saw the heavy crossbow on the ground, they couldn''t help but show looks of surprise.


    Red One looked at the God-Hunting Crossbow and then at Tang San. "Master, what is this?"

 Chapter 604: The Divine Weapon of the Crimson Fox Girls

    <h4>Chapter 604: The Divine Weapon of the Crimson Fox Girls</h4>


    "It��s called the God-Hunting Crossbow, and I made it specifically for you. The bloodline of the Crimson Fox gives you the ability to create illusions. Whether you��re dodging or fleeing, you have decent abilities. The downside is that you don��t really have any offensive power. This God-Hunting Crossbow, in terms of sheer attack power, is very much a divine weapon. Although it only has three bolts, I��ve imbued each with different abilities. Each use requires me to recharge them, but with your current cultivation, three god-level attacks should be enough."


    "Can we use it?" Red One asked, looking at Tang San in surprise.


    "One person can''t use it alone, butbining the power of all eighteen of you, it��s possible. I''ve arranged six points on the God-Hunting Crossbow for energy infusion. Form groups of three and inject your power into it to draw and shoot the crossbow. Even without the three bolts, the crossbow itself can generate an energy arrow with considerable attack power. Next, you must practice how to use it properly."


    The Crimson Fox girls looked at each other, their pretty faces showing excitement.


    All along, despite their hard work, their cultivation had been slow due to their limited talents. They were sincerely grateful to Tang San; without him, they didn''t know what state they��d be in now. But they knew their abilities weren��t enough to help their master.


    Now that they had such an opportunity, how could they not be thrilled?


    Red One said, "Master, rest assured, we will practice diligently."


    Tang San nodded slightly. "I''ll now teach you how to use it. You will be responsible for these three bolts; don''t use them unless it''s critical. The energy arrows generated by the crossbow should be enough for all practical purposes."


    With that, Tang San began instructing the Crimson Fox girls on using the God-Hunting Crossbow.


    With the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid, Tang San could make this sacred weapon extremely versatile. He could easily improve it in the future, adjusting it based on the girls'' cultivation progress and making it even stronger.


    During the training of the Crimson Fox girls, Tang San made some adjustments to the God-Hunting Crossbow, making it more suitable for their current cultivation level.


    These girls were Tang San''s loyal followers. And with the God-Hunting Crossbow, they finally hadbat capabilities and could contribute to his goals.


    With the girls off to practice, Tang San''s next goal naturally shifted to the refinement of the Spacetime Beacon.


    Compared to the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron and ck Crow Stone, working with the Spacetime Beacon was far more challenging. It inherently had a powerful slowing effect, constantly affecting everything around it. Making it recognize a master and be a weapon he could control was as difficult as summoning the Sea God��s Trident to his side.


    With the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid, the process became somewhat easier. Simply using his divine consciousness to prate the Spacetime Beacon would make Tang San''s thoughts sluggish due to its influence. By enveloping the Spacetime Beacon with Rainbow Skyfire Liquid, he used the extreme temperature of its mes to distort the Spacetime Beacon��s power in order to gradually infuse his divine consciousness into it. This way, his divine consciousness wouldn''t be affected too much, and the speed of the infusion would be greatly increased.


    Even so,pletely refining the Spacetime Beacon and crafting it into the desired sacred weapon wasn''t something that could be done quickly; it would take time and effort.


    Of course, if the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid could be strengthened to amodate more of his divine consciousness and better purify it, the time required to refine the Spacetime Beacon would be reduced. Therefore, when he returned to Kali City, Tang San nned to have the Peacock Demon n help him purchase arge quantity of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron.


    Afterpleting the refinement of these three treasures, the next step was to enhance himself.


    ording to Tang San''s n, the transcendent bloodline that could be produced from the fusion of the yin and yang energies was his key focus. But in order to truly fuse them andbine them with the Blue Silver Emperor, his body needed to be strong enough to withstand it.


    Thus, his top priority was to enhance his physical constitution. Although he had improved by absorbing the Wind Dragon bloodline, it was still far from enough, and during his time at the Ancestral Court, he hadn''t had the time to further enhance himself.


    Merging the Golden Mammoth bloodline and the Behemoth bloodline into his energy vortex was the most crucial task. He also wanted tobine the two, which was even more challenging. However, if he seeded, he was quite certain that he would attain a physique far beyond anyone below godhood.


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    He now had seven bloodline imprints: Discerning Eye of Heaven, Peacock Demon, Lion-Tiger, Dragon Roc, Chrono Croc, Blue Silver Emperor, and Crystalline. At his ninth-order cultivation, he still had two empty slots.


    At this point, the benefit of having empty bloodline imprint slots became evident. After careful consideration, Tang San decided not to use a single imprint to integrate both bloodlines simultaneously, as the difficulty was too great. The risks and uncertainties of directly merging two first-tier bloodlines were beyond his control.


    However, if he first integrated them into two separate imprint slots and brought them under control, it would be much easier. Moreover, after the separate fusion, his physical strength would undergo an enhancement. Then, when he merged the two imprints, regardless of which one devoured the other, it would be easier as his body��s endurance increased.


    After instructing the Red One and the others to cultivate diligently, Tang San secluded himself in a cave to begin his closed-door cultivation.


    This would be hisst enhancement of his physical strength before breaking through to godhood.


    He first chose to fuse with the Golden Mammoth bloodline. The Golden Mammoth focused on defense;pared to the Behemoth bloodline, it was less violent, making the fusion rtively easier.


    After making sure his body was in optimal state, Tang San activated the two long-dormant imprints.


    There was no doubt that these two bloodline imprints were at the peak of the ninth order. As first-tier bloodlines, although they had resided within Tang San for a long time, they had not diminished in the slightest, which demonstrated the incredible difference that bloodline tier made.


    Under Tang San''s guidance, the Golden Mammoth imprint slowly merged into one empty space. With his powerful spiritual power, Tang San began to suppress and slowly integrate it.


    Affected by the new imprint, the already existing bloodline imprints immediately lit up one by one.


    The Discerning Eye of Heaven almost instantly radiated dazzling brilliance, as if dering its sovereignty.


    Next was the Lion-Tiger Transformation. Infused with the God-Killing Domain, it exuded an imposing aura, creating a sense of mutually increased brilliance with the Discerning Eye of Heaven imprint.


    The Peacock Transformation imprint flickered with silver light, unpredictable and seemingly ready to attack at any moment.


    The Dragon Roc imprint was rtively more gentle, emitting a faint golden glow.


    The Chrono Croc imprint was quiet and still, with only a faint halo flickering with twisted light patterns. After all, it was a second-tier bloodline; sensing the aura of first-tier bloodlines, it did not have much intention topete.


    Crystalline��s imprint was the only one that did not change at all, remaining quietly in its usual position.

 Chapter 605: Gentleness and Dominance

    <h4>Chapter 605: Gentleness and Dominance</h4>


    On the surface of the Blue Silver Emperor imprint, yin-yang energy swirled, reacting to the approaching Golden Mammoth imprint. The yin-yang energy fluctuated, seemingly threatening the neer not to interfere with it.


    The Golden Mammoth imprint was gentler than Tang San had imagined. As it merged into the imprint space, a sense of weightiness immediately changed Tang San''s perception��he felt as if he had suddenly be much heavier. A soft golden-brownish halo expanded outward, and the imprint did notpete with the others for position; instead, it settled into ce, integrating with Tang San��s energy vortex and transmitting its power throughout Tang San''s body.


    This feeling was quitefortable��heavy and solid. Tang San could clearly feel his entire body being nourished by this bloodline power, with every part of his body undergoing changes. His overall internal energy was steadily increasing, forcing him to focus onpressing it in order to avoid breaking through.


    But he knew that no matter how much hepressed, once he fully absorbed both the Golden Mammoth and the Behemoth imprints, his cultivation would reach the absolute peak of the ninth order. Forget aboutpressing his energy and cultivating more; if he could avoid the tribtion for a while longer, he could already count himself lucky.


    The integration of the Golden Mammoth imprint took an entire day. After the fusion, Tang San''s physique underwent some changes, and his muscles were now bulging slightly, making him appear more robust.


    As his body fully digested the Golden Mammoth imprint, it continued to change. A faint golden glow flickered on his skin, making him tougher from the inside out.


    The Golden Mammoth was an earth-attribute n, and they could even control gravity to some extent, apart from their exceptionally strong defense. With this imprint, Tang San could be considered thick-skinned in the literal sense as well.


    After the fusion, Tang San did not rush to the next step but spent three whole days stabilizing. Then he began to integrate the Behemoth imprint.


    Compared to the heavy solidity of the Golden Mammoth imprint, the moment the Behemoth imprint emerged, it was filled with a dominant aura.


    The dark golden halo almost immediately tried to fill the entire dantian, rampaging with unstoppable might.


    Fortunately, Tang San had first fused with the Golden Mammoth imprint, which greatly enhanced his defense, preventing a violent impact.


    Stimted by this violent behavior, the other major imprints instantly reacted.


    The Pr Luck Domain bloomed almost immediately, followed by the God-Killing Domain, forcibly suppressing the Behemoth imprint.


    Yet the Behemoth imprint showed no fear, directly shing with them andunching powerful attacks repeatedly.


    The Behemoth imprint was incredibly tough. It immediately surpassed the Golden Mammoth, Blue Silver Emperor, and Chrono Croc imprints, pushing aside the Peacock Transformation to take the third position.


    When it faced the Lion-Tiger Transformation with the God-Killing Domain, it was finally suppressed. Yet, it remained unwilling to submit, relentlessly striving to reach the top, its momentum growing even fiercer.


    This was beyond Tang San''s expectations; he hadn��t anticipated the Behemoth to be this violent.


    At this point, if left unchecked, it would require time to constantly grind down, with the more powerful Discerning Eye of Heaven and Lion-Tiger Transformation forcibly subduing it.


    But at that moment, Tang San had a sudden inspiration. Without hesitation, he directly activated the Golden Mammoth imprint, letting the heavy Golden Mammoth imprint merge into the Behemoth imprint.


    As soon as the two imprints made contact, the Behemoth imprint did not resist but became extremely excited, crazily absorbing the Golden Mammoth imprint''s power, thereby strengthening itself and continuing its upward charge.


    Sure enough, with the addition of the Golden Mammoth, the power of the Behemoth imprint greatly increased; it forcefully broke through the God-Killing Domain and took the Lion-Tiger Transformation''s position. Then, it charged toward the Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    The Discerning Eye of Heaven remained unmoved. It could not be more different from the Behemoth imprint; one focused on the spiritual aspect, while the other on the physical aspect.


    The Pr Luck Domain showcased its immense power at this time. Every time the Behemoth imprintunched a fierce attack, various issues would arise��the imprint��s energy flow would be disturbed, or the merger with the Golden Mammoth imprint just so happened to go wrong. These problems prevented it from breaking through the resistance of the Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    It truly lived up to its reputation as the stabilizing force of Tang San��s dantian!


    Tang San was in high spirits at this moment. He clearly felt that as the Behemoth''spetitive nature surged upward, it actually did not reject the power of the Golden Mammoth. Meanwhile, the Golden Mammoth imprint simply allowed itself to be absorbed. As theybined, their power continuously increased, but the Behemoth''s aggressiveness was gradually stabilized by the Golden Mammoth''s solidity.


    The two imprints merged surprisingly harmoniously. This was vastly different from Tang San''s earlier expectations of conflict. Although this was influenced by the suppression from other imprints, it also indicated that the Behemoth and Golden Mammoth bloodlines had somemon ground, and that was what led to such a smooth fusion.


    As they merged, Tang San felt his body swell; it was as if his blood was boiling and all his imprints were being affected. His body felt as if it was being repeatedly washed by the terrifying bloodline power, continuously forged and bing more solid.


    Time passed by second by second, and Tang San entered a meditative state. The harmonious integration of the two imprints was the best-case scenario for him. Continuing like this, he would undoubtedly gain an incredibly powerful bloodline imprint��maybe even a transcendent one��while significantly enhancing his physical strength. This wouldpensate for some of his weaknesses and pave the way for his future breakthrough to godhood. With a powerful body, merging with the even stronger yin-yang energy would naturally be easier.


    Just when Tang San thought everything would remain stable, a sudden change urred as the fusion of the Behemoth and Golden Mammoth imprints gradually stabilized, reducing their impact on the Discerning Eye of Heaven imprint.


    @@novelbin@@


    A bright golden light suddenly ignited within the already over ny percent fused imprint without any warning. And in the next instant, Tang San saw that golden light surge upward, soaring straight toward his sea of consciousness.


    As the golden light passed through, Tang San felt as if his entire being was being pierced; an extremely terrifying power had suddenly erupted, seemingly about to shatter his sea of consciousness.


    At this critical moment, the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid hidden within his sea of consciousness surged out, attempting to block the rush of golden light. Meanwhile, the pores all over Tang San��s body began to emit golden light.


    The golden light struck the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid, which slightly eased the pressure, but the defense formed by the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid was pierced in the next instant. A terrifying aura filled with unyielding will suddenly erupted, causing Tang San''s sea of consciousness to expand instantly. The intense pain made him feel as if his sea of consciousness was swelling up like a balloon, at an incredibly high rate.


    Tang San had no idea why this was happening; it was his first time encountering such changes during imprint fusion. It was also his first attempt to fuse two first-tier imprints together, so maybe this was a natural consequence, but he had no way of knowing whether that was the case.


    At this moment, he had no time to think. If his sea of consciousness ruptured, everything would be over.


    Moreover, he could faintly sense that tribtion clouds were forming outside Golden Valley. If he couldn��t suppress this power, not only would his sea of consciousness be destroyed, but he would also have to endure the baptism of the lightning tribtion right here and now.

 Chapter 606: Is the Sky Falling?

    <h4>Chapter 606: Is the Sky Falling?</h4>


    At the critical moment, Tang San couldn''t afford to worry about the consumption of his divine consciousness. At the very center of his spirit core, a golden light suddenly lit up, exuding an aura of immense majesty that filled his sea of consciousness.


    At this moment, the entire Golden Valley trembled slightly. The immense pressure from the sky caused the Crimson Fox girls to pale, and the members of the Lion-Tiger n rushed out from their homes, looking up at the sky.


    The Golden Tree��now not just sentient but perfectly intelligent after merging with the spirit essence��immediately sensed that something was going on far beyond its control. The terrifying pressure evoked an indescribable sense of fear within it.


    "Is the sky... falling?" a member of the Lion-Tiger n couldn''t help but ask.


    But at that moment, from the direction of the cave, a titanic aura suddenly emerged. Its overwhelming majesty made the Lion-Tiger n members and the Crimson Fox girls prostrate on the ground instinctively, feeling both awe-struck andpelled to worship that existence.


    With the emergence of this majestic aura, the pressure from the sky abruptly dissipated. It was as if the entire Golden Valley was suddenly enveloped by a magical barrier,pletely isting it from the outside world.


    Inside the cave.


    In front of Tang San, a golden light flickered faintly. A golden trident-shaped mark also appeared faintly on his forehead.


    The golden light that had rushed into his mind was suppressed by the Sea God''s Trident''s aura, preventing it from breaking into Tang San''s sea of consciousness. Though it continued to sh violently, it was repeatedly suppressed by the Sea God''s Trident.


    Tang San activated his divine consciousness, using the supreme aura of the Sea God''s Trident to forcibly push the golden light back toward the bloodline imprint in his dantian.


    Within the dantian, the imprint initially in the second position had now surpassed the Discerning Eye of Heaven. Even the Pr Luck Domain retracted when the golden light erupted, no longer daring topete with it.


    As the golden light was pushed back, the imprint expanded to double its size; it was now at least three timesrger than the other imprints. The brilliant golden light illuminated every corner of the dantian. Even the always-sleeping Crystalline now emitted a dazzling light.


    Tang San felt as if his entire body was about to shatter. If not for his strong will, he might have already copsed.


    His body seemed to be in a constant state of breaking down and reassembling. The dazzling golden light was rapidly infusing every cell of his body.


    At this moment, all Tang San could do was use the overwhelming pressure of the Sea God''s Trident to forcibly suppress the golden light, preventing its power from destroying everything around it.


    A bizarre scene unfolded. Apanied by intense pain, Tang San''s body seemed to be breaking apart and reassembling itself. His bones, meridians, and internal organs were all coated with ayer of gold, undergoing subtle changes under its influence.


    As a former God King, Tang San understood that this was a mutation caused by the new fused imprint. The energy of the imprint was so powerful that it was dramatically affecting and changing his body from its very core.


    The intense pain gradually turned into a tingling sensation. The golden light flowed through his entire body, even tinting the other imprints with gold. He felt that the other imprints seemed to have strengthened slightly. Those not originally at the ninth order were slowly evolving in that direction, including the ever-so-difficult-to-cultivate Discerning Eye of Heaven.


    As the crisis gradually subsided, Tang San finally had time to think. He vaguely understood what was happening.


    Whether it was the Golden Mammoth bloodline or the Behemoth bloodline, both were among the most powerful first-tier bloodlines on the Daemon Continent, both legacies of the Demon Emperors, both standing at the pinnacle of this ne''s power.


    Using the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Technique, he had forcibly merged these two powerful forces. And since theyplemented each other to a certain level, their fusion continuously produced quantitative <i>and</i> qualitative changes.


    When these changes reached a certain level��the upper limit of what the bloodline power on this ne could achieve, Tang San believed��a mutation urred.


    It was a destructive mutation or rather, a mutation restricted by the rules of the entire ne. Touching the foundationalws of the ne inevitably led to bacsh, which exined this eruption of power: his imprint was simply <i>not allowed</i> to contain so much power.


    In other words, this ne did not allow for the emergence of more powerful bloodlines. If first-tier bloodlines had an upper limit, then the bloodline power of the Crystal Demon Emperor, the strongest of the current era, likely approached or even touched the hard ceiling. If a bloodline mutation exceeded this limit, it would be suppressed by the ne, causing a fatal bacsh.


    Thebination of the Golden Mammoth and Behemoth bloodlines clearly cracked this ceiling. In other words, this fused bloodline imprint was beyond any and all first-tier bloodlines.


    It was the transcendent bloodline Tang San had previously envisioned, although he��d expected to achieve it through the fusion of the yin and yang energies with the Blue Silver Emperor.


    The eruption just now was the inevitable result. This was aw of the ne. Existing within a ne meant being subject to itsws . Unless one reached the level of a Demon Emperor, capable of countering thews to some extent��like the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, who subtly guided the ne''s fortune to benefit the demons and nymphs, which practically amounted to bending the rules to his advantage.


    Tang San did not possess such strength, but as a former God King, he had methods befitting a God King.


    The Sea God''s Trident, as a supreme artifact, existed beyond the energy level of this ne. Therefore, even the ne''s bacsh could not ovee its aura. And with the immense deterrence of a God King��s aura, Tang San forcibly suppressed the bloodline riot and bacsh from the narws.


    There was no doubt that this approach would make the ne reject him even more, making it even harder for him to be a god in the future, and the lightning tribtion he would face would be more terrifying. But at this moment, he had no other choice; he had to resolve the immediate problem or face immediate death.


    Now, under the suppression of the Sea God''s Trident''s power, Tang San finally managed toplete the fusion of this imprint. This extreme bloodline power was beginning to show its true might, causing Tang San''s body to undergo evolution.


    Yes, this was evolution in the truest sense. It was not just rebirth and certainly not mere reinforcement, but true evolution. His very existence was now on a different level.


    @@novelbin@@


    The emergence of the transcendent bloodline,bined with Tang San''s umted foundation, meant that although he had not yet broken through to the tenth order, his body had already reached that level. In fact, bing a god in the physical aspect involved undergoing evolution through the baptism of the lightning tribtion. Tang San hadn��t undergone his tribtion just yet, but the power of the transcendent bloodline was causing a simr transformation. This not only elevated his body''s strength to another level, but also caused all his bloodline imprints to evolve as well.


    He could not have possibly predicted something like this without personal experience. But now that he <i>did</i> have the personal experience, he found that he had jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. Namely, after forming this imprint, his cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the ninth order, and he could summon the lightning tribtion at any moment. Sadly, he dared not face the tribtion!


    But the benefits were undeniable, giving his strength another significant leap. Now, even without using his divine consciousness, Tang San could contend with most demons and nymphs at the tenth order through sheer physical strength alone.


    The reorganization process took a full seven days. When all the dark gold gradually faded, the massive golden imprint in Tang San''s dantian sat proudly at the center of the energy vortex. Its radiance lit up the entire dantian, making the other bloodline imprints seem like mere satellites. Even the Discerning Eye of Heaven was no exception.

 Chapter 607: Golden Armor Transformation

    <h4>Chapter 607: Golden Armor Transformation</h4>


    Tang San could feel the immense power of his blood and energy at this moment. Even a slight movement of this intense energy made it seem as if the air around him would ignite. The unprecedented feeling of strength flowed through every corner of his body.


    He had almost reached two meters in height, and although his muscles weren''t particrly bulky and had rather graceful lines instead, every single movement exuded a titanic aura of pure strength, seemingly ready to erupt at any moment.


    This reminded him of a First-ss God named Titan God he once knew in the divine realm, a god that possessed terrifying, unmatched physical strength. He now understood how that god must��ve felt.


    His skin had returned to its normal human appearance, but whenever his energy circted, ayer of dark golden sheen would immediately cover it.


    This was his first transcendent bloodline. Before the fusion, Tang San had thought of calling it the Golden Behemoth Transformation, the obvious choice given the originalponents of the imprint. However, that didn''t seem quite fitting now. After some thought, he decided to name the imprint Golden Armor Transformation.


    A bloodline beyond the first tier, the pinnacle of physical strength... How far could it ultimately evolve? It unquestionably surpassed the strongest bloodline on this ne. ording to Tang San''s observations, the rulers of this ne were close to the level of First-ss Gods in the divine realm. In other words, reaching beyond that would put him at the very pinnacle of First-ss Gods��perhaps even touching the threshold of a God King.


    Moreover, he knew that if he could create more such transcendent bloodlines, his future power could surpass even his past self when he reached the level of a God King.


    ***


    Kali City.


    It had been half a month since their return. Mei Gongzi had mostly stayed behind closed doors. The news of her double championship in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition had spread throughout the city, deliberately disseminated by the Peacock Great Demon King.


    For a time, the leaders of the various ns in Kali City were utterly shocked, and the internal affairs of the Peacock Demon n were in turmoil.


    Yet Mei Gongzi seemedpletely unaware of everything outside; she quietly stayed in her room, not leaving it once.


    Looking out the window, Mei Gongzi''s eyes were slightly dazed.


    She had never gotten to see his true face beneath the mask. She could never forget how calm andposed he had been until the end, as if facing death was just a simple, normal thing for him.


    She reflected on her past distrust and suspicion toward him. Why? Because he was just too good to her.


    It was inexplicable kindness, and there was so much of it that she felt afraid to ept it.


    During the time at the Ancestral Court, every day was tense and exciting, with rapid improvements and facing powerful opponents. That intense and exciting life was deeply imprinted in her memory.


    No matter how strong the enemy was, he was always by her side, protecting her. As long as he was there, her heart was at peace.


    To make her and her father trust him, he had even pledged a blood oath. And he had no reservations toward her. And that blood-red sword, a trace of a supreme divine artifact, still resided in her spirit core. And it was with his help that she had the rudiments of divine consciousness. And now, even without cultivation, her spiritual power was growing day by day, and her cultivation was inching ever closer to the tenth order.


    He had given her more than even her own father.


    Yet he was gone, just like that. He had promised her that she would see his true face after the tournament, yet even until the end, he never took off his mask.


    What did he really look like?


    <i>Big Brother, do you know? I miss you so, so much. I regret so much not making you take off your mask earlier. At least that way, I could have imprinted your face in my heart.</i>


    @@novelbin@@


    Her heart ached intensely again, and her eyes became moist once more.


    At that moment, there was a knock on the door.


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath, pressed her red lips together, and dried off her tears.


    "Come in."


    The door opened, and the Peacock Great Demon King, looking radiant and full of life, stepped inside. He looked not at all like someone who had been gravely injured and was on the brink of death.


    Seeing his daughter��s state, the Peacock Great Demon King sighed softly and said, "It''s time to move on."


    Mei Gongzi remained silent, just sitting there quietly.


    The Peacock Great Demon King sat down opposite her. "I haveid the groundwork with the various ns for you. You know you need to pull yourself together. If he were still here, he would surely want to see you strong and determined.


    "He put in so much effort to help you win the tournament and elevate you to a higher level. The core purpose of your Redemption Society is to help humans have a better living space, isn''t it? That was also his wish, undoubtedly. For this wish, you must stand strong."


    Mei Gongzi gently shook her head. "I''m sorry, Father. I can''t. Right now, I have no other thoughts in my mind. I''m sorry..."


    Her spirit was utterly broken. From childhood to adulthood, she had faced countless cold stares and ridicule within the Peacock Demon n. Even with her father, she always felt a sense of distance. Her mother treated her well, but her mother always seemed to be burdened with heavy concerns.


    Yet <i>he</i> was different. That mask was a barrier between them, but beyond that mask, there was nothing but kindness and sincerity.


    Someone willing to die for her��just this fact alone had a tremendous impact on Mei Gongzi''s heart. Her mind was filled with his image. What could she do in such a situation? After all, she was still a teenage girl.


    The Peacock Great Demon King sighed and said, "I understand your feelings. But what''s done is done, and you must look forward. If you want to do something for him, I will support you. But you must pull yourself together and take on the responsibilities you must bear.


    "The situation at the Ancestral Court is still stable for now. We don''t know what exactly happened that day, but at least for now, the Ancestral Court won''t take any action against us. You''ve returned, and as the double champion of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, you have the potential to revitalize the Peacock Demon n. The Ancestral Court prides itself on fairness, so they won''t allow the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor to oppress us likest time.


    "The two most important things you need to do are sessfully inherit my throne and prepare for your report to the Ancestral Court. To be the ruler of the main city, this report is crucial. You must gain the support of more than half of the Demon Emperors to secure this position and give our Peacock Demon n a chance to rise again."


    The Peacock Great Demon King spoke tirelessly while Mei Gongzi just sat there, listening silently without any reaction.


    The Peacock Great Demon King frowned, "Time is running out. You need to prepare for your tribtion. Only by reaching the god level can you sessfully inherit the throne. How can I be assured that you can face the tribtion in your current state?"


    Mei Gongzi kept her head down, still not speaking.


    The Peacock Great Demon King stood up and paced back and forth in the room. After a while, he suddenly stopped and said in a deep voice, "Don''t you want to avenge him? No matter how much pain you''re in, revenge is something you should pursue, right?"


    Mei Gongzi''s body trembled, and she finally raised her head to look at her father, her eyes suddenly shing with a dazzling light.


    <i>Yes! Revenge!</i>

 Chapter 608: The Wait at Kali Academy

    <h4>Chapter 608: The Wait at Kali Academy</h4>


    The enemy was obvious��the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.


    "To avenge him, you need power. Our ancestor, the Peacock Demon Emperor, was ranked above the Tenebrous Demon Emperor. And your talent surpasses even hers. If you want to avenge Asura, you must make yourself stronger. Only with great strength can you have the possibility of revenge. First, be an Emperor, stronger than the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, then find him and kill him like he killed Asura. This is the most important thing you can do for him."


    After hearing his words, Mei Gongzi took a deep breath. "Yes, Father. You are right. I must avenge him."


    The Peacock Great Demon King saw that he had finally stirred her emotions and said solemnly, "The first step you need to take now is to face your tribtion. Before doing that, you need to adjust your state of mind, bnce your emotions, and ensure that your physique, bloodline, and spirit are at their peak. You need to undergo your tribtion under the watchful eyes of all our ancestors. Your talent is exceptional, and you''ve gained the recognition of the Celestial Plume, so your tribtion will undoubtedly be extremely challenging. You must be fully prepared."


    Mei Gongzi asked solemnly, "What kind of preparation do I need?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King replied, "First, you need to stabilize your mindset, ensuring that your entire being is in the most stable state possible. Your body and mind must be at their peak. Only then can you face the tribtion in your best condition. After the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, your foundation is solid, but even I can��t tell how strong your lightning tribtion will be. You need to be fully prepared. I will provide you with elixirs; you need to get yourself together. Time is of the essence; you must hurry."


    Mei Gongzi lowered her head, thought for a moment, and said, "I want to go back to Kali Academy for that."


    "Back to Kali Academy?" The Peacock Great Demon King raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.


    Mei Gongzi nodded. "I grew up there. I want to go back; it��s the best ce for me to get things under control."


    The Peacock Great Demon King thought for a moment and said, "Alright, but the time cannot be too long. You must reach your best state within half a month. Can you do it?"


    "Yes, Father."


    After a few more reminders, the Peacock Great Demon King got up and left. Mei Gongzi''s tribtion and session to the position of n leader required extensive preparation. Thanks to her championship in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, there were no objections from the other ns in the city. However, internal issues within the n were more troublesome. After all, Mei Gongzi was not purely of Peacock Demon lineage; she also had human blood, not to mention the blood of the White Tiger Demon Emperor. There were many discordant voices within the n, questioning why the n leader focused on grooming Mei Gongzi instead of other offspring. The Peacock Demon n did have other outstanding members, after all, and they had no other allegiance.


    Mei Gongzi packed her things briefly and quietly left the ancestral home of the Peacock Demon n.


    She wore a white cloak with a hood, hiding her stunning features beneath it. As long as she kept her head slightly lowered, no one could see her face.


    Silver light flickered, and when she reappeared, she was already at the foot of the mountain where Kali Academy stood.


    Looking at the steps leading upward, her mind felt a bit dazed.


    After standing there for several minutes, she finally took a step and slowly began to climb.


    She had deep feelings for Kali Academy. When she was bullied in the n as a child, she would run back to the academy. Here, at least, no one would bully her, and the teachers and ssmates treated her well.


    As she climbed the steps, her mind gradually calmed down. Feeling the fresh air from the nts, for the first time in over half a month, there was a hint of brightness on her delicate face.


    She realized that her father was right. What she should do in the future was to seek revenge. Using everything that her big brother had taught her, she would be stronger and use the blood of the Tenebrous Demon Emperor as a sacrifice to honor her brother.


    Love can make you grow, and hatred can do that too.


    Finally, she arrived at the gates of Kali Academy. The massive doors were as majestic as ever. But her gaze did not turn toward the massive inner yard of the academy; instead, she looked at the corner beside the gate.


    Once, she had stood there for a long time, waiting. And this time, she had returned not to find peace at school but to wait there again.


    What if, <i>what if</i> he was still alive? He had said that within three days of her calling for him, he would definitelye back, he would definitelye to her side.


    Even when he was at the Ancestral Court, her call had made him rush back at all costs. So, what about now? Would hee back? Would he?


    Slowly walking to that familiar spot, her hand trembled as she pressed the contact information he had left.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Big Brother, I''m waiting for you. I''ll wait here for you, for three days. You promised me, within three days, you woulde back. You woulde to my side. Don''t break your promise. You have to keep it. This is your promise to me."


    As she murmured these words to herself, her face was already covered in tears.


    She hadn��t actually spent much time with him; the longest period was during the recent tournament. But after that short time, an imprint of his masked face was forever in her heart.


    She still clearly remembered that before her seclusion, he had asked for a cup of milk tea, but she hadn��t given it to him. Yetter, he had given her his very life.


    Slowly squatting down, she silently wept under the cloak��s cover.


    <i>Will youe back? Please... Will youe back?</i>


    Time passed by quickly, and all Mei Gongzi wished was that it would slow down. Because as long as three days hadn��t passed, she could still hold on to her hope, that tiny sliver of hope in her heart.


    But time passes, whether we wish it or not.


    It grew dark, then light again. One day slipped by quietly.


    It grew dark again, then it was once more light. Two days were gone.


    Mei Gongzi had been waiting there the whole time, dazed. Scenes of her time with him shed through her mind over these two days.


    People truly cherish something once it''s lost. That��s easy to do. But how many know to cherish it wholeheartedly while they still have it?


    Mei Gongzi was not exactly sure what feelings she had for Asura. The only thing she was sure of was that he had already nted himself deeply inside her heart.


    The sky was darkening again, and more than half of the third day had passed. Yet he was not there. Although she clung to that sliver of hope in her heart, he ultimately had not arrived.


    With each passing second, her hope dwindled, and her heart grew colder. But she would wait until the very end, until thest moment.


    As hope grew weak, it was reced by hatred. The less hope there was, the more intense her hatred grew, causing her demeanor to change imperceptibly.


    If she had been strong enough, he wouldn''t have died for her. If not for such a powerful enemy, none of this would have happened. Only by bing stronger could she avenge him!


    Cold killing intent swirled in her heart, and the bloodline of the White Tiger Demon Emperor within her was continuously boiling.


    "I��m sorry, miss, it��s full of falling leaves here. May I sweep this area?"


    A gentle voice suddenly sounded, jolting Mei Gongzi''s mind out of her murderous thoughts.

 Chapter 609: Asura is Gone, Tang San Has Arrived

    <h4>Chapter 609: Asura is Gone, Tang San Has Arrived</h4>


    She abruptly raised her head, almost blurting out, "Big Brother!"


    But when she saw the one in front of her, the hope that had suddenly surged up instantly shattered.


    He was a tall, broad-shouldered young man with smooth, long, sea-blue hair that shimmered with a faint blue glow under the sunset. He was very handsome, and had a gentle smile on his face. He was holding a broom, and she found his face strangely familiar, though she certainly did not recall ever seeing such a person.


    But Mei Gongzi''s expression instantly turned cold, and she said indifferently, "There''s no need to sweep here."


    "Please allow me," said the young man, still smiling gently.


    "I said, there''s no need!" An uncontroble surge of killing intent erupted almost instantly.


    As the killing intent burst forth, Mei Gongzi suddenly realized that an ordinary worker wouldn''t be able to withstand it, and she hurriedly suppressed it.


    As she shook her head, reeling at the thought of identally hurting someone innocent, she heard that gentle voice say in apletely unaffected tone, "Big Sister Mei, don''t you recognize me?"


    Hearing the term "Big Sister Mei," Mei Gongzi was stunned for a moment and looked at him again. Her killing intent had already subsided, and he was still smiling as before. The glow of the sunset seemed to outline a golden edge around him.


    The young man raised his other hand, and a cup appeared in his palm, which he held out to Mei Gongzi.


    Seeing the cup��one of the cups of tea she knew all too well, Mei Gongzi quivered, and she eximed in surprise, "It��s you!"


    His face was indeed somewhat familiar, but his body could not be any more different. Even his hair color was different.


    "Yes! I''m Tang San," he said with a broad smile, revealing his white teeth.


    When Mei Gongzi came here to call for Asura, he was at the end of the bloodline merging process. But themunicator was in his storage ring; he knew she was there as soon as she sent him a message, so he sped through his cultivation and rushed over as fast as possible.


    With that said, Asura was dead, and the blood oath was gone. Moreover, his appearance, including his hair color, had changed. She probably wouldn''t believe it even if he said outright that he was Asura.


    Most importantly, the identity of Asura was in the records of the Ancestral Court and would therefore no longer exist.


    Asura was gone, and Tang San had returned!


    "Tang San? Are you really Tang San?" Mei Gongzi looked at him in surprise, that sense of intimacy gradually returning. And for some reason she herself didn��t understand, when she looked at his long blue hair, the feeling of familiarity seemed to increase even more. For a moment, she felt a mix of emotions and even had an impulse to rush into his arms and cry, to vent her inner sorrow.


    "Yes, it''s me! Big Sister Mei, I heard you were looking for me. I''m sorry! I was called by the Redemption Academy to go into seclusion for cultivation. As soon as I finished, I came to Kali Academy to wait for you. I��m happy I found you. What''s wrong?" Tang San asked with a smile.


    Seeing her sad expression, his heart ached as well. However, Asura could not appear now, and exining that he was Asura was not appropriate either.


    The light in Mei Gongzi''s eyes dimmed again. "I''m... waiting for a friend here."


    "Oh." Tang San didn''t ask who it was; of course, he knew the answer all too well.


    "Have you been waiting long?"


    "Two and a half days. I��ll wait for another half day..." Mei Gongzi said.


    "Are you hungry? I''ll get you something to eat," Tang San said quickly.


    Mei Gongzi looked at the tea cup in his hand and shook her head slightly. "No, thank you. Why has your hair changed color? Did something go wrong with your cultivation?"


    "It''s a mutation in my bloodline, but I wouldn��t call it ''something gone wrong.'' In fact, it��s a good thing!"


    Seeing the sunny smile on his face, for some reason, the coldness in Mei Gongzi''s heart melted a bit. She nodded at him.


    "Then you go ahead,"


    "Alright."


    With that, he turned and left.


    Watching his departing figure, Mei Gongzi felt an inexplicable sensation. For some reason, after seeing him, the sadness in her heart dissipated somewhat, and even the hope that was slowly turning into hatred shifted back into hope.


    Just as she felt a bit lost, the person who had walked only a dozen meters away returned.


    "Are you alright?" Tang San asked tentatively, looking at Mei Gongzi''s somewhat pale face.


    Mei Gongzi nced at him and said, "Not really, no."


    Her attitude toward him was clearly cold. He had been missing for such a long time, iming to be in seclusion, but she had asked Zhang Haoxuan and the man had no news of him. What kind of seclusion was that?


    "I''ll wait here with you," Tang San said.


    Mei Gongzi shook her head at him. "No need, you go do your thing. I''ll wait here alone."


    Feeling her cold attitude toward him, Tang San couldn''t help but feel a bit amused and helpless at the same time. In spite of the calm temperament of a former God King, he actually felt somewhat aggrieved at this moment. Although he knew it was due to his identity issue, he couldn''t help but feel this way.


    After Mei Gongzi told him to leave, she closed her eyes and stood there quietly, continuing to wait.


    Seeing her like this, Tang San felt a pang of heartache and even felt an urge to tell her that he was actually Asura and had always been there.


    But if he told the truth, it would be even harder to exin. The hardest thing to exin would be why he, at his obviously young age, could possess such abilities and knowledge as Asura��how he could have all that battle experience, how he knew of the Asura Sword, and then there was the divine technique Mysterious Circles of Heaven.... If he told her that he was actually her husband from a past life, who knew if Mei Gongzi would just beat him up. Her emotions toward him were clearly not fantastic right now.


    So, at this moment, Tang San didn''t know what to do. In fact, he was even more troubled than while facing the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.


    So he could only stand there silently, watching her. As long as he stayed by her side, he felt at ease.


    He didn''t know how long it had been when Mei Gongzi reopened her eyes, only to find that Tang San was still watching her. When she opened her eyes, he smiled at her.


    Mei Gongzi frowned. "Why haven''t you left?"


    "It''s okay, I have nothing special to do today. I''ll just stand here with you."


    "How haven��t you been fired if you��re sozy?" she said irritably.


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    Tang San shrugged. "The campus has already been cleaned. It''s fine."


    Mei Gongzi gave him a sideways nce but said nothing more. If he wanted to stand there, so be it. Although she verbally urged him to leave, in reality, ever since he arrived, her inner sorrow had slightly lessened, so maybe she <i>did</i> in fact wish for hispany.


    Time passed by the second, and the sky gradually darkened. The three days were almost up.


    The expression on Mei Gongzi''s face began to change, with visible anxiety she could not hide. Her eyes started to redden.


    Tang San had been watching her all along, so he noticed every slight change in her expression. Seeing this scene, his heart ached. He even felt a bit flustered.


    What should he do? What exactly should he do? Should he tell her the truth? Could she ept it?


    The sky darkened further, leaving only a little time until the end of the three days. Mei Gongzi shivered slightly, and felt that in the night breeze, there was a hint of destion.


    Her delicate face turned even paler, her red lips tightly pressed together as she kept gently tapping themunicator that Asura had left her.


    Tears welled up in her eyes, quivering with her long eyshes as if they were about to fall at any moment.


    Tang San took a deep breath.


    <i>Screw rational thinking.</i>


    He stepped forward and grasped Mei Gongzi''s shoulders.


    Caught off guard, in immense grief, Mei Gongzi was momentarily stunned. Then her surprise quickly turned to anger. "What are you doing?"


    She raised her hand and struck Tang San''s chest.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Mei Gongzi��s handnded square, yet to her shock, Tang San remainedpletely unmoved. Although she hadn''t used much force, she was still at the peak of the ninth order, the absolute champion of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. How was this possible?


    "Little Mei, calm down. Listen to me," Tang San said, and Mei Gongzi��s eyes widened. His voice now sounded very different from his usual voice.


    It was the voice of Asura.

 Chapter 610: Asura is Tang San, Tang San is Asura

    <h4>Chapter 610: Asura is Tang San, Tang San is Asura</h4>


    Mei Gongzi shivered violently. Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she looked at him, and for a moment, her entire mind went nk.


    Tang San let out a bitter smile. All his rationality, ns, and worries were cast aside at this moment. He simply didn''t want her to fall into such despair. No matter how difficult it was to exin, he had to tell her everything. He could no longer keep it hidden, not at the cost of her suffering. He had even felt her bloodline fluctuating due to her unstable emotions. How could she face a divine tribtion in such a state?


    Mei Gongzi stared at him nkly, her pupils dting.


    Tang San smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, Asura is Tang San, and Tang San is Asura. Asura didn''t die, and Tang San never went missing. One way or another, I''ve always been by your side."


    "Y-you... You..." Mei Gongzi''s red lips stopped trembling, but her eyes widened as she stared at him, unable to process all of this at once.


    Tang San said, "Let me prove my identity first, then we''ll talk."


    As he spoke, he released her shoulder, took her hand, and slowly drew a graceful and natural arc in the air.


    The familiar feeling, the familiar motion that seemingly contained the profound rhythm of the universe, turning all surrounding energy fluctuations into a perfect circle.... It was the divine technique only the two of them knew: Mysterious Circles of Heaven.


    @@novelbin@@


    Mei Gongzi stared nkly at him and said, "The Mysterious Circles of Heaven..."


    Tang San nodded, released her hand, and his body began to glow. The Lion-Tiger Golden Force ignited, exuding a domineering aura. Lion-Tiger Transformation! Then, silver light shed around him, and he teleported a meter away. Peacock Transformation!


    Then a pair of golden wings unfolded behind him, covered with fine golden scales. Dragon Roc Transformation!


    His blue hair fluttered, and the surging energy of his bloodline burst forth, revealing his peak ninth-order cultivation without reservation to Mei Gongzi.


    "No, that''s not right. My big brother Asura is dead, he��s gone. Even the blood oath has disappeared. You''re lying to me, aren''t you?" Mei Gongzi looked at him, trembling continuously.


    Tang San smiled bitterly and said, "Well, you��re not wrong. The blood oath disappeared because I did in fact die, at least for a moment. Without dying, how could I have deceived the Tenebrous Demon Emperor? I used divine consciousness to trigger some special abilities to intimidate him, but doing that required a huge cost, almost exhausting my divine consciousness. Fortunately, we obtained a couple of divine items during the tournament.


    "Remember the piece of amethyst I asked you to choose? It has a very important effect: to nurture divine consciousness. This is why gods crave amethystine coins and use them for cultivation. That huge amethyst stone was extremely beneficial for my divine consciousness. Before my full power outburst, I left a bit of divine consciousness in the amethyst stone. I temporarily preserved my body in a disconnected space-time node using another divine item I had obtained earlier, and I made the Tenebrous Demon Emperor believe that I waspletely obliterated, as would have been normal.


    "After the incident, when the Tenebrous Demon Emperor left, my body was returned to this space-time, and thanks to the amethyst stone, my divine consciousness was brought back to my body, reviving me. The nurturing of the amethyst stone restored much of my power. The reason I didn''te back earlier was that I was healing my injuries. The blood oath disappeared because at that moment, I was as good as dead. The oath lost its foundation and naturally ceased to exist."


    Mei Gongzi''s eyes were still dazed because she simply couldn''t reconcile the person in front of her with the other one. In her perception, they werepletely different people!


    However, Tang San''s abilities and the things he spoke about were only known to her and Asura. He had even mentioned the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s pursuit and how he had escaped it. Although his exnation was rather profound, it <i>did</i> make sense if she thought about it rationally. But was she rational now? Clearly not!


    Tang San said, "I know it''s hard to believe, so I didn''t say anything when I first saw you because there are some things I honestly don��t even know how to exin to you. Now you should understand why I always wore a mask and told you that I was afraid seeing my true face would impact your mindset in thepetition.


    "Yes, because Asura is Tang San, and Tang San is Asura. I originally nned to stay by your side with my true identity after Asura left, to continue helping you. But seeing you so deep in despair, I just couldn''t bear it. I can''t let you be this sad, so even though you will surely have countless doubts about me, I still have to tell you the truth. As you wished... I have taken off my mask. Look at me."


    "Tang San is Asura? Asura is Tang San?" Mei Gongzi murmured.


    Tang San said, "Ask whatever you want, and I''ll tell you everything I can. You initially couldn''t ept Asura because I wore a mask, and you found it mysterious. I wanted to protect you under another identity for many reasons, like not having to exin why I possess multiple bloodline powers or how I have such extensive experience in so many areas. After all, I''m a few years younger than you. All these things about me are too unbelievable. But under Asura''s identity, I didn''t have to exin anything. A mysterious Asura is easier to ept than a young Tang San with many incredible abilities."


    By this point, Mei Gongzi was no longer sad; no, she could not even think about being sad... or happy... or anything else. Her mind had never been in such chaos.


    She truly didn''t know what to do or how to face Tang San.


    "I changed my voice and even my physique to hide my true self. But you should have noticed that mypanions are still those from Redemption Academy. Mayor Zhang Haoxuan is my master, and he has always been helping me conceal my identity. He told you that Asura could be trusted because he was aware that Asura is Tang San. Besides you, my master is the only one who knows about my multiple bloodline abilities and why I have them.


    "It''s not just the ones you saw earlier; I can also use the Chrono Croc Transformation and other bloodline abilities. I have a special cultivation technique, and it allows my energy to devour bloodline power and make it my own. With every increase in cultivation order, I am able to absorb one more bloodline. I can even control fortune with the Celestial Fox Transformation. Actually, when I started working at Kali Academy, I used that ability to bring myself luck, just to see you more often."


    "But, but, why? Even if things are as you say... Let��s say they are, but why are you so good to me? Why do you always go to such lengths for me?" Mei Gongzi asked. She had finally begun to organize her thoughts and immediately grasped the key issue.


    Tang San was silent for a moment before he said, "What I''m about to tell you may seem unbelievable. But it''s the only exnation for the incredible things that have happened to me. Little Mei, do you believe in fate? And... Do you believe in reincarnation?"

 Chapter 611: Fate

    <h4>Chapter 611: Fate</h4>


    Mei Gongzi stared at him in shock. "Reincarnation?"


    Tang San nodded. "Yes. In your past life, you were my wife. Later, because I failed to protect you, you left me and reincarnated into this ne, bing Mei Gongzi. In my past life, I had great power, even surpassing the Emperors of this ne. To find you again, I gave up everything from my past life and reincarnated with you.


    "The difference between us is that your reincarnation carried only the life imprint from your past life; you��vepletely forgotten all your past experiences. But since I had some control over my own reincarnation, I retained a bit of my divine consciousness and came to this Daemon Continent with my memories. My sole purpose ining here was to find you and protect you until one day we can regain our former cultivation and return to our world."


    Since he had decided to reveal everything, he didn''t n to hold anything back. Whether Mei Gongzi believed him or not, he had to tell her everything. When he saw how much pain Mei Gongzi was in because of Asura, he realized that in this life, she already had feelings for him.


    "I am very fortunate, or perhaps blessed by the heavens, to have found you. Do you remember when I first saw you at the milk tea shop? At that moment, I felt so happy, so incredibly happy because I had finally found you. I trained desperately, striving to improve my cultivation, but this ne is different from our original one, and the cultivation methods are different too. I had to explore and learn anew. Only this way could I continuously improve myself to better protect you.


    "So whether as Tang San or Asura, I always wanted to stay by your side because you are the only thing I cherish in this world. Whether it��s making a blood oath for you or dying for you, I am willing. I just want to protect you this time."


    After hearing his words, Mei Gongzi''s emotions, which she had barely managed to organize, were once again thrown into chaos.


    <i>What is all this? Reincarnation? How is that possible?</i> In her understanding, she couldn''tprehend anything Tang San was saying. But whether it was true or not, if he believed that, then it made perfect sense why Asura was so incredibly kind to her, always striving to do everything for her.


    After saying these words, Tang San let out a long sigh. This was something he had always wanted to tell Mei Gongzi but had never been able to.


    Now that he had actually said it, he felt relieved. Although he knew it would be hard for Mei Gongzi to believe, he had never expected her to ept it right away in the first ce. He just wanted her to ept that Tang San was Asura and not be sad anymore.


    "So, you, you were my husband in a past life?" Mei Gongzi murmured.


    "Yes." Tang San nodded.


    Mei Gongzi took two steps back, "My mind is a bit chaotic, really chaotic."


    Tang San apologized, "I''m sorry, the reason I couldn''t exin this to you before is because it''s simply too unbelievable. But it is the truth. Your reincarnation is aplete rebirth, and you fully belong to this ne. My rebirth was forced, so after reincarnation, my divine consciousness and past life memories were rejected by this ne, making it very difficult for me to be a god once more.


    "In any case, you don''t need to think too much about this now or ept everything I said. Just know that whether it''s Tang San or Asura, I will always be by your side to protect you. Right now, you need to get your emotions under control and focus on breaking through to godhood. When you break through, I will be there to protect you. I hope you choose to undergo your tribtion above the sea; it will be the easiest for me to protect you there."


    Mei Gongzi tilted her head in confusion. "Why?"


    "Because in my past life, I was the Sea God!"


    "Sea God?" Hearing these words, Mei Gongzi''s eyes widened. "Sea God? You... When the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor came to Kali City to confront my father, he was scared away by an avatar of the Sea God, or at least that��s what the phantom imed..."


    Tang San nodded. "Yup, that was me too. That time, I used up the little bit of divine consciousness I had painstakingly recovered, and it was really just to scare him. Actually this time as well, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor was scared off by yours truly. Otherwise, after he killed me, why do you think he didn��t pursue you anymore?"


    Mei Gongzi looked at him, her emotions a tumultuous mix, her feelings now incrediblyplex.


    She didn''t even know how to face him anymore. At times like this, it seemed that anything she might say would be inappropriate.


    "I need some time alone, let me think things through quietly, okay?" Mei Gongzi murmured.


    "Of course. But you must promise me to guard your spirit. Don''t let your emotions affect your spiritual power. Otherwise, if you suddenly trigger a tribtion, it will be troublesome." Tang San said softly.


    "Yes." Mei Gongzi nodded, then looked up and gazed at him deeply, silver light rising from beneath her feet.


    In a sh of light, Mei Gongzi teleported away.


    @@novelbin@@


    Watching the ce where she disappeared, Tang San couldn''t help but smile bitterly and shake his head. He really didn''t know if telling her this was good or bad, but the one thing he was sure of was that now she wouldn''t be sad anymore. Well... she would be pretty damn confused instead, as expected of someone whose perception of reality was so suddenly overturned.


    At this point, he could only let her digest it on her own, and he could only wait quietly for the result of her reflection. No matter what, he could only ept it, and he would always protect her. However, with such aplicated rtionship, the quest toward winning her heart again might have to start over.


    With the same silver light rising from beneath his feet, Tang San also teleported away, returning to Golden Valley.


    His cultivation level couldn''t be improved any further; he could only slowly work on his divine consciousness. The most important task was refining the Spacetime Beacon, using the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid. The first order of business was to make it into something he could make actual use of; then, he had to turn it into a proper divine item, and eventually even a transcendent divine item.


    One could say that the Spacetime Beacon was his greatest gain in terms of power sinceing to this ne. However, because it was inherently so strong, refining it was also correspondingly difficult. Additionally, with the formation of his new transcendent bloodline, although he had suppressed its energy with the Sea God''s divinity, allowing it to take shape, he had certainly left a deep impression on this ne. This would make reaching godhood even more difficult in the future. He had no choice; there was only one ce that could truly allow him to do that.


    Time passed day by day, and Kali City appeared very calm, no different from usual. However, many great nobles knew that beneath this calmy something that would have a profound impact on Kali City: the city lord was about to be reced.


    Each main city on the Daemon Continent was extremely important, serving as the foundation for a number of demon and nymph ns. Thus, the lords of the main cities were almost all in hereditary positions held by powerful ns. However, the prerequisite for this inheritance was the support of sufficient power, specifically that of an Emperor.


    Kali City was currently the only main city without the support of an Emperor. This was also why Kali City had always been looked down upon by the Ancestral Court. Without an Emperor, it had no foundation.

 Chapter 612: The Bearing of a Great Leader?

    <h4>Chapter 612: The Bearing of a Great Leader?</h4>


    For Emperors, controlling a main city was key; it was their greatest source of ie, which was extremely important not just for them but for the entire race they belonged to.


    Among the demon races, there were only two Emperors who had no interest in this aspect. One was the top-ranked Omnipotent Crystal Demon Emperor, and the other was the economically impotent Sword Saint Demon Emperor.


    The Crystal Demon Emperor simply didn��t care, because its bloodline was a mutation, and it had no true descendants. Additionally, the dragon race was powerful and controlled a main city anyway, so it had no reason to fight over other cities. Moreover, one reason all Emperors feared the Crystal Demon Emperor was that it had no attachments of the sort; if provoked, it could do anything without any hesitation.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperorcking a main city, on the other hand, was due to the peculiarities of the Red-Crowned Crane lineage. These demons focused solely on sword practice, which required utmost concentration. Therefore, they didn''t understand management, preferred a simple life, and had unusually low material needs. This was why they didn''t bother to upy a main city, and if they had, it probably wouldn��t be managed terribly well.


    The Peacock Demon n had once been extremely powerful, and the main city they upied was not Kali City but a more prosperous and affluent city. However, after the Peacock Demon Emperor passed away without a sessor, the Peacock Demon n''s strength diminished significantly, making it difficult to maintain control of that city.


    The only reason they still had a main city like Kali City was due to the care of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. The Celestial Fox''s control over fate and the Peacock''s ability to peer into the secrets of heaven were rted, and they very much did work together. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor dered that the early death of the Peacock Demon Emperor wasrgely due to excessive peering into celestial secrets for the sake of the n. Therefore, the Peacock Demon n''s ancestral home had to be protected. This allowed the Peacock Demon n to remain the rulers of a main city. However, without an Emperor, they had to give up their original prosperous main city and manage theparatively peripheral Kali City for many years.


    Now, with the attitude of the newly-ascended Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, many nobles in Kali City understood that the Ancestral Court would eventually make a move against Kali City. The phoenix race also had one other emperor and a city, but unlike the Crystal Demon Emperor, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor very much desired control over a city. Moreover, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s lineage and the Peacock Demon n were natural enemies. Now that it had be an Emperor, how could it possibly spare the Peacock Demon n?


    Although the Peacock Great Demon King was not weak and even repelled the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor once, an Emperor is still an Emperor. If he returned with full force, the Peacock Demon n might not be able to survive. It was hard to say what would be of the Peacock Demon n then.


    One had to acknowledge the Peacock Demon n''s talent in management. Despite Kali City being the most remote and secluded main city, it nevercked wealth due to the efforts of the Aetherhorn Deers and Golden Deers. This was great for the inhabitants, but at the same time, it only made the city a fatter sheep.


    Word had spread throughout Kali City that the Peacock Great Demon King''s daughter, born of a human mother, had won double championships in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition and might be the next Peacock Demon Emperor. This was obviously not just a rumor. If true, the Peacock Demon n had hope. The Peacock Great Demon King''s announcement that he would pass the position of n leader to Mei Gongzi in seven days further confirmed these rumors.


    Although it was only the position of n leader for now, not that of city lord, it was clear to everyone that Mei Gongzi was the designated heir of the Peacock Great Demon King in that respect as well.


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    The most troublesome issue now was the internal strife within the Peacock Demon n. Mei Gongzi''s biggest problem was that she was not of pure Peacock Demon blood; she also had human blood. This was looked down upon within the Peacock Demon n.


    Although the Peacock Great Demon King was the n leader, he was not the only Great Demon King in the entire Peacock Demon n. He was certainly the strongest, but the Peacock Demon n had deep foundations, with many elders being at the tenth tier and some even above that. The biggest issue facing Kali City was how to get these elders to recognize Mei Gongzi and allow her to be the n leader. Thus, with the date set, there was no doubt that this would be a fierce internal struggle within the Peacock Demon n.


    All the ns under the rule Peacock Demon n had been keeping a very low profile recently. They had received reminders from the Peacock Great Demon King and were adopting a wait-and-see attitude. Whether Mei Gongzi could inherit the position of n leader would determine the future direction of Kali City. The specific situation would only be clear on the day of the grand ceremony.


    "How are you adjusting?" asked the Peacock Great Demon King, looking at Mei Gongzi with concern.


    Mei Gongzi nodded lightly. "Much better."


    The Peacock Great Demon King carefully observed his daughter and was surprised to see that her deep sadness seemed to have genuinely disappeared.


    He was experienced and knew that for a woman, the first man to enter her heart would have the greatest impact on her. Moreover, that person had died for her, making the emotional impact even more profound.


    Seeing Mei Gongzi recover so quickly, the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but show a look of admiration. "As expected of my daughter, you have the bearing of a great leader. The future looks promising!"


    Mei Gongzi''s lips twitched slightly. <i>The bearing of a great leader? I��m not sad anymore because that person isn''t dead at all!</i>


    Thinking of Tang San made her heart clench. She didn''t even know how to face him now.


    Asura wasn''t dead, but he had be Tang San, and he imed to be her predestined husband. Meanwhile, she was just a teenage girl and had never even considered the idea of a husband, much less one from a past life. How could she not feel conflicted?


    Seeing her emotional change, the Peacock Great Demon King thought she was feeling sad again and quickly said, "Let''s not talk about this. The date for you to inherit the position of n leader is set. Before that, you must undergo your tribtion. This is the most important thing. You know how demons are: strength is the foundation of everything. If you can beat them up, then even if you want to be the queen of the world, nobody will bat an eye. With your talent and the Celestial Plume, as long as you can reach godhood, there should be no problem inheriting the position of n leader. Have you thought about where you want to undergo your tribtion?"


    Mei Gongzi almost instinctively blurted out, "At sea."


    The Peacock Great Demon King was stunned. "At sea?"


    Mei Gongzi then realized what she��d just said, and her mind couldn''t help but recall what that guy had told her about his past life as the Sea God.


    "Yes, at sea. It would be beyond all the ns'' expectations, and the open sea offers no cover, making it difficult for them to interfere. By the time they realize I''m undergoing my tribtion on the sea, the tribtion may already be over."


    The Peacock Great Demon King nodded and said, "That does make sense. If this were before, it would certainly be fine, and I would agree. But the problem is, do you remember when that Crystal Phoenix came, a so-called Sea God appeared? That Sea God is likely an Emperor-level existence in the Endless Blue Sea. The Ancestral Court actually had some people directly investigate the Endless Blue Sea but found nothing. I''m worried that if you undergo your tribtion at sea and attract that entity, it will be troublesome."


    Mei Gongzi opened her mouth but didn''t know how to exin things to her father. At this moment, she suddenly understood why Tang San had always been with her as Asura; many things about him were hard to exin!


    She could only grit her teeth and cate her father for now. "Alright, I''ll think about it again."


    "I will also protect you if you want to do it in Kali City, but just in case themotion is too great, you can go to the Kali Mountains and find a secluded ce for your tribtion. I will personally guard you."


    Mei Gongzi nodded. "Understood."


    "Then you just make sure you��re in absolute peak condition. We don��t need to decide this just yet; just in case someone catches wind of where you want to do it. I��ll go make some preparations for now."


    "Okay."

 Chapter 613: Initial Acceptance

    <h4>Chapter 613: Initial eptance</h4>


    The Peacock Great Demon King was undoubtedly very cautious. It was indeed safest to decide the tribtion location at thest moment. His concern wasn''t much about external threats but rather internal strife within the Peacock Demon n, where many wouldn''t want to see Mei Gongzi sessfully achieve god level.


    After sending off her father, Mei Gongzi sat on the sofa and thought for a while. Finally, she pressed themunicator he had left behind.


    Soon, she got a response. Because it was long-distance, she could only notify the other party for a meeting but couldn''t directlymunicate.


    With a sh of silver light, Mei Gongzi quietly left the residence. She reappeared in a secluded corner of the city, and after two more teleportations, she once again arrived at the familiar corner outside Kali Academy.


    A tall figure was already waiting there, with long blue hair flowing down his back. When Mei Gongzi saw him, she couldn''t help but feel a bit lost��today, he was wearing that familiar mask again.


    "You..."


    The person seemed like a stranger, but that mask was truly familiar! She had wanted to take off that mask countless times but had never seeded, until the very end.


    Tang San smiled bitterly. "If you think you can ept it better this way, I''ll keep wearing the mask and be Asura, okay?"


    Mei Gongzi''s eyes showed aplex expression, but she still shook her head, "No, you are you. You should take off the mask. It might take some time to ept you as you are now, but... I would prefer it that way."


    "Okay." Tang San lifted his hand and took off the mask, revealing his handsome face.


    As she looked into his gentle eyes, Mei Gongzi''s heart calmed down a bit, and she said, "My father told me to choose a ce for the tribtion. I suggested the Endless Blue Sea, but he said there might be risks because the Sea God appeared there before. What should I do?"


    Hearing this, Tang San''s spirits lifted. She still trusted him; otherwise, she would never have said something like that to her father. It seemed that even though she couldn''t ept the idea of him being her husband from a previous life, at least for now, she believed he was indeed Asura and wouldn''t harm her.


    Tang San said, "This is not difficult to solve. You can tell your father the truth��the Sea God actually appeared for your sake. When you were a child, you happened to meet the Sea God by the seaside and became his pupil. So when you undergo your tribtion, the Sea God will watch over you from the sea, making it the safest ce for your tribtion. If necessary, I can stay by your side as the Sea God''s emissary. I have my ways to make him believe that I can represent the Sea God."


    Listening to his exnation, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but feel a bit dazed. He was Asura. He really was Asura. His tone was just like it always had been��as if, no matter what the problem was, it could be easily resolved.


    "Alright. The tribtion will take ce in about five days, just before the selection of the n leader. Then, with the momentum of bing a god, I will announce my inheritance of the Peacock Demon n leader position."


    "Okay. Can I stay by your side as the Sea God''s emissary?" Tang San asked.


    Mei Gongzi nced at him and eventually nodded.


    Tang San was overjoyed, "That''s great. I can only feel at ease by staying by your side. I''ll also make some preparations to ensure everything goes smoothly. In the next few days, practice controlling the Holy ze Saber more. The Holy ze Saber will allow you to summon the sword intent of the Asura Sword, that transcendent divine weapon. When you face tribtion lightning that you feel you cannot endure, you can use the sword intent to handle it. I will be by your side then.


    "But remember: the lightning tribtion is not just a test; it��s also an opportunity, a great opportunity. So don''t disperse the lightning entirely; let some of it course through you, even if it hurts at that moment. That baptism of lightning will trigger the transformation from human to divine, and it will be very important for your future."


    "No, I don''t want to be hit by lightning and look ugly," Mei Gongzi said, pouting.


    Tang San was stunned for a moment, thenughed. "Hey, I''m asking you to endure the lightning to some extent, not to get hit. You just need to channel some of the lightning''s power into your body to stimte your bloodline."


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback, and her pretty face reddened. "Got it. We''ll meet here in three days. I''ll notify you through themunicator, and then I''ll probably take you to meet my father. Be prepared."


    Tang San nodded. "Alright, no problem."


    Right now, he was in top shape. He had been trying out his transcendent bloodline, adapting to the improvements and changes it brought to his body. His cultivation seemed to have reached its peak, but hisbat power was increasing daily. He was now much more confident than when he first went to the Ancestral Court.


    "Then I''ll be off," Mei Gongzi said.


    "Alright, goodbye, Big Sister Mei," Tang San said with a smile.


    Hearing him call her "Big Sister Mei," a slight smile finally appeared on Mei Gongzi''s face. She nodded and raised her chin proudly, then disappeared in a sh of silver light, teleporting away.


    After she left, Tang San let out a long breath and clenched his fist in excitement. Although he wasn''t sure if the influence of their past lives made Mei Gongzi more epting of him in this life, her willingness to seek him out and ept his help meant she had essentially acknowledged that Asura was Tang San. From now on, it was just a matter of spending time together. As long as he could stay with her, Tang San felt at ease. He wasn''t in a hurry; after all, he had waited so many years and didn''t mind waiting a bit longer.


    He also teleported back to Golden Valley.


    It had been about twenty days since he returned from the Ancestral Court, and he had mostly digested his gains. The Rainbow Skyfire Liquid was indeed a good thing, and so was the massive ck Crow Stone he��d refined into ck gold. The Crimson Fox girls were still getting used to the God-Hunting Crossbow he had made from it.


    But the greatest gain was still the Spacetime Beacon. Although he was far from being able to use it to its full potential, in the hands of someone like Tang San, it was certainly not being wasted. Although the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid couldn''t refine it directly, thanks to its ultra-high temperature and the infiltration of Tang San''s divine consciousness, he could gradually change it, shaping it into what he needed.


    @@novelbin@@


    This process was bound to take a very, very long time. The only ways to speed it up were acquiring more Rainbow Skyfire Liquid and improving his divine consciousness. In fact, now that Tang San''s divine consciousness had undergone a qualitative change, he could use the Spacetime Beacon a lot more proficiently. Sadly, the time-slowing effect of the Spacetime Beacon was just too terrifying; it even impacted the divine consciousness of a God King, and even though he could ignore it to some extent, he couldn��t do that continuously.


    The burning of the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid was also affected by the timeg, but to a much lesser extent. After all, it didn��t <i>do</i> anything actively; it only needed to maintain a high temperature. As long as it reached and maintained peak temperature, it would naturally leave marks on the Spacetime Beacon over time.


    The transcendent bloodline had brought tremendous changes to Tang San. Since the transcendent bloodline had taken shape, he constantly felt that he was about to face the lightning tribtion.


    This was not his urge to be a god; rather, this ne wanted to use the lightning tribtion to destroy him.


    Fortunately, his divine consciousness was strong enough to suppress his aura, preventing the lightning tribtion froming.


    At the same time, all of Tang San''s bloodline imprints were constantly evolving under the influence of this transcendent bloodline. They no longer needed to absorb the power of simr bloodlines and were already advancing toward the peak of the ninth order. And once all his bloodline imprints reached that point, he would be unable to prevent himself from undergoing the tribtion.


    The clock was ticking.

 Chapter 614: Changes Brought by the Transcendent Bloodline

    <h4>Chapter 614: Changes Brought by the Transcendent Bloodline</h4>


    The Dragon Roc Transformation had already reached the peak of the ninth order, and the Peacock Transformation and Lion-Tiger Transformation were both fairly close to the peak.


    Meanwhile, the Discerning Eye of Heaven and Chrono Croc Transformation were rather slow to advance. The Chrono Croc Transformation had just entered the ninth order, but after doing so, its advancement speed slowed considerably. The Celestial Fox bloodline was, of course, different from other bloodlines; cultivating this power that controlled fate was no easy task.


    But this was actually good news for Tang San��the fact that these two bloodlines were so slow to evolve meant Tang San had more time until the inevitable tribtion. ording to his estimation, he would not face it for at least half a year. Half a year''s time was sufficient for preliminary preparations.


    There was also the question of Crystalline. Tang San had tried several times to call out to Crystalline but received no response. He had no idea how that imprint would impact his breakthrough, and he had no way to find out, so he could only leave it aside for the time being.


    As for the Golden Armor Transformation, the changes it brought to Tang San were simply beyond measure.


    For instance, that day when Mei Gongzi pushed him, he didn''t even flinch. It wasn''t that he was intentionally resisting; it was just that his physique was simply too powerful. Tang San hadn''t even fully mastered the Golden Armor Transformation yet, but he roughly estimated that his body weight was ten times what it used to be.


    His strength had skyrocketed correspondingly. Now, even without using any bloodline power, just his physical strength and explosive power were enough to overpower most ninth-order warriors.


    The toughness of his body had also reached an astonishing level. Once he activated the Golden Armor Transformation, even a Demon King would find it difficult to break through his defense. Only a Great Demon King could pose a threat to him. This was the power of a transcendent bloodline!


    In fact, this transcendent bloodline was likely able to support him in cultivating beyond the Demon Emperor level, at least in theory. Tang San believed that was the reason he faced suppression from the narws.


    And speaking of transcendent bloodlines, Tang San was quite pleased to see the evolution of the Blue Silver Emperor. Although the yin-yang energy was powerful, its foundation wasn''t strong enough; the Blue Silver Emperor was barely a second-tier bloodline. Stimted by the Golden Armor Transformation and the surge of vital energy, it was now evolving rapidly, entering the ninth order. At its current pace, it would reach the peak of the ninth order in no more than a month.


    With his current physical strength, Tang San could afford going to find a proper supplement for the Blue Silver Emperor. After that, he could start working on his second transcendent bloodline. Once the Yin-Yang Blue Silver Emperor was sessfully refined, its power would be on another level��perhaps evenpared to the Golden Armor. Then, he would have no weaknesses and could truly aim to break through to god level.


    For now, the main focus in cultivation was to better master the Golden Armor Transformation.


    Three days passed in the blink of an eye. When Tang San received Mei Gongzi''s summons, he immediately arrived outside Kali Academy.


    Mei Gongzi wore a simple light blue long dress. When she saw him again, her gaze seemed even softer. "Let''s go, I''ll take you to meet my father. Shall I introduce you as Tang San?"


    "Right." Tang San nodded. Regarding his identity as both Tang San and Asura, both of them understood without much discussion that they couldn''t tell the Peacock Great Demon King. It would be tooplicated to exin, so it was better to be seen as a different person.


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    One good thing was that Tang San had changed significantly from when he first came to Kali Academy as Little Sweeper Tang. Even his actual acquaintances might not recognize him now, let alone the Peacock Great Demon King, who was nothing more than a stranger.


    Mei Gongzi came to Tang San''s side and activated her Peacock Transformation. Her long, peacock-blue hair mesmerized Tang San. A silver halo enveloped them; in the next moment, space folded, and they disappeared from where they stood.


    It had been some time since hest fought alongside her, and Tang San could clearly feel that Mei Gongzi''s mastery of spatial power had increased again. Herprehension was truly remarkable. Just as he had been assimting what he had gained from the Ancestral Court, Mei Gongzi had been subtly digesting her gains as well. After all, besides her cultivation improvement, Mei Gongzi''s practicalbat experience, as well as her understanding of and control over space, had made significant leaps during thepetition.


    With a sh of silver light, the two of them appeared in Kali City. Mei Gongzi looked at Tang San with a curious expression. "Hey, why is it so exhausting to teleport you now? You seem to have changed a lot, and I don��t mean your hair color."


    Tang San smiled bitterly, "I''ve gotten heavier. Do you remember I told you before that I can absorb other bloodlines and turn them into my own power? I actually took the Peacock Transformation from you, back in the day. Uh... Sorry about that. Anyway, during the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament, I acquired other bloodlines as well, specifically the Golden Mammoth and Behemoth bloodlines. After I absorbed these two bloodlines, some special changes urred. I managed to merge them into one, and the result... well, it��s something beyond the first tier, or so I believe. I named it the Golden Armor Transformation."


    "Golden... Wait, what?! You can merge different bloodlines?"


    Mei Gongzi looked at him in surprise and didn''t hurry to continue teleporting.


    Tang San nodded and said, "Based on my experience, any bloodline can merge with another, but the difficulty of the fusion and its effect varies depending on theirpatibility. The higher thepatibility, the better the effect, and the greater the chance of a beneficial mutation. The Behemoth and Golden Mammoth bloodlines seem to be rted to some extent, so when they merged, the result was exceptionally powerful. Since both are first-tier bloodlines, I believe I created a super bloodline. Well, I call that a transcendent bloodline."


    Mei Gongzi''s eyes lit up. "Oh, is it possible for me to fuse bloodlines like this? I also have two bloodlines."


    Tang San shook his head and said, "I''m afraid not. One reason is that the differences between the Peacock Demon bloodline and the White Tiger bloodline are just too great. They would be extremely difficult to merge, and even if they do merge, the result might not be good. Moreover, if you truly fuse two first-tier bloodlines to create a transcendent bloodline, you would likely face suppression and rejection from the entire ne. So, unless the Asura Sword reallyes to your side, you shouldn''t attempt this."


    "Oh," Mei Gongzi said, a bit disappointed. "So how powerful is your Golden Armor Transformation?"


    "Well, as you''ve noticed, I''m now heavier than before. Ten times heavier, actually. But that''s because I don��t have full control of this bloodline power yet. Once I be a god myself, I should be able to solve this problem. And speaking of that, the Golden Armor Transformation has given me a tremendous boost in strength and defense, so my physique is pretty much at god level. I believe an ordinary Demon King probably wouldn''t be my match now. If I encounter someone like Meng Dede again, I could probably just let them hit me and they still couldn��t do much."


    "So strong?" Mei Gongzi looked at him in astonishment.


    Tang San smiled. "I need to be strong to protect you! And when I can restore my past life''s cultivation, then I''ll be truly strong. Unfortunately, it''ll be very difficult in this ne, because I practically have to go against the entire ne. We''ll have to take it step by step and see what happens. This ne is the most powerful non-divine ne I''ve ever seen; otherwise, it couldn''t amodate so many Emperor-level beings."


    "I thought your cultivation level would decrease after that sh with the Tenebrous Demon Emperor. I��m happy to see that you��re fine," Mei Gongzi said, visibly relieved. Her gaze softened as she looked at Tang San.

 Chapter 615: Meeting the Peacock Great Demon King Again

    <h4>Chapter 615: Meeting the Peacock Great Demon King Again</h4>


    Tang San said, "It''s alright. My divine consciousness was somewhat affected, but there were also some benefits. Overall, it was worth it."


    "That''s good. Let''s go." This time, Mei Gongzi was prepared. She mobilized more spatial power, and with a sh of silver light, she teleported Tang San directly to her residence in the ancestral house of the Peacock Demon n.


    This was Tang San''s first time in Mei Gongzi''s quarters. It was about eighty square meters, with the living room and bedroom connected. From the window, he could tell that the building was located rather high, seemingly on a mountaintop. Mei Gongzi''s room was also high up within the building, allowing a view of the surroundings. The overall structure resembled a castle.


    The room was elegant and clean, decorated mainly in light blue. Although it wasn''t luxurious, it was very cozy, and gave off that faint fragrance unique to her, which made Tang San feel captivated.


    Mei Gongzi said softly, "Wait here for a moment. I''ll go find my father." With that, she teleported away again.


    One had to admit, the Peacock Transformation was indeed very convenient for this.


    Tang San walked to the window and looked outside. Indeed, it seemed to be a castle. Because of the high elevation, the view outside allowed a clear sight of Kali City, sprawling below.


    From the positioning, this castle seemed to be on the northern side of Kali City, facing south. Behind it were mountains, and in front of it was the city. The city lord was in a very good position, Tang San had to admit.


    The owner of this castle, the n leader of the Peacock Demon n, could constantly watch over his domain from within the castle. This was power��controlling the lives of others and holding immense wealth.


    It seemed that any world with life was like this. Wasn''t it the same in his previous world?


    Before bing a God King, he fought against those in power in his previous life. So much time had passed that Tang San had almost begun to forget what his old adversaries were like.


    Compared to his growth in his previous life, this life was more difficult. In both cases, he had to start everything from scratch, but the opponents on this ne wereparatively more powerful. In fact, his current cultivation would have safely ced him close to the very top of the Douluo Continent, at least before it evolved into a divine realm. Now that it <i>had</i> evolved, it was definitely on the level of this Daemon Continent.


    Fortunately, he had already achieved an important milestone��with his current cultivation, the only beings on this ne that could truly threaten his and Mei Gongzi''s lives were those at the absolute top, so he felt more at ease. The biggest challenge ahead was how to help Mei Gongzi establish herself in Kali City and truly be its ruler. Only by achieving this could they move further. Then, he would have to deal with the matter of his own cultivation


    While Mei Gongzi''s ascension to god level would be challenging, it shouldn''t be too problematic since she now had the sword intent of the Asura Sword protecting her, and he himself would be watching over her. No, the biggest issue was his own ascension. Even now, he had no confidence in it. Now that he had acquired the transcendent bloodline, his energy could not bepressed anymore, and his cultivation slowly increased naturally. In other words, when the time came, he couldn''t avoid the breakthrough. All he could do was prepare for it.


    However, he didn''t know how much pressure he would face from this ne during his breakthrough. Although he had decided where to attempt the breakthrough, he still had no confidence. If he could sessfully ascend, the qualitative change would make him fearless. Even when facing an Emperor, he would have some means of self-protection.


    Tang San was silently thinking about this when he sensed a change and turned around. He saw that Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Great Demon King had teleported in.


    The Peacock Great Demon King was dressed in luxurious robes and had a cold expression on his face. When he saw Tang San, a wave of divine consciousness immediately fell upon Tang San, scanning him.


    Tang San''s expression remained unchanged. With a smile, he bowed slightly and said, "Greetings, City Lord. I am Tang San."


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s expression changed, reflecting his inner shock. When his divine consciousness scanned Tang San, he felt as if he was looking at a furnace, a huge furnace, with zing bloodline power that made him seem like a small sun.


    Bloodline power was the foundation of the demon and nymph races; this was especially true for the demons, who couldn��t alter their bloodlines as readily as nymphs could. The strength of the bloodline they were born with determined their heritage and power. But the power of the bloodline Tang San possessed was simply unheard of. The city lord was a peak Great Demon King, yet even his bloodline didn''t have this kind of zing intensity. What level of bloodline was this?


    Beforeing, Mei Gongzi had already told him that she knew the Sea God''s emissary, and the Sea God hade to helpst time because he acknowledged her. So, she still hoped to undergo her tribtion at the Endless Blue Sea, where interference would be minimal.


    Seeing Tang San now, the Peacock Great Demon King could barely conceal his inner shock.


    The young man in front of him possessed the strongest bloodline he had ever encountered, even though his cultivation level seemed not to have reached the Demon King level. But such a bloodline...


    "Tang San, right? Please have a seat." The Peacock Great Demon King gestured for Tang San to sit.


    As they sat on the living room sofa, the Peacock Great Demon King''s divine consciousness remained focused on Tang San. Throughout, the sun-like fluctuations of Tang San''s bloodline power continuously shocked him.


    @@novelbin@@


    Could such an existence really be among the sea ns?


    "Tang San, you say you are the Sea God''s emissary. Do you have any proof?" the Peacock Great Demon King asked directly. Despite the sheer power of Tang San''s bloodline, which left little room for doubt regarding his status, he still needed further verification.


    "Yes. I represent the Sea God''s will." As he spoke, a faint golden light shed in Tang San''s eyes, and a golden trident symbol appeared on his forehead.


    Tang San''s entire body seemed to brighten when that symbol appeared, and a fairly weak but clearly discernible pressure fell upon the Peacock Great Demon King.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s pupils contracted. He could immediately recognize the aura. When the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor came, it was this same aura that descended and eventually scared him off. Otherwise, although the Peacock Great Demon King could have inflicted more severe injuries on the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, he himself might have perished.


    "Where is the Sea God now?" he asked, in a clearly softer voice.


    "His Majesty is in seclusion in the depths of the Endless Blue Sea. As the ruler of the Endless Blue Sea, he cannot easily leave it."


    "Previously, our n faced a catastrophe. We survived thanks to His Majesty''s intervention. If possible, could you arrange for me to meet him to express our gratitude?"


    Tang San shook his head. "I''m afraid that''s impossible for now. His Majesty''s periods of seclusion are very long, and I don''t know when he wille out. However, His Majesty has said that as long as Mei Gongzi is in charge of Kali City in the future, the countless sea ns of the Endless Blue Sea will be allies of Kali City."


    Upon hearing this, the Peacock Great Demon King raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "Why would my daughter receive such care from His Majesty?"


    "When Mei Gongzi was young, she unintentionally helped His Majesty with a small matter. His Majesty has always been very concerned about her growth. That''s why he intervened when the Peacock Demon n was in trouble. The City Lord can rest assured that our sea ns have no ambitions for thend and no intention of shing with the Ancestral Court. But if we��re just talking about Kali City, we are willing to be... allies."


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s heart stirred. "Could we trade in the future?"

 Chapter 617: Going Out To Sea

    <h4>Chapter 617: Going Out To Sea</h4>


    Tang San nodded and said, "Yes, let''s go straight to the sea. Please teleport us to the eastern coast."


    The Peacock Great Demon King had extremely high cultivation, so having him teleport them there was the most efficient way. The next moment, silver light enveloped them, and gone they were.


    From Kali City to the eastern coast wasn''t very far, and after a single teleportation, Tang San and Mei Gongzi could hear the sound of the waves.


    It was early morning, and the tide was receding, leaving many shells and small sea creatures on the salty, fishy-smelling beach.


    Feeling the sea''s aura, Tang San felt instantly revitalized. The Endless Blue Sea was vast��practically boundless, hence the name. It was said that within this Endless Blue Sea, there were several different sea regions, such as the Verdant Sea inhabited by the Greenspirit n and the Holy Clear Sea inhabited by the Holy Light n. However, these ns and races were much weakerpared to the demon and nymph races. Furthermore, their exact locations were unclear.


    The demons and nymphs had never been all that interested in exploring the sea, as the Daemon Continent concentrated most of the ne''s resources and was quite enough to sustain them. Moreover, although there were no Emperors in the Endless Blue Sea, at least not from what the Ancestral Court knew, there were still many powerful sea demons, and it was rather unwise to provoke them.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had been observing Tang San all along. Upon reaching the seaside, he immediately noticed a change in Tang San''s demeanor: the young man appeared much more rxed and open. This feeling couldn''t be faked; it was clear that he had a close connection with the sea.


    Tang San lightly tapped the ground and pushed himself up, rising in midair. He said to Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Great Demon King, "Please follow me."


    Then he flew straight toward the open sea.


    To prevent the Peacock Great Demon King from discovering his identity as Asura, Tang San didn''t use the flight ability of his Dragon Roc Transformation. Instead, he relied on his incipient control over gravity, an innate ability of the Golden Mammoth n. His Golden Armor Transformation inherited this ability and greatly enhanced it. Thus, Tang San found it rather easy to fly even without wings.


    Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Great Demon King spread their peacock wings and soared into the sky, following behind Tang San.


    Tang San lightly pressed his right hand against his forehead, and immediately, an invisible wave of spiritual power expanded from his spirit core.


    A strange scene unfolded at once. As his spiritual power expanded outward, the previously turbulent sea instantly calmed down, bing as still as ake. It was as if he was at the epicenter of an underwater earthquake, except it was the exact opposite effect��rather than causing waves, it was calming them down.


    This was something not just unseen, but absolutely unheard of by the Peacock Great Demon King and Mei Gongzi. Both of them couldn''t help but show expressions of astonishment.


    Mei Gongzi''s confidence in Tang San stemmed from the fact that she knew he was Asura. Asura had exhibited many wonders, and besides, he had already told her that he used to be the Sea God in his previous life. Though the scene before her surprised her, it was still within her expectations.


    However, it was the first time the Peacock Great Demon King had seen an ability that could influence the sea in such a manner. Clearly, no energy was being released; it was merely spiritual power, not even divine consciousness, yet it affected the sea. His divine consciousness could even sense the various sea creatures swimming below the surface��they had all stopped and were now looking up at the surface.


    Tang San lightly closed his eyes.


    What he felt was rather different from Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Great Demon King. As his spiritual power expanded, he could clearly feel the response from the sea creatures. Although many of them were very weak, at this moment, their spiritual power converged into a torrent, surrounding Tang San with admiration and affection.


    This was worship for the Sea God''s aura. Tang San''s level of divine consciousness had increased, which also meant that his spiritual power had be more distinctly infused with the aura of the Sea God from his previous life.


    If not for the suppression of the ne, Tang San would have preferred to achieve his god-level breakthrough over the sea. Such an environment would grant him considerable power. However, he understood that when the time came, the Endless Blue Sea and its myriad beings would not side with him. They submitted to him because of the Sea God''s aura he carried, but when he conflicted with the nar ruler, they would inevitably stand against him, as they belonged to this ne.


    Ironically, helping others achieve breakthroughs over the Endless Blue Sea was perfectly fine, but it was unsuitable for his own breakthrough.


    His spiritual power continued to expand, constantly absorbing the nourishment from the sea creatures'' spiritual power. Tang San''s aura began to expand as well. The Peacock Great Demon King could vaguely see ayer of blue radiance emanating from Tang San that made it seem as if Tang San had merged with the ocean.


    <i>He really is the emissary of the Sea God! To have such control over the sea, there��s no other exnation. But in that case, how powerful must the Sea God himself be?</i>


    Amid his astonishment, the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but feel a bit of concern as well. To him, the Sea God''s overwhelming power wasn''t entirely a good thing. It meant that Kali City would be in a weaker position, unless Mei Gongzi could be an Emperor.


    But now, with the mounting pressure from the Ancestral Court, Kali City had no choice but to rely on the Sea God''s power. Through this tribtion, he also wanted to see how the Sea God''s emissary, or perhaps the Sea God himself, would be willing to assist them.


    Tang San continued flying forward. Even without wings, his speed was notcking at all. By utilizing gravity, he could even surpass the Dragon Roc Transformation in a burst of speed over very short distances. While using the Dragon Roc Transformation, he had to p his wings, but manipting gravity took only an instant. This was one of the enhancements brought by the Golden Armor Transformation.


    It didn��t take long for them to reach far away from the coast. The deeper they ventured into the sea, the more they felt the vastness of the Endless Blue Sea, naturally invoking a sense of awe.


    The Peacock Great Demon King didn''t say anything, but he remained vignt in his heart. He worried about what would happen if the Sea God turned against them, but reason told him that the Sea God had no reason to do so.


    Finally, the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t hold back anymore and asked Tang San, "How far do we need to go?"


    Tang San replied, "As far as possible. Mei Gongzi''s tribtion will be more intense than that of ordinary demons due to her profound foundation and dual bloodlines. If we stay too close to the shore, Kali City might sense the disturbance. I n to go about two hundred kilometers out. Even if they sense themotion, few would dare toe and investigate."


    When Zhang Haoxuan underwent his tribtion, he hadn''t gone this far because it was just an ordinary tribtion. But Mei Gongzi was different. She now possessed divine consciousness and had two first-tier bloodlines, immense strength, exceptional talent, and the recognition of the Celestial Plume. The tribtion was fair and adjusted ording to the cultivator''s power, so hers would undoubtedly be terrifying.


    At the same time, the stronger the lightning tribtion, the better the purification effect it had. Sessfully oveing it would greatly enhance future potential. That was why Tang San advised Mei Gongzi to absorb as much of the lightning tribtion''s power as she could during her breakthrough.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Understood." The Peacock Great Demon King nodded. This distance was still within his control range unless they encountered an Emperor-level threat. Even in that case, he was confident in his ability to escape. Being a peak Great Demon King with a first-tier bloodline was not just for bragging rights; there was good reason he had been able to fight off the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    Tang San continued to fly forward. Through his spiritual perception, he noticed that the farther they went out at sea, the stronger the aura of the sea creatures became.

 Chapter 618: The Island

    <h4>Chapter 618: The Ind</h4>


    The weaker sea creatures would stop and worship him upon sensing his aura, while the stronger ones would quickly flee.


    <i>Heh, this isn''t the Douluo Continent of old! The depths of the Endless Blue Sea surely have many strong beings. They may not beparable to the Daemon Continent in terms of top beings, but they can��t becking in numbers.</i>


    Tang San slowly spread his hands to his sides, and his bloodline aura burst forth. To prevent Mei Gongzi from being affected by powerful beings in the Endless Blue Sea during her tribtion, he began to merge his bloodline power with his spiritual power, exerting a stronger deterrent force upon the beings below the surface.


    The furnace-like bloodline aura that the Peacock Great Demon King had felt before reappeared, now fused with spiritual power. To his senses, Tang San seemed like a small sun above the sea, radiating scorching energy. Wherever he flew, the Endless Blue Sea below became calmer. The Peacock Great Demon King could even sense that Tang San seemed to be absorbing something from the sea to replenish himself as he released his aura.


    Although this young man wasn''t yet a god, the Peacock Great Demon King could clearly feel that he was already stronger than many Demon Kings. This kind of bloodline fluctuation was something that not even himself, let alone the average Demon King, possessed. He truly wondered what kind of bloodline Tang San had.


    Two hundred kilometers wasn''t a short distance, but it wasn''t too far either. In the distance, Tang San''s spiritual power detected a small ind. His eyes lit up, and he immediately adjusted his direction, flying toward the ind.


    Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Great Demon King, after all, were not sea creatures. Being on solid ground would be more advantageous for the tribtion. They had already ventured deep into the sea, where the water was crystal clear and a deep blue. As they approached the ind, the water gradually became shallower, until a white sandy beach came into view.


    Tang San said, "Let''s undergo the tribtion on this ind. It''s quite suitable here."


    Looking at the crystal-clear blue waters surrounding the ind, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but exim, "This ce is so beautiful!"


    Tang San smiled and said, "Yes! The sea is truly beautiful, all of it. If you like, I can take you out to sea in the future. Everyone knows that the sea is blue, but there are different shades of blue, and there are also many, many other colors."


    "Mm," Mei Gongzi responded.


    The Peacock Great Demon King watched them with a raised eyebrow, somewhat surprised. He knew his daughter''s character well. Mei Gongzi had been aloof since childhood, rarely interacting with others. After attending school, she made very few friends at Kali Academy. Far as he knew, she only acted naturally with that young man, Asura. Now, this Tang San just invited her to go out to sea, and she agreed so naturally?


    @@novelbin@@


    <i>Have they known each other for a long time?</i>


    There was a seed of doubt in his heart, and he even had a feeling that Mei Gongzi recovering so fast from her sadness had something to do with this young man before him.


    However, he said nothing. Tang San gave him a sense of great strength and mystery, especially with his incredibly powerful bloodline��more powerful, he now understood, than any first-tier bloodline he knew. As the emissary of the Sea God, if Mei Gongzi could maintain a good rtionship with him, it would undoubtedly benefit the future rule of the Peacock Demon n over Kali City. Once Kali City could rely on an Emperor, even the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor would have to think twice before acting.


    As long as the Sea God''s emissary could assist his daughter in sessfully undergoing the tribtion today, the Peacock Great Demon King would have no problem considering him trustworthy.


    Theynded together on the ind, and saw that dense vegetation and coconut trees were everywhere. There were no signs of particrly intelligent lifeforms, but the lush, verdant growth made it seem anything but deste. In particr, the extremely clear water by the shore gave it a very refreshing feeling.


    Tang San led Mei Gongzi and her father to a coconut tree. By this time, the sky was bright, and the brilliant sunlight was shining on the ind, causing the temperature to rise rapidly.


    "Meditate here for a while, make sure you are in your best state, and then we can start at any time." As he spoke, Tang San took off his coat andid it on the shaded sand under the coconut tree, gesturing for Mei Gongzi to sit there.


    Mei Gongzi nced at him, said nothing, and walked over to sit down.


    Tang San said, "When you feel ready for the tribtion, don''t deliberately provoke it. Just keep cultivating, adjusting your bloodline fluctuations, and let your power naturally ascend to draw the lightning tribtion. In that state, the tribtion will be stronger, but the purification will be more thorough and suitable for your current cultivation level."


    "Okay," Mei Gongzi agreed, then sat cross-legged on Tang San''s coat and closed her eyes to meditate.


    Tang San stood silently beside her, guarding her, feeling the energy fluctuations from Mei Gongzi.


    The Peacock Great Demon King walked to the beach and began setting up something on the ground. This was something he had prepared long ago to help divert some of the lightning��s power for Mei Gongzi if necessary. Of course, it would only be used as ast resort.


    Actually, he had been nning to tell his daughter the exact same things Tang San had just told her. The lightning tribtion was certainly a crucial step and a challenging hurdle in the cultivation process, but it was also a great opportunity. The way one overcame it made a significant difference in the end result.


    The human body''s potential was almost exhausted at the peak of the ninth order, and the tribtion process was not just a transformation, but also a manner of acquiring more potential. The greater this potential, the more space for future growth. Every Emperor had undergone extremely intense lightning tribtion purification. Some powerful races even forbade the use of any external assistance during tribtion to ensure their members received the best purification and ultimately had stronger foundations.


    However, Mei Gongzi was too important to the Peacock Demon n. The Peacock Great Demon King didn''t know how strong her tribtion would be, so he carefully set up some precautions. If necessary, he would rather her purification be somewhat less thorough than risk her failing.


    Tang San silently guarded Mei Gongzi, whose bloodline power began to circte faster as she meditated.


    The flight hadn''t consumed much of her energy, and she quickly returned to her peak state. Her bloodline power kept circting without pause, and her spiritual power fluctuated rapidly with it. Her aura gradually began to radiate outward, and a silver glow quietly emerged.


    On her forehead, the Peacock Golden Crown appeared, and its dazzling golden patterns gradually transitioned into a tinum color. Her aura also grew increasingly stronger.


    ording to the ancestral ts of the n, only those with the Peacock Golden Crown could inherit the n, and now, Mei Gongzi was showing her potential to be the topmost heir.


    "Don''t rush. Go steadily; we have plenty of time. Your physique, bloodline, and spirit must fully merge. Also, remember that during the tribtion, the evolution of your divine consciousness is even more crucial than your physical transformation."


    Tang San''s calm voice echoed in Mei Gongzi''s ears and spiritual consciousness, soothing her agitation about the impending tribtion and restoring her calm.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had finished all his preparations. Hearing Tang San''s words, his mouth twitched slightly. Tang San was more observant than he, her father, was. And he wasn��t even a god! How did he know all these things?


    Mei Gongzi''s aura continued to intensify. The bright silver glow around her even caused the light around her to distort slightly. It also gave off some unique energy fluctuations.


    She was the master acknowledged by the Celestial Plume. As her cultivation reached this peak state, she naturally began to be influenced by the Celestial Plume.

 Chapter 619: Preparation

    <h4>Chapter 619: Preparation</h4>


    Tang San silently sensed the energy changes in Mei Gongzi and his expression became solemn. His divine consciousness fluctuated, and his voice echoed directly in her sea of consciousness. <i>"During the tribtion, do not use the Celestial Plume''s power. If necessary, use the sword intent of the Asura Sword, but do not use the Celestial Plume. You cannot allow its power to imprint itself in your divine consciousness during the tribtion. Your foundation for the future is the Asura Sword, not the Celestial Plume. Do you understand?"</i>


    Mei Gongzi was in a meditative state and couldn''t respond directly, but her divine consciousness slightly fluctuated, indicating her agreement.


    Tang San rxed slightly. He realized that revealing his other identity to Mei Gongzi had its benefits. If it were the ordinary Tang San saying this to her, she might not listen.


    Why didn''t he want her to use the Celestial Plume against the tribtion? Because Tang San didn''t want her too entangled with the Celestial Plume. The Celestial Plume''s power was elusive but difficult to break free from. Once it was used or relied upon, it could easily cause future problems and trouble. The bacsh from an artifact like the Celestial Plume was something even God Kings couldn''t withstand. The mistakes of his previous life must not be repeated in this one.


    Once the Celestial Plume fully recognized its master and apanied Mei Gongzi through the tribtion, it would be imprinted in her body and divine consciousness forever, making it impossible to get rid of. When Mei Gongzi faced danger or trouble, the Celestial Plume''s power would naturally interfere, binding her to it. In the future, she would be forced to keep using the Celestial Plume. This would be fine if it were a normal divine item, but that was not the case. If its power was overused, the terrifying bacsh would im her life.


    Although the probability was low and would only ur far in the future, Tang San couldn''t allow even that small probability to exist. Even a God King could not control certain things, and this was one such uncontroble thing.


    The silver radiance grew more substantial, and Mei Gongzi''s bloodline fluctuations intensified. The clear sky gradually began to change, with moisture seeming to spread in the high altitudes, slowly condensing and taking shape.


    She had now reached a critical point where she could face the arrival of the lightning tribtion at any moment.


    Tang San squinted slightly and stepped back a few paces, making sure there was enough distance between him and Mei Gongzi.


    The silver radiance grew increasingly stronger, and her bloodline power was advancing to a higher level. A clear humming sound began to emanate from her, and behind her, the silhouette of a giant silver peacock appeared.


    The Peacock Great Demon King watched her transformation with a serious expression. He could feel the continuous surge of Mei Gongzi''s bloodline fluctuations, seemingly without end. The surrounding space began to ripple and distort around her.


    <i>This ispletely different from my own tribtion!</i>


    The Peacock Great Demon King immediately sensed the difference. When he underwent his tribtion, the surrounding space had gradually shattered, forming a vacuum around him, making the tribtion easier and causing the lightning to dissipate in the vacuum. Only part of the lightning''s power prated, stimting his body''s evolution.


    However, the changes in Mei Gongzi''s aura now resulted inyers of spatial barriers blooming around her. As her aura grew stronger, these spatial forces seemed to merge with her, with the excess energy flowing into the silver peacock apparition behind her, making it clearer andrger.


    This illusory apparition was a manifestation of her bloodline essence, representing her bloodline power. In battle, this apparition would appear when her bloodline power was at its peak. But now, as Mei Gongzi was about to break through, the space elemental energy around her was enhancing her bloodline essence as if of its own initiative.


    What did this mean?


    It meant that Mei Gongzi had a deeper understanding of space and betterpatibility with space than he had.


    @@novelbin@@


    <i>Could this be the benefit of the Celestial Plume''s acknowledgement? But she hasn��t even used the Celestial Plume yet!</i>


    The sky gradually darkened as the clouds above thickened, but no lightning appeared. However, the invisible pressure was growing more intense.


    <i>My goodness, this lightning tribtion must be extraordinary! </i>The Peacock Great Demon King was secretly shocked and grew tense.


    It wasmon knowledge that the level of a tribtion was proportional to the talent and strength of the one undergoing it. Even though everyone was at the peak of the ninth order, the difference in talent and foundation could lead to vastly different tribtions.


    At this moment, the pressure from the tribtion would have made it difficult for an ordinary person to breathe. Meanwhile, the silver peacock behind Mei Gongzi was growing increasingly bright. Its enormous wings spread wide, and its tail feathers fanned out, creating a magnificent and stunning spectacle.


    Even though this was his daughter, the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but feel a tinge of jealousy. If he had undergone such a grand tribtion, would he have be an Emperor too? In Mei Gongzi''s tribtion process, he could already see the shadow of an Emperor. If she seeded, she would undoubtedly have the foundation to be an Emperor. And her aura was still intensifying!


    Mei Gongzi''s sensations were equally profound. She could feel her consciousness rapidly expanding in all directions. In her sea of consciousness, the divine consciousness that had already formed was continuously spreading outward, transforming her spiritual power. The towering red light, the true core of her divine consciousness, shone ever brighter.


    Her bloodline power, influenced by her spiritual aura, was slowly concentrated and forced inward. She felt as though all her spiritual and bloodline power was converging into a single point. Her body seemed to be shrinking��it was as if she was returning to childhood, to infancy, to the womb....


    Though this was only a perception, it was triggered by her inner transformation.


    The space element around her seemed almost... alive. In her perception, the motes of elemental energy spinning around her were like her loyal guards or her subjects, willingly protecting her and constantly converging toward her, bing part of her. They even seemed to be cheering and celebrating because, influenced by Mei Gongzi''s aura, they were evolving as well.


    This feeling was so wonderful that it soothed thest remnants of Mei Gongzi''s chaotic emotions. She hadpletely immersed herself in this process of ascension.


    She seemed to vaguely see herself standing at the pinnacle of this ne and could faintly glimpse some scenes that she��d never seen before��scenes of the future.


    It was the aura of the Celestial Plume. As her aura ascended, the energy of the Celestial Plume naturally began to flow into her sea of consciousness, starting to merge with her.


    But just then, Mei Gongzi remembered Tang San''s previous instructions. In her sea of consciousness, that red light blossomed, forcibly blocking the Celestial Plume and preventing it from entering her divine consciousness.


    The Celestial Plume clearly showed signs of reluctance, even conveying a sense of grievance. It struggled to force its way in.


    But Mei Gongzi did not waver. Although she couldn''t yet acknowledge Tang San as her husband from a previous life, her interactions with Tang San and fighting alongside Asura had built absolute trust in this man. Therefore, no matter how the Celestial Plume tried to enter her sea of consciousness, she mercilessly blocked it.

 Chapter 620: Six Directions Eight Desolations Golden Fiend Tribulation

    <h4>Chapter 620: Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion</h4>


    In terms of sheer quality, the Holy ze Saber couldn''tpare to the Celestial Plume and couldn''t block its power. However, with the power of the Asura Sword behind it, not even ten Celestial Plumes could enter without its permission.


    Gradually, Mei Gongzi''s perception of the red light became stronger. It was a long sword��not red in color, but emitting a crimson glow. The slender de exuded not a burning aura, nor a dark one, but a surprising coldness. Yet Mei Gongzi clearly felt that this wasn''t the coldness of cruelty, but the unyielding coldness of justice and the righteousness of judgment.


    The Asura Sword was also the Sword of Judgment��the sword of the Divine Realm Enforcer.


    Now that she was breaking through to godhood, through the Holy ze Saber''s connection with the Asura Sword, Mei Gongzi felt its sword intent fluctuations for the first time.


    Although the sword intent was perfectly cold and unmoving, when Mei Gongzi''s divine consciousness enveloped it, she could clearly feel a touch of familiarity amidst the coldness. The sword was cold to anything and everything around it, but to her, it only transmitted acknowledgement.


    Stimted by her own divine consciousness and influenced by Mei Gongzi''s ascension, the red light subtly intensified, bing brighter.


    The Celestial Plume still attempted to break in, but whenever it touched the edge of the red light, it would be instantly repelled as if shocked.


    The silver peacock behind Mei Gongzi had now bepletely clear. Each eye on its tail feathers emitted brilliant silver light, creating a splendid spectacle under the now-darkened sky.


    What astonished the Peacock Great Demon King was that the silver peacock''s eyes were changing from silver to crimson. But this crimson was not the bloody color of evil; instead, it carried a supreme, majestic glow. Even with his cultivation level, when he looked at the crimson light directly, he could feel his divine consciousness being agitated and stimted, experiencing sharp pain.


    The Peacock Great Demon King turned to look at Tang San. Tang San nodded at him, as if he knew what was causing his astonishment, and said in a deep voice, "It''s fine. I told you that she is connected to an exceptionally powerful divine artifact. Its aura is merging with hers through the tribtion, which is beneficial for her. It will also allow her to better utilize the artifact''s power even while she doesn��t have it on her."


    The Peacock Great Demon King frowned. A life-bound divine item? Establishing a connection with a divine item during a tribtion��in other words, creating a life-bound divine item��was indeed important and beneficial. But this crimson light was most certainly not the n''s foundational artifact, the Celestial Plume!


    Suddenly, a thought shed through his mind as he quickly recalled the red sword light that Mei Gongzi had used to cut down Meng Dede. So that was it... But what exactly <i>was </i>that item?


    The Peacock Great Demon King vaguely remembered the powerful red sword light rising to the heavens, majestic and righteous. It had split the demonic artifact in two, and even the vengeful spirits had been instantly purified by its aura.


    Without a doubt, it was an incredibly powerful divine artifact. But as the next n leader of the Peacock Demon n, her life-bound artifact should be the Celestial Plume!


    Just as he was about to say something, the sky suddenly changed. Tang San and the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but look up.


    The previously dark clouds changed color as golden lightning began to weave through them.


    This massive cloud now covered an area of tens of miles, farrger than the area covered during Zhang Haoxuan''s tribtion.


    In the vast cloud, golden lightning bolts crisscrossed, and deep rumbling sounds began to emanate from the tribtion cloud. The lightning tribtion was finally about to arrive.


    "What... What kind of lightning tribtion is this?" Staring at the golden lightning in the sky, the Peacock Great Demon King felt his hair stand on end. Even with his peak Great Demon King cultivation, a sense of fear began to arise in his heart.


    Tang San''s expression also turned serious. Although he had long since anticipated that Mei Gongzi''s tribtion wouldn''t be easy, he hadn''t expected it to be <i>this </i>fierce.


    The Peacock Great Demon King didn''t recognize this kind of lightning tribtion, but Tang San certainly did!


    "This is the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion[1]!"


    Lightning tribtions had many variations, but they could in principle be categorized into nine levels. The power difference between levels was nowhere near as simple as doubling or tripling. If the power of the first level was taken as the basic unit of measurement, then the second-level tribtion''s power was not two, but <i>four</i>. Every level had a power equal to the square of that level��the third level was nine, the fourth was sixteen, the fifth was twenty-five, and the sixth was thirty-six.


    When Zhang Haoxuan went through his tribtion, due to his rtively high bloodline power, the tribtion was around the second level. But the tribtion Mei Gongzi was facing now, the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion, was of the eighth level. This meant its power was sixty-four times that of a first-level tribtion!


    Moreover, this was just speaking in terms of sheer power. The fact that this tribtion had a particr name signified that there was also a qualitative difference, and that made it a world-destroying tribtion!


    If one could sessfully cross a sixth-level tribtion, it meant they had the potential to be a First-ss God��an Emperor. As for an eighth-level tribtion... Tang San suspected that this might be the first time such a powerful tribtion had appeared in this ne.


    <i>How could it be so powerful?</i>


    But then, Tang San understood why. It was him.


    As an outsider, Tang San had always been rejected by the ne, though he had used various means to conceal his own presence. Mei Gongzi, having spent a long time with him, naturally carried some of his aura. More importantly, he had linked her with the Asura Sword. A transcendent divine artifact was something the ne couldn''t handle at this point, so even though the Asura Sword''s "presence" was only a trace of its sword intent, from a certain perspective, the ne now also considered Mei Gongzi an anomaly. That was the reason for such a terrifying tribtion.


    @@novelbin@@


    At this moment, the area covered by the tribtion clouds continued to expand, and even from Kali City, one could likely see this vast, terrifying tribtion cloud illuminated by golden lightning.


    The silver lining was that there was no need to worry about anyoneing to cause trouble at this time; no one would dare approach such a lightning tribtion. Even an Emperor might not be able to retreat unscathed in the face of such a tribtion.


    "What do we do? Can we ask the Sea God for help?" the Peacock Great Demon King''s anxious voice rang out. Although he didn''t fully understand what the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion was, he could clearly tell it had devastating power.


    Tang San took a deep breath and said, "Don''t panic. Although the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion is terrifying, it''s still a lightning tribtion, so there''s always a glimmer of hope. We''ll deal with it as ites!"


    "Little Mei, the tribtion is about to descend. It''s stronger than we imagined, but no matter how powerful it is, you must hold firm to your heart. Don''t let your heart waver."


    Mei Gongzi nodded slightly. The silver peacock behind her slowly raised its head, and the crimson gleam in its eyes became more majestic. There was not a hint of fear.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A massive rumbling sound suddenly erupted, causing the entire sea surface to ripple with vast waves.


    Tang San''s gaze sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, "It''s here!"


    In the next instant, a beam of golden light streaked across the sky, illuminating the sea below and reaching above Mei Gongzi''s head almost instantaneously.


    1. Yes, this is very extra. The first term here is ���� and literally means "six directions" or "six harmonies" (up, down, left, right, front, back). There is an ancient Chinese saying that trantes into something like "the six directions represent space (��); the past and the future represent time (��) and together they make up the universe (����)." Thus, the six directions here actually refer to the entirety of space. The second word is �˻� and literally means "eight destions" or "eight wildernesses" and originally refers to the remote (and barbaric) ces beyond the territories of China, but hase to refer to the world beyond what is known to the inhabitants of a territory. The expression ���ϰ˻� that is made up of these two words thus refers to the entire universe. We originally intended to sum it up as ��Infinite Space�� or something along those lines, considering that it actually reflects Mei Gongzi��s space-attribute bloodline, but taking into ount information from future chapters, we have decided on a more literal trantion. ?

 Chapter 621: Mei Gongzis Tribulation

    <h4>Chapter 621: Mei Gongzi''s Tribtion</h4>


    Layer uponyer of silver light patterns twisted, and countless spatial fluctuations suddenly appeared, as if numerous spatial gates had opened above Mei Gongzi''s head. When the golden light entered, countless golden dots spread around the ind, turning the surrounding sea golden.


    Large swathes of seawater silently vanished, causing the sea level around the ind to drop slightly.


    Mei Gongzi shivered violently. The silver peacock behind her was entangled with the golden lightning, struggling in pain.


    Tang San''s voice rang out.


    "The lightning of the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion has immense prative power. Use the White Tiger Transformation to protect yourself internally, and use the Peacock Transformation''s Star Shift to deflect it."


    Although it was just one bolt of golden lightning, it was enough to make the Peacock Great Demon King shudder in fear. He thought that if he had faced such a tribtion back then, he might have been severely injured just by that single strike.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Another loud rumble echoed in the sky. Immediately, an evenrger golden lightning bolt descended from the heavens.


    In front of Mei Gongzi, a phantom of a white tiger appeared. Its blue eyes looked skyward, and its wide-open maw released a silent roar.


    The golden light fell, and theyered space reappeared, once again teleporting the terrifying golden light outside. But the silver peacock behind Mei Gongzi trembled, and the golden lightning became even more intense, causing some silver kes to fly off from its body.


    And the tribtion had only just begun!


    The white tiger''s shadow leaped into Mei Gongzi''s body, and the lightning affecting the silver peacock immediately halved.


    Mei Gongzi was now experiencing sensations she had never known or expected. When the first bolt of golden lightning struck, she felt as if her soul had been pierced, and the power of the lightning coursed through her body. The previously turbulent flow of her bloodline power suddenly became smooth, breaking through all barriers and causing her entire body to boil with energy.


    When the second lightning bolt struck, she didn''t feel pain; instead, she felt her entire body bing transparent, with countless tiny bolts of golden lightning coursing through her. But although her bloodline power was doing its best to absorb this energy, it was too overpowering. The space energy in front of it was continuously obliterated.


    But after just two bolts of lightning, arge amount of spiritual power in her sea of consciousness was stimted to surge, transforming into divine consciousness and merging inward amidst the rippling golden light.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The sky brightened again, and this time, three golden lightning bolts descended from the heavens, shing instantly.


    The silver peacock suddenly spread its wings and soared, with a tinum crown on its forehead emitting a brilliant light.


    Countless spatial forces condensed into sparkling starlight. When the golden lightning fell, it was blocked by the starlight; golden light flickered rapidly among the stars. As a result, the starlight dimmed, and the scattered golden lightning fell once more on the silver peacock.


    The silver peacock''s light quickly dimmed as the lightning coursed through it, forcing it to descend from the sky and crash onto the ground.


    For the first time, a look of pain crossed Mei Gongzi''s delicate face, but in the next moment, a fierce and murderous aura burst forth from her. She continuously absorbed the power of the golden lightning. White Tiger Transformation!


    @@novelbin@@


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor was known for hisprehensive abilities, excelling in both offense and defense. His bloodline��s defensive abilities far surpassed those of the Peacock Demon bloodline. At this moment, it reced the Peacock Transformation in bearing the remaining power of tribtion lightning. Meanwhile, the Peacock Transformation used its Star Shift ability to deflect most of the attacks.


    Mei Gongzi''s body underwent another transformation. She felt that her blood, meridians, and bones had gained a faint goldenyer under the tempering of the golden lightning. Her spiritual power was even further along with its transformation, elevated to the level of divine consciousness!


    As her bloodline power evolved and her spiritual power turned into divine consciousness, the silver peacock regained its vitality, and its feathers now had a faint golden sheen.


    To undergo tribtion was to be a god. To be a god was to evolve to a higher level of existence, in body and spirit.


    During this process, one had to endure the baptism of lightning continuously. If they withstood it, they sessfully crossed the tribtion. If they couldn''t, they would be annihted. It depended on whether their cultivation could keep up with the increasing power of the lightning tribtion.


    After three strikes of lightning, Mei Gongzi seemed to be handling it rtively well. However, the Peacock Great Demon King didn''t know how many strikes there would be; he didn''t even know when he should use the items he had prepared.


    Tang San stood not far from Mei Gongzi, and some of the aura from the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion also fell on him, affecting him. He silently absorbed some of the tribtion��s power, sharing some of the burden with Mei Gongzi.


    Of course, he had to be particrly careful not to absorb too much, so as not to affect Mei Gongzi''s tribtion crossing.


    But in the process, he made a strange discovery��his Golden Armor Transformation seemed rather interested in the lightning power of the tribtion. As he absorbed the scattered tribtion energy in the air, the Golden Armor Transformation imprint became more active.


    Tang San didn''t dare to let it absorb too much, however. His greatest risk was being affected by the lightning tribtion, triggering his own tribtion. His lightning tribtion would be even more terrifying, and if it caught him now, unprepared as he was, then he, Mei Gongzi, and the Peacock Great Demon King would surely be obliterated.


    After three strikes, the tribtion clouds in the sky seemed to calm down slightly. However, Tang San''s expression became even more solemn.


    The Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion was, as its name implied, a six-eight tribtion��not six <i>plus</i> eight, but six <i>times</i> eight. Six rounds of eight lightning strikes! And moreover, their power would increase! This was just the third strike; even though there had been three bolts at once, it counted as only one strike. In other words, there were still forty-five strikes to go. The show had just begun.


    <i>What a terrifying power.... If an ordinary demon was undergoing tribtion, they would have alreadypleted it, and even gotten some extra benefits.</i>


    But as long as Mei Gongzi could still endure it, Tang San would never act rashly.


    Although the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion was terrifying and life-threatening, the stronger the lightning tribtion, the greater the benefits, and the moreplete the transformation. Mei Gongzi''s potential would be maximized in this situation.


    Although this was an eighth-level heavenly tribtion, not something just anyone could endure there was still a slim chance of survival. It was no more than one in ten, but it was still better than the ninth-level tribtion, which spelled certain death.


    For Mei Gongzi''s future, Tang San would carefully protect her, but he also wanted her to use this heavenly tribtion to maximize her potential. If she seeded in crossing the tribtion, she would not be an ordinary god; although she might not be a Great Demon King at once, she might well reach the peak of the Demon King level in one go.


    Therefore, although crossing the tribtion was difficult, Tang San was not all <i>that</i> worried. It was certainly a double-edged sword, but it depended on how it was handled.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The rumbling sounded again.


    It was still three golden streaks descending from the sky. But this time, when the three golden lightning bolts appeared, each was faster than the previous one, so much so that the trailing lightning caught up with the leading one. The three bolts merged into one in mid-air and descended from the sky as a single strike, arriving in an instant!


    The silver peacock soared into the sky and Star Shift was activated once more, but this time, the starlight dots shattered under the power of the lightning. Around Mei Gongzi, arge area of vegetation on the small ind turned to dust almost instantly. The silver peacock was enveloped in lightning and directly struck down to the ground, nearly disintegrating.


    Mei Gongzi''s delicate body shivered, blood seeping from her mouth and nose. For the first time, golden lightning struck her directly. Her clothes were made of special material, which could somewhat filter the power of the lightning. Despite this, she still showed signs of pain.

 Chapter 622: The Emergence of the Holy Blaze Saber

    <h4>Chapter 622: The Emergence of the Holy ze Saber</h4>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    There was no time to breathe as another threefold lightning bolt descended from the sky.


    "Divine consciousness!" Tang San shouted.


    Immediately, a red light shot up from above Mei Gongzi''s head, transforming into the shape of a saber in the air, shing toward the descending golden lightning.


    The lightning scattered, and as if baptized by the lightning, the red de light turned a reddish-golden color, glittering brilliantly.


    Mei Gongzi let out a muffled groan as the de light returned��it was the Holy ze Saber, her new divine weapon.


    The Holy ze Saber was one of the rare divine items that could integrate into the divine consciousness, bing a part of it. As the tribtion went on, it leveraged the power of the lightning to fully merge into Mei Gongzi��s sea of consciousness.


    The Holy ze Saber alsomunicated with the Asura Sword, assisting it. Now that Mei Gongzi used it to counter the lightning tribtion, it shed the lightning with a de of divine consciousness. Imbued with a trace of the Asura Sword''s sword intent, this strike proved highly effective.


    This scene made the Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes light up. What a fine artifact!


    Mei Gongzi had now endured five of the forty-eight strikes, and she was rapidly evolving. Fine patterns began appearing on her Peacock Crown, and her aura waspletely transformed.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Four golden lightning bolts appeared simultaneously.


    Thanks to the time gained by the Holy ze Saber, the silver peacock had recovered again and soared into the sky. The starlight from Star Shifting was noticeably more brilliant than before. Although it was struck down again, it seemed to handle it more easily.


    This was the effect of Mei Gongzi''s evolving cultivation. As her cultivation improved, it naturally became easier for her to resist the lightning tribtion.


    Although the lightning struck her once more, Mei Gongzi''s injuries did not worsen.


    After defending a few times and even being hit once, she had some experience and was able to adjust her tactics based on it. This was a disy of her foundation and strength.


    The tribtion clouds in the sky, swirling with golden light, once again fell into temporary calm. But it was clear that the uing lightning would only be more powerful.


    Mei Gongzi opened her eyes, and a faint trace of gold shing in her pupils. She turned to look at Tang San, now somewhat understanding why he had previously told her to absorb some of the lightning. Only now did she sense the secrets of the lightning.


    Though the lightning was terrifying and powerful, when it coursed through her body, the benefits were obvious. It triggered aplete transformation, allowing her spiritual power and physique to fully integrate with one another and ascend together. Stimted by the lightning, they would continuously transform, provided they could withstand the relentless attacks.


    Tang San nodded to her. "Give it your all. I''ve got your back."


    Mei Gongzi pressed her hands lightly on the ground beside her, then leapt up, forming seals with her hands in front of her chest. Silver light flickered around her, and a vast amount of spatial power gathered around her, drawn by her evolving divine consciousness.


    The uing lightning would only grow stronger, and she didn''t know how many more there would be. But at this moment, her eyes showed a proud expression. She wanted to rely on her own strength to face this tribtion, not always depending on Tang San.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The sky resounded with deafening rumblings again. The vast tribtion clouds seemed to expand further, bringing more violent golden lightning fluctuations.


    Terrifying bolts of lightning converged in the air, six golden streaks shing almost simultaneously. In the next instant, a brilliant lightning bolt shot down.


    Mei Gongzi let out a cold snort and raised her hands united in a seal. At the same time, she stepped onto the beach, dancing gracefully against the backdrop of the lightning.


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    The spatial energy around her body moved with a special rhythm, driven by her dance. Rings of silver light transformed into ripples, blooming around her.


    Tang San could feel that a spatial energy field had formed around Mei Gongzi, containing unpredictable spatial fluctuations.


    The powerful sixfold lightning struck in and instantly disappeared. What could be seen wasyer uponyer of silver light expanding outward, carrying strands of golden lightning. In an instant, the spatial power had divided the lightning into hundreds of parts, gradually dispersing it.


    <i>What a Celestial Dance! </i>Tang San marveled inwardly, his figure flickering as he retreated to a safer distance.


    At this moment, the small ind was Mei Gongzi''s stage. Each movement seemed to embody the principles of heaven and earth, and each movement was incredibly graceful. Every step, every shift of her hands seemed to draw all the spatial energy between heaven and earth. Instead of weakening after dissolving the lightning, the rings of silver light grew even more radiant, drawing more spatial energy from the air toward her.


    Undoubtedly, having evolved into divine consciousness, her spiritual power now afforded her a new understanding of spatial power.


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked somewhat dazed as he gazed from afar. When the sixth lightning strike fell, he knew that his preparations were probably useless. This was the Celestial Dance, the true Celestial Dance! At this moment, he finally understood why his ancestor had be an Emperor while he had not.


    Spatial energy without the guidance of the Celestial Dance had no soul. At this moment, Mei Gongzi was the child of space, the master of space, and the guardian of space. Even at the peak of the eleventh order, he couldn''t do what Mei Gongzi was doing now. At this moment, she was like an heavenly maiden dancing gracefully in the heart of her own cosmos. Thousands of spatial fluctuations surrounded her, enveloping the space between heaven and earth. Compared to the golden lightning in the sky, the ever-expanding rings of silver ripples on the ground were tiny, incredibly tiny. Yet, it was these tiny silver ripples that deflected the brilliance of the golden lightning in the sky.


    Tang San gradually understood why Mei Gongzi faced the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion. Only such an incredibly sharp lightning tribtion had the potential to break through spatial barriers. Likewise, by absorbing the Golden Fiend Tribtion, Mei Gongzi''s spatial power would be more unpredictable while also gaining a sharp edge.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The seventh lightning followed almost immediately, and it was sevenfold! It was even stronger than the one before!


    Mei Gongzi, however, was unafraid. Her steps remained graceful, and the silver halos rippled; countless tiny golden lightning streaks flowed within the silver light, expanding over arger area and making the silver light even more dazzling. Mei Gongzi was always surrounded by golden light, but through countless spatial shifts, she diminished its destructive power.


    Celestial Dance, a true divine technique!


    Tang San sincerely admired her and felt slightly relieved. Such a tribtion was immensely beneficial for Mei Gongzi. She was now using not only Celestial Dance but also Star Shift at the same time. These two divine techniques were the most solid foundation of the Peacock Demon n, but how many of her nsmen could even dream of using them like this?


    There was no better time to trulyprehend them than while under the threat of such a tribtion. If she continued along this path, then once she sessfully crossed the tribtion, she would be able to integrate the two divine techniques.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Eightfold... and then ninefold! The lightning continued to fall, and Mei Gongzi resisted each strike!


    The Celestial Dance grew faster and faster, the silver halos it generated expanding from an initial diameter of ten meters to a hundred meters. Her figure became difficult to discern, but the spatial field grew increasingly powerful. The entire space within was unpredictable, bringing various marvelous changes only spatial power could create.


    At this moment, Mei Gongzi''s enlightenment regarding space had well and truly crossed the threshold into the god level. Even Tang San, who was intently watching from the side, benefited from this, and his own understanding of the Peacock Transformation gradually deepened.

 Chapter 623: Ninefold Lightning

    <h4>Chapter 623: Ninefold Lightning</h4>


    This was the true power of the Peacock Demon bloodline, a first-tier bloodline whose heirs had hopes to ascend to the rank of Emperor.


    Even among first-tier n members, extremely few had the potential to be an Emperor, and this naturally applied to the Peacock Demon n members as well. But they were all part of the same n, and the others were pure-blooded peacock demons, so why didn''t they possess the abilities Mei Gongzi was disying?


    It wasn''t just a matter of bloodline; personalprehension was necessary in order to make best use of that bloodline.


    The eyes of the Peacock could see the secrets of heavens, and mere diligent cultivation was far from sufficient, even if apanied by a pure bloodline. One needed profound insight to truly master such high-level concepts.


    Thanks to the direct teachings of the Peacock Great Demon King, the approval of the ancestral inheritance, and Tang San''s guidance, Mei Gongzi had finally reached that level ofprehension. Much unlike her peers, she was beginning to delve into the true essence of space.


    At this moment, under the baptism of the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion, herprehension deepened, and her evolution elerated thanks to the stimtion of the tribtion lightning.


    "Eight strikes make a round, and there are six rounds in total. Be careful, the second round will begin," Tang San''s voice called out, reminding Mei Gongzi that she could not getcent.


    When the ninth lightning bolt struck, Mei Gongzi felt something different. Besides the original sharpness, this lightning was also apanied by a peculiar energy. Not only was it sharp, but it felt... <i>murderous</i>, and it instantly obliterated any spatial energy it encountered.


    The lightning power could be guided outward, but the murderous energy had to be resisted. As strands of this energy struck Mei Gongzi, she clearly felt her body being invaded. They continuously attacked, trying to wreak havoc within.


    In such circumstances, all she could do was try to guide these strands of murderous energy out of her body.


    As it turned out, Star Shift could be used both externally and internally, and it once more yed a crucial role at this moment. So, if one could observe Mei Gongzi closely now, they would see swathes of golden mist rippling around her. This mist was brought about by the Golden Fiend lightning��s power.


    Tang San naturally noticed this as well, but he also realized that his Golden Armor Transformation seemed rather fond of this murderous energy��the "Golden Fiend" part in the name of the tribtion. It seemed to exert a natural force of attraction toward that energy, and as Mei Gongzi expelled it, the Golden Armor imprint absorbed it.


    This was energy brought by a top-level lightning tribtion, so it naturally had to be something special. And indeed, while absorbing the Golden Fiend energy, Tang San felt that this transcendent bloodline imprint began to evolve again. It was already at the peak of the ninth order, and it couldn��t possibly break through, but it seemed that it was still capable of evolving. Moreover, its intense bloodline fluctuations were elerating the evolution of his other bloodline imprints.


    Undoubtedly, this would move forward the timing of Tang San''s own tribtion, but an opportunity was an opportunity, and he certainly knew that some opportunities, he just <i>had</i> to take. The power of the Golden Fiend Tribtion was something beyond cultivation, beyond any other kind of power. Tang San had no qualms about absorbing this energy; it was an absolute treasure! Moreover, it seemed to be perfectlypatible with his Golden Armor Transformation, making it an ideal nourishment.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    It was still the ninefold lightning, but that peculiar golden aura was even deeper. The strikes of the second round did not increase much in sheer power, like the first round; each of the following bolts was a little stronger, but not by much. However, the murderous energy grew far more intense.


    The incredibly sharp aura had already cleared all vegetation from the small ind. Even the surrounding seawater was tinted with a golden glow, and let alone normal water, even water elemental energy was being destroyed, resulting inrge voids appearing around the ind.


    A faint smile of satisfaction appeared on Tang San''s face. Although the strong murderous energy grew stronger with each lightning strike, Mei Gongzi showed more and more proficiency with Star Shift. The murderous energy continuously bathed her, but she always managed to expel it.


    What delighted Tang San even more was that while this murderous energy wasn''t good nourishment for the Peacock Transformation, it was perfectly suitable for the White Tiger Transformation. A White Tiger''s shadow could be seen constantly leaping around Mei Gongzi''s body, absorbing the Golden Fiend energy. Its originally white fur was starting to turn golden, indicating its own transformation.


    As the White Tiger Transformation evolved, it fed back into Mei Gongzi��s physique, enhancing her physical strength. The absorption of the Golden Fiend energy naturally increased her tolerance to it.


    Mei Gongzi attracting such a powerful tribtion was, among other things, due to her possessing two bloodlines. And as she fought against the tribtion, it was only natural for both bloodlines to work together. At this moment, the benefits of the two bloodlines cooperating became fully evident, allowing Mei Gongzi to gradually understand how to integrate the Peacock Transformation with the White Tiger Transformation.


    The embryo of a top-tier powerhouse was gradually taking shape under the baptism of this tribtion.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s expression looked rather peculiar at this moment, as he watched his daughter handling such a powerful tribtion with ease. He even showed a hint of jealousy. How he wished it was him facing this tribtion! If he had possessed such abilities back then, how would he have feared the Crystal Phoenix?


    Neither he nor the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had the foundation to be Emperors originally. At one point, a tremendous opportunity appeared for avian demons, but seizing that opportunity required giving up a lot. The Peacock Great Demon King was willing to take it, but the opportunity ultimately did not fall into his hands. It was the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor who had taken it, giving up his rtionship with Su Qin!


    Had he given up the opportunity instead, it would have belonged to the Peacock Great Demon King, and he might have be an Emperor. So, over the years, the Peacock Great Demon King''s hatred for the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was no less than thetter''s hatred for him. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor hated him for stealing his wife, while he hated the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor for taking away his opportunity.


    But at this moment, the mindset of the Peacock Great Demon King began to change. He felt that even without such an opportunity, if one''s understanding of their own bloodline was profound enough and their foundation strong enough, they could still be an Emperor! His failure was due to hisck of insight... and insufficient effort. He had been wrong from the start; instead of seeking external power, he should have thoroughly developed his own bloodline power!


    Although he had never seen an Emperor crossing their divine tribtion, he firmly believed that the tribtion Mei Gongzi was facing now, and her process of crossing it, was not inferior to any Emperor''s. Given enough time, she would undoubtedly be an Emperor.


    Thinking of this, he couldn''t help but press his lips together and clench his fists. <i>Go, Little Mei, you can definitely seed!</i>


    The lightning grew stronger with each strike, and the murderous energy continuously intensified, tinting the ground with ayer of gold. After this, the ind would likely be unable to grow any vegetation for a long time.


    The sixteenth lightning bolt crashed down, and the silver halos rippling around Mei Gongzi were almost instantly dyed gold. In that moment, her dance steps finally faltered slightly, and even the White Tiger phantom beside her froze in mid-air, turningpletely golden.


    This was the strongest strike of the second round, and the terrifying Golden Fiend energy peaked at that moment. But with that, the second round was over.


    There were still four more rounds toe.


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    Mei Gongzi looked up at the sky, slightly panting from the intense pain she was experiencing. Her body and divine consciousness alike were evolving, and they were both absorbing the energy of the tribtion, but the process was not instantaneous. She needed time to digest this energy, and she had to use Star Shift to dissipate the part she couldn��t handle.

 Chapter 624: The Sea Gods Blessing

    <h4>Chapter 624: The Sea God''s Blessing</h4>


    After two rounds of lightning strikes, her body and spirit were overflowing with energy, and she could not take in any more of it.


    But suddenly, the sky seemed to suddenly freeze, and everything around fell into a brief stillness.


    Then she heard a voice, a familiar voice.


    "Ten..."


    It was Tang San''s voice. She instinctively looked toward Tang San.


    "Nine..." At that moment, Mei Gongzi saw a seven-colored orb glowing above Tang San''s head, emitting a strange radiance. A ripple of energy surged upward, causing everything around to seem momentarily stagnant.


    As a master of space, she felt that it wasn''t the tribtion that had halted, but that she was enveloped in a special space, temporarily isted from the tribtion.


    "Eight..." Tang San''s voice sounded again, and Mei Gongzi immediately understood what he was doing. The Celestial Dance resumed, and she was fullymitted to rapidly dissipating the remaining lightning energy and Golden Fiend energy within her, quickly restoring herself to the best condition while also allowing her physique and divine consciousness to evolve.


    What Tang San was doing was buying her time; he was not neutralizing the tribtion for her, but giving her a chance to catch her breath. This allowed her to process the energy she had absorbed and regain her bearings so that she could face the uing lightning.


    "Seven..." Mei Gongzi was still absorbing energy at a fairly high rate. The energy umting within her was due to her not having enough time to digest it. Now that she had the leisure to do that, she could absorb and process at the same time without risking overload.


    "Six..." The White Tiger shadow finally regained its vitality; the golden sheen of its fur quickly receded, but its ck stripes turned a dark gold. The murderous energy condensed towards its eyes, and by this point, the White Tiger looked no longer illusory but extremely solid. It remained white, but a faint golden halo flickered around it, and its eyes werepletely golden.


    "Five..." The lightning in Mei Gongzi''s body was gone, and the halos expanding around her returned to their silver color. Her beautiful eyes grew brighter, and her long hair flowed behind her. All traces of fatigue and pain vanished, and she looked more radiant than ever.


    "Four..." Mei Gongzi took a deep breath, and her dance quickened. She suppressed the Celestial Plume, which was practically begging her to let it emerge; her hands moved in the air, rapidly gathering spatial energy.


    "Three..." The silver halos on the ground began to boil, countless spatial fluctuations appearing. Within the silver halos, some dark spatial cracks could be seen, indicating the extreme concentration of spatial energy.


    "Two..." Mei Gongzi''s delicate body floated up slightly. The golden sheen of the White Tigerpletely faded, while ayer of white light wrapped Mei Gongzi''s body, apanied by an intense murderous aura. This was not a result of the tribtion lightning, but her own murderous aura!


    "One..."


    Time flowed once more, and the roar of lightning in the sky erupted almost immediately.


    There were no scattered bolts merging into one and no other special features, either. A thick, golden lightning bolt, like a spear aimed at the earth itself, descended from the sky. As it passed, space shattered around it, causing light to distort.


    The third round, pure lightning energy! Nothing but pure lightning, without the murderous energy and explosions of the previous rounds; just a bombardment of pure lightning and the intense pressure it brought.


    Mei Gongzi thrust her hands forward, and the spatial energy around her body instantly transformed into a tornado-like silver storm, sweeping upward.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The silver light exploded, scattering into countless droplets of light, but the gold continued to fall, mming Mei Gongzi into the ground. This was the seventeenth lightning bolt, the first of the third round.


    Mei Gongzi''s expression changed slightly; she knew this couldn''t be resisted head-on. The second lightning bolt followed immediately, even more powerful than the first.


    If it hadn��t been for the ten seconds of respite Tang San provided her, Mei Gongzi felt she might not have been able to hold on now.


    As she went through the motions of the Celestial Dance, Mei Gongzi''s delicate body shifted here and there; meanwhile, a giant White Tiger soared into the sky, biting into the lightning. In the next moment, the White Tiger burned with astonishing murderous energy, shooting into the sky and dissipating along with the lightning.


    Mei Gongzi groaned in pain.


    The White Tiger''s figure reformed beside her, but it was noticeably more ethereal. This resulted from using the murderous energy she had condensed to withstand a lightning strike.


    With this buffer, the spatial fluctuations around Mei Gongzi reappeared, and dots of starlight shone brilliantly. Behind her, peacock feathers spread open; each eye of the feathers burst with dazzling silver light, which transformed into tiny stars that ascended into the sky.


    The neenth lightning bolt descended from the sky, carrying even greater destructive power. But this time, the silver light twisted, and with Star Shift, the golden lightning was instantly redirected, striking the distant void.


    The best method to deal with pure power is to dodge, and if you can��t dodge, then deflect, using minimal force[1] to redirect the strike.


    Mei Gongzi''s pretty face was flushed red, but her eyes were filled with determination. Her character was resilient; the more difficulties she faced, the higher she rose to meet them.


    Seeing this, a smile appeared on Tang San''s face. He wiped the blood flowing from his nose.


    He had already put away the Spacetime Beacon covered in Rainbow Skyfire Liquid. This was all the power he could use after refining it these past days, and in his current state, he could only use it once. But even this one use had provided Mei Gongzi with ten precious seconds of respite.


    As Mei Gongzi''s protector, his preparations were naturally extremely thorough, far more so than those of Mei Gongzi''s own father.


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    It wasn''t that the Peacock Great Demon King didn''t want to prepare for his daughter; he simply didn''t know how terrifying the tribtion she would face would be. Had it been an ordinary Peacock Demon n member instead, the tribtion would have been done long ago and wouldn''t have reached this intensity.


    Rtively speaking, among these six rounds of tribtions, the third round was actually the easiest for Mei Gongzi to withstand. The Peacock Demon n''s divine technique, Star Shift, was best at neutralizing such pure power attacks, using minimal force to send even the strongest attacks away from the user. Seeing Mei Gongzi sessfully guide the third lightning strike, Tang San understood that she shouldn''t have any problems with the third round.


    Tang San closed his eyes and took a deep breath, pulling himself back together while extending his divine consciousness into the ocean.


    The creatures around the small ind had long fled due to the arrival of the lightning tribtion. However, thanks to the seawater acting as a conduit, Tang San could still sense numerous spiritual waves belonging to the sea creatures in the distance. His divine consciousness drew inrge amounts of this residual spiritual power, which helped nurture it.


    The true difficulty of the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtiony in thest three rounds. These three rounds of lightning tribtion could turn Mei Gongzi into ashes at any moment. Relying solely on her own strength to resist them was simply impossible. And it was clear to Tang San that the tribtion descended in such a terrifying manner because the ne intended to destroy her.


    The nar ruler was not necessarily a concrete entity, but even if it was invisible, that did not mean it didn��t exist. Its role was to ensure the safety of the ne, and anything that disrupted the bnce of the ne would face its bacsh.


    It was impossible to directly fight against the entire power of the ne. But at the same time, the ne couldn''t just randomly kill a living being. It could only influence them through special events, like now��using the opportunity of the lightning tribtion topletely destroy the unpredictable factor.


    Naturally, Tang San''s tribtion would be even tougher than Mei Gongzi''s.


    1. The original here trantes as ��four ounces move a thousand pounds.�� Ites from a writing of Wang Zhongye, a legendary grandmaster of the martial art Taijiquan (aka Tai Chi), which emphasizes softness and flow rather than head-on shes. ?

 Chapter 625: God-Level Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 625: God-Level Mei Gongzi</h4>


    The lightning tribtion Mei Gongzi was facing now was based on the nar ruler��s assessment of what would be an insurmountable force for her. However, this was also the ne''s only chance to directly destroy her. If Mei Gongzi seeded in crossing the tribtion, she would truly be free to roam the vast seas and skies. Unless and until she became a peak-level Emperor, she would no longer face suppression from the ne.


    As Mei Gongzi''s protector, Tang San had naturally prepared multiple strategies. These days, he had been pondering the type of tribtion Mei Gongzi would face. Although he couldn''t precisely predict the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion, he had prepared for the worst, which was an eighth-level lightning tribtion.


    The Spacetime Beacon''s time bubble was his first card, and now he was preparing to use his second.


    The lightning bolts grew stronger one by one, but with the ten-second break earlier, Mei Gongzi''s body had undergone a more thorough transformation, and her cultivation had also increased. Her use of Star Shift became more adept, and she managed to redirect the lightning bolts around her, safely enduring strike after strike.


    Despite this, she still bled from her mouth and nose due to the impact, suffering some internal injuries.


    After the twenty-fourth lightning bolt, she finally breathed a sigh of relief; she was getting a brief moment to catch her breath. She immediately swallowed a healing elixir given to her by her father.


    But at this moment, she was surprised to find that the tribtion clouds in the sky had undergone some changes.


    The originally golden lightning seemed to darken, and its aura caused Mei Gongzi to feel short of breath. The terrifying pressure caused her expression to change.


    Not only was it <i>not</i> over yet, but the tribtion was still growing stronger, much stronger. Although her resolve remained firm, at this moment, she couldn''t help but furrow her brow.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had described many types of tribtion to her, but she was certain that the tribtion she faced now was far stronger than any her father had ever seen or heard about.


    Then Tang San''s voice rang out again.


    "The fourth round is the Destruction Tribtion. Apart from the power of the lightning increasing, it also carries a destructive aura. Prepare to absorb the power I send you."


    Each time she heard his voice, Mei Gongzi''s restless heart would be calm again.


    She turned her head to look at Tang San, seeing the blood notpletely wiped from his nose. At that moment, Tang San slowly raised his right hand, the golden trident mark on his forehead glowing brightly, radiating intense light.


    A golden light gradually appeared in his palm, forming a golden trident, though it was very ethereal.


    At that moment, even the Peacock Great Demon King noticed that in the surrounding sea, specks of azure light were rising. It was not water elemental energy, but rather a different kind of power, an incredibly pure power, rapidly converging toward the small ind.


    Tang San pointed the ethereal trident in his hand at Mei Gongzi. Instantly, behind him, a gigantic silhouette that seemed to span the heavens and earth shed and disappeared.


    Mei Gongzi saw that the gigantic silhouette, seemingly hundreds of meters tall, had long, blue hair. In the next moment, an immense energy surged into her body, enveloping her in a blue radiance.


    The tribtion clouds in the sky, now dark gold, started to churn. The onset of the fourth round was momentarily dyed.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s pupils contracted. <i>What is this?!</i>


    Then he heard a strange voice, as if from ancient times, each word seemingly containing the profound truths of heaven and earth, resonating throughout the vast surrounding sea.


    "The Sea God''s Blessing!"


    The sea shook and the water seemed to boil; more blue light surged forth, rapidly converging toward Mei Gongzi and merging into her body, forming an azure barrier around her.


    This strange power nourished her, instantly healing her injuries and absorbing the lightning tribtion energy seeping into her body. Although this mystical power did not merge with her own, at this moment, she could feel that she could utilize this power, transforming it into her own.


    <i>The Sea God''s Blessing... Was he really the Sea God in his previous life? Was he really... my husband?</i>


    A strange feeling lingered in Mei Gongzi''s mind. In that moment, she felt the warmth of someone dear protecting her. The sensation was so wonderful that she momentarily forgot she was in the middle of a tribtion.


    But the tribtion was quick to remind her.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Thunder roared above her head. When the lightning descended from the sky, it was now a dark golden color.


    The lightning, filled with a destructive aura and terrifying explosive power, fell upon her almost instantly.


    In the face of absolute power, all techniques seemed futile. The starlight shattered, Star Shift could only redirect a small portion of the power, and the silver halos driven by Celestial Dance also broke apart.


    The pure lightning power fell.


    This was a strike filled with destructive power, as if intent of destroying heaven and earth. Yet the azure barrier held up a little piece of the sky, and the earth below was protected. Mei Gongzi danced gracefully within the azure halo, continuously dissolving the destructive power. Despite the immense pressure, she barely managed to withstand it.


    <i>Boom, boom, boom!</i>


    One destructive lightning bolt after another followed, each one as heavy as a mountain, seemingly capable of annihting everything.


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    But the Endless Blue Sea rippled with azure halos. Under the Sea God''s Blessing, before the destructive lightning could strike Mei Gongzi, it was continuously filtered through theseyers of azure energy that broke down the immense energy of the tribtion. It was as if the power of the entire sea was fighting against the destructive will of the tribtion.


    Amidst the cmity, Mei Gongzi deeply felt the terrifying power of the destructive lightning, but she also sensed the vastness of the sea.


    In the seawater, there was also space. If her spatial power could be as vast as the sea, then how could any attack, no matter how powerful, affect her?


    Unconsciously, she seemed to have gained a further understanding of space. Under the influence of the destructive power, her body, which still belonged to the human realm, continued to transform; limitations were removed, and impurities were expelled. Only the sublimated power remained. What was destruction if not an opportunity to rebuild?


    Moreover, the Sea God''s Blessing brought the power of creation, the power of life. The sea, which nurtured countless beings, conveyed to her the feeling of rebirth within destruction.


    The transformation elerated, and finally, Mei Gongzi��s sublimation ended. At this moment, she hadpletely transitioned from human to divine. She was now truly at the tenth order, with her sea of consciousness fully evolved into a sea of divine consciousness and her mortal body fully transformed into a divine body. Her aura underwent a dramatic change, and the Peacock Crown on her forehead disappeared, reced by a strange light mark.


    The light mark was ethereal, with a faint glow that resembled both an eye and a feather. But it was soon engulfed by a red light that took its ce.


    Mei Gongzi''s peacock-blue hair turned back to jet ck, with a strange streak of wine red. Only one strand of hair was this color, and it gave off an indescribable sense of majesty. Her eyes also reverted to ck, deep and lively.


    She had sessfully broken through. She was a god. Moreover, her power at this point waspletely different from the ordinary Peacock Demon n��s god-level members.

 Chapter 626: The Mighty Power of Heaven and Earth

    <h4>Chapter 626: The Mighty Power of Heaven and Earth</h4>


    She could feel that at the moment shepleted her breakthrough, the Celestial Plume wanted to merge with her again, but it was forcibly blocked by the sword intent of the Asura Sword, preventing it from seeding. Meanwhile, her Peacock Demon bloodline and White Tiger bloodlinepletely merged with her human bloodline, with thetter taking the lead. The two demon bloodlines had be subservient, which was why her hair and eye color had reverted to ck.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The thirty-second destructive lightning roared violently, and the energy of the Sea God''s Blessing finally shatteredpletely at this moment. The destructive power once again bathed Mei Gongzi from head to toe, causing her body to radiate dark golden lightning.


    In the next instant, her entire body seemed to brighten, her already stunning beauty bing even more exquisite. The biggest change was in her eyes, which now held a strange brilliance. As the final destructive lightning bolt fell, some strange fragments of light and shadow seemed to appear in her newly transformed divine consciousness.


    Many of the light and shadow images were ethereal, but one was particrly clear.


    It was the image of a boy and a girl on a hill, surrounded by lush nts. The girl sat down and the boy stood behind her,bing her long hair. The girl''s pretty face was full of smiles, and the area around them was filled with blooming flowers.


    An indescribable emotion surged into Mei Gongzi''s heart. She didn''t look at the ongoing lightning tribtion; instead, turned around to look at the young man who had just invoked the Sea God''s Blessing for her and was now bleeding from his seven orifices.


    <i>It was him. That boy was him. And the girl, was that me?</i>


    For some reason, two lines of tears uncontrobly streamed from her eyes.


    Under the vast tribtion clouds, their gazes met.


    Tang San''s mind was also somewhat dazed. The transformed Mei Gongzi looked more and more like her past self. <i>Xiao Wu, have you returned?</i>


    Tears flowed, diluting the blood. At this moment, the turmoil within Tang San''s heart was indescribable.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    In the sky, the dark golden lightning changed again, this time turning into a regal purple and casting the entire tribtion cloud into a golden-purple hue.


    In the distant Kali City, countless people were looking towards this direction from high ces within the city.


    When the tribtion clouds first appeared, many strong individuals had already noticed something unusual but didn''t know what was happening.


    Was that a lightning tribtion? But why were the tribtion clouds so vast and terrifying? Even from a distance, the sea appeared to be a zone of destruction.


    Was some creature in the Endless Blue Sea undergoing a tribtion? But even Great Demon Kings didn''t dare to investigate what was happening above the sea at this time.


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    The golden-purple tribtion clouds had reached the fifth round. This was the King''s Tribtion, a baptism of majestic power between heaven and earth. It was not a force of destruction, but an oppressive force. It was a questioning by the ne, a test by the ne. <i>What gives you the right to stand in front of my majesty?</i>


    Eight purple-gold lightning bolts crisscrossed in the sky. Yes, the eight rounds were simultaneous. When they fell, they fell together, crushing everything.


    Mei Gongzi''s vision blurred, her tears tinted golden-purple by the lightning. The clear images in her mind gradually faded, while the unclear ones continued to flow in her divine consciousness.


    Was she influenced by the divine consciousness, recalling some memories of her past life? Perhaps. Was that what he described as the past? He hadn''t told her much, only that she was his wife in their previous life.


    If Mei Gongzi had initially harbored doubts, only vaguely guessing that he wasn''t lying, now she was almost certain that everything he said was true. Her own divine consciousness couldn''t deceive her. The Peacock Great Demon King had once told her that when spiritual power transformed into divine consciousness, those of her kin could often see peculiar things��some saw the future, others saw the past, and some even saw past lives. In other words, what she saw was really her past life...


    He truly loved her in their past life...


    <i>Boom!</i>


    In the sky, the eight purple-gold lightning bolts collided and converged, gradually forming a wing and roaring purple-gold lightning dragon, its aurapletely locked onto Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi raised her head, the tears in her eyes fading, reced by a hint of irritation.


    "Stop bothering me!" she shouted coldly. Her eyes turned red in an instant, and the red light mark that had just formed on her forehead burst forth. A red beam shot up, a sky-piercing pir of sword intent!


    The Holy ze Saber shatteredpletely in that moment, bing fuel and merging into the red beam. At the same time, above the tribtion clouds, beyond the nine heavens, a red beam shed instantly.


    As the sky-piercing red beam appeared, even Tang San''s face showed astonishment. The red beam, giving off a sense of righteous judgment, almost instantly pierced through the body of the purple-gold lightning dragon.


    The lightning dragon froze in mid-air, and the red beam that had pierced the nine heavens suddenly descended, merging with the red beam from Mei Gongzi''s forehead. It then fell onto her forehead, making her entire body glow with brilliant red light. In that instant, the endless sharpness emanating from Mei Gongzi even tore a huge hole in the tribtion clouds. The purple-gold King''s Tribtion shatteredpletely, swept up by the red beam and directly absorbed into Mei Gongzi��s body.


    <i>The Asura Sword!</i>


    Tang San saw the illusion of a sword. In the past, the wielder of this sword had the power to enforce the entire divine realm''sws, a power that all gods feared. It was a symbol of justice, an unparalleled transcendent divine weapon.


    When Mei Gongzi became a god, she saw shbacks of her past life, and for a moment, she saw the world through <i>those</i> eyes, as if she had regained a trace of her past self. At that moment, the sword intent within her sea of consciousness sensed the aura of its former master and used the Holy ze Saber as a sacrifice to forcibly summon a true sword light belonging to the Asura Sword.


    Even though the Asura Sword itself was in an unknown distant ce, in that instant, it had lent its power to its master.


    In front of the Asura Sword, what was the Golden Fiend Tribtion worth?


    The sky-piercing sword intent swirled around. The Celestial Plume, which had been trying to regain control in Mei Gongzi''s consciousness, instantly fellpletely silent and unmoving, like the feather it was.


    Mei Gongzi felt the aura of the Asura Sword, and for a moment, she could see yet another clear scene: a man with long blue hair holding a long red sword, cutting down a golden dragon with one strike.


    At that moment, she felt clearly and unmistakably the true power and terror of the Asura Sword. Thus, she had no qualms rejecting the advances of the Celestial Plume, following Tang San��s advice. She hade to trust his words unconditionally.


    In the sky, the purple-gold tribtion clouds surged violently. The purple hue gradually faded, but the golden lightning bolts within the dark clouds began to change. The blinding gold grew stronger, so much so that above the Endless Blue Sea, the massive tribtion clouds were fully dyed gold.


    Seeing this scene, the Peacock Great Demon King couldn''t help but shiver. Even with his level of cultivation, he felt a sense of oppression in front of this incredible power of heaven and earth. What a terrifying power it was!


    Tang San''s expression also turned grave. Without a moment of hesitation, he shed to Mei Gongzi''s side.

 Chapter 627: Fighting Together Once More

    <h4>Chapter 627: Fighting Together Once More</h4>


    The Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion had six rounds; the first five had been ovee, and what remained was the final round of tribtion lightning. And this time, there was only one strike; not only did it include the full power of the eight strikes that would have appeared normally, but it also had the special attributes of the previous rounds, allbined together!


    This was the Six Directions Lightning! It was the punishment of heaven and earth, as well as the wrath of heaven and earth!


    Sword intent surged around Mei Gongzi, but at that moment, she suddenly felt a tightness around her waist as a strong arm wrapped around her. The familiar and warm embrace made her heart quiver slightly.


    "Focus on the sword intent just now and release the sword light of the Asura Sword. It''s the only way," Tang San''s voice whispered in her ear.


    The Peacock Great Demon King saw Tang San''s left arm holding Mei Gongzi in a tight embrace and his right hand holding hers, pointing diagonally to the ground.


    A brilliant red sword light suddenly burst forth, and in an instant, that red light enveloped both Mei Gongzi and Tang San. The sword intent that was the source of the light almost instantly sensed Tang San''s divine consciousness. It did not resist but instead brought Mei Gongzi a feeling of excitement and joy. Yes��the sword light showed emotions, as if it were alive!


    The golden tribtion clouds in the sky grew brighter and brighter, and the immense pressure caused the entire small ind to crumble and break apart. Yet, Tang San held Mei Gongzi steady in ce, and within a ten-meter radius of them, the ground was entirely unaffected.


    <i>BOOM!!!</i>


    A huge golden pir of light descended from the sky, and the power of heaven and earth erupted in an instant. The strongest strike of the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion was upon them!


    At that moment, Tang San''s divine consciousness merged with Mei Gongzi''s, and theybined their strength to guide the red sword light, drawing a graceful arc.


    The Mysterious Circles of Heaven!


    A red moon seemed to appear on the ground, colliding with the golden pir of light descending from the sky. The gold engulfed the two figures below almost instantly, and between heaven and earth, it seemed as if only the golden pir connected the sky and the earth.


    In the moment before the lightning struck, the Peacock Great Demon King had already teleported far away, because he could clearly sense that the power was capable of directly obliterating!


    His face had turned ashen, for he had no idea whether Mei Gongzi and Tang San could withstand such an attack. At the same time, he was kicking himself internally for not realizing it earlier.


    <i>What Sea God��s emissary? What Tang San? Well, maybe he is also whatever Tang San, and maybe he really is an emissary of whatever Sea God, but he is without a question Asura! That exins a lot...</i>


    Yes, Asura had not died; no matter how his appearance or hair color changed, the way he executed that divine technique together with Mei Gongzi could not be faked, and to the Peacock Great Demon King, the sight of him holding her hand and jointly tracing that arc could not be any more familiar. This was what had brought them victory in the Ancestral Court��s Elite Competition!


    At this moment, they were using the power of that unknown, mighty divine artifactbined with their divine technique. Could that help them withstand the final, terrifying thunderstorm?


    The Peacock Great Demon King did not know. He could not imagine the kind of devastation this attack would bring��it was an attack that could easily rival the full-power strike of an Emperor!


    At this moment, the entire Kali City was in turmoil. When the lightning tribtion descended, even Kali City was bathed in golden light, and the Endless Blue Sea shimmered with gold. The sheer pressure of the tribtion clouds actually forced the sea level down by more than a meter, across hundreds upon hundreds of kilometers!


    The golden light in the sky gradually receded and the clouds dissipated. Yet even after they had entirely vanished, the sun in the sky seemed somewhat pale and dim, giving off none of the heat they had felt before the tribtion.


    What a terrifying force that was!


    The Peacock Great Demon King hovered dazedly in mid-air, feeling somewhat disoriented. Was that truly just a lightning tribtion? He repeatedly asked himself this question. Could the power of a lightning tribtion be this overwhelming?


    Yet realityy bare before him, and whether it defied imagination or not, it was still reality. Thinking back, his so-called preparations were simplyughable; he had never imagined that a tribtion could be so powerful, and naturally, the measures he had in store were woefully inadequate.


    Silver light flickered as he teleported back to the ind... or rather, where the ind <i>had once been</i>. It was no more.


    The ind hadpletely vanished, leaving only the endless, turbulent sea.


    And Mei Gongzi and Tang San��s figures had also vanished.


    <i>Have they... Have they been annihted?</i>


    If that was the case, then all his years of nning had been for nothing, and the Peacock Demon n was doomed.


    He never imagined the problem would arise during Mei Gongzi��s lightning tribtion. What seemed like an unlikely issue had turned into such a huge w.


    Failure and death during a lightning tribtion was not something out of the ordinary, let alone for such a terrifying tribtion like the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion. But for the Peacock Great Demon King, it was simply impossible to ept.


    Just then, a head emerged from the water.


    The Peacock Great Demon King was startled and focused his gaze. It was a head with slightly disheveled ck hair. Then he saw a handbing through it and revealing a beautiful face. It was Mei Gongzi.


    At this moment, her face was pale, and her eyes were dull. She struggled to pull someone else up from the water... or rather <i>something</i>, something that looked a lot less like a person and more like a lump of charcoal. The Peacock Great Demon King had never seen someone this charred in his entire life, and he couldn��t even tell if the body still had some life in it or was just a dead body.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Little Mei!" the Peacock Great Demon King shouted and instantly shed to her, diving into the water to support the exhausted Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi��s lips trembled as she weakly said, "Save him, save..." Before she could finish the sentence, her head slumped, and she lost consciousness.


    The Peacock Great Demon King held her with one hand and grasped the lump of charcoal with the other. Even though Mei Gongzi was unconscious, she still clung tightly to it.


    The Peacock Great Demon King could feel Mei Gongzi��s condition; she was fine, just exhausted. Both her bloodline fluctuation and divine consciousness were intact. On the other hand, the condition of the other person was truly uncertain.


    <i>As long as my daughter is safe!</i>


    Activating his full power, he instantly brought everyone away.


    Without the pressure of the tribtion, the sea soon returned to normal. An hourter, several enormous figures silently emerged from the sea in the area where the tribtion had urred. They all exuded immense power, yet their eyes now reflected nothing but fear.


    Mei Gongzi was deeply unconscious, and she dreamed. In her dream, she seemed to see many vivid scenes. She saw many strange beings and colorful auras surrounded them.


    "Ah!" It seemed something terrifying had happened, causing her to awaken and sit up suddenly.


    She gasped for breath and then, to her astonishment, realized she was now in her room.


    <i>Was it a nightmare?</i>


    She straightened her body, her gaze nk as she struggled to recover from the previous terror.


    <i>What did I dream about?</i> She pondered, but she couldn��t remember anything from the dream.


    <i>No, that��s not right. I��m in my room. But wasn��t I undergoing the lightning tribtion? Yes! I was trying to achieve godhood....</i>


    With a mere thought, she instantly appeared on the floor, on the other side of the room.


    She could clearly feel the difference within her. A silver aura immediately manifested around her as soon as she moved, encircling her.

 Chapter 629: You Have To Keep Your Promise!

    <h4>Chapter 629: You Have To Keep Your Promise!</h4>


    Whether there was a past-life connection between them or not, a man willing to sacrifice so much for her and being so exceptional left her with no reason to hesitate.


    "Tang San, Tang San, can you hear my voice? I seeded in my tribtion, did you know?" Mei Gongzi softly called to him, sitting by the bed.


    Of course, the charred Tang San couldn''t respond, but Mei Gongzi just continued to speak softly. "Please get better, okay? It really scares me to see you like this. No matter what happened before, all I know is that in this life, I can''t be without you. Whether you''re Asura or Tang San, as long as you recover, I want you by my side, and I''ll always be by yours."


    Su Qin stood nearby, listening to her daughter''s heartfelt words, seemingly reminded of something. She sighed softly and slowly withdrew, leaving the room for the two of them.


    @@novelbin@@


    Mei Gongzi gently caressed Tang San''s carbonized hand, her eyes dreamy. "The first time I saw you, you came to buy milk tea. You kept looking at me, and I saw you seemed to be crying. If we really had a past-life connection, you must have recognized me then, right? You were so weak back then.


    "After that, I always saw you in the milk tea shop or at the academy. I''ve always felt close to you, and I could never understand why. I was always on guard against everyone, but not against you, and I could not understand why that was the case. Thinking back, if what you said about our past-life connection is true, then everything makes sense. It was the bond from our past lives, wasn��t it?


    "Then you put on a mask and you became Asura. You were right; if Tang San had shown the abilities of Asura back then, I would have thought he was a monster. So you hid your identity. But maybe it was because of that strange feeling toward Tang San that I always kept a distance from Asura, even though he was always helping me. Until now... When I participated in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition with Asura, I gradually got to know him and felt his selfless kindness towards me. But even then, I never thought of him romantically; I just wanted to see him as an older brother. Perhaps it was because Tang San''s image was always somewhere in the back of my mind. Do you know how anxious I was when I couldn''t find you after I finished my seclusion?


    "You were right. Returning to me as just Tang San would��ve been better than telling me you were Asura. Given my affection for Tang San, I probably would have slowly epted you by my side. But you just... You couldn''t bear to let me be sad.... My heart was confused then, and I often wondered if past-life connections were real or if you��re just making up a story. But during this tribtion, when you stood behind me again and held my hand, all my doubts and uncertainties disappeared. Tang San or Asura, or my past-life husband, you were the one by my side.


    "I don''t know what we felt for each other and how we were with each other in our past life, but you said you gave up your position and power as a God King to reincarnate for me. I believe you, and I believe you love me, so please get better soon. I will try to be with you in this life. During my tribtion, as my divine consciousness transformed, I saw some things... I think I saw things from our past life. I''m willing, I��m really willing. In this life, I''m willing to be with you as well. As long as you recover. You promised me to always stay by my side and always protect me. You have to keep your promise!"


    Tears fell drop by drop onto Tang San''s charred arm as Mei Gongzi cried like a pear blossom bathed in the rain.


    Tang San was lying there quietly, like a good lump of charcoal, but suddenly, his lips twitched slightly, causing the charred skin at the corner of his mouth to make a light cracking sound.


    Although Mei Gongzi was crying, her now-god-level senses were incredibly sharp. She heard the sound and instinctively raised her head.


    She saw Tang San''s mouth cracking open. Yes, it was not just opening, but cracking open. This scene shocked her so much that her tears stopped flowing, instead hanging by her eyshes like little glittering crystals.


    Apanied by a series of light cracking sounds, the crack began to extend backward, gradually reaching his earlobe. Then, another crack appeared, extending upward toward his nose. The cracking sounds became increasingly loud.


    Mei Gongzi didn''t even dare to breathe at this moment, fearing that he might just shatter and die right in front of her.


    The weak but steady sound of a heartbeat echoed, and suddenly, with a <i>crack</i>, a piece of charred skin fell from Tang San''s face, revealing tender, pinkish-red skin underneath.


    <i>What the...</i>


    Then another piece of charred skin cracked open, seemingly about to slide off his cheek.


    Mei Gongzi cautiously reached out her hand, pinching the piece of charred skin and carefully lifting it off, only to reveal another patch of tender skin.


    She didn''t dare to apply force, but she seemed to understand. She gently pressed along the cracks in the charred skin, and sure enough, the charredyer all over Tang San''s body broke apart like a hard shell, falling off in pieces.


    Mei Gongzi didn''t care that her hands looked as if she was cleaning chimneys for a living. She peeled off piece after piece of charred skin, and soon, Tang San''s face was fully exposed.


    The tender skin looked incredibly delicate, with faint traces of blood, but it waspletely undamaged. The only thing missing was the hair on his head. His hair and eyebrows were all gone, leaving his bald head looking like a peeled egg.


    Listening to his steady heartbeat and looking at the tender skin under the charred shell, Mei Gongzi felt a sense of relief. Seeing his bald head, she couldn''t help but chuckle, and the tears in her eyes fell onto his body.


    Tang San''s lips moved, and a faint voice came out, "You said you were willing, better keep your word." Although his voice was very soft, Mei Gongzi heard it clearly.


    Her pretty face flushed with embarrassment. She raised her hand to hit him but couldn''t bring herself to do it.


    "You, you bad guy, you woke up a long time ago, didn''t you? You did it on purpose to scare me." Mei Gongzi pouted, but Tang San''s heartbeat weakened in the next instant.


    Mei Gongzi was startled. She knew how powerful the lightning tribtion had been. She hurriedly said, "I''ll keep my word, I promise. Don''t scare me!"


    The heartbeat returned to normal.


    Mei Gongzi was momentarily stunned and then felt a mix of emotions. <i>You little... Ugh!</i>


    But regardless of her changing emotions, she still carefully peeled off the charred pieces from his body, revealing more skin.


    The tender skin on his face, once exposed to the air, gradually returned to normal, bing fair and smooth. Even Mei Gongzi, who had excellent skin, couldn''t help but feel a bit envious. Of course, right now, she had the absolute advantage in terms of hair.


    Tang San looked much better as the charred shell pieces fell off, but more and more of his skin was being exposed. At first, Mei Gongzi didn''t think much due to the excitement of Tang San''s safety. However, as she peeled off the charred shell past his chest, revealing his firm chest muscles, and then started to move toward his abdomen, her face began to blush.

 Chapter 632: Spiritual Interaction

    <h4>Chapter 632: Spiritual Interaction</h4>


    Her divine consciousness quietly entered Tang San''s sea of consciousness without encountering any obstacles. She could vaguely feel that there seemed to be a bridge between their spiritual worlds. As her divine consciousness approached his sea of consciousness, this bridge naturally connected them, even guiding her divine consciousness into his inner sea of consciousness.


    At this moment, Tang San''s sea of consciousness appeared empty, with his spiritual power thin and his mental fluctuations weak. Mei Gongzi cautiously extended her divine consciousness further inside and was immediately shocked.


    Although Tang San''s spiritual power was depleted, his sea of consciousness was simply... boundless. He hadn''t even be a god yet, and his sea of consciousness was already this expansive?


    As her divine consciousness entered, the sword intent of the Asura Sword in Mei Gongzi''s own sea consciousness seemed to ripple slightly, and a trace of the Asura Sword''s sword intent apanied her divine consciousness into Tang San��s sea of consciousness.


    With the arrival of the sword intent, Tang San''s spiritual power began to stir, as if stimted, subtly undergoing some changes.


    Mei Gongzi silently sensed that Tang San''s spiritual power seemed to be recovering and rising due to the influence of the Asura Sword. That minute amount of energy from the sword seemed to actually substitute his spirit core, elerating the recovery of his spiritual power.


    What was going on? Was it because their spiritual powers were connected? Or was it due to their past interactions? Or perhaps it was the result of their past-life connection?


    Her guesses weren''t entirely urate. Tang San''s very special state was the most important reason for this change. His divine consciousness had been greatly depleted, and the remaining spiritual power had nothing to give it a direction. Although Tang San was conscious, he could only gradually allow his spiritual power to recover.


    But when Mei Gongzi''s divine consciousness entered, it was different. The Asura Sword wasn''t just a divine weapon she controlled in her past life; it was also Tang San''s divine weapon!


    The Asura Sword had never abandoned Tang San, so when it entered his sea of consciousness, it was likeing home.


    Due to his weakened divine consciousness, Tang San found it difficult to do anything with his spiritual power. However, with the arrival of the Asura Sword''s aura, it took over the task of guiding his spiritual power, naturally mobilizing, reviving, and gathering it. It even began to convert it into divine consciousness.


    Tang San felt his sea of consciousness surging violently, making him feel more alert and overjoyed. His spiritual power fluctuated as guided by the sword intent; the remaining bit of divine consciousness returned to the center of his spiritualndscape, and the scattered spiritual power gathered around it.


    If he had to do this himself, it might have taken up to half a month toplete. But with the Asura Sword''s aura, it was done in mere minutes.


    If Tang San wished, he could wake up right now. From here on, the recovery of his spiritual power and divine consciousness would go swimmingly.


    Mei Gongzi could naturally sense the positive changes in Tang San''s spiritual power. She decided to remain still, keeping her divine consciousness within Tang San''s sea of consciousness while observing its changes.


    Gradually, Mei Gongzi noticed that Tang San��s spiritual power was starting to coil into a vortex around her divine consciousness. The sword intent of the Asura Sword grew even stronger, guiding more and more spiritual power to recover.


    As his spiritual power grew stronger, Tang San''s sea of consciousness gradually brightened. Yet Mei Gongzi''s divine consciousness did not feel out of ce there; it seemed a natural part of it. In fact, Mei Gongzi could even feel her own divine consciousness receiving some feedback, bing increasingly active.


    She didn''t know how much time had passed, but a small crystal slowly appeared in the center of Tang San''s sea of consciousness, growing from a tiny point and gradually bingrger.


    That was Tang San''s spirit core, with his divine consciousness at its center. Although the spirit core was very small and the internal divine consciousness nothing but a speck of dust, it had finally been restored. From here on, it really was just a matter of time; even without the presence of the sword intent, Tang San''s recovery wouldn''t be any slower than usual.


    Of course, with the sword intent present, things would go much faster. At the same time, Mei Gongzi''s divine consciousness effectively assisted in converting Tang San''s spiritual power into divine consciousness, saving Tang San a significant amount of time.


    Thus, Mei Gongzi clearly sensed Tang San''s spirit core gradually erging and his sea of consciousness stabilizing. The process was wondrous��she felt as if she were in the process of creating a world, and she had just created its core.


    Gradually, as the spirit core erged to a certain extent, Mei Gongzi vaguely saw a trace of golden light emerge. After its appearance, the sword intent of the Asura Sword seemed stimted, interacting with it and releasing even more power. The growth rate of Tang San''s spirit core further increased, and his sea of consciousness gradually felt full.


    The spiritual interaction between Tang San and Mei Gongzisted a full day and night. When Tang San''s sea of consciousness was once again filled with spiritual power and his spirit core had returned to its original size, Mei Gongzi finally withdrew her divine consciousness.


    When she opened her eyes and looked at Tang San, she found that hisplexion was rosy, and his breathing was long and steady; he was clearly much, much better.


    She was amazed at how she could help him recover in such a way, but the thing that surprised her the most was that Tang San had no defenses against her divine consciousness. One��s sea of consciousness was bound to strongly reject any foreign intrusion, yet she had experienced nothing of the kind. On the contrary, the feeling of their divine consciousnesses interacting without barriers gave her a particrly wonderful sensation. The spiritual contact was so unimpeded that it was almost as if they were physically baring themselves to each other.


    Meanwhile, in just one day, Tang San''s hair and eyebrows had grown out a bit, making him look less like an egg. His facial features were soft yet well-defined. Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but stare at him in a daze.


    His spiritual power had mostly recovered, and now, it was slowly being refined into divine consciousness. Mei Gongzi didn''t know to what extent his divine consciousness needed to recover to return to its original state. However, she could feel that the fluctuations of his internal energy were growing stronger with the recovery of his spiritual power, even stronger than before.


    In the following days, she stayed by Tang San''s side, using the sword intent of the Asura Sword and her divine consciousness to help him stimte his spirit core and convert spiritual power into divine consciousness.


    However, Tang San did not wake up; he seemed to be in a kind of deep meditation.


    Finally, Mei Gongzi��s big day arrived.


    Her mother had alreadye twice to call her.


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    Mei Gongzi looked at Tang San on the bed and said softly, "Rest well. I have to attend the ceremony and be the leader of the Peacock Demon n. I''lle back to see you after that. Take care and wake up soon, okay? If you��re awake when I return... that��ll be the best gift for me. Don''t worry, things will go smooth. I��m not the same old me, and for the time being, it��s my turn to protect you."


    She touched the stubble that had just grown on his head, feeling a slight itch in her palm.


    "You know, you look really cute right now, my little encyclopedia." With a light chuckle, Mei Gongzi stood up and returned to her room to prepare.

 Chapter 633: The Ceremony Begins

    <h4>Chapter 633: The Ceremony Begins</h4>


    Today was an extremely important day for her and the entire Peacock Demon n, as it would determine the future of their entire race.


    Kali City was unusually quiet today. Yes, quiet.


    The change of the n leader was undoubtedly the most important event for Kali City. However, many days ago, rumors had already begun to spread that the sessor chosen by the Peacock Great Demon King was a human. How could a human lead the Peacock Demon n? How could a human be the ruler of Kali City? This was something the Ancestral Court would not tolerate, a disgrace to Kali City.


    Various scattered rumors were flying around, and the Peacock Demon n''s officials did not rify anything.


    Then, the event was postponed for five days.


    The previous intense energy fluctuation over the sea was rumored to be heavenly punishment, a divine retribution for the Peacock Demon n''s wrong decision. Thus, even though today was the appointed day, there was no bustling scene. Anyone with eyes could see that this was going to turn into a very serious internal conflict. Hence, many great nobles had strictly ordered their nsmen not to go out today and to stay at home.


    The great nobles of Kali City were now divided into three factions. One faction naturally supported the Peacock Great Demon King. For example, the Aetherhorn Deers and Golden Deers were part of this faction��they had been closely tied to the Peacock Great Demon King since the beginning, and they would share in his glory and loss.


    Then there was the neutral faction, which was thergest. Some didn''t fully understand the situation and only knew that the Peacock Great Demon King''s chosen sessor was a daughter with human blood, not a pureblooded descendant.


    Lastly, there was the opposition faction. The opposition came from within the Peacock Demon n, and their voices had been present for a long time but were always suppressed by the Peacock Great Demon King. And today, as the inheritance ceremony was about to begin, all conflicts would have no other choice but to erupt.


    Therefore, Kali City was seething with undercurrents at this moment, and these undercurrents could turn into monstrous waves at any time.


    ***


    Mei Gongzi put on a silver gown, the most authentic noble attire of the Peacock Demon n. It was long enough that it trailed behind her, and silver patterns adorned every corner of the luxurious gown.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had told her that their ancestor, the Peacock Demon Emperor, wore a simr gown when inheriting the throne.


    When the tall and graceful Mei Gongzi donned the gown, she looked stunningly beautiful.


    "Are you ready?" The Peacock Great Demon King was also dressed in grand attire today, wearing a silver robe and a crown on his head. This was the crown of the Peacock Demon n''s leader, the supreme symbol of the position��a divine artifact known as the Celestial Star Crown.


    Mei Gongzi looked at her father and smiled, "There''s nothing to prepare."


    "Good! After today, you will be the leader of the Peacock Demon n. Remember your promise to me: no matter what happens in the future, you must protect our n."


    Mei Gongzi nodded. At this moment, her emotions were also surging. But amidst the excitement, she felt a tinge of sadness. She couldn''t forget the vision she saw when she first gained the approval of the Celestial Plume, where he was by her side as she was admired by all and other ns submitted to her. Unfortunately, now he was bedridden.


    Taking a deep breath to calm her emotions, she thought, <i>Let''s finish this so I can return to him.</i>


    In front of the ancestral castle of the Peacock Demon n was a wide za, trapezoidal in shape. It was now richly decorated, as appropriate for such a ceremony. A high tform stood on the za near the castle, facing Kali City. A red carpet extended from the castle to the tform, and on both sides of the tform, seats were neatly arranged. The left side was filled with members of the Peacock Demon n, while the right side had representatives from the various noble families of Kali City.


    The weather was excellent today. Sunlight bathed the za, and the grand castle and mountains behind it created a solemn yet vibrant atmosphere.


    The most prestigious Kali City figures and the highest-ranking members of the Peacock Demon n sat in the front rows on either side of the za. However, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive and heavy.


    The noble spectators whispered among themselves, but kept their voices low. Their expressions were varied��some worried, some excited, and some frowning.


    On the side of the Peacock Demon n, the atmosphere was particrly heavy. The elders sitting in the front row had solemn expressions and spoke little.


    Sitting in the first seat in the front row was a beautiful woman who appeared to be in her forties. She wore a splendid silver gown, her eyes closed as if in meditation. Even just sitting there, she exuded a majestic aura that spoke volumes of her strength and status.


    This was the consort of the Peacock Great Demon King��second only to the Peacock Great Demon King in terms of status.


    Many of the great nobles across the za frequently nced in her direction. Whether today''s ceremony would proceed smoothly depended greatly on her. This consort held a pivotal position in the n, as she was the one who inherited the direct bloodline of the former Peacock Demon Emperor.


    @@novelbin@@


    Yes, although the Peacock Great Demon King was also from the main bloodline, he was not actually a direct descendant of the Peacock Demon Emperor. In other words, he had not been chosen to inherit the throne because his ancestors were the most outstanding. Rather, his ability to secure the throne was inseparable from this consort, a direct descendant of the n��s only Emperor. The Peacock Great Demon King had secured his position with her support.


    This consort was also the chief elder of the Peacock Demon n, and a peak-level Great Demon King second only to her husband in power.


    Thirty-six burly bear race warriors blew thirty-six horns, the deep reverberations marking the prelude to the ceremony.


    Immediately, the entire za fell silent, and the consort sitting in the first seat on the left finally opened her eyes. Her gaze was very calm, and no emotions were visible on her fair visage.


    The second horn resounded, its sound carrying far, clearly audible even in the farthest corners of Kali City.


    The third horn resounded, and all the nobles present, including those from the Peacock Demon n, stood up.


    The three horn sts signified the official start of the ceremony. The castle gates slowly opened at this moment, drawing the attention of everyone present.


    Elegantly dressed, Mei Gongzi held the Peacock Great Demon King''s arm, walking slowly out of the castle and toward the back of the tform.


    The horns sounded once more. The Peacock Great Demon King walked up the tform with the support of his daughter. On their side, the Peacock Demon n members disyed their magnificent tail feathers in full bloom.


    As they ascended the tform, all the spectators present slightly bowed their heads to the Peacock Great Demon King. Only the consort remained upright, her gaze calm as she watched the father and daughter onstage.


    The horns sounded one final time. The Peacock Great Demon King''s gaze swept over all the spectators present, first looking to the left at the members of the Peacock Demon n, and then to the right at the nobles from the ns associated with them.


    "Today is the most important event for our n. I am thankful to all the guests who havee to witness it!" The Peacock Great Demon King''s voice was deep and carried far. The nobles on the right side bowed once more in salute.

 Chapter 635: The Elders Choice

    <h4>Chapter 635: The Elders'' Choice</h4>


    The Peacock Great Demon King waved his hand and said, "No need to reconsider. Peacock Demon n, all elders step forward."


    With hismand, the elders sitting in the front row on the Peacock Demon n''s side all stood up.


    @@novelbin@@


    To be an elder, one needed to have reached godhood. At this moment, there were sixteen elders of the Peacock Demon n standing up. Including the queen consort, there were seventeen. This meant that apart from the Peacock Great Demon King, the n boasted at least seventeen god-level experts, among them some Great Demon Kings as well.


    The elders bowed slightly to the Peacock Great Demon King.


    The Peacock Great Demon King calmly said, "ording to the queen consort, over eighty percent of you do not think Little Mei is suitable to inherit the position of n leader. Do eighty percent of you oppose me as the n leader?"


    Wang Han, one of the Great Demon Kings, stepped forward and respectfully said, "n Leader, as you just mentioned, under your leadership, our n has prospered for thirty years, and Kali City has flourished. This is all thanks to you. We would never oppose you; no one is more qualified to be the leader of the Peacock Demon n than you. However, what Her Majesty said reflects our thoughts as well. The bloodline of the Peacock Demon n needs to remain pure, so we hope the position of n leader can be inherited by a pure-blooded member."


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at Wang Han, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Cousin, I didn''t expect even you to question my decision. Do you know why I chose Little Mei to inherit the throne? It''s not out of any personal motive. It''s because only she can lead the Peacock Demon n forward. Only she can give the n a real chance to reach the pinnacle again."


    Wang Han lowered his head and did not speak further. But his stance was clear.


    The Peacock Great Demon King then looked at the queen consort. "To impeach me and overturn my decision, you need eighty percent of the elders, right? You must be quite confident. So, let''s proceed. If fourteen elders oppose me, then the ceremony ends here, and so does my leadership."


    Upon hearing his words, the queen consort was shocked. She had indeed prepared for this, but she had never intended to impeach the Peacock Great Demon King. Whether in the Peacock Demon n or in Kali City, his prestige could hardly be any higher, and she did not want to break ties with her husband. She was confident in preventing him from passing the position of n leader to Mei Gongzi, but she could not possibly strip him of his title. Moreover, if he weren''t mortally wounded, she might not even achieve the former.


    Looking at the calm Peacock Great Demon King, however, she suddenly realized that perhaps her confidence might be misced.


    At this moment, the Peacock Great Demon King gave her no time to ponder, and coldly said, "Elders who support Little Mei inheriting the position of n leader, step to the right. Those who do not, stay where you are. We will decide things today, and we will do it out in the open."


    With these words, the elders couldn''t help but look up at the Peacock Great Demon King.


    The queen consort turned around, looking intently at the elders.


    Wang Han raised his head, his gazeplicated and his expression bitter as he looked at the Peacock Great Demon King. "Your Majesty, I am sorry."


    The Peacock Great Demon King ignored him, his expression calm as he looked at the other elders.


    At that moment, among the sixteen elders, a figure slowly stepped forward, moving to the right.


    As this figure stepped out, both the queen consort��s and Wang Han''s pupils constricted instantly. Wang Han eximed, "Sister Yu, you..."


    Yes, the one who stepped out first was none other than Wang Yu, Wang Han''s younger sister, who was also at the Great Demon King level.


    When the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor arrived, she and her brother Wang Han fought against the two Phoenix Great Demon Kings together. Now, she was the first to step out... on the side opposing her brother.


    Wang Yu moved to the right without hesitation, then looked at her brother with a calm gaze. "I support His Majesty��s decisions because his decisions are correct. Ask yourselves, has the n leader made any wrong decisions in the past thirty years? <i>Any?</i> Brother, you should understand my words the most. I know that if today''s ceremony doesn''t seed, our nephew will be the most likely to inherit the throne. But I cannot go against the n leader''s will. I''m sorry."


    As it turned out, the reason Wang Han sided with the queen consort was the queen consort��s promise��as long as Mei Gongzi did not inherit the throne, the heir would be Wang Han''s son.


    The queen consort''s biggest weakness was that each of the sons born to her and the Peacock Great Demon King was worse than thest. For example, Wang Yan was one of the more outstanding ones among the legitimate sons, which... well, said it all.


    But Wang Han''s situation was different. He had a son who was seven years older than Mei Gongzi. He was truly outstanding, and had been strictly taught by Wang Han since childhood. Now, he had considerable strength; in fact, he could be considered the best among his peers. Wang Han had always supported the Peacock Great Demon King, but in such times, who wouldn''t look after their own personal interests?


    What he��d never expected was that his sister would stand against him. His face turned every color of the rainbow, and he simply couldn��t find any words to say.


    While he stood there in stupefaction, several figures slowly walked out. Led by the one who appeared to be the oldest among elders��third-highest in rank after Wang Han and his sister��no fewer than seven people moved to the right side.


    Out of seventeen elders, nine now stood on the right, indicating their support for the n leader.


    The queen consort had remained perfectly calm until now, but when she saw this scene, she turned pale. Although she had guessed there might be issues when the Peacock Great Demon King announced a public decision, she hadn''t expected that more than half of the elders would choose to side with her husband. These elders had previouslymunicated their support for her! How could this be...


    "Second Uncle, didn''t you say that bloodline purity is the most important?" the queen consort couldn''t help but say to the third-ranked elder.


    The elder sighed and said, "His Majesty gave me a reason I couldn''t refute. I believe that His Majesty''s decisions are indeed for the future of our n."


    "You..." the queen consort was so angry that she turned to the Peacock Great Demon King, "I wonder if His Majesty can also give me a reason I can''t refute!"


    The Peacock Great Demon King sighed and said, "Even if I did, you still wouldn��t agree with my decision, so what''s the point?"


    His cold gaze swept over the elders who still stood on the queen consort''s side.


    "We are facing a great enemy, and each of you should know that the biggest problem for our nes from the outside, from those who want to upy Kali City. Yet, despite knowing this, you disregard the fundamental interests of our n and oppose them for your selfish gains. Are you intent on driving our Peacock Demon n to its destruction?"


    For a moment, those elders were speechless. Under the immense pressure of the Peacock Great Demon King''s powerful aura, their faces looked rather unpleasant.


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at the queen consort again, "The results of the selection are out now. It appears that I will not be impeached today, Grand Elder."


    The queen consort said coldly, "That is fine by me, but our n has rules. If there are objections to the n leader''s heir, the elders'' council can request the Hundred Birds Greet the Sun[1] ceremony to determine whether the heir has the right to inherit."


    The Peacock Great Demon King said calmly, "Are you sure you want to do this? You should know that proposing Hundred Birds Greet the Sun means challenging the authority of the n leader. If you fail, the proposing elder will be stripped of their position and bear all the consequences."


    1. The original phrase is actually ��hundred birds pay homage to the phoenix,�� and it��s a four-character idiom (chengyu) often used as a blessing, because it refers to an extraordinary person to whom everyone must bow. However, the author actually reces the ��phoenix�� character with the ��sun/yang�� character, clearly to serve as a reminder that the phoenix is not necessarily the king of birds in this novel. ?

 Chapter 636: Hundred Birds Greet the Sun

    <h4>Chapter 636: Hundred Birds Greet the Sun</h4>


    The queen consort said faintly, "When you denied my child his rightful position, did you ever think about the sadness in a mother''s heart? Without my support, how could you have ever be the n leader back then? Yet for a human woman, you��re even willing to let someone who��s not even a pure-blooded member of the n inherit your position. How can you face our ancestors?"


    As she spoke, the queen consort made a grasping motion in the air with her right hand, and a silver scepter appeared in her grasp. The silver scepter looked magnificent, adorned with a silver peacock head, and behind the head, silver feathers spread out like a fan.


    "I, the Grand Elder of the Peacock Demon n, request that the Heir Apparent undergo the Hundred Birds Greet the Sun Ceremony," she said, raising the scepter high.


    Seeing the scepter, all the Peacock Demon n members present, including the Peacock Great Demon King, slightly bowed.


    This scepter was part of the inheritance from the Peacock Great Demon Emperor, a divine artifact and a symbol of her. Although the n leader''s position wasn''t always passed to her direct descendants, it was these direct descendants that inherited the scepter, so that her contributions to the Peacock Demon n may never be forgotten. One of these descendants would be the grand elder of the n, and their role was to bnce the n leader''s power.


    The current Grand Elder, however, had be the n leader��s wife, which resulted in power being centralized. Had he been a poor leader, that would have been problematic, but it turned out to be the exact opposite; this union allowed the Peacock Great Demon King to implement his policies unimpeded and bring massive prosperity to the Peacock Demon n.


    @@novelbin@@


    With that said, the queen consort was not exaggerating. Without her support, it would not have been easy for the Peacock Great Demon King to be the n leader.


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at the scepter with aplex expression on his face. He sighed softly and said, "Must it be this way?"


    The queen consort''s gaze was stubborn, "Yes, it must be this way. If the Hundred Birds Homing Ceremony proves me wrong, I am willing to resign from the position of Grand Elder and ept any punishment. If I am right, then we will need a new n leader."


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at her, his voice suddenly softer, "All these years, I indeed have many things to apologize to you for. But ever since the Crystal Phoenix posed a great threat to me back then, I had to make some decisions. And some things I couldn''t tell you. If I tell you now that the one I have always loved is only you, would you believe it?"


    The queen consort looked at him coldly, "n leader, this is our n''s most important inheritance ceremony. Don��t taint it with lies that even you don''t believe. You love me? If you loved me, how could you focus all your attention on that woman? How could you let <i>her daughter</i> be your heir? If you truly loved me, you should have devoted all your efforts to nurturing our children, not let things go and focus all your energy on a half-blood mutt. My mind is made up; the ceremony must be held. Unless she voluntarily gives up her rights, the ceremony must be held!"


    "I ept!" Mei Gongzi said coldly, her face icy.


    The Peacock Great Demon King did not look at Mei Gongzi; his gaze remained fixed on the queen consort. His eyes showed aplex glimmer as he sighed deeply and said, "All these years, I''ve owed you a lot, and I''m afraid I won''t have the time to repay you. But since you��re set on having Hundred Birds Greet the Sun, very well then!"


    After saying this, his expression returned to normal. He cast a dignified gaze over all the onlookers and said in a deep voice, "The Hundred Birds Greet the Sun ceremony is our n''s ultimate test for the n leader. Within three days, any n member can challenge the Heir Apparent. The Heir Apparent cannot refuse any challenge. There will be a break of one feather''s time between each fight."


    Many of the outsiders weren��t aware of the actual significance of Hundred Birds Greet the Sun. It was the highest-level recognition battle for the n leader, and it was not something that only the Peacock Demon n did; it wasmon to all avian demon ns.


    The inheritance of a n was of utmost importance. When there were disagreements within the n, there were multiple ways to resolve them, and Hundred Birds Greet the Sun was the harshest of them all. No one outside of the council of elders even had the right to propose it. Moreover, regardless of the result, that elder had to endure severe punishment from the n. If the ceremony proved that the heir was unqualified, the punishment would be light; the elder would get away with a p on the wrist for questioning authority. But if the ceremony proved that the heir was in fact qualified, the elder would be punished as decided by the new n leader��which could well mean a death sentence.


    Thus, nobody would dare to propose the ceremony unless they were absolutely certain of their sess. After all, it meant gambling with one��s life.


    On the other side of the problem, the three consecutive days of challenges were extremely demanding for the future n leader. The demon ns revered strength; that was the fundamental requirement for a n leader. Even the Peacock Great Demon King, with all his leadership skills, would have never been epted if he hadn��t been the strongest member of the n at the time. Thus, the term "Hundred Birds" actually referred to a hundred challengers! Although the number was usually not that high, since it was hard to find a hundred qualified challengers, it was not unusual to have a few dozens of bouts.


    The so-called "one feather''s time" referred to the time it took for a challenger''s precious feather to burn after their defeat. Depending on their cultivation level, the burning time varied, but it usually was between ten and twenty minutes. In other words, undergoing Hundred Birds Greet the Sun meant that Mei Gongzi had to fight fresh opponents for three days and nights with minimal rest.


    Of course, it wasn''t absolutely necessary for the heir to ept all challenges personally; their supporters could also ept challenges on the heir��s behalf. However, if a supporter epted a challenge and lost, they would be executed immediately, as this was considered desecrating the ceremony.


    Thus, this challenge was extremely brutal. Anyone daring to risk their life to ept challenges on behalf of the n leader''s heir had to be absolutely loyal, as failure meant certain death. At the same time, having supporters with the confidence to do this proved the extent of the heir''s power and influence.


    The Peacock Great Demon King stepped aside and pointed to the high tform with his right hand, "This will be the battlefield for the Hundred Birds Greet the Sun ceremony. Time starts now. Challengers cane up at any time. This is up to you now."


    Thest sentence was directed at Mei Gongzi. After speaking, the Peacock Great Demon King shimmered with silver light and, in the next instant, appeared in front of the tform, next to the queen consort.


    The queen consort looked at her husband, now so close to her, and the stubbornness in her eyes finally wavered slightly but quickly returned to normal.


    On the high tform, Mei Gongzi took two steps to the center, where the Peacock Great Demon King had stood. She calmly looked at the Peacock Demon n members below and said indifferently, "My Hundred Birds Greet the Sun is not limited to our n. Any Demon King resident of Kali City can challenge me!"


    Silver light shot from her eyes as she spoke, and a crown slowly appeared, glowing above her head.


    "Golden Crown Demon King? No... That crown is not golden, it��s..." Wang Han blurted out, his voice filled with shock.


    Demon King, Great Demon King, Demon Emperor. These were the three levels of godhood, and in principle, a Demon King was just like any other Demon King; they were all tenth-order demons. But in practice, there were major differences between them, even among members of the same n.


    For instance, having the Peacock Golden Crown manifest upon reaching godhood meant possessing the purest bloodline power and most exquisite control over it. Yet Mei Gongzi had the Peacock Golden Crown even <i>before</i> reaching that level, This was why the Peacock Great Demon King had no qualms raising her as the heir, despite her having human blood. Whatever her other heritage was, her Peacock Demon blood was extremely pure.

 Chapter 637: Platinum Crown

    <h4>Chapter 637: tinum Crown</h4>


    Being a first-tier bloodline, the Peacock Demon bloodline allowed many of the n members to be Demon Kings. However, the Peacock Golden Crown signified something more��that even at the Demon King level, they still had the potential to go higher!


    A Golden Crown Demon King was almost certain to reach the level of Great Demon King, and only the purest bloodline could give birth to a Golden Crown. It meant that the potential of the bloodline was still not fully tapped, and it could still evolve.


    The moreplete the crown, the greater one��s potential; the greater one��s strength, and the greater one��s status!


    The Peacock Great Demon King had obviously been a Golden Crown Demon King himself, and his Peacock Golden Crown was quite a sight to behold. But even <i>that</i> paled inparison to what his daughter was disying now.


    Mei Gongzi''s crown was tinum, and not only was itplete, but it looked as if it was forged out of metal; it didn��t give off the illusory feeling of an energy construct, but rather looked solid as could be!


    Seeing this, the queen consort, Wang Han, and the elders behind them consort all had incredibly unpleasant expressions. They now understood why the other elders had broken their agreement and turned to support the Peacock Great Demon King.


    There were people with a Peacock Golden Crown in every generation, but a tinum one had only appeared once in the history of the Peacock Demon n. Specifically, in the case of the Peacock Demon Emperor. This precedent showed that possessing a tinum Peacock Crown could mean the potential to be an Emperor in the future!


    For the Peacock Demon n, what could be more important than having their own Demon Emperor?


    The Demon Kings supporting the queen consort even looked somewhat resentfully at the Peacock Great Demon King, as if asking why he hadn''t informed them earlier. If they had known, they might have supported him too!


    The Peacock Great Demon King stood silently by the queen consort''s side, as if nothing had happened and none of this concerned him.


    With the appearance of the tinum crown, the young generation of the Peacock Demon n, who had been eager to challenge Mei Gongzi, all fell silent.


    As it turned out, she was a Demon King now, so only other Demon Kings could challenge her. Those below godhood were not even qualified to stand on the same stage, especially considering that the stronger the bloodline, the greater the gap between cultivation orders. Moreover, Mei Gongzi was the double champion of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. Even if they attempted a battle of attrition, that was on the premise that they were able to exhaust her. The recovery abilities of a Demon King were entirely different from those of a demon at the ninth order.


    At this point, Hundred Birds Greet the Sun seemed like a joke. Not to mention the Peacock Demon n, even the entire Kali City couldn''t gather a hundred Demon King level experts.


    Mei Gongzi''s calm gaze swept over the Peacock Demon n. How many Demon Kings did they have? Barely over a dozen.


    The appearance of the tinum crown instantly stunned the entire audience. The queen consort finally understood why the Peacock Great Demon King had been so confident all along. It wasn''t just <i>because </i>he had persuaded the elders to support him, but <i>how</i> he had persuaded the elders. Clearly, those on his side knew about it beforehand��that Mei Gongzi truly had the foundation and strength to be the n leader.


    But this also caused the queen consort''s hatred to surge. She hated that it wasn''t her and her children who had such abilities. Why was it a child he had with another woman who was so excellently nurtured?


    The queen consort looked at the Peacock Great Demon King beside her, her eyes reddening with resentment. Her hand gripping the scepter had turned blue-white from the force of her grip.


    @@novelbin@@


    The Peacock Great Demon King felt her gaze and turned to look at her. At this moment, his gaze wasplex, even tinged with sadness. To the queen consort''s shock, the Peacock Great Demon King reached out and grasped her hand.


    The queen consort instinctively burst out with her bloodline power to break free, but the Peacock Great Demon King held her hand tightly.


    <i>"Please wait a moment. I will tell you everything."</i> The voice of the Peacock Great Demon King echoed in her mind, gentle and soothing��just like when they had first been together.


    The queen consort was momentarily stunned. For some reason, hearing his voice made her heart soften for a moment.


    But looking at the shining tinum crown on stage, the softness in her heart turned to steel. "What are you waiting for? This is the best time to test the n leader. Even if she''s a Demon King, she should have just advanced."


    The third elder, looked at the queen consort, sighed softly, and shook his head.


    What had persuaded him was not just this tinum Peacock Crown!


    Just a few days ago, the Peacock Great Demon King approached him. He didn��t say anything; he simply took out a precious memory orb to show him a scene recorded within.


    It was the scene of an absolutely terrifying tribtion. It was only a part of the process, but it was enough. After all, everyone in Kali City had witnessed the terrifying tribtion clouds from the direction of the Endless Blue Sea.


    The girl standing on the stage, despite having human blood, also bore the Peacock Golden Crown. Her talent was not onlyparable to the former Peacock Demon Emperor but even surpassed it; her bloodline was one thing, but the tribtion she��d been through was simply unprecedented in history. Who could be more qualified to inherit the n leader position than such an existence?


    This would not only be an Emperor but possibly someone who would surpass all known Emperors, leading the Peacock Demon n to the pinnacle of the Daemon Continent. Regardless of their personal interests, they couldn''t and wouldn''t dare not support her!


    There were two reasons for the Peacock Great Demon King not showing that recording to all the elders. First, having half the elders support him was more than enough to make sure his decision would be upheld. Second, he didn''t want Mei Gongzi to inherit the n leader position solely through his backing; he wanted to provide her a stage to showcase herself. And at this moment, what could be a better opportunity than the Hundred Birds Greet the Sun ceremony?


    With a sh of silver light, a figure ascended the tform.


    It was a young man. Seeing him on stage, Wang Han''s expression stiffened slightly, and he almost spoke to stop him.


    "Long time no see," the young man said to Mei Gongzi, nodding slightly in greeting.


    The young man appeared to be in his twenties; he was tall and handsome, with neatly groomed peacock-blue short hair.


    Almost all the Peacock Demon n members present recognized him. He was Wang Han''s son and the queen consort''s chosen heir. In terms of talent and ability, he was the leading figure of the younger generation, and quite qualified to inherit the n leader position.


    Yes, if it weren''t for Mei Gongzi''s victory in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, he would have been the number one of the younger generation in the Peacock Demon n. The reason he didn''t participate in thepetition was that he had already sessfully passed his tribtion and reached godhood, which made him the youngest Demon King in the n.


    Until today.


    "Who are you?" Mei Gongzi asked indifferently.


    The young man''s expression stiffened. <i>Does she actually not know who I am, or is she just insulting me?</i>


    His blood surged, and golden light swirled around him. A solid-looking golden crown appeared above his head. The young man said in a deep voice, "I am Wang Ling."


    As it turned out, he also had a Peacock Golden Crown, but his was golden.


    "My father wanted me to wait until you had faced several challenges beforeing up, but I felt that wouldn''t be fair to you or to me, and it would affect my cultivation mindset. So... I came up first. I hope to be your first challenger and yourst. Only then will I feel worthy of standing where you are now."

 Chapter 638: Instant Defeat

    <h4>Chapter 638: Instant Defeat</h4>


    Such was Wang Ling��s pride. As the recognized number one of the younger generation in the Peacock Demon n, even the children of the royal family treated him with great respect. He was exceptionally talented, having manifested the Peacock Golden Crown at the age of twelve, and had never beencent, always working hard.


    When Wang Ling was sixteen, Wang Han told him that he was the most outstanding of the younger generation in the Peacock Demon n, and that he had the opportunity to be the next n leader. The Peacock Demon n was facing pressure from the Ancestral Court, and only the emergence of an Emperor could solve all their problems.


    Wang Ling had taken this as his mission and cultivated diligently. Finally, a year and a half ago, he broke through to be a Demon King and fully condensed the Peacock Golden Crown. Having the crown gave him the right of session, so he had always been one of the possible heirs. Of course, because he was not a member of the royal family, his ranking was <i>technically</i> below Mei Gongzi. But in Wang Ling''s heart, he had never considered Mei Gongzi apetitor. One reason was her mixed blood, and another was his confidence in his own strength.


    However, no one had expected that in just a year or two, the Peacock Great Demon King would first take Mei Gongzi into seclusion for cultivation and then have her pass the ancestral trials to wield the Celestial Plume. This made the queen consort, Wang Han, and others realize that the Peacock Great Demon King truly intended to pass the n leader position to Mei Gongzi, his mixed-blood descendant.


    It was only then that Wang Ling started to notice this half-blood cousin of his. Although Wang Yan had told him long before that Mei Gongzi''s strength was notcking, Wang Ling had not paid attention at the time. He had never believed there was anyone in his generation who could even match him, much less defeat him.


    But now, it was different. Today, she stood in the position of the n leader''s sessor, and Wang Han had informed Wang Ling that Hundred Birds Greet the Sun was his final opportunity. Initially, Wang Ling did not expect to be allowed to challenge her, because he was a Demon King while Mei Gongzi was not. Yet the dozens of prospective challengers lost their eligibility when Mei Gongzi advanced to Demon King, and conversely, he was now eligible.


    There were still a few Demon Kings that had the right to challenge her, and Wang Han had just sent a message to his son to wait until the end, but Wang Ling could wait no longer. It was his innate pride and self-respect that made him step out. If he couldn''t defeat Mei Gongzi in a fair fight, how could he have the face topete for the n leader position? If he had such an opportunistic mindset, he would have never reached the heights he was at.


    "Please enlighten me!"


    Mei Gongzi wasn��t intent on insulting him, but neither did she have much to say to him. In her eyes, everyone was an opponent, and defeating the opponent was all that mattered. She didn''t know how many challenges were ahead, so there was no point wasting time.


    The high tform was not veryrge, far smaller than thepetition tform of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, but that was not relevant; few experts of their level would fight on the ground.


    With a sh of silver light, the two figures rose into the air.


    "Do not use the Celestial Plume," the queen consort''s voice called out. The Celestial Plume was the n��s most important foundational weapon, and having it gave too great an advantage for those who controlled space.


    In reality, the Celestial Plume had long since recognized Mei Gongzi as its master, and the Hundred Birds Greet the Sun ceremony did not prohibit the use of divine artifacts. When she shouted this, the queen consort thought the Peacock Great Demon King would rebuke her, but to her surprise, he said nothing and simply continued holding her hand.


    At this moment, the queen consort faintly felt that the Peacock Great Demon King''s hand was strangely cold. She instinctively looked at her husband, only to see him sigh and shake his head. "Why bother? It''s useless."


    Both figures rose into the air, each with a Peacock Crown above their head; one golden and one tinum, both dazzling.


    Wang Ling made a gesture of invitation to Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi pointed to the sky with her right hand, her ck hair floating despite theck of wind.


    In the next instant, the sky darkened, and the entire castle of the Peacock Demon n was shrouded in darkness, with only faint starlight swirling around.


    Wang Ling was slightly stunned. <i>Star Shift? She��s already mastered Star Shift? She just finished the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, which meant she should have just passed her tribtion! And she��s already mastered our strongest divine technique?</i>


    He hadn''t paid much attention to Mei Gongzi''s title as the champion of the Ancestral Court Elite Competition. In his view, if his cousin could achieve it, then he certainly could have done it as well, had he not reached the god level before thepetition.


    But at this moment, his heart grew heavy. He could use Star Shift as well, and he knew better than all his peers that this technique was not something that could be used casually.


    Silver light surged, and a peacock feather appeared in Wang Ling''s hand. The golden crown on his head also burst into dazzling light, making the starlight in the dark sky even brighter.


    Two opponents who could both use Star Shift would firstpete for the starlight��essentially a battle for control over the space element surrounding them.


    Mei Gongzi still pointed to the sky with her right hand. In the next moment, Wang Ling suddenly felt a bit dazed. The tinum crown on Mei Gongzi''s head suddenly shone brightly, and a vast divine consciousness rippled out.


    Wang Ling felt as if something had been stripped from him, leaving his body empty. In the next moment, he simply fell, and he had to partially transform into his demon form, opening his peacock wings to stabilize himself.


    Strands of silver light gathered in the air, surrounding Mei Gongzi and silently merging into her. The light gradually formed vortices that swirled around her, while Wang Ling''s own light had long since dimmed.


    Mei Gongzi looked at Wang Ling, who was flying below her, and slowly lowered her right hand, pointing at him.


    He instinctively raised the peacock feather in his hand, trying to activate his bloodline power to use his best ability. But at that moment, he realized that his bloodline power was frozen and couldn''t be mobilized at all. Even more terrifying, despite the abundance of space elemental energy around, not a single bit of it obeyed hismand.


    In the next moment, his entire body was frozen in mid-air and surrounded by silver light. He was unable to move a muscle.


    @@novelbin@@


    With a sh of silver light, he reappeared on the ground, right in front of the elders, still unable to move due to the spatial restraints on him.


    In mid-air, Mei Gongzi frowned slightly, feeling somewhat surprised herself.


    <i>What, that was all?</i>


    She��d expected a serious challenge, but this was honestly far easier than the matches she��d had during the Ancestral Court Elite Competition.


    Just as the battle was about to begin, she called upon the space element, merging with it. Then she sensed that the opponent was also trying to manipte the same energy, even attempting to lock her Star Shift. She instinctively drew all the space energy to herself, and in process, stripped her opponent of it.


    This was what usually happened when fighting a far superior bloodline of the same attribute��it was pure attribute suppression. But how much better could her bloodline be? No, his bloodline was close to perfection, so even if hers was absolutely perfect, the suppression shouldn��t have been anywhere near this strong. In other words... her control over space was orders of magnitude better than his.


    As a fellow space element maniptor, he had lost all control over space. How could he fight like that? Even a basic spatial restraint rendered Wang Ling unable to move and sent him tumbling to the ground.


    The entire audience fell silent instantly.


    The Peacock Demon n members all knew who Wang Ling was; they were well aware of how talented and strong he was, and that he was the undisputed number one of the younger generation. In fact, even outsiders who didn''t know Wang Ling could tell at a nce that he was an unusually powerful Demon King.


    But the battle was over in just one move.


    Victory? What victory? This was just trampling on the weak!

 Chapter 639: Avatar of Space

    <h4>Chapter 639: Avatar of Space</h4>


    Both the queen consort and Wang Han looked pale at this moment. They had always thought that the biggest obstacle today would be the Peacock Great Demon King. They had been trying to find ways to restrain him using the internalws of the n and whatnot. But they had never expected that Mei Gongzi''s strength would have reached such a level. First, her powerful divine consciousnesspletely surpassed their understanding of what a Demon King was like. Second, and more importantly, when she used her abilities, even they��Great Demon Kings, and strong ones for that matter��could feel that space was drawn to her!


    It wasn��t that she controlled it by force; all of them could do that. Instead, she seemed to have merged with the space element, bing one with it. She was not a maniptor of space, but a part of it. It was more like she didn��t have an affinity for the space element, but the <i>space element</i> had an affinity for her. This was something none of the Peacock Demon n members present had ever felt.


    This seemingly simple battle was in fact incredibly shocking.


    Wang Ling was not the strongest among all the Demon Kings in the Peacock Demon n; there were older ones who were stronger. However, he was definitely not the weakest. Yet in front of Mei Gongzi, Wang Ling couldn''t even use his abilities; it wasn��t that she forcefully took him down, but that space energy left him of its own ord. Who in the Peacock Demon n couldpete with her? Even a Great Demon King couldn''t surpass her control over space. Moreover, she hadn''t even used the Celestial Plume!


    If Tang San were here, he would instantly notice that Mei Gongzi''s control over the space element had reached the absolute peak of this ne. She was now the one being most attuned to the space element in the entire ne��even the nar ruler itself could not do any better.


    The Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion was indeed incredibly powerful and terrifying, something Mei Gongzi couldn''t have passed with her original cultivation. But now that she had sessfully passed it, the ne itself acknowledged her, and this meant the space element was under her absolute control.


    This was no longer just about the Peacock Demon n''s bloodline. After all, there were other ns with a space-attribute bloodline. But after sessfully passing the tribtion with her human bloodline at the fore, she awakened a hint of divinity not from this ne but brought by the Asura Sword. In other words, she possessed some divine intent from her past life in addition to the one gained in this life. As a result, no one with space-rted abilities in this entire world was closer to the space element than she was.


    Wang Ling''s strength was, of course, not something to scoff at. If he had abilities of another attribute, then even though Mei Gongzi would have inevitably won, it would have still taken her a while. But since they both had space-rted abilities, and moreover both were from the Peacock Demon n, the absolute attribute suppression made it impossible for him to exert even the strength needed to blink, let alone the strength to fight.


    Such was the might of a true master of space.


    Mei Gongzi silently felt the space energy whirling around her, as if rejoicing. She had gained new insights into this power after her breakthrough. She was yet to fullyprehend and internalize the benefits brought by the tribtion, but with these new realizations, the process seemed to speed up.


    As she slowly descended back to the high tform, returning to the position where the Peacock Great Demon King had stood before, the Peacock Demon n was silent.


    Although all the Peacock Demon n members couldn''t believe the incredible scene, the facts were right in front of them.


    The Peacock Great Demon King turned to the queen consort and the elders, saying indifferently, "Do you want to continue? Should we let a Great Demon King try?"


    In the face of absolute control of space, how much power could a Great Demon King exert?


    As the saying goes, those ying the game may not see things clearly, but spectators do. The day Mei Gongzi sessfully passed her tribtion, the Peacock Great Demon King, while bringing her and Tang San back, could clearly feel that the space energy in the air was constantly nourishing Mei Gongzi''s body, as if protecting its master. He was by far the most adept space user around, and yet the space energy was actually avoiding him because of Mei Gongzi''s presence!


    There were people with pure elemental physiques, but she had likely be something of an even higher level��an elemental avatar, the Avatar of Space!


    There could be multiple people with a pure elemental physique, but there could only be one elemental avatar at one time for any given element. Any being with the same attribute would find it impossible to control that element in the presence of an elemental avatar.


    Although Mei Gongzi was only a Demon King, she had control of space at the level of a Demon Emperor, maybe even greater. What chance did her nsmen have against her? Even the Peacock Great Demon King himself didn''t believe he could defeat Mei Gongzi now. After all, how could one fight if they couldn''t smoothly manipte their fundamental attribute? Therefore, he had never worried about the n''s internal strife, not for a single moment. Postponing the ceremony by five days was just to let his daughter rest and recover.


    @@novelbin@@


    What did the n''s doubts matter? In the presence of an Avatar of Space, any ns they had were in vain.


    Not even an Emperor was guaranteed to be the avatar of their element��for instance, the Eternal Inferno Undying Demon Emperor, in spite of being arguably the most powerful fire element user in the entire ne, was not the Avatar of Fire. With that, it was clear how high Mei Gongzi''s status was now and how fragile the Peacock Demon n was in front of her. But conversely, if the Peacock Demon n united under her leadership, their overall improvement would be orders of magnitude faster.


    With this knowledge, the Peacock Great Demon King wasn''t concerned about today''s internal strife at all. At this moment, he still held the queen consort''s hand, yet he was not restraining her but supporting her, preventing her from being overwhelmed by the events unfolding in front of her.


    Meanwhile, Mei Gongzi stood on the high tform, overlooking the Peacock Demon n members.


    "Next, please."


    <i>Next? Wang Ling was defeated in one move, who the hell do you think is next?!</i>


    The queen consort''s face was pale and almost on the verge of copsing. Although she didn''t know about Mei Gongzi being the Avatar of Space��since not even Mei Gongzi herself was aware��as the descendant of an Emperor, she knew a lot more than the average person. If her husband said that not even a Great Demon King could defeat Mei Gongzi, then that was the truth. How could they continue? At this point, Hundred Birds Greet the Sun had be a joke.


    At this moment, a voice with a hint of coldness reverberated in the air. "Since outsiders are allowed, why don''t I give it a try?"


    Immediately, a figure shot out from among the spectators. As he appeared, the temperature in the air dropped significantly. A pair of dazzling blue wings spread open, and with just one p, he was already on the high tform.


    He was a young-looking man, and as he ascended the tform, his gaze at Mei Gongzi carried a strange brilliance.


    The third elder of the Peacock Demon n saw him and couldn''t help but narrow his eyes, instinctively saying, "Ice Phoenix n...."


    Those ice-blue wings were unique to their n.


    The young man chuckled. "How can the phoenix race, the Kings of Birds, be absent from Hundred Birds Greet the Sun? I am Hu Mengyu of the Ice Phoenix n, here to challenge the heir of the Peacock Demon n."


    Mei Gongzi''s gaze instantly turned cold, but at that moment, she heard the voice of the Peacock Great Demon King in her ear: "Do not kill."


    Mei Gongzi was slightly taken aback. Indeed, at that instant, she had already felt a surge of killing intent.


    Hu Mengyu looked down at the Peacock Great Demon King with a smile on his face and said, "Your Majesty, may I challenge her?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King replied indifferently, "You may."

 Chapter 640: Caged Bird

    <h4>Chapter 640: Caged Bird</h4>


    Upon hearing these words, the Peacock Demon n members were taken aback but also instinctively became curious. The future n leader on the stage seemed to have strong control over space, but how would she fare against other attributes?


    Hu Mengyu turned to Mei Gongzi, "Then let me give it a try."


    "Go ahead." Mei Gongzi, not wanting to engage in too much conversation with him, made a gesture of invitation.


    Hu Mengyu didn��t take flight, but his eyes instantly turned ice blue. At the same time, blue patterns like ice flowers spread out from under his feet, enveloping the tform under both him and Mei Gongzi, with extreme cold surging out.


    Ice Domain!


    Although he appeared rxed, he had watched the battle between Mei Gongzi and Wang Ling earlier. He dared not be careless and immediately used his domain-level power.


    Daring to challenge her naturally meant he had confidence. The Ice Phoenix bloodline was a first-tier one, and he himself was a peak-level Demon King.


    His understanding of Mei Gongzi was even deeper and clearer than that of the Peacock Demon n members. He had personally seen her participate in the elitepetition in the Ancestral Court. But since he had been there, he knew that even if Mei Gongzi had broken through, it had only been a few days at the most. With his peak-level Demon King power andparable bloodline, he believed he had a good chance.


    However, in the next moment, his expression changed. His Ice Domain had indeed enveloped both himself and Mei Gongzi, and he was well on his way to freezing Mei Gongzi... or so he thought. But just as his domain expanded and the cold air made even the spectators in the distance shiver, his vision blurred.


    When it cleared again, he found himself in mid-air.


    In other words, even though he had activated his domain, both he and his domain had been directly transported into the air.


    It looked like nothing had changed in their position, but the opponent had used space control to simply shift the entire battlefield. This was just preposterous.


    Hu Mengyu was startled by the opponent''s spatial control, but with his richbat experience, he didn''t hesitate. Every bit of water in the air instantly turned into ice needles, shooting towards Mei Gongzi from all directions.


    Mei Gongzi floated quietly, silver ribbons of light swirling around her. As the ice needles passed through the silver light, they seemed to lose their way and turned back, shooting straight at Hu Mengyu.


    Star Shift!


    "Condense!" Hu Mengyu shouted coldly, and the ice needles halted. In the next moment, they all exploded simultaneously, with powerful force, sealing off all the space around Mei Gongzi.


    Hu Mengyu was confident that his cultivation was definitely above Mei Gongzi''s. Even if he couldn''t match her in elemental control, he would overpower her with sheer force.


    However, the girl at the center of the explosion vanished into thin air.


    A sh of shock crossed Hu Mengyu''s eyes. Impossible! His ice explosion had clearly shattered the surrounding space. How could she have teleported away?


    In fact, she hadn��t teleported away. She had never been there to begin with.


    Dozens of Mei Gongzis appeared out of nowhere, surrounding Hu Mengyu on all sides. Each Mei Gongzi raised her hand, guiding a silver ribbon of light. For a moment, the sky was filled with dazzling silver light. The ice elemental energy was instantly transported away, and in the space delineated by the silver ribbons, there was not the slightest bit of it remaining.


    Hu Mengyu''s pupils contracted, and his wings pped violently as he activated his bloodline essence. Bits of spirit ice floated out from his phoenix wings, freezing the space they passed through. He then plunged into the iceyer.


    But Mei Gongzi made a circr motion with her hands. "Seal!"


    Her cold voice was clearly heard by everyone present.


    Then they saw the soft, cotton-like ribbons of light suddenly transform into solid silver pirs. With a bang, Hu Mengyu mmed into the pir and bounced back, letting out a cry of pain as his body appeared to crack.


    The silver pirs were not made of bloodline energy alone; they seemed to be cracked, but those cracks were not caused by the collision with Hu Mengyu. Instead, they had been there to begin with��they were spatial rifts. Strangely, the usually unstable spatial rifts had formed into pir shapes, creating a cage that trapped the Ice Phoenix inside.


    Hu Mengyu franticallyunched attacks, but he had no external elemental energy to rely on. He was in a spatial cage that isted him from it, so he could only rely on his innate ice energy to attack. Yet the spatial cage was incredibly solid; the Peacock Demon n members present could feel that each pir of the cage absorbed space energy from the outside to reinforce itself. Although it shook with each impact, it still trapped Hu Mengyu inside, preventing his escape.


    Even worse, it seemed that the energy of the pirs behaved somewhat like Star Shift, dissipating the powerful impacts.


    Mei Gongzi hovered above the cage, gently adding more and more silver ribbons of light, maintaining the cage''s form.


    The lofty peacock imprisoned the proud phoenix.


    Many of the older Peacock Demon n members couldn''t help but feel tears welling up in their eyes at this sight. The Peacock Demon n and the phoenix race had always been arch-enemies; seeing their rival trapped, a veritable bird in a cage, how could they not be moved to tears?


    This scene made them subconsciously begin to ept their new n leader. They all believed strength was paramount, and what better way to prove one��s strength than by humiliating one��s enemies?


    @@novelbin@@


    Stepping on the cage, she slowly descended to the high tform. Although true experts could see that maintaining the cage required Mei Gongzi to continuously infuse spatial power, and it wouldn''t be easy to kill the Ice Phoenix Demon King Hu Mengyu inside, the sight of it alone made the Peacock Demon n''s blood boil with excitement.


    A peacock stepping on a phoenix �� this had been their dream for many years, and now it was right before their eyes.


    This Ice Phoenix Demon King was far fromparable to an ordinary Demon King, yet he was defeated by Mei Gongzi in a short time. Although she had just passed her tribtion, she was undoubtedly a top-tier existence among Demon Kings. She didn''t just win because she could suppress the bloodline of her n; she was truly powerful.


    Mei Gongzi''s age was no secret��everyone knew she wasn��t even twenty yet. A Demon King under twenty was unprecedented in the history of the Peacock Demon n, especially one so powerful. If the Ancestral Court was too far away and the Elite Competition merely boosted her reputation among the nobility, then now, in front of everyone, two battles against Demon Kings had fully demonstrated her strength. More importantly, they demonstrated her potential! Undoubtedly, she had proven to everyone who mattered that she had the bearing of an Emperor!


    How many young powerhouses with such profound potential were there among the many demon and nymph ns? Only a few dozen. Although not every one of them could be an Emperor, future Emperors would unquestionably emerge from among them. For the Peacock Demon n, she was the first in hundreds of years to be counted among these youths. She brought true hope for a hopeless n.


    Hu Mengyu continued to struggle in rage, but no matter how much he struggled and raged, he could not break through the spatial constraints. Although a Demon King''s endurance was undeniable, being continuously suppressed and using up his energy while his opponent had no problem replenishing her own meant that the final result could only be his defeat.

 Chapter 641: The Arrival of the Crystal Phoenix

    <h4>Chapter 641: The Arrival of the Crystal Phoenix</h4>


    "ENOUGH!"


    A cold voice rang out at this moment, and in the next instant, Mei Gongzi''s expression slightly changed. She felt an overwhelming pressure, as if the entire sky copsed instantly, descending upon her.


    At that moment, two figures almost simultaneously appeared beside her.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s wings spread out behind him, shielding his daughter. His divine consciousness erupted with full force, soaring crazily as he collided with the opponent without hesitation.


    Beside Mei Gongzi, a masked bald man appeared. His divine consciousness instantly merged with hers, boosting her aura immensely.


    Mei Gongzi looked in surprise, and the masked Tang San smiled slightly and nodded at her.


    Yes, he was here. In fact, he��d been here from the beginning.


    When Mei Gongzi left, he had already woken up, but he said nothing. Today was her stage, so he simply watched quietly from the sidelines, watching over her without interfering. Only when a truly formidable enemy appeared did hee to her side to face it together.


    However, Mei Gongzi''s joy onlysted momentarily before her mood sank again. Precisely because she had reached the god level, she could better sense how powerful the overwhelming pressure was, along with a very familiar aura. She knew who it was.


    That guy was finally making his move.


    When the Ice Phoenix Hu Mengyu appeared, Mei Gongzi had actually already guessed it. But when the one behind him really showed up, it still brought her tremendous psychological pressure.


    With a flick of her foot, the spatial prison beneath her shot out, flying a hundred meters away before the spatial power dissipated, releasing the disheveled Hu Mengyu.


    In the distant sky, figures flew rapidly closer. Among them was a huge, crystalline figure radiating dazzling light under the morning sun, as if another sun had appeared in the sky.


    Beside it were other flying figures, each radiating dazzling brilliance and powerful auras.


    The Peacock Demon n also reacted at this moment. All god-level powerhouses, even the queen consort who had been confronting the Peacock Great Demon King earlier, had already taken flight, releasing their bloodline auras. They stood protectively on either side of the Peacock Great Demon King, whose face had turned somewhat pale from bearing the brunt of the opponent��s divine consciousness assault.


    A resounding phoenix cry echoed through the heavens and earth, shaking the entire world.


    A dazzling beam of light flickered in the sky, followed by a dozen phoenix cries that resonated with it.


    The one appearing at this moment to interfere with the Peacock Demon n''s inheritance ceremony could be none other than the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor!


    The immense pressure made the entire mountain seem to tremble. The expressions of all the Peacock Demon n powerhouses became extremely grave.


    Thest time the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor came, the Peacock Great Demon King was in his prime, yet even so, he had barely managed to withstand the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor by leveraging the Peacock Demon n''s long-standing heritage in Kali City.


    But this time? The Peacock Great Demon King''s old injuries had not healed at all. What power did he have left to resist now? Although the Peacock Demon n had several Great Demon Kings and a dozen Demon Kings, a lineup not inferior to the opponent''s, the power of an Emperor could not be measured in terms of Great Demon Kings and Demon Kings.


    @@novelbin@@


    The voice of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor echoed from afar, "Originally, I was going to miss this. But I heard that your ceremony was dyed by five days, so I decided to join in the fun. Wang Qing, do you know that if you hadn''t exposed your daughter at the Ancestral Court, I might have waited a bit longer until the time was more opportune toe. But you brought her to the Ancestral Court, and she trampled upon everyone to be the absolute champion. At that moment, you should have realized the consequences. Last time, you managed to keep me away thanks to the Sword Saint Demon Emperor; this time, I want to see what power you have left to stop me."


    The Peacock Great Demon King stared coldly at him without rushing to speak. The powerful members of the phoenix race had already arrived. This time, there were no vassals from other ns; all who came were from the phoenix race.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s handsome face carried a cold and superior expression as his gaze swept over the powerhouses of the Peacock Demon n. "The phoenix is the king of all birds, and that includes the peacocks. I allow you to submit to me. Wang Qing and his daughter must die, but as long as you are willing to submit, you will remain part of Kali City, and the Peacock Demon n will continue to exist."


    "Bullshit! When our ancestors were still around, where were you phoenix demons? Back then, the world only knew the Celestial Fox controlling fortune and the Peacock peering into the secrets of the heavens. Where was your phoenix race?" the queen consort''s angry voice rang out. Despite her extreme dissatisfaction with the Peacock Great Demon King when it came to the n''s inheritance, she still chose to stand by her husband when a formidable enemy arrived.


    The Peacock Great Demon King turned to look at his wife. Despite facing the immense pressure of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, a slight smile appeared on his face. He reached out and took his wife''s hand, "Look at you, still so impulsive, still preferring to break rather than bend."


    The queen consort struggled but couldn''t free her hand from his. She looked away and said coldly, "This is our mortal enemy. How can we bend?"


    Indeed, not a single one of the Demon Kings or Great Demon Kings of the Peacock Demon n was swayed by the words of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. The two ns were natural enemies; submitting to a mortal enemy was no different from death.


    Wang Han, who was still standing beside the queen consort, sighed lightly. "Your Majesty... the n leader is right. Our real hope lies with Little Mei. Our n��s greatest regret is that we don��t have an Emperor, and who else can aplish that but her? n Leader, let us old ones hold them off. You take the young n leader and leave. We will buy you some time. Only if the young n leader survives does our n have a future. There will always be a time for aeback."


    The Peacock Great Demon King didn''t directly answer him but turned to look at the queen consort beside him and asked, "What do you say?"


    "Get lost, all of you. Take all the youngsters and leave. We''ll stay. I never want to see you again, you bastard. I''ll consider myself blind for life." The queen consort angrily shook off the Peacock Great Demon King''s hand.


    In an instant, all the Demon King-level members of the Peacock Demon n radiated a brilliant silver light, causing the space element in the air to fluctuate violently. Even the castle in the ancestralnd of the Peacock Demon n behind them emitted a faint silver glow.


    These Demon Kings were all determined to face death.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had only brought members of the phoenix race with him, and no vassals from other races, indicating that this time his arrival was different from thest.


    Last time, he was here with a dered purpose, backed by the righteousness of the Ancestral Court. He was, of course, intent on making trouble for the Peacock Great Demon King, but under public scrutiny, he couldn''t truly harm the Peacock Demon n. Bing Kali City Lord required much more maneuvering.


    But this time, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had made up his mind. He had brought only the strong members of the Phoenix n, clearly determined to eradicate the Peacock Demon n with a decisive, lethal strike.


    The powerhouses of the Peacock Demon n were naturally not idiots. From the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s words just now, they understood why he was choosing to act before the timing was fully ripe. There was only one possible reason: he felt threatened.


    This threat, of course, did note from the weak and injured Peacock Great Demon King, but from Mei Gongzi, who had won the Ancestral Court''s elitepetition. His arrival was essentially a testament to all the Peacock Demon n of Mei Gongzi''s astonishing potential. Among the entire young generation, she was one of the very best, if not <i>the</i> very best.

 Chapter 642: You Are the Coward

    <h4>Chapter 642: You Are the Coward</h4>


    At this moment, she had already achieved godhood, taking the most crucial step. As long as she continued to grow, the Peacock Demon n could very likely produce another Emperor!


    Therefore, when Wang Han said those words just now, the Demon Kings and Great Demon Kings of the Peacock Demon n had already resolved to work together. What they had to do was preserve the bloodline of the Peacock Demon n and its inheritance, and protect this young n leader who had the potential to be an Emperor.


    Only if Mei Gongzi became an Emperor in the future could the Peacock Demon n be revived and earn back its rightful ce. And they were fully determined to sacrifice their lives to defend the Peacock Demon n and guard thisst glimmer of hope.


    Even the queen consort, who had been so opposed to it just a minute before, had no doubt in her mind about what she had to do now. The appearance of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had united the previously conflicted Peacock Demon n!


    Had the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor only just arrived? Of course not. Thanks to the five-day dy, he had gotten here with time to spare, and he��d been using his divine consciousness to observe the situation here.


    What he most wanted to see was the Peacock Demon n engaging in internal strife, truly fighting each other, and the Peacock Great Demon King being utterly defeated. That would have made him the happiest. Yet he hadn''t expected Mei Gongzi to have already achieved godhood and to demonstrate such powerful strength, not only defeating the n''s powerhouses but also easily oveing Hu Mengyu, whom he had long arranged to be here and start trouble.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor couldn''t wait any longer. Mei Gongzi''s growth rate was so fast that even he felt a sense of panic. He��d been wavering before; she was the daughter of Su Qin, the love of his life, and when he heard that the Tenebrous Demon Emperor had been unable to kill her, he had actually felt relieved. But as he witnessed this, he immediately made up his mind otherwise. If she continued cultivating at this pace, it wouldn''t be many years before the Peacock Demon n produced another Emperor. At that time, he would never have the chance to defeat the Peacock Demon n and seize control of Kali City. No, forget about that��it was practically a given that she��d try to get revenge.


    Thus, he brought the phoenix race powerhouses here. He couldn''t worry about much else now. The other members of the Peacock Demon n didn''t matter, but the Peacock Great Demon King and Mei Gongzi could not be allowed to live. As long as he dealt with them, the remaining members of the Peacock Demon n wouldn''t pose a threat to him.


    But as it turned out, another surprise was awaiting: The previously conflicted Peacock Demon n immediately united against him, and they all seemed fully intent onying down their lives if that was what it took. With so many Great Demon Kings and Demon Kings, even if he gave his all, it would take some time topletely defeat them. Meanwhile, the Peacock Demon n was skilled in teleportation like no other n, and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor did not have the Tenebrous Demon Emperor''s ability to track them like a shadow. If they escaped, finding them again was a tall order.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s expression darkened, and he said coldly, "Wang Qing, at this point, do you still want to run away? Are you choosing to be a coward again?"


    "Coward? How dare you! The only coward here is you!" an angry voice rang out, followed by a figure rising into the sky.


    The moment she appeared, the face of the queen consort, who was floating beside the Peacock Great Demon King, visibly turned icy. Because the one who came was none other than Mei Gongzi''s mother, whom the queen consort saw as her greatest rival in life.


    Su Qin''s eyes were red, and a pair of white wings pped behind her, carrying her into the air. She gazed at the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, her whole body exuding a murderous aura. The power she emanated was clearly at the Demon King level.


    At the sight of her, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor noticeably hesitated. If there was anyone in the world who could make him feel guilty, it was her.


    Su Qin looked at him coldly. "Alright, tell me more about how you want to kill my daughter!"


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s face twitched. "Qin��er, you should know how deep the enmity between our ns runs. I cannot allow a new Peacock Demon Emperor to rise; it would greatly threaten the entire phoenix race."


    Su Qin said coldly, "Right... It��s all for the sake of the n. Or is it? Are you sure it��s not for your own benefits? When ites to yourself, nothing else is important any longer��just like when you abandoned me without hesitation back then. You always imed to love me so much that you were willing to give your life for me. But when the opportunity to be an Emperor presented itself, you discarded me like trash without a second thought. Your love has always been so cheap. Now, for the ''sake of the n,'' you want to kill my daughter! Fine, go ahead, and kill me too while you��re at it. Let''s end it all."


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s face visibly paled. He could be ruthless to anyone, but the woman in front of him was the one person he felt guilty toward, and also the one person he could never forget.


    He smiled bitterly. "Qin��er, you should know how important it is for a demon to be an Emperor. If I couldn''t be an Emperor, how could I be here today, ready to crush everything? I love you; I swear, up until now, you are the only one I''ve ever loved. You can ask any of my nsmen. With my status as an Emperor, I have never taken a wife, not even a concubine. Every word I said to you back then was from the bottom of my heart. In this life, I will only love you. I don''t care that you had a child with him. As long as you are willing toe back to me, I will love you wholeheartedly, and we will have our own children in the future."


    Su Qin sneered, "Do you think I would believe you? And let me tell you something: when I gave birth to Little Mei, I almost died from a difficultbor and I have lost the ability to conceive. Do you still want me like this?"


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s expression changed, and he angrily red at the Peacock Great Demon King. "You bastard, is this how you treated her?!"


    The Peacock Great Demon Kingughed, equally angry. "<i>You</i> have the gall to call <i>me</i> a bastard? Maybe other people can do that, but not you! Where were <i>you </i>back then?"


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor hesitated for a moment, then suddenly turned to Su Qin. "I want you, whether you can have children or not. I want you as a person, not as a childbearing machine. As long as you are willing, I will love you forever."


    Su Qin said coldly, "And then have children with other women, right? At that time, you will tell me it''s for the sake of the n''s continuation, your duty as an Emperor, correct?"


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    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was stunned. "I..."


    "Lin Ximo, I''ve seen through you a long time ago. You are selfish, and you care about no one but yourself. So I am unwilling to be with you, and I will never go with you of my own will. Come on, kill me. Step over my body, step over my daughter��s body, and continue on your way!"


    As she spoke, she was about to fly forward.


    But at that moment, a sh of silver light appeared, and another person was beside her. The Peacock Great Demon King grabbed her shoulder with one hand.


    Su Qin turned her head to look at him. The Peacock Great Demon King gently shook his head at her, "Don''t be impulsive. Even if not for yourself, think of your child! If you really die, this guy will gopletely mad. You''re right, he is selfish, but I must admit, he truly loves you. So, you cannot die. Don''t forget the promise you made to me back then."


    Su Qin looked at him with undisguised anger, but did not try to throw herself to her death anymore.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor looked at the Peacock Great Demon King and said coldly, "If you think yourself a man, then step forward and face your death like a man."


    The Peacock Great Demon King smiled slightly. "See, the thing is, that was my intention from the very beginning. I''ve done what I needed to do. Allow me to say a few words to my wife, and then I will fight thisst battle with you, and we will finally know who among us is the victor and who the defeated."


    After saying this, a sh of silver light surrounded him as he took Su Qin back to the Peacock Demon n''s side, then turned toward the queen consort.


    The queen consort looked at him coldly, then at Su Qin. "When you say ''my wife,'' do you mean me or... her?"

 Chapter 643: My Wife Will Always Be You

    <h4>Chapter 643: My Wife Will Always Be You</h4>


    The Peacock Great Demon King sighed and said, "At a time like this, are you still going to be angry with me? My wife has always been, and will always be, you."


    The queen consort was stunned. He was saying this to her in front of Su Qin? And at a time when the Peacock Demon n was facing extermination? Her resentment lessened slightly, but when she saw Su Qin''s beautiful face, anger red up again, and she snorted coldly.


    The Peacock Great Demon King seemed unfazed by her attitude and said gently, "Maybe you don��t believe me, but let me tell you this again: In this lifetime, I''ve only ever loved you. Do you remember what I said to you on our wedding night? I told you I would do everything in my power during my lifetime to restore the Peacock Demon n to its former glory, to make our n stand among the strongest. Only then would I be worthy of your devotion and kindness.


    "You''re right. Without you, I could never have be the n leader, let alone the lord of Kali City. When I first met you, I had no ambitions. Back then, you were a lofty princess, and although I was from the right family, I was just an insignificant junior. You were a year older than me. I often secretly watched you, thinking that you looked so beautiful, so noble!


    "As we grew older, I worked hard, but my talent was just average. At best, I was a bit smarter than other n members. In terms of strength and bloodline, I wasn''t particrly outstanding. But you were different. You were a direct heir to the Emperor''s lineage, with the noblest bloodline in our n. Yet, when it came time for you to take a husband, you chose me. You chose someone who wasn''t particrly exceptional. Do you know how I felt at that moment? I felt dizzy, as if I was on top of the world. I''ve never dared to ask why you chose me. Can you tell me now?"


    Listening to the Peacock Great Demon King''s gentle narration, the queen consort''s expression gradually changed. She had thought he had long forgotten all this, but now he was recounting it so clearly.


    It had been decades since these events, but as she listened to him now, the icy expression on the queen consort''s face gradually melted.


    "Because you''re smart. You were the smartest of our generation," the queen consort murmured. "The first time I noticed you was during a n school exam. I studied alone at the n school, but each test I took was the same as yours. You couldn''t see my papers, but I could see yours. There were rankings for the n school exams, you know? Although your bloodline power andbat strength weren''t the highest, you were always the absolute top when it came to knowledge."


    Pausing for a moment, the queen consort then continued, "And I was always second."


    The Peacock Great Demon King was stunned. "So, because you could never beat me in exams, you..."


    The queen consort turned her head away and said faintly, "At that time, I didn''t have the privilege to like anyone. Because of my bloodline, the n only allowed me to choose a spouse from the direct lineage. It��s just as Su Qin said: As a bearer of the Emperor''s bloodline, it was my duty to bear offspring for the n. I chose you because I valued your intelligence. I thought that with your intelligence and my bloodline power, our offspring would be exceptional."


    The Peacock Great Demon King smiled bitterly. "So that''s how it is. I wondered how an insignificant guy like me could earn your favor. But my bloodline still held us back, and our child didn''t inherit a truly powerful bloodline."


    The queen consort snorted. "<i>Your</i> bloodline had issues? Then how did you produce such a daughter? Why couldn''t you give <i>me</i> such an exceptional child?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King looked at her with an unusual expression and said, "There��s actually a very good exnation for that, and you��ll find out in a few moments. In fact, you''ve been wrong all along. You can hate me, and you can hate Su Qin if you want, but you can��t hate Little Mei."


    The queen consort was taken aback.


    In the distance, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had grown impatient and said, "Are you done yet?"


    The Peacock Great Demon King turned to him and said calmly, "Shouldn''t you let me talk a bit more now? After all, I''m your rival in love, and watching your rival confess his feelings to another woman should satisfy your twisted mind, shouldn''t it?"


    After speaking, he no longer looked at the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor and turned back to the queen consort. "After you chose me, you put in all your effort to help me, to raise my cultivation, to help me control the n��s divine artifact, and even used your emperor bloodline to stimte mine, making me stronger. Without you, I��m not sure I would have be a Great Demon King, much less the n leader. You helped me grow step by step to the strength I have now. Back then, I could sense that you didn''t really like me, but as time went on, you grew fond of me, right?"


    The queen consort pressed her lips tightly. "Who the hell is fond of you? Don''t tter yourself, it''s just responsibility!"


    The Peacock Great Demon Kingughed. "Don��t bother. The more you deny it, the more it proves I''m right. I know your personality too well. But you didn''t lose out, because I loved you from the beginning. I always admired you when we were young, and I could not be happier to marry you and have children together. I''ve always deeply loved you, and that never changed, even for a second."


    "Never changed? If you''ve never changed, then what about her?" the queen consort said, turning to look at Su Qin.


    The Peacock Great Demon King sighed. "That was all for the promise I made when we got married. And now, it��s time for me to tell you everything. Today is myst day in this world, and there is nothing left to hide. We need to rify everything. Come, Lin Ximo, let''s have our final battle. Let my wife and Su Qin witness it."


    As he spoke, he raised his hand, creating a silver arc that enveloped Su Qin and the queen consort, making them disappear instantly and reappear high in the sky.


    Standing on the tform, Mei Gongzi was shocked to see her mother taken away. She was about to chase after them, but Tang San grabbed her and held her back.


    Mei Gongzi turned to look at him in confusion. Tang San sighed softly and said, "The Peacock Great Demon King''s lifeforce is already irreversibly drained. His physique, bloodline power, and divine consciousness all took serious damage because of that fight; then, during your tribtion, he suffered from the aftershocks as he protected you. His life is at its end. But your mother will be fine, trust me. Let''s wait here and let the older generation resolve their own matters. Don''t worry, the Peacock Demon n will be fine, and so will Kali City."


    Mei Gongzi''s heart stirred, and she asked in confusion, "Do you know something?"


    Tang San nodded, "Your father told me some things, but I promised him I wouldn''t tell you yet. It''s for your own good. When you be an Emperor in the future, you''ll understand."


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback. "What exactly is it?"


    Tang San simply shook his head lightly. He couldn''t lie to her, but it was also not the right time to tell her.


    A beam of crystalline light streaked across the sky, soaring into the heights. Instantly, the entire sky was filled with the powerful divine consciousness pressure of the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 646: You Won

    <h4>Chapter 646: You Won</h4>


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor''s face was full of bitterness. At this moment, his heart was filled with mixed emotions of indescribableplexity. But he still managed to open his mouth and utter two words he hadn��t expected to say today, or ever.


    "You won."


    The Peacock Great Demon King smiled, radiant like the midday sun. "It''s good that you know, it''s good... I won, I won... Ha, ha ha ha..."


    His body was starting to stiffen. He slowly turned, his gaze finallynding on the queen consort, and said, slightly panting, "I won, did you hear...? On behalf of our... Peacock Demon n... I defeated the Crystal Phoenix... What your father couldn''t... achieve back then... I did it... I didn''t... disgrace you... Your choice... was right... you chose... my... brains... and with my... brains... I did it for our Peacock... Demon n... I love..."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    A melodious sound rang from the Peacock Great Demon King''s forehead as the broken Peacock Crown suddenly shattered, scattering into countless fragments. His voice abruptly stopped, and the light in his eyes quickly faded.


    "NO!!!" the queen consort cried out in pain, grabbing him and tightly holding the hand she had pushed away minutes before. "No, no, no, you can''t die, you can''t die. I, I love you, please, I love you. Come back, please, pleasee back!"


    A sh of crystalline light, and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor instantly appeared beside them. The queen consort was about to act but felt a powerful divine consciousness suppress her. Then Lin Ximo''s finger touched the Peacock Great Demon King''s forehead, sealing a fragment of the Peacock Crown that was about to scatter.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes regained a bit of luster, and he looked at the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor with some confusion.


    "Finish what you want to say. No matter what, no matter the enmity we have, you saved my wife and daughter." Lin Ximo no longer trembled, but tears rolled in his eyes.


    The Peacock Great Demon King''s eyes showed a hint of relief, but he didn''t look at Lin Ximo again. Instead, he looked at the queen consort, his lips moving slightly, "Pro...mise me, live well... I... won''t see... our n''s... glory... any more... See it for me... Support... Little... Mei well... Although... she has no... blood rtionship... with me... I... actually... always thought... of her as my... own daughter... Compared to Lin... Ximo... I''m... a good... father..."


    After saying this, the great leader of the Peacock Demon n, the most outstanding Lord of Kali City in history, passed away. In the moment of his passing, the only reluctance in his eyes was for his wife. In this life, he had truly only loved her.


    The queen consort trembled as she tightly held his body, feeling his warmth gradually dissipate, sensing his divine consciousness slowly fading. Her throat felt choked, and she was unable to say anything.


    Su Qin''s face was also covered in tears. No matter what, he had cared for her and her daughter for many years now. And it was true��although he had his own motives and wasn''t even Mei Gongzi''s actual father to begin with, he had been a good father. He had raised her well, and he had spared no expense or effort for her.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor slowly withdrew his hand but did not look at Su Qin. At this moment, he didn''t know how to face this woman who had given everything for him.


    Did he hate the Peacock Great Demon King for stripping Mei Gongzi of the Crystal Phoenix bloodline and imnting the Peacock Demon bloodline instead? Without a doubt, the Peacock Great Demon King had his own selfish motives and wasn''t entirely benevolent at that time. But now, he couldn''t muster any hatred. Without the Peacock Great Demon King, Su Qin and Mei Gongzi would have both died, one bleeding and one suffocated. Who would he have hated then?


    His loved one was still alive, and he had a daughter, an exceptional one at that. Even though she didn''t have the Crystal Phoenix bloodline, she had the potential to be an Emperor. And even though she was not a Crystal Phoenix, she was still blood of his blood!


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor gathered his courage and turned to look at Su Qin. "Qin��er, I don''t dare hope for your forgiveness. I didn''t know, and I didn''t know you suffered so much because of me. Everything is my fault, and I truly realize my mistakes, but I know it''s toote to say anything now. But fortunately, we still have a daughter, and I am now an Emperor. Just watch my actions from now on. Little Mei is my only kin; apart from her, I am alone. But the phoenix race has more than one Emperor. Here and now, I swear that I will live for you and our daughter for the rest of my life."


    After saying this, he slowly retreated, bowing to Su Qin in mid-air. Then, he transformed into a beam of crystalline light and flew away to deal with his own extremelyplex emotions. A sharp cry echoed through the heavens, "We are leaving!"


    At this moment, he had no choice but to leave. He knew that Su Qin would not go with him now, and his daughter was about to inherit the position of the Peacock Demon n leader. But with that said... Wang Qing had won, but had Lin Ximo truly lost?


    He had figured out many things in this brief time and understood the deep meaning behind the Peacock Great Demon King''s actions. What difference did it make if Kali City was under his control or in his daughter''s hands? What was there to be dissatisfied with? After all, the woman he loved had never betrayed him and had even given birth to his daughter. For Lin Ximo, this was even more gratifying than taking over a main city.


    He finally understood why the Peacock Great Demon King had always been so fearless. This guy was truly formidable! Everything was set up here waiting for him. The Peacock Great Demon King had truly dedicated himself to the Peacock Demon n, finding another path. Undoubtedly, Lin Ximo would have to protect his daughter as she grew until she became an Emperor. By then, with the bond between his daughter and the Peacock Demon n, Kali City would always belong to the Peacock Demon n.


    This move by the Peacock Great Demon King achieved multiple goals at once. It was almost perfect! The only loss was his decades-long rtionship with the queen consort. That was why, today, while revealing everything, he kept apologizing to his wife and expressing his feelings. Who knew how long he��d been suppressing those feelings?


    Thus, this confrontation had no winners or losers. The final oue was one that satisfied both sides, in a twisted way. The Peacock Great Demon King paid with his life and, through his sacrifice, dissolved the enmity between the Crystal Phoenix n and the Peacock Demon n.


    Who could have imagined that the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, who had always been hostile to the Peacock Demon n, would be Mei Gongzi''s ally in her future duties at the Ancestral Court? This was the Peacock Great Demon King''s biggest trump card, and it was why Tang San couldn''t reveal the truth to Mei Gongzi just yet��it would have too great an impact on her state of mind.


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    Amid the cries of phoenixes, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor departed. To the nobles of Kali City and the powerful members of the Peacock Demon n, this was an absurd development. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor held the upper hand and seemed intent on crushing thempletely, yet he��d just... left?


    A sh that could well have resulted in a genocide ended just like that.

 Chapter 647: Kali Citys Lord, Mei Gongzi

    <h4>Chapter 647: Kali City''s Lord, Mei Gongzi</h4>


    It seemed that some special presence had dissipated only in the sky, filling the ancestralnd of the Peacock Demon n with an indescribable sorrow.


    The queen consort descended from the sky, her eyes vacant as she held the corpse of the Peacock Great Demon King, with Su Qin following by her side.


    As theynded out of thin air, the powerful members of the Peacock Demon n instantly understood what had happened.


    "Your Excellency..." The cries of grief echoed instantly in front of the castle, countless mourning sounds rising at once for this generation''s demon king.


    Mei Gongzi stared nkly at her father, who was lying in the queen consort''s arms, momentarily dazed.


    From childhood to adulthood, she had always felt estranged from her father. He had many children, and because of her mother''s status, she had always been marginalized and despised. Aside from teaching her cultivation, her father had always been indifferent, leaving her to handle things on her own. Only from her mother did she feel love.


    But at this moment, as she watched her father die before her eyes, her heart felt as if it was being crushed by an iron grip. Tears flowed uncontrobly, and she quickly stepped forward, embracing the body of the Peacock Great Demon King, sobbing like a little child.


    Another figure followed her to the side of the Peacock Great Demon King, cing a hand on the city lord''s forehead.


    "What are you doing?" The previously dazed queen consort suddenly red angrily at the masked, bald man who had approached her. Spatial power surged abruptly.


    But then a strange scene unfolded��the spatial power surging from her converged toward the hand that rested on the Peacock Great Demon King''s forehead.


    Tang San said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I want to try using a divine artifact to condense a trace of the city lord''s divine consciousness. Maybe I can preserve a part of his will."


    The queen consort was stunned for a moment, and her initial impulse to attack was reced by a glimmer of hope. "Is that really possible?"


    @@novelbin@@


    From her understanding, a strong person''s divine consciousness did take a while to disperse after death, but it wasn��t <i>that</i> much time. Even Emperors couldn''t avoid this. At most, they could leave some instinctual will in a divine artifact. And the Peacock Great Demon King... was not an Emperor.


    "I''ll try." In Tang San''s palm, a ball of seven-colored mes flickered lightly. From the center of these mes, a hazy light descended, covering the forehead of the Peacock Great Demon King.


    Immediately, the remaining bloodline power and yet-to-disperse divine consciousness of the Peacock Great Demon King were slowly absorbed. The queen consort, who was standing close by, could clearly feel that something was being removed from the Peacock Great Demon King''s body.


    This feeling did not frighten her but rather brought joy, as it meant that something of her husband might truly have been preserved.


    Tang San said deeply, "I have sealed his remaining divine consciousness and part of his bloodline origin. If I be a god in the future, I might be able to help revive him. It will be difficult, and I cannot guarantee that I will seed, but there��s a fifty percent chance. I suppose that��s better than nothing."


    "Is that possible? Who are you?" The queen consort''s grief had peaked, and she had even been prepared to follow the Peacock Great Demon King in death. But now, the glimmer of hope that Tang San brought reignited a fire within her.


    Tang San nodded and said, "I am Mei Gongzi��s guardian. The city lord is her father, so I naturally have to help, to the best of my ability. Ie from the Endless Blue Sea and have inherited some ancient techniques that might work. But as I said, it will take time, and my strength has to advance quite a lot before I can even attempt it."


    The queen consort urgently said, "You must already be at the peak of the ninth order. What do you need to break through to godhood? As long as my n has it, you just need to say it, and we will do everything to assist you."


    Tang San shook his head and said, "It��s not that simple. If it was just a matter of having treasures and whatnot, I would have gotten them myself. In any case... Your Majesty, we are still at the ceremony, and the Peacock Demon n cannot be leaderless. Please take charge."


    As she felt the coldness of her lover''s body in her arms, the queen consort''s eyes reddened again, but it was different this time��she had some hope, minute though it might be. She looked at Mei Gongzi, who was crying beside her, and Su Qin, who was standing on the other side and tearing up as well. She then recalled the words of the Peacock Great Demon King before his death��Mei Gongzi carried her bloodline, so in a sense, she was also her daughter. And with the possibility of the Peacock Great Demon King''s revival, that fact wasn''t so hard to ept anymore.


    Taking a deep breath, the queen consort spoke up, though it seemed to pain her. "His Majesty burned his own lifeforce to stop the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. He is gone, but he also repelled the enemy. Moreover, in the future, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor will no longer be a threat to our n.


    "The king spent his entire life defending the Peacock Demon n and striving for our resurgence. He was one of the greatest leaders in our n''s history. As the Great Elder and his wife, I will honor hisst wishes. From today onward, Mei Gongzi will be the new n leader. I will treat her as my own and do everything to assist her in leading our n."


    Eyes brimming with tears, Mei Gongzi looked up at the queen consort. Thetter��s expression wasplex, but looking at the stunning face before her, adorned with tears, she couldn''t help but sigh softly and nod at her.


    Mei Gongzi slowly turned around, facing the tform, and looked at the n members and city nobles, all immersed in grief. Taking a deep breath, she dered, "The Peacock Demon n will forever be the rulers of Kali City. We will defend this city with our lives, protect the Peacock Demon n, fulfill my father''sst wish, and lead our n to regain its glory!"


    The death of the Peacock Great Demon King left everyone in no mood to celebrate the inheritance ceremony��the next event would be his funeral, after all. The death of this generation''s city lord would undoubtedly cast a huge shadow over all of Kali City, bringing immense sorrow.


    The Peacock Great Demon King was the best thing that had ever happened to Kali City. Despite not having exceptional talent for cultivation, he had led the city to prosperity. In terms of economic strength, the city now even surpassed the times when it had an Emperor. The residents lived in peace, and the nobles were wealthy and powerful. This was why a group of nobles remained loyal to the Peacock Demon n, even knowing the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor wasing to oppress them.


    And now, this heroic leader of the Peacock Demon n had fallen. Undoubtedly, Mei Gongzi was more talented in cultivation than the previous Peacock Great Demon King. Even though she was just a fresh god, her power was simply formidable. But individual strength was one thing; governing a city was another. The nobles were observing, and many were anxious.


    The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor had retreated, and the queen consort said he wouldn''t return, but that was just her word. Would that Emperor really give up on fighting for Kali City? Why would he just give up?


    No one knew the reason, so with the death of the Peacock Great Demon King, restlessness began to spread throughout Kali City.


    The funeralsted for three days, with the queen consort presiding over the grand burial of the Peacock Great Demon King.


    Mei Gongzi officially became the lord of Kali City and the leader of the Peacock Demon n. She was still a girl, not even twenty years of age, yet she had joined the ranks of the top nobles in the Empyrean Dominion.


    Three days after the death of the Peacock Great Demon King, condolences arrived from the Ancestral Court. Along with them came a summoning: the new city lord had to report to the Ancestral Court within a year, and their ability to lead a city would be evaluated.


    One year��that was the entire grace period. It was tight and strict, but not discriminatory; that was the simply rule for any lord of any main city.

 Chapter 648: Governance

    <h4>Chapter 648: Governance</h4>


    The sessor of a city lord required the review and approval of the Ancestral Court to truly be a ruler. This rule was reasonable; a year of governance was enough for the ruler to show some capability. The evaluation, naturally, was conducted by the Ancestral Court Council. Itprehensively assessed the new city lord''s contributions to the main city over the past year as well as their personal abilities. Only an excellent rating would allow the new city lord to officially inherit the position; otherwise, a new candidate would be chosen.


    A brief look at the history of the Empyrean Dominion showed that while the appointment of a city lord was generally upheld, no few city lords had been removed by the Ancestral Court. And although most of the time, the next candidate would also be chosen from the original city lord''s n, the Peacock Demon n had no Emperor to advocate for that. If Mei Gongzi��s position as city lord was revoked, the Peacock Demon n would face great trouble and likely lose control of Kali City; who would let them appoint <i>another</i> city lord?


    Therefore, the uing year was crucial for both Mei Gongzi and the Peacock Demon n.


    Three days had passed, and Mei Gongzi already looked a bit weary. In those three days, she not only had to handle her father''s funeral but also take over the responsibilities of the city lord of Kali City. Obviously, she had little experience in governing a city. In fact, the Peacock Great Demon King hadn''t expected her to have much capability in this area. Bing an Emperor was bound to consume most of her energy, and no one could excel in everything.


    Of course, there was still the queen consort. When the Peacock Great Demon King was in seclusion, it was the queen consort who managed everything. Therefore, as far as he was concerned, with the queen consort assisting Mei Gongzi after her session, governing the city shouldn''t be a problem.


    What he didn''t expect was that the queen consort had no interest in governing the city now and genuinely handed over all the power to Mei Gongzi.


    The death of the Peacock Great Demon King and his final confession made her truly understand her husband''s painstaking efforts. As she realized that her husband had never betrayed her and had endured her cold treatment for so many years only for the benefit of the n, the queen consort waspletely heartbroken.


    Thus, she had been staying with the corpse of the Peacock Great Demon King these past few days, silently keeping vigil. She had no desire for power anymore. With Mei Gongzi''s connection to the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, she no longer worried about losing control of Kali City.


    Thus, Mei Gongzi was truly the city lord, in both theory and practice.


    At the beginning, she was extremely flustered, not knowing what to do. Thankfully, she still had one advisor who <i>did</i> have experience in that respect.


    Tang San gave Mei Gongzi a simple idea, which greatly eased her burden. Tang San suggested that she invite the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King, the president of the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, to serve as the Chief of Finances, and the Golden Deer Demon King to serve as the Chief of Administration. These two, working together, would help her govern Kali City.


    The Aetherhorn Deers and Golden Deers were not known for theirbat abilities, but they were very much known for their business acumen, and they had helped the Peacock Great Demon King build his vastmercial empire. Despite Kali City''s remote location, the Aetherhorn Merchant Association had be thergest merchant association in the Empyrean Dominion, which only showcased their management skills.


    Moreover, these two ns had practically zerobat ability, and they thrived and suffered alongside the Peacock Demon n. They were loyal followers of the Peacock Great Demon King. Appointing them to important positions immediately would win them over, making them understand that even with a change in leadership, they were still valued; in fact, they were even more valued now. This ensured their dedication and effort in governing Kali City.


    @@novelbin@@


    Indeed, once these appointments were made, the chaos in Kali City quickly returned to order. With the efforts of the two deer demon ns, everything got back on track.


    Mei Gongzi pledged an oath that she would seed in her evaluation and that Kali City would no longer face threats from the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. She asked them to focus all their efforts on economic development and city construction. Her only personal requirement was to establish human settlements near Kali City, granting ordinary humans legal inhabitant status so they could have basic living conditions. With that, in Kali City and its surrounding areas, demons were strictly forbidden from enving or harming humans, with severe punishment for vitors!


    The nobles of Kali City had anticipated thisw, given that Mei Gongzi had human blood. It was only natural for her to enact such a decree after inheriting the position of n leader, so they simply shrugged and did what they were told.


    It wasn��t like they were losing much; humans did not possess great strength, but they had clever minds and were excellent craftsmen and artisans. As ves, they had always been favored by the nobles, and while thetter weren��t all that happy about having to pay them now, they epted it. Only some of the more conservative nobles protested, but they were soon subdued.


    Tang San was appointed by Mei Gongzi as the Chief of Guards. And the first thing he did was establish an inspection team to monitor illegal activities in the city, especially those involving humans. Of course, in order not to cause discontentment among the nobles, the members of the team were not human��of course, Tang San could have appointed the Crimson Fox girls, who were now strong enough for most practical purposes, but that was not in anyone��s best interests.


    Instead, the core force of the inspection team consisted of fifty young and strong members of the Lion-Tiger n, along with one hundred carefully selected people from the Peacock Demon n. Thanks to the intelligencework of the Aetherhorn Deer Demon n, the inspection team was very quick to act.


    When a few nobles who harmed humans had their heads on disy on the city wall, the nobles realized that the new n leader was serious.


    With that, the safety of humans was ensured, at least for the time being. With the support of the Aetherhorn Deers and the Golden Deers, human settlements began to be established outside Kali City. Redemption Academy quietly sent representatives to the settlements in order to educate humans. Imparting knowledge was their priority, of course.


    Meanwhile, Mei Gongzi sessfully bing the lord of Kali City was obviously a major milestone for the entire Redemption Society. The news had immediately reached the headquarters of the Redemption Society, where it was received with ovations. Mei Gongzi was directly elevated to Purple ss, the highest position in the society, and was granted the title of Saintess, just like her mother.


    Humans finally had a main city they could rely on. In the near future, as the news of Kali City''s friendliness toward humans spread, more humans would surelye to seek refuge.


    However, Tang San did not allow the information to spread. In fact, he even used the deer demons�� intelligencework to make sure it was kept under wraps.


    Mei Gongzi had just be the lord of Kali City and had not yet gained a firm foothold. Excessive friendliness toward humans would inevitably provoke a bacsh from the major demon nobles. If too many humans gathered, it would increase Kali City''s burden and expand its influence far more than its status allowed, giving the Ancestral Court reasons to cause trouble. Things had to be taken step by step; proceeding slowly was the best approach.


    Stability was what Kali City needed the most now, and while things were stable, increasing the city��s strength was the absolute priority.


    The elderly, women, and children of the Lion-Tiger n stayed in Golden Valley, as there was no safer ce. However, the young and strong had all entered Kali City. This n, once considered cursed, had be a hot and rising contender on the greater scene of the Empyrean Dominion ever since Big Cat achieved a good ranking in the Elite Competition and proved that the bloodline conflict was no longer an issue. After all, they now had first-tier bloodlines��who would look down on a top-level n like that?


    The Lion-Tiger n had about three hundred young members, and Elder Sky Cat ordered all of them to follow Tang San''smands. Apart from the ones he appointed to the inspection team, Tang San sent the other young members of the Lion-Tiger n to the human settlements outside the city; he made them responsible for guarding those areas and ensuring humans could smoothly construct towns there.

 Chapter 649: Stability

    <h4>Chapter 649: Stability</h4>


    When choosing the location for the settlements, Tang San didn��t have to think for long; he had already considered it carefully. He chose the east side of Kali City, closer to the Endless Blue Sea. In front, Kali City would serve as a shield; even if war broke out in the future, Kali City would protect the human settlements.


    First, they would establish small towns, then develop them into cities in the future. For now, Kali City couldn''t allow arge influx of humans, as that would inevitably cause bacsh, but building small settlements outside the city wouldn''t be an issue. After all, the nobles didn''t think humans could pose any significant threat.


    Redemption Academy moved to the new towns, and the Redemption Society sent more teachers. The society''s leadership understood that this would be the true base of operations for the Redemption Society in the future. The protection of a main city was better than anything else, and they didn''t have to worry about resources anymore.


    Completing these foundational tasks took about a month. Meanwhile, the transition between the old and new leadership in Kali City had alsoe to an end, and the city had more or less returned to normal. As for whether the great nobles were loyal to the new n leader, only they knew.


    In any case, they could see that Kali City wasn��t facing any trouble, and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor didn��t seem to being back either. Only the Ancestral Court''s evaluation requirement remained a problem.


    Within the Peacock Demon n, the elders were now on Mei Gongzi��s side due to the queen consort''s change in attitude. But while they did fulfill orders with all diligence, the rest of the time they simply watched from the sidelines, not involving themselves actively. The new n leader had to prove herself first; only by doing so would she get their full support.


    During this time, the queen consort herself remained secluded, keeping vigil for the Peacock Great Demon King. She only appeared asionally and was in low spirits.


    The younger generation of the Peacock Demon n mostly did not ept Mei Gongzi because of her human blood, which was still a major point of contention within the n. But to their dismay, her strength was undeniable. All they could do was pay lip service to her when she was present, mumble behind her back, and go on with their lives.


    Mei Gongzi didn''t do much about them. Tang San told her there wouldn''t be internal chaos as long as the queen consort supported her, and that appeared to be the case indeed. It was more important to handle external matters and improve her power. The evaluation was the biggest challenge she would face next.


    Therefore, while delegating most of the affairs to the two deer demon ns, Mei Gongzi devoted more time to her own cultivation.


    After a month, she was close to digesting all the gains from the tribtion. The energy of the lightning left in her body had been mostly absorbed or dissipated, and her cultivation was now fully stable.


    She was still an early-stage Demon King, technically but her actual power wasparable to that of a peak Demon King. This was the benefit brought by the powerful lightning tribtion. Moreover, both her bloodlines had undergone significant changes after the tribtion. Her Peacock Transformation and White Tiger Transformation now carried the power of the lightning tribtion, and her physique and spirit had both undergone a transformation.


    Godhood was the absolute watershed, the winnowing basket that separated the wheat from the chaff. Someone that had undergone the baptism of lightning waspletely different from someone that had not. This was why Mei Gongzi''s strength had changed so drastically, not to mention her lightning tribtion was simply unprecedented.


    Tang San had always apanied her in cultivation, gradually recovering his own strength. Although the lightning tribtion had caused him considerable injuries, it also brought many benefits. It wasn''t his own tribtion, but the power of the lightning tribtion was so massive that nobody could possibly absorb it all. To help Mei Gongzi, he had also absorbed a lot of it, especially since the Golden Armor Transformation seemed to really like the Golden Fiend Lightning. He absorbed arge amount of that energy back then, and the benefits gradually became apparent as Tang San''s body became even <i>more </i>resilient. In addition, the energy made the Golden Armor Transformation even more domineering.


    Once the situation in Kali City had stabilized, Zhang Haoxuan returned from the Ancestral Court with Wu Bingji and the others. The new human town desperately needed manpower, and no one was more suitable for the role of mayor than Zhang Haoxuan, who already had many years of experience in that role. Therefore, Tang San remotely informed him through the Aetherhorn Merchant Association toe back and manage the affairs here.


    "Xiao Mei," Tang San knocked on the door and entered Mei Gongzi''s residence.


    After taking over as n leader, Mei Gongzi naturally moved into the n leader''s residence. It was in arge circr room at the highest point of the ancestral castle. In addition to a bedroom and a cultivation room, there was also arge living room and a study. Mei Gongzi usually handled various affairs here.


    When Tang San first came to this cultivation room, he discovered that the Peacock Demon n had used some special means to channel the power of the underground energy veins of the Kali Mountains. The heaven and earth energy that could be drawn in this cultivation room even surpassed what he had seen in the Ancestral Court.


    @@novelbin@@


    This was one of the benefits brought by having a main city, and it was also why the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor wanted to seize the city. With a main city providing everything needed for cultivation, it was difficult <i>not </i>to be powerful. The former Peacock Great Demon King being unable to be an Emperor was due to his poor innate talent, and not for anyck of resources.


    Naturally, Tang San had also been cultivating in this room with Mei Gongzi recently.


    Seeing him enter, Mei Gongzi smiled and said, "You''re just in time. A new batch of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron has arrived. Here, take it."


    As she spoke, she handed Tang San a storage ring.


    Back when the Peacock Great Demon King was still alive, he had already started having caravans collect the so-called Lava Iron, which was actually Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, from across the Empyrean Dominion. After the Peacock Great Demon King passed away, Mei Gongzi put even more effort into this, having the Aetherhorn Deers and Golden Deers purchase it at all costs.


    The quantity of Lava Iron was greater than expected, and they had managed to acquire it for less money than they had predicted. Over the past month, five batches had been collected, resulting in Tang San''s stock of Rainbow Skyfire Liquid being more than three times what it was initially.


    Naturally, the speed at which the Spacetime Beacon was refined had also increased significantly.


    Tang San epted the storage ring without hesitation and said, "I''m here to bid you farewell. I need to return to the Golden Valley for a period of seclusion."


    "You''re leaving?" Mei Gongzi was stunned when she heard he was leaving, and an indescribable feeling surged in her heart.


    Seeing the change in her expression, Tang San gently said, "Things are stable here now, so staying here to cultivate is best for you. I also need to make some preparations. We don��t have much time. By the time you go to the Ancestral Court for your evaluation, I must be ready for my heavenly tribtion, andpared to what I will experience... you can think of your tribtion as a little bad weather."


    As he said this, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    Mei Gongzi had merely absorbed some of his aura and received some of his help, yet she had faced the terrifying Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion. He could only imagine what kind of lightning tribtion he would face. It would likely be a terrifying eight-nine tribtion, at the very least��instead of six rounds of eight, there would be eight rounds of nine lightning strikes, and they��d only be worse than what Mei Gongzi had experienced. In fact, even an actual Emperor might not be able to withstand it.


    He had to find another way to seed. Therefore, he needed to make all kinds of preparations.


    "Is there anything I can help with? Whatever resources you need, I can help you prepare. No one will oppose it, after all, the queen consort is also counting on you to revive my father."


    When the Peacock Great Demon King passed away, Tang San used the Spacetime Beacon to seal a part of his bloodline origin and divine consciousness. With the protection of the Spacetime Beacon, the divine consciousness and bloodline imprint wouldn''t dissipate. He had told the queen consort at the time that if he could achieve godhood, there was a possibility of reviving the Peacock Great Demon King.


    Although the queen consort was half skeptical about this, she truly loved her husband, and she had nothing to lose at this point; thus, she decided to trust him. This was also why she did not hinder Mei Gongzi in any way and even refrained from managing Kali City herself.

 Chapter 650: Tang San is Leaving

    <h4>Chapter 650: Tang San is Leaving</h4>


    Tang San shook his head slightly and said, "I''ve already prepared what I need. You just need to keep collecting Heavenly Fire Essence Iron for me, as much as possible. You must also continue your own cultivation. Although it''s impossible for you to be a Great Demon King in a year, your potential is incredible now that you passed that lightning tribtion. As long as you keep working on it, you should be able to contend with Great Demon Kings in a year."


    Mei Gongzi frowned and asked, "Will you be in seclusion for a long time?"


    "I don''t know, it depends on my progress. I need to purify my various bloodlines and make some preparations. After that, I might go to the Ancestral Court again. Also, I''ve already partially refined the Spacetime Beacon, and I''ll try to create a long-distance teleportation array to ensure your safety during your evaluation."


    "Alright then," Mei Gongzi said somewhat dejectedly.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Okay, I''ll be off then. If you need anything, send me a message remotely."


    "Mm." Mei Gongzi nodded.


    Tang San bid farewell and walked out the door.


    Watching his departing figure, the reluctance in Mei Gongzi''s eyes grew stronger. He had left!


    Over the past month, she had transitioned from being a flustered princess to gradually getting things on track. Thanks to her decision of trusting the two deer demon ns and entrusting them with significant responsibilities, they now fully supported her. Even if there was some discontent within the Peacock Demon n, at least no dissenting voices were heard. All in all, she had things under control.


    But only she knew that it was because Tang San had been her backbone, offering advice and strategies, that she was able to quickly organize everything and not fall behind in her cultivation.


    Now that he was suddenly leaving, Mei Gongzi felt like something was missing from her heart. An indescribable emptiness filled her, and her reluctance became increasingly strong.


    <i>Why didn''t you ask him to stay just now! </i>a voice in her heart said.


    Another voice snapped, <i>I shouldn''t have asked him to stay! He is going to do important things. Without proper preparation, how can he face his tribtion? </i>


    <i>But, what should I do if he''s not by my side?</i>


    Mei Gongzi''s previously good mood suddenly turned gloomy. She hadn''t even realized that she had be dependent on Tang San. It was only now, when he was no longer here, that she understood this, and she felt particrly downhearted.


    Their rtionship was somewhat delicate now. After the tribtion, when she apanied him during his recovery, she hadpletely epted that Tang San and Asura were the same person, and she knew that she wanted him by her side. Andter, as they were busy sorting out the matters of the n and the city, he had indeed been by her side all the time.


    She trusted him unconditionally, and he helped her stabilize the situation.


    However, neither of them had addressed the subtle nature of their rtionship. And Mei Gongzi knew clearly that she could no longer see him as just an elder brother.


    Now, with his sudden departure, a strong sense of anxiety and insecurity welled up from deep within her heart.


    After leaving Mei Gongzi''s room, Tang San let out a long breath. He could actually sense the changes in Mei Gongzi''s mindset. Since inheriting the position of n leader, she had be very dependent on him on one hand, yet seemed to avoid him on the other. It was clear that she was not quite sure how to face the matter of their rtionship.


    This was not the state Tang San wanted to see, but he knew that it waspletely normal. It was not easy for Mei Gongzi to ept such sudden changes; she needed time.


    Therefore, after helping her organize everything, he decided to simply leave. On one hand, he truly needed to go into seclusion to perfect his various abilities and adjust his state. On the other hand, he wanted to give her some space and time to think about their rtionship and how they should interact.


    He wondered whether he should have been more proactive, but as he pondered, he felt he had done all he could. Given Mei Gongzi''s character, he couldn''t force things in any way. It was better to let her calm down and see how things would go. The uing evaluation at the Ancestral Court and his tribtion were critical; once those things were settled, they would have all the time in the world.


    As long as Tang San sessfully overcame his tribtion and transformed his spiritual power into divine consciousness, he would be able to directly cultivate his seed of divine consciousness. At the same time, he would regain some of the God King power from his previous life. At that point, even Emperors would find it difficult to kill him, and he would truly have the power to protect himself.


    The tribtion and the evaluation would likely need to be addressed simultaneously, both in one go. Sess meant he would be like a fish leaping into the wide sea or a bird leaving the cage to fly in the high sky��he would be practically unimpeded. The next step would be to consider how to return to his original world.


    Lately, he had been busy with Mei Gongzi; even during his own cultivation, he had been helping her absorb the energy of the tribtion and improve herprehension. But Tang San himself also needed time to sort out his abilities properly, and now was the moment.


    Leaving the ancestral castle of the Peacock Demon n, Tang San used the Peacock Transformation to teleport. After several shifts, he returned to Golden Valley.


    After merging with that Golden Tree spirit essence, the new Golden Tree in the valley was thriving. In terms of pure life energy, this ce was unquestionably among the best in the entire Daemon Continent.


    The Crimson Fox girls had made rapid progress since using the Fox Tail Relics. Red One was now on the verge of reaching the ninth order. Their bloodlines were being continuously purified and enhanced thanks to the daily nourishment of the life energy. If they continued to cultivate this way, reaching the peak of the ninth order would be no problem.


    The practice of the God-ying Crossbow had not been neglected either. They had been diligently training and could now use it proficiently.


    Sensing Tang San''s presence, Red One immediately ran out.


    "Master, wee back!"


    Tang San nodded to her and said, "I need to go into seclusion for a while, I will be meditating right here under the Golden Tree. Just make sure no one approaches me."


    "Understood." Red One quickly agreed, though she didn''t know why. She sensed that Tang San was somewhat exhausted.


    After giving her instructions, Tang San sat down under the Golden Tree, leaning against its trunk, which was now so thick that it required six or seven people to encircle it. Feeling the warm energy of life nourishing his body, Tang San entered a meditative state.


    @@novelbin@@


    He was, indeed, exhausted. Helping Mei Gongzi through her tribtion had harmed him to the very core. Although he had recovered thanks to the powerful Golden Armor Transformation, he was far from his best state. He had been constantly busy with matters concerning Mei Gongzi, and while his body was mostly fine, he was mentally fatigued.


    Within a few moments, he had sunk into a deep state of meditation, quickly reaching a state of forgetting both himself and the outside world.


    When Tang San awakened from his meditation, it was already dark, with only the Golden Tree emitting a faint golden halo, providing some light to the valley.


    This deep meditation had allowed him topletely rx. Tang San felt refreshed, with all his fatigue gone, leaving an indescribable sense offort and ease.


    The various bloodline imprints within his dantian were all calmly floating in their ces.


    The Golden Armor Transformation still shone like a small sun, radiating dazzling brilliance. Its aura alone seemed to overshadow the other bloodline imprints.


    Moreover, under its influence, the other bloodline imprints were subtly evolving.


    Following the Golden Armor Transformation were the Discerning Eye of Heaven, Peacock Transformation, Lion-Tiger Transformation, Dragon Roc Transformation, Chrono Croc Transformation, Crystal Transformation, and Blue Silver Emperor.


    The Blue Silver Emperor was wrapped in the yin-yang energy vortex, as usual, but recently, it had been showing signs of merging with it. Under the stimtion of the Golden Armor Transformation, the imprint was bing more and more cohesive.


    Of the nine bloodline imprint positions, eight were already filled, and except for the Blue Silver Emperor, the others had reached the ninth order.

 Chapter 651: Accompanying You in Seclusion

    <h4>Chapter 651: Apanying You in Seclusion</h4>


    The Discerning Eye of Heaven had just reached the ninth order, while the others were already at the peak of the ninth order.


    After advancing, the Discerning Eye of Heaven seemed to have encountered some kind of limitation, and it did not seem to want to move any further. Even the integration of the Pr Luck Domain with it couldn''t enhance it further.


    Crystalline��s imprint[1] was rather special; she seemed to be in a constant state of slumber, yet she still absorbed Tang San''s internal energy.


    Tang San had been observing this process, and had concluded that it did not pose a problem to his cultivation. Crystalline seemed to only absorb the surplus of energy; her imprint was only drawing in the energy that the other imprints could not absorb, and when Tang San��s energy was running low, she stopped absorbing it.


    He had also tried to awaken Crystalline, but with no sess.


    Crystalline was connected to the Crystal Demon Emperor, yet even now, he hadn''t figured out the exact nature of this connection. The imprint within his dantian hadn''t yed any major role within him, but it hadn''t caused him any trouble either. It wouldn''t be entirely urate to say it had yed no role at all��there had been times when Crystalline woke up and helped him in a moment of danger, after all, but Tang San had no way of predicting how things would go in the future.


    In any case, as far as he could sense, the energy level of this imprint matched that of the other imprints that were at the peak of the ninth order, so he simply considered it to be at the peak of the ninth order as well. Its aura was not powerful, but he felt that the imprint was not weak.


    Thus, what he had to do was cultivate the Discerning Eye of Heaven to the peak of the ninth order, enhance the Blue Silver Emperor so it could contain the power of the fused yin-yang energy, and select onest bloodline.


    Tang San thought that to elevate the Discerning Eye of Heaven to the peak of the ninth order, he could wait until his tribtion. The location where he nned to undergo tribtion might just provide the opportunity for the enhancement.


    As for the Blue Silver Emperor... the inevitable path was fusing it with the yin-yang energies into a second transcendent bloodline, but this also inevitably required another trip to the two Sacred Mountains at the Ancestral Court. The vacant slot woulde in handy at that time; he might need to integrate another bloodline to assist with the fusion.


    The problem was that fusing the Blue Silver Emperor was one thing, and keeping the result under control was another thing altogether. It would only be more difficult than it had been with the Golden Armor Transformation.


    He could merge the Rainbow Skyfire Liquid into the final vacant imprint if all else failed. The Spacetime Beacon would serve as his life-bound artifact during his breakthrough attempt.


    @@novelbin@@


    Summoning the Sea God��s Trident to his side was not something he could aplish in a short period. Fortunately, the Spacetime Beacon was a very adequate recement. After all, it was thergest Spacetime Beacon Tang San had ever seen, and it had the potential to be a transcendent divine item itself, so he wasn��t too concerned about taking a loss.


    For now, during his cultivation, his focus had to be on his divine consciousness. He could not cultivate it directly, but he could now somewhat speed up the process of converting spiritual power, and he had to give that his all. He had to recover his divine consciousness to the maximum extent possible before thinking of other things.


    As for the bloodline power, he would let it naturally elevate to the peak of the ninth order under the nourishment of the Golden Armor Transformation.


    Tang San nned to enter seclusion for a month, reach optimal condition, and push his spirit core to convert his spiritual power into divine consciousness. After that, he would return to the Ancestral Court to seek opportunities at the Sunborne Sacred Mountain and the Earthshade Sacred Mountain.


    With that, Tang San began to n things out. He pondered on his various abilities, analyzed the possibilities that each bloodline imprint offered, and thought of how to best integrate them with each other. Now that he had so many of them, using them randomly was a waste of potential; they could only unleash their true power when they were used in synergy with each other.


    By the time he was done sorting his thoughts, dawn had already arrived. Taking advantage of the faint light in the eastern sky, Tang San cultivated his Purple Demon Eyes.


    Just as he was about to return to the Golden Tree to continue his seclusion, his long-distancemunicator suddenly rang.


    This specificmunicator was exclusive; only one person could connect to it. Tang San answered the call without hesitation, and Mei Gongzi''s voice immediately came through.


    ��Where are you?


    "I''m in seclusion!"


    ��I''m at Kali Academy. Come pick me up!


    Mei Gongzi''s voice was still as melodious as ever, but the words she was saying surprised Tang San.


    "Pick you up?"


    ��Yeah! Pick me up and I��ll keep youpany during seclusion. I''m a god now, so with my help, won''t your seclusion go more smoothly? I''ve already made arrangements. From now on, I''ll apany you in seclusion for three days a week and handle the other affairs for four days. When I''m not there, I''ll have the queen consort handle things. I''ve already exined to her that I''m helping you with your seclusion so that you can be a god sooner and revive my father. She said yes.


    "You want to apany me in seclusion?" Tang San asked again, somewhat unsure.


    ��What? Am I not wee?


    She sounded a bit irked now.


    "Wee, haha, of course you''re wee!" Tang San smiled so widely he felt as if the corners of his mouth would meet at the back of his head. His heart seemed like it might melt.


    He jumped on his feet, and after just a few breaths, he saw her again.


    It was still the same old spot at Kali Academy. She had changed into a simple white dress; her long hair was casually tied into a ponytail at the back of her head, and she looked fresh and natural.


    The moment their eyes met, they both froze.


    Even though it had only been a day since theyst saw each other, in that moment, the longing in their hearts erupted like a geyser.


    Tang San suddenly stepped forward and tightly pulled her into his embrace. In that instant, he couldn''t care about anything else��he just wanted to hold her, to have his lover in his arms.


    Mei Gongzi was startled by his sudden bold move and tried to struggle for a moment, but she quickly gave up.


    With her cheek pressed against his chest, she felt perfectly at ease. His embrace was warm. Leaning against him felt like finding the perfect support, and all her fatigue seemed to dissipate in that moment.


    Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his waist. The two of them held each other tightly like that.


    "You know... I missed you so much," Tang San said softly, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair.


    "If you like being with me, why did you run off?" Mei Gongzi replied, slightly annoyed.


    "I didn''t run off, I just wanted to protect you better...."


    "Then don��t leave me. You need to be with me all the time to protect me, got it?"


    "Yes, Big Sister Mei. I am at yourmand."


    "Good, that''s more like it." Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but smile, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the special sense of safety that came from leaning against him.


    Although they had been apart for just one day, she constantly felt a sense of emptiness during that time. Without him by her side, it was as if she had lost her footing andcked confidence. Everything she did felt awkward and ufortable.


    It was only then that she realized she had grown ustomed to having him by her side. Perhaps it started during thepetition, and continued through this time they spent together. He was always so calm andposed, and whenever she encountered a problem, he always found the best way to solve it and offered rational suggestions.


    Even the Golden Deer Demon King and the Aetherhorn Deer Demon King couldn��t find any ws in her orders. Whenever she saw their admiring and approving gazes, Mei Gongzi couldn��t help but blush a little because those ideas weren''t hers��they came from her personal encyclopedia.


    She would have been aplete mess without him.


    The queen consort wasn��t helping her manage the affairs because she wanted to see if Mei Gongzi could be apetent city lord by herself.


    Having sufficient strength to protect the n <i>could</i> make someone a n leader, more or less, but being a city lord was something else entirely. Governing a major city was no easy task.


    In just a month, while providing benefits to humans, she managed to organize Kali City in an orderly fashion, minimizing the negative impact of the change in power structure, bringing everything back on track, and maintaining stability within the Peacock Demon n.


    Everything she was doing was observed by the Peacock Demon n''s powerful members, and they acknowledged her more and more by the day.


    1. At this point, the raws start calling it "Crystal Transformation imprint." We will not be doing the same, at least for the time being, for two reasons. First, there is no transition; Tang San is calling it Crystalline (the original literally means "crystal-crystal," so that was a fairly easy decision for a little girl��s name) and then he is suddenly calling it "Crystal Transformation imprint." They are both used concurrently, but with no particr pattern, and we��re not sure why the sudden change. Second, the imprint has nothing inmon with the other imprints and is in fact a separate, sentient entity, so it doesn��t quite make sense to us to call that "something-transformation." This is subject to change in the future based on what the next chapters have in reserve for us. ?

 Chapter 652: A Day Feels Like Three Autumns

    <h4>Chapter 652: A Day Feels Like Three Autumns</h4>


    She had immense talent and great strength, and now she was proving that <i>all</i> her abilities were at that level. Obviously, no one was going to believe that. This was clearly not just her own ability; there was an expert guiding her from behind. Even so, being able to attract such a supporter also spoke volumes about her capabilities.


    But although everything was now mostly sorted out, and there were no major issues, when Tang San truly left for seclusion, Mei Gongzi still felt an indescribable difort. Only when he was by her side did she feel at her best��secure in her heart and grounded in her steps.


    So, after a night of contemtion, she had decided that she had to go find him. She really couldn''t bear not seeing him for a long time. It turned out that, before she even knew it, he already had an unshakeable ce in her heart.


    This feeling was wonderful; having someone to care about was definitely a blessing. Was it a destined connection from a previous life? Whether that was the case or not, she didn��t care. And since things were heading in that direction anyway, she saw no reason to fight it; it was best to just enjoy it.


    With that in mind, she took the initiative to find the queen consort and expressed her hope that she could step in to help govern Kali City. She herself needed to enter seclusion to cultivate in preparation for her uing report to the Ancestral Court.


    For Kali City, Mei Gongzi''s report was a very important matter. If she seeded in her report, it would ensure that the Peacock Demon n could continue ruling Kali City. Otherwise, if the Ancestral Court reimed the position of city lord, it would cause major problems for Kali City. Who could the Peacock Demon n choose to rece her as city lord? And would they even be allowed to choose someone else? Without an Emperor, they would have no standing in the Ancestral Court.


    Therefore, the queen consort agreed and was quite satisfied with this "daughter" who shared her bloodline. In just over a month, Mei Gongzi had stabilized the situation in Kali City without bing blindly optimistic due to gaining power. She knew what was fundamental and most important, which was the basis of being a wise ruler.


    They thus agreed that Mei Gongzi would work on Kali City''s affairs for four days each week and spend three days in seclusion for cultivation. If there weren��t many things to do in the office, she could stay in seclusion longer.


    After taking care of everything, Mei Gongzi couldn''t wait any longer and immediately sent a message to Tang San.


    The phrase "a day apart feels like three autumns" couldn''t have described their current state any better. The brief separation hadpletely opened the emotional barriers between them, especially for Mei Gongzi.


    As he embraced her soft body, Tang San''s eyes were filled with happiness, and the conviction in his heart was rapidly growing stronger.


    With her by his side, he had the confidence to ovee any challenge or obstacle. There was still nearly a year before he had to report to the Ancestral Court. What could be more wonderful than being able to spend this time with her?


    "Let''s go, I''ll show you my ce," Tang San whispered softly in her ear. The next moment, a silver light flickered, and the teleportation aura underfoot lit up, taking Mei Gongzi with him as they teleported away.


    After two teleportations, they arrived within the range of Golden Valley. Tang San had a teleportation array connected to Golden Valley, and that allowed them to teleport directly inside without passing through the illusion array.


    A dense aura of life instantly enveloped Mei Gongzi, filling her with warmth. An indescribable sense offort spread through her limbs and bones, causing her to widen her eyes in amazement.


    She didn''t really know much about Golden Valley; she had only heard Tang San mention it once before. It was only now, seeing it for herself, that she realized what a true paradise this ce was.


    The sunlight turned into golden beams, prating the thickyers of mist to illuminate the enormous tree that shimmered with a faint golden halo. The dense aura of life emanated from it, permeating every corner of the valley.


    The vegetation in the valley was clearly more lush than that outside, and the rich aura of life was intoxicating. The fragrance of flowers, fruits, and the fresh scent of nts blended into a vibrant aroma that lingered in the air.


    "This ce is so beautiful!" Mei Gongzi eximed sincerely.


    Tang San pointed to the Golden Tree and said, "That''s where I cultivate. I nurtured this Golden Tree, and I merged it with a spirit essence I bought at an auction. Now that it��s sentient, it grows far faster. Right now, it''s more or less equivalent to a ninth-order demonic beast, and once I be a god, I''ll find a way to help it break through as well. By then, the life aura it can generate will be even greater, which will benefit the entire mountain range. The Kali Mountains are the backyard of Kali City, after all.


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    "In the future, once the Golden Tree is strong enough, I n to open a path from Kali City that extends directly to this area. I''ll use this valley as the center to build arge city for humans. By then, I should also have the ability to teach humans some cultivation techniques so we won''t have to rely on bloodline power from demons and nymphs. We''ll slowly gain the power to protect ourselves. Although the evolution of a race is a very long process, I believe that one day, with our human intelligence and wisdom, we will definitely be the rulers of this world."


    As she listened to his words and looked at his face, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but see him glowing with a radiant light.


    "Perhaps you are the savior that heaven has bestowed upon the humans of Fn," Mei Gongzi said softly.


    Although she was now a Saintess of the Redemption Society, she knew very well that neither she nor the other high-ranking members of the Redemption Society had any true ns for the future. All of their ns were based on the current situation; they were simply thinking of having humans intermarry with some demon and nymph ns in order to acquire more powerful bloodlines.


    Unfortunately, that path was entirely dependent on said demon and nymph ns. Whether they were willing to actually intermarry with humans rather than vite them and cast them aside or simply kill them waspletely up to them. Moreover, how powerful could these bloodlines be? Apart from extremely rare cases like Mei Gongzi��s, humans had a diluted bloodline by default. They could never truly match the power of the actual demons and nymphs.


    But what Tang San spoke of was something else entirely. He had mapped out a future for humanity, and although it sounded grand, Mei Gongzi knew him and now believed in his former identity as a God King, so she believed that this was achievable. And if that was the case, humanity would finally have a real chance to rise.


    "No, it''s not me. The true savior of this world is you. Without you, I wouldn''t havee here at all. It was you who guided me here, so it''s you who saved this world," Tang San said with a smile.


    Mei Gongzi rolled her eyes at him and replied with mock annoyance, "Since when did you be so good at sweet-talking?"


    "I''ve always been able to, but only for you. I just didn''t dare to do it before, because I was afraid you''d beat me up!"


    Suddenly, Mei Gongzi seemed to think of something and furrowed her brow. "If you really try to establish a major city for humans, will the Ancestral Court agree? The Ancestral Court has always been suppressing humans."


    Tang San replied, "Of course, they won''t agree, but by the time I start building this city, it won''t matter whether they agree. By then, I will surely have the strength to protect the city. As long as I can break through to godhood, none of this will be an issue."


    Mei Gongzi looked up at him, seeing the determination in his eyes but still feeling some concern. "You said your tribtion will be harder than mine. What will you do then? Can you get through it?"


    "No worries, I''ll be fully prepared. And when the timees, it won''t just be about surviving the tribtion for me. I''ll also use the heavenly energy thates with it to do other things. Helping humanity rise isn''t something simple. It��s not just helping humans cultivate; we have to stop many practices, and we have to undo ways of thinking, and that will not be easy. So the time ahead is crucial��I must build up my cultivation and prepare everything thoroughly."

 Chapter 653: The Feeling of Being Spoiled Is So Nice

    <h4>Chapter 653: The Feeling of Being Spoiled Is So Nice</h4>


    Mei Gongzi nodded and said, "If you need anything from Kali City or any resources, just let me know, and I''ll help you prepare."


    Tang Sanughed. "The feeling of being spoiled is so nice!"


    "Pfft! Who''s spoiling you?" Mei Gongzi punched him lightly. "What are we doing now?"


    "Well, we can both cultivate here. Although the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in this Golden Valley isn''t as abundant as in your castle, the life aura is very rich. It would be best if you cultivated there for a day and then here for a day��absorbing spiritual energy to enhance your cultivation and then life energy to solidify it. This way, your cultivation will be very stable and won''t affect your potential. I can''t guarantee that you''ll reach the Great Demon King level until the big day, but peak Demon King shouldn''t be a problem. By the way, there��s the matter of the Celestial Plume. I want to modify it a little."


    "Won''t it be hard to exin to the Peacock Demon n?"


    "Don''t worry about that. In the future, as long as you can be an Emperor, one Celestial Plume is nothing. Besides, after I work on it a little, its power will be even greater. I am not nning to make it weaker, just ensure that you don��t suffer a bacsh because of it."


    "Okay," Mei Gongzi didn''t ask further. With a sh of silver light, the radiant Celestial Plume appeared in her palm.


    The three eyes of the plume emitted a faint glow, and the aura it radiated was noticeably richer than before. Although Mei Gongzi hadn''t fused it as her life-bound artifact during her tribtion, she had still been nourishing it. After all, the Celestial Plume had acknowledged her as its master, and it was the n��s foundational divine item, so it wouldn��t do to neglect it.


    "When I work on it, you need to be by my side because you are its master. I''ll need your help."


    "Are we doing that today?"


    "No rush. You should cultivate for a while longer, and I need to carefully think about how to go about the process. Don''t be fooled by the fact that we have more than ten months; time is actually very tight, and there''s a lot to be done."


    Mei Gongzi nodded. "You handle the arrangements; I''ll follow your lead."


    Tang San led Mei Gongzi to the Golden Tree, and at that moment, a melodious voice sounded. "Master, you��re here!"


    Four girls walked out and respectfully bowed to Tang San, their beautiful eyes curiously ncing at Mei Gongzi.


    Upon seeing them, Mei Gongzi was momentarily stunned and blurted out, "Crimson Fox n?"


    After speaking, her gaze immediately shifted to Tang San, and it changed in an instant.


    Killing intent! Tang San instantly sensed that Mei Gongzi was about to activate her White Tiger Transformation, so he quickly coughed and said, "Quick, greet your mistress."


    The Crimson Fox girls immediately reacted, respectfully saying, "Greetings, Mistress."


    Mei Gongzi turned to look at them, smiling slightly as she said, "I''m not your mistress, you can just call me Mei Gongzi."


    As she spoke, her fingers pinched a bit of flesh on someone��s waist and twisted.


    Tang San endured the pain as he exined, "They''re not from the Crimson Fox n; they''re humans. Well, half-human, half-Crimson Fox. My teacher and I saw them at the grand auction in Kali City, where they were being sold as ves. You can imagine what those filthy demon nobles were nning. My teacher pitied them and had me buy them. It wasn''t convenient to bring them to Redemption Academy, so I kept them here to guard Golden Valley and cultivate."


    "Auction?" Mei Gongzi frowned. "Right... They do that, don��t they? That''s despicable."


    Tang San smiled and said, "It won''t happen anymore. With you in charge, all of this can be changed."


    "Yes." Mei Gongzi looked at the Crimson Fox girls, her beautiful eyes showing morepassion. "I��m sorry... I know you''ve suffered."


    Red One replied, "We haven''t suffered. We''re fortunate that the Master took us in and taught us how to cultivate. We''ve been living well here."


    Mei Gongzi said, "But it''s too lonely here. You''re all at such a prime age, staying cooped up in this valley isn''t good for your future. How about this, I''ll take you out to experience the outside worldter!"


    Red One was taken aback, her eyes reddening as she turned to Tang San, "Master, I..."


    Tang San quickly said, "Your mistress has just inherited the position of city lord of Kali City. She''s now the most powerful person in the city, and she''s doing this for your own good. She''s right, you can''t stay here forever. Even if she didn''t suggest it, I nned to take you out. After so much hard cultivation, you need to go out and gain experience. Just cultivating is useless if you don��t have any experience using that cultivation. Besides, you need to have your own lives."


    "Master, will we still be able to stay with you?" Red Six asked.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Of course you can. I''ll be with your mistress, and you''ll definitely continue to stay with us."


    The Crimson Fox girls finally breathed a sigh of relief. They had been raised as ves from a young age, and they were deeply fearful of others. Tang San had given them a new life; without him, they truly wouldn''t know what to do.


    Mei Gongzi said, "Don''t worry, you can take turnsing with me to get used to the outside world."


    Tang San nodded in agreement and said, "Alright, you don''t need to stand guard here. Your mistress and I are going to enter seclusion and cultivate for a while."


    "Yes." The Crimson Fox girls retreated.


    "Alright, spill it. What''s really going on?" Mei Gongzi asked, looking at Tang San with her hands on her hips, appearing quite fierce.


    Tang San chuckled wryly. "I told you what��s going on! Don''t be jealous; in all three of my lives, I''ve never loved anyone but you."


    Mei Gongzi was stunned. "Three lives?"


    "Yes, including my rebirth here, I''ve lived three lives. But my first life was quite simple... and very short. If you want, I can tell you about it, but there��s really not that much to tell."


    "Alright! So, we met in your second life?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Tang San nodded. "Yes, that was my most important life because I had you."


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    "Then when will you tell me the story of our past life?"


    "I can''t tell you much right now. If I talk too much, it might affect your divine consciousness. You''ve just started developing it, and within it, there are some traces of your past life. I actually did not expect this, but it seems that when you be an Emperor, you might be able to recover some of your past memories. If I talk about it now, it might trigger an early recovery, which could lead to a disruption in your divine consciousness and cause big problems."


    Mei Gongzi frowned and said, "Is it really thatplicated? I thought you''d tell me so that I could..."


    Tang Sanughed carefreely. "So that you could what? Fall in love with me? I''m confident that I can make that happen in this life, just like in thest."


    Mei Gongzi turned her head away. "No. You''re dreaming."


    Tang Sanughed again, "Alright, alright, I''ll tell you the story of my first life. That shouldn''t have much of an impact on you."


    "Okay." Mei Gongzi followed him to sit beneath the Golden Tree. Surrounded by the rich aura of life, Tang San began to tell his story.


    "My first life was quite ordinary, except for the unusual ending. Back then, I was an orphan, and I happened to be picked up by an elder from the Tang Sect..."


    As Tang San recounted his story, especially the part about jumping off the cliff, Mei Gongzi''s eyes widened in surprise. "Why were you so impulsive back then? Since you had such a talent for making hidden weapons, couldn''t you have just... talked to them?"

 Chapter 654: Eighteen

    <h4>Chapter 654: Eighteen</h4>


    Tang San shook his head. "The rules of the sect were very strict in that respect, and I did break them. What else could I do but atone with my life? Besides, I don''t regret it at all. If I hadn''t chosen to jump off the cliff back then, I wouldn''t have ended up on the Douluo Continent, and I wouldn''t have met you!"


    "Then how did you meet me?" Mei Gongzi asked curiously.


    Tang San smiled and shook his head. "Didn''t I just say that I can''t tell you about our past lives yet? I suppose you��ll remember it once you be an Emperor, and if not, I will tell you then. But before that, I have to make you my wife in this life first. That way, whether it''s the past, the present, or the future, you''ll always be my love."


    Mei Gongzi''s face turned slightly red. "You''re really overbearing. Isn''t one lifetime of having me enough? You want to keep me forever?"


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    "Of course, for all eternity! What can I say? In any ne or any world, no one loves you more than I do."


    "How do you know that?"


    "I used to be a God King. I know things."


    "Hmph, as if! Not to mention, you haven''t even exined the situation with those Crimson Fox girls yet."


    "There''s nothing to exin! You''re the only one I love in this world, so I don��t get into... situations with others. They��re just little sisters, and I want to protect them. But you''re right, they should see more of the world at this point. I n to let them live at Redemption Academy for a while, where they can learn more about the outside world. It''s all humans there, so it''s a good environment for them."


    "Good. Just don''t keep them around you all the time. Four pretty girls always being with you, hmph..."


    "Uh... Actually, there are eighteen of them..."


    "Eighteen... Tang San, you''re really something!"


    Throughout the day, the two of them talked about many things, covering various topics. Time passed by without them even realizing it, and they didn''t end up doing much cultivation. Tang San told Mei Gongzi about many of the experiences he had in this life and shared some of his ns for the future.


    Most of the time, Mei Gongzi was the listener. The more she listened to him, the more she realized how limited her perspective had been. Many issues that she had never considered before became clear. Listening to Tang San''s stories opened her mind, especially regarding the overall situation on the Daemon Continent and the future direction of humanity.


    "Tomorrow morning I have to head back. Are we going to cultivate tonight?" Mei Gongzi askedzily. She had just finished eating some fruits Tang San brought her, and she was now leaning against the Golden Tree, feeling the warm life energy circting within her.


    Tang San replied, "You go ahead and meditate. I need to study the Celestial Plume. It can actually trigger visions of the future, which makes it a truly remarkable artifact. Modifying it to avoid bacsh will be quite tricky. You can take it with you when you leave tomorrow morning."


    "Alright." Mei Gongzi nodded, then closed her eyes and began meditating.


    As he felt the life energy in the air flowing toward her, a warm smile appeared on Tang San''s face. The feeling of having her by his side was truly wonderful!


    He knew he had to protect her even more. With that, he ced the Celestial Plume across his knees and quietly let his spiritual power merge into it.


    The Celestial Plume quivered slightly and emitted a strange spatial fluctuation. It seemed ready to teleport away, obviously back to Mei Gongzi.


    A sh of silver light appeared around Tang San, creating a spatial lock that stopped it in its tracks.


    Tang San silently sensed the changes within the Celestial Plume. Manipting spatial power was one thing, but the keyy in how this artifact could see the so-called secrets of heaven. He didn��t quite understand the mechanics behind it, but he knew all too well that the ability to foresee the future was an extraordinary power.


    As he quietly attuned to it, Tang San gradually entered a state of deep meditation.


    The night passed without incident, and early the next morning, Tang San and Mei Gongzi awoke from their meditation.


    Mei Gongzi felt refreshed and invigorated. After a day and night of being nourished by the life energy, her body felt as if it were flourishing. This sensation was different from the usual feeling of improving her cultivation; it was helping her improve and stabilize at the same time.


    "I should head back," Mei Gongzi said to Tang San.


    "I''ll give you a teleportation coordinate. Next time youe, you can teleport directly in. Only the two of us will know this coordinate; you mustn''t tell anyone else. I''ve set up arge illusion array around the Golden Valley. Even a Great Demon King would get lost trying to find their way in, and only an Emperor could break through by force."


    "Yes, only we will know!" Mei Gongzi nodded, feeling warmth in her heart. This ce was his most important stronghold, yet he had no reservations about sharing it with her.


    "Keep the Celestial Plume safe. I''vee up with some ideas. This artifact is very special, and I have a n, but it still needs some refinement. I''ll ask for it again when I''m ready to work on it."


    "Okay," Mei Gongzi replied as she put away the Celestial Plume. "I''ll be going then."


    Tang San said, "Keep looking for more Heavenly Fire Essence Iron for me, the more the better. I''ll need its power to reforge the Celestial Plume."


    "Got it. Should I go now?"


    "Wait a minute." Tang San stood up and suddenly looked at something behind her. "What are you doing?"


    Mei Gongzi was startled and quickly turned to look behind, but there was nothing there. Confused, she turned back to Tang San, only to find his face already close to hers.


    His warm lips brushed hers, and Mei Gongzi jumped back as if she''d been shocked. Her face flushed bright red, and her eyes widened. "You..."


    "Huh?" Tang San also widened his eyes, looking at her with a dumbfounded expression. "Why did you kiss me?"


    Mei Gongzi was furious. "The hell are you talking about?!"


    As she spoke, her figure shed with silver light, and she was instantly in front of Tang San, punching him in the chest.


    Tang San didn''t dodge; he let her hit him while his arms encircled her, forming the Mysterious Circles of Heaven!


    Her punchnded, but instead of flinging him away, it only made a soft thump. On the other hand, she ended up falling into his embrace, unable to escape. Under the control of the Mysterious Circles of Heaven, even the space around them was sealed off.


    "You, you..." Mei Gongzi struggled to break free, but despite her god-level strength, she couldn''t seem to muster any power at the moment.


    "You kissed me, so it''s only fair I get to kiss you back, right?" Tang San chuckled as he leaned in closer.


    "No..." Mei Gongzi hurriedly tried to dodge.


    But Tang San didn''t aim for her lips. Instead, he gently kissed her forehead and then let her go.


    Mei Gongzi''s breathing was noticeably heavy. She stomped on his foot hard, and without saying goodbye, she disappeared in a sh of silver light.


    Watching the spot where she had teleported away, Tang San''s face was already filled with a deep smile. When Mei Gongzi hade to find him for seclusion together yesterday, their rtionship had already progressed. But now, it was on an entirely different level. After pursuing her across worlds for so many years, he had finally made some real progress!


    It��s not easy to be in love, but the rewards are worth it.


    With Mei Gongzi gone, Tang San got down to business. He took out a book from his storage ring��a dark gold book that looked rather ancient and obscure. It was one of the artifacts he and Mei Gongzi had chosen during the Ancestral Court Elite Tournament��the Tome of Duplicates.


    This book was quite an impressive artifact, as it could record bloodline abilities and allow the user to activate themter. Its power was somewhat simr to the Crystal Demon Emperor''s.

 Chapter 657: Teleportation Array Completed

    <h4>Chapter 657: Teleportation Array Completed</h4>


    Recently, the Crimson Fox girls had been taking turns being brought by Mei Gongzi to the Peacock Demon n, where they served as guards and experienced life outside the valley. Over this period, they had be more cheerful and less fearful of the outside world, and their cultivation progress had improved significantly as a result.


    While Tang San was constructing the teleportation array, the Crimson Fox girls who remained in the Golden Valley took on the task of guarding him.


    After a month of nning, confirming, and testing, Tang San had be quite confident in the process. The construction of the teleportation array went smoothly, and it took only ten days for him toplete the initial setup.


    Everything in Kali City was normal, and on the east side of the city, the human settlement had taken shape after a period of intense construction. The fact that Mei Gongzi, the new city lord, had a human bloodline was naturally an immense boon to the humans. In the history of the Daemon Continent, this was the first time someone with human blood had held the position of lord of a main city. How could humans not be overjoyed by this news?


    However, to avoid drawing too much attention, the Redemption Society was very cautious, and it only operated in the areas near Kali City. Even so, within a short period, tens of thousands of former human ves and vassals had gathered there. The major noble ns within Kali City, understanding the situation, had voluntarily sent their servants and vassals to the settlement.


    Redemption Academy took on the critical role of education, while the Redemption Society led the people in building their new home. Since it was their own home, there was no need for the demons to be involved, and neither did they offer to do anything. All the humans were incredibly enthusiastic. Here, there was no more oppression or very��this ce belonged to them.


    In a short time, the settlement had already begun to take shape. The Redemption Society provided some funding, and the Aetherhorn Merchant Association, under Mei Gongzi''s discreet guidance, offered additional support. The settlement started to develop farnd and workshops, aiming to be self-sufficient soon and to initiate trade with Kali City.


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    For humanity, this was an unprecedentedly precious opportunity��a fundamental possibility for the entire race to escape their suffering.


    Mei Gongzi devoted much of her energy to this project, with Zhang Haoxuan taking on a crucial management role. He was busy every day, overseeing the creation of a major human-only settlement, a project that came with countless challenges. The atmosphere was understandably hectic, but the joy on the workers'' faces could not be disguised.


    Night fell.


    The Golden Valley was especially beautiful at night. The soft golden glow emanating from the Golden Tree illuminated the valley, filling it with the aura of life.


    As the Golden Tree continued to grow, not only did its size increase, but the life energy it emitted also became increasingly rich. Thanks to the Spirit Summoning Array, which brought spiritual power of heaven and earth for the tree to feed, the concentrated life energy in this valley was many times denser than the outside world. Living in this ce, everyone was nourished daily��even the Lion-Tiger n''s elder, Sky Cat, now appeared much younger, with a renewed vigor in his blood and energy.


    Tang San sat under the Golden Tree, meditating. Today, he was dressed in a green outfit, and under the golden light surrounding him, his entire being was outlined with a golden aura.


    After several months, his hair had regrown, but he kept it at a medium length. His blue hair swayed gently with the flow of the life energy, and with each breath, the vigorous energy within him pulsed rhythmically.


    His cultivation level was difficult to measure using themon system of the continent��although it was technically at the peak of the ninth order, both the amount of energy he had and his overall power far surpassed that. Moreover, he had multiple bloodlines at the peak of the ninth order. In particr, after absorbing the Golden Fiend Lightning energy from Mei Gongzi��s tribtion, his new transcendent bloodline had once more surpassed his expectations. Its power was so immense that even Tang San was astounded after testing it.


    His appearance had changedpletely, and no one would recognize him as Asura even if he donned his mask and danced naked in front of the Ancestral Court.


    At that moment, a sh of silver light appeared, and someone suddenly stood not far from him��it was Mei Gongzi.


    Mei Gongzi had changed into a simple white dress. Though she wore no jewelry, her beauty required none to emphasize it; she looked pure and elegant, like an otherworldly goddess.


    She took a slow breath, feeling the life energy nourishing her body, and a soft smile appeared on her face. Not wanting to disturb Tang San''s meditation, she stood quietly nearby, simply watching him.


    Tang San''s features were handsome, with long eyshes resting gently on his closed eyelids. He no longer appeared as robust as he did when he walked around as Asura; now, he had a tall, slender frame with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His appearance was also noticeably more mature than his actual age.


    Mei Gongzi realized she��dpletely forgotten how old he actually was in this life��was he even sixteen? In any case, he was a few years younger than her.


    She vividly remembered the first time she saw him, when he still had the tender look of a child. In just a few short years, he had grown so much, looking every bit the young man now. When they were together, nobody could tell the age difference. Moreover, with his experience from two lifetimes, she had unconsciously developed a strong reliance on him.


    Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but sigh softly. Ever since meeting him, she had been changing in subtle ways. Her strength was vastly superior to before, and not only had she not dug out her potential, but now she had <i>more</i> of it. Moreover, her status had risen by leaps and bounds. Yet she no longer felt as independent as she once had. Whenever a problem arose, her first thought was to ask him for advice.


    She had grownzy, unwilling to think independently, unwilling to face challenges alone. It was all because of him. But the feeling of having someone to rely on was truly wonderful. As long as he was there, her heart felt particrly at ease. It seemed that no challenge was too difficult when he was by her side.


    <i>You said that my name used to be Xiao Wu...</i> <i>What was Xiao Wu like? What was she like when she was with you?</i>


    Thinking about this, a faint smile appeared on Mei Gongzi''s lips.


    "What are you smiling about? Were you thinking about me?" A teasing voice broke the silence. Mei Gongzi realized that Tang San had already opened his eyes and was gazing at her intently.


    Her cheeks instantly flushed red. "Who would think about you? I was about to ask when we��re leaving."


    Tang San had called her here today because they were about to set off for the Ancestral Court once again.


    Even Mei Gongzi hadn''t expected that after leaving the Ancestral Court under such circumstances, she would return so soon. She felt both nervous and excited.


    Last time in the Ancestral Court, they had made waves and even reached the pinnacle��a feat they never could have imagined before going. It was because of this that they had drawn the attention of the Emperors. This time, things would be entirely different.


    Tang San said, "We''ll set off right away."


    He sprang up from the ground, walked over to Mei Gongzi, and naturally took her hand, leading her toward theke. With a sh of silver light, the two of them appeared in front of the cave on the opposite side of theke.


    The Crimson Fox girls inside the cave had been waiting for them. When they saw the pair arrive, they all bowed in unison and said, "Master, Mistress, wee!"


    The first time she heard them call her mistress, Mei Gongzi had hurriedly corrected them, blushing furiously. But the Crimson Fox girls never changed the way they addressed her, and after hearing it so many times, she had gotten used to it. Every time it happened, Tang San would smirk, his expression one of subtle pride, which made Mei Gongzi grit her teeth in frustration.

 Chapter 658: Ultra-Long-Distance Teleportation

    <h4>Chapter 658: Ultra-Long-Distance Teleportation</h4>


    However, today her attention wasn''t on such matters. She was genuinely curious about what the ultra-long-distance teleportation array Tang San had been working on was like. Since most of her abilities centered around controlling space, nothing intrigued her more.


    Tang San''s guidance regarding the mysteries of space waspletely different from what the Peacock Great Demon King had taught her. It was not that thetter��s teachings were useless, but Tang San offered her a different perspective on a higher level, involvingws and concepts of the whole cosmos.


    The two of them walked deeper into the cave, and due to the dim lighting, Mei Gongzi could only vaguely see dark golden patterns on the ground.


    "Once we start, you must follow my instructions to the letter. I''ll guide you in controlling the array. Throughout the process, you must keep your mind steady and avoid any intense mental fluctuations; otherwise, you��ll impact the teleportation."


    "Where are we teleporting to?"


    Tang San showed her a point on a map. "This will be the first target, somewhere near ck Dragon City. I can��t pinpoint the exact ce, but this is more or less the general area. Once we get there, we''ll set up a ry station, which will allow for urate teleportation in the future. After that, we''ll teleport to the Ancestral Court."


    "Alright." Mei Gongzi didn''t ask further; she knew experiencing it firsthand would be more effective than asking questions.


    Tang San asked, "Are you ready? I''m about to start."


    "Ready," Mei Gongzi nodded, retracting her divine consciousness and bloodline aura, fully attuning herself to the surrounding spatial fluctuations.


    Tang San raised his right hand, and with a sh of light in his palm, a mass of rainbow-colored mes suddenly red up, swirling into a vortex. The air instantly became scorching hot, but under Tang San''s control, most of the heat was contained within the vortex.


    The Rainbow Skyfire Liquid had the power to incinerate anything; its temperature was nothing short of a burning star, yet Tang San kept it under control. Within the vortex of Rainbow Skyfire Liquid, a faint golden light began to appear.


    As soon as that light emerged, Mei Gongzi felt as though everything around her had be illusionary, and the surroundings started to distort. The dark golden patterns on the ground suddenly lit up.


    Only now could she truly see how intricate those dark golden patterns were. The light revealed a massive array over thirty meters in diameter and with a structure soplex it gave Mei Gongzi a headache.


    It wasn��t just theplexity of the array; the surrounding light was so distorted that even now, Mei Gongzi couldn''t fully make out what anything around her was. She had a very peculiar sensation from the space energy around her��it seemed that the surrounding space was slowly beingpressed. Massive space energy was converging here, and space was being folded into multipleyers that seemed to fuse with each other in a very peculiar way.


    As the array grew brighter, Mei Gongzi felt the space around her starting to vibrate..


    "This is what I call spatial vibration. See, you may call this a teleportation array, but it��s more of an actual leap through space. It''s simr in terms of ultimate effect to the teleportation ability of the Peacock Demon bloodline, but that one can only ur within the range of vision or the area covered by spiritual power or divine consciousness; in other words, it has to be either a well-known fixed position or a position within the limits of direct perception.


    @@novelbin@@


    "By contrast, the core principle of this array is resonant frequency. By making space vibrate, we can cause a special kind of spatial fracture, and the forces involved will effectively fling us through it to a much farther location. Since this is our first teleportation and we don''t have a corresponding anchor point on the other side, I can only send us in a direction and estimate the destination based on the amount of energy used.


    "Now, when the process begins, use your divine consciousness to protect us and merge with the surrounding space as much as possible. During the leap, focus your divine consciousness inward; don��t try to sense the outside too much, just wrap it around our bodies. Of course, before that, we''ll inject our spatial power together. Channel your space-attribute bloodline power into the Spacetime Beacon, and I''ll control it."


    Mei Gongzi listened carefully to every word he said. As a god-level space maniptor, she had always thought that her understanding of space��or rather, the Peacock Demon n''s understanding of space��was at the highest level on this ne. That was not technically wrong, but ever since receiving Tang San''s guidance, she realized how far she still was from truly grasping the essence of space.


    A faint silver glow appeared as her bloodline power was activated, and the tinum Peacock Crown reappeared on Mei Gongzi''s forehead. The space energy around her naturally flowed toward her, gathering like rivers converging into the sea, toward the Spacetime Beacon in Tang San''s hand.


    After two months of steady cultivation, Mei Gongzi saw that her cultivation level was rising, and at an incredibly fast pace. She now understood the importance of the tribtion that Tang San had mentioned. The baptism of the tribtion had not only let her break through, but also cleansed her body and mind from within. She had undergone a dramatic transformation in her most fundamental aspects; she was more attuned to the world, yet at the same time above it. She was one of the very, very few true masters of this world��the Avatar of Space, one of the most beloved children of the ne.


    So when Mei Gongzi infused her bloodline power into the array, the activation speed of the entire array instantly increased significantly.


    Tang San no longer needed to infuse much of his own power; he simply controlled the Spacetime Beacon carefully.


    As the amount of Rainbow Skyfire Liquid increased, the refinement of the Spacetime Beacon also went faster. Of course, this level of refinement could not elevate the Spacetime Beacon to the level of a transcendent divine item. That would require Tang San''s spiritual power to fully transform into divine consciousness and then slowly nurture the Spacetime Beacon. It would take a long, long time.


    Even so, the Spacetime Beacon could already be considered a divine item, and a powerful one at that.


    The silver radiance formed a semicircr light shield, enveloping the entire array and illuminating everything around it. The space energy fluctuations were incredibly powerful, yet they were limited to the confines of the light shield.


    For Tang San, a simple teleportation array was a trivial matter. He had created plenty of them. But he needed more than just a basic teleportation; he needed to ensure that the array remained stable and usable over the long term, making concealment particrly important.


    This was especially the case in the Ancestral Court��as provenst time, any and all Emperors would immediately detect a sudden and intense spatial fluctuation. There would be no hiding at all, and the location of the teleportation array would be discovered immediately, rendering it unusable for future attempts.


    Therefore, one of the main challenges Tang San faced in his research was concealing the array.


    And he had indeed found a way. He used the Spacetime Beacon to distort both space and time around them, forming a twisted spacetime that isted the massive spatial fluctuations within. When the teleportation urred, the energy used to cause these distortions would be part of the spatial resonance. The timeg would mask the spatial disturbance until it disappeared, making the teleportation impossible to detect until it was already done. And unless an Emperor happened to be nearby at that exact moment, it would also be nearly impossible for anyone to sense where the teleportation had taken ce.


    "Be careful," Tang San warned her again. The next moment, a faint golden aura flowed out from the Spacetime Beacon in his hand. As this golden aura emerged, Tang San visibly began to struggle to move, and the surrounding air seemed to grow thick and viscous.


    Even though they were only a short distance apart, Mei Gongzi could no longer see Tang San clearly.

 Chapter 659: Success

    <h4>Chapter 659: Sess</h4>


    In an instant, light burst forth, and the next instant, light converged inward. Mei Gongzi felt as if they were suddenly in a vacuum, nothing but void in every direction. She immediately used her divine consciousness to envelop herself and Tang San.


    An instantter, she felt space quaking, and in that moment of tremor, she felt as if everything had slowed down. The sound of the tremor became distant and slow. Everything around them seemed to be shattering, as if the maw of a giant beast was crushing space itself.


    In that instant, all the spatial folds copsed, generating a powerful vibration that seemed to resonate with the entire cosmos. With this resonance, everything around them began to undergo some strange transformations.


    The world around thempletely vanished in that moment; there was no more sight and no more sound.


    The next moment, sound returned��a deep hum that caused Mei Gongzi to instinctively furrow her brow. Golden radiance rose from beneath their feet, forming a massive golden halo.


    Under the glow of this halo, everything became clear again. It was still pitch-ck, but the sky was now filled with starlight.


    The entire teleportation process was entirely different from anything she had experienced before.


    Even when the Peacock Great Demon King took her on long-distance teleportations, it was done by opening a spatial passage to a certain location, and the more energy he used, the farther he could teleport.


    But this time, it was entirely different. Mei Gongzi clearly sensed that there was no spatial passage or anything like that. Instead, space had copsed, a violent tremor had ensued, and in the next instant, they were already here. Her divine consciousness had protected them from veering off course during the tremor, and then everything was done.


    @@novelbin@@


    <i>So this is resonance-based teleportation! </i>This was what Mei Gongzi had now grasped, the profound secret Tang San had mentioned earlier.


    She was truly shocked. She realized that this was definitely a higher-level application of spatial attributes, beyond the scope of her original understanding of spatial power.


    She subconsciously turned her head to look at Tang San. What a treasure of a man he was! Truly her walking encyclopedia. Even though she had already attained godhood, he still managed to teach her something new, and in the field she was most skilled at.


    Tang San looked at her and grinned, "We did it. Look over there."


    As he spoke, Tang San raised his hand and pointed into the distance.


    Mei Gongzi turned around and saw arge area of bright lights in the distance, somewhere at a lower elevation.


    Tang San spread his spiritual power out, observed the area, then nodded, evidently satisfied. "We''re northeast of ck Dragon City, about fifty kilometers away from it, on the side of a small mountain. This is pretty close to the spot I had pre-nned. The margin of error is a little high, we��re about five kilometers off, but it just shows that I need to adjust the calctions a bit. In any case, next time, we won''t need to do this. I��ll create a ry array here, and next time we��ll be able to teleport directly to this spot with no more extra trouble."


    "Is it the same kind of array as the one at Golden Valley?"


    "It won''t be asplex. That one is the terminal of the entire teleportation system, providing the most important coordinates and a fixed spatial vibration frequency. This ry is just an intermediate point; we only need to set up a basic teleportation array and tune it to the frequency I set for the terminal. The otherrge teleportation array will be the other terminal, which I will ce somewhere near the Ancestral Court."


    "Can I watch you create this array?" Mei Gongzi��s eyes were now full of hope.


    "Of course you can. If you want, I can exin the principles to you while I do the work." Tang San naturally didn��t hold anything back from her.


    "That��s awesome!" Mei Gongzi said, overjoyed.


    Tang San already had a n in mind. First, he chose a location within the nearby mountains to create the array, a rtively concealed spot. Then, he set up an illusion array around the area to mask it, so that even if someone flew over, they would be subtly guided away without noticing anything.


    Setting up the illusion array was even easier for him now, especially with Mei Gongzi''s help. In just half an hour, they hadpleted a linked array consisting of nine illusion arrays, among which arrays to conceal energy fluctuations, block detection, and so on.


    After everything was set up, the area appeared unchanged from the outside��just a normal little valley between some small mountains. But one could not simply walk into the valley. Entering was only possible in three ways: using an array disk��which only Tang San could make, analyzing and dismantling the linked array, or forcibly sting it open with arge-scale attack. Obviously, the likelihood of someone randomly sting the mountains apart was rather on the low side, and the probability of someone actually cracking the array was simply non-existent.


    "Are we setting up the teleportation ry in this open space?" Mei Gongzi asked Tang San, marveling at the intricacies of the illusion array.


    At this moment, her heart was full of admiration. Following Tang San in setting up the illusion array allowed her to experience its wonders firsthand. She was absolutely certain that, despite being a god, she would be unable to exit or enter this array without using brute force to destroy it. The way it was intricatelyyered was truly remarkable.


    Tang San said, "We definitely can''t set it up in the open. We need to have a natural barrier as well, not just the illusion array. So I''m nning to carve out a cave in the mountainside and then set up the ry array inside the cave. This way, it will be much better concealed."


    "Carve out a cave? Oh, can I help with that?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    Tang San shook his head and said, "No need, I''ll handle it. I can''t let my little fairy do such dirty work. You can just watch from the side."


    As he spoke, Tang San walked over to the mountainside he had already chosen, turned his head to smile at Mei Gongzi, and said, "By the way, don''t be scared when you see my transformation in a moment."


    "Scared of what?" Mei Gongzi was puzzled, but in the next moment, she understood.


    A burst of golden radiance suddenly lit up from Tang San''s chest. As this golden light appeared, an iparable surge of intense vitality erupted.


    Tang San''s eyes turnedpletely golden, and the golden light flowed out from his chest like liquid, spreading across his entire body. In an instant, he seemed to be cast entirely in gold. His body began to expand; he did not be a giant, but his height reached over three meters. The golden liquid then solidified into what looked like a suit of golden armor, and his face was covered with a golden mask.


    The most dramatic change was in his arms, which became simply massive. Muscles bulged everywhere, and each of his ten fingers ended in a one-meter-long, razor-sharp w that looked as if it was carved from golden crystal!


    Golden Armor Transformation!

 Chapter 660: Golden Armor Tang San

    <h4>Chapter 660: Golden Armor Tang San</h4>


    Watching Tang San''s transformation, Mei Gongzi felt immense shock.


    The golden armor covering Tang San was incredibly ornate, with every pattern on it seemingly containing the profound principles of the universe. The shoulder tes had threeyers, making his shoulders seem even broader, and the streamlined breast te was dazzlingly radiant. The golden crystalline des that extended from his fingers shone brilliantly.


    She had never seen this transformation before, and at the same time, she was absolutely certain that it was more powerful than any bloodline ability she had ever encountered.


    If anyone else were here to witness this, they might specte that Tang San was wearing some kind of divine armor, and it was the divine armor itself that was causing such a transformation. But Mei Gongzi knew all too well that Tang San possessed no such divine armor. The changes she was seeing were entirely brought about by the Demonic God Transformation; they came from within, not from without.


    Even more terrifying was the aura apanying this transformation. The aura was overwhelmingly powerful, and the surge of vitality so intense that it seemed to ignite the air around him, as if he was opening the door of a massive furnace and stepping out.


    As a god-level powerhouse in her own right, Mei Gongzi could feel an immense pressure just standing near him, even though Tang San wasn��t directing it at her. The terrifying aura gave her such a strong sense of oppression that it even seemed out of ce in this world.


    <i>How is it possible to change to this extent?! Is this the so-called transcendent bloodline he told me about? The Golden Armor Transformation?</i>[1]


    This was the first time Tang San had disyed the Golden Armor Transformation in front of Mei Gongzi, and she was also the first person in this world to see it.


    She was the first living being of this ne that bore witness to the power of a transcendent bloodline!


    Well, in all fairness, this golden armor was not the original form of the bloodline ability. Initially, Tang San''s body would be enveloped in golden liquid, pure protective force formed by this powerful bloodline. It was just that... well... the golden liquid looked an awful lot like shiny golden mucus. Naturally, he had no intention of appearing in front of his beloved looking like he��d just taken a bath in a pool of hot glue.


    In his previous life, when Tang San was a God King, he had actual golden armor, a perk of the Sea God position. Coupled with the Sea God��s Trident and his long blue hair, he had been incredibly handsome and dashing. He tried to control the golden liquid and found that it obeyed his will; he thus shaped the liquid into solid golden armor perfectly identical, at least in appearance, to his original armor.


    Only the des extending from his fingertips were inherent to this form. Compared to the ws of a Behemoth, Tang San��s ws also incorporated the Golden Mammoth''s solid defense, making their power even more exaggerated.


    Each w wasparable to a divine sword in terms of destructive power!


    Tang San��s appearance was now very simr to his previous life, the only difference being that during the Golden Armor Transformation, he was more massive, and his hair turned golden as well. He was glowing gold from head to toe.


    At this moment, he was in his strongest state, whether it came to offense or defense.


    With a casual wave of his hands, the mountainside in front of him crumbled like tofu, the shattered rocks instantly turning to powder and then disintegrating into nothing under the searing heat of Tang San��s aura, leaving no trace behind.


    Mei Gongzi stood behind Tang San, watching as he walked forward step by step. As he advanced, the rock was demolished, and a cave slowly took shape.


    She had originally thought that after oveing such a powerful tribtion, her strength had surpassed Tang San''s, especially since he had not yet be a god. But now, seeing this transformation, she couldn��t help but question that assumption. It was just like he had told her: the bloodline that could give birth to such an incredible ability had to be beyond the first tier. Having not one but two first-tier bloodlines herself, how could she not be aware of their power? Yet the pressure she felt from that aura could not be faked in the slightest!


    A cave suitable for setting up the teleportation array was quickly excavated. Tang San looked at the sharp golden glow flickering at the tips of his ws and couldn��t help but secretly marvel. The Golden Fiend Lightning and his Golden Armor Transformation were incredibly well-matched, and after being infused with the lightning energy, the overall power of the Golden Armor Transformation had clearly increased.


    The most terrifying aspect of this transcendent bloodline was actually not its sheer power, but the ability to evolve by absorbing external energy, continuously enhancing itself. No wonder he had suffered such severe bacsh during the fusion! If it hadn��t been for the protection of the Sea God��s Trident and the intimidation of a God King��s divine consciousness, a level of existence that surpassed this ne, he would never have seeded.


    @@novelbin@@


    After the cave waspleted, Tang San said to Mei Gongzi, "Do you remember what I told you about the Golden Armor Transformation? When I break through to godhood in the future, the tribtion I��ll face will be far more powerful than yours, so I will inevitably need a stronger physique to withstand it. That��s why, during the Elite Competition, I found a way to absorb the two first-tier bloodlines with the strongest defenses, and I fused them together after I was revived. It��s a double-edged sword, though. On the one hand, it transcends the first tier; it��s the strongest bloodline in this ne, bar none. On the other hand, precisely <i>because</i> it��s so powerful, my tribtion will be even more difficult. It��s a level of existence superior to what this ne allows, so it will face serious bacsh."


    After hearing his exnation, Mei Gongzi suddenly understood something. "No wonder I felt earlier like you were somehow out of synchronization with the whole world. The world rejects you, practically."


    Tang San sighed. "It''s something I have no choice about. If I don''t cultivate using these methods, who knows how many years it would take to reach the level of an Emperor? How could I protect you then?"


    "You don''t have to rush, and don''t take unnecessary risks. I can wait."


    Tang San grinned. "But I can''t. I need to gain the power to protect you as soon as possible. That way, I can stay by your side with peace of mind. Don''t worry, I have a n. Although there��s still some risk involved, I��m confident that I can sessfully pass the tribtion now. As long as I can be a god, then even if I can''t defeat those Emperors, I should have no problem protecting you and myself."


    "Your safety is the most important thing, Please be careful..."


    If she hadn''t experienced the terrifying Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion herself, she wouldn��t have realized just how dreadful a heavenly tribtion could be. Naturally, she was greatly concerned about Tang San��s safety.


    "I will. For your sake, I��ll definitely be careful. Anyway, let��s leave that forter. I��m going to start inscribing the array now. I''ll stay in the Golden Armor Transformation state, it��ll be faster that way. We first need to construct a basic array to ensure the drawing of spiritual energy..."


    With that, Tang San began inscribing the array using the ws of his Golden Armor Transformation, exining the principles, the order of the array��s construction, and the reasons behind each step to Mei Gongzi as he worked.


    Mei Gongzi listened intently. As a master of space, her talent when it came to such arrays far surpassed Zhang Haoxuan''s, and Tang San��s exnations were exceptionally insightful. Gradually, she found herself bing absorbed in his teachings. Tang San reminded her of her teachers at the n��s school, talking about the finer workings of space, and by the end of the lesson, she felt she had gained a great deal.


    "All done. We''ll just need to add some gemstones into the nodes of the array, and with that, the array will be officiallyplete. The next time we teleport from Golden Valley, we''ll appear directly within this array instead of a random location, so obviously, it will be much safer."


    Tang Sanpleted the final touches on the array, feeling quite satisfied. It had taken even less time than he had expected.


    1. This paragraph and some of the following ones have been substantially altered and do not represent a trantion but a rewriting. In this chapter, Tang San introduces the Golden Armor to Mei Gongzi, as she ispletely unaware of its existence and particrities. However, he already exined all the details in chapter 614. ?

 Chapter 661: Returning to the Ancestral Court

    <h4>Chapter 661: Returning to the Ancestral Court</h4>


    Mei Gongzi asked, "Are we going to teleport directly to the Ancestral Court next?"


    "First, we need to connect this ry array with the core array at Golden Valley. The next spatial jump will require the power from the core array on that side. For the uing teleportation, I''ll set the destination a bit further from the Ancestral Court, so that the spatial fluctuations are not detected. Then, after we enter the Ancestral Court, we''ll find a safe ce to set up another core array. Once that��s done, the teleportation system will be fully operational. Next time, it won��t be soplicated. We��ll just need one ry, and we��ll reach the Ancestral Court smoothly. In the future, when either you or I be a Great Demon King, we won��t even need the ry��we��ll be able to leap straight to the Ancestral Court. We��ll be able to travel between Kali City and the Ancestral Court at any time."


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath, eyes sparkly. "That would be incredibly convenient."


    Tang San motioned for her to enter the array. "Let��s start now. I��ll need you to use your divine consciousness to help me; it��ll make the process much easier."


    "No problem, you lead the way." Mei Gongzi moved beside Tang San, slowly channeling her divine consciousness while also harnessing her spatial power. Following Tang San''s guidance, she activated the array beneath them.


    The connection between the ry array and the core array was very smooth, and it deepened Mei Gongzi''s understanding of teleportation arrays even further.


    @@novelbin@@


    Vibration and resonance��these two concepts marked the beginning of her newfound understanding of space today, opening the door to brand-new application of space.


    When they teleported again, they found themselves about two hundred kilometers away from the Ancestral Court.


    The two of them rested, waiting for dawn. Once the sun rose, they could enter the Ancestral Court.


    They were in a hilly area without tall mountains but with uneven terrain. They chose a sheltered spot, Tang San took out some food and water, and the two of them had a simple meal.


    Looking up at the starlit sky, Mei Gongzi felt rather surreal. Sure, the process of building the array wasplicated, but it was just a one-time thing. And it had only taken two simple teleportations; just like that, they were already near the Ancestral Court. It was simply incredible.


    As someone with a space-attribute bloodline, she felt deeply impressed. Even Emperors likely wouldn��t be able toprehend it. Not even her father, who was the greatest space maniptor of his time, was able to do something like that, yet Tang San had managed to achieve it. While this was, of course, thanks to the Spacetime Beacon, it was Tang San''s understanding of space that filled Mei Gongzi with admiration.


    Tang San softly asked, "Are you tired? Rest for a while; I''ll keep watch."


    "Mm." Mei Gongzi turned to look at him and saw the gentle smile on Tang San''s face. For some reason, she suddenly felt a surge of emotion and instinctively leaned on his shoulder, wrapping her arm around his.


    Her heartbeat quickened, but she found herself enjoying the sensation. Perhaps it was just a mix ofplicated emotions.


    Tang San shifted his shoulder and used his hand to smooth her hair, making her morefortable as she rested against the nook of his shoulder.


    Mei Gongzi closed her eyes, quietly nestled in his arms. Tang San merely held her by the waist, making no further moves. They both simply enjoyed this rare moment of peace. Though they weren��t meditating, their hearts felt more at ease and tranquil than they did during meditation.


    With that, Mei Gongzi fell asleep without even noticing. Even though the weather had grown cooler, being next to him kept her warm.


    As the morning sunlight bathed her, Mei Gongzi naturally woke up. She opened her eyes, blinked, and a peculiar light shone on her pretty face. A faint smile appeared on her lips.


    She carefully lifted her head without making too much movement and looked over at Tang San, only to see his bright eyes looking back at her.


    Immediately, her face turned crimson with embarrassment, and she quickly sat up, bowing her head as she rubbed his shoulder, "Did I sleep for too long?"


    Feeling her small hand rubbing his shoulder, Tang San smiled and said, "You''ve been too tiredtely. It��s alright. We''re not in a rush."


    "Mm-hmm." Mei Gongzi nodded gently. Since taking over as the city lord, she had been in a constant state of tension and busyness. Whether it was cultivating or managing Kali City, she hadn��t dared to rx even a little.


    This time, leaving Kali City with Tang San and returning to the Ancestral Court, she could temporarily set aside everything rted to Kali City, which made her feel somewhat relieved.


    <i>How wonderful it would be if there weren��t so many troublesome matters! Wouldn''t it be blissful to spend every day exploring mountains and rivers?</i>


    But the thought only flickered briefly through her mind. Perhaps in the future, it would be possible but for now, it was not. There were still too many responsibilities weighing on her shoulders.


    The two ate a little, tidied up briefly, and set off again for the Ancestral Court.


    To avoid drawing too much attention, they didn��t teleport in but instead simply walked into the Ancestral Court. Since they both had noble status, their identity checks weren��t tooplicated��only their race and noble rank were inspected.


    Mei Gongzi naturally used her identity as a member of the Peacock Demon n, while Tang San was her attendant. With her level of cultivation, she found it easy to disguise herself, and Tang San had been able to do that to begin with.


    The Ancestral Court��s security was only tight for merchant caravans and whatnot; since they seemed to be nothing more than tourists, nobody troubled them.


    Returning to the Ancestral Court felt like a familiar routine. Seeing the distant Sacred Mountains of the Emperors and sensing the rich spiritual energy of the Ancestral Court, both of them couldn��t help but feel a strange sensation in their hearts.


    Yes, they were back.


    Tang San turned to look at Mei Gongzi. With her altered appearance, she now looked rather ordinary. But even so, her unique aura still stood out, making Tang San feel the need to shield her more with his presence.


    "Where are we going?" Mei Gongzi asked Tang San through voice transmission.


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "Let''s stay at our old ce first."


    "White Tiger Hotel?" Mei Gongzi asked in surprise.


    "Yes." Tang San nodded.


    Although Mei Gongzi hadn��t stayed there before, she had apanied him a few times. White Tiger Hotel was the property of the White Tiger Demon Emperor and was the ce they had teleported from during theirst escape.


    Tang San led Mei Gongzi through the streets and alleys, first surveying the situation in the Ancestral Court. They didn��t visit the Aetherhorn Merchant Association��s branch in the Ancestral Court. Instead, he brought her to a secluded spot and then used the Peacock Transformation to teleport with her directly.


    Amidst the flickering silver light, they reappeared inside a room, the very same room Tang San had stayed inst time. Beneath their feet was the teleportation array they had used before.


    Mei Gongzi was startled by the sudden teleportation, her pupils noticeably contracting. "You... how did you just teleport us here like that?"


    Tang San smiled broadly and said, "There��s a teleportation array here that I set up before. It��s already positioned, so teleporting here is really easy!"


    "But how did you know the teleportation array hasn��t been destroyed?" Mei Gongzi asked curiously.


    Tang San chuckled. "Because your grandfather wouldn��t have the heart to destroy it. He��d want to keep it for research, and he wouldn��t let the other Emperors touch it either. By teleporting here, we��ve also effectively informed him that we��ve arrived. This works out perfectly."


    "Well, you sure are confident, what can I say." A cold voice suddenly sounded, causing Mei Gongzi��s hair to stand on end. She hadn��t sensed anyone��s approach at all.

 Chapter 662: White Tiger Demon Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 662: White Tiger Demon Emperor</h4>


    Tang San, on the other hand, waspletely calm. "I greet Your Majesty."


    He turned around with Mei Gongzi, bowing respectfully to the White Tiger Demon Emperor, who was now seated on the sofa.


    Mei Gongzi quickly followed suit, bowing as well, but her heart was filled with shock. Although she knew that Tang San had brought her here to meet both the White Tiger Demon Emperor and the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, she hadn��t expected Tang San to use this method. She had originally thought that he would take her to climb the Sacred Mountain.


    But there was no doubt that meeting the White Tiger Demon Emperor this way was much safer and more private than climbing the Sacred Mountain. She now understood that the White Tiger Demon Emperor must have left a trace of divine consciousness here, which would alert him the moment anyone entered.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor sat on the sofa, not looking at Mei Gongzi but instead fixing his intense gaze on Tang San, a strange expression in his eyes. He frowned slightly. "You have a mutated bloodline?"


    Tang San nodded slightly, not denying it.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor then turned his gaze to Mei Gongzi, "Show me your face. This look doesn��t do justice to your mother��s beauty."


    "Mm." Mei Gongzi nodded, her beautiful face shimmering with a silver light as she reverted to her true, stunning appearance.


    Seeing her face, which resembled her mother��s so closely, the White Tiger Demon Emperor couldn��t help but feel a moment of distraction. He raised his hand and gestured to the sofa opposite him.


    Only then did Tang San guide Mei Gongzi to sit down.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor asked calmly, "Wang Qing is dead?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded slightly.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor continued, "For the Peacock Demon n to make Lin Ximo give up on taking Kali City, Wang Qing must have had some skill. How did he manage that?"


    Mei Gongzi was stunned and instinctively turned to look at Tang San, who gave no response. She then shook her head and said, "I don''t know either. That day, when the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor arrived..." She proceeded to recount what she knew.


    After hearing her ount, the White Tiger Demon Emperor frowned slightly, clearly still puzzled by the situation.


    Naturally, Tang San knew the truth, but he had no intention of revealing it.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor said, "Now that you are the leader of the Peacock Demon n and the City Lord of Kali City, are you here to seek my support for your position as City Lord?"


    Mei Gongzi nodded slightly.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor said coldly, "But do you understand the principle that possessing a treasure invites trouble? Even though you''ve reached godhood and you have impressive talent, there��s a vast chasm between the tenth order and the twelfth. How do you intend to cross that gap and ultimately be an Emperor?"


    "I will be an Emperor. And I will do everything in my power to protect Kali City," replied Mei Gongzi with surprising firmness.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor waved his hand dismissively. "You and your mother are both too entangled with humanity. Seeing yourselves as human only brings harm and no benefits. In reality, you only have a quarter of human blood. Why insist on seeing yourself as human?"


    Mei Gongzi hesitated for a moment, but then her expression became resolute once more. "I am human, I have always been human. And so is my mother."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor snorted. "Oh? If you consider yourselves human and I am part of the demon race, whye to me?"


    Mei Gongzi found herself at a loss for words. The White Tiger Demon Emperor��s tone made it clear that he was keeping her at a distance, and had no intention of offering her his favor.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor continued, "Do you know that in our world, the number of top-level powerhouses is limited? If that number exceeds a certain threshold, it will disrupt the bnce of the entire ne, leading to unforeseen disasters. This information has been confirmed by the Peacock Demon Emperor and more than one Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, and it��s recognized by the Ancestral Court as well. Therefore, the number of Emperors is kept within a strict limit.


    "Throughout history, there have been many with the potential to reach the twelfth order. Do you know how many have truly done so? Let me tell you: less than one tenth! Moreover, your talent ismendable, but your path to bing an Emperor is far more challenging than it is for others, and it��s because of your human bloodline. Those who are not of our race cannot be Emperors. This is an ancient t of the Ancestral Court that neither I nor any other Emperor can change. So your request for acknowledgement is doomed to fail. Do you understand?"


    Mei Gongzi''s expression changed. She had been well aware that she would face immense challenges, but she hadn��t expected it to be told that the fundamental rules made it outright impossible.


    Instinctively, she turned to look at Tang San again, her face showing signs of anxiety.


    @@novelbin@@


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor frowned and snapped. "Why do you keep looking at him? Who is the Lord of Kali City��you or him?"


    "I..." Mei Gongzi hesitated, feeling overwhelmed by the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s powerful aura, which left her at a loss for words.


    Neither Mei Gongzi nor Tang San had known about the rule that those not of the demon or nymph races were not allowed to be Emperors. But at this moment, they both understood that what the White Tiger Demon Emperor said was true. He had no reason to lie.


    The Peacock Great Demon King had never told Mei Gongzi about this, and it was likely that he didn��t know it himself. This was likely something only Emperors were aware of. The previous Peacock Demon Emperor certainly wouldn��t have anticipated that her descendants would have the bloodline of another race and still have the potential to be Emperors.


    Tang San looked at the White Tiger Demon Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, we were indeed unaware of this rule. But now that Little Mei has inherited the position of city lord and is the leader of the Peacock Demon n, what path should she take? Do you have any suggestions?"


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor replied indifferently, "My suggestion is to extract the human bloodline from her, so she can truly be a demon. Only then will there be a chance to preserve everything. Don��t think that the Ancestral Court is unaware of what you��re doing in Kali City. The Ancestral Court��s intelligencework is more extensive than you can imagine. Establishing a human settlement in Kali City has already vited one of the Ancestral Court��s greatest taboos. Do you realize that?"


    Tang San felt a chill in his heart. The fact that the White Tiger Demon Emperor had spoken these words showed just how much the demons feared this issue.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor looked at Mei Gongzi and said, "What��s most severe is that every single member of the Ancestral Court knows about this, but not one of them has mentioned it, and it hasn��t been brought up in any of the Ancestral Court''s meetings. Do you know what that means? It means that this matter is so unanimously agreed upon that it doesn��t even warrant discussion. And yet, with what you��re doing now, you hope to just report your status and be epted? That��s nothing but a fool��s dream."


    Even Tang San''s expression changed slightly. Although he knew that the Ancestral Court was hostile toward humans, he hadn��t expected that even a slight guiding hand for the humans would provoke such a strong reaction. The White Tiger Demon Emperor was only so forthright because of his blood rtion to Mei Gongzi, which showed how serious the situation was.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor dered decisively, "Abandon any rash hopes and motives. If you want to secure your position as city lord, then first, the status of humans in Kali City must return to what it was originally. Second, you will voluntarily propose to the Ancestral Court that your human bloodline be extracted, and fully embrace the bloodline of the Peacock Demon n and mine. If you do this, I can support you, and I��m confident I can persuade some of the Emperors to back you. In the future, it��s not impossible for you to be an Emperor, especially since a few of the current Emperors are getting on in years."


    "That will not happen."


    As she said this, Mei Gongzi didn��t look at Tang San. Her pretty face was filled with determination as she looked the White Tiger Demon Emperor in the eye.

 Chapter 663: What About a Trade?

    <h4>Chapter 663: What About a Trade?</h4>


    "I am human. No matter what kind of bloodline flows within me, I am still human. I grew up with my mother, and she always told me that we are human. I have witnessed too much human suffering. My purpose in bing the lord of Kali City is to help our people, to give humans a space to survive, so they won''t be ves, servants, or even <i>food</i> anymore. So no, that will not happen. No matter what, I will never renounce my human bloodline."


    In contrast with her earlier apprehension, her voice now was firm and unwavering, without a trace of hesitation.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor''s gaze instantly turned cold as he said indifferently, "Then there''s nothing more to discuss. If you''re seeking death, no one can protect you."


    Just as Mei Gongzi was about to say something, her hand was enveloped by a warm touch. The stubbornness in her heart suddenly felt supported, calming her emotions somewhat.


    Holding her hand, Tang San said in a deep voice, "I understand Your Majesty''s concerns, and I am very grateful for your understanding. But as Little Mei said, the blood of humans flows within us. We cannot stand by and watch our people forever be ves and food. Someone has to resist. Even if we fail, we must try. Otherwise, the backbone of humanity will never straighten."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor looked at him with a chilling gaze. "You��re that Asura from before, aren��t you?"


    Tang San nodded slightly.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor said indifferently, "Your aura has changed considerably; it seems you have made some progress. She has also be a god and she is much stronger. But you must understand that before the Emperors, your little bit of power is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. If the Ancestral Court deems it necessary, crushing you is as simple as squashing an ant. My warning is merely to tell you what you''re up against. As for what you do, that''s your own business. That''s all!"


    After speaking, he stood up.


    "Your Majesty, please wait a moment." Tang San also stood up and called out to the White Tiger Demon Emperor, who was clearly about to leave.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor replied indifferently, "There is no point in discussing things further. You can��t carve rotten wood. What more is there to say?"


    Tang San said in a deep voice, "What if we choose to trade? Could we gain your support?"


    For the first time, the White Tiger Demon Emperor raised an eyebrow. "A trade? What do you have to offer that makes you qualified to trade with me? Kali City? I already have one main city, and the Ancestral Court would never allow me to control a second."


    Tang San shook his head. "That is not what I meant."


    "Besides Kali City, what other bargaining chips do you have? There aren''t many things that could catch my eye."


    Tang San pointed at the teleportation array on the ground beside them and said, "What about this? This is just a prototype. The finished array is capable of ultra-long-distance teleportation. With sufficient energy, it''s even possible to travel from one end of the continent to the other in one jump."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor''s pupils contracted slightly. He had actually been studying this array for some time now, and the more he studied, the more he could sense its profound intricacies. To his dismay, the array was so well protected that he couldn''t fully decipher it; it was clear that any significant disturbance would cause the array to self-destruct. This was a great regret for the White Tiger Demon Emperor. If he hadn''t been constantly researching the array and cing such importance on this location, he wouldn''t have rushed over the moment Mei Gongzi and Tang San arrived.


    However, after pondering for a moment, he shook his head and said, "Not enough. You must understand that what you are trying to do is an almost impossible task. You can��t pay me enough to get me to do something this meaningless. "


    Tang San thought for a moment, then heaved a sigh. "Well then... How about this?"


    As he spoke, he rose from the couch and deactivated the Discerning Eye of Heaven that he had been using to conceal his aura, releasing the fluctuations of his bloodline.


    Immediately, two beams of light burst from the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s eyes, and in the next instant, his palm flew at Tang San.


    Mei Gongzi was startled, crying out in rm and about to rush forward, but Tang San raised his hand, signaling for her to stay there.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor''s palm struck Tang San''s chest, but it did not exert any force. He simply rested his broad hand there. Then, in an instant, the expression on the Demon Emperor''s face changed dramatically, a look of shock filling his eyes. He gazed at Tang San with a hint of disbelief.


    @@novelbin@@


    "No, this is impossible. Even we couldn''t achieve this. Nobody ever has. How did you do it?" The White Tiger Demon Emperor''s voice was unusually high-pitched, an undisguisable hint of his deep shock.


    "Is this enough to earn Your Majesty''s support?"


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor took a deep breath and returned to sit on the sofa.


    Tang San also led Mei Gongzi back to the sofa to sit down.


    What he had the White Tiger Demon Emperor sense was simple��it was the aura of his Golden Armor Transformation.


    As an Emperor, the White Tiger Demon Emperor immediately understood what it was when he sensed the energy fluctuations. Even the Peacock Great Demon King hadn''t truly perceived it back then; he didn��t have a good understanding of these things, and his cultivation simply wasn''t high enough. But for an Emperor, this couldn��t be any clearer. It was something they had always sought: the key to advancing to an even higher level!


    Bloodlines were the foundation of both the demon and nymph races; the strength of one''s bloodline determined their potential and future.


    The upper limit of cultivation was the twelfth order, the Emperor level, but even that level was still within the confines of bloodline power. To be an Emperor was to excavate every single bit of potential within a powerful first-tier bloodline and thus reach the twelfth order.


    But Emperors had existed for tens of thousands of years on the Daemon Continent. And throughout many generations, they had been researching one question: was there a higher level to be reached? And if there was, how could that level be reached?


    After millennia of research and failed attempts, the Emperors of the Ancestral Court hade to a consensus regarding this. First, there was most certainly a level beyond the twelfth order. The more powerful the Emperor, the stronger their sense of this, and the more certain they were of it. Second, to touch this higher level, not one single bloodline on the entire Daemon Continent had sufficient power. They had to develop stronger bloodlines.


    Because of this, countless Emperors poured their hearts and souls into research. Some exceptionally powerful Emperors even died from bloodline bacsh during their studies. As time passed, research in this area gradually declined because they could vaguely sense that there seemed to be an invisible hand in the world suppressing them, preventing them from stepping onto another level.


    For the exact same reason, there could only be a set number of Emperors at any given time. If more Great Demon Kings or Great Nymph Kings tried to break through, they would be suppressed by this invisible force, and the inevitable result was death.


    Yet at this very moment, when the White Tiger Demon Emperor sensed the aura of the Golden Armor Transformation bloodline within Tang San, he was utterly stupefied. He was absolutely certain that this level of strength went far beyond any first-tier bloodline.


    With his strength, how could he not see that Tang San had not yet reached the tenth order? And for someone who was not a god to have bloodline power of such intensity was not just incredible; it was simply <i>impossible</i>. Yet the truth was right before his eyes, leaving him with no choice but to believe it. That was why he had ced his hand directly on Tang San��he had to feel the strength of this bloodline directly.


    And with that, it was confirmed.


    Although he knew this might not be useful to him, at the very least, it was an opportunity! As an Emperor, and a veteran one at that, nothing was more enticing to him than the possibility of advancing further. Perhaps, by advancing further, he could break free from the suppression of this world!


    Within moments, the way the White Tiger Demon Emperor looked at Tang San had changed entirely.


    "How did you do it?" he asked in a deep voice.

 Chapter 664: The Divine Realm?

    <h4>Chapter 664: The Divine Realm?</h4>


    Tang San said, "Before I answer your question, could you first give me an answer to mine?"


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor nodded. "Although my support alone can''t help her pass the trial, if you can provide me with a new understanding regarding bloodlines, I will support her."


    Tang San nodded and said, "That will be enough."


    After speaking, he looked at the White Tiger Demon Emperor and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty should be able to sense the suppression of bloodlines on this ne. The strength of any given bloodline is limited, even for the strongest, like the Crystal Demon Emperor. Its bloodline strength remains within the bounds of a first-tier bloodline; it might be at the absolute peak of the peak, but it has not crossed that threshold, nor is it able to."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor nodded. "That is correct."


    "This is the limitation you mentioned, something I call nar suppression. In other words, it��s Fn itself��or rather the ne in which it��s located��that ces a hard ceiling on bloodline power. That is because once a breakthrough is achieved, it will disrupt the bnce of the ne and inevitably cause problems. One breakthrough might not be too harmful, but if multiple individuals reach this level, the level beyond the twelfth order, then let alone cmities and such, even the copse of the entire ne isn''t out of the question."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor nodded again. "You know a little <i>too</i> much for someone of your status. Where did you get this information?"


    Tang San did not directly answer the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s question but continued, "In other words, as long as you try to break through on this ne, the ne itself will stop you. No matter how strong you are, you still belong to the ne, so how can you possibly defy it? Only by using forces that don''t belong to this ne might there be a slim chance of breaking through. And speaking of that, what is your understanding of Fn?"


    @@novelbin@@


    "It��s an extremely fertile world, with vast spiritual energy. Although I have never left the ne, some others have; ording to some records passed down by the Ancestral Court, extremely powerful beings of ancient times have explored or observed whaty beyond. The records indicate that the spiritual energy of our is incredibly densepared to other simr ces, and there are very few nes stronger than ours."


    Tang San said, "Exactly. If Fn takes another step forward, it will ascend to another level. But for the ne itself, taking that step is an extremely difficult choice. If it doesn��t work, it could lead to the copse of the ne, causing it topletely vanish in the universe. If it <i>does</i> work, on the other hand, the ne can rise to be something else entirely: a divine realm! And given this ne��s energy level, once it bes a divine realm, it will be an exceptionally powerful one."


    "A divine realm, you say?"


    Tang San said, "Yes, the divine realm is where true immortality lies. A true god is not limited by life, and unless the divine realm itself is destroyed, they will exist eternally. That is what you should be seeking, isn''t it?"


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor frowned and asked, "How do you know all this?"


    Tang San replied, "You just mentioned that some mighty beings once appeared on Fn, and those mighty beings left behind some ancient legacies. I have obtained one of these ancient legacies."


    Hearing this, Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but turn to look at him. <i>Is this guy just making stuff up with a straight face? I bet that before the White Tiger Demon Emperor mentioned the ancient mighty beings, he had no idea about any of this stuff.</i>


    But at this moment, the White Tiger Demon Emperor actually seemed rather convinced Tang San was telling the truth. "Was it a bloodline legacy? Is that the bloodline you showed me?"


    "Not entirely. To be precise, itbines cultivation methods and bloodline inheritance. And I can tell you one more thing: some of the ancient mighty beings you mentioned were not originally from Fn; they came here from elsewhere. And they were not the progenitors of demons and nymphs... but the progenitors of humans."


    Hearing that the origin of Tang San��s legacy was actually human, the White Tiger Demon Emperor couldn''t help but be moved. This exnation also conveniently rified why he supported humans to such an extent.


    "Then how did youe to possess this bloodline?" the White Tiger Demon Emperor pressed on. At this point, his conversation with Tang San had taken on a more schrly tone, and he had even forgotten that his dear granddaughter was still there.


    "Fusion."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor��s eyebrows shot up.


    "A single bloodline has limited strength, and even if it does mutate somehow, the power of this mutation can only be within the confines of a first-tier bloodline. Naturally, the bloodline mutations that have appeared so far haven''t been strong enough. But have you ever considered what would happen if two first-tier bloodlines were sessfully fused together, retaining the essence and discarding the inconsequential parts? Of course, this is very difficult��one wrong move, and it could lead to disastrous consequences. I only survived because of an ancient treasure left behind by an ancient powerhouse. Now let me get to the point: if you support Little Mei, I can tell you about my breakthrough process and the suppression I encountered."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor responded without hesitation, "Agreed. I already said I will support her. But as I mentioned before, my individual support alone isn''t enough to ensure her sess."


    Tang San nodded. "As long as you support her, that''s enough."


    "So you''ll only tell me after her report? But by then, what you''ll face might be very difficult. If she fails, then forget about remaining a city lord; they might not even let you go back to Kali City at all."


    Tang San shook his head. "No need to wait until then. I can tell you now. When my bloodline underwent mutation, I experienced suppression from the ne itself. At that time, the entire bloodline was on the verge of breaking due to the nar suppression..." With that, Tang San detailed the process and sensations he experienced while fusing the Golden Armor Transformation.


    He wasn''t afraid of the White Tiger Demon Emperor knowing about this because even if he did, it wouldn''t be of much use. Without the Mysterious Heaven Technique, it was simply impossible to fuse two first-tier bloodlines the way Tang San had. But for the White Tiger Demon Emperor, gaining a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind the nar suppression was unquestionably beneficial. After all, Tang San''s observations were backed by the experience of a God King.


    Mei Gongzi listened intently from the side. This was something Tang San had never told her before. Although she suspected that Tang San might be exaggerating a bit, she had personally witnessed the power of the Golden Armor Transformation.


    "...and this concluded the process. I have to say, I was lucky toplete the breakthrough. But now, there is still a major problem ahead of me. Namely, the tribtion. When I try to break through to godhood, the tribtion I face will undoubtedly be terrifying."


    As the White Tiger Demon Emperor absorbed what Tang San had just said, he remarked, "So, you''re saying that the bloodline evolution must bepleted before reaching godhood for it to seed."


    Tang San nodded and said, "Once the tribtion has passed, one��s mortal body bes a divine body and spiritual power transforms into divine consciousness, and with that, one��s road is fixed. Triggering a bloodline mutation after that is almost impossible, and fusing two bloodlines is simply out of the question. And even if the process ispleted before the tribtion, resisting the heavenly tribtion that follows will still be extremely difficult."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "I say, isn��t this ne a coward? Why doesn''t it dare to attempt a breakthrough? Everything would be different if it could break through and be a divine realm."


    Tang San replied, "The ne probably isn��t smart enough to be a coward. The problem is that enabling an entire ne to transform is indeed an extremely difficult task. It would face countless challenges, and therger cosmic nes would also influence Fn��s ne. If Fn''s energy intensity was weaker, the probability of sess would be much higher because the universe is more tolerant of smaller divine realms. But precisely because its energy level is so high, if it were to be a divine realm, it would be considered a rtively high-level existence in the universe, and it might even slightly contribute to the evolution of the universe. This is not something the universe is willing to see."


    "Huh? Why is that? Isn''t evolution a good thing?" the White Tiger Demon Emperor asked, puzzled.

 Chapter 666: The Luxurious Quarters of an Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 666: The Luxurious Quarters of an Emperor</h4>


    "Choose a spot yourselves," the White Tiger Demon Emperor said.


    Tang San first took Mei Gongzi for a walk around the garden, sensing the dense energy in the air. Unlike the chaotic energy outside, the energy here was extremely pure, and most of it was light energy, which naturally made it better for nourishing the vegetation. The vegetation itself was something quite amazing��though the garden was notrge, every single nt in it was a treasure nt! Every step through the garden caused Tang San��s jaw to drop lower.


    The room''s decor appeared simple; it was made of wood and boasted a rather modest elegance. But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be far from simple. The entire room, including the ceiling, was adorned with intricate patterns that had likely taken months to carve.


    Moreover, the wood used here was something Tang San was very familiar with��yes, very familiar indeed. It was Golden Wood!


    The entire ce, two thousand square meters in size, was decorated with Golden Wood. Floor, walls, and ceiling, almost every bit was covered in it, and it was intricately carved as well. Tang San could not estimate how much wood exactly had been used, but he was certain that it had not been cheap.


    The most extravagant part was the cultivation room. When Tang San brought Mei Gongzi to see it, both of them were stunned. Yes, even the old God King was shocked. Upon entering this room, they found that what they��d thought of as luxury just a minute before was actually nothing major at all.


    The entire cultivation room wasn''t thatrge, only about a hundred square meters, which wasn''t much for someone of the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s status.


    But the cultivation room was purple; the entire space was bathed in purple light. Why purple? Because the floor, walls, and ceiling were all iid with amethystine! The rare purple crystal capable of nurturing divine consciousness was actually everywhere in this room!


    These purple crystals were arranged into a formation. The formation itself wasn''t particrly special; it was simply there to improve the flow of energy, but the energy that flowed inside this room was the kind that could nourish divine consciousness! None of the crystals was asrge as the one Tang San and Mei Gongzi had received as a reward, but there were many of them, and each was about the size of a fist. Altogether, the value was immeasurable.


    <i>No wonder everyone aspires to be an Emperor; they live in such luxury that normal people cannot even imagine it.</i>


    Of course, this cultivation room was not suitable for setting up a teleportation array.


    Noticing their expressions, almost dripping with envy, the White Tiger Demon Emperor couldn��t help but chuckle. "You can stay here. You''re wee to stay here whenever you visit the Ancestral Court in the future, except when you��re here to report to the Council."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty." Before Mei Gongzi could speak, Tang San had already thanked him without hesitation.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor was almost at the peak of his level, and this room, amazing though it was, wasn''t of much consequence for him. For Mei Gongzi and Tang San, however, it was nothing short of a paradise.


    In the end, Tang San chose a square room on the second floor to set up the teleportation array.


    The room was about three hundred square meters, and it was thergest on the second floor. The second floor had three bedrooms, while on the first floor there was a living room, dining room, and cultivation room.


    Tang San used a spatial ring to store away the furniture, revealing enough space for the array.


    Under the interested gaze of the White Tiger Demon Emperor, Tang San began setting up the teleportation array. Mei Gongzi and her grandfather watched from the side, and Tang San, not keeping his knowledge to himself, exined as he worked. He detailed the principles of the array and the things that had to be considered during its construction.


    Mei Gongzi listened intently,pletely absorbed. Every time she heard Tang San exin the mysteries of space, she gained new insights and improvements.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor also listened thoughtfully. Although he didn��t have a space-attribute bloodline, he was very interested in arrays. Otherwise, he wouldn''t havepletely sealed off the White Tiger Hotel earlier, preventing other Emperors from investigating.


    @@novelbin@@


    The array Tang San was setting up here was clearly much moreplex than the one downstairs. Even though he was merely exining the principles and process, the White Tiger Demon Emperor, with all his cultivation, still found it somewhat dizzying. The intricate interlocking of the array''sponents was so unique that itpletely surpassed the knowledge of arrays on the continent. This further convinced the White Tiger Demon Emperor that Tang San had indeed received an ancient mighty being''s inheritance.


    The entire setup process took about two hours. With visible fatigue on his face, Tang San finished thest part of the arrangement, then let out a long breath.


    "I need to rest for a bit, then I''ll set up the concealment array and the aura suppression array. With that, we��re done."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor couldn''t help but praise, "A truly masterful array. When ites to arrays, you might very well be the best on the entire continent. Based on this, you''re more than qualified to work with me."


    Tang San smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, may I use your cultivation room to rest for a while?"


    "Go ahead," the White Tiger Demon Emperor said with a wave of his hand.


    Tang San immediately took Mei Gongzi by the hand and headed downstairs to the cultivation room. A cultivation room filled with amethystine stones��cultivating divine consciousness here would be an absolute delight.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor stayed behind in the room, continuing to study the array. He was genuinely interested in it; there were many aspects of it worth learning from.


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi entered the cultivation room and closed the door. The moment they stepped inside, they immediately felt their divine consciousness be more active.


    But Mei Gongzi didn''t rush to start cultivating. Instead, she transmitted her voice to him. "Aren''t you revealing too much?"


    Tang San smiled and replied, "To attract the attention of an Emperor and gain his support, you have to reveal a bit. Different Emperors require different approaches. Besides, I can tell that His Majesty has deep feelings for you and your mother. When we return, talk to your mother. The next time wee, let��s bring her along to meet him. A long time has passed, but after all, they are father and daughter."


    "From what Grandfather just said, my report might end up..."


    Tang San smiled and shook his head. "It''s all up to us. When I talked to him earlier, that message was for you too: where there''s a will, there''s a way. Trust me, we will seed."


    Mei Gongzi nodded. "Fine, let''s not talk about it for now. You should rest. You''ve been through a lot already, haven''t you?"


    They had teleported all the way from Kali City, and though they had rested the previous night, they hadn''t meditated. Setting up the array had also consumed a lot of mental energy.


    Tang San smiled and said, "Don''t be too polite with your grandfather. Make the most of this and start cultivating. The energy in these amethystine stones is immensely beneficial for nurturing divine consciousness, especially at your current level. Your power is elemental control, so improving your cultivation level depends critically on enhancing your divine consciousness."


    "Okay."


    The two of them sat down cross-legged, with Mei Gongzi circting her bloodline power and Tang San using the Mysterious Heaven Technique. A soft purple glow filled the entire cultivation room almost instantly.


    Mei Gongzi felt her divine consciousness being stimted to the point of bing several times more active than during her usual cultivation. Moreover, the amethystine stone array in the cultivation room seemed to have an insting effect as well. Her divine consciousness couldn''t extend outward but was instead contained within the room, which actually contributed to increasing the speed of cultivation.


    In what seemed like an instant, she was already in a state of deep meditation.

 Chapter 667: A Fathers Love is as Steadfast as a Mountain

    <h4>Chapter 667: A Father''s Love is as Steadfast as a Mountain</h4>


    Tang San also sank into deep meditation.


    Ever since confronting the Tenebrous Demon Emperor and being "killed," his divine consciousness had beenpletely drained. Although he had rebuilt it for the most part with the help of that massive piece of amethystine, it had never returned to its peak state. Later, when he assisted Mei Gongzi in oveing her tribtion, he once again exhausted the amount he had managed to recover.


    Although he had been recovering ever since, because he had not undergone a tribtion himself, his recovery speed was limited. As for improving his divine consciousness, that was nothing more than a pipe dream.


    But as soon as he began cultivating here, he immediately felt his spiritual power being permeated by that purple mist, directly starting to transform into divine consciousness. The sensation was truly marvelous.


    After just one full cycle, his divine consciousness had almost returned to its peak state.


    However, Tang San quickly became aware of what was going on and began suppressing the speed of this transformation.


    If too much of his spiritual power was converted into divine consciousness at once, he might end up being unable to control it, and the result would be immediate tribtion. Right now, he wasn''t ready for that.


    @@novelbin@@


    Even so, cultivating here had undeniable benefits.


    Mei Gongzi had already reached godhood, so she naturally didn''t face the same issues as Tang San. He even thought that if Mei Gongzi continued to cultivate here, with her talent and the baptism of the Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion, along with enough amethystine crystal to support her, it wouldn''t be impossible for her to break through to the Great Demon King level by the time she had to report to the Ancestral Court Council.


    This was the importance of resources!


    The resources that a top-tier Emperor used for cultivation, when given to a fresh and talented god, would naturally produce extraordinary results.


    He didn''t know how much time had passed, but a cold divine consciousness swept over, startling the two. Tang San and Mei Gongzi simultaneously opened their eyes, and saw that the White Tiger Demon Emperor was already standing before them.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor said in a rather annoyed tone, "You two should be done by now. The amethystine crystals in this cultivation room weren''t easy to gather and are extremely valuable. Don''t drain the pond to catch the fish; you need to give them time to replenish themselves. They absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to recover. You can use them for at most an hour each day; any longer and you might end up with more loss than gain."


    Tang San and Mei Gongzi stood up together. It was clear that they had fully absorbed and digested the stock of energy in the crystals.


    Mei Gongzi''s beautiful eyes sparkled with vitality. She could clearly feel that her divine consciousness had strengthened significantly. She gave a slight bow to the White Tiger Demon Emperor, saying, "Thank you, Grandfather."


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor, clearly irked, replied, "Oh, so now that you''re getting presents, I''m suddenly your grandfather!"


    Mei Gongzi couldn''t help but chuckle. "You came in so fierce; I didn''t dare call you that at first."


    Seeing her charming expression, the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s gaze grew distant for a moment, as if something had crossed his mind.


    "When you go back, tell your mother toe see me. I''m angry at her, but... do you know why?" the White Tiger Demon Emperor asked in a deep voice.


    Mei Gongzi shook her head. She had always avoided this topic and didn''t dare to mention her mother in front of the White Tiger Demon Emperor, fearing it would provoke his anger.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor''s eyes burned with anger. "I''m angry because she didn''t freaking trust me! Who loved her the most from childhood to now? I never cared about her being human. In fact, it''s precisely because her mother was human that she could be so damn beautiful. Do you have any idea how happy I was when she was born? I never expected her to achieve much; I just wanted her to be happy by my side. But she chose to run away, just because she had a rtionship with that phoenix brat! Andter had you with that scoundrel Wang Qing!


    "Why did she run? So what if she was pregnant? Who hasn''t been young? If she had stayed with me, no matter who she liked, I would have brought him back and beaten him into obedience. But she ran, she disappeared without a trace. For all these years, I didn''t even know where she was. If it weren''t for that scoundrel Wang Qing bringing you to the Ancestral Court, I wouldn''t have even known she was in Kali City. Is this how she trusts me as her father? Hasn''t she always done whatever she wanted since she was little? Haven''t I always doted on her?"


    As Mei Gongzi listened to her grandfather''s words, she couldn''t help but be stunned. She had never imagined her grandfather would feel this way about her mother. It was unimaginable that this White Tiger Demon Emperor, known for his absolute ruthlessness, could be so indulgent toward his daughter.


    Tang San''s lips twitched as he listened. This guy��he was actually a doting father? And he didn''t even care that his daughter was a human half-blood? Who would have thought? Really, who could have imagined!


    But if it was as he said... then Su Qin really had no objective reason to run away back then. If she hadn''t, then even if she was pregnant with Lin Ximo''s child, her father probably would have epted it.


    In other words, she had run away out of sheer guilt, fearing she would bring shame to her father. Later, she met the Peacock Great Demon King, and that had led to the current situation.


    <i>If that didn''t happen, Mei Gongzi would have been the little princess of the White Tiger Pce, and if her mother was so doted upon, wouldn''t she be even more pampered? But then again, if that didn''t happen, who knows when I would''ve been able to meet her? The ways of fate are mysterious indeed...</i>


    After raging for a few more moments, the White Tiger Demon Emperor gradually calmed down, sighing deeply. "Alright, you can cultivate here, but don''t use this room too often. Your divine consciousness must match your cultivation level; all abilities need to be bnced, so don''t overdo it."


    After saying this, he pushed open the door and left. Just as he was about to step out of the cultivation room, he suddenly turned back, his gaze icy as he looked at Tang San. "I don''t care whose legacy you carry. If you dare betray her, I''ll tear you to pieces. If that bastard Wang Qing weren''t already dead, I''d have beaten him to death myself."


    "Rest assured, Your Majesty," Tang San quickly replied.


    Only then did the White Tiger Demon Emperor leave, turning into a beam of white light and disappearing.


    Mei Gongzi watched his departing figure and murmured, "Why do I feel like Grandpa is a bit sad?"


    "You don��t say! He''s definitely sad because of your mother. He misses her. You should tell your mother what he said today when you go back. Next time, let''s bring her here so they can finally reunite after all these years. Seriously now... I never expected him to be so sentimental, but to be honest, this puts me at ease. Even if the evaluation doesn''t go well, the worst that could happen is losing Kali City. You and your mother definitely won''t be in danger; the White Tiger Demon Emperor will surely protect you both."


    From the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s earlier attitude, it was clear how deeply he cared for his daughter. <i>Su Qin, you really made a mistake, betraying this old white tiger''s deep love.</i>


    Mei Gongzi nodded. "When Mom finds out, she''ll definitely regret it. <i>Sigh...</i> Grandpa is really pitiful, and so is Mom."


    Tang San thought to himself that if the White Tiger Demon Emperor really wanted revenge, he should be going after that scumbag Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor. The Peacock Great Demon King really hadn��t done anything wrong.


    But right now, he didn''t dare to tell the White Tiger Demon Emperor the truth. Better to wait untilter. Otherwise, if the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor ended up dead... Well, that was a real possibility.


    After a session of cultivation in the room, Tang San had fully recovered. In fact, he was better than ever, divine consciousness and all. He thus returned to the second floor andpleted the final touches on the teleportation terminal.


    After finishing up the arrays and testing the spatial resonance, ensuring everything was in order, the two exchanged smiles and sighed in relief.


    With the presence of this teleportation array, and with the White Tiger Demon Emperor guarding it, entering and exiting the Ancestral Court would be easy as pie in the future.


    Moreover, this time Tang San was fully prepared. As long as they weren''t within a kilometer, even an Emperor wouldn''t notice when they activated the teleportation array. And with the White Tiger Demon Emperor covering for them, it would be foolproof.


    "Where are we going next?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    By now, it was alreadyte afternoon. The setting sun cast a soft red glow over the Ancestral Court.


    "Let''s visit the Sword Saint Pce and pay our respects to the Sword Saint Demon Emperor."


    "Alright."

 Chapter 668: The Sword Saint Palace

    <h4>Chapter 668: The Sword Saint Pce</h4>


    Last time they fled from the Ancestral Court, if not for the sword tokens from the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, they would have been in real danger. Even Tang San hadn��t anticipated that the one pursuing them would be the Tenebrous Demon Emperor rather than the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.


    He originally had a backup n to his backup n��if the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was the one pursuing them and they were really driven into a corner, revealing Mei Gongzi''s identity would likely resolve the issue.


    Thus, it was not the pursuit that truly brought them to the brink of death, but the fact that the pursuer was the Tenebrous Demon Emperor.


    Tang San had a good impression of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. However, convincing him to support them during the evaluation was clearly not something that could be achieved just because he had returned the Red-Crowned Divine Sword.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor had already helped them once, and he had truly given it his all; such a favor could not be granted twice.


    Leaving the White Tiger Grand Hotel, Tang San and Mei Gongzi took a carriage to the foot of the Sword Saint Sacred Mountain. By this time, night was falling, but people were still trying to climb up to the pce in an endless stream.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor had no main city, and the Red-Crowned Crane n, an imperial n, was considered the poorest among them. They were in no wayparable to the obscene wealth of the White Tiger Demon Emperor.


    But the Red-Crowned Crane n didn''t seem to care about not having a main city; this was rted to their own fundamental philosophy.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor had always advocated that a life of luxury only leads to decadence. Their sword was literally a part of their own body, and what were cultivation resourcespared to acquiring andprehending sword intent?


    A life of austerity better stimted potential and dedication to the sword. So, despite their rtive poverty, no one dared to underestimate the Red-Crowned Crane n.


    Although the Sword Saint Demon Emperor ranked lower among Emperors, the overallbat strength of the Red-Crowned Crane n was in fact quite formidable. To hold their own among so many top-tier ns, who could call them weak? And with the current Sword Saint Demon Emperor not being the first Emperor of the Red-Crowned Crane n, who could say their methods were wrong, given that they had produced multiple Emperors?


    Tang San led Mei Gongzi to the foot of the mountain and they paid the fee to climb. Yes, he paid the fee. He had no token anymore, and nobody would believe him if he said he once had one.


    As a god, Mei Gongzi technically wasn��t supposed to climb the mountain, as it held no real significance for those at her level. But as long as people were willing to pay, no one was going to stop them from wasting their money. After all, no matter how many gods climbed the Sacred Mountain, how could they impact the Sword Saint Pce in any way? Moreover, how many gods would be bored enough to do that?


    @@novelbin@@


    Thus, the guards at the foot of the mountain only collected the fee and didn��t bother with the cultivation level of the climbers.


    The path up to Sword Saint Pce offered no resistance to them at this point. The two of them held hands, climbing leisurely as if they were taking a casual stroll. Tang San intentionally slowed down to avoid drawing attention.


    When the sword aura descended upon Mei Gongzi, it naturally dissipated. Her body was like a ck hole, absorbing all the oppressive sword aura.


    For Tang San, it was a different situation. The sword aura that pressed upon him was split apart, sliding past both sides of his body, unable to pose any threat to him.


    Step by step, the two of them ascended the stairs. When they reached halfway up the mountain, a deep voice sounded in their ears.


    "Come up."


    In the next instant, sword light descended from the sky, enveloping them. In the blink of an eye, they vanished.


    All of this was within Tang San''s expectations. The Sword Saint Demon Emperor was different from other Emperors; he spent most of his time stationed at the Sword Saint Pce. In fact, the sword aura pressing down from Sword Saint Pce originated from him. So when Tang San and Mei Gongzi disyed their unique abilities while climbing, it was only natural that he would sense them immediately.


    With a sh of light and shadow, they were on the mountaintop. The gates of Sword Saint Pce were open, and the sword aura surrounding them guided them directly into the pce.


    As the pce doors closed, Tang San and Mei Gongzi slowlynded on the ground.


    Inside Sword Saint Pce, there were no luxurious decorations��only statues stood everywhere.


    Thest time he came here, Tang San didn��t have the leisure to observe the entire thing; he had barely managed to enter and take a look at one statue before meeting that Red-Crowned Crane Demon King. This time as well, he was overwhelmed by the intense, unrivaled sword intent that filled the space, but he could take a good look at the statues inside.[1]


    Each statue depicted a Red-Crowned Crane holding a long sword, in various poses. Regardless of the stance, every one of them radiated sword aura��some soaring into the sky, some piercing the clouds, and others sweeping across with unyielding force. All of them were perfect examples of masterful swordsmanship.


    The voice of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor did not sound again, but both Tang San and Mei Gongzi instinctively sensed the direction they should go��it was through these statues.


    Mei Gongzi was about to step forward, but Tang San stopped her. Closing his eyes, he silently observed the surroundings momentarily, then ced his hand on Mei Gongzi��s back, transmitting a message to her: "Asura."


    Mei Gongzi nodded slightly, and in the next moment, her eyes suddenly brightened. The divine consciousness wave radiated from Tang San, and her own divine consciousness bloomed in response. At the center of her sea of consciousness, the blood-red sword shadow was instantly activated, and an immense, majestic sword intent erupted from her.


    A red sword light shot up from her forehead, and in the instant that the vast sword intent bloomed, it suppressed all the sword auras of the surrounding statues. The statues, which had originally felt powerful and vibrant, instantly returned to a state of calm. In fact, they even seemed to be trembling slightly.


    A deep voice filled with a hint of surprise echoed. "Hmm? You... What is the sword?"


    Tang San moved to Mei Gongzi''s side and responded in a deep voice, "The sword is justice."


    "Why is it justice?" the deep voice asked.


    Tang San replied, "Because only the sword of justice can move forward without hesitation; only the sword of justice can pierce heaven and earth."


    "What else is the sword?"


    "The sword is judgment!" Tang San continued.


    "Why is it judgment?" the Sword Saint Demon Emperor asked again.


    Tang San said, "Because the sword is justice. He who holds the sword of justice must judge the world''s evils, uphold fairness, maintain order, enforcews, and regte conduct."


    Before the Sword Saint Demon Emperor could ask again, Tang San continued, "Only a sword can achieve these two things, for a sword can break allws, and allws converge into one��into the sword. The sword is born from the heart, and only a heart full of justice can give birth to the sword of a sovereign, one that can govern all and impart judgment."


    As he said this, he turned to look at Mei Gongzi beside him. "The sword is also sacrifice. The sword of justice and judgment breaks allws without retreat, protects without yielding. To uphold justice, judgment, and the desires of the heart, sacrifice is the ultimate end."


    "A fine notion��sacrifice as the ultimate end." A figure emerged among the statues.


    When the Sword Saint Demon Emperor appeared, both Tang San and Mei Gongzi felt a bit dazed because what they saw seemed to be not a living being but a sharp de. At that moment, they couldn''t even discern the appearance or age of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. What they saw was a pure sword, radiating a brilliant sword aura.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s gaze fell on Mei Gongzi, his eyes burning as he looked at the red sword light above her head, and he said in a deep voice, "Is this the sword of justice and judgment that you are talking about?"


    Tang San nodded, "Indeed. The Sword of Justice��Asura''s Judgment. It is the symbol of Asura''s methods to uphold justice."


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor nodded slightly.


    "Follow me," he said, then turned and walked further inside.


    Tang San nced at Mei Gongzi, and only then did she pull back her sword intent, withdrawing the Asura Sword''s aura. The two of them followed the Sword Saint Demon Emperor further inside the pce.


    At this point, the statues no longer emitted any sword intent.


    The previous sword intent had been a test from the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. Upon their arrival, He was well aware of who they were, but to enter Sword Saint Pce, they had to undergo this test��it was a rule of the Red-Crowned Crane n, and he saw no reason to break the rule for them.


    Tang San''s decision to have Mei Gongzi release the Asura Sword��s sword intent was a clever move; it tickled the Sword Saint Demon Emperor''s interest perfectly.


    1. This paragraph has been altered and does not reflect the original. It was originally stated that Tang San never entered the pce, but it��s clear from chapter 365 that he has in fact entered. ?

 Chapter 670: The Heart Sword

    <h4>Chapter 670: The Heart Sword</h4>


    Tang San shook his head and said, "We don''t know either. We acquired this sword intent by chance in an ancient relic. The sword intent chose Mei Gongzi and has been with her ever since, only able to be activated through divine consciousness. However, the sword intent seems to be able to grow stronger with cultivation. Perhaps in the future, we might find the actual divine weapon."


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor sighed. "It must really be an extraordinary divine weapon. If you do find it, be sure to bring it to me so I can take a look at it. There are few things in this world that interest me anymore, but after taking a glimpse at the truth contained within this sword intent, I feel a strong urge. I think I understand what you meant by the sword being born from the heart. I presume you��d call that the Heart Sword.


    "This Heart Sword requires first having a stable and resolute heart[1]. One must seek to have a clear conscience, which leads to a righteous heart. Only after having a righteous heart can one truly begin toprehend the profound meaning of the Heart Sword. This has opened a new door for me, and perhaps the bottleneck that has limited me for many years might be challenged again. Thank you. Regardless of the oue of your evaluation, I will ensure your safety."


    @@novelbin@@


    Tang San took Mei Gongzi��s hand, and together they bowed to the Emperor. The fact that his promise had no ambiguity whatsoever made it clear that their goal had been achieved.


    The Sword Saint Demon Emperor looked at Mei Gongzi and said, "Your talent is exceptional, and you have this divine sword intent protecting you. But if you wish to be an Emperor in the future, you must be prepared to y an Emperor. Only by ying one Emperor can another rise. Therefore, the greater your talent, the more pressure you may face in the future."


    Mei Gongzi''s heart tightened. The White Tiger Demon Emperor had said something simr. The number of Emperors was limited; it seemed that sixteen Emperors was the maximum on the Daemon Continent.


    She instinctively looked at Tang San beside her, but Tang San remained calm, simply thanking the Sword Saint Demon Emperor.


    The two of them bid farewell and left the Sword Saint Pce.


    Mei Gongzi let out a slight breath, but her eyes showed undeniable worry. She had some confidence beforeing to the Ancestral Court this second time. But after talking with the two Emperors, she now truly understood how difficult it would be to pass the evaluation and be the true master of Kali City sessfully.


    Moreover, she began to understand why Tang San had said that the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor would be their biggest challenge. Although the Sword Saint Demon Emperor hadn''t explicitly stated it, the implication was clear: the one in charge of the Ancestral Court likely did not support them. And who was the one in charge? None other than the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    Tang San wrapped his arm around her waist, saying, "Don''t worry about it too much. All you need to do now is focus on improving yourself. I''ll handle everything else. I''ve already thought of measures to take. Even though I didn��t know the part about the Ancestral Court not allowing other races to be Emperors, it��s not something overly shocking."


    Feeling the warmth from him, Mei Gongzi felt her inner turmoil subside a bit. "So, should we go back to Kali City now?"


    Tang San shook his head and said, "We''vee all this way; there''s no rush to return. Your grandfather''s ce is the best for your cultivation. Stay there and train hard. You have to reach the Great Demon King level as soon as possible. Once you reach that level andbine it with the Asura Sword''s intent, even an Emperor would find it difficult to kill you. I also have some things I need to take care of."


    "Alright," Mei Gongzi nodded, already ustomed to his arrangements. "But you must be careful. Even though your appearance has changed, those Emperors who have seen you up close might still recognize you."


    "I know, don''t worry."


    The two returned to the top floor of the White Tiger Grand Hotel. Not wanting to waste the opportunity to cultivate in the amethystine training room, they first spent some time working on their divine consciousness. This time, however, they made sure not to overstay. Mei Gongzi moved to another room and continued her meditation, while Tang San left once again.


    This time, Tang San hade to the Ancestral Court for two reasons: one was to gauge the attitudes of the two Emperors, and the other was to prepare for the integration of his next transcendent bloodline.


    With the Golden Armor Transformation protecting him, Tang San''s body had now reached an impressive level of resilience.


    Toplete the transformation of the Blue Silver Emperor into a transcendent bloodline, he needed to prepare several things. First, he required bloodline power of extreme yin and yang. Naturally, this had toe from the Scorching Sunflowers and the Nethermoon Flowers, and it had to be at least at the peak of the ninth order. Additionally, he required a bnced and harmonious nymph bloodline power to act as a stabilizer, ensuring that the Blue Silver Emperor imprint was strong enough not to copse during the fusion of yin and yang. This required the bncing bloodline to be a first-tier bloodline as well.


    In other words, the next transcendent bloodline would have to be a fusion among not two, but <i>three</i> first-tier bloodlines.


    The power of the Golden Armor Transformation had given Tang San a certain level of confidence. He was preparing to do something truly extreme, something that��if sessful��would change everything. Of course, if he failed, he would be dead without a question. That was why he had been making all kinds of preparations and running various simtions. This time, he wasn''t here to grab the yin and yang bloodlines; it wasn''t the right time yet. His first priority was to make his Blue Silver Emperor resilient enough.


    Therefore, his target was neither a Scorching Sunflower, nor a Nethermoon Flower, but rather an Adamant Nymph. Yes, he wanted to acquire the bloodline of the Indestructible Adamant Nymph Emperor, sixth among the seven Emperors of the nymphs.


    The origin of Adamant Nymphs was, of course, adamant��the toughest mineral in existence, which had given rise to the toughest of all the Nymph Emperors. If Tang San could acquire the Adamant Nymph bloodline and fuse it into the Blue Silver Emperor, then not only would it make the Blue Silver Emperor itself incredibly resilient, but also elevate Tang San��s physical body to a terrifying level.


    Thus, the ce Tang San was heading to now was the Adamant Sacred Mountain, where the Indestructible Adamant Nymph Emperor resided!


    The Adamant Sacred Mountain was located in the northwest of the Ancestral Court. It wasparatively far from the center, which was clearly due to this Emperor''s rtively low ranking.


    The overall strength of the Solstice Empire was lower than that of the Empyrean Dominion, mainly due to the difference in the number of Emperors. With a deficit of two Emperors, the gap was naturally vast. If not for the extreme power of the Sunborne Nymph Emperor and the Earthshade Nymph Emperor as a pair, the Solstice Empire would have beenprehensively suppressed.


    Of course, the nymphs didn''t particrly fear the demons; despite being at war in a sense, the nymphs and demons were in the end two parties with shared interests. Another important factor was that the most powerful among the demons, the almighty Crystal Demon Emperor, was very old and could fall at any time. It rarely appeared and would not easily involve itself in the affairs of the Ancestral Court. This had allowed both sides to maintain a bnced state in the past centuries. Without the Crystal Demon Emperor, the demons, even with one more Emperor, might not necessarily gain the upper hand in their conflict with the nymphs.


    Tang San disembarked from his carriage at the foot of the Adamant Sacred Mountain and looked up. He immediately felt a sense of overwhelming brightness.


    Though the Adamant Sacred Mountain was located in a corner of the Ancestral Court, it could hardly be more visible. It radiated a brilliant golden light and it looked like an actual mountain of gold, emanating a sharp aura.


    What was most peculiar were the powerful beings at the foot of the mountain, either waiting to climb or already ascending. At a nce, they were all bizarre and varied, entirely different from those who climbed the sacred mountains of the Demon Emperors.


    Not far in front of Tang San was a being with a bloated figure resembling arge boulder. It was more or less oval, like an oversized potato, and after paying its fee, it was now "rolling" toward the Adamant Sacred Mountain. Tang San wasn��t sure where its legs were, or if it even had any. Another climber was pretty much a walking tree, with bark, branches, and all the trimmings.


    All sorts of beings were present, truly a bizarre and varied spectacle.


    This was the world of the nymphs! It was indeed strange. Tang San thought that if he had the opportunity in the future, he really should visit the nymphs�� territories to see what opportunities the Solstice Empire had to offer.


    1. The original word used here ismonly used with the meaning of "making up one��s mind," i.e. being fully determined. ?

 Chapter 671: Adamant Sacred Mountain

    <h4>Chapter 671: Adamant Sacred Mountain</h4>


    Tang San not only found nts interesting, but also felt a deep affinity toward them. After all, in his previous life, his primary martial soul was a nt-type soul.


    He activated the Blue Silver Emperor imprint, sprouting deep blue vines. After multiple mutations, the Blue Silver Emperor waspletely unrecognizable as its original species��the lowly Green Jade Vine, which wasn��t even a nymph, let alone a strong one. The deep blue vines were covered in thorns, extremely tough, and emitted a strong aura. Tang San released the vines around his body, ostensibly showing off that he was a nymph.


    The nymphs were known for their vast diversity, and unlike in the case of demons, bloodline mutations andbinations were quitemon among them. Merging different species was entirely normal. A mutated bloodline wouldn''t surprise anyone; instead, it was seen aspletely ordinary. Even the foremost of the Solstice Empire, the Sunborne Nymph Emperor and the Earthshade Nymph Emperor, were the result of grafting other bloodlines to a first-tier one as a basis.


    Among the demon races, mutation was rarely considered a good thing, but among the nymphs, mutation meant power. The aura he radiated was at the level of a second-tier bloodline, so even if there were people that felt like starting trouble, that was a good enough deterrent. In other words, even though nobody recognized his race, nobody felt like finding out, either.


    During the Ancestral Court Elite Competition, apart from using yin-yang energy, Tang San had never activated his Blue Silver Emperor. Therefore, he didn''t have to worry about being recognized. He simply swayed his vines, paid the entrance fee, and began his ascent up the Adamant Sacred Mountain.


    As Tang San entered the range of the Adamant Sacred Mountain, he immediately felt something unusual. The sensationing from the mountain was not the sharp aura he had sensed from afar, but rather a very peculiar sense of viscosity.


    The surface of the Adamant Sacred Mountain was enveloped in a faint golden aura. Once inside this aura, it felt as though he was submerged in a viscous fluid. This fluid seemed to invade the body, affecting it and causing a feeling of heaviness.


    Therefore, the various nymphs climbing ahead of him all had ayer of golden aura surrounding them.


    @@novelbin@@


    Some of the nymphs climbing the mountain soon found themselves unable to move from the sheer weight. Within minutes, they would turn into statues and roll straight down the mountain.


    There were quite a few such cases. After falling to the foot of the mountain, no one paid them any attention. After a while, they would get up, still covered in that golden aura, and slowly take their leave, still dragging their heavy bodies along.


    After a moment of observation, Tang San figured out what the Adamant Sacred Mountain provided to those who climbed it. It was a very pure earth elemental energy. When this earth energy invaded the body, it caused it to solidify, eventually turning the climbers into what basically amounted to rocks. At the same time, the earth energy would also provide a certain level of nourishment, primarily for the skin, making it more resilient under its influence. The higher one climbed, the denser the energy became, and the deeper it prated into the body. From a certain point up, it would likely begin to affect the internal organs as well.


    Therefore, not all species were suited to this type of nourishment. After being soaked in the earth element, the body would be heavier, and flexibility would bepromised, though defense would be enhanced. Obviously, this was a double-edged sword.


    Of course, for certain specific species, this environment was perfectly suitable. Those who didn''t prioritize speed and had naturally strong physical defenses could benefit greatly and climb higher.


    If Tang San had to choose, flexibility was definitely more important. Thus, he didn''t try to absorb this energy; the earth element didn''t provide much benefit to his cultivation or physique. He simply endured the invasion of the energy and continued to climb rapidly.


    The golden aura around his body became increasingly dense and viscous, causing Tang San''s climbing speed to drop. Even so, he was still much faster than the other climbers around him and soon passed the halfway point.


    In fact, Tang San had a token from the Indestructible Adamant Nymph Emperor, but he had no intention whatsoever to meet this Emperor. He couldn''t risk exposing his identity in front of someone unfamiliar like this Nymph Emperor. Tang San had no rtionship with it, and neither could he provide it with any benefits like he could in the case of the White Tiger Demon Emperor or the Sword Saint Demon Emperor.


    When Tang San reached two-thirds of the climb, the pressure began to increase. In addition to the heavy earth elemental energy, sharp pressure started to descend from the mountain''s peak. Strong surges of energy began to pulse beneath his feet, like spikes, practically trying to shove him off the mountain.


    But this was not enough to hinder Tang San. Thanks to the Blue Silver Emperor, he continued his ascent with ease.


    In front of him, the Blue Silver Emperor formed a shield for defense. Beneath him, the Blue Silver Emperor''s vines acted like spider legs, supporting his body and quickly shifting through the gaps in the spikes, allowing him to continue his climb steadily.


    Gradually, the Adamant Pce at the peak of the Adamant Sacred Mountain came into view.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Tang San''s mouth as he suddenly circted more of his internal energy. At the same time, he sprinted upward. The Blue Silver Emperor vines around him closed inward, and a rich aura radiated outward.


    A strange scene unfolded. Among the many powerful beings climbing the Adamant Sacred Mountain, those with nt-type bloodlines actually started to leak bloodline power, which converged toward Tang San. This formed a light blue aura around him, isting him from the invading earth energy and allowing him to ascend quickly, forcing his way to the summit.


    Blue Silver Domain!


    This was an ability from Tang San''s previous life. Even as he pursued different directions in cultivation, he had never stopped working on the Blue Silver Emperor. And as the imprint evolved, he finally managed to recreate this domain��the core ability of the Blue Silver Emperor.


    The Blue Silver Domain could connect to all the nts within its range, harmonizing with them and drawing on their energy for Tang San��s own use. In areas with abundant nt life, the power of this domain would be even greater.


    Although the Adamant Sacred Mountain had no nts growing on it, the climbers were all powerful beings. While there were fewer nt-type nymphs herepared to mineral-type ones, there were still a fair number. By borrowing their strength, Tang San''s final ascent became much easier, and thanks to the massive pressure they were suffering, they didn��t notice that a minute amount of their energy was leaking elsewhere.


    "A domain?" a deep voice rang out.


    In front of the Adamant Pce stood a tall and burly nymph that seemed to be a human male. Indeed, it looked human, although it was extremely massive for a human. It was holding a massive shield in its hand and staring intently at Tang San.


    Tang San retracted the vines that had spread around him, nodded, and greeted it. "Hello."


    The burly nymph said in a deep voice, "If you want to enter the Adamant Pce, you must pass through me. If you can withstand my attacks for three minutes or break through my defense, you will pass. Well, if you can really break through my defense, then you��re overqualified."


    As he spoke, the burly nymph mmed its massive shield into the ground, producing a deep rumble.


    The burly nymph stood over two and a half meters tall, and the massive shield in its hand was even more imposing. It was three meters tall and triangr, about one and a half meters wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. The shield was a translucent yellow and clearly extremely thick and sturdy, and radiated an aura that blocked out spiritual power. Although it didn��t seem to be a divine weapon, purely in terms of defense, it was no less formidable than most divine weapons.


    "Please!" Tang San gestured for him to attack.


    Tang San''s purpose ining here was precisely to challenge a powerful member of the Adamant Nymph lineage and obtain their bloodline power. He had fully expected to be offered such a challenge, given his experience with other Sacred Mountains, so he was perfectly fine with it. Given the aura emanating from this opponent, Tang San could tell that he was dealing with a Nymph King, and nothing could have made him happier.


    Compared to other demons and nymphs, members of the Adamant Nymph n found crossing tribtion fairly easy, as they excelled at defense and those races that had good defense generally had an easier time with tribtions. On the other hand, the rtive ease of their tribtions also resulted in ack of potential for further growth��a clear case of losses bncing out gains.


    The burly nymph clearly had no intention of exchanging more words with Tang San. It stepped forward, raised its giant shield, and charged directly at Tang San. The shield went up into the air, then came crashing down with formidable force.


    Though the Adamant Nymph King didn��t move all that fast, its momentum was like that of an unstoppablendslideing down the slope of a mountain. The massive shield was driven by immense power and a yellow aura burst forth from it, covering a vast area and leaving no room for evasion.

 Chapter 672: Acquiring the Adamant Nymph Bloodline

    <h4>Chapter 672: Acquiring the Adamant Nymph Bloodline</h4>


    Vines around Tang San suddenly shot out, with dozens of them winding toward the opponent. At the same time, four vines braced against the ground, forcefully propelling Tang San into the air.


    The Adamant Nymph King roared, "Shock!"


    The shield in its hand mmed down onto the ground, and immediately, a surge of yellow light burst out, sending all the vines flying away and giving them no chance to wrap around it. Simultaneously, it looked up at Tang San, who was soaring through the air, and threw a punch into the distance. A mass of yellow light shot toward Tang San like a cannonball.


    Tang San had no intention of blocking that strike head-on. He had some vines coil under his feet, then jumped off of them, propelling himself even higher into the sky and dodging the st. Meanwhile, hundreds of Blue Silver Emperor vines descended from the heavens, aiming to envelop the area below.


    The vines formed a cage, trapping the Adamant Nymph King.


    The Nymph King lifted its heavy shield and struck upward fiercely. The shield emitted a blinding light, immediately expanding the cage and forcing it open. Meanwhile, Tang San seized the opportunity tond quickly. Vines snaked along the ground, once again winding toward the opponent. Simultaneously, Tang San leaped into the air, gathering vines around him and forming a massivence centered on his body. In this state, he shot straight toward the Adamant Nymph King.


    Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear!


    The Blue Silver Cage had been forced open, but the vines on the ground were already winding their way toward the opponent once more.


    Tang San''s attacks didn''t seem particrly strong to the Adamant Nymph King, but the way Tang San used softness to counteract hardness made the fight particrly frustrating for it. Moreover, as the Nymph King had mentioned earlier, if Tang San couldst more than three minutes, he would pass the challenge. Time was ticking away, and the Adamant Nymph King was not about to let that happen.


    @@novelbin@@


    Yellow light surged instantly as the Nymph King let out a roar, and the spiritual fluctuations around it became intense. The giant shield in its hand rapidly expanded, growing from its already enormous size into a towering ten meters of height. The shield emitted a blinding yellow light as it crashed down upon Tang San like a crumbling city wall.


    <i>Oh? Is this its ultimate move?</i>


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Tang San''s mouth as he raised his left hand, revealing a teleportation array disc in his palm. In the next moment, he was gone.


    The massive wall of light swept fiercely through where Tang San had just been, but by then, Tang San had already reappeared behind the Adamant Nymph King, Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear included.


    The moment Tang San vanished, the Adamant Nymph King realized something was wrong. It did not turn around, however; instead, it summoned up even more energy and its entire body seemed to solidify into a statue, emitting intense golden light.


    But to its surprise, it was not the sharp tip of the Blue Silver Emperor Tyrant Spear that struck it.


    The vines forming thence tip in front of Tang San spread out and opened up the way for him to strike the Adamant Nymph King''s back with his palm.


    The Blue Silver Emperor vines quickly wrapped around the Adamant Nymph King, binding it tightly from behind.


    The Adamant Nymph King''s defensive power was simply ridiculous. It quickly concentrated its bloodline power, ready to break free from the vines. It was confident that against an opponent who wasn''t even a Nymph King, it could just stand still and allow them to strike it.


    However, just as it was gathering strength, it suddenly felt a strange suction force from behind.


    Many tiny spikes had embedded themselves into its skin; though they barely prated a few millimeters, something utterly negligible, they exerted a pulling force that weakened its bloodline power, preventing it from immediately breaking free of the vines.


    "You!"


    The Adamant Nymph King, furious, let out a deep roar. It used its divine consciousness to drive its bloodline power to surge, and an even stronger burst of bloodline power exploded from it, apanied by dazzling golden light.


    With a loud boom, the Blue Silver Emperor vines were instantly shredded to pieces. Tang San was also sted backward and sent flying off the mountain.


    "Senior, you are truly powerful. I will seek your guidance next time," Tang San''s voice called out as he let himself be flung away.


    The Adamant Nymph King, slightly dizzy, turned to look back but saw only the quickly descending figure.


    "Hey, wait! Don''t go yet!" the Adamant Nymph King hurriedly shouted, but Tang San was already gone, disappearing quickly.


    The Adamant Nymph King paused for a moment, scratching its head. Had it gone a bit too far just now? It was supposed to be a simple test, but in the end, it had gone all out, sting the opponent away, which was nothing to brag about at its level. On the contrary, this guy''s use of his vines and whatnot was quite impressive. And that annoying teleportation array disc... it was truly irritating, especially for someone like it who wasn''t good at speed.


    <i>Oh well, he''s gone now. Maybe next time.</i>


    Meanwhile, Tang San quickly left the range of the Adamant Sacred Mountain, a faint smile on his face. Things had gone even smoother than he expected, and the results of this endeavor were excellent. The Adamant Nymph King''s bloodline power was incredibly dense, and it had a solid and stable foundation. It was undoubtedly one of the more impressive Nymph Kings. While there were many stronger than it, few could break its defense. If Tang San really wanted to defeat it, he''d need to use his Golden Armor Transformation; otherwise, breaking through its defense would be impossible at his level.


    That giant shield was also a very good piece of equipment, likely forged from refined adamant. Tang San couldn��t help but feel a pang of envy. Some nymphs sure were wealthy!


    In any case, having aplished his goal, it was time to leave quickly, just in case the Indestructible Adamant Nymph Emperor noticed something was amiss. Tang San couldn��t take any chances when it came to an unknown Emperor.


    A bright yellow bloodline imprint had already formed in his dantian. He would deal with itter when he returned home. Now that he had a teleportation array, returning to the Ancestral Court in the future would be much easier. There was no rush to acquire yin and yang bloodlines; first, he needed to stabilize the Blue Silver Emperor and use the Adamant Nymph''s fusion to elevate it to a first-tier bloodline.


    Thus, Tang San quickly returned to the White Tiger Grand Hotel.


    "Let''s go, we''re heading back now."


    Without wasting any time, Tang San immediately activated the teleportation array on the second top floor and took Mei Gongzi away with him.


    Compared to the temporary array they used when fleeing the Ancestral Courtst time, this one was much more refined. The light of the teleportation array was confined to the room, and in the next moment, they vanished into thin air.


    One minute after they left, the White Tiger Demon Emperor appeared in the teleportation room. He had a thoughtful expression on his face as he observed the residual spatial fluctuations and examined the array.


    The White Tiger Demon Emperor had watched Tang San build this teleportation array with his own eyes, which was why he had a good understanding of it. Although his knowledge in this area wasn''t as extensive as Tang San''s, as an Emperor, he could make extremely precise judgments about subtle energy changes. He knew that this teleportation array was quite extraordinary, but to achieve long-distance teleportation, one needed not only high enough cultivation but also the ability to activate the array''s core��most likely using a space-attribute divine item.


    However, he didn''t dwell on it much. In his view, that space-attribute divine item was naturally the Celestial Plume, the sacred artifact of the Peacock Demon n. Little did he know that the Celestial Plume had recently been trembling in fear, as someone was preparing to refine it.


    With a sh of light, Tang San and Mei Gongzi quietly appeared in a cave outside ck Dragon City.


    Seeing the familiar cave, Mei Gongzi''s eyes sparkled with excitement. They had seeded! They had sessfully transported themselves all the way to ck Dragon City in one go, and this jump wasn��t random��it had carried them to the exact spot designated by Tang San. A second teleportation would bring them back to Golden Valley.


    The two sat down and meditated to recover their spent spiritual power and divine consciousness. An hourter, Tang San once again activated the Spacetime Beacon, the <i>actual</i> space-attribute divine item he was using to control the arrays. The next moment, they were gone.

 Chapter 673: Fusing the Adamant Nymph Bloodline

    <h4>Chapter 673: Fusing the Adamant Nymph Bloodline</h4>


    A familiar aura of life enveloped them, and there they were��back in Golden Valley. The entire journey from the Ancestral Court back to Golden Valley had taken just over an hour. This was nothing short of miraculous, undoubtedly a first in the history of the Daemon Continent.


    Mei Gongzi turned to look at Tang San, her heart racing a bit. With a teleportation array like this, the possibilities for maneuvering between Kali City and the Ancestral Court were endless. Since Kali City was the farthest of the main cities from the Ancestral Court, the opportunities for strategic moves were even greater.


    Tang San looked perfectly calm. After all, this was in perfect ordance with his ns.


    Mei Gongzi took a deep breath. Although they had been gone for just a few days, she had gained a lot. Building the teleportation array with Tang San had increased her understanding of space, and cultivating her divine consciousness at the White Tiger Hotel, as well asprehending sword intent with the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, had been invaluable opportunities.


    "I''ll head back first. I need a few days to process what I''ve gained this time and handle some affairs in Kali City. I''lle find you in a few days," Mei Gongzi said.


    "Alright. But let me hold you before you go," Tang San replied with a cheerful smile.


    Mei Gongzi''s cheeks flushed, and she yfully punched his chest, only to be pulled into his embrace.


    Tang San was reluctant to let go. The soft warmth of her body and the faint fragrance she carried intoxicated his senses.


    "Alright, I have to go," Mei Gongzi said, shifting slightly in his arms.


    Tang San finally released her from his embrace. "Okay. Come back to me soon."


    "Alright," Mei Gongzi replied with a slight blush, gently nodding before activating the teleportation array and leaving Golden Valley.


    After Mei Gongzi left, Tang San''s gaze returned to calmness. He walked out of the cave and stood beneath the Golden Tree, absorbing the life energy it emitted while contemting the interactions he had with the two Emperors in the Ancestral Court.


    In front of Mei Gongzi, he had never shown any concern. However, deep down, his heart was heavy. From the reactions of the White Tiger Demon Emperor and the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, it was clear that Mei Gongzi''s path to sessfully inheriting the throne and bing the true ruler of Kali City would not be easy. There were many obstacles, the greatest being the ancestral rules of the Ancestral Court, followed by the intentions of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor.


    @@novelbin@@


    This individual would undoubtedly be able to observe the fortunes of both Tang San and Mei Gongzi. And while Tang San could use his Pr Luck Domain to partially conceal his own fate, Mei Gongzi''s fortune was something that couldn''t be hidden.


    Through his Discerning Eye of Heaven, Tang San observed that after Mei Gongzi broke through to godhood, her fortune surged like a geyser, skyrocketing to a level that, while not quite as overwhelming as his own, was still incredible.


    What did this level of fortune signify? If the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor saw it, he would instantly conclude that she was destined to be an Emperor. But would the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor allow her to do something like that?


    Moreover, the Ancestral Court''s attitude toward humans was crucial. Could the establishment of human settlements be halted? Could it be stopped, as the White Tiger Demon Emperor suggested? Clearly, that was no longer possible.


    Once the bow is drawn, the arrow must be shot.


    Humans had finally gained a protector in the form of a main city''s lord. When this news spread through the Redemption Society, it would undoubtedly bring immense joy and encouragement to all humans, fostering a sense of unity like never before. In this situation, abruptly halting the construction of the human settlement in Kali City would undoubtedly shatter the morale that had just begun to solidify. Humans were fragile, not only in body but also in spirit. As former ves, they had finally seen a chance to rise��how could this momentum be crushed?


    But when the Ancestral Court exerted its will, could Kali City stand against it? Mei Gongzi hadn''t even undergone evaluation yet. And even if she <i>did</i> be the true lord of Kali City, how could she, or even Tang San, resist the full force of the Ancestral Court?


    He saw much further ahead than Mei Gongzi did. If humanity wanted to survive, they couldn''t rely on luck. Betting on the Ancestral Court allowing the construction of human settlements was more than just gambling with their lives; it was practically a death wish.


    More preparations had to be made. Tang San had made his resolve, and thus dyed no longer. Sitting cross-legged beside the Golden Tree, he calmed his mind and focused inward.


    The powerful aura of the Adamant Nymph bloodline imprint emanated a faint glow. It was the bloodline of a tenth-order Nymph King, but what Tang San could actually absorb was only at the peak of the ninth order. Until he broke through to godhood, his own bloodline power would be capped at this level. While the Golden Armor Transformation made him on par with god-level beings, it did not mean that he himself was one. And this was precisely what made his transcendent bloodline so terrifying.


    Without hesitation, Tang San activated his Golden Armor Transformation for protection, used his Discerning Eye of Heaven for control, and began directing the Adamant Nymph imprint toward the Blue Silver Emperor imprint.


    To avoid any adverse effects, he deliberately held back the yin-yang vortex, ensuring it did not participate in this fusion.


    The Adamant Nymph bloodline was incredibly solid. As the fusion began, Tang San felt as if his entire body was hardening. A connection seemed to form between his body and the earth it was resting on, and earth elemental energy surged violently within him.


    When the imprint met the Blue Silver Emperor, it immediately attempted to devour thetter.


    Although Tang San had elevated the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline through various means, it was still only a second-tier bloodline. In contrast, the Adamant Nymph bloodline was a first-tier bloodline. Although it wasn''t the strongest among the nymph bloodlines, it made the bearer practically a moving fortress. In this fusion, the Adamant Nymph bloodline immediately gained the upper hand.


    However, that was not what Tang San intended. He had no intention of having the Adamant Nymph absorb the Blue Silver Emperor. Thus, he integrated his divine consciousness into the Blue Silver Emperor and simply allowed the Adamant Nymph imprint to bombard it with energy. The Blue Silver Emperor imprint seemed to be on the defensive, but it actually slowly absorbed the Adamant Nymph''s energy, gradually strengthening itself.


    At this moment, the overwhelming power of the Golden Armor Transformation proved invaluable. The Adamant Nymph imprint''s assault was fierce, attempting to breach the Blue Silver Emperor''s defenses. However, with the Discerning Eye of Heaven enhancing the Blue Silver Emperor''s fortune and the Golden Armor Transformation providing defense, the Adamant Nymph imprint had no choice but to let itself be absorbed.


    Tang San was not one to act rashly. The nar suppression caused by fusing the Golden Armor Transformation had been somewhat unexpected, or at least its level had not been something Tang San could predict, but bloodline fusions that did not transcend the first tier would not encounter such issues.


    Gradually, the Blue Silver Emperor imprint began to turn crystalline. It was still a fusion of blue and gold, but more like a golden-tinged sapphire. Its toughness increased exponentially, and the aura of the imprint rapidly surged, quickly reaching the level of a first-tier bloodline.


    Tang San''s body also seemed to be more translucent. He could feel that, along with the emergence of this new first-tier bloodline, his body''s toughness had increased even further. At the same time, the feeling of being filled to the brim was bing increasingly difficult to suppress.


    At this moment, Tang San was not just full, but like an overinted balloon, on the verge of bursting at the slightest touch. The explosion itself would not harm him, but it would instantly trigger a tribtion, forcing him to break through then and there or die.


    This was a situation Tang San absolutely did not want. He needed to wait, to bide his time until he reached the moment he deemed most opportune for his tribtion.

 Chapter 674: First-Tier Blue Silver Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 674: First-Tier Blue Silver Emperor</h4>


    By the time the Adamant Nymph imprint was fully absorbed by the Blue Silver Emperor, daylight had already arrived. Sunlight streamed through the openings in the canopy, bathing the ground below in a radiant glow.


    Tang San''s aura became more restrained. Although the absorption process had been rtively quick, he had to spend more time stabilizing andpressing his cultivation. He had now reached the absolute pinnacle of the ninth order. Among his many bloodline imprints, only the Chrono Croc Transformation wasn''t first-tier, Crystalline was hard to assess, and the Discerning Eye of Heaven hadn''t reached the peak of the ninth order. The remaining bloodline imprints were all exceptionally strong first-tier ones, and one was even beyond that.


    In this state, if it weren''t for the inevitable and severeplications that a tribtion might bring, Tang San would have beenpletely satisfied with undergoing it now. His foundation was as solid as could be.


    But with things being as they were, he could only wait. Going forward, he didn''t even dare to cultivate his internal energy using the Mysterious Heaven Technique; instead, he had to focus his efforts on nurturing his divine consciousness and making various preparations. There were many things he needed to prepare, not just for himself, but also for Mei Gongzi.


    Another month passed in the blink of an eye. Throughout this month, Tang San quietly meditated, using the life energy of the Golden Tree to stabilize his internal energy, which filled his dantian and meridians to the absolute brim. He had finally managed to suppress it, and this was only thanks to the Golden Armor Transformation making his body tougher and increasing his capacity for energy storage.


    Only after achieving this stable state could he dare to fully utilize his abilities. Otherwise, a single misstep could trigger a tribtion.


    Kali City seemed to have returned to normal during this time. With the queen consort''s support, although there were still dissenting voices within the Peacock Demon n, Mei Gongzi''s position as the new n leader was now secure. During this period, Mei Gongzi and Tang San had made another trip to the Ancestral Court. This time, they had no other purpose but to use the White Tiger Demon Emperor''s training room to cultivate their divine consciousness.


    Tang San also met with Big Cat in private. During this period, Big Cat had also sessfully broken through and officially entered godhood��a first in the history of the Lion-Tiger n. When he met with Tang San, he told him that he was about to enter seclusion once more. The Golden Lion n provided him with their most essential resources to help him advance more quickly.


    Mei Gongzi was preparing to present herself as a future Emperor in the Ancestral Court, and thus had to show off, in a manner of speaking. On the other hand, Big Cat was nowhere near as high profile, but he also had a first-tier bloodline and the potential to be an Emperor. In the eyes of the Golden Lion n, with Big Cat havingprehended the God-Killing Domain and be the master of the God-ying Sword, there was not a single doubt that he would reach that level sooner orter. Obviously, the n was fullymitted to supporting his advancement. Also obviously, this was because they wanted him to deal with the Golden Lion n''s old enemies in the future. But it was a mutual exchange, and nobody had anyints about it.


    Big Cat didn''t know how long his seclusion wouldst, so he gave Tang San a generous amount of resources to bring to the Lion-Tiger n, to support the cultivation of its members.


    @@novelbin@@


    The Lion-Tiger n had few members, but with the bloodline fusion, they all had a first-tier bloodline that was no longer gued by deadly conflicts. Producing powerhouses was simply a matter of time and resources. Some of the more senior members would have long since broken through to be gods if they had the resources, so the gift was more than wee.


    There were less than ten months left before Mei Gongzi''s deadline. Time was pressing, and she was training day and night, determined to raise her cultivation to a level as high as possible before that journey.


    In his cultivation, Tang San focused on two main tasks: converting spiritual power into divine consciousness and fully dedicating himself to refining the Spacetime Beacon. The better this divine artifact was refined and the more it aligned with his own being, the greater its assistance would be to him.


    The continuous supply of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron made Tang San''s Rainbow Skyfire Liquid increasingly powerful, and the refining process was going smoothly. A significant portion of the divine consciousness he cultivated was also being invested into nurturing the Spacetime Beacon.


    The Spacetime Beacon was crucial to Tang San''s breakthrough to godhood, and it was also integral to whether Mei Gongzi could sessfully pass the evaluation. He did not dare to ck off for even a moment.


    "Little Mei, I may need to leave for a while," Tang San said as they both emerged from their meditation session. His words caused Mei Gongzi''s face to change color instantly.


    "Where are you going?" Mei Gongzi blurted out, clearly worried.


    "Don''t worry, it shouldn''t take too long and it won��t be all that dangerous. I need to take a trip to the depths of the Endless Blue Sea."


    Mei Gongzi breathed a slight sigh of relief. She knew that in his previous life, Tang San had been the Sea God, and she had witnessed the power he disyed in the ocean.


    "What are you going there for? Are you looking for a ce to break through?" Mei Gongzi asked.


    She eagerly anticipated Tang San''s breakthrough to godhood. After training with him for so long, she had graduallye to understand the depth of his potential. She knew just how crucial it was for Tang San to be a god; once he did, everything would change. If he could manage this before she went to the Ancestral Court to report in, that would be the best possible oue.


    Tang San shook his head. "No, I can''t undergo a tribtion in the ocean. That would bring great disaster to the Endless Blue Sea. Moreover, I doubt I could sessfullyplete a tribtion in the ocean."


    Mei Gongzi was puzzled. "Then what are you going there for?"


    Tang San replied in a serious tone, "I''m going to find suitable ces for survival. The ocean has countless inds. I need to find somerge enough to relocate part of our human poption. The settlement now houses nearly a million people. As it grows, it''s already causing discontent within Kali City, and the Ancestral Court is aware of it. The fact that they haven''t acted yet doesn''t mean they won''t in the future. This could also affect your evaluation. For the safety of our people and for you, we must be prepared."


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback. "There are many sea creatures in the ocean, and we''ve never attempted sea transport. How are we going to move them?"


    Tang San replied, "That''s the important task you need to handle next. After I leave, you should go to our human settlement and have the organization mobilize people with appropriate Demonic God Transformations to build ships ording to the blueprints I''ve drawn up. The more, the better. Also, gather food, seeds, and essential supplies. Once I find a suitable location, we''ll relocate them. As for the sea creatures, those are for me to deal with. No worries about that."


    Mei Gongzi asked, "Is it really necessary? Shouldn''t we wait until after the evaluation? What if I seed? Then we won��t have to go anywhere."


    Tang San waved his hand and said, "Whether your report seeds or fails, this is something we must prepare for. Even if you fail, if we can relocate some of our people overseas, at least they won''t be enved again."


    Hearing this, Mei Gongzi nodded and said, "Alright, let''s do it your way."


    Tang San handed her the blueprints he had prepared. The ns were very detailed, exining how to build the ships, what materials to use, how to assemble them, and how tounch them to sea. The entire process was clearlyid out. These ns and blueprints were something Tang San had drawn up over the past month while he was not cultivating.


    He had chosen to design a three-masted ship, something useful and not overlyplex.


    In his previous life, building a proper ship was a lengthy andplex process. The resources avable had to be processed in many ways; for instance, the wood had to dry for a long time, then it had to be treated in various ways in order not to be destroyed by seawater and barnacles sticking to the hull. On Fn, on the other hand, these tasks were much easier. The resources on this ne were simply too abundant, so it was much easier to find the perfect material for the application.


    For example, the Kali Mountains had abundant forests, and one of the moremon trees was the ironflower tree. It grew tall, straight, and tough, and its wood was not impacted by humidity, so it neither shrunk nor swelled. That easily solved the problem of the construction material.


    Additionally, building a ship involved a lot of tough physicalbor, but just like in his previous life, where soul masters could speed up the process, those with a demon or nymph bloodline could do the exact same thing here. They could also man a ship much more proficiently than ordinary humans as long as they were taught the ropes. Besides, when the time came to set sail, Tang San would apany them. With the Sea God at the stern, sailing out would be a breeze.


    "When are you leaving?" asked Mei Gongzi.

 Chapter 675: Entering the Sea

    <h4>Chapter 675: Entering the Sea</h4>


    Tang San said, "I''m preparing to leave right now. I''ll try to go and return as quickly as possible."


    Mei Gongzi reluctantly nodded. "Alright, but make sure youe back soon! I''ll head to the settlement today and start making arrangements with the mayor. I''ll also mobilize the Aetherhorn Merchant Association to help."


    "No, don''t use the Aetherhorn Merchant Association," Tang San warned her. "This needs to be done in secret, using only people from our Redemption Society. We can''t let anyone in Kali City know about this. The port for building the ships should be remote and secluded, preferably in an uninhabited bay. This shouldn''t be difficult, since the demon ns don��t go out to sea. Finding a good harbor should be easy. I''ve included instructions on how to select a port in the ns here."


    "Alright." Mei Gongzi nodded,mitting his words to memory.


    Tang San bid farewell to Mei Gongzi and teleported directly out of Golden Valley. With his deep cultivation and powerful spirit, he could easily teleport multiple times in session. It didn''t take long for him to reach the shores of the Eastern Sea.


    The vast, endless sea stretched out before him, its waves surging relentlessly. There was no sign of any demon ns living along the coast. The sea ns were many and they were not weak, making it difficult for the demon ns to obtain resources or food from the sea. asionally, sea creatures woulde ashore to hunt, turning the coastal areas into forbidden zones for a time.


    However, the sea ns couldn''t stay onnd for long, so their range of incursions was limited.


    Feeling the familiar aura of the sea, Tang San''s mood lightened. He tapped his toes on the ground, and the wings of his Dragon Roc Transformation unfurled behind him. With a powerful p, he soared directly into the depths of the Endless Blue Sea.


    The vast sea was boundless, and searching for inds wouldn''t be an easy task. The inds couldn''t be too small; they had to berge enough to support human life.


    Soon, Tang San had flown over a hundred miles into the sea, and the shoreline was no longer visible. The sea below had turned a deep, dark blue.


    Tang San stopped in ce, retracted his wings, and flipped downward, diving into the sea like an arrow.


    He entered the water silently, creating only the faintest ssh.


    As Tang San dove into the sea, he immediately felt his body enveloped by a dense concentration of water element. The life energy and the water elemental energy in the Endless Blue Sea could only be described as vast and boundless. It was much richer than the sea life energy on the Douluo Continent in his previous life, though he knew that the Douluo Continent had evolved before his reincarnation, so it was likely different now.


    With a slight ripple of his divine consciousness, the golden shadow seated at the center of his consciousness released a faint aura under Tang San''s guidance. Instantly, a small golden mark appeared on his forehead, taking the shape of the Sea God��s Trident.


    As the golden mark shone, Tang San''s eyes suddenly brightened, and he was able to breathe freely underwater. His skin took in the unique feeling of the seawater, and his unique will extended outward.


    The surrounding sea suddenly calmed, and the various marine creatures that had been swimming around came to a halt, turning their heads in Tang San''s direction.


    Meanwhile, Tang San closed his eyes as his spiritual power spread outward, expanding through the sea.


    Thanks to the influence of the Sea God''s Trident, his spiritual power could extend much farther in the sea than onnd. In an instant, his consciousness spread to cover a range of hundreds of nautical miles[1].


    Countless marine creatures within his perception paused, bowing in his direction. Among them were some powerful sea beasts.


    The energy in the sea naturally converged toward Tang San, but he didn''t dare to absorb it right now. He could only let the energy swirl around him, absorbing only the part that could nourish his divine consciousness into his sea of consciousness.


    These energies that could nourish his divine consciousness came from faith��the faith of the marine creatures.


    From the moment he firstid eyes on the Endless Blue Sea upon arriving in this world, Tang San knew that it would be his sacred training ground. As the former holder of the Sea God''s position, even after reincarnation, as long as that trace of divine consciousness remained, his godhood would stay with him, allowing him to influence the sea.


    Here, in the sea, he was truly in his element.


    In the past, he hadn''t ventured here because he was too weak. If he had trained in the sea and encountered a powerful sea beast, he wouldn''t have had the strength to resist if it turned on him. But now, things were different. He was absolutely confident that within the Endless Blue Sea, no marine creature would dare defy his will.


    Although he had not yet reached godhood, he could summon the tribtion at any time. A tribtion of that level was beyond what any sea beast could withstand, even if there were an Emperor in the Endless Blue Sea. Indeed, Tang San had long determined that not even an Emperor could withstand his tribtion. This was the terrifying power of the ne. It was also the main reason why he dared not undergo the tribtion just yet.


    Guided by his divine consciousness, a massive shark soon appeared before Tang San, bowing its head respectfully.


    This shark was over ten meters long, with a dark gray back and a snow-white belly. The aura it emitted wasparable to that of a ninth-order expert onnd. Yet as it looked at Tang San, its gaze held only reverence.


    Yes, it wasn''t fear but reverence. The aura Tang San emitted made the shark feel incrediblyfortable, as if its very bloodline was rejoicing in the presence of this man,pelling it to bow in worship.


    <i>"Where is thergest nearby ind?"</i> Tang San transmitted his thoughts directly through his spiritual power.


    Rather than searching aimlessly, why not have a local guide?


    The shark nodded respectfully and responded with its own spiritual thoughts. <i>"Your Excellency, around five hundred nautical miles from here, there is arge ind. It is the territory of the Sea Walrus n."</i>


    <i>Hmm? The Sea Walrus n?</i> Tang San was intrigued.


    <i>"What powerful ns exist in the Endless Blue Sea? Who is the strongest leader?"</i>


    The shark replied, <i>"There are five powerful ns in the Endless Blue Sea. The strongest are the Sea Dragon n and the Sea Giant n. Then there��s our Sea Shark n, the Sea Walrus n, and the Mermaids. All are strong ns."</i>


    <i>"You say the Sea Dragons and the Sea Giants are the strongest? Are there any Emperors among them?"</i> Tang San asked.


    <i>"There are no Emperors. We��ve never had an Emperor; the strongest we have are Great Sea Kings</i>[2]<i>. But here in the sea, even the Emperors from thend can��t threaten us."</i>


    This answer was within Tang San''s expectations. The Celestial Fox lineage had concentrated all the fortune of Fn onto the Daemon Continent, and with the limited number of Emperors the ne could sustain, it was no surprise that no Emperor had emerged in the Endless Blue Sea. What a move by the Celestial Fox n! Their rise to power as the leaders of the Ancestral Court was no coincidence, and in all fairness, Tang San didn��t me them for it. From the perspective of the demon and nymph ns, their actions were understandable. If it were up to him, he would certainly want to concentrate the world��s fortune on humanity.


    <i>"Take me to that ind,"</i> Tang San said to the shark.


    The Sea Shark hesitated, seeming a bit reluctant.


    @@novelbin@@


    Tang San immediately understood the situation. <i>"You''re not on good terms with the Sea Walrus n?"</i>


    The Sea Shark nodded. <i>"We''re more like sworn enemies."</i>


    Tang San remarked, <i>"Because you see them as food, right?"</i>


    The Sea Shark responded somewhat awkwardly, <i>"Well, yes, but also... The Sea Walrus n is strong, and we can��t always beat them. They''re tough. The main problem is we��re fighting for resources here.... Whenever we meet, there��s a fight, and the weaker side is always wiped out."</i>


    1. The nautical mile is the international measurement unit for distances on water, equivalent to 1,852m or 1.15nd miles. Since it��s the international standard, we will be using it here. One knot is a speed of one nautical mile per hour. ?


    2. The raws here actually use the term that we tranted as ��Great Demon King.�� However, there is precedent (plenty in fact) of the term ��Demon King�� or ��Great Demon King�� being used as a generic level indicator, often to refer to Nymph Kings and Great Nymph Kings. Moreover, the author has drawn a very clear line betweennd-based lifeforms and marine lifeforms, as exined in the next paragraph, and the species of the sea are known generically as neither demons nor nymphs but ��sea beasts.�� With that in mind, we have decided to use the terms Sea King and Great Sea King, respectively, for the tenth and eleventh order of cultivation, and should Emperors appear, they will be Sea Emperors. ?

 Chapter 676: Authority Over the Sea

    <h4>Chapter 676: Authority Over the Sea</h4>


    <i>"It''s fine, take me there. Even if there are stronger Sea Walruses, I guarantee that none of them will harm you." </i>As he spoke, the golden trident mark on Tang San''s forehead flickered briefly.


    The Sea Shark immediately sensed something and responded with utmost respect, <i>"Yes, Your Excellency."</i>


    It turned around, positioning itself beneath Tang San, carefully bearing his weight. Ayer of blue light rippled from its body, enveloping both itself and Tang San, before it suddenly elerated, heading toward the depths of the sea.


    @@novelbin@@


    The ninth-order Sea Shark swam through the sea at full speed, moving as swiftly as the wind. Tang San also retracted his Sea God aura, silently sensing the energy fluctuations within the Endless Blue Sea.


    The deeper they ventured into the sea, the more vast and pure the energy of the Endless Blue Sea became, and the more powerful the sea ns grew.


    Tang San lightly pressed his right hand against his forehead, his divine consciousness subtly fluctuating as he attuned himself to the surrounding sea''s energy. Strange sensations continuously arose, and the golden pattern of the Sea God��s Trident flickered in and out of view, radiating a peculiar glow.


    The energy contained within this Endless Blue Sea was far more immense than he had imagined. Although the Daemon Continent was incredibly vast and rich, it turned out that it paled inparison to the Endless Blue Sea. He was certain that if the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor hadn''t diverted the majority of the world''s fortune to the Daemon Continent, the number of powerful sea ns would far exceed those onnd.


    In the future, if he were to ascend to godhood, he could indeed harness some of the Endless Blue Sea''s energy to enhance himself. This would undoubtedly elerate the recovery of his cultivation.


    Five hundred nautical miles didn��t mean all that much to the Sea Shark. After half an hour, the Sea Shark slowly surfaced, allowing Tang San to see the scene above the waves.


    Tang San ced one hand on its dorsal fin as he gazed ahead.


    A dark line had already appeared in his vision. With his Purple Demon Eyes activated, he could clearly see a massive ind stretching across the horizon.


    This ind was fairlyrge. Although it was obvious that it was not a continent, the coastline visible from where he was stretched for tens of kilometers. Even if this was the longer side of the ind, it was still a vast area.


    Moreover, the vegetation on the ind was extremely lush, making the entire ind appearpletely green. The ind was brimming with a rich aura of life.


    At that moment, the sea ahead suddenly became turbulent. Waves surged up suddenly, and massive waves rushed toward Tang San and the Sea Shark.


    Blue light surged around the Sea Shark, rapidly gathering into itself before transforming into a massive blue light that shed forward.


    The iing waves were instantly split in two, crashing down on either side.


    <i>"Your Excellency, it''s the Sea Walrus n,"</i> the Sea Shark''s somewhat timid voice came through.


    It was naturally not afraid of one or two Sea Walruses, buting toward them wasn''t just one or two!


    Tang San, of course, sensed it as well. In the sea ahead, a few dozen colossal creatures were heading in their direction.


    The Sea Walruses were simply massive; each of those swimming toward them was at least ten meters long, and they were far bulkier than the Sea Shark. Their long tusks protruded more than a meter, and the surging energy waves they emitted caused the sea to roil continuously. They began to surround them; despite their bulky appearance, these walruses moved surprisingly fast in the water.


    Under normal circumstances, the Sea Shark''s only choice at this point would be to turn around and flee, as the Sea Walruses could not match it in speed.


    But with Tang San present, the Sea Shark could only muster its courage, releasing its own aura to confront the encroaching walruses.


    The lead walrus came forward. It was enormous, over fifteen meters in length, with a massive body. Judging by its aura, it was also at the ninth-order.


    When he saw it, Tang San''s eyes suddenly lit up. He wanted toplete his mission and return as soon as possible, so he was naturally unwilling to waste time. The aura of the Sea God Trident was released once more.


    Immediately, the aggressive Sea Walruses surrounding them halted, almost instinctively lowering their heads. Sea beasts that were not gods found it nearly impossible to muster any thoughts of resistance in the face of Tang San''s Sea God aura, and even though they didn''t know where it came from, they still instinctively submitted.


    Tang San''s Sea God aura wasn''t just the aura of the Sea God from his previous life on Douluo Continent. It was the aura of a Sea God whomanded all the seas, and any sea from any ce subordinate to his divine realm had to submit. Although Fn was not within the coverage of Tang San''s former Douluo Divine Realm, the aura of the sea remained the same. And since this ce was neither a divine realm itself nor subordinate to one, Tang San''s Sea God aura was just as effective here.


    "Who is in charge here?" Tang San said.


    The biggest Sea Walrus hurriedly swam over, looking at Tang San with some uncertainty. "Your Excellency, I am."


    "I need to inspect the ind. Lead the way," Tang San said calmly.


    The walrus nced at the Sea Shark beneath Tang San and hesitated, "But, your mount..."


    Tang San replied, "It is merely something I encountered along the way and had it guide me. Do you have a problem? Does your n have a god around here? Have theme see me."


    The walrus hesitated for a moment but eventually signaled its nmates to make way. "Please, proceed to the ind."


    Tang San lightly tapped the Sea Shark''s back with his toe. <i>"You may go."</i>


    With that, he leaped into the air, his wings spreading behind him as he flew straight toward therge ind.


    As he soared into the sky, the full view of the ind came into his sight.


    The ind was indeedrge, and as it turned out, the coastline Tang San had seen wasn''t even the longest side. Moreover, on the far side of thisrge ind, there were several smaller ones, forming an archipgo.


    Each ind was lush and teeming with vegetation, with a very rich aura of life. The ecosystem here was clearly well-preserved. Undoubtedly, this was a ce suitable for habitation.


    Tang San was observing from the air when a deep voice suddenly came from the ind.


    "Where does Your Excellencye from? What race are you, and why do you possess an aura thatmands the reverence of my n?"


    Tang San''s eyes narrowed slightly. He pped his wings and descended toward the beach of therge ind.


    At that moment, arge patch of sand on the beach began to churn, and a massive body resembling a meatball slowly emerged.


    This creature was over twenty meters long, and probably ten meters around the "waist." Its extremely obese body wriggled like an oversizedrva, and it seemed to have difficulty turning its head. Its long tusks supported its weight on the ground, and a pair of eyes, which seemed tinypared to its body, stared at Tang San with astonishment and suspicion.


    Tang San nodded toward it and said, "Are you the one in charge here?"


    "Indeed, I am Hai Sheng[1], an elder of the Sea Walrus n," the giant walrus replied in a deep voice. As a Sea King, it had a certain resistance to the aura Tang San exuded, unlike its lower-order peers that didn''t even dare to move in his presence.


    Tang San said, "I am human. I hold the authority tomand the sea."


    "A human? The authority tomand the sea?" Hai Sheng was taken aback. "Even the Sea Dragon King wouldn''t dare make such a boast. You should choose your words carefully."


    Tang San gazed at it calmly, raising his right hand slowly into the air. The golden trident mark on his forehead instantly radiated a dazzling brilliance, and countless motes of light converged toward his right hand. The sea suddenly became calm within a hundred-mile radius of the ind.


    A dazzling golden light erupted from Tang San''s eyes, and a massive, ethereal figure slowly emerged behind him.


    He slowly uttered, word by word, "I said, I hold the authority tomand the sea!"


    1. His name is literally ��marine life.�� ?

 Chapter 677: Summoning the Sea Clans

    <h4>Chapter 677: Summoning the Sea ns</h4>


    The Sea God��s shadow behind him slowly raised the illusory golden trident in its hand.


    The entire sky darkened in an instant, with golden lightning crisscrossing it. The terrifying pressure seemed as though it would destroy the entire world. That overwhelming aura caused heaven and earth to tremble, and the sea to shudder.


    The uncertainty in Hai Sheng''s eyes instantly turned into shock. Under the overwhelming pressure of the Sea God, even as a tenth-order sea beast, it felt as if countless strands of faith energy from the entire sea were converging toward the gigantic shadow behind Tang San. That overwhelming pressure made it seem as though the entire Endless Blue Sea was nothing but his backdrop.


    Tang San himself felt it as well. In this Endless Blue Sea, using the Sea God''s divinity was countless times easier than onnd. His own divine consciousness was barely consumed; even just the faith energy gathered from the Endless Blue Sea was enough to sustain the Sea God''s shadow.


    But in the next moment, he withdrew his right hand, and the gigantic shadow behind him transformed into rings of golden light, merging into his body and silently disappearing.


    The dark clouds and lightning in the sky froze in mid-air, slowly dissipating.


    Tang San naturally didn��t dare to <i>actually</i> activate the Sea God''s power. The sea was his domain, and here he could undoubtedly exert far greater power than onnd. But the problem was that if he unleashed this power, the heavenly tribtion would instantly descend. Just now, he had briefly summoned this power precisely to use the might of the heavenly tribtion to suppress this god-level sea beast before him, but he had to quickly pull back, or the heavenly tribtion would reallye.


    Just in that brief moment, Tang San felt a shudder deep within his soul. The aura of this heavenly tribtion was more than twice as powerful as Mei Gongzi��s Six Directions Eight Destions Golden Fiend Tribtion. He had a feeling that the worst scenario he feared might indeede to pass.


    Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the instinctive fear that had arisen within him. Looking at the Sea Walrus n elder now prostrating before him, Tang San calmly said, "Any doubts now?"


    "N-No, no more..." Hai Sheng''s voice clearly trembled; it couldn''t help it.


    The aura that had just appeared in the sky, like the very fury of heaven, had caused even Tang San, a former God King, to feel fear deep in his heart. How much more terrifying must it have been for Hai Sheng, who was merely a Sea King? It was an aura of unimaginable horror, so mighty that it seemed as if it could obliterate everything in this world!


    To control such energy, and to be favored by the Endless Blue Sea, meant that calling oneself the master of the sea was no empty boast.


    Tang San said, "Get up and answer me."


    "Y-Yes..." Hai Sheng quickly pulled its tusks out of the sand and took a respectful position in front of Tang San.


    Tang San said in a deep voice, "I am here to inspect our territory. Are there any leaders of the Sea Dragon n or Sea Giant n in this nearby sea region? Other powerful ns are also wee. I''ll give you three days to gather them and bring them to this ind to meet me. I have things to discuss with them. If the kings of your ns cane, all the better."


    Hai Sheng looked up at Tang San, but it did not ask any further questions and just nodded repeatedly. "I''ll go right away."


    With these words, it twisted his massive body and quickly rolled toward the Endless Blue Sea.


    As the seawater gradually engulfed its plump body, Tang San finally turned toward therge ind he was on. Such a massive ind, with an area of hundreds of square kilometers, could easily amodate a poption of a million.


    His visit this time was not only to find a ce suitable for human habitation but also to resolve the issues between humans and the sea ns. Only with the support of the sea ns could humans truly live and work here peacefully.


    He released his spiritual power outward, scanning the ind. Thisrge ind was teeming with life, and naturally had a rich concentration of water elemental energy. Life originates from water and sunlight, and both were abundant here. There were some Sea Walruses on the ind, mostly gathered near the beaches. While there were other creatures ind, none had particrly strong auras.


    Judging from the energy and life aura here, it was perfectly suitable for human habitation. In terms of distance, this ce was around eight hundred nautical miles away from the eastern coast of Kali City. It was not close by any means, and therefore, if humans could be transported here, their safety was practically assured, as long as the sea ns did not attack them.


    Tang San had been thinking a lot about how to help humans solve their plight on the Daemon Continent. But the more he pondered it, the more he realized that it was an incredibly difficult task.


    The demon and nymph ns had ruled the Daemon Continent for many years, with powerful beings as numerous as the clouds. Humans, on the other hand,cked even the innate talent for cultivation. They had to rely on inheriting the bloodlines of demon and nymph ns to be able to cultivate, and even then, their achievements were limited by the strength of their bloodlines.


    In the future, if Tang San could return to the God King level, he wouldn��t be able to remain in this ne. As a former true god and the ruler of a divine realm, he understood well that a ne could not be forcibly interfered with or altered by external forces, as that might end up causing its destruction.


    Therefore, if humans truly wanted the right to survive, they first needed to develop a path of cultivation suitable for themselves, rather than relying solely on intermarriage with demon and nymph ns to obtain bloodline power. And secondly, humans needed their own space to develop their own civilization; only then would they have the time and leisure to focus on cultivation.


    The main problem at hand, however, was not the amount of time this would take. It was that with things as they were now, the process couldn��t even start! The demons and nymphs were just too powerful, and theypletely suppressed humans. From what the White Tiger Demon Emperor had said that day, Tang San understood that if nothing changed, no matter how much time passed, it was impossible for humans to create a good living space for themselves. The demon and nymph ns simply wouldn��t give them the opportunity.


    @@novelbin@@


    What should be done about this? How could these fundamental problems be changed? Tang San pondered for a long time but found no answer. The Mysterious Heaven Technique could be taught to ordinary people, yes. But if too many ordinary people cultivated it, and if they seeded, the ability to devour bloodlines would inevitably be exposed. That would not bring opportunity to humanity, but rather bring about doom.


    Later, Tang San thought the first step was to carve out a safe living space for humanity. Since the Daemon Continent did not offer them one, they had no choice but to develop overseas. This was one of the reasons for his current voyage. At the same time, he also wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about the current situation of the sea ns.


    The Endless Blue Sea was vast, almost boundless, hence the name. Even when he was at the seaside earlier, he could already sense the immense resources that this vast sea held.


    His earlier exchange with the Sea Shark had allowed him to confirm some of his earlier conclusions��the sea ns could go no further than the Great Sea King level, and this was because the entire��s fortune had been gathered by the Celestial Fox n on the Daemon Continent��more precisely, in the Ancestral Court. Under these circumstances, the sea ns couldn''t produce an Emperor.


    <i>No matter how strong a ne is, there are limits. Sixteen Emperors seems to be the current capacity, or at least this is the limit set by the Celestial Fox n in order to ensure bnce. In other words, if we want to develop and break the dominance of the demon and nymph ns, the simple and direct method is to eliminate several of the existing Emperors and disrupt the concentration of fortune, allowing the ne��s fortune to cover the entire once again. This would solve things on a fundamental level. </i>


    <i>But that��s easier said than done.</i>

 Chapter 678: The Sea Gods Inheritance

    <h4>Chapter 678: The Sea God''s Inheritance</h4>


    Before Tang San could be a God King once more, he absolutely did not have this ability. And once he did achieve it, he would have to leave this ne; otherwise, he wouldpletely destroy it. With his profound understanding of the truths of the universe, he naturally wouldn''t do something that could cause the destruction of an entire ne. Moreover, over the past decade, his increasing understanding of Fn had given him even more far-reaching thoughts.


    To resist the will of the universe was by no means an easy task, but if one did not resist, the universe''s will would, without a question, destroy any perceived threats.


    Perhaps the divine realm he had once inhabited had grown too rapidly, and that was what had led to the disaster that ultimately caused his wife''s death. Tang San had since harbored a desire in his heart: how to gain the ability to resist the will of the universe. But this wasn��t something he could achieve alone, nor could it be done solely by one divine realm, no matter how powerful. He already had some ideas, but it would take a very long time to bring them to fruition. In his ns, Fn held a crucial position.


    Gazing at the sea, Tang San closed his eyes, extending his spiritual power and divine consciousness towards the ocean, silently sensing the energy fluctuations within it. Since he had already reached a bottleneck, he didn��t dare to recklessly absorb the energy from the Endless Blue Sea. However, given that there were no Emperors in the Endless Blue Sea at present, and considering the influence brought by his Sea God position, there truly wasn��t anything in the sea that could threaten him.


    Even Great Sea Kings would find their strength diminished when facing his Sea God aura. At this point, he could fully contend with opponents at the Sea King level. If push came to shove, he could still escape using the Peacock Transformation.


    Tang San was also considering whether to establish a long-distance teleportation array here. A distance of eight hundred or so nautical miles wasn''t too much for a teleportation array. However, the resources consumed during teleportation would be significant. For a small number of people, it wouldn��t be a problem, but for tens or hundreds of thousands, the cost would be too great. Therefore, sea transport was still the most ideal.


    Of course, the teleportation array wasn��t out of the question; it would at least make it convenient for him or Mei Gongzi toe here.


    If the entire Peacock Demon n could assist with the teleportation, the resource consumption would be much smaller. However, the problem was that the Peacock Demon n had not yet fully pledged their loyalty to Mei Gongzi, making this too risky. The n to establish a human settlement overseas had to be kept strictly confidential. Otherwise, if an Emperor decided to pay them a visit, all their efforts would have been for naught.


    Time passed as hemuned with the sea, and before he knew it, Tang San��s spiritual power detected a surge of energy deep within the ocean.


    It wasn��t long before dozens of massive figures appeared within his spiritual perception.


    The size of the sea beasts�� bodies seemed to be proportional to their strength. As the Sea Walrus n elder gradually approached the shore, Tang San could tell that none of the beings following behind it were less than fifteen meters long.


    Soon, one colossal figure after another emerged from the water.


    Tang San immediately noticed an enormous figure with twin horns on its head and a massive body covered in dark blue scales. This being was over forty meters long, with a pair of gigantic eyes radiating immense pressure. Its colossal form slowly rose from the sea, looking in Tang San��s direction.


    Sea Dragon!


    Immediately after, another massive figure slowly stood up beside it. This one resembled a human somewhat, with a head and limbs that were quite simr, except it had no hair on its head��only something akin to a fin. Simr fin-like structures were present on its arms and legs as well. This figure was over thirty meters tall, with extremely sturdy limbs.


    Sea Giant!


    Tang San had previously heard from the Sea Shark n that the most powerful among the sea ns were the Sea Dragon n and the Sea Giant n. They were the overlords of the Endless Blue Sea. However, their poptions were not veryrge, and they were not excessively domineering, so the other ns had plenty of room to thrive.


    The Sea Shark n were some of the more ferocious beings of the sea, so they were not well-liked by other ns. The Sea Walruses, on the other hand, had a rtively gentler temperament.


    The Sea Walrus n elder had brought back three members of the Sea Dragon n, with the leader being the one over forty meters long. There were as many as seven Sea Giants, each with a massive body that radiated strength.


    The Sea Walrus n had actuallye with a good number of members, while the Sea Shark n was absent. Obviously, this was the result of the poor rtions between the Sea Walrus n and the Sea Shark n.


    As the numerous sea beasts gathered together, a powerful aura immediately emanated from them. Especially from the massive Sea Dragon, whose wild aura caused the surrounding waves to be turbulent. The sea relentlessly crashed toward the shore.


    "Human, are you the one iming to be the Sea God?" the Sea Dragon n powerhouse growled in a deep voice. It seemed that some of the beasts here could actually speak themonnguage, which surprised Tang San somewhat, considering the contact with the continent was extremely limited.


    But even though the Sea Dragon leader had addressed him using words, Tang San didn��t respond in kind. That was not the appropriate answer. In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, strength was the answer to every question.


    @@novelbin@@


    The golden trident mark on his forehead glowed once again, and the raging sea instantly calmed down. A massive amount of faith energy from the lower-level sea beasts of the Endless Blue Sea surged toward Tang San, rapidly elevating his aura.


    Although he could not absorb these energies for cultivation to avoid triggering a heavenly tribtion, using the faith energy to activate the Sea God''s Trident''s aura posed no problem. This time, Tang San really had to refrain from triggering the heavenly tribtion again. He was concerned that if he overdid it and couldn��t control it, it would lead to big trouble.


    A giant pale-golden shadow slowly emerged behind him, and the Sea God''s aura burst forth instantly.


    It was clearly visible that as soon as Tang San released the Sea God''s aura, the pupils of the Sea Dragon leader shrank instantly. The scales on its body bristled rapidly.


    The Sea Giant leader beside it also had a change in expression. They could all distinctly feel that in that instant, it was as if they had been isted from the sea, and the human standing on the shore had be the very center of the ocean.


    How is this possible? Feeling the aura emanating from Tang San, the sea n powerhouses couldn��t help but fall silent.


    Only then did Tang San speak up. "I have grown under the favor of the sea, and I am also its protector. I��vee this time hoping tomunicate with the sea ns and be your friend."


    The Sea Giant leader suddenly said, "Does the sea truly favor you? You possess a powerful artifact that affects the sea''s aura. That��s not your own power. You im to be the sea��s protector, but where does your powere from?"


    Tang San calmly replied, "I have inherited the power of the Sea God."


    The Sea Dragon leader let out a low growl. "There is no Sea God in the Endless Blue Sea."


    Tang San nced at it and coldly replied, "That was before. Now, there is."


    The Sea Dragon let out a roar toward the sky, and blue light surged around it. Its massive body gradually shrank, transforming into a humanoid form that hovered above the sea. "Cunning human, you''re not even a Sea King, so what gives you the right to speak such grand words? Do you intend to control our sea ns?"


    Tang San calmly replied, "Whether I''m a Sea King or not is irrelevant. I can bring a future to the sea ns."


    The Sea Giant leader frowned and asked, "What future?"


    Tang San said, "A future where the sea ns can also have their own Emperors."


    The Sea Giant leader and the Sea Dragon leader were both stunned momentarily. The Sea Walrus n elder beside them eximed in surprise, "Are you serious? If that''s true, then we��"


    Before it could finish speaking, the Sea Dragon n leader cut it off. "How can you believe him just like that? Human, if you have the guts, fight me. If you can defeat me, then I''ll believe you."

 Chapter 680: The Power of Faith

    <h4>Chapter 680: The Power of Faith</h4>


    The Sea Giant leader raised the colossal pir in its hands horizontally to block Tang San��s iing ws. At the same time, a vortex suddenly appeared behind the Sea Dragon leader. Both the spear it had thrust and its body disappeared into that dark blue vortex, only to reappear the next moment behind Tang San. The spear shot straight toward Tang San''s shoulder.


    <i>Screeeeech!</i>


    Tang San��s crystalline golden ws shed against the pir, leaving deep gouges in its surface.


    As for the Sea Dragon leader��s attack from behind, Tang San acted as if he didn��t see it, allowing the spear to strike his shoulder.


    A crisp sound echoed, but the full-force strike of a Sea King only caused Tang San to sway slightly in the air, while the powerful rebound sent the spear flying back.


    The Sea Dragon leader stared in shock as Tang San turned around to face it. For a moment, fear crept into its heart. It had felt as though it had stabbed a mountain��a strike powered by its full strength couldn��t prate at all. What kind of armor was this?


    In that instant, crystalline blue-golden vines shot out from Tang San��s body, weaving into arge in the air, which descended upon the Sea Dragon leader.


    The Sea Dragon leader was about to dodge when it suddenly saw a burst of purple light from Tang San��s eyes. Its sea of consciousness quivered violently, and in that moment of hesitation, the vines had already wrapped around it.


    The vines were incredibly tough. Once the Sea Dragon leader regained its senses and tried to struggle, it found himself unable to break free. In the next moment, Tang San used the vines to pull himself close, his sharp ws shing down at the leader''s head.


    "ROAR!!!"


    In this moment of crisis, the Sea Dragon leader let out a short roar. The two dragon horns on its head red with bright light, shooting out two beams of blue lightning.


    Sensing the intensity of the lightning, Tang San didn��t take it head-on. The attack was a fusion of the Sea Dragon''s divine consciousness and bloodline power, likely its innate ability. With a flicker of silver light, Tang San shifted a meter to the side, avoiding the strike.


    Seizing the opportunity, the Sea Dragon leader''s body swelled rapidly as it attempted to revert to its true form, forcibly breaking the vines constricting it.


    At this moment, the Sea Giant leader attacked from behind, sweeping its colossal pir directly at Tang San.


    Tang San''s eyes suddenly changed color, turning ck and white. His figure flickered and disappeared into thin air. And now that he was no longer in the way, the Sea Giant leader''s pir was now hurtling toward the Sea Dragon leader, who had just reverted to its true form!


    The Sea Giant leader hastily tried to redirect the pir to the side. But at that moment, the Sea Dragon leader''s erged body suddenly faltered, as if it had lost control, and its massive form ended up directly in the path of the pir.


    With a loud bang, the Sea Dragon leader was smashed directly into the sea, leaving it dazed and disoriented.


    In the blink of an eye, Tang San had already teleported behind the Sea Giant leader, his sharp ws shing out in a cross.


    The Sea Giant leader, still rattled from identally hitting his ally, was unable to react in time. Feeling a sharp pain at its neck, it let out a cry, unleashing all its energy outward in an attempt to buy himself some time.


    However, the ws of the Golden Armor Transformation were not so easily resisted. The Behemoths were known as the invincible titans of thend for a reason, and they focused their strength primarily in their ws. Moreover, these particr ws were further enhanced by the toughness of the Golden Mammoth!


    The sea-blue energy was instantly sliced apart, and Tang San''s ws reached the Sea Giant leader''s neck. However, he paused for a brief moment, then propelled himself upward, his right foot stomping down on the Sea Giant leader''s shoulder.


    With a dull thud, the thirty-meter-tall Sea Giant leader was smashed down into the sea. Meanwhile, Tang San��s wings spread wide behind him, keeping him suspended in midair.


    At this moment, the Sea Dragon leader finally managed to emerge from the sea, shaking its dazed dragon head. The look in its eyes as he gazed at Tang San now clearly showed shock and fear.


    Tang San looked at it calmly and said indifferently, "Do you want to continue?"


    The Sea Giant leader also emerged from the sea, exchanging a nce with the Sea Dragon leader. Both of them were deeply shaken.


    Both were members of the most powerful species in the sea, both were Sea Kings, and both were, usually, very proud. They never would have imagined that today, facing this seemingly insignificant human who had not even reached godhood, they would be utterly suppressed. In a two-on-one battle! And without the human using the ability that could suppress their bloodlines!


    <i>What terrifying strength!</i>


    They simply couldn��t fathom how someone who hadn��t undergone a tribtion could be so powerful. Whether it was attack, defense, speed, or timing, there were virtually no ws.


    The Sea Walrus n elder was also deeply rmed. Though it prided itself on its thick skin, there was no way it would dare use its body to withstand the sharpness of Tang San''s ws.


    If Tang San hadn''t shown mercy, the Sea Giant leader''s massive head would likely have been separated from its body a few moments ago.


    Seeing that the two leaders remained silent, Tang San retracted his ws, and the golden armor covering him disappeared; with that, his physique returned to its normal size. The golden trident mark reappeared on his forehead, but this time, it didn��t release any pressure.


    Instead, a pale golden aura rapidly spread out, and immediately, countless strands of faith energy within the sea were drawn to him, surging toward his location. This energy not only flowed into Tang San, replenishing the energy he had expended in battle but also entered the bodies of the Sea Giant and Sea Dragon leaders.


    Both the Sea Dragon leader and the Sea Giant leader had sustained some injuries, one from being struck by hispanion��s pir, and the other from being stomped full-force by Tang San. However, as the faith energy from the sea nourished them, they could clearly feel their bloodline auras bing more vigorous. Their injuries healed rapidly and soon disappeared entirely. Even their energy flow became smoother, the sensation so pleasant that they almost let out a sigh of relief.


    The other sea beasts nearby, including the nsmen of the two leaders, also felt the nourishing effect of the faith energy on their bodies. The way they looked at Tang San slowly began to change.


    Tang San''s voice echoed in the minds of every sea n member present. <i>"Circte your bloodline power and guide it with your spiritual power; feel the changes within yourselves."</i>


    @@novelbin@@


    Almost instinctively, they followed Tang San''s instructions, actively guiding their bloodlines.


    Indeed, this power of faith was quite extraordinary. As it nourished them, each sea beast could feel subtle yet remarkable changes urring in their bloodlines. While the changes weren''t drastic, they were on a qualitative level, something they had never experienced in their entire lives.


    In the midst of this miraculous change, they felt as if their bloodlines were being purified, and even <i>evolving </i>in some way. Those that were not yet gods felt this sensation even more acutely than their more powerful leaders.


    Tang San hovered above the sea, a faint golden aura enveloping him. The golden trident mark on his forehead shone brilliantly, making him appear like a true deity.


    Facing powerful Demon Kings with first-tier bloodlines, Tang San would likely be fine in a one-on-one battle onnd, but a two-on-one would be much more challenging. Gods had a much higher recovery rate, and their divine consciousness gave them a significant advantage.


    But it was different in the sea. The sea was Tang San��s domain, and here, his power was much greater, and his recovery rate was in no way inferior to that of any tenth-order powerhouse.

 Chapter 681: Sea Plague (Part 1)

    <h4>Chapter 681: Sea gue (Part 1)</h4>


    In this battle, he had used most of his bloodline abilities. It wasn��t that he desperately needed them to win, but his main objective in terms of cultivation right now was integrating all his abilities into a consistent whole, and that could only be done through fighting powerful opponents.


    Unfortunately, such powerful opponents were hard toe by, so he could not be happier about this fight. The pressure these two sea beasts brought was just right to help him refine his abilities. After all, the bloodline imprints had already been cultivated to their limit, but there was still room for improvement in terms of application and coordination of his abilities.


    Soon, he had recovered to his optimal state, so he retracted the aura of the Sea God��s Trident.


    The faith power from the Endless Blue Sea was very suitable for his cultivation, but it was best to wait until after his breakthrough.


    Without the aura of the Sea God��s Trident as a guide, the faith power naturally dissipated.


    The many sea beasts awoke as if from a dream. They actually seemed reluctant to part with this power, and they subconsciously looked at Tang San.


    The Sea Giant leader couldn''t help but ask, "What was this power you summoned just now?"


    "That was the power of faith. My aura can inspire reverence and worship among the creatures in the sea, thereby generating faith power. The Endless Blue Sea has countless beings, and as long as they sense my aura, they will offer me their faith. In return, I will give back to them, helping them evolve more effectively, creating a positive cycle. You must have felt some measure of bloodline purification just now, right?"


    The Sea Dragon leader nodded and said, "Indeed, it seems like my bloodline has been somewhat purified. You mentioned before that you could help our sea ns produce Emperors��was it through this method?"


    These two leaders unconsciously began to address Tang San with respect. This showed that strength was indeed the foundation of everything. Tang San''s stick and carrot��namely, the beating he��d administered and the kindness he��d shown afterward��made these two leaders subconsciously inclined to believe his words.


    Tang San nodded slightly. "You could say that, but it''s not the whole story. The main problem is that I haven''t gone through my tribtion yet. Once I do, I can bring you a true transformation��or rather, bring some changes to the entire Endless Blue Sea. I am well aware that something is wrong with the Endless Blue Sea. Otherwise, with such a vast area and so many resources, how could it be possible not to produce top-tier powerhouses? Your bloodline is very high-tier, but there''s something wrong with your bloodline power. It seems impure, as if... it has been tainted by something."


    The Sea Giant leader''s eyes suddenly revealed a look of urgency, "Can you solve the problem of our impure bloodlines?"


    @@novelbin@@


    "It''s hard to say; it depends on where the problem originates. And I''ll only be able to attempt it after my breakthrough to godhood."


    At that moment, the elder of the Sea Walrus n let out a cry ofment. "Sea gue. It''s the Sea gue that has affected our bloodlines."


    "Sea gue?" Tang San looked at it with some confusion. He understood the word, but he couldn��t remember anything like this from his past life.


    "It��s exactly what it sounds like, a scourge that taints the sea," the Sea Giant leader said bitterly. A hint of dread showed in its eyes. "The Sea gue is everywhere and nowhere. No one knows when the next outbreak will ur, but every time it does, countless sea beasts perish. Even the strongest ones, once infected, will fall ill. The Endless Blue Sea experiences multiple Sea gue outbreaks every year. Thergest ones can stretch over tens of thousands of miles.


    "What''s most terrifying is that we don''t know which n the Sea gue will target; it��s different almost every time. The impurity in our bloodlines, as you mentioned, is due to the fact that we have all been affected by the Sea gue to some degree. The stronger ns are fortunate; we have much higher resistance, so we are not as easily killed. However, many weaker ns facing the Sea gue might be wiped out entirely. Some have been wiped out already."


    At this point, the Sea Giant leader couldn''t help but close its eyes in pain. "In the Endless Blue Sea, there is even an area called the Tainted Yellow Sea, where the bodies of all sea creatures that died from the Sea gue are washed ashore. There is a kingdom of corpses there, home to many undead beings. It is also a ce of disaster. The leaders of our ns have made countless efforts over hundreds of years, but none have been able to solve the problem of the Sea gue. My lord, if you can help us rid ourselves of the Sea gue, then we will all believe that you are the guardian sent by the Sea God to watch over us."


    Tang San nodded and said in a deep voice, "This is the first time I''ve heard of this. If it''s possible, I will do everything in my power to help you solve this problem."


    The leaders all expressed joy. They felt something different from Tang San��a genuine sense of hope. If the Sea gue could be resolved, then there would truly be hope for the Endless Blue Sea.


    "Let''s have a discussion. You can tell me about the situation with the Sea gue, and I''ll exin the purpose of my visit," Tang San said.


    The Sea Giant leader nodded. "Alright."


    Tang San asked, "Shall we talk on the shore or in the sea?"


    "Let''s stay in the sea. Most of our n members cannot go ashore without facing various problems. Only a few, like the Sea Walrus n, can survive onnd, but even they must return to the sea after a while. If you don''t mind, please sit on my shoulder."


    Tang San nodded and was about to move to the Sea Giant''s shoulder when the Sea Dragon leader said, "Why go with that guy? You should ride on my back. Our Sea Dragons are thergest sea beasts in the Endless Blue Sea."


    The Sea Giant leader sneered. "That title belongs to the Sea Dragon King, andst time I checked, that wasn��t you. And who was it that I just knocked out earlier?"


    "You dare to bring that up? Did you fucking hit me on purpose?" raged the Sea Dragon leader.


    Tang San sighed helplessly. He wasn��t here to watch the two of them bicker. "Alright, you two, stop arguing. I''ll just fly. Let me first exin my intentions. I am human, as you can see, but I have indeed inherited the bloodline of the Sea God. Because of this, I possess certain unique abilities in the Endless Blue Sea. Over the years, I have been growing up on the Daemon Continent, and only recently, as my cultivation has advanced, did I decide toe to the Endless Blue Sea as I approach my tribtion. I would first like to ask you... How much do you know about the Daemon Continent?"


    The Sea Walrus elder said in a deep voice, "The Daemon Continent is a forbidden zone for our ns. There are many powerful beings there, including formidable Emperors. In the past, those Emperors even attempted to invade us. They only gave up after realizing the trouble caused by the Sea gue; I suppose they feared that it might spread to thend. But our sea ns cannot contend with them there. Those demons and nymphs are too powerful."


    Tang San said, "Yes, the demons and nymphs are powerful. Under their oppression, other races can only struggle to survive, and the human race is no exception. I am the heir of the Sea God, but I am also human. To ensure the survival of our people, I came here to find a suitable habitat for humans, to send some of them to the inds here, and allow them to avoid being destroyed by demons and nymphs. In other words, I came to find a ce like this ind. I wonder if your sea ns would allow humans to migrate and live on these sea inds."


    The leaders exchanged nces, none of them expecting Tang San to make such a request; they had originally thought that Tang San was here to take the lead of the sea ns.


    The Sea Walrus elder said, "There are many inds in the Endless Blue Sea; this archipgo is rtivelyrge, but there are even bigger ces. As the Sea Giant leader mentioned earlier, most of our sea ns are not suited for living onnd, so these inds aren''t significant to us. If humans were to migrate here, it probably wouldn''t affect us much.


    "But there are a few concerns: first, how will humans survive? Would they hunt sea beasts? Of course, we all eat fish, but those of us who are intelligent cannot be hunted. Otherwise, peaceful coexistence is impossible. Another issue is that humans would also face the Sea gue upon arrival. ording to our sea ns'' historical records, all species affected by the Sea gue suffer its consequences. Human bodies, as I recall, are quite fragile. If they were to encounter the Sea gue, it could be disastrous."

 Chapter 682: Sea Plague (Part 2)

    <h4>Chapter 682: Sea gue (Part 2)</h4>


    Tang San nodded. "I understand. The food is not a problem, of course. So if I can solve the problem of the Sea gue, the sea ns can allow humans to live on the inds. Is that correct?"


    The Sea Dragon leader, ever the impatient one, responded without hesitation, "If you can help us eliminate the Sea gue, then I will personally grovel in front of you and acknowledge you as the Sea God. Nothing is more important than this, <i>nothing</i>. You have no idea how many sea creatures have died because of the Sea gue. The Tainted Yellow Sea is continuously expanding because countless corpses are being absorbed into it, causing that death zone to keep growing. If this continues, one day, the Endless Blue Sea will be renamed as the Endless Yellow Sea. When that happens, it will be a catastrophe for the entire. And in spite of what thosend dwellers seem to believe, even the Daemon Continent will not be spared."


    Tang San nodded and said, "I understand. However, to solve the Sea gue, I need to see it myself. Is there an outbreak somewhere nearby right now? If there''s a ce where the Sea gue is running rampant, take me there so I can see if I can solve it."


    In his previous life, Tang San was not only the Sea God''s heir but also a master of poisons. He had profound knowledge in treating diseases and gues. Moreover, he had many methods to deal with problems that arose in the sea specifically. Therefore, he felt fairly confident in his ability to address this issue.


    @@novelbin@@


    The Sea Giant leader said, "The Sea gue erupts every now and then; we just don''t know in which area it will appear. How about this? We''ll immediately mobilize our people to investigate, and we''ll enlist the help of other sea ns. Once we discover an outbreak, we''ll inform you so you can inspect it. How does that sound?"


    Tang San nodded and said, "That''s fine for me. How about this: I''ll first set up a teleportation array on this ind. I''ll visit frequently, and when you have news, you cane find me here. But with that said, our human race does indeed need an offshore settlement. Let''s not talk about other ces for now��could we use this ind for the moment? We''ll start with some basic construction to ensure humans can survive here. If I can''t solve the Sea gue, we''ll vacate the indter. But if I do, we can then bring in some more people. What do you think?"


    The leaders exchanged nces, and ultimately, their gazes focused on the elder of the Sea Walrus n. The Sea Giant leader said, "Elder, this is the territory of your n. You should decide."


    The elder looked at Tang San, and without much hesitation, nodded and said, "Our Sea Walrus n has no issues with this. I will inform our n right away. I can make the decision regarding this ind, so we will kindly ask for the Sea God��s blessings."


    The elder of the Sea Walrus n was different from the Sea Dragon and Sea Giant leaders. It was the one who recognized Tang San the most. The reason was simple: it had previously sensed the world-shattering aura brought by Tang San, the aura of the tribtion. This was something that hadn''t appeared during Tang San''s encounters with the Sea Giant and Sea Dragon leaders.


    The elder of the Sea Walrus n was now firmly convinced of Tang San''s identity as the protector of the sea and the heir to the Sea God. Other things might be faked, but the aura of the Sea God and the overwhelming power it brought could not be falsified.


    Additionally, it had its own considerations. This region was the territory of the Sea Walrus n, so if this Sea God could indeed solve the problem of the Sea gue, and it allowed his people to migrate here, wouldn''t the Sea Walrus n be the first to receive his help in dealing with the Sea gue when it struck?


    Tang San said, "I''m not the Sea God yet, so you don''t need to call me that. My name is Tang San; you can just call me by my name."


    The elder of the Sea Walrus n replied, "You''re too modest. You carry the aura of the Sea God, and the power of faith you bring provides us with immense assistance. How could we call you by your name directly? We shall address you as ''Your Highness'' instead."


    The Sea Giant and Sea Dragon leaders both nodded in agreement. They were indeed somewhat in awe of Tang San. Despite not being a god himself, he had fully suppressed the two of them in their fight. Although they hadn''t fought with all their might, neither had Tang San. And if he hadn''t held back, the Sea Giant leader at least knew that he wouldn''t have even had the chance to fight back.


    This human gave them too strange and miraculous a feeling. Of course, whether he was truly the Sea God remained to be seen; it would depend on whether he could solve the problem of the Sea gue.


    Tang San said, "Very well, there''s no time to lose. I''ll start by setting up a teleportation array here. Afterward, I''ll send some humans over to build a settlement, and then we''ll gradually move more people. If you discover any Sea gue nearby, notify me immediately. I''ll be spending most of my time on this ind anyway."


    Through his discussions with the leaders, Tang San gained much more insight into the Endless Blue Sea. He had a hypothesis that he hadn''t voiced��one regarding the fundamental cause of this Sea gue phenomenon.


    Tang San couldn''t help but recall the scenes he had seen in the Hell Garden and the feelings he had experienced on the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain.


    On the Daemon Continent, the Ancestral Court gathered the fortune of the entire, bringing fortune to the demon and nymph ns. And ever since he��d seen the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain he��d been wondering where the inevitable result of that cluster of fortune��namely, an equal cluster of misfortune��could be. That question had be even more urgent after seeing the Hell Garden. And now, he finally had a clue.


    Could the Sea gue be the result of this misfortune?


    During the battle just now, Tang San had used the Pr Luck Domain, and at that time, he vaguely sensed that the misfortune side seemed much stronger here than on the Daemon Continent, while luck was rtively scarce.


    In a way, it wasn��t wrong to describe the Endless Blue Sea as cursed. And where did this cursee from?


    <i>Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, you sure are a formidable one!</i>


    As to whether his suspicion was correct, he would have to see the Sea gue himself to make a judgment.


    The issues he wanted to address on this voyage had mostly been resolved. Additionally, he had made considerable gains and found a path to establish good rtions with the sea ns.


    Setting up the teleportation array was already a familiar task for him. The materials were ready, as Tang San had nned to build the array before setting out, so he was naturally well-prepared.


    Soon, the teleportation array waspleted, and it was entrusted to the Sea Walrus n to guard. After setting it up, Tang San tested it himself by attempting a teleportation.


    A few hundred nautical miles was nothing for his long-distance teleportation array, especially with the guidance of the Spacetime Beacon and considering he was only teleporting himself.


    With a flicker of light, the teleportation array was activated. Tang San took a step forward and vanished into thin air.


    The strange spatial fluctuations from the teleportation left the sea n leaders stunned. They had never seen anything like this before, as no sea n had any spatial abilities to speak of. At that moment, their hope that Tang San might be able to solve the Sea gue grew even stronger.


    Tang San directly teleported back to Golden Valley. He wasn��t worried about setting up a teleportation array in the sea that could connect to this ce; without a Spacetime Beacon or space-attribute bloodline abilities, even Great Sea Kings wouldn��t be able to operate the array and follow him. Additionally, the sea ns had no Emperors, so the possibility of them threatening his life was practically nonexistent.


    If he hadn''t already reached a bottleneck and couldn''t casually absorb the power of faith, the sea would be the most suitable ce for his cultivation. Once he broke through to godhood, he would certainly return to the Endless Blue Sea to continue his cultivation there.


    Without taking a break, Tang San immediately contacted Mei Gongzi, informing her that he had returned. He asked her toe to Golden Valley to discuss the matter of migrating humans to the ind.


    Mei Gongzi was now a Purple ss Redeemer, one of the highest-ranking members within the Redemption Society. Even in the Ancestral Court, as Tang San had heard from his teacher, there were only two other Purple ss people. Thus, Mei Gongzi had full authority over matters in Kali City and could make decisions in this matter.

 Chapter 683: Crescent Island

    <h4>Chapter 683: Crescent Ind</h4>


    Soon, Mei Gongzi arrived through the teleportation array.


    Seeing that Tang San had returned safely, her first reaction was to breathe a sigh of relief. "You''re back so soon. Did everything go smoothly?"


    "I told you it��d go smoothly; after all, the sea is my domain. I found an archipgo withrge inds suitable for humans. I''ve alsomunicated with the sea ns there, and they''ve agreed to let our people move there. So we need to prepare for the migration, and we need to do it fast. How is the progress at the port?"


    "We found a good ce to build and we moved plenty of materials there, but we''ve faced some interference. There are a lot of sea beasts around. Although there aren''t many powerful beings near the coast, as soon as we start constructing shipyards and whatnot, they start meddling."


    Tang San pondered for a moment and then said, "I''ll handle that. You need to mobilize everyone to build the ships as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, I''ll use the teleportation array to transport some of our people to the inds to start building a settlement and establish a port on the other side of the sea route. This way, we can open up the sea routes in the shortest possible time."


    Mei Gongzi furrowed her brow slightly. "We''ll speed up, but I''m starting to understand your concerns more and more. The news that I''ve be the lord of Kali City has still leaked out, even though we''ve tried to keep it from spreading. More and more of our people are gathering here, especially after hearing that we have a dedicated human settlement. The humans in the two main cities closest to Kali City are leaving toward us in droves. The total poption has almost reached a million. With numbers like these, it''s impossible not to draw the Ancestral Court''s attention. We''ve been a bit too hasty."


    Tang San sighed softly. Indeed, he had expected this to happen, but that didn��t mean it was an easy problem to deal with. "It''s because our people have suffered under the demon ns for so long. Now that they finally have you as their pir of support, how could they hold back? That''s why we need to think even more about their safety. Time is of the essence. The Ancestral Court won''t act immediately; they await your report. But once they do act, it will be problematic. We need to move out even faster than I originally expected. Make sure all our people with a Demonic God Transformation are involved in the port''s construction. I''ll start making some array discs right now, and you can take them back with you."


    The array discs that Tang San wanted to create were something he couldn��t entrust to his master or anyone else; only he could make them because he had to leave a trace of his divine consciousness imprint within them. Only the Sea God��s divine consciousness could truly keep the sea beasts at bay.


    As his cultivation advanced, the sheer amount and quality of his spiritual power made the conversion to divine consciousness much faster than before. In the past, he wouldn��t have dared to do this, as every bit of divine consciousness was precious. Now, however, Tang San had discovered that if he cultivated within the sea, with the aid of the power of faith, the rate at which his spiritual power transformed into divine consciousness increased significantly.


    The next step was to solve the issue of the Sea gue. If he could do that, there was no doubt that he would immediately gain the support of the sea ns. Although his current cultivation level wouldn��t make them worship him as a god, it would at least ensure that human migration to the Endless Blue Sea wouldn��t be a problem.


    Soon, Tang San crafted two array discs and handed them to Mei Gongzi, instructing her to ce them on either side of the harbor, submerged in seawater. The discs would naturally absorb the power of faith through his divine consciousness while emitting the aura of the Sea God, ensuring that no sea beasts would disturb the nearby waters.


    Tang San needed to continue making these array discs for a simple reason��he needed to ce them on the ships to be constructed. With the discs radiating his aura, it would be as if he were on the ships himself.


    @@novelbin@@


    Over the next month, Tang San and Mei Gongzi became extremely busy. Tang San chose a secure location within the human settlement outside Kali City and built a teleportation array there, which was guarded by Wu Bingji, Gu Li, Cheng Zicheng, and Du Bai.


    After discussing with Zhang Haoxuan, they began quietly sending people out.


    Given Tang San''s current cultivation power, such long-distance teleportation could only transport a few dozen people at a time, and they couldn��t have particrly high cultivation.


    The first to be transported were trustworthy individuals who had no reason to return to the Daemon Continent anytime soon. They also brought tools to start clearing the inds, establishing ports, and nting seeds to pave the way for the future human poption.


    Everything was carried out in secrecy.


    But since Tang San had not yet reached godhood, even with Mei Gongzi��s assistance, he could only manage three teleportations daily, transporting around a hundred people. That was the limit; anything more would deplete him.


    After a month, around two thousand people had been migrated, including one hundred who possessed the demonic god transformation.


    On the other side, the Sea Walrus n had also helped to some extent. The elder of the Sea Walrus n highly appreciated Tang San, and with the massive bodies of the walruses, the construction of the port became much lessbor-intensive for the people.


    With two thousand people as the vanguard, Tang San felt that it was enough, and he stopped teleporting people out. The first port in the waters near Kali City had taken shape, and the construction of ships had begun.


    In this area, both humans and demons werecking experience, as those on the Daemon Continent never ventured out to sea. Tang San had to stay by the shore to provide guidance and even personally assist, using his formidable strength to help them build the ships.


    Fortunately, the Daemon Continent had no shortage of resources. The dense, hard wood avable made for excellent shipbuilding material, particrly the ironflower trees. With the help of many powerful individuals, including gods like Zhang Haoxuan, the process was swift. In just half a month, the first three-masted ship waspleted.


    Now, however, they faced another challenge��there was a ship, but nobody knew how to sail it. Tang San had to step in again, this time to train the crew.


    Humans werecking in some aspects, but fortunately, intelligence was not one of them, and learning to operate the three-masted ship wasn��t too difficult. The real challengey in dealing with storms, various weather changes, and attacks from sea beasts. At least with thetter issue, Tang San''s Sea God array disc solved it before it even became a problem.


    Thus, a group of people started learning how to navigate. They would be the first sailors in the history of this continent!


    The shipbuilding continued, but Tang San didn��t help with that, and neither did he rush to transport more people to the inds. Instead, he took the first group of people who had learned to navigate and set sail for the inds.


    They took turns steering the ship and practicing raising and lowering the sails, while Tang San provided guidance.


    After one round trip, this first batch of a hundred sailors was basically capable of handling the ship on their own. A round trip from the eastern shore of the continent to the ind and back only took about three days with the help of a Sea God array disc and a few people with wind-attribute bloodlines.


    A fully loaded three-masted ship could carry as many as five hundred people at once, plus cargo. This was the limit of its capacity. This meant that five hundred people or so could be transported to the ind every three days. However, given that there was currently only one ship and more sailors and captains had to be trained, the actual number of passengers would be slightly lower.


    Even so, by the fourth month of Mei Gongzi''s rule as the lord of Kali City, the migration of humans to offshore inds had officially begun!


    Because thergest ind was shaped like a crescent moon, Tang San named it Crescent Ind.


    Besides Crescent Ind, there were a number of other inds in the archipgo suitable for human habitation. Tang San had roughly estimated that the entire archipgo could amodate a poption of one million. Of course, this depended on the construction keeping pace, and in the beginning, plenty of resources would need to be brought from the maind.

 Chapter 684: The Great Migration

    <h4>Chapter 684: The Great Migration</h4>


    After the first three-masted ship wasunched, the speed of construction began to elerate. The increase in experience greatly improved the shipbuilding pace, especially with the coborative efforts of many humans with demon bloodlines. Tasks pertaining to lumberjacking and carpentry werepleted far more quickly than ordinary people could manage.


    Everything was proceeding at breakneck pace. ording to Tang San''s n, close to a hundred ships could be built within six months, and within a year, a million people had to be transported to the inds and settled there.


    If this n seeded, the countless inds in the sea could amodate even more humans. With the protection of the sea ns, humans would have a space where they could live without being enved. This would also significantly reduce the problem of overcrowding in Kali City.


    ording to the Redemption Society''s statistics, there were between twenty and thirty million humans living on the Daemon Continent. Although humans had strong reproductive abilities, under the persecution of the demon and nymph ns, the average human lifespan was somewhere around twenty years��yes, it was that short. And even so, there were still tens of millions of humans, the vast majority of whom were ves, with only a small portion being vassals.


    Humanscked innatebat abilities and a powerful physique, but they were overall more intelligent than both the demons and the nymphs. The Redemption Society was formed by a small group of wise humans with inherited bloodline abilities.


    Not all humans with a Demonic God Transformation considered themselves human; some vassals believed they were part of their respective demon or nymph ns. However, most half-humans still identified with their human side and harbored hatred for the demon and nymph ns, especially the former��due to the fact that most of their mothers had been murdered.


    Humans had been struggling amidst continuous abuse and ughter, yet even so, their numbers still reached into the tens of millions.


    This was why, upon learning that the new lord of Kali City had human blood, many were willing to do whatever it took��even risk their lives to escape from their masters��to move toward Kali City.


    Within the jurisdiction of Kali City, things were actually better for humans overall; even the noble demon ns had to show some respect to the new lord, so their human servants, now technically free of indentured servitude, were treated better. By contrast, in the other main cities, the ve masters were long since grumbling in dissatisfaction.


    It was at this time that Tang San received notification from the elder of the Sea Walrus n: a Sea gue had broken out.


    ***


    Tang San stepped through the array and found the elder of the Sea Walrus n already waiting there.


    In the distance, the sound of hammering could be heard, and the shoreline was bustling with activity. The people who had already migrated were busy almost every day, yet each of them was full of energy and enthusiasm.


    Humans had never considered the Daemon Continent their home; in fact, they had no home at all. But now that they were here, they finally experienced a feeling they��d never felt in their entire lives.


    They finally had a ce to call their own.


    Surrounded by the vast ocean, free from the oppressive presence of the demons, they experienced the joy of a boundless sea where fish leaped freely and a vast sky where birds flew high. Here, they were building their true homnd, which gave them far more motivation than even the free settlement near Kali City.


    So, no matter how hard or exhausting the work was��and it was plenty hard and exhausting��they all felt that life was full of hope. And hope was the greatest longing in the human heart. With the dawn of this hope shining upon them, how could they not give their all?


    Moreover, there was no need to worry about food. The Sea Walrus n provided them with a plentiful supply of fish, shrimp, and shellfish, which were all delicious and rich in nutrients. Combined with the fruits avable on the ind, their dietary needs were fully met.


    With human farming capabilities, they would start reaping harvests within six months, and they would also learn sea fishing, bing self-sufficient.


    Tang San looked at the elder of the Sea Walrus n and asked directly, "Where is the Sea gue?"


    @@novelbin@@


    The elder of the Sea Walrus n responded urgently, "It''s about a thousand nautical miles south of here, and it''s spreading rapidly. Several of our n elders have already gone there, but all we can do now is try to slow the spread of the Sea gue. Based on past experience, though, it''s like trying to stop a giant wave with a palm leaf."


    Tang San nodded. "Let''s go take a look."


    "Follow me, Your Highness."


    The sea ns had differing views on his identity. Eventually, they agreed to refer to him as "Your Highness," since they could not recognize him as the Sea God for the time being. Tang San was fine with that.


    The elder twisted its massive body and rolled into sea, while Tang San leaped into the air andnded on its back. A faint gray-blue halo erupted from the elder''s body, and its massive form suddenly elerated, heading southward.


    In terms of speed, the Sea Walrus n couldn''tpare to the Sea Shark n, but this elder was a Sea King, equivalent to a Demon King onnd. With its control over the seawater, its speed was incredibly fast.


    As they traveled, Tang San silently absorbed the power of faith from the sea, keeping himself in peak condition.


    Soon, he noticed that the number of sea beasts and other marine creatures in the nearby waters was noticeably increasing��they were likely fleeing the Sea gue.


    He had heard from the elder of the Sea Walrus n that the spread of the Sea gue was terrifying. Not only did the seawater itself carry the gue, but infected marine creatures also spread the gue wherever they went. As a result, once an outbreak of Sea gue urred, it became uncontroble, causing massive death tolls among marine life, and the polluted waters could take many years to recover.


    Covering a thousand nautical miles at full speed took them just over an hour. From a distance, he could sense a deathly stillness in the sea, along with surging energy waves. At the same time, he also noticed that the amount of faith power he could absorb was rapidly decreasing.


    "Your Highness, we''re almost there," the elder said nervously. Even as a tenth-order being, the natural fear of the Sea gue was not something it was spared.


    Tang San nodded and said, "Let''s go take a look."


    Soon, he saw a vast expanse of blue halos surging ahead. These halos spread from the surface of the sea down to the seabed. Numerous powerful sea beasts were spread out, releasing energy in the same direction.


    The elder of the Sea Walrus n emitted a strange buzzing sound. Soon, a massive figure approached them.


    It was a Sea Shark, but unlike any Sea Shark Tang San had seen before. Not only was this one extraordinarilyrge, but its entire body was pure white, with golden lines extending from its forehead down its body, emanating an overwhelmingly powerful energy.


    Seeing this figure, the elder''s aura noticeably quivered. "Sea Shark King."


    Upon seeing the massive white shark, Tang San couldn''t help but feel a strange sense of familiarity. In his previous life on the Douluo Continent, he had known the Demon Soul Great White Sharks and had been friends with the Demon Soul Great White Shark King.


    This Sea Shark King was nearly twenty meters long, simply massive, and its aura was so potent that the surrounding seawater seemed to be boiling. However, Tang San could sense that it was just at the initial stage of a Great Sea King.


    The Sea Shark King''s gaze instantly locked onto Tang San, and in the next moment, white halos surged, followed by waves of divine consciousness.


    <i>"Is this the one you believe to be the Sea God''s emissary?"</i>


    The elder of the Sea Walrus n was noticeably uneasy in the presence of the Sea Shark King. After all, their two ns were ancient enemies, and its cultivation level clearly couldn''tpare to the one before it. The elder feared being seen as lunch by the Sea Shark King.


    <i>"That''s right, this is the Sea God''s emissary,"</i> the elder hastily replied.


    The Sea Shark King silently sensed the aura emanating from Tang San, and its eyes revealed a strange expression, tinged with a hint of ferocity. It could undoubtedly feel an aura from Tang San that made even it feel a slight urge to submit. But as a sovereign of its own great n and one of the most bloodthirsty beings in the ocean, its first thought was whether consuming this human might bring it benefits.

 Chapter 685: The Sea Shark King

    <h4>Chapter 685: The Sea Shark King</h4>


    Tang San nodded toward the great shark. <i>"Greetings, Sea Shark King."</i>


    The Sea Shark King stared intently at Tang San and asked, <i>"Can you solve the Sea gue?"</i>


    Tang San shrugged. <i>"I don''t know, but I can certainly try."</i>


    The Sea Shark King��s gaze turned cold. <i>"You''d better be able to, or else a small human like you who can only imitate the gods would be better suited as my snack."</i>


    Tang San looked at it calmly, not angered by its words. <i>"How about we make a bet? What if I seed?"</i>


    <i>"If you can solve the Sea gue, then I��ll recognize you as the Sea God��s emissary. How about that?"</i>


    @@novelbin@@


    <i>"If I can solve the Sea gue, everyone will recognize me as such. That��s nothing special. No, if I do it, you will be my mount in the Endless Blue Sea for the next year. If I fail, then I suppose I am better suited to be your snack."</i>


    The Sea Shark King''s eyes suddenly filled with ferocity, and a powerful aura surged toward Tang San. As a Great Sea King, the ruler of its n, and one of the most ferocious beings in the Endless Blue Sea, this Sea Shark was virtually unrivaled, feared by all but the strongest ns like the Sea Dragons and Sea Giants.


    Being such a proud creature, at the very top of the food chain, Tang San��s suggestion of making it his mount was infuriating.


    But at that moment, a golden light suddenly shone from Tang San''s forehead, and golden patterns became clear. A strange wave of divine consciousness pulsed out��not overwhelmingly strong, but carrying a boundless aura that all the nearby marine creatures could sense.


    There were many sea beasts present, grouped by n, and each was pouring out its own energy to fend off something in the distance.


    At that moment, when they sensed the aura emanating from behind them, they were instantly revitalized. In a sh, they felt as if they had been blessed, and the energy they were emitting noticeably strengthened.


    The formidable pressure that the Sea Shark King had unleashed unexpectedly softened under the influence of Tang San''s golden divine consciousness, and it passed harmlessly around him.


    In the next moment, Tang San rose from the back of the Sea Walrus elder, slowly ascending.


    As he emerged from the sea, Tang San''s aura surged once more as the Golden Armor Transformation took over. Golden armor instantly covered his entire body, and golden wings opened on his back, propelling him upward like a streak of golden light. He ascended to a height of a hundred meters instantly.


    Immediately after, a beam of white light shot up behind him, transforming into a young man dressed in a white robe. He had a handsome appearance, though his face bore a fierce expression.


    The new human-looking person was, of course, the Sea Shark King. His eyes revealed a mixture of suspicion and uncertainty. Just moments earlier, when Tang San activated his divine consciousness, the Sea Shark King had clearly felt its influence. Not only had his oppressive aura failed to overwhelm Tang San, but his instinctive urge to worship Tang San had also grown stronger. Most intriguingly, the Sea Shark King noticed an intense fluctuation in his bloodline, which had remained stagnant since reaching the level of Great Sea King.


    He had followed Tang San out to see how he would confront the Sea gue.


    Ahead, vast patches of mottled purple colored the sea. The once-clear waters were now murky and polluted. Countless marine creatures'' corpses floated on the surface, dposing continuously. If not for a barrier of blue light at the edge holding it back, the spread would have been even faster.


    The Sea gue��there was no doubt about it. This murky sea area was the Sea gue, with purple, yellow, and green being the dominant colors, all exuding an eerie aura of death and corruption.


    At a nce, the Sea gue seemed to stretch endlessly, with no visible boundary. Who knew how many nautical miles it covered or how many lives had been lost to it? As the Sea God, Tang San couldn''t help but feel his heart ache at the sight.


    He suddenly turned, looking in the direction of the Daemon Continent, and his gaze turnedpletely cold.


    Seeing the Sea gue firsthand had fully confirmed Tang San''s suspicions. Through his Discerning Eye of Heaven, he could see that this sea was filled with nothing but endless misfortune. It was a cursed region, and in his vision, the intense curse appeared as aplete ck void of fortune.


    Tang San''s fists clenched involuntarily. <i>To strengthen the demon and nymph races, to give them more power and glory, you are willing to sacrifice every other lifeform on this, and even the itself! How selfish, how cruel! Despicable Daemon Continent, treacherous Ancestral Court! I will see to it that you get youreuppance!</i>


    On this abundantly fertile Fn, which had more than enough resources for everyone living on it, it wasn''t just humans who suffered; it was every single being apart from demons and nymphs.


    How could he stand by and do nothing?


    With a single step, Tang San had already charged into the mottled sea ahead. As he moved, his voice echoed behind him. "Stay back!"


    The Sea Shark King, who had been about to follow him, paused for a moment. With his rebellious nature, he was not one to obey anyone''s orders, much less the orders of a puny creature that wasn��t even a god. Yet when he heard Tang San��s words, for some reason, he feltpelled toply. He could also sense the deep pain and anger radiating from Tang San''s aura.


    Thus, he stopped unconsciously. The next moment, as he realized what he had done and was about to follow Tang San anyway, he noticed that Tang San��s body had begun to glow brightly.


    Brilliant golden light suddenly burst forth. In that instant, the dazzling light was so intense that even a powerful being like the Sea Shark King had to squint his eyes.


    The golden light was filled with a vast and boundless presence, carrying an overwhelming majesty. The anger that the Sea Shark King had previously sensed from Tang San was now fully unleashed, radiating without restraint.


    It was as if the fury of the sea itself was rising, as if the oppressive might of heaven itself descended upon them. Although the Sea Shark King could tell that Tang San��s divine consciousness was weaker than his own, at this moment, he felt a sense of overwhelming power that he could not resist.


    The golden light emanating from Tang San grew increasingly intense. The symbol of the Sea God��s Trident on his forehead burst forth with unprecedented brilliance. Above him, the sky quickly darkened. With Tang San��s divine consciousness fully unleashed, his impending tribtion was inevitable.


    But at that moment, Tang San pressed his right hand against his forehead. A halo of ck and white light suddenly expanded outward, causing the darkened sky to momentarily pause.


    It was the Pr Luck Domain. Tang San used his domain power to momentarily obscure the will of the heavens.


    In the next moment, an ethereal golden trident appeared in his hand. Golden light burst from Tang San��s eyes as he raised the trident high above his head.


    Suddenly, the sea began to boil!


    When he raised the Sea God��s Trident, the entire sea��both the mottled waters tainted by the Sea gue and the still-pure water of the Endless Blue Sea behind the blue light barrier��began to boil. Waves surged skyward, reaching a hundred meters in height.


    This was the wrath of the Sea God, a surge of the most intense emotion from deep within the Sea God''s heart.


    In the depths of the sea, the powerful sea beasts that were holding back the Sea gue felt a mighty surge of anger within their hearts. They sensed the deep emotioning from the very depths of the sea, an emotion that seemed to originate from the sea itself.


    Each of their bloodlines boiled violently, and their auras rapidly intensified. Unconsciously, they all lifted their heads, merging their own anger with the fury that emanated from the heavens, igniting the rage within their very blood.


    The Sea Shark King watched in astonishment as countless blue lights began to rise from the Endless Blue Sea, merging continuously with the golden light in the sky. That golden light illuminated the heavens, driving away the darkness.


    The golden light around Tang San grew ever more radiant, and the light of the trident in his hand was like a sunbeam descending from heaven.

 Chapter 686: Purifying the Blue Sea, United as One

    <h4>Chapter 686: Purifying the Blue Sea, United as One</h4>


    Under the blinding golden radiance, the mottled sea below began to change. Though the waves still surged, it seemed that countless patches of murky air were evaporating, gradually turning into nothingness under the illumination of the golden light.


    "No one and nothing is permitted to taint the sea." Tang San''s cold, majestic voice echoed through the sky as a beam of golden light suddenly shot out from the tips of the Sea God��s Trident, piercing into the murky Sea gue in an instant.


    In an instant, everything around��both sky and sea��turned gold. Brilliant, resplendent gold.


    Tang San��s divine consciousness was rapidly depleting, but in this moment, he held nothing back. Sinceing to this world, this was the first time, aside from that time he��d risked his life for Mei Gongzi, that he had unleashed his divine consciousness without reservation. Even if it ended up causing the ne to be more wary of him, he had no regrets.


    What was the Sea God? If he couldn��t protect the sea, what right did he have to be its god?


    The filth of the Sea gue receded at a visible pace. Ghostly remnants of souls began to rise from the sea''s surface. The weaker souls were barely wisps of smoke, while the stronger ones wererger, with some even exceeding a meter in diameter.


    There was no doubt that these were the spirits of sea beasts that had perished in the Sea gue. Yet, at this moment, their lingering souls were no longer tainted. Bathed in the pure golden light, they too became pure.


    They gently floated upward, drifting toward the golden figure in the sky, merging resolutely into the golden light. It was as if only by doing so could they be saved.


    Tang San had not yet reached godhood. Could he purify such a vast Sea gue with his strength alone? Impossible. Hecked that level of power.


    But he was the Sea God, and his body was the host of the Sea God''s divinity. Here, this was his domain.


    Those lingering souls, the power of their faith��they were the source of his strength. Instead of weakening as he fully unleashed his divine consciousness, his aura grew stronger, expanding to cover an even broader area, purifying the Sea gue below.


    His form continued to growrger, gradually reaching a height of a hundred meters. He resembled a giant bathed in gold, as if the true Sea God was descending. Under his power, the filthy Sea gue rapidly receded.


    @@novelbin@@


    The Sea Shark King hovered in the sky, silently watching the scene unfold, his once-fierce gaze now filled with shock. This scene was etched deeply into his memory, something it knew he would never be able to forget for the rest of his life.


    The Sea gue was a tremendous disaster for every being of the Endless Blue Sea. With his current level of cultivation, the Sea gue could no longer do much to the Sea Shark King, but that was just the Sea Shark King. He had been powerless to do anything but watch as his weaker kin were wiped out by the gue.


    Yet, at this very moment, this human who imed to be the Sea God''s heir was actually purifying the Sea gue, and even seemed to be cleansing the spirits of the marine creatures that had perished. This was unprecedented in the history of the Endless Blue Sea.


    In that moment, all traces of ferocity vanished from his heart. The blood that had once been cold now burned with intense heat. The Sea Shark King found himself letting out his aura and bloodline power without reservation, merging them into the golden light, aiding Tang San in his efforts.


    If even a Great Sea King like him could be moved to such an extent, there was no need to mention the others. At this moment, in the Endless Blue Sea, all living beings were united as one. All their collective power converged toward the golden figure.


    The tainted seawater gradually returned to a clear blue. The skeletal remains floating within the golden light were purified as they were absorbed into the Sea God''s golden power, which then scattered them away, returning them to the sea where they belonged. And as they rejoined the embrace of the sea, every ounce of soul power they had be one with the sea.


    At some point, the elder of the Sea Walrus n had also surfaced. As it also let out its power, tears streamed down its face.


    It could feel the deep joy and release emanating from the countless marine creatures that had been purified after death. This part of the Endless Blue Sea, minutes ago steeped in a fatal sickness, was now filled with warmth andfort as it underwent purification.


    Tang San''s divine consciousness continued to deplete, but it was also constantly being replenished thanks to the unity of the sea ns. Under his guidance, theirbined power worked together to dispel the misfortune, cleanse the deathly taint, and restore the purity of the sea below.


    The misfortune was gradually dissipating, but Tang San''s mood remained heavy.


    This mass of misfortune was, of course, the inverse of an equal mass of fortune. As the Ancestral Court��s Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain drew in the majority of the Fn��s fortune, the resulting misfortune would inevitably appear elsewhere. Even if it wasn��t this Sea gue, it would always manifest in another ce. The bnce had to be preserved. The heavens were fair, and this was the way the fairness manifested.


    He could solve the immediate problem, but he couldn��t eliminate all misfortune. The heavens were bnced, and they would never ept that. Only by dispersing the concentrated fortune in the Ancestral Court could the bnce of the��s fate be restored, preventing further misfortune from arising and guing countless living beings.


    <i>What a n you are, Celestial Fox n! Perhaps you are the only n that should not exist in this world. For your own selfish gain, for the sake of your fellow demons and nymphs, you traded the lives of all other races. How selfish, how cruel!</i>


    The ethereal Sea God Trident shot out from Tang San��s hand, transforming into a golden halo that spread into the distance. Countless points of light followed the golden halo, and from all directions, more light points merged into it, rapidly purifying the entire region shrouded by the Sea gue.


    The golden light surrounding Tang San quickly faded, and he began to descend from the sky, falling toward the sea.


    Under his guidance, with the Sea God''s power at the center, thebined faith and strength of the sea ns made the purification of the Sea gue no longer an issue. It was not his individual effort but the collective effort of the sea ns that made this purification possible. On his own, he could never have achieved this, but with his leadership, everything proceeded smoothly.


    A massive white figure suddenly appeared beneath him, catching him as he fell. It was the Sea Shark King, who had reverted to his great white shark form.


    The earlier purification did not weaken Tang San. The faith power from countless marine creatures had replenished his depleted divine consciousness. He refrained from continuing because the tribtion clouds in the sky, which he had temporarily obscured, were beginning to gather again. This forced him to disperse the Sea God��s power, leaving the sea ns to continue the purification themselves. Though the process would be slower, it was sustainable for as long as it was necessary.


    "Your Highness!" The Sea Walrus elder had also arrived nearby. Its massive form bowed deeply before Tang San.


    "Rubbish, what do you mean by ''Highness''?" The Sea Shark King''s furious voice rang out, causing a shockwave that the Walrus Elder flying.


    The Sea Walrus elder looked at the Sea Shark King in confusion, but the Sea Shark King��s voice was now filled with pride as he continued, "This is the Sea God, the one the heavens have bestowed upon us to be the ruler of the Endless Blue Sea. He is the divine lord who will lead us out of despair. You useless fools couldn��t even recognize the Sea God before. You''re the most worthless of the worthless. Sea God, just say the word, and I��ll tear it apart and serve it to you as food. Walrus fat is quite rich and tasty."


    Tang San was speechless. <i>Brother, if you want to eat it yourself, you should just say so.</i> A Sea Walrus god was surely a tempting treat for someone like the Sea Shark King.


    He shook his head and admonished the shark. "The sea ns should coexist peacefully."


    The Sea Shark King, however, was unconcerned. "Survival of the fittest. The weak are meant to be the food of the strong. Otherwise, wouldn''t the strong starve to death?"

 Chapter 687: The Divine Emissary Hammer

    <h4>Chapter 687: The Divine Emissary Hammer</h4>


    Tang San didn''t want to argue with the Sea Shark King, so he said in a serious tone, "Alright, this area of the Sea gue has been purified. It won''t be long before itpletely disappears. I also have a rough idea of how the Sea gue originated. There is a way topletely resolve it, though I can''t do it just yet. I need to head back now."


    "No problem, where do you want to go?" the Sea Shark King immediately responded.


    Tang San couldn''t help but smile. "You really want to be my mount?"


    The Sea Shark King replied without hesitation, "Absolutely. Only I am worthy of being your mount; it''s an honor for me."


    Tang San chuckled, somewhat in disbelief at the shark''s sudden change in attitude. "Let''s go back to Crescent Ind first. Then I need to discuss a few things with you, mainly how we can address the Sea gue."


    "Crescent Ind? What''s that?" the Sea Shark King asked in confusion.


    The Sea Walrus elder quickly exined, and the Sea Shark King immediately understood. "Alright, let''s head there now?"


    "Yeah."


    With Tang San''s approval, the Sea Shark King shot out in an instant.


    @@novelbin@@


    White light enveloped Tang San, protecting him as the Sea Shark King moved through the sea like a white lightning bolt. He was far faster than the Sea Walrus elder.


    It had taken Tang San a full hour to get there from Crescent Ind, but the return trip barely took five minutes. Tang San secretly praised himself; he��d chosen the most perfect mount!


    In the Endless Blue Sea, teleportation wasn''t very reliable without fixed coordinates, because it was easy to get lost afterward. A reliable guide like the Great Shark King was simply invaluable.


    When the Sea Shark King''s aura descended upon Crescent Ind, the surrounding Sea Walrus n members were genuinely terrified. Fortunately, Tang San quickly released his own aura, calming them down. Even so, they still kept their distance, trembling in fear.


    The Sea Shark n was the greatest natural enemy of the Sea Walrus n, and even the Sea Walrus King might not be able to stand against the Sea Shark King. Moreover, the Sea Shark King was renowned for his ferocity throughout the Endless Blue Sea. The walruses�� saving grace was that their defenses were tough, they were massive in size, and they were plentiful in numbers. They were not as easy to bully as their peaceful andzy nature suggested.


    When Tang San stepped onto Crescent Ind, the Sea Shark King immediately transformed into his human form and joined him on the ind.


    Seeing the humans working on the ind, the Sea Shark King couldn''t help but look curious. "Divine Lord, are these all your people?"


    Tang San nodded and replied, "Yes. My people are persecuted by the demon and nymph races on the Daemon Continent, making it difficult for them to survive. I''m opening sea routes to lead more humans to the inds here, giving them a space to live. Crescent Ind is the first step."


    The Sea Shark King nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, whatever you need my n to do, just say the word. In the Endless Blue Sea, aside from the old dragon and a few other annoying characters, there''s nothing we can''t handle."


    Sensing the rogueish vibe emanating from the Sea Shark King, Tang San couldn''t help but chuckle. "What should I call you?"


    The Sea Shark King replied, "My name is Hammer."


    "Hammer?" Tang San found the name somewhat unusual.


    The Sea Shark King chuckled, "Yeah, it''s Hammer. What do you think? Nice name for a shark, right?"


    Tang San''s mouth twitched slightly. <i>Aren��t you a great white shark?! </i>However, he wisely refrained frommenting[1]


    "Anyway, let��s get to the topic. Your Sea Shark n is one of the fastest in the sea, so I''ll leave the task of driving out the Sea gue to you. The Sea gue originates from misfortune. I am not talking in metaphors��this is a result of the actual power of misfortune befalling the Endless Blue Sea. After seeing it today, I have a n.


    "The only thing that can truly purify misfortune is the sea''s own power. You were helpless before, not because you weren��t strong enough, because you weren''t united enough. I haven''t fully awakened the Sea God''s power yet, but today I managed to purify the Sea gue. How was that possible? Not through my own personal strength, but by guiding everyone to work together, by uniting the sea beasts to cleanse the gue.


    "I''ll create some array discs and leave a trace of my divine consciousness in them. When the Sea gue appears, any sea beast at the tenth order or above can activate the disc; my divine consciousness will guide the sea beasts'' power toe together and purify the Sea gue. Although the purification might not be as fast as if I were there in person, it will definitely be effective. It''s best to start the purification as soon as the Sea gue appears to minimize casualties and contain the gue within a small area."


    Upon hearing this, the Sea Shark King''s eyes lit up. "Leave this task to me, then. From now on, I''ll be your emissary."


    Tang San gave him a deep look and said, "Purging the Sea gue concerns the safety of the entire Endless Blue Sea. The sea is aplete system and it must be treated as such; no single n can survive independently. You understand the dangers of the Sea gue very well; I don��t have to exin anything to you. This matter is of utmost importance to the entire Endless Blue Sea, and personal interests must notpromise it."


    How could he not see the Sea Shark King''s selfish motives? If he handed over all the array discs to this guy, there was no guarantee he wouldn''t use them to threaten other ns.


    The Sea Shark King blushed. "Understood, it''s a grand n, a grand n."


    Tang San said, "Your nsmen are the fastest here, so please send them around to gather representatives from the major powerful ns here as soon as possible. I''ll distribute the array discs to everyone. The discs will take some time to create, anyway. Also, I will need you to bring some rare metals from the sea for me to use."


    The Sea Shark King nodded. "Alright."


    Tang San continued, "Let''s meet here two weeks from now. I''lle back then. Are there any otherrge inds near this area, simr to Crescent Ind?"


    The Sea Shark King''s eyes lit up. "Divine Lord, are you looking for more suitable ces for humans to settle?"


    Tang San nodded.


    The Crescent Ind archipgo could support the migration of about a million people at most, considering the need for future generations and the importance of maintaining the ecological bnce of the surrounding seas. However, there were tens of millions of humans living on the Daemon Continent. Was he supposed to just leave them there?


    Tang San knew that even though solving the Sea gue might not make the sea ns fully acknowledge him as the Sea God, it would certainly solidify his position among them. Humans would be much safer out on the sea than on the Daemon Continent.


    So, after today, he had decided to move as many humans as possible here, giving them ample space for development. Once he ascended to godhood, he would be able to finalize the paths he had been considering for human cultivation.


    The Sea Shark King said, "In this area, there are quite a few inds to the east and north. How about this��I''ll have my n conduct a thorough survey and then provide a chart for you, Divine Lord."


    Tang San''s eyes lit up. "That would be excellent, thank you."


    The Sea Shark King chuckled. "It''s no trouble at all, but don''t forget what you said before��I''ll be your mount in the Endless Blue Sea. This honor can''t be given to any other sea n!"


    This Sea Shark King had led his n to dominate the food chain of the Endless Blue Sea, to the point where even the more powerful Sea Dragon n and Sea Giant n couldn''t do much against them. It wasn''t just his strength that enabled this, but also his keen ability to assess the situation.


    Tang San''s purification of the Sea gue today left a huge impression on the Sea Shark King. He had been closest to Tang San then and had deeply felt the aura of the Sea God emanating from him. The ability to unite the faith power of the entire sea and bring together different sea ns to work in harmony was something not just unprecedented, but downright miraculous.


    Even though he wasn''t even at the tenth order yet, his presence on the sea filled the Sea Shark King with an intense sense of fear. The Sea Shark King realized that even if he gave his all in battle, he might not be able to truly harm this man. And if the fight dragged on, who knew what might happen?


    The Sea Shark King still shuddered at the memory of the golden trident��s intimidation. He knew all too well that someone like Tang San had an unlimited future ahead of him; maybe he really was the heir of the Sea God, and maybe he would turn out to be the savior of the entire Endless Blue Sea. If there was ever a time to cling to such a powerful ally, now was that time.


    1. The untrantable joke here is <i>likely</i> rted to an old meme about the scalloped hammerhead shark, scientific name <i>Sphyrna lewini</i>. The species name <i>lewini</i> was probably given in honor of John Lewin, who illustrated a number of Australian natural history books, among which the one in which this shark appears for the first time. The Chinese rendering of this scientific name is actually ·�����p���� (Mr. Lewi(s)��s Hammerhead Shark), and the name of this Sea Shark King in the raws is ·�� (themon way to write Louie/Louis/Lewis). We can��t exactly call the shark Louie or Lewis, because it would not be linguistically consistent with the rest of the names the way the Chinese name is. Thus, we have decided to use this approximation, which also conveniently exins why Tang San finds the name ridiculous (because he does). With that said, please enjoy Louie the Shark��s instagram profile. /louie_the_shark/ ?

 Chapter 688: Clinging to Power

    <h4>Chapter 688: Clinging to Power</h4>


    Not only should he cling to Tang San��s thigh, but he had to cling hard. If Tang San truly ascended to be the Sea God��in other words, the first Sea Emperor��then Hammer would be one of his key supporters. The Sea Shark n had no shortage of enemies, but with Tang San��s protection in the future, what would there be to fear?


    Tang San gave him a deep look and chuckled lightly. The shark was absolutely shameless, but he wasn��t dislikable. "You are the fastest, so naturally, you��re the most suitable as a mount. Alright, I need to head back now. Notify the other ns as quickly as possible, even those living farther away. That way, we can ensure the array discs cover arger area. This method of purifying the Sea gue only treats the symptoms and not the root cause, but it will at least greatly reduce the death toll among the sea ns until we can implement the real solution."


    The Sea Shark King nodded seriously. "I��ll follow your orders."


    With that, Tang San stepped into the teleportation array and returned to Golden Valley.


    As the light flickered, Tang San emerged from the teleportation array inside Golden Valley, only to find Mei Gongzi waiting outside.


    "Where have you been? I��ve been waiting for you for half a day," Mei Gongzi said with a slight hint of irritation.


    Tang San''s heart tightened. He could tell from her tone that this wasn��t just a yfulint��there was anxiety and unease in her voice.


    "An outbreak of Sea gue appeared near Crescent Ind, so I went to help the sea ns cleanse it. What happened? Did something go wrong?" Tang San asked seriously.


    Mei Gongzi''s expression grew tense, her brow furrowed as she said, "Yes, something went very wrong. Representatives from the Ancestral Court arrived. They ordered me to report to the Ancestral Court ahead of schedule."


    Hearing this, Tang San was startled. <i>So they can��t wait anymore... Is the Ancestral Court that impatient?</i>


    "When do they want you to go?"


    "I told them that Kali City was still unstable after the recent transition and that I couldn��t leave right away. The Ancestral Court��s emissary said they would give me no more than three months. I must report to the Ancestral Court within three months, or it will be considered disrespectful, and I��ll be stripped of my position as city lord."


    <i>Three months? It��s been less than five months since she took over, so that makes eight months. They��ve brought the schedule forward by four whole months...</i>


    @@novelbin@@


    Fortunately, Tang San had nned with a good margin for error, and while the three-month buffer wasn��t enough for everything he wanted to do, it also wasn��t short enough to catch thempletely off guard. He sighed and nodded. "Three months it is. Focus on your cultivation and try to raise your level as much as possible. I��ll make the necessary preparations on my end. We��ll proceed as nned, even though the timeline is pushed forward. The n remains the same."


    A hint of worry appeared in Mei Gongzi��s beautiful eyes. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but ultimately chose not to speak.


    Tang San naturally understood the worries in her heart and spoke gently, "Don��t worry, everything will be fine��I��ve got this. After helping the sea ns cleanse the Sea gue, I��m feeling even more confident. In half a month, I��ll have a good talk with all the leaders of the sea ns. I��ll likely be spending more time at Crescent Ind in the near future, so I��ll leave the shipbuilding and migration to you. Our rtionship with the sea ns is growing closer, so our migration ns will continue, moving more of our people overseas where the demon and nymph ns can��t easily reach them."


    "Alright," Mei Gongzi nodded. Just seeing Tang San brought her a sense of calm, especially when she looked into his gentle and steady eyes. It made her feel as if everything was under control.


    "Then I��ll head back now," Mei Gongzi said, feeling that time was running short, wishing she could make every second count.


    "Wait a moment," Tang San called out to her.


    Just as Mei Gongzi was wondering what he might still want to say, Tang San stepped forward and wrapped her in his arms.


    "What are you doing?" Mei Gongzi��s cheeks flushed slightly as she gently tapped his shoulder.


    "Recharging. My strength and confidencee from you. Only when I��m full of energy can I move forward at full speed," Tang San said with a chuckle.


    Mei Gongzi was taken aback for a moment, then the blush on her cheeks deepened. However, she didn��t resist; instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest.


    Wasn��t it the same for her?


    Only when she was with him did her heart feel truly at peace; only then did she have a solid foundation. He was the source of her confidence and her strongest support.


    As she nestled in his embrace, the weariness in her heart seemed to quietly dissipate. The two of them grew closer in spirit.


    Tang San gently stroked her long hair, the soft strands carrying a subtle fragrance that brought him an indescribable sense of peace. There were many preparations to be made over the next three months. Mei Gongzi''s report to the Ancestral Court would not only determine whether she could truly inherit the position of city lord of Kali City but also decide if they could genuinely stand against the Ancestral Court in the future. Everything hinged on this uing report.


    <i>The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor likely sensed a shift in fortune, which is why he shifted the schedule of her evaluation.</i>


    If Tang San weren��t afraid of letting Mei Gongzi use the Celestial Plume, fearing it would cause bacsh affecting her very life essence, she would be able to some extent to obscure the workings of fortune. But Tang San would rather face greater danger himself than let her face that danger. What he valued most was their future together, and he understood that what could truly affect that future was not the obvious danger, but the danger hidden behind seemingly innocuous things��like her n��s artifact.


    As Mei Gongzi was about to leave, Tang San asked her to prepare some materials for him. In the uing period, he nned to stay at Crescent Ind to craft some more Sea God array discs. Within the Endless Blue Sea, his divine consciousness could be quickly replenished through the power of faith, making the crafting of the array discs much faster and more effective.


    Having confirmed the method to purify the Sea gue, Tang San was determined to contribute fully to the Endless Blue Sea. This was a virtuous cycle��he would protect the sea ns, and in return, he would receive their support. The power of faith would naturally be easier to gather, and the sea ns�� regard for humanity would grow higher.


    In the following week, powerful sea beasts began gathering at Crescent Ind. The first to arrive was the current leader of the Sea Walrus n, who was also a newly ascended Great Sea King. Traditionally, the Sea Walrus n lived in the seas near Kali City, and in fact most of the powerful sea ns had their own fixed territories and migration routes. The nomadic Sea Shark n, which roamed everywhere and ughtered wherever they went, were the exception.


    The Sea Walrus n leader��s acknowledgement of Tang San was no lower than that of the Sea Shark King. In fact, this Sea Walrus King was deeply grateful, even to the point of tears, because the Sea gue that Tang San had just cleansed was in the Sea Walrus n��s territory. If the gue had spread, the Sea Walrus n might have been able to escape, but they would have lost their home.


    As a result, the Sea Walrus King directly expressed his recognition of Tang San as the Divine Lord, acknowledging his position as the Sea God. Being able to cleanse the Sea gue was of utmost importance to the entire sea ns.


    Afterward, more and more sea beasts began to arrive. These beasts varied in strength, and Tang San observed that while there were many powerful beings among the sea ns, the number of top-tier experts was rtively low.


    Over the past week, dozens of Sea Kings had arrived, but the only Great Sea King was the Sea Walrus King. Inplete contrast, the number of sea beasts equivalent to the ninth tier on the Daemon Continent was numbering in the thousands, and these were just those that hade here to see Tang San. Who knew how many there were in total?


    As more of them arrived, Tang San found that the power of faith he could absorb was growing by the minute, making the creation of the Sea God array discs much easier. He wasn��tcking in methods to control his divine consciousness, but he had previously refrained from using them freely, as the conversion of spiritual power into divine consciousness was far too slow.


    But the power of faith was different��it was inherently meant for deities. Converting it into his own divine consciousness was much easier, especially since he was the Sea God and this faith was directed at him, or at least at his divine seat.

 Chapter 689: The Gathering of Sea Kings

    <h4>Chapter 689: The Gathering of Sea Kings</h4>


    On the eighth day, the Sea Shark King returned, bringing with him a nautical chart made of sharkskin that covered an area two thousand nautical miles in diameter. Every ind in the area was marked on the chart, including severalrge inds that were even bigger than Crescent Ind.


    Tang San immediately gave the Sea Shark King five Sea God array discs as a token of gratitude. He was fully aware of how valuable this sea chart was.


    In the vastness of the Endless Blue Sea, where the sea beasts roamed freely, creating such a nautical chart through direct exploration was a titanic task; who knew how many years it would have taken humans to develop one?


    Only a n like the Sea Sharks, known for their speed and their vast territorial range, could have provided such a nautical chart in such a short time. Hammer, the Sea Shark King, exined that this map had beenpiled by several powerful members of the Sea Shark n a long time back, as familiarity with the sea was crucial for their hunting trips.


    Tang San carefully stored the nautical chart away; once he returned, he could use it to discuss human migration ns with Mei Gongzi and the Redemption Society.


    Following the Sea Shark King��s arrival, the leader of the Sea Leopard n also appeared��it was a top-tier Sea King. While the Sea Leopard n was friendly with the Sea Walrus n, they were antagonistic toward the Sea Shark n. Thankfully, under therger context of dealing with the Sea gue, a direct conflict was unlikely.


    A messenger from the Sea Giant n also arrived, the same Sea Giant that Tang San had met before. The messenger brought news that the Sea Giant King woulde in person, but due to the distance of their settlement, it would take some time.


    The Sea Giant n, known as the Pirs of the Sea, had five leaders, each overseeing different regions and each a Great Sea King. The oneing this time was the strongest of them all, known as the Middle Pir King.


    The next arriving ruler was a female, and even in her original form, she bore a striking resemnce to a human woman��the Mermaid Queen.


    @@novelbin@@


    The simrity, of course, stopped at the waist. She had a human''s upper body and a fish''s lower body, with a total length of about four meters. Among all the sea beasts Tang San had encountered, she seemed to have the strongest affinity for the water element, and she was a top Great Sea King.


    There was no doubt that his cleansing of the Sea gue had stirred the entire Endless Blue Sea.


    By the fifteenth day, over ten thousand powerful sea creatures had gathered near Crescent Ind, with more than a hundred Sea Kings and some Great Sea Kings. The area was filled with a tremendous surge of energy, with powerful sea creatures asionally emerging from the sea and soaring into the sky.


    Thergest of them, the Sea Whale King, floated like a small ind at a distance, its body stretching over two hundred meters. It was undoubtedly one of the most colossal beings in the sea, if not <i>the</i> biggest. But curiously, the Sea Whale lineage was not particrly powerful within the Endless Blue Sea, and even the Sea Whale King was only a Sea King level.


    Tang San��s speed in creating the Sea God array discs had never been higher, and most of his time was now actually spent suppressing his own cultivation. Even if he didn��t actively absorb it, the presence of so many powerful sea creatures naturally caused the power of faith to continuously gather around him, imbuing him and naturally transforming into divine consciousness.


    As a result, Tang San had to periodically return to Golden Valley to craft more array discs, depleting some of his divine consciousness beforeing back.


    Finally, in the distance, two massive auras surged into the sky, causing the entire stretch of Endless Blue Sea around the ind to stir.


    Tang San, who had been sitting cross-legged on the beach, opened his eyes and looked toward the distance.


    Two massive water pirs shot up into the sky, each reaching a height of a thousand meters. Atop one of the water pirs stood a giant over a hundred meters tall, holding what looked like a trident, his entire body covered in deep blue patterns that radiated immense power. This was clearly a top-level Great Sea King.


    Beside him, another figure moved swiftly within the second water pir, its body covered in deep blue scales; it had five-wed limbs, but no wings. The powerful aura it emitted surpassed even that of the Mermaid Queen, and it showed an even greater affinity with the water element.


    This figure also possessed the aura of a peak Great Sea King. Without a doubt, the two beings who had arrived were the true pinnacle of the sea ns'' strength��the Sea Dragon King and the Middle Pir King of the Sea Giants.


    Tang San slowly stood up, watching the two top-tier powerhouses approach from the shore. The sea beasts in the water parted, creating a path to show their respect for the two great figures.


    The massive figures gradually shrank, and the water pirs lowered as the Middle Pir King and the Sea Dragon King both transformed into more manageable human forms. Riding the waves, they approached the shore, hovering above the sea.


    Their nsmen, who had arrived earlier, all bowed in reverence.


    The gazes of the Sea Dragon King and the Middle Pir King simultaneously turned towards Tang San.


    Faced with numerous powerful beings, including seven or eight Great Sea Kings and over a hundred Sea Kings, Tang San remained calm andposed, seemingly unfazed by the immense pressure.


    "Are you the so-called divine envoy?" The Sea Dragon King��s deep and somewhat aged voice echoed across Crescent Ind, clearly heard by all.


    At this moment, the humans who had been busy with their work stopped and gazed toward the scene from a distance.


    Tang San replied calmly, "I am the Sea God��s sessor, Tang San. Greetings to the Sea Kings."


    At this moment, an angry voice rang out. "What do you mean, envoy? Old dragon, have you gone senile? This is the true incarnation of the Sea God, a god among gods!"


    It was Hammer, the Sea Shark King, who was looking indignant as he red at the Sea Dragon King.


    The Sea Dragon King frowned slightly. He knew the Sea Shark King all too well; Hammer was not one to act just because of minor things like faith or morality, so if he defended the human, there had to be a very good reason for it.


    "Step aside, this is not your ce to speak," the Middle Pir King coldly rebuked him from.


    Seeing the Middle Pir King, the Sea Shark King couldn��t help but feel a bit intimidated, but still retorted with a touch of bravado, "What I said is true. Other than the Sea God, who else could cleanse the Sea gue? Can <i>you</i> do it?"


    The Sea Shark n had only one Great Sea King, Hammer, and he had only recently ascended to that level. In contrast, the Sea Giant n boasted five Great Sea Kings, with only the Sea Dragon n able to rival them. The Sea Giants were not only physically powerful but also had great control over the sea. It was said that in ancient times, the Sea Giants had produced an actual Emperor��someone who ruled over the Endless Blue Sea as the true Sea Emperor, with the Sea Dragons serving as their mounts. Of course, by this point... it was nothing more than a legend.


    The Middle Pir King said calmly, "Whether he is truly the Sea God, we will determine ourselves. All sea beasts except the kings of their respective ns, please withdraw."


    As these words were spoken, the sea beasts instinctively turned their gazes toward Tang San, who stood on the sandy shore.


    Tang San did not say anything; he merely met the gaze of the Middle Pir King with a calm and steady expression.


    The sea n powerhouses began to retreat gradually. There was no doubt that the Middle Pir King held significant influence within the Endless Blue Sea.


    In the end, only the kings of the various ns remained by the shore, and even among them, only the leaders of the major ns dared to stay.


    They were the Middle Pir King, the Sea Dragon King, the Sea Shark King, the Mermaid Queen, the Sea Leopard King, the massive Sea Whale King, the Sea Walrus King, and over twenty other leaders of therger sea ns.


    The other sea creatures, even those who were Sea Kings themselves, had already retreated to a distance.


    The Middle Pir King turned his gaze to Tang San. "Human, I have heard that you can cleanse the Sea gue using the power of the Sea God. Is this true?"


    "That��s correct," Tang San replied calmly.

 Chapter 691: Proof?

    <h4>Chapter 691: Proof?</h4>


    The many sea n leaders shook their heads in unison. The Endless Blue Sea and the Daemon Continent had no rtionship to speak of. Neither environment was suitable for the other party, so they simply didn��t interfere with each other. Thus, they knew that there were Emperors on the Daemon Continent, but they truly had no idea how many and what kind of Emperors they were.


    Tang San continued, "The Celestial Fox Demon Emperors thus far have led the Celestial Fox n to gather the fortune of the continent. Only the demon and nymph ns can benefit from this fortune, which is why they have grown increasingly powerful, bing the strongest beings on the entire. From what I know, there are currently as many as sixteen Emperors between demons and nymphs. But a single can only amodate a limited number of Emperors, and even though Fn is so bountiful, sixteen is nearly the limit. Now tell me, besides the Emperors on the Daemon Continent, have you heard of any other Emperors in the past thousand years? How about the past ten thousand years?"


    The sea n leaders all shook their heads again.


    Tang San narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "No, of course there aren��t any. So, given that they are already so powerful, why aren��t they ruling the entire? With the power of more than a dozen Emperors, they could easily conquer the Endless Blue Sea. They may not be able to live here, but the resources in the sea are absolutely massive and it��s not like they have too many resources. So why haven''t they done so? Have you ever thought about it?"


    Tang San''s series of questions left all the sea n leaders present dumbfounded.


    Tang San answered his own question, "The reason is simple��because all the fortune has already been gathered. Outside the Daemon Continent, there is only misfortune, and they don''t want to be tainted by it. They view the areas outside the Daemon Continent as merely providing nourishment for the continent, so they couldn��t care less about what happens to them.


    "But what they are doing is a cmity for the entire Fn. The has the ability to self-regte, but that ability has been stripped from it. Misfortune and fortune are rtive to each other; the more fortune is gathered, the more misfortune also umtes. When fortune eventually reaches its peak, it''s not impossible that a divine realm could be born on the Daemon Continent��a kind of superior ne, where even beings surpassing Emperors could appear.


    "But the moment that happens will also be the moment when Fn copses. The Daemon Continent, or at least the Ancestral Court, where all the fortune is gathered, is likely to survive, maybe separate from Fn. Meanwhile, the other regions, where misfortune has umted, will face catastrophic destruction. For Fn as a whole, this will be devastating."


    As soon as Tang San said these words, the gathered sea n leaders couldn''t help but be in an uproar.


    Tang San looked up at the sky. When he spoke these words, he released a bit of his divine consciousness outward. As his divine consciousness spread, he could vaguely sense a tendency for a thunder tribtion to form in the sky. However, when he finished speaking, the impending feeling of a thunder tribtion in the air abruptly dissipated.


    Tang San''s expression grew solemn as he looked at the sea n leaders. "So, do you still think your current life is normal? The arrival of the Sea gue is the result of misfortune descending. I can help you alleviate the Sea gue, but in truth, it''s only treating the symptoms, not the root cause��"


    "Silence!" A sharp shout suddenly interrupted Tang San''s words.


    The Middle Pir King red at Tang San with hostility and said, "The purpose of your words��is it to incite us tounch an attack on thend, to challenge the Daemon Continent? To rush headlong to our deaths knowing there are more than a dozen Emperors there? Is that your true intention?"


    @@novelbin@@


    Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the sea n leaders changed instantly, and their gazes focused intently on Tang San.


    Tang San''s face turned cold after being interrupted, and he shook his head. "Did I ever say something like that? I don��t think so. I never expected you to aplish such things, because you can''t. That is <i>my</i> mission, my own mission. I''ve already made my request clear��I will ask you to protect my people, and that will be enough. What I am doing now is simply telling you the true state of affairs. When I fully restore my strength, I will have the power to change the entire bnce of Fn. Your strength holds little significance to me."


    The Middle Pir King of the Sea Giants gazed at him with a sinister look. "You''re not even a god, yet you dare im you can challenge sixteen Emperors? What do you mean by restoring your strength?"


    Tang San responded calmly, "I mean bing the Sea God!"


    "Bing the Sea God?" A glint of light shed in the Middle Pir King''s eyes. "So, you truly believe you are the heir of the Sea God?"


    "If I am not, then what am I?" Tang San looked at him with unwavering confidence.


    The Sea Giantughed and was about to say something when the Sea Dragon King beside him stopped him.


    "Thank you for your guidance. Once we return, we will immediately mobilize our people to purify the existing sea gue. As for the human migration you mentioned, our sea ns can guarantee their protection."


    Tang San nodded slightly and said, "That will be enough. As for what the future holds, please wait and see. But I can tell you this: the Daemon Continent has been blessed with fortune for who knows how many centuries and millennia. That fortune has already taken deep root, and even if I can destroy that cluster of fortune in the future, the won''t regain its bnce in a short time. If you want to contend with it, or rather, obtain more of the''s resources, you''ll have to rely on yourselves. Simply maintaining the status quo won''t be enough."


    The Middle Pir King responded calmly, "We don''t even know if this fortune and misfortune you''re talking about is real, so there''s no point in discussing it now. We will wait and see what this Sea God you speak of truly is."


    Tang San''s gaze turned toward him. He could sense the hostility of this Sea Giant King and had a good idea of where it stemmed from.


    "You are correct; there��s no way for you to confirm the part about fortune and misfortune. But there��s no need to wait; I can prove it to you right now."


    Tang San took a step forward and stood on the surface of the sea, facing two top-tier Demon Kings without a trace of fear. In his eyes, ck and white interchanged as the Pr Luck Domain was activated.


    Immediately, the two Great Sea Kings within the domain felt a jolt in their hearts.


    Tang San closed his eyes and silently expanded the range of the Pr Domain. Instantly, the seawater beneath him became clearer than it had ever been, while a faint murky purple color began to form in the outer ring.


    "The sea gue?" The Sea Leopard King eximed in shock.


    In the next moment, Tang San opened his eyes, deactivating the domain. A golden light radiated from his body, and as his divine consciousness swept through, the gathered power of faith in the seawater purified the murkiness that had just appeared.


    With the enhancement of his cultivation and divine consciousness, it was now much easier for him to utilize the Pr Luck Domain.


    Sensing the recent changes, the breathing of the sea n leaders around him grew heavier. They realized that what Tang San had said about the Daemon Continent gathering fortune was likely true.


    "I believe you," a clear voice rang out.


    Tang San turned his head to look and saw that it was the Mermaid Queen who had spoken. She had not said a word until now, but her voice turned out to be exceptionally melodious. Her long, water-blue hair flowed behind her, and her captivating eyes rested on Tang San.


    "I believe in your Sea God legacy. Within your divine consciousness, I sense an aura thatpels my faith. But there is also a hint that your origin is not of the Endless Blue Sea. If I''m not mistaken, you don''t belong to our world, do you? Just now, I felt a sense of rejection toward you��not from the sea, but from the itself. That can only mean one thing"


    <i>What formidable divine consciousness!</i> Tang San looked at the Mermaid Queen with some surprise. Her aura wasn''t as strong as that of the Middle Pir King or the Sea Dragon King, but her divine consciousness was unquestionably at the absolute pinnacle of a Great Sea King.


    "Can you tell me why you havee to our world? What is your goal?" As she spoke, the Mermaid Queen quietly moved behind Tang San.


    At this moment, Tang San was faced with the Sea Giant King and the Sea Dragon King in front of him, and the Mermaid Queen behind. These three sea n leaders were the strongest of the entire Endless Blue Sea, and they had suddenly surrounded Tang San.

 Chapter 692: Tang Sans Lightning Tribulation

    <h4>Chapter 692: Tang San''s Lightning Tribtion</h4>


    The Middle Pir King spoke in a deep voice, "In the Endless Blue Sea, there has never been even a legend of the Sea God, so how could there be a legacy of one? You��re nothing but an outsider who wants to stir up chaos. How do we know that everything you''re doing isn''t just making all the sea beasts toil for your benefit? Your power is too strange; it can attract the faith of the sea beasts. You said it yourself: if you be stronger, we will be unable to stop you. How can we be sure you won''t enve the sea ns?"


    Tang San floated there, showing no signs of panic despite being surrounded by the three powerful beings.


    "I''ve always had good intentions," he said calmly. "Admit it: you just want to capture me and study my abilities, don''t you? This was your n all along."


    The Sea Dragon King responded in a serious tone, "We have to be cautious. We can''t be certain whether you are the harbinger of an invasion from the Daemon Continent. But don''t worry, we won''t harm humans, especially since the array discs you provided can indeed clear the Sea gue. We will always treat you as an honored guest and won''t harm you in any way. We just hope to learn more about you."


    Tang San smiled. "Oh, please. Learn more about me? That��s nothing more than an excuse, and let me tell you, it''s not going to happen. I suspected before you even got here that you might act against me out of suspicion, yet here I am, all alone in front of you. Do you think I am that stupid?"


    "Are you all crazy?" The Sea Shark King finally reacted, eximing in shock, "He''s the Sea God!"


    "Silence!" snapped the Middle Pir King. "How can the fate of the sea ns be influenced by an outsider? If he harbors ill intentions, wouldn''t that bring disaster to the entire Endless Blue Sea?"


    Tang San''s gaze remained calm. He gently shook his head and said, "You don''t believe me because you don��t understand what a true god is. Even on the Daemon Continent, no true god will be born because this world, this ne, isn''t a divine realm, nor is it connected to one. Without a divine realm, there''s no path to ascension."


    The Sea Dragon King frowned and said, "There''s no rush. Please, Divine Envoy,e with us to my Sea Dragon Pce, and we can talk slowly. Rest assured, we won''t harm you. We will also fulfill our promise to help your human migration."


    Tang San replied indifferently, "I have many things to do and no time to go to any Sea Dragon Pce with you. But that��s alright. If you wish to die, if you want to see the entire elite of the sea ns die here, then go ahead. By all means, try to stop me."


    As he spoke, the golden trident pattern suddenly lit up on his forehead.


    The Middle Pir King reacted instantly and shouted in a low voice, "Seal him!"


    A beam of light shot out from the trident in his hand and enveloped Tang San.


    Tang San neither dodged nor blocked it, simply allowing the light to trap him within. Yet, the golden pattern of the Sea God��s Trident on his forehead grew even brighter.


    His body had been sealed by the Sea Giant King and could not move, but at that moment, vast swathes of the Endless Blue Sea instantly turned golden. Thousands of streams of faith power surged toward Tang San, unaffected by the sealing barrier, continuing to pour into his body.


    An unparalleled majesty suddenly erupted from his entire being. And in that instant, the sky above this entire sea region suddenly turned pitch ck. A terrifying, world-ending pressure almost instantly pressed the sea''s surface down by ten meters, revealing the forms of the Sea Kings that had been waiting in the distance for the conversation to conclude.


    For a moment, even these powerful Sea Kings present felt as if they couldn''t breathe, while the brilliant golden light surrounding Tang San only grew brighter.


    "This is... a lightning tribtion?"


    In the ink-ck sky, streaks of golden lightning crisscrossed, each terrifying bolt seeming as if it could obliterate the entire world.


    The sea wasn��t even stirring��it was <i>trembling in fear</i>. The Sea Kings could barely move, while those below the ninth order werepletely suppressed beneath the surface, unable to even run.


    Tang San slowly turned around and looked at the Mermaid Queen behind him. "You sensed correctly; I am indeed rejected by this ne because Ie from another world. The reason I came here was to find my reincarnated wife. But I am a human and I cannot stand by and watch humans being treated as ves by the demon and nymph ns. So, while searching for my wife, I also want to help humanity find a path to rise. Moreover, I was once the Sea God, and my love for the sea brought me here to help you. But you refuse to acknowledge me and you treat me as nothing more than a tool. Fine then, let me show you the wrath of the heaven that belongs to this world."


    "Boom!" A sky-shattering golden thunderbolt exploded in the sky.


    "Kill him, and maybe we can still..." The Middle Pir King shouted, raising his trident to strike at Tang San. But he hadn��t even moved halfway when his arm was locked in ce.


    What stopped him was neither Tang San, nor the terrifying lightning tribtion in the sky, but the countless streams of faith power rushing toward Tang San.


    At that moment, Tang San''s figure began to swell with the wind, and a massive golden silhouette appeared behind him, slowly expanding. The aura of the Sea God was released without reservation.


    "Lord Sea God, don''t!" The first to react was the Sea Walrus King. It suddenly prostrated itself, bowing to Tang San. Following closely, the Sea Shark King also transformed into human form and immediately knelt before Tang San.


    But at that very moment, a sky-shattering thunderbolt roared down from the sky, and in an instant, the entire world seemed to turn golden. As that golden thunderbolt descended with overwhelming force, every Sea King present felt as though the entire world was about to be destroyed.


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    Just then, the golden trident on Tang San''s forehead suddenly became incredibly dazzling, and the Sea God Array discs that each Sea King had received earlier lit up simultaneously.


    The previously suppressed, waveless sea suddenly surged with ayer of bluish glow. That glow rose upward, enveloping all the sea beasts present, as well as Tang San. The massive Sea God silhouette behind Tang San seemed to lift that glow as if it was a shield, merging seamlessly with the blue radiance.


    At that moment, each sea beast had the strange sensation that it was connected to every other sea beast. They felt like a unified whole, seamlessly merged with the Endless Blue Sea itself.


    When the terrifying golden thunderbolt struck the bluish glow, a strange scene unfolded. The fearsome golden lightning hesitated, wavering slightly, and in the next moment, it shattered into countless tiny golden sparks that scattered and flickered across the blue radiance.


    The Sea Dragon King and the Middle Pir King both saw the golden trident symbol on Tang San''s forehead undergo some strange changes. The most significant change was that a small blue light appeared at the center of the trident''s middle prong. It looked like a tiny blue gemstone, but from this single point of blue, the vast blue radiance enveloping the entire Endless Blue Sea expanded outward.


    At this moment, they all felt as if they had be connected to Tang San. Without a doubt,pared to them, Tang San''s aura was weak, yet it was this weak aura that formed a bond, a link that connected all the sea beasts present and the Endless Blue Sea itself.


    All the power, at this moment, was united under his guidance, making the entire Endless Blue Sea feel like a single entity��a true whole. Even the terrifying thunder in the sky found no gap to prate.


    Tang San''s calm voice reached the ears of every sea beast below.


    "As the Sea God, I bring peace and development. What lies above me is the tribtion I must face during my ascension. If I were to undergo this tribtion over the Endless Blue Sea, my chances of sess would increase significantly because I could amplify my power with the faith of countless beings in the Endless Blue Sea. However, I am unwilling to do so, as it would inevitably result in more deaths than you can count. As the Sea God, it is my duty to protect my people. Therefore, I was unwilling to undergo my tribtion over the Endless Blue Sea. Do you understand?"


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